Pew Research Ctr: Generations and the Next America : Paul Taylor - There are Solutions

It is imperative that we all start paying for the future rather than destroy it - from demographics to climate change to health care!

Paul Taylor - Next Generation of KQED

The answer is that we need as much immigration as can come!  It will keep the pyramid right-side up!

March 7, 2014

1% vs 99% WI 1848 Forward: #Pew Research Ctr: #Generations and the Next America : Paul #Taylor - There are Solutions

#Immigration WI 1848 Forward: #Pew Res. Ctr: #Generations and the Next America : Paul #Taylor - There are Solutions

Step #1 - Privatize HealthCare #2 Eliminate Heath Coverage as too expensive # 3 Everyone loses

May 03, 2016 ... Group Health marches toward "Wisconsin being self-insured" !

The insuring "parties" will still be the same -- same Doctors, same Hospitals, etc.  Will Wisconsin save money?  Doubt it.  More likely to translate into "coverage dematerialization" and higher costs for everyone.  Governor Walker has found a new way to "create death panels" by his usual "stealth techniques.  "Savings" will be hidden in higher co-pays and deductibles, or denials of life saving treatments/medicines.  Those in rural Wisconsin, insured presently or not, will find there costs rising.

11/18/2015 - How to mess up Healthcare even more !

State could save $42 million a year through self-insurance, consultant says

"It gives you more control over plan design," Segal consultant Richard Ward told the insurance board. "I don't think it would impact access. I think it could be done to minimize disruption."

The insurance board, a governor-controlled group that oversees the $1.5 billion health benefit program for public workers, discussed the report Tuesday but isn't scheduled to take action until February.

Segal gets paid no matter how it turns out - right?

Here is a link to the report - Health Care Benefits Consultant Second Report

Another story - 3/26/2015 - State workers should pay more for health care, consultant says

Segal proposed introducing deductibles of $250 a year for single coverage and $500 for family coverage for the vast majority of workers in HMOs. Out-of-pocket maximums would increase from $500 to $1,000 for single coverage and from $1,000 to $2,000 for families.

Read more: http://host.madison.com/news/local/health_med_fit/state-workers-should-pay-more-for-health-care-consultant-says/article_0b74b6e9-6f81-58ad-b43c-04cde7e19d11.html#ixzz3algyaykl

Of course this will impact everyone and raise the costs such that people on the low-end will be forced to "opt-out"

Here is a link to Segal's early 2015 report -  Health Care Benefits Consultant First Report – Observations and 2016 Recommendations

Ostensibly the purpose is to "improve health outcomes and increase efficient delivery".  In reality this proposal simply "shifts costs dramatically to individuals and families".

Of course it will never be measured or proven.


Another story 2/19/2015 - State employees would get incentive to forgo state health insurance

But such an incentive could cost more than it saves, it said.

About 3,300 employees who currently opt out — and receive no inducements — would qualify for $2,000-a-year payments. Deloitte said the financial impact of the incentive program would range from costing $4 million more a year to saving the state $18 million a year.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wisconsin State Journal 5/28/14

Wisconsin looking again at self-insuring state workers

Self-insurance could save the state $20 million, partly by avoiding fees from the Affordable Care Act, but could cost $100 million more, according to reports in 2012 and 2013 by the consulting firm Deloitte

9/23/2014 - It's Your Benefit, published by Employee Trust Funds (ETF)

As said above this is not just a national issue.  Governor Walker and the GOP led Legislature mandated ETF to develop a HDHP ( High Deductible Health Plan) for State Employees.  The rationale of such plans is always presented as "giving people more choice and saving money."

In fact what it does is take the market place for health insurance in a direction that ultimately only those with the most money can afford health insurance.  It fundamentally ignores what "insurance" is suppose to do - share the risk and maintain the health of people.

It shifts the cost of insurance to the unlucky from the lucky or wealthy, high income individual.

WI 1848 Forward: Step #1 - Privatize #HealthCare #2 Eliminate Coverage as too expensive # 3 Everyone loses #1% wins

WI 1848 Forward: Shift regressive costs > #ETF #retirees & families:Step #1 -Private HlthCare #2 Eliminate Heathcare http://wi1848forward.blogspot.com/2014/05/step-1-privatize-healthcare-2-eliminate.html?spref=tw

WI 1848 Forward: Step 1) - Privatize #HealthCare 2) EliminateCoverage 3) Everyone loses #Walker Creates #DeathPanels

Ex_Gov #Walker #Ryan #Trump Plan WI 1848 Forward: How to make HealthCare unaffordable and unavailable -> Everyone loses

Dog Whistle Politics: Ian Haney-López - TED PBS Moyers

If you can find the audio of the CommonWealth of California and listen -

Commonwealth Club Ian Haney-Lopez: Race and Politics in AmericaThe program's guest is Ian Haney-Lopez, UC Berkeley professor of law and author of "Dog Whistle Politics." Haney-Lopez explains how a silent "dog whistle" language in politics sends one message to the electorate while sending a coded message to a targeted political base. He analyzes how that coded language has contributed to increasing inequality in America since the 1960s. For example, when campaigning for president in 1980, Ronald Reagan never mentioned race when he told stories of Cadillac-driving "welfare queens" and "strapping young bucks" buying T-bone steaks with food stamps. But Haney-Lopez contends that Reagan's "dog whistle" message was about racial minorities -- inaudible on one level, but clearly heard on another. In doing so, he says Reagan tapped into a long political tradition used strategically by both liberal and conservative politicians, and this language has remained relevant in the age of the Tea Party and President Obama.

Link to PODCAST: Commonwealth Club

#Trump Specialty - #Inequality disguised as Fairness - #Racism #Bigotry Plausible Deniability - WI 1848 Forward: Dog Whistle #Politics: Ian #Haney-López - #TED #PBS #Moyers

#Trump #Inequality disguised as Fairness - #Racism #Bigotry Plausible Deniability - WI 1848 Forward: Dog Whistle #Politics: #Haney-López - #TED #PBS #Moyers

Moyers - Is Net Neutrality Dead? 5/2014 New Threat ! PBS

12/14/17 Trump swamp buddies vote to kill net neutrality


11/21/17

Verizon-lawyer-turned-FCC-chairman Ajit Pai just released the final text of his plan to kill net neutrality, and it’s just as terrible as we thought it would be. [1]

[1] Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/11/21/the-fcc-has-unveiled-its-plan-to-rollback-its-net-neutrality-rules/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One of Trump's 100-day wonders ... ends internet privacy, all to make a buck -- ironic he thinks Trump Towers was wiretapped -- bogus! 3/30/17

FCC Chief Begins Rollback Of Net Neutrality Regulations April 26, 2017 - NPR

How To Comment on FCC rule proposals!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Walker does what ?  Almost to the bottom? August 2016.

Democurmudgeon blogger John Peterson gives a big "thank you" to Gov. Scott Walker for making Wisconsin No. 49 in the country in internet speed. He mocks Wisconsin media for reporting that Walker says the system is improving and moving forward. Yes, moving forward to second to last in the country, the blogger chides.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Always -- this is one of those struggles/issues that will not ever go away.  In a market economy we have to be ever vigilant for those that seek personal/corporate advantage that want to create a market society.


June 2015

Bad news: The House Appropriations Committee just voted for 3 provisions that gut Net Neutrality less than a week after the rules finally went into effect.All of the provisions are poison for Net Neutrality, but the worst would stop the FCC from implementing the rules until after the courts resolve all 10 lawsuits that have been filed against the rules — even though the courts just denied that very same request. That could mean no Net Neutrality for years.

October 2014

Update 9/6/2014

OnTheMedia: 

THE INTERNET SLOWDOWN

Update 6/2/2014:

May 2, 2014 the link:

BILL MOYERS: Welcome. If I told you that sovereign powers were about to put a toll booth on the street that leads from your house to the nearest Interstate, allowing your richest neighbors to buy their way to the open road while you were sent to the slow lane, you would no doubt be outraged. Well, prepare to scream bloody murder, because something like that could be happening to the Internet.

Yes, the Internet -- your Internet. Our Internet. The electronic public square that ostensibly allows everyone an equal chance to be heard. This democratic highway to cyberspace has thrived on the idea of "Net neutrality” -- that the Internet should be available to all without preferential treatment. Without preferential treatment. But Net neutrality is now at risk. And from its supposed guardian, the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC chairman Tom Wheeler is circulating potential new rules that reportedly would allow Internet service providers to charge higher fees for faster access, so the big companies like Verizon and Comcast could hustle more money from those who can afford to buy a place in the fast lane. Everyone else -- nonprofit groups, startups, the smaller, independent content creators, and everyday users – move to the rear. The Net, neutral no more.

The risk is summed up more generally and philosophically ...

Market Economy versus Market Society: Inequality and Civic Decisions - TED - Michael Sandel

Cable companies are trying to create an unequal playing field for internet speeds, but they're doing it so boringly that most news outlets aren't covering it. 
John Oliver explains the controversy and lets viewers know how they can voice their displeasure to the FCC.

(  www.fcc.gov/comments , for any interested parties)

We don't need more oligopolies and more inequality!  If things are slow invest in the infrastructure --- not unlike the InterState HighWay system.

Just another front in the Privatization War -

#TED : Clay #Shirky: Why #SOPA is a bad idea - #PIPA #WWW freedom #cispa

Net Neutrality is Under Attack
Don't let Congress break the Internet by dismantling Net Neutrality — share this video to raise the alarm.Take action here: https://www.battleforthenet.com/?call_tool=1
Posted by Fight For The Future on Tuesday, November 24, 2015

1/24/2017 email extract from <team@fightforthefuture.org> about  

Ajit Pai as pick for FCC chairman

Tiffiniy Cheng, Fight for the Future
[1] The Wall Street Journal: http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/02/13/what-the-fcc-might-think-on-the-comcast-twc-deal/ 

[2] USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/01/23/new-fcc-chairman-ajit-pai-no-net-neutrality-fan/96967372/

[3] ars Technica: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/01/fcc-to-be-led-by-ajit-pai-staunch-opponent-of-consumer-protection-rules/ 

....  more info  ...  the Federal Communications Commission, Ajit Pai 

#47% People vs #FCC #1% WI 1848 Forward: #Moyers - Is #NetNeutrality Dead? 5/2014 New Threat ! #PBS 1st Amendment -- John Oliver (HBO) - Let #FCC know what you think!  RIP 02/22/2018 #Resist 

#FCC #AjitPai WI 1848 Forward: John Oliver (HBO) - Is #NetNeutrality Dead? 6/1/2014 New Threat...What about #Trump? RIP 02/22/2018 #Resist 

WI 1848 Forward: John Oliver (HBO) - Is #NetNeutrality Dead? 6/1/2014 New Threat...What about #Trump? #Resist 

WI 1848 Forward: #Moyers - Is #NetNeutrality Dead? >> 8/2016 New Threat... #Walker has slowed us to 49th in U.S.  RIP 02/22/2018 #Resist 

#Trump administration announces Ajit #Pai as pick for FCC chairman--ex #Verizon Lobbyist <- out of the #TrumpSwamp #Resist 

WI 1848 Forward: #Moyers - Is #NetNeutrality Dead? https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/how-comment How To Comment on FCC rule proposals!  RIP 02/22/2018 

#Trump swamp buddies ( #FCC ) vote to kill #netneutrality 12/14/17 RIP 02/22/2018 #Resist 

GOP - You get what you pay for ! Unfortunately !

October 2014

Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson gives $650,000 to Wisconsin GOP as election draws near

April 2014

Pro-Walker Electioneering Group Gets $1 Million Contribution From Wisconsin Couple

Are they trying to block future access by opponents or drive up the price or both?

MADISON, WI — According to a report in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a media firm that has already purchased $2 million in television airtime this year on behalf of the Republican Governors Association (RGA) has reserved another nearly $2 million worth of time in the final weeks before the November election. One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross said the latest influx of out-of-state campaign cash looks like part of an increasingly desperate attempt to prop up Gov. Scott Walker by the special interest funded RGA. ...OneWisconsinNow

Citizen Action's Kevin Kane and Robert Kraig: Walker's BadgerCare decision costs state $1 million a day

• From Twitter 2014/08/23 and WSJ article Scott Walker solicited money for conservative group, records show
  
  Read more: http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/scott-walker-solicited-money-for-conservative-group-records-show/article_e17d6f2a-f423-5a1f-9b2e-464c4f18b174.html#ixzz3BFbdxNK2
• 
  
• 
  
• 

  Mike McCabe Bob, I think what's new about this latest batch of unsealed documents is the revelation about Gogebic Taconite giving $700,000 to Club for Growth. If the public had known about this secret donation when the mining bill was being debated, it would have cast a different light on that legislation, to say the least. What also was new and very striking was how the Walker camp was instructing donors to funnel money to a single group (Wisconsin Club for Growth) for the express purpose of getting around campaign contribution limits and donor disclosure as well as having more control over the message in advertising than if you have a bunch of supposedly independent groups doing ads.

10/23/2014

JOHN DOE INVESTIGATION | MORE RECORDS RELEASED FROM FIRST PROBE

Scott Walker responds to revelation campaign treasurer got inside info on real-estate deal

Read more: http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/scott-walker-responds-to-revelation-campaign-treasurer-got-inside-info/article_153cde62-2b1c-5453-aaef-62096dc79acd.html#ixzz3H07XjP00

WI 1848 Forward: #GOP - You get what you pay for !  Unfortunately ! #1% #Elites #Koch #Adelson #Romney #Walker #RGA

WI 1848 Forward: #GOP - You get what you pay for !  Unfortunately ! #1% #Elites #Koch #Adelson #Walker #Gogebic

Mary Burke - Who is she? Democratic nominee for governor of Wisconsin.

Who is Mary Burke ?

... Burke, the presumed Democratic nominee for governor, contrasts starkly with the image constructed of her by allies of her opponent. Supporters of Gov. Scott Walker have sought to portray the "Madison millionaire," as they refer to Burke, as spineless and incompetent. 

Read more: http://host.madison.com/news/local/writers/jack_craver/the-real-mary-burke-how-longtime-friends-and-business-partners/article_05f5b9d2-04a7-580b-93d0-df32f69ae5a4.html#ixzz2z4wdUZUN

Mary #Burke - WI 1848 Forward: Who is she? Democratic nominee for governor of Wisconsin. #WiVote

You better Vote if you like having Health Insurance

Post Election 2014 - Is it to late?  Only if you just sit back!
~~~~~~~~~~~
Given how many times the House of Representatives has tried to annul it >50  !!!

It's not just a national issue.  It's local as well.  GOP Governors, Red States have done just about everything to make it difficult for ACA.  Many are the same Governors and States who want to deny choice to women, the vote to the poor or elderly and marriage equality.

Grokking Democracy via IEEE ... on voting and social media

Walker's War on the Elderly, Rural, Middle Income and Poor of Wisconsin

Joel McNally: Scott Walker's bad ideas put state on the wrong road

9/23/2014 - It's Your Benefit, published by Employee Trust Funds (ETF)

As said above this is not just a national issue.  Governor Walker and the GOP led Legislature mandated ETF to develop a HDHP ( High Deductible Health Plan) for State Employees.  The rationale of such plans is always presented as "giving people more choice and saving money."

In fact what it does is take the market place for health insurance in a direction that ultimately only those with the most money can afford health insurance.  It fundamentally ignores what "insurance" is suppose to do - share the risk and maintain the health of people.

It shifts the cost of insurance to the unlucky from the lucky or wealthy, high income individual.

WI 1848 Forward: You better #Vote if you like having #HealthInsurance #ACA #ObamaCare #WiVote #WiUnion #Union #99%

You better #Vote if you like having #HealthInsurance #ACA WI 1848 Forward: #WiUnion #Union #99% - #Walker & 1%