Health package doesn't taste good when crammed down throat

As President Obama made the Sunday talk show circuit last week, he spoke about health care in the United States. He said that it a huge problem and that health care costs were out of control. He said that something had to be done to change health care.

That is true. Something should be done to address the problem of health care in the United States.

Let's start with the problems. First, there is the cost issue: Rising health care costs are outpacing inflation; and second, is the issue of the uninsured. People that do not have health care coverage in the United States.

Let's start with the first issue. Why have health care costs outpaced inflation? How much of the problem is caused by legislation?

One of the things one must keep in mind is that medical coverage may be a right, but it is also a service that costs money. Whether one likes to hear it or not, the price of health care has far surpassed the benefit that is gained by the consumer. Though health care providers can provide more service than at any time, we have not seen marked increases in longevity in the American population.

The most expensive care in the world is not necessarily the best. The government has had a large role in running up health care costs. It needs to have a role in removing excessive burdens to taxpayers. However, the people have to be have proper incentives to use the health system in a responsible manner. We shouldn't all pay for other people's idiocy. There have to be incentives that reward people for taking care of themselves in terms of lower costs.

President Obama's health care plans aren't evil. The problem is that they don't really cut the fat from the system. We all know that what is being proposed will cost more. The whole point of the reform effort is to get a system that costs less.

Facebook and the Tour de France

While in India, Bill Gates told an audience he'd given up on Facebook due to too many friends. If ever there was an advertisement for the value of education, there it is. Everyone wants to be Bill Gates' friend. He also said the "text messaging" wasn't his style either.

Bill Gates knows the value of education. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has taken on many challenges; one of them is the state of American education. The Gates Foundation has had mixed success, but one thing they're doing is trying new ideas. They have thrown some money into the education arena and found that success can mixed and unpredictable.

This week President Obama came out with a plan to spend about $4 bn on American education. The problem is that the ideas being paraded about seem very similar to those of the previous administration. Yet, it is sort of like the opening day at the Tour de France race. Everyone's excited when the race starts. Where will the Obama education "plan" be when the race gets to the tougher stages; that is the question that needs to be answered. Right now, with money to wave around, both Bill Gates and Obama have lots of friends.

What we need are leaders.

Obama - "Race to the Top?"

Today President Obama announced that he would allow $4 billion in federal grant money to head toward public schools. It's called the "Race to the Top."

This is interesting. The President has put together a competitive grant program. If truly competitive, the people who are most competent in education would get the money. The need for change is mostly in areas where poverty and education seem to be intrinsically tied.

The White House press release said, "And we're counting on the fact that, ultimately, this is an incentive, this is a challenge for people who do want to change," Obama said. Hopefully, he will spell out who the "people" are that "do" want to change. One thing can be assured: People will apply for the $4 bn in funding. People will spend the $4 bn in funding, and taxpayers will be responsible for paying back $4 bn in funds.

Perhaps some perspective is in order here. Obama is on a spending spree in the White House. When people go on sprees, they tend to lose sight of the obvious and get caught in the moment. For example, when Paris Hilton was going out at night and "partying" with many people every night (it seemed), she loses the perspective on her actions. It seems normal. The fact is, most people do not behave this way. She recently claimed that she wasn't a "slut" and she wasn't "stupid." However, her actions seem to contradict her words. President Obama is throwing around a lot of money at problems. He's partying with the public's money. That's his job, but at some point, he will have to defend his actions. That money has to be paid back and it should be directed in the best way possible. Luckily President Obama will not have to defend his behavior like Paris Hilton does, but wanton spending will make people question his judgment.