Healthcare Insurance Debate

While we do not yet know what it is the Senate is going to propose concerning its Health Insurance Reform bill, there is some speculation that it will not include a public option. We anticipate that it will require that everyone have health insurance, that insurance companies can not refuse coverage for people with pre-existing conditions and possibly remove caps on annual and lifetime coverage amounts. However, if these items are included and there is no public option, then the US Congress will be giving the health insurance industry a license to steal.

If there is not going to be some control on what the cost for the coverages will be, the industry will say, "Having to cover everyone under these circumstances is expensive and the premiums will reflect the cost." They will say this whether it is true or not. Then our current 15 - 20% annual increases will seem small when they start ramping up the rates and blaming the legislation for it. The end result will be people will not be able to afford the coverage and will have to go uninsured. Small businesses will not be able to afford the premiums that will be charged and will have to drop coverage for their employees, who in turn will not be able to afford the individual coverage and will have to go uninsured. Without the public option, the problem of the uninsured is going to worsen, not be cured.

Peace Prize

Much ado has been made regarding President Obama getting the Noble Peace Prize. Many have said that he has not done anything to earn it, which may be true. However, some committee in Oslo obviously disagrees, and we are required to accept their determination regarding this.

What is not being discussed is that the award is likely much more of a rebuke of the GWB policies than an endorsement of President Obama's actions to date. Certainly, Europe was not a fan of our last President, and Obama is much more adored by our neighbors to the East. Nonetheless, it seems that the award to the newly elected President so quickly after taking office speaks more to what his predecessor blindly did regarding the wars than what Obama has done or will do regarding them. Just as importantly, Obama stated during the campaign and recently regarding the Afghanistan War that he is looking to reduce troop numbers and initiate a complete withdrawal as soon as possible, this had to make the Committee happy.

The award may also be a message to President Obama that there are high expectations for him regarding the two wars that he inherited.

No doubt after today that the world is watching.