Manatory Healthcare Reform – Part 2

  In my last article I elaborated on the four led forces at work in our modern day healthcare system – Physicians, Pharmaceuticals, Payers, and Patients.  I also strongly recommended a two-part podcast series presented by This American Life, which explores and explains the inter-workings of these forces with great color and high entertainment value.  If you have not yet taken the time to give...

Manatory Healthcare Reform – Part 1

  Healthcare reform is perhaps as complex an issue as we are facing in our society today – and the recent bill passed in Congress promises to further murky the waters.  On one hand, the diversity of the intertwined issues that constitute the fabric of our system may simply be too impossible to unravel.  But on the other hand, solving this dilemma may well hold the key to preserving life as we...

The Government, Your Newest Auto Industry Expert

Several weeks ago I debated the notion of writing an article on the Cash for Clunkers program.  With a flair for the dramatic, I was going to title the piece “Subsidized Death Spiral”.  I trust, given the prospective titling, my position relative to the program is clear even sans a 750 word exposition.  But alas the program came and went and no article materialized.  That’s mostly ok, as...

$8,000 First-time Homebuyer Refundable Tax Credit

If you’ve been reading here long, you might guess that I am no fan of social programs.  However, I am a fan of taking advantage of opportunities as they are provided… provided your use of such  offerings is moving you in a positive direction.  A personal example I’ll share related to Obama’s spending plan or stimulus attempt back in the first of the year.  Part of this...

Lessons from the Great Depression

“The Biggest Recession since the Great Depression” seems to be a favored storyline and the media has certainly had its fun with the premise.  Yet so much of it is tired and breathless drivel. But featured in the May issue of Smart Money is a smartly correlated discussion of the then and now. The idea is simple and elegant and seemingly impossible:  Find former brokers that actually...

Voluntary Repo is Bad Practice

There’s a new rash of bad behavior streaking across the American landscape – Voluntary Repos… people are willingly allowing their cars to be repossessed and some are actually walking away from their homes, and mortgages, simply leaving the keys on the kitchen counter. The irony should be lost on no one that this wave of bad behavior comes on the heels of previous bad behaviors –...

Congress thinks you’re an idiot. Are you?

Much has been written about the recent stimulus package.  At first I committed to not writing about it because I did not have much more to offer.  I have since changed my mind and offer small doses of my perspective in this exciting installment. Stimulus Musings , in bite size offerings When you consider that debt played such a critical role in the genesis of this financial debacle, is it not worth...