The Rotting Corpse of the ACA

 I'm not a fan of the 40+ day Government shutdown, but one positive is shining some light on the ACA.

I blogged about Healthcare Reform in September 2009. At the time, what was to become "Obama's signature achievement" was being bounced around in the halls of Congress and our media was doing it's best to keep us in the dark. Few folks could understand the basic underlying principle, and nobody except the Architect (Johnathan Gruber) knew the details - not even Obama.

Gruber sold the bill to the public by the mushroom farming approach (keep them in the dark and feed them shit). He kept Congress partitioned into special interests, and he gave Obama plausible deniability by not filling him in on the details. In the end, we latched onto a quote from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi -  "We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it", and Obama's "if you like your health care plan, you'll be able to keep your health care plan". Regardless the obvious deception, the ACA became law in 2010 with full implementation delayed until 2014.

I used the Health Marketplace as an individual (not part of an employer plan) from 2014 to 2023. And has been repeatedly reported by others, premiums skyrocketed and coverage declined (rising deductibles). People whose employer managed the benefit were somewhat oblivious, depending on how much the employer subsidized.

Note: The ACA was nearly repealed in 2017 after passing the House but failing in the Senate by one vote - cancer brain McCain.

Ok, enough with history - I think everyone gets the irony of "AFFORDABLE Care Act".

The ACA was written by insurers and  providers, and reflects these group's financial interests. As is oft the case with making "the way we've always done it" law, i.e. set in stone, there is no way to curtail the rising costs of medical care - hence ever increasing premiums, or in the shit-stain era (Biden), taxpayer subsidies.

There are some interesting opportunities to effect intelligent change in the US healthcare, but any serious change is predicated on Congressional willingness to creamating the rotting corpse of the ACA.

Covid opened the kimono of the Federal Governments existing systems (NIH, CDC, FDA) so the public could see just how pathetic they are. It also, (hopefully), educated the public to realize that healthcare in America is not one giant monolith, but rather a very loosely connected network of ~7000 hospitals that seem more focused on protecting themselves from malpractice suits, than practicing effective medicine. (I remember trying to rank hospitals on their covid care and discovered they siloed that information out of reach of mere humans like myself).

So change is needed, some change is easily within reach (structural), change due to AI is probably 5 years out (assuming Congress removes impediments).

I would love for a healthcare overhaul to be Trump's signature achievement. I wonder if Elon has some extra time...

When the AI "Future" is Wrong

 The future is one area where a betting man can make some money wagering that the influencers will be wrong - of course nobody's going to take that bet.

I was listening to Joe Rogan interview Elon Musk. Elon was hesitant to make prognostications about how AI and Robotics will ultimately shape human existence - smart man.

Joe however, plowed ahead and made a couple classic boo-boos concerning the AI-impacted future. IMHO Joe's mistakes are:

(1) The future is zero sum, i.e.  Heaven on earth when we solve all of today's problems.

(2) Human nature will be modified by the change in external environment. The Star Trek Next Generation syndrome.

Number 1 has no long-term historical basis. Just imagine trying to explain to Ben Franklin all the issues of life in 2025. Poor old Ben's head would be hurting as there is no possible way wise old Ben could've anticipated the changes. 

Number 1 is suspect even for a 30 year window - think back to 1995 and try to embrace the scope of the changes that have taken place because of cheap computing and global connectivity.

Number 2 immediately makes me think of a failure of Marxism - thinking that people's innate drives can be "fixed" by a change in their environment. Only in Hollywood does that work.

AI and cheap Robotics will certainly have a huge impact, but there always seems to be a need for more. 

There will be new problems, new challenges. Guaranteed.

Why Conservatives can be very wrong

For the record, I am Conservative.

It has been very easy for me to go through life oblivious to Government at all levels. One reason is that I obey the law, gainfully employed, raised a family, married to one woman, and follow Jesus. Another reason is that the machinations of Government have little impact on my everyday life. Consider the following:

The Federal Government spending = $7 T

The US GDP for 2025  = $28 T

The US Stock Market = $53 T.

So between Federal spending and Stock Market activity, which has more impact on the overall economic activity (GDP) and by extension, my life?

Now for the depressing stuff. 

I joke sometimes about people in positions of leadership who "solidly occupy the left-side of the IQ distribution curve". But, scraping away my lame attempt at humor reveals that there are about 40 million Americans trying to make a go of it with an IQ of 85 or less.

According Dr. Jordan Peterson, (and Wikipedia), the US military will not draft someone with an IQ below 83, as they cannot be trained for and be successful in any role in the military.

For much of my life I considered myself a "winner" because I was smart. Slowly my hubris faded as I realized my success was by God's Providence. Now as an old man I feel compassion for low-IQ people and concern that Conservatives are guilty of ignoring the very real plight of millions of Americans.

Of course there are shysters, like the BLM founders, the myriad of NGOs revealed by DOGE, etc. who game the system and manipulate low-IQ people. But that doesn't change the fact that low-IQ people exist and are trying to survive in an increasingly sophisticated world.

We Conservatives must shoulder the very real responsibility of our fellow man. This isn't something we can ignore while we daily check the progress of our investments.

Social media algorithms can flood our minds with the extremes of low-IQ people, causing us to be jaded, and numb. But ignoring the plight of millions of Americans is simply going to elect leftist shysters who are willing to use the simple-minded for political gain.

We Conservatives must do better.

Have you noticed the shutdown?

 On September 30th 2025, the Federal government shutdown. First thing that came to mind was a quip by President Ronald Reagan "Let's shut it down and see if anybody notices".

As is usual, no shortage of partisan wrangling about who is at fault - at the moment it is the "Schumer shutdown" - after Senate minority leader's refusal to pass a Continuing Resolution unless Trump agrees to pour $1.5 Trillion into Medicaid.

Remember when "Billion" was a relevant unit of measure?

Anyways, I don't notice the Government shutdown. Social Security works, the USPS still delivers my junk mail and ICE is still deporting illegals. 100+ Trump administration picks were confirmed - instead of being held hostage by an angry Democrat minority. Trump is dealing with Russia, Hamas, and Venezuela. The department of war is doing it's thing without pause. Trump is funding the WIC program with tariff money. Like I said, I'm not noticing the shutdown.

Trump is threatening mass government employee layoffs - would I notice then?

Interesting times.

Freedom of Speech, and Responsibility

 On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk was assassinated by a young man filled with hate. Read the news to know more as I am going to touch on something the media won't.

Everyone has a platform. Joe Rogan. Jordan Peterson. Mother to child. Father to coworker.  Husband to wife. Friendly chat at a bar. Everyone has a platform. Everyone has a fiduciary responsibility (look it up) to their platform. Yes, the Government cannot compel our speech, but consequences compel our responsibility.

What we allow into our minds shapes us. A 22yr old man allowed hatred of Charlie into his mind. The hatred fermented into resolve. The resolve became action and now Charlie's children will grow up without their father. Likewise, the shooter's life is over, and his family devasted.

Two things should be obvious: (1) There are weak-minded people who are influenced by bad thinking and are not self-aware of how screwed up their worldview has become. (2) Those purveyors of lethal hate are responsible for the poisoning the weak minds following their platform.

I remember a debate between Douglass Murray and Dave Smith on Joe Rogan. Murray was frustrated with Dave as Dave clearly had not prepared and was simply spouting stupid stuff. Douglass early on made one statement that stuck with me (and I'm paraphrasing rather loosely)

"If you don't know what you're talking about, keep your mouth shut"

And Angelica Huston's line from the movie "Never Been Kissed"

"Do not speak unless it improves the silence"

Dave, and Joe - comedians by trade, didn't understand the importance of what Douglass expressed. After all, they make noise for laughs. So began a very long podcast of Douglass educating two imbeciles - not a debate at all.

I'm hopeful that the platforms enabling those defecating hate into the willing mouths of the weak-minded will be sued out of existence. Charlie's wife certainly has standing and Charlie's assassination is real harm.

Speak the truth - it matters.

Is Immigration Really Needed?

I'm pro-immigration.

But I've also seen how our immigration law has been gamed to create a form of slavery (H1b visas). And of course I watched as the Shit-stain administration threw open the southern border and let in the  garbage.

The US is on course to post a $29 Trillion dollar GDP - that is a lot of activity. China and the EU the European Union $20 T respectively, and that glop of shit on the heel of G7 nation's shoe, Russia, will likely break $2.2 T (if Trump doesn't burn them).

All the major economies are facing decline because of declining birth rates. The US is unique in that we can supplement our work force via immigration because...(Wait for it)...people want to live here.

If our GDP, i.e. lifestyle, is dependent upon a number of workers, then YES we need immigration to offset the birthrate decline.

But, what if we had another way to get the same amount of work done with far fewer people? A productivity increase an order of magnitude greater than that created by personal computing and internet.

Both the US and China are on the cusp of a robotic and AI revolution. Robotics for the mundane labor and AI for the process jobs, (most of Government), programming and development jobs, most of the medical industry, and a very high percentage of military. As this develops, we won't need lawn care/farm workers from Central America, Doctors from India, or Carol at the DMV.

Europe is dead, having been parasitized by Mohammed's goat fuckers who want to live like it is 900AD. China is just now starting the slide caused by Mao-era decisions. And the US is behind the power curve a bit because of the illegal immigration of worthless scum that we are currently supporting, and the downfall of our higher education.

“The times, they are a changin” - Bob Dylan

The first 100 days are behind us

 Let me open by saying it is good to have a cognitively capable leader for POTUS.

Let me then remind that much of the first 100 days was spent fixing screwups created by the Shit-stain administration.

I've never understood what was supposed to be so important about the first 100 days. I've been politically conscious since Carter, and only since Bush the younger has the media been making a big deal about getting out of the blocks in a 4 year race.

Putin and Zelenski are still killing each other, and only at the funeral for the worst Pope in my lifetime did Trump and Zelenski hammer out some sort of deal. All we know is that Zelenski gave a very peace-centric statement after the Trump meeting. Maybe we should give Fauci to Putin.

It is nice to see the DOJ arresting immigration law breaking judges. There's still hope that Adam Schiff will get busted for treason. Maybe the DOJ and Congress will drill down into the autopen usage.

At a lower level, far-left and general libtards are being arrested for vandalizing Teslas - nice to see the System do it's job.

DOGE scared the shit out of the Swamp - even with activist judges impeding. Sad that the savings numbers have been revised downward, but still very happy that the money laundering networks Democrats have used have been exposed. It still looking possible that Congress will make some permanent changes.

Nice to see Kristee Noem, Pam Bondi, Kash Patel and Pete Hegseth fire subversive shit-weasels who had been undermining this administration's efforts.

I firmly believe Elon Musk should become America's first Autistic winner of the highest civilian award.

Democrats are still thrashing about trying to find a message. They're still irrelevant.

The mainstream media is trying to convince Americans to hate Trump by fear-mongering about the economy. But it is pretty clear that their polls are garbage, because Americans are spending.

Trump is busy renegotiating tariff-free trade with most of the world. Regardless of what you believe about tariffs, Trump is wielding the power of our $27 T economy expertly to our advantage.

I've been relaxed. Trump is doing what he promised. He is doing far, far better this time around.

Like I opened, it is good to have a real leader. I hope Americans can see that ruling via an unelected administrative system is grossly inferior. 

The Left found a weapon

 Trump has been blazing ahead at record speed while Democrats writhe about like Vampires in the sunlight.

Some smart lefty discovered a way to slow Trump down - TROs (Temporary Restraining Order). So the smart lefties went judge shopping until they found a handful of libtard Federal judges who are crazy enough to put their reputation in the line by issuing nuisance TROs and injunctions. 

Although he didn't directly say this, (he doesn't post), Chief Justice Roberts opined that Trump's bluster about impeaching lifetime appointed Federal judges is contrary to 200+ years of American history and that the proper way forward is through the Appellate courts. Remember that this is the guy who was going to find the leak in the Court - wonder how that is going?

Trump is smart not to abandon moral superiority by simply ignoring the Judges, but he certainly cannot be successful in 4 years moving at the glacial speed of the judiciary.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich weighed in slamming Justice Roberts for not doing his job. Newt believes Roberts could slap down these rogue Judges very quickly and set a tone for the judiciary to stay in their lane.

The Left still doesn't have a plan on how's to reconnect with voters after the Shit-stain administration. But they have figured out a way to gum up the works for Trump.

This is a crossroads for Trump and it will be interesting to see how he navigates this obvious obstruction.

Cleaning up Biden's war

Some months ago I wrote about the stupidity of the Biden administration fighting a proxy war against Russia. I was, and am pissed at the horrific loss of life caused by politicians conducting an incremental conflict. World War I death rates.

3 years have gone by and Russia is solidly entrenched in Ukraine. Russia, which is nothing more than a glop of dog shit on America's shoe. A 3rd rate military at best.

Obama, (while Biden was sleeping), drew his little stupid red lines - not really, but his incremental support for Ukraine gave Putin more than he deserved. The result is the current mess. 100% Biden's fault.

Trump is going to clean this up. Too late to gain anything worthwhile by pouring more money into Ukraine. Not clear at all that Zelenski is rational.

Time to end this war. If NATO doesn't like it - tough, enough have died.

Putin is a fool. Trump is not.

Who will step up?

 I've been paying attention to politics since Carter and Ford squared off. Now as a geezer I pay a little more attention to political strategy.

And I'm flat out mystified at the Democrat party. Are they really just going to stand on the sidelines and hope Trump explodes? Given his experience, staff, energy and the stench of his predecessor's term, I think "waiting" is retarded. Also, Trump's direction is wildly popular.

Now I know that the libtard-segment of Democrats are making really stupid noise on the irrelevant legacy media (viewed by fives of people) - but the flow of events on X clearly support Trump.

I know Trump is using Elon to drive the Swamp crazy. I know Trump used Vance to bitch slap European pencil-pushers. I'm guessing that each of the rest of Trump's cabinet will take turns making libtard heads explode.

There are probably three "Trumps" waiting in the wings. Conceivably, the Trump legacy could stretch for a generation. I have to believe somebody in the Democrat party understands this. Right?

West coast governors are obvious idiots, East coast states are shitholes, so I can't see anything Presidential on either coast. It is almost like nobody is leading the Democrat party.

Rudderless but Still Dangerous

Trump is making best use of his first 100 days.

Vivek parted company with Elon nicely - likely because Elon's/Vivek's egos forced Trump to make a choice. Sad, but a fact of life with ultra-high performing people. Trump's used to it.

Now the media focus is.. unfocused. Why? Because Trump is moving so fast that the legacy media is always 3 steps behind Trump. By the time they catch up on one issue, Trump has sprinted ahead on two more. Kind of fun to watch.

Normally the Democrats count on the legacy media to run cover for them, which gives them a chance to mislead/shape whatever policy/distraction necessary to advance their cause. Now the Democrat "resistance" is thrashing about, performing to an empty theater. The American public is enthralled with real leadership and in no mood to revisit the stench of the shit-stain(Biden) era.

Democrats are leaderless and they don't have a message that could possibly blunt Trump's momentum. Remember, Trump's momentum is on at least 3 fronts: Staff confirmations, Deportations, and DOGE. And unlike the shit-stain (Biden) years, Trump is leading the Media around - all media not just the largely irrelevant legacy media.

Trump body-slammed California governor Newsom over obvious incompetence. He nuked FEMA over the hurricane Heline response. And of course DOGE revelations are never ending. If the Epstein list is revealed, the older Democrats will be destroyed. If Obama divorces and comes out of the closet, the younger Democrats will be tarnished by association. Who in the Democrat ranks can interest normal Americans right now?

Trumps going to get a pass from the public for at least 6 months because of the (shit-stain) Biden shameless closeout to his Presidency. But this first stuff is easy - the hard stuff is yet to come.

About mid-summer we will know if the American public has the stomach for real change.