Thursday, April 21, 2005
Meanwhile, back at the union headquarters...
The California Teachers Assocation, the state arm of the N.E.A., is not doing the state of California, its schools nor its students any favors by supporting four silly initiatives dealing with prescription drugs, corporate taxes, used car buyers, and energy regulation. Immediately below is the text from their mailers followed by my comments in italics:
Prescription Drugs. The Cheaper Prescription Drugs for California Act requires the state to negotiate directly with drug companies to get real discounts for millions of Californians. It uses a drug purchasing pool program through Medi-Cal to leverage drug discounts for 10 million uninsured and underinsured citizens - including seniors, families and small-business owners. It allows the state to terminate contracts with drug manufacturers if prices aren't comparable to or lower than Medi-Cal.
Ronald Regan said something like, "the most feared words in the English language are: We're from the government and we're here to help." Completely ignoring the horrific problems of socialized medicine in countries like Britain and Australia, the socialists of the CTA are proposing more government intervention in the marketplace. The most likely result of this proposal is that drug companies will jack up the prices charged to those in regular insurance programs to off-set the government mandated losses of the initiative's program. The result will be an increase in overall medical costs like the programs that service little ol' people like teachers with HMO's and PPO's. That should result in some real fun contract negotions for the union in the future
The California Tax Fairness Act of 2005 The California Tax Fairness Act of 2005 is a constitutional amendment that protects homeowners and offers tax relief for seniors while requiring that big business pay its fair share of property taxes. Any increased revenue that is created by this change would provide additional fundinf for our local schools, public safety and transportation.
Bad big business! Bad, bad, bad big business! Shame on you for trying to make a profit and pay dividends to people with 401(K)'s and the like, especially those evil teachers and their state retirment fund that invests in you to help provide for teachers when they retire!
Sheesh! Let's drive more business out of the state to areas like Nevada and Texas which would only serve to drive down net tax revenues thus forcing more budget cuts from all sectors. The Left has always hated Proposition 13, and now it is taking another shot at killing the tax saving benefits enjoyed by homeowners
Used Car Buyer's Bill of Rights This initiative allows buyers to get out of a purchase within a three-day period. It also prohibits predatory loan practices by car dealers who victimize low-income car buyers, including members of the armed services. It stops car dealers from adding hidden charges to finance contracts. The Governor vetoed this measure last year in deference to his auto industry contributors.
Let me see if I can decipher this one: people are incapable of reading contracts, so we need special laws to protect them... or we could do a better job of teaching people in high school how to read basic contracts.
Regulation of Energy The risky deregulation of our resources has caused blackouts and cost the state millions. Consumer rates and terms of retail electric service need to be regulated by the Public Utilities Commission. The PUC must make "best value for ratepayers" its primary goal and establish reserve requirements to prevent future blackouts. This measure also authorizes construction of new electric plants and funds coservation and renewable energy programs.
Hello?!?!?!? Deregulation did not cause the blackouts; Governor Davis' incompetence coupled with illegal activites by Enron-types caused the blackouts and the financial problem related to energy. What is interesting here is that the initiative appears to require that the state construct power plants and run them (where are they going to get the money?). Anyone who knows the history of the Tennesee Valley Authority knows that government run power schemes when conducted on large scales usually create inefficient systems that cost more than private utilities.
Remember: the real problem is the humongous number of illegal aliens in the system. Arnold may have stumbled yesterday, but at least he is starting to talk about the real problem; but, since it is a Federal issue, we need to get President Bush to change his mind if we are to have a secure future in California and in the United States of America.
Prescription Drugs. The Cheaper Prescription Drugs for California Act requires the state to negotiate directly with drug companies to get real discounts for millions of Californians. It uses a drug purchasing pool program through Medi-Cal to leverage drug discounts for 10 million uninsured and underinsured citizens - including seniors, families and small-business owners. It allows the state to terminate contracts with drug manufacturers if prices aren't comparable to or lower than Medi-Cal.
Ronald Regan said something like, "the most feared words in the English language are: We're from the government and we're here to help." Completely ignoring the horrific problems of socialized medicine in countries like Britain and Australia, the socialists of the CTA are proposing more government intervention in the marketplace. The most likely result of this proposal is that drug companies will jack up the prices charged to those in regular insurance programs to off-set the government mandated losses of the initiative's program. The result will be an increase in overall medical costs like the programs that service little ol' people like teachers with HMO's and PPO's. That should result in some real fun contract negotions for the union in the future
The California Tax Fairness Act of 2005 The California Tax Fairness Act of 2005 is a constitutional amendment that protects homeowners and offers tax relief for seniors while requiring that big business pay its fair share of property taxes. Any increased revenue that is created by this change would provide additional fundinf for our local schools, public safety and transportation.
Bad big business! Bad, bad, bad big business! Shame on you for trying to make a profit and pay dividends to people with 401(K)'s and the like, especially those evil teachers and their state retirment fund that invests in you to help provide for teachers when they retire!
Sheesh! Let's drive more business out of the state to areas like Nevada and Texas which would only serve to drive down net tax revenues thus forcing more budget cuts from all sectors. The Left has always hated Proposition 13, and now it is taking another shot at killing the tax saving benefits enjoyed by homeowners
Used Car Buyer's Bill of Rights This initiative allows buyers to get out of a purchase within a three-day period. It also prohibits predatory loan practices by car dealers who victimize low-income car buyers, including members of the armed services. It stops car dealers from adding hidden charges to finance contracts. The Governor vetoed this measure last year in deference to his auto industry contributors.
Let me see if I can decipher this one: people are incapable of reading contracts, so we need special laws to protect them... or we could do a better job of teaching people in high school how to read basic contracts.
Regulation of Energy The risky deregulation of our resources has caused blackouts and cost the state millions. Consumer rates and terms of retail electric service need to be regulated by the Public Utilities Commission. The PUC must make "best value for ratepayers" its primary goal and establish reserve requirements to prevent future blackouts. This measure also authorizes construction of new electric plants and funds coservation and renewable energy programs.
Hello?!?!?!? Deregulation did not cause the blackouts; Governor Davis' incompetence coupled with illegal activites by Enron-types caused the blackouts and the financial problem related to energy. What is interesting here is that the initiative appears to require that the state construct power plants and run them (where are they going to get the money?). Anyone who knows the history of the Tennesee Valley Authority knows that government run power schemes when conducted on large scales usually create inefficient systems that cost more than private utilities.
Remember: the real problem is the humongous number of illegal aliens in the system. Arnold may have stumbled yesterday, but at least he is starting to talk about the real problem; but, since it is a Federal issue, we need to get President Bush to change his mind if we are to have a secure future in California and in the United States of America.
