Love Your Neighbor

As I watch the unfolding of events in Wisconsin I am drawn to re-read my copy of Frederic Bastiat's The Law. In this small excellent volume, which may be downloaded free at the Foundation for Economic Education, I see the two ways of using the law.

The first is to protect the life, liberty and property of individuals. The second is it's opposite; to plunder,( steal ) these rights from individuals. A person either makes a living by providing a service or product that his neighbors value and voluntarily exchange money for, or one uses the law to take money by force from his neighbor through taxation to provide one's living. It is easy to see the social cohesion and interdependence provided by the first. In Wisconsin we see the upheaval and strife caused by the second.

Setting the Government's Agenda by Gary North

An interesting article posted today. We would be very interested on your feedback. Will the government cut spending, or is Gary North a prophet? What do you think  of his opinion of how the Republican Establishment views Ron Paul?

Setting the Government's Agenda by Gary North

VA assembly to raise health care costs

I heard it this morning as I drove to work. The Virginia general Assembly is likely to approve a bill requiring health insurance providers operating within the state to provide coverage for young children with autistic spectrum disorder.
I have taught Sunday school classes with autistic kids and have seen the immense difficulties that they and their families face, so I feel compassion for them and realize the almost all-consuming amount of care involved in their treatment.
With this in mind I must at the same time express my great opposition to this proposal. What scheme is in the works to pay for this? Will it be another unfunded mandate where the additional cost to insurance companies will just result in higher premiums for everyone? It should also be remembered that every regulation on industry does not just add the costs of treatment itself, but also numerous people must be paid to oversee the enforcement of the legislation.
More than likely the state of Virginia will subsidize the insurers, and the subsidy will not go to all insurers but only a select few who meet certain criteria which will not result in Insurance companies that are responsive to the needs of the insured but rather to bigger and more arrogant insurance giants who are guaranteed against competition because they are protected by their government sponsors.
In insurance just as computers, only competition brings prices down and customer service up.

I have not even addressed the moral problem of putting taxpayers on the hook for treating other peoples children; taking away money from families whose kids have other health needs that are not currently recognized by the state.