UK:
8.3 % GDP
premium: payed by government
No co-pays for most services, some for dentist, and glasses; elderly and children are exempt
socialized medicine: government pays medical expenses
funded through taxes, administrative costs are low
still bears issues of socialist medical care; long waits, little choice
Japan:
8% GDP
deductible: $280, employers pay more than 50%
co-pay: 30% of procedure, maximum roof based on income
all required to have health insurance
some of the best health statistics in the world
very efficiently done, but hospitals are largely in the red
Germany:
10.7% GDP
premium: $750 monthly, tied to patients income
co-pay: 10 euros every three months, some exempt
Uses social insurance: all are required to have insurance
cannot refuse patients based on pre-existing conditions
single payment leaves doctors feeling underpayed
Taiwan:
6.3% GDP
premium: $650 for a family of four
pays for 20% of medications
All must have insurance, but there is only one provider
Switzerland:
11.6% GDP
premium: $750 monthly
co-pay: 10% of service
all are required to have insurance
shows that universal healthcare can actually work properly
The Swiss system is the second most expensive in the world
Second Part:
USA is almost equal to Japan, and UK combined, which is surprising considering how many overweight, and otherwise unhealthy people we have in our nation. Considering the amount of pride that the Swiss government puts into their healthcare, one would expect it to take up more of their funds.
If I were to choose which system I would like to partake in, I would choose the Japanese system. I has a good, low balance in amount that I personally would need to pay.
Friday, May 16, 2014
Monday, April 21, 2014
Essay 15/ 16
15
The Government gives certain people personal financial benefits, through programs referred to as entitlement programs. One of the largest entitlement programs is Social Security, which provides for the elderly, primarily through a tax, separate from the main body of taxes. If Social Security continues as it does, then eventually, one individual will be financially supporting a half dozen senior citizens. With an increase in life expectancy, but no matching increase in age requirement, more people are collecting Social Security; and as such, the amount of money payed to individuals is decreased, and the amount payed by individuals in the community increases exponentially. If we were to increase the age requirement for Social Security, then most of these issues would be solved, as more people would die (from natural causes) before reaching the age required, and fewer people would be collecting Social Security, thus decreasing the amount individuals need to pay to support the elderly, as one beneficiary of Social Security would be supported by half a dozen tax payers.
16
Two reasons why Congress grants policy making abilities to government agencies are that: Congress does not have the time (nor the ability to agree) to go over each, and every little thing that might occur, so they grant leeway to federal agencies, to regulate themselves (in part), and make several of their own policies; the second reason is that such agencies are more educated in their particular fields than the members of congress, who would be unable to make an educated decision on the of (let's say) extracting valuable information from a suspected terrorist. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is one organization that is allowed legislative freedom by Congress, and they exercise this freedom by creating, and enforcing laws that are meant to protect the environment. Two ways that Congress makes sure these organizations follow legislative intent is that they have committees which look into things that might be going wrong, or possible misuses of power; they also have a habit of putting people into court when they do these things.
The Government gives certain people personal financial benefits, through programs referred to as entitlement programs. One of the largest entitlement programs is Social Security, which provides for the elderly, primarily through a tax, separate from the main body of taxes. If Social Security continues as it does, then eventually, one individual will be financially supporting a half dozen senior citizens. With an increase in life expectancy, but no matching increase in age requirement, more people are collecting Social Security; and as such, the amount of money payed to individuals is decreased, and the amount payed by individuals in the community increases exponentially. If we were to increase the age requirement for Social Security, then most of these issues would be solved, as more people would die (from natural causes) before reaching the age required, and fewer people would be collecting Social Security, thus decreasing the amount individuals need to pay to support the elderly, as one beneficiary of Social Security would be supported by half a dozen tax payers.
16
Two reasons why Congress grants policy making abilities to government agencies are that: Congress does not have the time (nor the ability to agree) to go over each, and every little thing that might occur, so they grant leeway to federal agencies, to regulate themselves (in part), and make several of their own policies; the second reason is that such agencies are more educated in their particular fields than the members of congress, who would be unable to make an educated decision on the of (let's say) extracting valuable information from a suspected terrorist. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is one organization that is allowed legislative freedom by Congress, and they exercise this freedom by creating, and enforcing laws that are meant to protect the environment. Two ways that Congress makes sure these organizations follow legislative intent is that they have committees which look into things that might be going wrong, or possible misuses of power; they also have a habit of putting people into court when they do these things.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Essay 13 &14
Essay 13
Congressional reapportionment is the process by which the government redistributes the population of the congressional districts, based on information taken during the census. It is important to states because it can potentially change the balance of power in Congress, and remove a congressman from a liberal state, and give the seat to a conservative one.
Redistricing is a very similar process, but instead of changing which state gets seats in congress, it re-draws the lines of the congressional districts.
Gerrymandering can allow a congressman, and his aides to choose who will vote for them, by choosing/ realigning the districts in their favor. Another congressmen use Gerrymandering is to help other people with similar interests wind up getting elected in a highly malleable district which would vote for them.
One limit the supreme court has placed on redistricting is that districts must be equally populated, or as close as one can get to equal. They have also forbidden it from limiting minority voting strength.
Essay 14
Mandatory Spending: Federal programs which have been established by Congress. This limits the president's power in Congress because there is no working around Mandatory Spending, so the president needs to compromise, and give in to congressional decisions on Mandatory Spending.
Lame Duck: An official who has not been re-elected, and is simply waiting until his replacement, who was elected comes in to take his position. Lame Duck's limit presidential power because they no longer need to worry about re-election, and simply vote as they believe, often in opposition to the president.
Congressional reapportionment is the process by which the government redistributes the population of the congressional districts, based on information taken during the census. It is important to states because it can potentially change the balance of power in Congress, and remove a congressman from a liberal state, and give the seat to a conservative one.
Redistricing is a very similar process, but instead of changing which state gets seats in congress, it re-draws the lines of the congressional districts.
Gerrymandering can allow a congressman, and his aides to choose who will vote for them, by choosing/ realigning the districts in their favor. Another congressmen use Gerrymandering is to help other people with similar interests wind up getting elected in a highly malleable district which would vote for them.
One limit the supreme court has placed on redistricting is that districts must be equally populated, or as close as one can get to equal. They have also forbidden it from limiting minority voting strength.
Essay 14
Mandatory Spending: Federal programs which have been established by Congress. This limits the president's power in Congress because there is no working around Mandatory Spending, so the president needs to compromise, and give in to congressional decisions on Mandatory Spending.
Lame Duck: An official who has not been re-elected, and is simply waiting until his replacement, who was elected comes in to take his position. Lame Duck's limit presidential power because they no longer need to worry about re-election, and simply vote as they believe, often in opposition to the president.
Monday, March 17, 2014
Oil Spill annotated bibliography
"The Spill"
Frontline
Frontline, February 25, 2013
Internet
3/17/14
In the last ten years, BP has rapidly expanded it's production, and refining of oil; and also it's brand recognition. Despite their new size, or maybe because of it, failed to meet safety regulations, and caused a number of deaths. Several reputable sources say that the company itself was to blame, as opposed to individual workers. The Texas refinery incident, and the Alaska incident point to something seriously wrong with the structure of BP.
"Blowout: The Deepwater Horizon Disaster"
CBS News
CBS News, May 16, 2010
internet
3/17/14
The destroyed oil rig is still spewing oil; no one knows exactly how much, but there are at least several million gallons. Eleven men were killed in the explosion that caused the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon. A source says that the malfunction of the rig was guaranteed, as it had been building up for several weeks.
"BP Oil Spill Conviction: One Down- More To Go"
The Seattle Times
The Seattle Times, March 17, 2014
Internet
3/17/14
Former BP employee was found guilty for obstructing justice/ destroying evidence that would have proven that the oil spill was worse than BP executives were claiming. This is the first of (hopefully) four convictions for several people involved with the BP oil spill in the Gulf Of Mexico. Kurt Mix (the convicted) deleted several hundred text messages from his phone, and faces a maximum sentence of twenty years with a $250,000 fine. The explosion caused eleven deaths, and an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil into the water.
Frontline
Frontline, February 25, 2013
Internet
3/17/14
In the last ten years, BP has rapidly expanded it's production, and refining of oil; and also it's brand recognition. Despite their new size, or maybe because of it, failed to meet safety regulations, and caused a number of deaths. Several reputable sources say that the company itself was to blame, as opposed to individual workers. The Texas refinery incident, and the Alaska incident point to something seriously wrong with the structure of BP.
"Blowout: The Deepwater Horizon Disaster"
CBS News
CBS News, May 16, 2010
internet
3/17/14
The destroyed oil rig is still spewing oil; no one knows exactly how much, but there are at least several million gallons. Eleven men were killed in the explosion that caused the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon. A source says that the malfunction of the rig was guaranteed, as it had been building up for several weeks.
"BP Oil Spill Conviction: One Down- More To Go"
The Seattle Times
The Seattle Times, March 17, 2014
Internet
3/17/14
Former BP employee was found guilty for obstructing justice/ destroying evidence that would have proven that the oil spill was worse than BP executives were claiming. This is the first of (hopefully) four convictions for several people involved with the BP oil spill in the Gulf Of Mexico. Kurt Mix (the convicted) deleted several hundred text messages from his phone, and faces a maximum sentence of twenty years with a $250,000 fine. The explosion caused eleven deaths, and an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil into the water.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Essay 12
A divided government has a reputation of not getting much done, and the lack of accomplishment in our government generally tends to decrease the trust that the general police has in their government; a divided government is when on party controls the house, and the other controls one (or both) houses.
The increased amount of campaign donations, and the increase of money spent on campaigns has led people to see the presidential (and all other) elections as nothing more than money fights between rich, old, white men. Knowing how rich the candidates are, and how flippantly they spend their money, makes the general populace view them as a separate species, and lose the little bit of trust they had for the candidates.
One consequence of the decline in trust in government is that fewer people care about politics, and as such, it slants the elections, thus resulting in worse candidates winning elections. Another possible consequence of a lack of governmental trust would be the rise of a movement who (mistakenly) believe themselves more capable of creating a government than centuries of experience, and trial and error; their government would fail quickly, due to the fact that they didn't have a plan, simply a desire to tear down what came before.
The increased amount of campaign donations, and the increase of money spent on campaigns has led people to see the presidential (and all other) elections as nothing more than money fights between rich, old, white men. Knowing how rich the candidates are, and how flippantly they spend their money, makes the general populace view them as a separate species, and lose the little bit of trust they had for the candidates.
One consequence of the decline in trust in government is that fewer people care about politics, and as such, it slants the elections, thus resulting in worse candidates winning elections. Another possible consequence of a lack of governmental trust would be the rise of a movement who (mistakenly) believe themselves more capable of creating a government than centuries of experience, and trial and error; their government would fail quickly, due to the fact that they didn't have a plan, simply a desire to tear down what came before.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Essay 11
Two patterns that can be found within the graph are that House
incumbents walk away victorious much more often than Senate incumbents;
and that the number of House incumbent victories is slowly rising, over
time.
One possible reason why incumbents usually win are that people trust already elected officials, and believe that they won't mess up too badly, based on their track-records; if the incumbent didn't have a major scandal, then their constituents continue to trust the incumbent, and return them to office, on the same ideals, and platforms they won with the first time. Another possible reason is that the same people who voted for them the first time, vote for them again, and due to their superior numbers, the incumbents win; if the majority party in one particular area is republican, then they shall generally vote for the republican candidate, thus the incumbent continues to win the republican vote over, and over again, so as to keep their position.
A possible consequence of the incumbency system in the Unites States is that by continuing to re-elect the same people to Congress, and the Senate is that no fresh idea's will enter the political system, and nothing will ever change; we need game-changers to win elections, and change the political landscape.
One possible reason why incumbents usually win are that people trust already elected officials, and believe that they won't mess up too badly, based on their track-records; if the incumbent didn't have a major scandal, then their constituents continue to trust the incumbent, and return them to office, on the same ideals, and platforms they won with the first time. Another possible reason is that the same people who voted for them the first time, vote for them again, and due to their superior numbers, the incumbents win; if the majority party in one particular area is republican, then they shall generally vote for the republican candidate, thus the incumbent continues to win the republican vote over, and over again, so as to keep their position.
A possible consequence of the incumbency system in the Unites States is that by continuing to re-elect the same people to Congress, and the Senate is that no fresh idea's will enter the political system, and nothing will ever change; we need game-changers to win elections, and change the political landscape.
Friday, February 7, 2014
Meth. Lots, and lots of Meth.
"The Meth Epidemic"
Frontline
Frontline, August 15, 2011
Internet
2/7/14
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/etc/synopsis.html
Starting in the 1970s, biker gangs started making Methamphetamine, and from there it spread. Since then, it has grown has more potent, and powerful. Despite increased restriction on ephedrine, and pseudo-ephedrine, Meth cookers still have the ability to create copious amounts of Methamphetamine, because there is still the potential of people who are more than willing to buy massive amounts of cold medicine to sell to those who are cooking Methamphetamine. Currently, there are several states that have decided to return ephedrine, and pseudo-ephedrine into prescription medications, thus removing the possibility of Meth cooks getting a vital ingredient of their recipes.
"Big Pharma and Meth Cooks Agree: Keep Cold Meds Over The Counter"
NPR
NPR, September 26, 2013
Internet
2/7/14
http://www.npr.org/2013/09/26/226476602/big-pharma-and-meth-cooks-agree-keep-cold-meds-over-the-counter
Opens with a comment about AMC's Breaking Bad. Meth is dangerous to the Cooks, and the communities they live in; mostly do to the corrosive, and dangerous materials used to cook Methamphetamine. A reporter named Jonah Engle is based in Montreal, and has written for a number of various publications, on the topic of Meth, and the drug trade centered around it. An extremely easy way of producing Methamphetamine is the "shake and bake" method, which is mixing ephedrine, or pseudo-ephedrine, and mixing it in with various other crushed up chemicals.
"Real Life Crime Echo 'Breaking Bad'"
USA Today
USA Today, September 19, 2013
Internet
2/7/14
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2013/09/19/breaking-bad-real-life-crimes/2782635/
This entire article was devoted to how the AMC series "Breaking Bad" influenced the real life crime community. Since the show aired in 2008, people have tried to copy the material shown, mostly by cooking Meth, and using the intimidation, and violent methods portrayed in their criminal lives. In June of 2012, a man named Jason Hart strangled his girlfriend to death, and attempted to dissolve her body in sulfuric acid. In 2010 the police in Kansas City arrested a number of Meth dealers who had tinted their Meth with blue food coloring, to imitate the "Blue Sky" strand of Meth made by Walter White in the hit AMC series, supposedly it sold 50% better than it's colorless cousin; but polices main concern was with the possibility of a child finding it, and mistaking it for candy. Possibly following the example of the show's protagonist, Chemistry teacher Walter White, a number of teachers were arrested for Meth possession, and dealing; and to further increase the similarities he had stage three cancer at the time of his arrest. Several hundred televisions were destroyed in prisons, by convicts lighting cigarettes with power cords, much like Walter White used the same method to cut through plastic zip-ties.
Frontline
Frontline, August 15, 2011
Internet
2/7/14
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/etc/synopsis.html
Starting in the 1970s, biker gangs started making Methamphetamine, and from there it spread. Since then, it has grown has more potent, and powerful. Despite increased restriction on ephedrine, and pseudo-ephedrine, Meth cookers still have the ability to create copious amounts of Methamphetamine, because there is still the potential of people who are more than willing to buy massive amounts of cold medicine to sell to those who are cooking Methamphetamine. Currently, there are several states that have decided to return ephedrine, and pseudo-ephedrine into prescription medications, thus removing the possibility of Meth cooks getting a vital ingredient of their recipes.
"Big Pharma and Meth Cooks Agree: Keep Cold Meds Over The Counter"
NPR
NPR, September 26, 2013
Internet
2/7/14
http://www.npr.org/2013/09/26/226476602/big-pharma-and-meth-cooks-agree-keep-cold-meds-over-the-counter
Opens with a comment about AMC's Breaking Bad. Meth is dangerous to the Cooks, and the communities they live in; mostly do to the corrosive, and dangerous materials used to cook Methamphetamine. A reporter named Jonah Engle is based in Montreal, and has written for a number of various publications, on the topic of Meth, and the drug trade centered around it. An extremely easy way of producing Methamphetamine is the "shake and bake" method, which is mixing ephedrine, or pseudo-ephedrine, and mixing it in with various other crushed up chemicals.
"Real Life Crime Echo 'Breaking Bad'"
USA Today
USA Today, September 19, 2013
Internet
2/7/14
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2013/09/19/breaking-bad-real-life-crimes/2782635/
This entire article was devoted to how the AMC series "Breaking Bad" influenced the real life crime community. Since the show aired in 2008, people have tried to copy the material shown, mostly by cooking Meth, and using the intimidation, and violent methods portrayed in their criminal lives. In June of 2012, a man named Jason Hart strangled his girlfriend to death, and attempted to dissolve her body in sulfuric acid. In 2010 the police in Kansas City arrested a number of Meth dealers who had tinted their Meth with blue food coloring, to imitate the "Blue Sky" strand of Meth made by Walter White in the hit AMC series, supposedly it sold 50% better than it's colorless cousin; but polices main concern was with the possibility of a child finding it, and mistaking it for candy. Possibly following the example of the show's protagonist, Chemistry teacher Walter White, a number of teachers were arrested for Meth possession, and dealing; and to further increase the similarities he had stage three cancer at the time of his arrest. Several hundred televisions were destroyed in prisons, by convicts lighting cigarettes with power cords, much like Walter White used the same method to cut through plastic zip-ties.
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