just curious

In a world that seems to give us little but scary news any more the story of the young women being rescued from captivity in Cleveland was indeed great news. Three young women that had disappeared as much as a decade ago returned to their families. Certainly this is only the beginning of a new story and no doubt there will be some trauma to their readmission to society. But this can’t possibly be anything near like what they and their families have been through. We wish them our best and we truly wish that every disappearance story ended with the victim still alive. It is hell for their families for sure.

Squeeze those kids every day and be sure to let them know they are loved. And try your best to always know where they are.

Health Spending Slows Dramatically
Little noted in the main stream media is that the pace of health care spending has slowed dramatically over the past couple years. This could mean that the disastrous calculations for programs such as Medicare are way off. Such calculations were based on double digit growth forever. We are currently flatlining on medical spending growth and it looks like a trend. Read it here and be sure to read the links in the article.

Elizabeth Warren: Student Loans At Banker’s Rates
Well look here – here is a United State Senator who is willing to have our country bet on its future rather than trying to starve our future. Elizabeth Warren’s first bill will give loans to students at the extremely low rates that the Fed loans money to banks at. This sounds almost like the same concept that drove the first GI bill. We have large group of young people who lives are being screwed with. We have major major needs in this country. We need those youngsters to get educated and not be put into debt for the rest of their lives. Then we need to take on the projects that will finally push the US back into the world leadership in so many areas where we have given it up through terrible management during the Bush years. This is a good start.

Grassley Offers 77 Amendments To Immigration Bill
Can he personally stop the flood that has already happened by clogging the hole up with paper? Chuck, did anyone tell you that the reason many of these folks are here is because the captains of industry were hiring them at low wages to bust unions? I am betting none of your amendments deal with this problem. These are the guys that line your pocket with “campaign contributions” and it has always been illegal. You are becoming a caricature, Chuck. A caricature of the totally out of touch rich politician who has no idea what goes on in his state.

The Dow’s At What?
An online advertisement really made me chuckle last week. As the Dow is breaking yet another barrier, a little online ad informs me that the rich people are selling all their stock because the economy is in the worst shape ever. Huh?

And while no one was looking, our deficits are decreasing dramatically. Unfortunately the insane austerity policy will probably stop that trend. We need to get Republicans out of the way so we can let the adults run things for at least a couple years before the next election. Too bad the house districts are so gerrymandered that Republicans can lose the conglomerate total vote for the house and still get an overwhelming majority.