Comments for Chris Berry On The Net

Comment on New Deal Spending Programs Didn’t Work Then And Won’t Work Now by Matt

Matt — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:22:24 +0000

I will admit that some of the banking reforms in the first New Deal helped to alleviate some of the financial fallout of the Depression era, but most of the remaining elements didn’t have time to come to full fruition. We’re talking about eight years for the first New Deal and five, maybe six, for the second before World War II effectively killed them.

That’s what I hate about any sort of ‘guaranteed cure’ for the economy… the politicians want to latch onto something that was never fully tested and tell us it will only take a term or two to accomplish it. History, of course, shows otherwise. The only part we really know that provided some success was the institution of providing federal loans to banks (sadly, the bailouts we’re giving today aren’t really helping anybody… at least the executives in the 30’s let the money flood the market). The rest of this ‘fantastic’ program never proved itself…and, yet, we’re going to gamble on it again.

I think, between the last few months we’ve had with Bush and the coming years with Obama, we’re going to spend a great deal of our budget gambling on past ventures rather than trying to find new, modern and practical solutions.

Comment on Random Thought Of The Day 12-1-08 by ronbailey

ronbailey — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:44:16 +0000

Amen, brother.

Comment on I’m Not An Economist, But I Did Stay At A Holiday Inn Express Last Night by Chris Berry

Chris Berry — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:50:02 +0000

Muse,

A very large portion of those dubious financial instruments are tied either directly or indirectly to housing values and mortgage default rates.

Comment on I’m Not An Economist, But I Did Stay At A Holiday Inn Express Last Night by Chris G. Muse

Chris G. Muse — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:12:46 +0000

Derivatives! The mortgage crisis sparked the Derivatives Crisis.
The collective fall in home prices is nothing compared to the ‘Bets’ floating around waiting to be paid between Financial Institutions. “Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy threw into jeopardy derivative deals with a staggering 8,000 different firms that had paid Lehman billions of dollars in collateral.”
That’s collateral, not the amount to be paid.
The Fed is throwing money at the Big Banks/Brokerage so the Derivatives owed don’t ‘Collapse The Global Market’.
Housing isn’t the problem.

Comment on What If No One Had Health Insurance by Chris Berry

Chris Berry — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:29:36 +0000

Bubba,

Blaming physicians for the high cost of health care is tempting but wrong. Except for those few who practice purely elective specialties, individual doctors have absolutely no control over the price they receive for their services. Insurance companies and government agencies determine the reimbursement rates, and the only option the doctors have is to take it or leave it.

Comment on Coming Out Of The God Closet by Matt

Matt — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:28:27 +0000

John,

If you’re still reading this, I’d just like to point out that the ‘middle road’, as you put it, is never a matter of ‘playing it safe’. It’s a matter of trying to decide between irrational faith and empirical, scientific proof as a deific presence.

I’ve been in Debi’s previous position, trying to force my way through faith during times when it was contradictory to what I felt was right based on my personal perspective. I chose being agnostic as my more comfortable path, as it makes sense to me to require logical and rational proof either confirming or denying the existence of God and other entities. It is not, by any theological standpoint, ‘playing it safe’ (which, in all honesty, Pascal’s Wager would be more definitive as a ’safe’ route).

Any consideration that the agnostic’s ‘middle ground’ is playing it safe is as equally offensive as referring to an agnostic as a ‘weak atheist’.

As a sidenote, I would like to point out the following from Webster’s Dictionary:

asshole - a stupid, incompetent, or detestable person

Or, in this case, perhaps we might say, “Pot….Kettle…”

P.S. Chris is, in some ways and to some people, an asshole. I, however, happen to find him a likeable one.

P.P.S. I’m one, too.

Comment on What If No One Had Health Insurance by Bubba

Bubba — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:46:15 +0000

Debbie: Take a drive down Franklin and Reserve near “the” hospital. Go up and down the residential streets. Listen carefully. That giant sucking sound is the woosh of money being sucked out of the pockets of commoners by the medical community. Need to take the beemer in for service tomorrow. “NEXT”"!

Comment on I’m Not An Economist, But I Did Stay At A Holiday Inn Express Last Night by Matt

Matt — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:15:20 +0000

Oddly, I think we should invest in the ‘middle man’ sector. The ‘trickle down’ philosophy hasn’t worked as well as expected and, honestly, I doubt a ‘trickle up’ will really work any better. What we need is a push to support the mid-level businesses and industries in an effort to provide a ‘bi-linear trickle’. Or, perhaps, an inverse of that same idea, with the push of stimulus plans and other incentives in both ends of the spectrum and let it ‘trickle to the middle’.

Comment on What If No One Had Health Insurance by Debi Kelly Van Cleave

Debi Kelly Van Cleave — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:19:26 +0000

I’ve been wondering that myself, about how come we never ask the price for a medical procedure so we can compare and shop around maybe? Or even negotiate like customers try to negotiate with my husband when they buy flooring? All I know is I go in there and I’m billed whatever they feel like billing me and I have to hope I have the money when I check out. And it’s not fair because it’s always higher than what the insurance companies pay. So I had to buy insurance that covers nothing. It’ll help in a catastrophe but a chronic serious disease might still bankrupt us. I mostly got it so I’d be charged the insurance companies’ prices. Routine visits are not affordable anymore. It’s $75 just to walk in the door. My husband went for a check-up recently and they did some kind of test on him in the office that took five minutes and that bill was $300 WITH the insurance! Some people work a whole week for three hundred dollars and these are the people who are screwed the most–because they are not eligible for any kind of assistance but can’t afford to pay on their own. Therefore, there are many Americans who just don’t get health care. I’ve been in that boat most of my life. I might be again because I don’t know how much longer we can pay for insurance. We’re in the blue-collar world. I know many people who are suffering with sickness but they can’t afford medical care. Bush said people can go to any emergency room. Yeah, they’ll stabilize you but then you’ll go home to die of your cancer. You won’t get treated and possibly cured.

And you know, I don’t think it’s the doctors’ fault–they have incredible liability insurance bills plus school loans. Doctors aren’t rich anymore. Forget telling your daughters to marry a doctor–tell them to marry a lawyer or a CEO of an insurance or pharmaceutical company! lol

http://www.GreenerPastures–ACityGirlGoesCountry.blogspot.com

Comment on Coming Out Of The God Closet by Debi Kelly Van Cleave

Debi Kelly Van Cleave — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:46:04 +0000

Chris, I know what you mean about shouting from the rooftops. I have that same feeling about finally deciding that I am done with religion. I won’t say I’m done with God because, truthfully, I’m scared to say it. But man, I feel like a load has been lifted. I finally feel like I am being true to myself after TRYING to believe in God my whole life. Feeling silly and hypocritical when I went to church. Feeling guilty when I didn’t. But with this election and all the hate coming from the conservative Christians, I was like, that’s it. I’m done with this crap. No, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with gays and yes I do believe in evolution because it’s SCIENCE that has been PROVEN! And the next time someone invites me to church, I’m going to say, “Thanks but no thanks because I can’t abide by any group that teaches hate and that includes saying gays are sinners.” I feel like a load has been lifted because I have been ashamed of myself for not speaking up for gays or admitting what I believe in.

Just like you, some people have suggested that I have “turned away from Jesus” because I have a problem in my life. Actually, it’s been just the opposite. When I had problems, I thought the same way, but was afraid to reject religion. I was weak. I had problems. Now I don’t have any problems. I am quite happy. And feeling strong, I am being more true to myself. Perhaps you have come out because things are good for you?

I wrote about my rejection of religion on my blog. It’s called, “How Sarah Palin Turned Me off Religion.” I’d love for you to read it.

http://www.GreenerPastures–ACityGirlGoesCountry.blogspot.com