When the Going Gets Tough...

People say that you show your true colors when the going gets tough. Well, the going is tough. And apparently, our colors are xenophobic.

This was the case historically, and it is the case now. Trouble comes, and we turn inward. Up the tariffs, restrict trade from foreign countries, turn out the foreigners within, close off the borders, listen to more Lou Dobbs...

And this WSJ article, "Job Fight: Immigrants vs. Locals" sure ain't gonna help.

I'm not sure where I stand with this. Certainly, I understand the frustration of locals who see their local jobs being "stolen" by immigrants. But I can see no reason why locals should be preferred. Unless they're manifestly more productive, work at lower costs, are more valuable workers, etc. So long as the immigrants are in the country, the negative externalities seem to be the same whoever gets their feet in the door, and whoever gets left out in the cold...

Rough times in America... --> xenophobia!

Parents v. Judges

Should a judge be able to order parents to give their child medical care? The judge in Danny Hauser's case said yes, and ordered the reluctant parents to pick an oncologist and get an X-ray so that the doctor could formulate a chemo treatment plan for his cancer.

Apparently, medical treatment is not the only thing these parents have been denying him. This article claims the kid is illiterate and can't even read the word "the."

I'm Sorry, Maybe I Missed Something Here

This WSJ opinion article says Obama's Auto Plan is Capitalism At Work, and that "Not a single creditor right has been altered during this process."

I'm sorry, maybe I missed something here. But I thought the hoopla was because the unions/employees were getting a cut, when the creditors had not been fully compensated?

Also, my bankruptcy professor was arguing that in all this talk about restructuring the auto industry, no one is realistically looking at the future demand for cars in the country. Apparently, the numbers indicate that we've been selling some 16-17 million cars per year, but that number will drop to some 9-10 million per year going forward. (I don't have a cite for that, other than Class Notes.) And all the car companies are already struggling with the 16-17 figure. What makes anyone think that the car industry is worth saving? That we should be propping up supply when there is no demand....?

If Only I'd Waited

There's been so much news today about Medicare and health policy -- stuff that would have been useful had I waited just one more day to take my exam. Oh well.

This WSJ editorial, for instance, argues against ObamaCare. And this NYT article predicts insolvency for Medicare by 2017. And this WSJ article points out the stupidity of the health care industry's "promise" to churn out savings.

Cost-control, people. Cost-control.

Also, why do Americans persist in the ridiculous notion that health care is not rationed (and should not be)?

Insanity and Religion

[Can you tell it's exam period? My posting frequency has skyrocketed...]

This article in the Post tracks a discussion that my classmates and I were having after my crim law class. There can sometimes be a blurry line between insanity and religious beliefs. (What does that say about religion...?)

The Big Three

This WSJ article discusses how "we live in a world where wisdom can be punished and where foolishness can be rewarded" -- i.e., how Ford has managed to avoid having to get government rescue, and may ultimately be left at a competitive disadvantage while its government-spoon-fed competitors get their debts wiped clean and have a bankruptcy restructuring plan crammed down by sheer government clout. Over the objections of creditors. And in violation of the absolute priority rule.

Supreme Court Favorites

Oh, fyi, since you asked, the consensus around my school seems to be that Sonia Sotomayer and Elena Kagan top the list of Supreme Court picks to replace Souter.

Policy Question

HYPOTHETICAL: The consumer finance companies introduce a program called ParentSupport®, which allows the adult children of the elderly to mortgage their own homes to help pay for parents’ care. ParentSupport® also allows individuals to pledge payments of ten to fifty percent of after-tax income for five to twenty-five years in order to collateralize a loan to pay for their parents’ care.

Should such contracts be enforced?

Health Care for America

At some point, I'd like to blog about health care reform in America. Oh, you know, that very simple subject that can easily be blogged about in one tiny entry. Specifically, I'd like to evaluate
Prof. Jacob Hacker's Health Care for America proposal, which we are discussing in my health care class.

Of course, per usual, this super Left class does not really present the other side to the story, so I went and pulled up the Heritage Foundation's criticisms of the proposal. Pretty standard Republican retorts, all in all.

Except that I find that more and more, I agree with them. Except I still think we should go to a national health insurance system. Very very weird.

I'd love to write about why, except... I should really finish my reading for class tomorrow first...

Oh, but I'd like to note that I find this blog's very rosy depiction of Taiwan's National Health Insurance program quite intriguing. It certainly accords with many of my dad's boasts about the system. Another similar view, with more air-time to the system's ills: here.

[update] WSJ criticizes the public health plan option here.