Consumerism Cheapening Health Care? Get Over It…

People like to scoff at the idea of blending health care with shopping.  Uttering the very words “consumer driven health care” sends shivers down the spines of “purists” – your local medical specialist, whose life-saving work necessitates the confidence and ego driving the indignancy of the thought.  Does consumerism cheapen health care?  Well, yes…if you [...]

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Health Care Costs Could End America

Robert Pear’s New York Times article about Hillary Clinton’s and Barack Obama’s health care plans has an alarming statistic.  Medicare and Medicaid, our two government-funded health programs, cost our country $627 billion last year – or 23% of all federal spending.  Many people like to criticize the Iraq War for its cost – proclaiming that [...]

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I Might Have Been Wrong About Obesity…

I frequently make a big deal about obesity – how it’s probably one of the primary reasons Americans have comparatively low life expectancies, and how it contributes largely (no-pun intended) to our skyrocketing health care costs.  My generalizations are imprecise at best…just plain wrong at worst. 
Check out this Q and A with health economist Eric [...]

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Wal-Mart and Health Care

There’s an interesting article in the NY Times about some of the changes Wal-Mart employees will be seeing in health benefits.  The purpose of my post isn’t to praise or trash Wal-Mart or its employment practices. The fact of the matter is, Wal-Mart is the largest retailer in the world, and with over 1.4mm employees, [...]

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The Call of the Entrepreneur

There’s a fantastic new documentary film, The Call of the Entrepreneur, which is currently touring major cities with limited special previews. The makers of the film expect it to be released (most likely in independent film houses) shortly after the tour. The film follows three entrepreneurs whose businesses range from small and rural to very [...]

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The Myth of “Rising Inequality” in America

A new study by the treasury department, summarized in a Wall Street Journal article, refutes the long-proselytized talking points of Democratic (and black-sheep Republican) presidential hopefuls such as Mike Huckabee and John Edwards- that the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. The study, which analyzed income tax returns from 96,000 Americans [...]

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