I have listened to the talk radio shows and Sunday Morning talking head commentators as well as reading the Los Angeles Times editorial about America’s killing of Americans who have joined Al-Qaeda. There is no doubt in my mind that the United States government did the right thing in killing these people.
Al-Qaeda’s prime objective is to conduct a war against the United States. As Max Boot pointed out in his commentary that appeared in today’s Los Angeles Times, the United States is behaving as it did during the Civil War. “Like the rebels during the Civil War, Awlaki and Khan gave up the benefits of American citizenship by taking up arms against their country.”
When you take up arms against your country you are a traitor.
Leo Rosten, the great Jewish writer and authority on Jewish humor, listed as one of the characteristics of Jewish humor revenge over the oppressor by the use of guile or circumstance. This is such a story:
Moshe was sitting at the bar staring at his drink when a large, trouble-making biker steps up next to him, grabs his drink and gulps it down in one swig and menacingly says, “Thanks Jew Boy, whatcha going to do about it?” Moshe burst into tears.
“Come on, man,” the biker says, “I didn’t think you’d CRY. I can’t stand to see a man crying. What’s your problem?”
“This is the worst day of my life,” Moshe says. “I’m a complete failure. I was late to a meeting and my boss fired me. When I went to the parking lot, I found my car had been stolen and I don’t have any insurance. I left my wallet in the cab I took home. I found my wife in bed with the postman and then my dog bit me.”
“So I came to this bar to work up the courage to put an end to it all. I buy a drink; drop a capsule in and sit here watching the poison dissolve; then you show up and drink the whole thing!.. But enough about me, how’s your day going?”
How sad is this? Congress voted a stop gap spending bill through next Tuesday that will keep all departments functioning. At that time they will take up another bill to extend government operations for another six weeks. Yes, we have a congress that only extends funding for the government by days or weeks. They think they are doing their job when they do these things. Meanwhile there are hearings on such things as funding for Planned Parenthood. Are there any hearings or discussions about laws that will create jobs? No!
The American people are happy with the idea that we a democratic Republic where capitalism reigns supreme. We also have a dysfunctional government where little or nothing is accomplished. One thing we do know is that the wealthiest among us earn and control most of the wealth and the rest of us are left with the crumbs.
The asking price was $150 Million in August 2009. Reported sold today at a mere $85 Million.
The home was featured in Los Angeles Times View Real Estate magazine on August 22, 2009. This is the description:
The crown jewel of one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Southern California, The Manor is recognized as one of the most famous mansions in the world. Built by entertainment royalty Candy and Aaron Spelling, the estate rests on approximately 4.7 acres of rare flat land in the Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles. Few, if any residences rival The Manor’s grand scale luxury and exclusivity. Originally named L’Oiseau (“wing of a bird”) for the unique W-shape of the French Chateau, The Manor blends visionary design, passionate attention to detail, and one-of-a-kind artistic touches to create a masterful opulence once only reserved for nobility. Every element of The Manor, from the immaculate gardens to sumptuous, custom-designed areas, reveals the intricate level of detail and extraordinary care applied to this estate throughout its historic existence.
Quite simply, The Manor cannot be matched in grandeur and scope. Forever forged in history, The Manor is truly designed for a modern day dynasty.
Included is a picture of the front driveway, main entrance hall that looks like the staircase and paneled den in Aaron Spelling’s “Dynasty.” The “Dynasty” house original is the Filoli House in Woodside, California. That location is about 25 mile south of San Francisco near Palo Alto. That house has served as the set for many Hollywood movies including Warren Beatty’s outdoor scenes in “Heaven Can Wait.” That house is no longer a private estate and is open to the public. I predict someday “The Manor” will be open to the public.
We do not know how to forecast earthquakes. The consequence is there are no warnings of earthquakes. They just happen. Some people say that animals can sense them coming but that is just a minute or two before the occurrence.
For those of you who have not experienced a quake let me tell you there is usually a rumbling noise followed by the shaking. The shaking is either an up and down motion or a side to side motion. It seems it is lasting many minutes but is usually over in one or two.
The Northridge earthquake occurred at 4:30 a.m. on January 17, 1994. Northridge is part of the city of Los Angeles. The quake was located about 30 km northwest of the city center. This earthquake had a 6.9 moment magnitude. The duration was about 10 seconds to 20 seconds. The damage was extensive and parts of the city 100 km from the epicenter were seriously damaged. Not everything was damaged within that zone. My home is about 10 km from the epicenter and was not seriously damaged.
The total number of people killed by earthquakes in the United States since 1950 was 398. Compare that with the number of deaths from tornadoes in that same period. That number, excluding the current outbreak, totals 4,857. The tornado data is from the Daily Beast.
Imagine a society where no company earns a profit providing health care. The immediate impact would be a savings of $12.2 billion just by eliminating the “for profit” insurance companies.
It is time we had a discussion about
David Lazarus, Los Angeles Times
providing all Americans with health care at the lowest possible cost. David Lazarus in his April 19, 2011 column in the Los Angeles Times about health insurance choices reflects the problem that many of us face. His ending words “access to safe food, clean water, affordable healthcare — that shouldn’t be first and foremost about profits” is the issue that really faces America. The Los Angles Time editorial “Can Medicare be saved?” ducked that issue. The editorial discussion and the words on every person’s lips ought to be about America’s choice between for-profit health care or non-profit health care.
Profit is the crux of the issue. Why should anyone in the United States be profiting from providing health care? Private insurance companies and “for profit” hospitals and clinics are part of the problem. Neither Democrats nor Republicans will address this issue. In my view the reason for this is that capitalism takes precedence over everything else. Despite what Republicans say about Barack Obama, he is a capitalist.
The Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) is perhaps the largest company of its kind with hospitals in 20 states. 38 of those hospitals are in Florida and no wonder since that is the state with the greatest number of seniors (age 65+) according to Seniorjournal.com. HCA Revenue for the year that ended Dec. 31, 2010, was $30.68 billion, up from $30.05 billion in 2009. Profits rose 14.5 percent to $1.2 billion.
In 2006, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Bain Capital, together with Merrill Lynch and the Frist family (which had founded the company) completed a $31.6 billion acquisition of the hospital company, making the company privately-held again 17 years after it was taken private for the first time in a management buyout. Florida Governor Rick Scott is the former CEO of HCA.
Former Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee
Remember Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee? He began his career as an heir and major stockholder of HCA.
What are the chances that “for-profit” health insurance and hospitals will be eliminated? Try the number ZERO.
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