OlDawg

I was struck by the fact he was afraid to go back to his home country because a ‘rival gang’ would harm him/family. If he’s not in a gang, what rival? Apparently, his family is still there and okay… That’s just me though, and it doesn’t negate his limited habeus corpus as a person here without true legal status. Of course, Immigration judges are part of the Executive Branch (for those that don’t know). Not the Judicial Branch. So, there’s a conflict with a District judge being involved in the first place in my mind. I thought the article was good because it just layed out the confusing facts. Never heard of the author before. But, read up on him. Young guy. Thought he did a pretty good job.

Informative read and why I say Trump Administration hasn’t violated SCOTUS—yet. [Hidden Content]

1) He hasn’t ignored SCOTUS—yet. Swing and a miss. 2) Talking? You’ve got to be kidding me, right? Swing and a miss. 3) Federal money comes with strings. SCOTUS has ruled on this numerous times. Swing and a miss. That’s 3. Next batter. In contrast, the previous Administration (whoever the heck was running it) ignored SCOTUS numerous times on student loan forgiveness, ignored federal law & the Constitution by allowing/encouraging illegal immigration, and applied undue pressure to social media & press outlets using the force of the federal government. Just sayin’.

As a libertarian, I’m no big Trump fan. But, he was better than the alternatives. I didn’t vote in the last cycle (first time ever) because I said I was tired of voting against someone instead of voting ‘for’ someone. Either way, I’m a limited government guy. That means I’m not R or D. I’ll take the benefits available that I’ve paid into if they’re still there. But, if they’re not there, I’ll deal with that also. I have yet to see Trump do anything to ‘destroy the Constitution.’ I actually saw more of that in the last farcical administration where the people were lied to about a candidate & will never know who was actually running the government. Other than, it wasn’t the duly elected POTUS. THAT is the biggest scandal/corruption of all time.

??? This has no bearing on the 10th. The Constitution wouldn’t have been ratified without the 10th. (According to records & historians.) 90% of the Federal Government is against the entire concept of federalism and shouldn’t exist at the federal level. The Commerce Clause has been greatly abused in the past by Statists. The current court is more originalists. That’s why so many progressives are so upset.

That’s an easy one. The CDC shouldn’t exist.

Out of curiosity, when’s the last time you read the 10th Amendment?

In one sense, I’d say you were correct. No real direct tie between healthcare costs & government. But, with Medicare being a very large chunk of the federal budget & our deficit costs, the abuse of Medicare by the Medicare Advantage providers to the tune of 100’s of billions a year & growing is a problem that DOGE can help address and shine a light on the corruption and inbreeding. When the agency that’s supposed to audit these providers & keep them ‘in line’ is filled with ex employees of the groups they’re supposed to be monitoring, it’s the fox & hen house routine. The last article I linked points out that traditional Medicare is actually cheaper for the government/taxpayers by far with similar or better outcomes. But, MA plans have become another 3rd wheel because of different issues—lobbying as you state—being one. You should read the linked article. Just don’t let it make you so mad you need a hospital visit.

Wait til you read this one. Waste, fraud & abuse to the max. Not just the $84 billion. Apparently, our government has known about this stuff for 4 Administrations & done nothing but pocket the insurance lobbies’ money. [Hidden Content] Meanwhile, my better 1/2, with Parkinson’s Plus which keeps her from walking, writing, talking clearly, bathing, going to the bathroom, eating, or clothing herself has to hire a disability attorney to try to fight to get disability where she can have insurance. At 61 years young, we have to be on outrageously expensive ACA for her to have any coverage at all since we’re in the ‘donut hole’ unless we pay an attorney and cross our fingers and wait. And—in Texas—unless your 65, the state doesn’t require supplemental insurance to cover preexisting conditions. It’s a big mess and a crock. Sorry. I guess I should be happy/thankful we can get anyone to cover her at all. Off my soapbox now.

Off topic for stock market discussion. But, since I’ve happened to find an area where at least two posters with diametrically opposed views agree, I’ll go ahead & drop this right here. Can we agree this may be a good area for the technical wizards with DOGE to investigate and advise? It doesn’t mean cutting benefits—as some are claiming. [Hidden Content] @UT alum @LumRaiderFan

No problem. I should clarify I wouldn’t attack a CEO either. That’s not allowable to me at all. But, if DOGE wants to do a deep dive into Medicare spending, this (Medicare Advantage) is an area that could expose a LOT of fraud.

Actually, it was United Health Care. Heavily weighted on the Dow & posted lower earnings & bad forecast for remainder of the year. I actually don’t mind them losing money a bit. They are one of the major players in the rip-off of Medicare. All the Medicare Advantage sellers up charge the government (our tax $$$) for their policies, deny a lot of coverage, cover it up with health club membership bullcrap & such, then drop folks when they actually get really sick or elderly & dump them back on Medicare. Then, it’s almost impossible for people to get supplemental coverage & they’re left with OOP costs many can’t afford, and Medicare winds up paying for the really expensive medical treatment that might have been prevented if the Advantage plan had allowed treatment earlier. (Always makes me furious just thinking about it.) Beware Medicare Advantage plans. They ARE too good to be true.

Looks like Northwestern State also? Seems to have some good credentials. Really late in the year for the upcoming season. But, wish him the best. (Unless he’s playing LP. 😉)

Yes & no. Our neighbors helped teach him as we all shared the lease of the plane when dusting was needed. Old Piper Cub retrofit with dusting equipment. Not that difficult. Would only go about 60 & there isn’t much to run into in Dalhart. LOL Later, he flew helos for Uncle S, and became a flight instructor. Taught private flight lessons for decades here in La Porte. Started as a hobby. Became a second job.

I was raised on the farm (Dalhart, TX) in the early 60's. Dad just went to his next great adventure in 2023 at 87. As a leased family farm of 600 acres of maize & onions, dad, mom & my brother worked our butts off from sun up to sun down with school in between. I was driving a combine and helping with irrigation piping at 7. We would trade future crops for groceries & other needs at the COOP, and the big trip/adventure was to the S&H Green Stamp store. Trade in those stamps! Dad learned to fly crop dusting, taught me, & I learned how to drive just about anything there is to drive & work on them early. Nowadays, I'd have to be a plumber with an IT degree to work on my truck. But, I can still work on my motorcycle at least. Although, sometimes my back doesn't always cooperate. 😀