Life Scope

So I was reading.....

2009-08-24T22:47:00.001-06:00

Here is a link to Obama's press conference about his vacation in Martha's Vineyard. And this guy totally threadjacks the debate. And says private health care is ruining the country.

And where in the world could he get this statistic?

....More than two thirds of the American people want a single payer health care system. And if they cant have a single payer system 77% of all Americans want a strong government-run public option on day one (86% of democrats, 75% of independents, and 72% republicans). Basically everyone......

I don't believe it. 72% of rational, resonable republicans cannot really want the government to take a larger role in taking over our health care system. Has anybody seen the town hall debates and Obama's retreat and backing away?

When before having a single payer or a strong government funded option was a must for the left,
Obama has clearly stated that health care reform is not all about that.

2009-08-23T21:22:00.002-06:00

Okay so here is my potential letter in rough draft form to the Utah representatives. I welcome feedback and suggestions. I published a comical version of this earlier.

To the honorable representatives of Utah that represent me as a voter.

There are five health conditions that represent 75 percent of our nations’ health care costs. Coronary artery disease, diabetes, congestive heart failure, asthma, and depression account for roughly 1.8 trillion dollars in spending each year. If we were to lower those costs by 10 percent we would save 180 billion dollars. Although not a cure-all many of these conditions can be treated by lifestyle changes. Helping our nation this way seems incredibly important- the obesity rate among children is epidemic, and all the food pyramids, commercials encouraging activity, and billboards advocating 5 fruits and vegetables a day seem to do little to slow our nation’s ever expanding national waistline.

I think it only fair that if we are to each subsidize those who continually make unhealthy lifestyle choices, we ought to have a program that encourages permanent change. As the occasional billboard seems to provide little motivation, a program that provided monetary compensation for individuals who made radical lifestyle changes would seem more successful. Choices that result in a healthier lifestyle and lower costs ought to be compensated. As well as rather than spend millions on preventive care for more tests and screenings, perhaps those millions would be better spent rewarding individuals who bring down health costs for us all and who never cause these health care costs in the first place.

A program that could save 10 percent of the nation’s costs by bringing down expenses related to lifestyle choices could be motivated and funded by lifestyle changes. We could potentially promise to pass 3 percent of these future savings directly into what motivates Americans the most- (or almost the most in our consumer driven society) our checkbooks. And then we could use the other 2 percent to provide health care insurance for those who need it the most and cannot afford it. Similar programs are already in place for some employers wishing to lower private health care corporate costs. Why can’t the biggest corporation of all follow suit?

-Ryan Burningham

Live long and prosper... Star Trek!

2009-08-18T21:34:00.004-06:00

Star Trek was a good movie. Maybe even a great movie. It was like sprite.. or movie popcorn. Refreshing and always good tasting- and surprisingly for a franchise that is more than four decades old- not stale or flat.

I am not really a big star trek fan. For some reason growing up it just never really appealed to me. Maybe it was the extreme public nerdiness associated with being a "Trekkie" and speaking Klingon. I always went for the more of the fantasy novels and fiction instead.

All the same I couldn't but help thrill at the sight of this scene when "old Spock" greeted "new Spock". It was like when sprite is really bubbly!

My other favorite part definitely had to be when George Kirk sacrificed himself and his ship for the sake of his crew and family. That had to be the most human part of the movie.

p.s. Spock fights cool. What would happen if he fought in the UFC?

Socialized Candy for everyone!

2009-08-18T21:17:00.002-06:00

The problem with government run health care is basically this. It is that the government always underestimates what it will spend on public programs. Hence social security and medicare and a host of other entitlement spending. So 1 trillion dollars is probably a conservative estimate from the Congressional Budget Office.

Watching the health care debate has been so interesting the past three or four days. At first it seemed like the democrats were gung ho about a "public option" for health care. Then it seemed like they were backing off that option and going for a "co-op option" And that seems less terrible, but I still don't trust it, or know very much about it. Now it seems like they might take advantage of the clear democratic majority in the senate and fight till the death to get the bill passed, even with President Obama's falling poll numbers.

So what will Congress do once it comes back in session? I think the critical part of this issue is that when entitlement spending is in place and if any president tried to reform it in the coming years it would be poltical death. After all, how would America view a president that cut back on health care spending... once it was in place? Would an American public accuse of him of transporting America back to the dark ages? But what if it bankrupts the nation and makes health care worse for all of us?

2009-08-14T22:30:00.004-06:00

I want you all to know that I am now at around 40 -60 page views. But I want someone to leave a comment. Even... wow "Ryan I didn't know you were such an idiot till you proved it with your writing." DO IT NOW. :) thanks. And my favorite post is still "get paid to eat less big macs"

I don't like Punjabis

2009-08-14T17:39:00.009-06:00

Are we all racist? At least to some extent? That's a question I've asked myself from time to time. Because I don't like Punjabis. (see post below if you don't know that word)

You're probably heard more rascist things than that in life.

But I am surprised that I could say something like that. In high school I loved to read "bless me ultima" about catholic and chicano culture. Some of my favorite books to read have been the the chosen about jews, and to kill a mockingbird has to be there too. Who doesn't like Jerry Spenilli's Maniac Magee?

When I lived in California's San Joaquin valley I've had the opportunity to meet lots of Punjabis. And I think we all sometimes fear what we don't know.

I had such racist thoughts as these... why are these people here? Why don't they speak English? Why are there customs so different? Why do they insist on being so different? and perhaps most racist of all... why do they have to turn America into India? Why can't they just stay home?

Wow, just reading that makes me feel bad. What do you think? Are people... on average racist?

Oh and I liked learning about Punjabis today and learning that the Great Khali is Punjabi. I've read that when a person gets to know or has a friend from another culture, that persons negative perceptions can change a lot. Not that the Great Khali is my friend is my friend you see. I just think he is cool!

So because of this I am going to get myself a Punjabi pen pal. Who wants to try it with me? Your pen pal doesn't even have to be Punjabi. :)

Welcome to my Blog!

2009-08-14T14:10:00.006-06:00

Page views on my blog currently. 4. Welcome to my blog! Hoped for page views..... haha... Well okay more than 4. Feel welcome to take a look! This is my first attempt at a blog. You should read my favorite post called "eat less big macs". You will be the first people to read it.

Everything and Nothing and Punjabis

2009-08-14T12:21:00.006-06:00

Well more of everything and nothing today (thanks to Chuch for that title). REALLY switching gears…. Have you ever meet a Punjabi? Well I have. Lots. Living in Central California there are thousands of Punjabi people. Mostly they have come to here for economic reasons from the Punjabi province on the border of Pakistan and India. Driving around in the ice cream trucks, owning mini-markets, living in the suburbs, filling professional occupations, they are everywhere.

They really stick out. You go to the park and you could see a dozen men in their large turbans, wearing flowing white robes. The women are more colorful, in colors ranging from orange to purple. They don’t speak Hindu as a first language and they follow Sikhism, which is a pretty interesting read. Being an ignorant American you would think that everyone coming from India would be Indian, but apparently that is totally not true.

So guess who is Punjabi. The great Khali.
He also plays that really huge Russian terrorist in Get Smart. I love that part when he hugs Steve Carell.

And speaking of movie magic… who else thinks that Rachel McAdams in the Time Travelers Wife will be good? The Notebook is a good movie in my list. The great Khali and I will fight anyway who says otherwise.
-RB

Wow people are really angry

2009-08-11T21:59:00.000-06:00

I don't know if people have felt quite so much anger and frustration at the government in a long time. Here. I think a lot of it has to do with the recession, but also a feeling that the government is wildly out of control and Obama says one thing and does entirely another thing.

Get paid to eat less Big Macs

2009-08-11T20:42:00.002-06:00

I have this idea that I have been kicking around in my head. So I was sitting at a Mexican restaurant (eating of course) on a break from work when this idea popped into my head to make me/us money. What if the government paid us to be healthy?

I had just read an article which said that obesity costs have risen by 87 percent in the last decade. Just in the last decade. In just a little under half my life span, costs have nearly doubled. We are all basically subsidizing our couch potato uncle. Ewwww... obesity.

Now not saying that I am immune to a few extra pounds here or there. But I am not extremely overweight. Nor do I disrespect my chunkier friends, a few whom I hold dear.

But basically my idea works like this. Here is an analogy. Lets say that for some reason, a group of Americans descendants of the pilgrims had a boat with several gas powered engines on it. And they were traveling back to England to recreate the trek (or something historical). And they did it once. Back in 1999. Now they are did it again, in the same boat circa 2009

The head guy in charge is looking at the figures and deciding how much everyone should pay for gas and stuff for the next decade. Something catches his eye. He is like... while adjusting for inflations and oil speculation in gas prices and the cycle of OPEC distributing costs... blah blah blah..... he says "Holy Smokes! With all the costs adjusted and the exact same equipment on the boat earlier we spent 87 percent more on fuel this year!"
He ponders this.... and ponders... he looks down at his gut. He thinks of his wife's criticisms and how he doesn't quite fit into those pants he fit into in the 90's. That has to be it, he thinks. If only there were a way to control costs.....all that extra weight has to be costing us more in gas......

Pondering over it some more he comes up with this plan. He thinks his wife will approve. After all, obese people he knows cost 42 percent more or $1,429 dollars per year.

So... he decides to pay everybody to help control costs in 2019 when they make the same trip. He decides that for every pound the passengers lose he will save like 5 dollars in gas costs. So he decides to incentivize losing weight. He writes a letter to everyone (in an abbreviated version here)

Look. Everyone. We all are getting fatter. And it is costing us more to go to England and back every decade. So I want everyone to get a health checkup this year who decides to participate. And in 1 more year when we make a special trip to South Africa, I am going to pay you $2.50 dollars for every pound you lose and keep off by that point. In fact... I will pay you every year we spend money on gas. People. I think this will make my significant other happier.

Love,
the Captain.

They open it up and think... wow! I could make money by going on this trip! I am going to buy a treadmill right now! And their kids pay attention too. After all, everybody knows that kids watching a TV commercial encouraging them to go outside and play will probably do quite the opposite and stay and watch TV some more. The kids further adjust their thinking and say... wow the government must be getting serious. Those expensive billboards encouraging me to eat 5 fruits and vegetables a day haven’t helped me lose any weight! I just ate more fried bananas!

So there. Here is my plan. I am going to serious-ize it and write it to my local congressman and see what he says. Good thing my congressmen are skinnier than usual. I will tell you what he says.

Say no to Obamacare

2009-08-11T19:36:00.000-06:00

Ever since I was in third grade I have been reading the paper. And most of the time I haven't done much about it. Although I wanted to blog for a long time, the tipping point has been when my friend created his blog.

So today I clicked on Drudgereport which links to this article plastered all over the net. The president held a town hall meeting. And unlike the screaming opposition some Congressmen have faced in their home districts President Obama took mostly polite questions. Rasmussen reports shows that the President is facing ever increasing criticism over his health plan. Well duh.

Although there are definitely both sides to the debate- and I am sure if President Obama had a crystal ball with all the right answers about a politically viable health care plan he would use it. However, his current plan is facing an upward climb.

The real problem with health care in this country is not that it doesn't work for most people. It does. However it doesn’t work for the 44 million without health insurance. And for those it does work, it works kinda like a decent used car you are stuck with- hoping it still runs in 15 years.

In my view, “health care reform” has for the last 40 years has maintained the status quo while expanding the benefits to ever more people. I think there are a lot better ways to help cover those uninsured Americans. It is not to spend another trillion dollars at a time when government spending is increasing. Nor is the answer in handing over health care to government at least partially beholden to special interests, medical malpractice lawyers, and networks of health care providers standing to gain from a new bill.

I also thought my friends' post at redspending.com had it right about socialized anything. The answer is real reform that controls costs and reduces government involvement, although that would be difficult and require a heady dose of courage.

I think the President himself said it best when he said.

“UPS and FedEx are doing just fine. It's the Post Office that's always having problems”...

Here is an article written by Robert Samuelson with some interesting statistics here about the history of how government health care coverage has expanded to more people. George Bush didn't have it right either in 2003 with the prescription drug benefit.

This is also interesting… for all the rumor-mongering and uniformed people, the white house has set up this website to combat rumors.
Get the facts about the stability and security you get from health insurance reform | Health Insurance Reform Reality Check I the scariest things about this bill are not the rumors but that the government would be more involved at all! 1984 here we come. just kidding. 2010 here we come.

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Your comments are welcome!!!! :) And also watch for an upcoming post with ideas how to fix this used car of a health car system. This will do for a first post.