What is to be human without true empathy?
Going through the world blindly with no desire to see
Stuck in a time of feudalism and plague
The universe revolves around me, no need to behave
Born in a castle, think you made yourself a prince
Matters to yourself, only you can evince
But progress bestows rules that are golden
The good of others, to that we are beholden
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Carbon
A diamond shines, proud to display its radiance
Hard as can be, no flaws to be seen
But a shine has no luster unless you look in the dark
And a spectacle can show there are flaws behind the light
For a diamond cant hide from a well-trained eye
Who realizes what others see is often a lie
Hard as can be, no flaws to be seen
But a shine has no luster unless you look in the dark
And a spectacle can show there are flaws behind the light
For a diamond cant hide from a well-trained eye
Who realizes what others see is often a lie
Monday, July 13, 2009
Got efficiency?
Health care seems to be the big fight going on right now. I came across this interview with the guy who used to head PR for one of the huge insurance companies.
Let's say there are two different health provider programs. One system has costs at 20% of premiums, the other at 3%. Which of these systems do you think is run privately as opposed to operated by the government? Private industry, known for its efficiency, should be running at 3%, right?
From the interview:
BILL MOYERS: Why is public insurance, a public option, so fiercely opposed by the industry?
WENDELL POTTER: The industry doesn't want to have any competitor. In fact, over the course of the last few years, has been shrinking the number of competitors through a lot of acquisitions and mergers. So first of all, they don't want any more competition period. They certainly don't want it from a government plan that might be operating more efficiently than they are, that they operate. The Medicare program that we have here is a government-run program that has administrative expenses that are like three percent or so.
BILL MOYERS: Compared to the industry's--
WENDELL POTTER: They spend about 20 cents of every premium dollar on overhead, which is administrative expense or profit. So they don't want to compete against a more efficient competitor.
Video.
Transcript.
At some point we are going to have to really start questioning the ubiquitous mantra saying the private industry is more efficient than the government.
Profit brings incentive to compete. Competition increases consumer choices and lowers prices. Isn't that how the free market works? Can any sane person say this is happening? In reality, insurance companies are eliminating coverage for sick people and finding any reason they can to deny coverage. Healthcare for profit creates an incentive for companies to not provide coverage. If a company does not deny enough people coverage in order to boost profits, Wall Street investors will punish them. Private companies are legally obligated to put the interests of their shareholders over the health concerns of their customers. How is this an ethical way to run a system? The way the health care system works is clearly antithetical to the putative goals of the system.
Let's say there are two different health provider programs. One system has costs at 20% of premiums, the other at 3%. Which of these systems do you think is run privately as opposed to operated by the government? Private industry, known for its efficiency, should be running at 3%, right?
From the interview:
BILL MOYERS: Why is public insurance, a public option, so fiercely opposed by the industry?
WENDELL POTTER: The industry doesn't want to have any competitor. In fact, over the course of the last few years, has been shrinking the number of competitors through a lot of acquisitions and mergers. So first of all, they don't want any more competition period. They certainly don't want it from a government plan that might be operating more efficiently than they are, that they operate. The Medicare program that we have here is a government-run program that has administrative expenses that are like three percent or so.
BILL MOYERS: Compared to the industry's--
WENDELL POTTER: They spend about 20 cents of every premium dollar on overhead, which is administrative expense or profit. So they don't want to compete against a more efficient competitor.
Video.
Transcript.
At some point we are going to have to really start questioning the ubiquitous mantra saying the private industry is more efficient than the government.
Profit brings incentive to compete. Competition increases consumer choices and lowers prices. Isn't that how the free market works? Can any sane person say this is happening? In reality, insurance companies are eliminating coverage for sick people and finding any reason they can to deny coverage. Healthcare for profit creates an incentive for companies to not provide coverage. If a company does not deny enough people coverage in order to boost profits, Wall Street investors will punish them. Private companies are legally obligated to put the interests of their shareholders over the health concerns of their customers. How is this an ethical way to run a system? The way the health care system works is clearly antithetical to the putative goals of the system.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Roll Up Vol. 10
Fire up the subs. This thing knocks.
1 - Gucci Mane - Never Too Much feat. 3-6 Mafia, Yung Joc & OJ Da Juiceman
2 - C-Thug - I do this feat. Dolla & Young Buck
3 - Gucci Mane - I Love my Plug
4 - Paul Wall - Fly feat. Yung Joc & Gorilla Zoe
5 - J Money - First Name Last Name (remix) feat. Young Jeezy & Shawty Lo
6 - Shawty Redd - I be Needin my Bread feat. Drumma Boy
7 - Drumma Boy - I Got em feat. Gucci Mane & J Money
8 - Young Buck - Without me feat. 8ball & MJG
9 - Slaughterhouse - Warriors
10 - C-Thug - Young Thug feat Lil Boosie
11 - Jig-lo - Jiggin em feat. Gucci Mane
12 - Lloyd Banks - Niggas is Trash
13 - Drumma Boy - Aye Yo feat. Gangsta Boo, GK, Allie, B-Hav, Degree, Kristyle & Young Phenomenon
14 - Young Phenomenon - Well Ok
15 - Gangsta Boo - Yank Bitch
16 - Oj Da Juiceman - I Cook feat. Gucci Mane
17 - Clipse - Kinda Like a Big Deal feat. Kanye West
1 - Gucci Mane - Never Too Much feat. 3-6 Mafia, Yung Joc & OJ Da Juiceman
2 - C-Thug - I do this feat. Dolla & Young Buck
3 - Gucci Mane - I Love my Plug
4 - Paul Wall - Fly feat. Yung Joc & Gorilla Zoe
5 - J Money - First Name Last Name (remix) feat. Young Jeezy & Shawty Lo
6 - Shawty Redd - I be Needin my Bread feat. Drumma Boy
7 - Drumma Boy - I Got em feat. Gucci Mane & J Money
8 - Young Buck - Without me feat. 8ball & MJG
9 - Slaughterhouse - Warriors
10 - C-Thug - Young Thug feat Lil Boosie
11 - Jig-lo - Jiggin em feat. Gucci Mane
12 - Lloyd Banks - Niggas is Trash
13 - Drumma Boy - Aye Yo feat. Gangsta Boo, GK, Allie, B-Hav, Degree, Kristyle & Young Phenomenon
14 - Young Phenomenon - Well Ok
15 - Gangsta Boo - Yank Bitch
16 - Oj Da Juiceman - I Cook feat. Gucci Mane
17 - Clipse - Kinda Like a Big Deal feat. Kanye West
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