Oh it sucks to be a Packer fan this year. Since I am not in the mood to look for the silver lining at this moment, let me point out two other things that irritate me this evening.
Cieslewicz Approves Tax Increase: "Budgets are not just about numbers, they reflect our values and priorities as a city," said Cieslewicz. "The budget adopted by the council reflects the balanced and responsible proposal that I made earlier this fall. It funds basic city services while increasing the property tax levy substantially less than last year, and less than the 15-year average."Mayor Dave may think “budgets are not just about numbers” but tax bills are. There is a fundamental difference between money raised by mutual consent and money raised by punishment enforced confiscation. Mayor Dave will smile every time he claims credit for a tax INCREASE less than in the past because in his mind a smaller theft is less a crime.
We Can Make Healthcare Affordable: As a nurse, I have seen how much money and resources are expended on paper shuffling and marketing rather than direct patient care. I saw that the business model for health care was not working. Managed care was not bringing down health care costs. In fact, the expansion of managed care and market-based competition has coincided with the upswing in administrative costs over the last 30 years.State Senator Judy Robson (D-Beloit) is a registered nurse, a Senate Democratic Leader and an idiot. The rise in healthcare costs these past 30 years may have “coincided with the upswing in administrative costs” but this is not a cause and effect coincidence. The primary difference is what medical therapy could achieve in 1975 with what can be achieved today. Healthcare is more expensive because healthcare is increasingly better for an increasing number of problems. Government restrictions on the practice of healthcare, both direct and sanctioned, only fuel inflationary cost increases and government planning will not "policy" them away. The Democrats really need to get over their addiction to group discussions, action plans and consensus building and let market forces shake up healthcare status quo. This includes the nursing unions Senator Robson.
A group of state legislators has made a commitment to making health care affordable here in Wisconsin. Thirty-seven Democrats and one Republican have introduced the Action Plan for Affordable Health Care. The Action Plan requires both parties to come together to develop a plan that brings down health care costs by 15 percent within two years of enactment. The plan must also ensure that 98 percent of Wisconsin residents have health coverage. A working group could use the groundwork laid in existing proposals or develop entirely new approaches.
