A forest, inoperative

[Doug Kerr]

In this shot, taken to the east from in front of my home:

Douglas A Kerr: The Lincoln National Forest, inoperative​

everything behind the large water tank is the Lincoln National Forest (yes, even where those homes are). It is currently "inoperative" owing to the failure of the US Congress to appropriate funds for the general operation of the federal government for the new fiscal year. Thus, large portions of the federal government are "shut down".

This happened through the Republican Party, which holds a majority in the House of Representatives, the lower house of the Congress, refusing to pass the needed appropriation resolution unless there are attached to it unrelated provisions that would rescind, defer the effectivity of, or disable various provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, which made numerous improvements in the US healthcare and health insurance systems. Neither the Senate nor the President would approve such a measure.

Of course, unlike the White Sands National Monument (on the west side of Alamogordo), the Lincoln National Forest is not "closed". That would be impractical, as thousands of people live in it and the major highway into Alamogordo from the east passes through it. But almost all supporting services are shut down, there being only a skeleton fire protection force still on duty.

Sadly, the lack of the appropriations does not close down that branch of the federal government most deserving of it: The Congress.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Michael Nagel]

Doug,

In such situations you see what the priorities are...

Interesting read from Slate - just in case you missed that one.

Best regards,
Michael

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Michael,

Doug,

In such situations you see what the priorities are...

Interesting read from Slate - just in case you missed that one.

No, I had nor seen that. It is very nicely done, and hits several nails on the head!

Thanks so much for the citation.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Chris Calohan II]

I only worry greatly to the shutdown if it continues to the debt ceiling debates. I am not at all happy with the market fluctuations and if they continue to the negative side will be forced to move some portfolios into cash banks to protect my retirement. Of course, I'll buy like all hades when and if it does start going to hell, but that's just business.

My gripe with the dems is wanting to change something they enacted into law, by force. If they really didn't want Obamacare, then they had the power to stop it from the outset. To wait, as if in deliberate ambush, lead by the Texas buffoon, Cruz sits poorly with me. I am an issue voter, and whether democrat or republican, the law has to work for me to vote.

Having seen so many kids in my years teaching with little or no proper medical care, save what little the health department offered, I had to be in favor of Obamacare. However, I could afford to be in favor as it does not overtly affect me because I can afford to go outside its basic coverage. Not so for a large part of the US population. It was a fairly enacted law, and I have to stand with Obama in his refusal to let the US government be held hostage.

So, I say screw Cruz and the rest of the Tea Party.

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Chris,

I only worry greatly to the shutdown if it continues to the debt ceiling debates. I am not at all happy with the market fluctuations and if they continue to the negative side will be forced to move some portfolios into cash banks to protect my retirement. Of course, I'll buy like all hades when and if it does start going to hell, but that's just business.

My gripe with the dems . . .

Do you mean Republicans?

. . . is wanting to change something they enacted into law, by force. If they really didn't want Obamacare, then they had the power to stop it from the outset. To wait, as if in deliberate ambush, lead by the Texas buffoon, Cruz sits poorly with me. I am an issue voter, and whether democrat or republican, the law has to work for me to vote.

Having seen so many kids in my years teaching with little or no proper medical care, save what little the health department offered, I had to be in favor of Obamacare. However, I could afford to be in favor as it does not overtly affect me because I can afford to go outside its basic coverage. Not so for a large part of the US population. It was a fairly enacted law, and I have to stand with Obama in his refusal to let the US government be held hostage.

So, I say screw Cruz and the rest of the Tea Party.

Thank you.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

No, I had nor seen that. It is very nicely done, and hits several nails on the head!

Hi Doug,

Because I know you like well founded opinions (and they are all opinions), you may also like this analysis. Although the analysis is from a major US research company, it seems to be an interesting 'paralysis analysis' as I'd call the situation, which it is pretty much in line with how many outside the US view the situation.

It's hard to understand why one would want to obstruct the government from functioning by trying to delay a law that has already been agreed upon by the legal democratic process, including scrutiny by the supreme court, unless the conclusions in the above mentioned analysis are close to the truth ... The desire to be re-elected is more important than the well being of normal US citizens.

And on a more humorous note: http://itzhakts.wordpress.com/2011/11/29/revocation-of-independence/ .

Of course Jon Stewart and the crew from the DailyShow expose the phony arguments in their usual way.

Cheers,
Bart

 

[Asher Kelman]

When Fox News started mocking "The Affordable Healthcare Act" with the term, "Obamacare", (rhyming and contrasted with a "real" and treasured right, namely, Medicaire), they thought this PR-crafted conservative "insult", repeated enough, would deflate public support.

Well, that now appears delusional. In fact, after years of talking heads bashing the new program and scores of failed attempts by Republicans to block it, enough of the Public is rushing into this with glee. So now, it looks like Obamacare has transformed, by public acclaim, from an epithet into the esteemed name of what might well become the most important legacy of President Obama’s presidency. It provides, not a single payer system as in Europe, but rather a capitalistic, market based competitive forum for insurance exchanges to compete with private companies. So the most efficient delivery systems will be chosen by the folks, costs will drop and the uninsurable will be covered.

To harness capitalistic competitiveness, (ie greed) to support those who can't or wont look after themselves, (socialism) is a paradox of this polyglot society of Europeans, Asians, Native Americans Africans, and the descendants of salves.

Yes, it's a painful process, but necessary as medical costs, while consuming 30% of the US economic wealth, falls far short of its potential to provide excellent care to all it's peoples. The same anti-science people who are convinced that global warming is a conspiracy to cripple capitalism and who feel man wandered among dinosaurs 6,000 years ago, simply don't like the idea of a healthcare system that might somehow allow a pregnant woman to consider abortion.

Consider, as just one example of the current absurdity of the non-competitive closed systems: A titanium and ceramic hip prosthesis is manufactured for $350 and then is purchased via middlemen for $7,000 and installed at a charge to the patient of some $21,000 and that's the system the teapartiers are protecting. It's clearly foolish, as if we had such a system in photography, a starter DSLR would be $6,000 or more and few people could use them! Well, pro wedding photographers would be able to make a good living once more! However, in the healthcare system, we don't get such a benefit. surgeons are not given more opportunity, in fact, they are constrained, as less folk can afford hip surgery. Now, in Obamacare, a modest tax is added to such devices to make hip surgery available for everyone. To me, that's helps us all!

Capitalism is fine a a motivating force driven by the wonderful amalgam of initiative, imagination, risk takers, dreamers, strategy, opportunism and admittedly, greed. But it works to bring new ideas to the market. However, as compassionate beings, we must look to see who is left behind in our rush to riches and tax them in the morning!

So I applaud the Democrats for supporting the birth of Obamacare as a downpayment to an affordable and correctable system able to grow to meet the needs of all the inhabitants of the land. The attempt at abortion by the naysayers is illogical and flies against their stand on the sacredness of life. After all, if life is so sacred before birth, (even as a humble and microscopic blastocyst), them surely a child, though born to poor parents, is also endowed with such inalienable worth.

Asher

 

[Jerome Marot]

Doug, now that the US government has exposed their incompetence in running a forest, maybe it is time that we follow the prediction of Thorstein Veblen in The Engineers and the Price System: let the engineers run the government.

 

[Jerome Marot]

not a single payer system as in Europe

Not in all European countries, actually. (Just for you to know.)

 

[Asher Kelman]

Jerome,

What's the healthcare landscape for sophisticated care for young people and the poor in Europe. I know that advanced care is rationed in the U.K., but basic care is provided to all. However, I've lost track of what's happening in most of the rest of Europe.

Asher

 

[Michael Nagel]

Asher,

The basic idea of 'Obamacare' is a good one, but I think that solely relying on market self-regulation is wishful thinking.
At least for Germany I can tell that healthcare is heavily regulated and abuses (in both ways) still happen.
Just a little example how market self-regulation can go awry is here.
There is a long road ahead to catch up.

Back to the original topic. From a European Perspective, paralyzing a country in the light of a capitalisitc system bears some irony. Try to do the same with a company/enterprise - the competition will fix it...


Best regards,
Michael

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Jerome,

Doug, now that the US government has exposed their incompetence in running a forest, maybe it is time that we follow the prediction of Thorstein Veblen in The Engineers and the Price System: let the engineers run the government.

The Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C. is a private social club. Among its stated goals is "The advancement of its members in science, literature, and art". Cosmos Club members have included three U.S. Presidents, two U.S. Vice Presidents, a dozen Supreme Court justices, 32 Nobel Prize winners, 56 Pulitzer Prize winners and 45 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Just inside the entrance is a large portrait of Herbert Clark Hoover, the 31st president of the United States.

The nameplate reads, "Herbert Hoover, Mining Engineer."

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Jerome Marot]

Jerome,

What's the healthcare landscape for sophisticated care for young people and the poor in Europe? I know that advanced care is rationed in the U.K., but basic care is provided to all. However, I've lost track of what's happening in most of the rest of Europe.

Asher

I would be very, very difficult for me to answer this question in a satisfying manner, because healthcare regulations and the associated level of access for the young, poor and old vary considerably from country to country and even from year to year within a country.

I should also say that I am a bit surprised that your question singles out the young. Statistically speaking, the young use a lot less healthcare than the old, because they are a lot less sick. That is one of the advantages of being young...

 

[Michael_Stones]

Help me understand how health care really works in the US. I visit Minnesota a lot and talked about health care with younger and older people low on the economic totem pole, as well as hospital based specialists I sometimes meet. What I've gleaned from those conversations is that there's a "back door" for those who can't afford care by way of hospital's charitable foundations that cover much of the cost for those with lower incomes. Is this general across the country or something that exists in isolated pockets?

Here in Canada all we hear are governmental and media-driven horror stories about US health provision for low income folk. Not the quality of care, mind you, our politicians quickly flee south of the border for treatment of anything more serious than an ingrown toenail (Ok, I'm exaggerating a bit but not that much).

Cheers
Mike

 

[Don Ferguson Jr.]

In this shot, taken to the east from in front of my home:

Douglas A Kerr: The Lincoln National Forest, inoperative​

everything behind the large water tank is the Lincoln National Forest (yes, even where those homes are). It is currently "inoperative" owing to the failure of the US Congress to appropriate funds for the general operation of the federal government for the new fiscal year. Thus, large portions of the federal government are "shut down".

This happened through the Republican Party, which holds a majority in the House of Representatives, the lower house of the Congress, refusing to pass the needed appropriation resolution unless there are attached to it unrelated provisions that would rescind, defer the effectivity of, or disable various provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, which made numerous improvements in the US healthcare and health insurance systems. Neither the Senate nor the President would approve such a measure.

Of course, unlike the White Sands National Monument (on the west side of Alamogordo), the Lincoln National Forest is not "closed". That would be impractical, as thousands of people live in it and the major highway into Alamogordo from the east passes through it. But almost all supporting services are shut down, there being only a skeleton fire protection force still on duty.

Sadly, the lack of the appropriations does not close down that branch of the federal government most deserving of it: The Congress.

Best regards,

Doug

Obama is the one choosing to inflict maximum pain on the public. This private inn near Asheville NC fought back aganist the rangers for closing them down with armed guards and is opening back up again.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/09/blue-ridge-parkway-pisgah-inn/2955043/

 

[Asher Kelman]

Obama is the one choosing to inflict maximum pain on the public. This private inn near Asheville NC fought back aganist the rangers for closing them down with armed guards and is opening back up again.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/09/blue-ridge-parkway-pisgah-inn/2955043/

I don't believe Obama wants anything but to expand access to quality health care. It will be embraced here in California and the rest of the country will follow suit. BTW, the Tea Part polite churns have free Heath care in Bethesda Maryland which no one in the USA could afford!

Asher

 

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

Obama is the one choosing to inflict maximum pain on the public.

Hi Don,

I don't know where you get your info to support that idea, but my observation from a distance turns up info like the following revealing fragment of an interview with John Boehner, where he admits that there was a budget agreement already in July, but the House Republicans backtracked in order to inflict as much damage to Obabacare as possible:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8GuMRxk5TU , you can skip to 3:05 for the relevant confession.

I'm amazed how it's possible for people to not see what's happening. The affordable health care law(!), is abused to block the negotiations on passing the budget (that was already agreed in July), and they try to lay the blame with the president, how irresponsible and misguided can one get.

That move is undoubtedly inspired by the fear of losing support from one or the other faction within the very divided Republican party, as is clear when one take the time to study the analysis I posted a link to earlier.

The arguments against the law that was passed already, even after a review by the supreme court, are not based on reason, but politics. The result is a further decline of the international credibility of the USA as a responsible society, when party politics are deemed more important than support for basic human rights, such as access to healthcare for all, especially for those who cannot afford it.

It's also unfortunate for Photographers who'd like to visit the National parks and monuments, but that's only a minor inconvenience compared to e.g. stopping food support programs for infants, or attempted prohibiting of access to affordable care to all.

I would be ashamed with myself if I would exhibit such selfishness. In contrast, watch the incredible attitude of Malala Yousafzai who sees education as the ultimate solution to solving a lot of all these destructive activities caused by ill-informed people.

Cheers,
Bart

 

[Don Ferguson Jr.]

Regardless Obama is the one making the decision to close the parks and he has allowed many exemptions without congressional approval on the healthcare law.

 

[Doug Kerr]

There's apparently a very unfair asymmetry to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

It seems that the lives of Republicans have been, or will be, ruined by the provisions of the Act.

And that the lives of Democrats will often be made better by it.

I'm not sure how that works. But it's just not fair to the Republicans. They deserve better than that.

I think I'll tell the president that he should knock that stuff off, however that works.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Don Ferguson Jr.]

The actor James Woods sure does not mince words.

This President is a true abomination. To have barricaded the WW2 vets, but allow illegal aliens privilege... http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...overnment-shutdown-immigration-rally/2942257/ …

This is gonna be interesting.
http://vetmarch.com/

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Don,

The actor James Woods sure does not mince words.

Well, that's an actor's job, to recite fiction and hope to make it sound real.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Don Ferguson Jr.]

Hi, Don,


Well, that's an actor's job, to recite fiction and hope to make it sound real.

Best regards,

Doug

Well, that abomination part is his opinion but the rest is actually fact.

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Don,

I find the phrase illegal alien curious.

A person cannot be illegal, just actions.

Perhaps the phrase is meant to mean someone who has broken the law by having been born in another land. Wow! There are a lot of those.

Maybe you meant to speak of people who have illegally immigrated into this country. Maybe they are illegal-immigration-ites.

It's sure a tough language, English. Why do we have to speak a language brought here by a bunch of foreigners, anyway?

After all, Cherokee was perfectly well developed here.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Doug Kerr]

The White Sands National Monument is closed.

• Because of security concerns over a terrorist threat? No.

• Because of a flood? No.

• Because of an earthquake? No.

• Because of an extended power outage? No.

• Because of an extended testing program at the adjacent White Sands Missile Range? No.

• Because of concern over a virulent strain of influenza? No.

• Because of a rise in the price of sand? No.

You know why.

But the Monument has an excellent outreach program, which was unable to be shut off for technical reasons, and a lot of it has just come up our street on its way to the people living in the Lincoln National Forest. (It is closed too.)

But the white sand doesn't ignore us at the lower elevations (4575 ft MSL here). As it proceeds, a little bit comes into every home, Democrats and Republicans alike. (Depends on how good one's weather stripping is.)

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

There's apparently a very unfair asymmetry to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

It seems that the lives of Republicans have been, or will be, ruined by the provisions of the Act.

And that the lives of Democrats will often be made better by it.

I'm not sure how that works. But it's just not fair to the Republicans. They deserve better than that.

I think I'll tell the president that he should knock that stuff off, however that works.

Hi Doug,

How true, sadly.

It's not the president though, who should knock that stuff off, it's the people of the USA who should:
Lawrence Lessig's TED-talk

Cheers,
Bart

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Bart,

It's not the president though, who should knock that stuff off, it's the people of the USA who should:

Indeed. As I'm sure you know, my comment was meant as irony!

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Jerome Marot]

To have barricaded the WW2 vets, but allow illegal aliens privilege...

I was not there, but if I understood correctly:

-WW2 veterans came to visit a monument
-they were told the monument was closed and to drive back home
-some of them forced the gates open
-it end up as a scandal in the news.

Quite frankly and in view of the scandal that follows, I would expect the responsible authorities to change their policies of not allowing access to the monuments during government shutdown and to allow access to future gatherings. It just so happens that the next gathering was about immigrants, but I do not expect the responsible authorities to prohibit access to the WW2 veterans in the near future.

You could actually say that the WW2 veterans fought for access to the monuments for everyone, including immigrants...

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Jerome,

Quite frankly and in view of the scandal that follows, I would expect the responsible authorities to change their policies of not allowing access to the monuments during government shutdown and to allow access to future gatherings.

I'm not sure of the details, but I believe that arrangements were made for actual veterans (including one group from New Mexico who had made a "pilgrimage" to the World War II memorial) to enter.

I believe it was during that process that an attendant at the memorial was berated by a Republican member of the US House of Representatives for keeping the public out during the closure of the memorial.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Don Ferguson Jr.]

Hi, Don,

I find the phrase illegal alien curious.

A person cannot be illegal, just actions.

Perhaps the phrase is meant to mean someone who has broken the law by having been born in another land. Wow! There are a lot of those.

Maybe you meant to speak of people who have illegally immigrated into this country. Maybe they are illegal-immigration-ites.

It's sure a tough language, English. Why do we have to speak a language brought here by a bunch of foreigners, anyway?

After all, Cherokee was perfectly well developed here.

Best regards,

Doug

Well,illegal means not legal,in violation of the law ; contrary to existing statutes,
8 U.S.C. § 1325 : US Code - Section 1325: Improper entry by alien.
Their presence here is unauthorized so according to this statute it is clear that they are illegal aliens under the law.
http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/uscode/8/12/II/VIII/1325

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Don,

Thank you for your (mostly) careful citation.

Well,illegal means not legal,in violation of the law ; contrary to existing statutes,
8 U.S.C. § 1325 : US Code - Title 8 - Section 1325: Improper entry by alien.

It is improper entry that is illegal.

The person committing such is not illegal.

Best regards

Doug