High Pay Low Performance

I'm all for highly educated, highly qualified, hardworking individuals getting paid well for doing a job, but the ceo compensation packages in corporate America and on Wall Street have gotten out of hand. Come on, most of these guys are idiots. The idea of tying pay to performance is logical, but seems to be above the intellect of these guys. Having worked with succesful companies who were turned over to incompetent ivy league idiots, I believe that education is too often used as the benchmark for competent management. The best executives are those who like what they do and who care more about the success of the company than the "Golden Parachute" they might receive. I think corporate america would be better served by treating companies like sports teams, if the company isn't living up to it's potential, the exec is to blame and he gets fired without a huge severance package. This is a great incentive - perform or don't get paid. I would definately take one of these jobs, and I am pretty sure anyone with a high school education could have performed as well as some of the Goldman Sachs execs who got huge bonus checks last year.

Healthcare and Subaru

Ok, I'm not going to spend a whole lot of time discussing the newest proposal from the Senate Finance committee. The only thing I'm going to say is this. The Democrats are idiots. Unless they include liability limits in this bill it is going to turn into another social security type mess. There is no way to fund this without mortgaging our children's future. That said, I will get on-board to insure those who are un or under insured if they will do this. Even if they just said if you get government aid you can't sue the doctor if something goes wrong...anything to get the malpractice insurance to drop to a reasonable level.

Subaru drivers are at it again. Last week Subaru drivers narrowly won the award for the most idiots driving slow in the fast lane. They were almost nudged out by old men driving Cadillacs but on Saturday no less than 4 of them were driving slow in the left lane on the way to Salt Lake. This gave them the win. (It was after dark and the Cadillac drivers were most likely in bed.) If you drive a Subaru, please don't.

Myths and realities about majijuana legalization

There are several arguments being used by both sides in the marijuana legalization argument. I sought to dispel some myths and excuses used by the anti-legalization effort but I tried to keep an open mind when reviewing the true "scientific studies" that I could find.

The first argument against legalization is always that marijuana is a gateway drug. The University of Pittsburgh recently published a 12 year study on marijuana as a predictor for substance abuse. I think it is important to note that the study was on the incidence of substance abuse and not on whether or not marijuana was a gateway drug. This is important because the progression of substance abuse is what the end argument against legalization is all about. The argument goes something like this:

"We can't legalize marijuana because it leads to harder drugs. Many people who try marijuana will look for something stronger and will eventually become crack smokers or meth heads."

The study focused on the prevalence of long term abuse, but the methods used also helped to show patterns in the prevalence of a "gateway" contributor. The study found that the reverse gateway pattern - the use of marijuana prior to tobacco and alcohol use - was exhibited in almost 25% of the test group. This alone would help dispel the idea that it is the contributing factor in drug abuse (anything over 10% means it is part of the norm rather than an anomaly.) What the researchers found is that the prevalence of marijuana usage was actually based on access. Several of the test subjects found it easier to purchase marijuana because it wasn't regulated like alcohol. The use of marijuana prior to alcohol or tobacco also had no increase in the number who eventually became chemically dependant on any substance. This is important because it shows that marijuana isn't an indicator of future substance abuse. The numbers were nearly identical in the study of those who never tried marijuana but became chemical dependant and those who did.

I think it is important to note that I don't advocate the use of marijuana for recreational purposes, however, I believe alcohol and tobacco are much greater threats to our nations health and prosperity. I don't believe there would be a higher incidence of drug abuse by legalizing marijuana. In fact, I think you would see no "net gain" in drug abusers. I do believe that the medical benefits of marijuana could far outweigh the dangers of legalizing, taxing, and regulating the sale. If you had to go into a state run liquor store to buy marijuana, the ease of purchasing it for underage kids would actually decrease. Marijuana is easier to obtain in our public schools because it isn't regulated.

Enough Complaining (for now)

I am going to try another way to get the idea across that we need to address tort reform with the health care reform that is going to happen. I know many of us are not happy with what is happening but I am willing to bend if the other side will actually listen to reason. I have written letters to my legislators and I encourage everyone else to do the same. I also have included a link to send our President an email. If enough people ask for tort reform, maybe we'll get it. To keep the message simple, I haven't suggested putting dollar limits on damage awards. All I ask is for anyone who cares to please ask for a cap on punitive damage awards at 100% of actual and future damages. If your earning potential is 100k per year and you have 30 years left to work, then you should be awarded no more than 6 million bucks. I know that sounds harsh to some people but I end up paying for your 20 million dollar award. If you would like to send an email to Obama please use this link http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

Let's discuss healthcare...again.

The House of Representatives went home without passing a health care bill (We can breath for a few days now) but Nancy Pelosi is spreading her poison again. She is pointing the finger at the the insurance companies and blaming them for the mess. Wake up Democrats. The reason our healthcare costs are so high is the fault of the litigious society we live in and the Democrats support that. Insurance companies are in business to make a profit, or at the very least break even. If we try to limit that, these companies will invest their cash somewhere else and the American people will be stuck holding the bill. WE cannot afford to keep increasing our deficit without some major changes to the way business is operated in this country. The good ol' USA is no longer the innovator we once were. This is because the risks are sometimes not worth the reward with the large settlements offered in lawsuits. Once again, I understand people wanting to be compensated for a mistake or a design flaw, but I don't think you should force a company out of business if it was an honest mistake. We are also forcing many of the best doctors to find other careers. This means that the quality of care is actually going down as a result of all the malpractice damages awarded. The hardest hit sectors seem to be specialties. Obstetricians in Beaver County Pensylvania have reported an increase in liability premiums over 150%. Most have decided to become gynecologists only so they don't have to pay the premiums. This means that there are fewer and fewer doctors out there to deliver babies. The average award has grown to over $1 million dollars. This doesn't seem like a huge amount, but only 5% of these cases were the result of death or permanent disability. Most are awards for pain and suffering. The actual damages were less than $250k on average. If we continue to allow these frivilous lawsuits, we are actually causing more consumer harm than we are helping.

Healthcare Reform Continued

Ok, Obama said "We got to have the courage to be willing to change things." Aside from the grammar problems this it total hypocrisy. Obama and most fellow democrats are not willing to change. They blame the Republicans for the health care mess, but the whole problem with soaring health care costs can be blamed on excess liability for doctors, hospitals and other health care providers. Please Obama, listen to your own advice. We could insure everyone and lower the costs if you would just quit acting like you were smarter than those of us who know how to read. Bush may have been an idiot but at least he was to stupid to think he was smarter than everyone else. I think it should be illegal for attorneys to hold public office. This is the whole problem with congress and the president. They are all saving their "fall back" jobs suing everyone for millions for honest mistakes.

Healthcare Bill Robbery

OK, for any of you out there that think a national health care system written by the Democrats is a good idea, here is why you are sooooo naive. Health care costs have outpaced inflation over the last 2 decades for one reason. Can any democrat guess what that is? Anyone? The reason that it keeps going up is because the democrats won't even discuss tort reform. That's right. The democrats, who claim they are here to help the man on the street, won't touch damage limits on lawsuits because they are all lawyers. Even our fearless president is an attorney and they don't want to take away those big paychecks from themselves. If we limited punitive damages to 100% of actual damages, health care costs would decrease by over 25%. Some economists believe this would decrease the number of uninsured by almost 25%. It would also make it more feasible for the government to help those who couldn't afford insurance. This health care plan is robbery plain and simple. I wish the average person would use some common sense before they started spouting off about how great this is. I have spoken to some highly intelligent, well educated people who don't understand the principles behind tort reform. Several say that it isn't fair if you limit the damages because those who make more are entitled to more in damages. What they don't understand is that tort reform doesn't have to put a dollar limit on damages. I believe that if you make 100K per year and you can't work any longer, then the damages awarded to you should equal your salary times the number of years remaining until retirement adjusted for inflation. But I don't think you deserve 1000 times your salary because a doctor made a mistake. The reason I don' t think this is fair is because I end up paying you. The doctor doesn't, the insurance company isn't going to lose money, so where is that money coming from? The insurance companies raise premiums, the doctors raise prices, and we all pay.

OK now my irritation with oblivious drivers. If you can't at least drive as fast as the posted speed limit, stay off the road. As I was driving back from vacation, I constantly got stuck behind drivers who were driving 10 or 15 miles an hour below the posted speed limit. It was a 2 lane road the entire trip, and passing was almost impossible. If you are too old to drive 65 or you drive a Subaru, please watch your mirror. As soon as someone gets behind you, pull off at the next turn-out and let everyone who has a life pass.

Air travel and swine flu

Ok, so today I'm watching the news and I see that the headline is about a Continental Airline pilot who died enroute to Newark NJ from Brussels. The plane landed safely on time and the passengers weren't even aware of the event until they were on the ground. I think this is another example of sensationalism in the news. This is not an uncommon event. There is a reason that airlines are required to travel with more than one pilot on-board. The media makes this headline news because they want us to be afraid. By us being afraid they can sell more advertising when they do an expose' on pilot health. Airline travel is still the safest way to travel. I am never nervous when flying but I am constantly nervous when driving.

Utah just recorded the 8th death from the swine flu this week. I wish the media would also publish how many regular flu deaths occur in Utah every year. I'm starting to get nervous about the fact that it's still spreading in Utah. I think it has to be due to the unusual wet weather we are having. I hope they come out with a vaccine soon. I do fear the swine flu.

#%$# Peta

I am just amazed at the follow the crowd mentality that so many of the PETA members adhere to. I have never been one to downright criticize an individual for his or her beliefs but come one! The whole problem with their cause is that they don't have a solution. They feel bad for the animals, I get that, but what do they propose we do with them all. It's not like we can just release cows back into the wild. In the early-to-mid 80's PETA and other animal activists were vocal enough to cause the bottom to drop out of the fox skin market. The cost fell so low that it was cheaper for farmers to let the foxes go than it was to kill them and skin them. The resultant strain on the ecosystem was disastrous. The instant kill-off of all roosting birds meant that there were no new broods in several large areas. Some areas have still not recovered and probably never will. I get the notion that they would like animals treated more humanely. But let's not chop of the head to spite the nose.

New thoughts for 2009

Once again the media conspiracy has shafted a local institution. The BCS system is broken but the East Coast / USC biased media is to blame as much as the BCS itself. If they really did believe there should be a playoff in major college football, the idiots who call themselves "experts" would have voted Utah #1 in the AP poll. Only a split national championship would have helped sway the major colleges involved in the BCS to look for a better way to determine who should be crowned the national champion. I'm not saying that Utah is the best team in the nation but I can't say they aren't either. After watching both teams struggle last night, the commentators made a big deal about the awesome defenses on both teams. I'm not convinced the defenses were that great. I believe TCU and Alabama had better defenses on a week-to-week basis, and Utah would have made it difficult for OK or UF since it appeared in the game last night, that speed on defense was the biggest factor. I know things won't change as long as the big conferences are given so much power but the media created that power more than anyone else did. The BYU vs. OK game at the beginning of the season next year will not mean anything to what happened this year but if - and this is a big if - BYU beats OK next year, and has only one loss against Utah, and Utah again goes undefeated, they should both be ranked in the top 4 and both would deserve to be in the BCS. Just some thoughts to ponder.

Why does everyone miss the point?

I was browsing some articles today on Newsweek and the Salt Lake Fibune and couldn't help but notice how irritating some people in this state, and country can be. I don't usually fall into the trap of reading reader comments on stories about the different religions because it just turns into a heated discussion between groups that have no chance in changing each others' minds. I do find it amusing however that these people don't quite find the humor in the their comments. On the one side you have those that insist on bashing any and all who do not believe as they do. The stupid thing is that they choose to live in a country that gaurantees people the right to worship (or not) as they please. What is even more assinine is that most of them are former members of the church they are bashing, who either lacked self-control or were just too lazy to follow the beliefs of that religion. I admire those who used to be members of a given church but don't find fault in that church or it's members. These are some of the best defenders of these religions. They usually have a high self-awareness, and are honest with themselves. Those who bash any religion are usually biased because they have "faith" that they know a better way (this goes for all religions). A true "Faithful" person doesn't bash others for their beliefs. They may teach others about what they believe, and may even explain why they believe they are "right", but they don't hate or grow angry with someone because they believe differently. I grew up believing that we should be kind to everyone...not just those who believe the same. On the other side, you have people responding that don't always know the teachings of their own church. They get in philisophical arguments and end up making themselves and the church they believe in look completely different than what they intended.

Here is something to ponder. Our country was founded on the freedom of religion. The seperation of Church and State was never intended to prohibit religious symbols in court houses, government buildings, or parks. The seperation of Church and State was only to gaurantee that there would not be a State sponsored religion. So those that complain that it is offensive to see a cross next to the highway honoring a fallen trooper, or who believe that our children should not be exposed to the Pledge of Allegiance because it contains the word "God", need to understand what our founding fathers intended. I do not fault them for their belief or lack therof, but I also believe that they need to understand the original intent of our constitution. Unfortunately, even many of our Supreme Court Justices haven't studied the founding fathers writings enough to know what their intentions were. If I reverse the argument of believing in nothing, then every square inch of the country should be covered with something, because the belief in nothing means that the non-religion of athiesm has their symbol (nothing) almost everywhere.

Another day to rant

I am becoming older and grouchier every day. The way I see it, what's left of the middle class is going to end up with the short end of the stick come election day. (I don't think it matters who wins.) If Obama wins, he'll classify the middle-class as the upper-class and raise our taxes so we can pay for the failed social programs that the Dems love to fund. I'm sick of paying for welfare for someone who refuses to work. I have no problems with helping those who help themselves but our country wasn't founded on the premise that those who work should take care of those who don't. If the Reps win, we'll be in for another "Trickle Down" theory of some sort that won't help anyone but the rich (yes I think that a small business owner who makes 250k per year is rich.) The Dems want socialized medicine but that is the stupidest idea I have ever heard. Ask someone in the UK who is lower middle-class how the health care is there. It's horrible. If they were really serious about fixing health care they would work on tort reform so the damn lawyers and insurance companies didn't get rich while the rest of us pay 3 times more for health care because of malpractice insurance. The problem is that the politicians on both sides are out of touch. Palin is the closest thing to understanding what it's like to be middle-class and even she doesn't quite get it. Obama is completely out of touch - I don't care what he says, he is. And Mccain doesn't even know how many homes he has. We are in for a wild ride the next 2 years at least. If some major changes are made in congress we might be able to make some positive changes but I see the status quo coming either way.

Wussification of Our Country

We have thoroughly screwed up our country by "wussifying" our children. I'm not saying that I don't think kids should wear helmets when riding a bike or skateboard, but I think the whole idea of not encouraging competition, even at a young age, is a disaster. We have gotten away from the American Dream that anything is possible because we have decided it is better if the entire population is on a level playing field. This has created a society with a belief system that is totally screwed up. We have become a country that believes "I deserve to have everything I want." Newsflash - you don't deserve anything that you didn't work for. Sometimes life isn't fair. The whole "No Child Left Behind" policy is making kids who had a chance to be superior average. We as parents are responsible. If your child is slow, then work with them, don't send them to school thinking it is the responsibility of an underpaid teacher to work extra with them. These things being said I do believe in helping those who truly need it. I think the welfare system is broken. If you are a single parent and you have a full time job but still can't make ends meet, you should be helped. If you are a single parent and you are to lazy to work, your kids would be better off with someone else. Disability is a joke. If someone is truly disabled, that is fine, but I see to many people on disability who have the ability to do something yet they keep getting handouts. Poverty is a problem in this country because we reward it. During the depression, those who were out of work would do anything to get a job. I actually see people who are proud that they don't have a job and the government takes care of them.

The Recession is on

Blame it on the media. We are in for one of the worst economic slowdowns in history. Since the number of people alive who actually remember "The Great Depression" is rapidly decreasing, this economic climate will probably be this generations "I remember when..." battle cry. The sad thing is that although we were set for a recession due to the housing and credit market, what really is sinking the ship is the media. Bad news sells, so only those "experts" who prophesy doom are getting air time. The common man on the street hears this and expects the worse. That being said, I believe that this may be just what is needed for the younger generations to get over the sense of entitlement that their grandparents never would have dreamed of. Many young people today don't want to work for what they have. Look at how many 20 somethings are living in homes bigger than their parents. Look how many drive expensive new cars. Look how many are going to lose those homes and cars because their dreams and expectations were built on easy credit. I was always taught that if you can't pay for it you can't have it. (Although I must admit I didn't always follow that advice.) These words of advice are proving more and more wise as credit shrinks. With unemployment set to rise along with inflation, many young people today who don't know how to work hard are going to have to learn quick or starve.