Thursday, August 7, 2014

BloggeRhythms

A couple of items today show that there’s an undercurrent of events that indicate potential, if not probable, unwinding or complete dismantling of several of the incumbent’s pet projects. Including his showcase health care tax and an increase to the minimum wage.
 
Fox News.com headed an article regarding the health care tax: “It’s the law of the land,’ except when it isn’t.”
 
The text says, “A new congressional report has estimated that more than 25 million Americans without health insurance will not be made to pay a penalty in 2016 due to an exploding number of ObamaCare exemptions.” On the list of ObamaCare fine exemptions: Illegal immigrants, members of certain Native American tribes or religious sects, victims of domestic violence, those who have suffered property damage suffered in a fire or flood, having a health plan canceled when ObamaCare came into effect or experiencing “another hardship acquiring health insurance.”
 
Researching the web led to the following from the Galen Institute on July 18th, which says that “By our count, more than 42 significant changes already have been made to ObamaCare: at least 24 that President Obama has made unilaterally, 16 that Congress has passed and the president has signed, and 2 by the Supreme Court.”
 
Therefore, if changes keep occurring at their current pace, repeal won’t even be needed, because the tax will disappear completely on its own via exemptions. 
 
Similarly, an article by Reg Chapman of WCCO-TV Minneapolis says, “People eating at a Stillwater restaurant Tuesday noticed a new fee added to their bill.
 
Owners of the Oasis Cafe are charging a 35 cent minimum wage fee. They say it’s to offset the cost of an increased minimum wage for tipped employees.”
 
This is probably a very small “tip” (no pun intended) of a huge iceberg foretelling how much damage a significant minimum wage increase will negatively effect service businesses all over the nation.
 
Whereas, as usual, in order to appear benevolent and caring while seeking voters, basic business premises, economics and feasibility have been completely ignored regarding minimum wage increases. As a result, to offset significant increases to overhead due to labor costs, businesses will replace workers with automation wherever possible, cut back numbers of hours worked per employee, while raising prices to customers to cover any remaining shortfall in needed income.
 
As far as increased prices are concerned, while they may seem slight or insignificant, they will surely have great impact over time. Consumers on tight budgets will buy less, spend less often and do without if they must, which has always been the result of higher costs.
 
Therefore, the best and only approach that makes any sense is to let markets run free and open, whereas pure competition always keeps prices, and thereby wages, in line despite infrequent aberrations occurring over time. And, as businesses grow when unencumbered, so do wages for those growing in performance. 
 
While the next item concerns a news release, it also raises a frightening question. 
 
Adam Kredo in the Washington Free Beacon writes that, “Iranian military leaders announced on Wednesday that Tehran is readying new mid-range and long-range missile defense systems reminiscent of Israel’s Iron Dome system, which destroys rockets in mid-air before they strike the ground.
 
The missile defense announcement comes as the successes of Israel’s Iron Dome system are featured prominently in Western media outlets. Israeli officials have hailed the highly advanced system for protecting lives during the most recent conflict with Hamas by knocking many of the terror group’s attacks off course.
 
Now, if the administration is truly working diligently to curtail Iran’s military capacity, up to and including cessation of its nuclear weapon capability, and is nearing closure of peace agreement’s between Iran and its neighbors, particularly Israel, then what in the world does Iran need “new mid-range and long-range missile defense systems” for?  
   
Which brings us to today’s update on Bill Clinton and his wife.
 
www.dailymail.co.uk reports that, the Clinton’s are paying $100,000 for a three-week stay in Sagaponack on Long Island in New York. Which is half what they spent on last luxury rental at a nearby place.
 
Therefore, maybe what Bill’s wife says about their being “dead broke” is actually true. After all, I’m sure most Americans spend more than $30,000 a week when vacationing every summer.
 
Notwithstanding the preceding, the most interesting happening occurred while researching the subject. Because, by accident, I came across an article regarding Chelsea Clinton’s husband who I never heard of and knew nothing about.
 
However, according to People magazine, husband Marc is “the son of former U.S. congressman Edward Mezvinsky and former U.S. congresswoman Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky, who also once ran for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania.”
 
In 2001, “Edward Mezvinsky pleaded guilty to 31 counts of fraud, involving almost $10 million. He was released from federal prison in 2008.”
 
As I sit here typing, I can’t help laughing out loud at the consistency of the Clinton family, who seem to be drawn like moths to any kind of scheme or ruse that will enrich them personally, while doing their best to dupe the public. And apparently, that trait rubbed off on their daughter who sought out and married the offspring of a kindred spirit. A convicted thief who’d held a high public office.
 
I guess family gatherings must be held in places where handcuffs won't mar the dinner table tops. 
 
That's it for today folks.
 
Adios

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