Benghazi Remembered

From my brother, one of many still at large, Denis

THE  BATTLING BOYS OF BENGHAZI 

We're the battling boys of BenghaziNo fame, no glory, no paparazzi. Just a fiery death in a blazing hellDefending our country  we loved so well. It  wasn't our job, but we answered the call,fought to  the Consulate and scaled the wall.We pulled twenty Countrymen  from the jaws of fateLed them to safety, and stood at the  gate. 

Just  the two of us, and foes by the score,But we stood fast to bar  the door.Three calls for reinforcement, but all were denied, So we fought, and we fought, and we fought 'til we died.  We  gave our all for our Uncle Sam,But Barack Obama didn't give a  damn.Just two dead seals who carried the load  No thanks  to us, we were just "Bumps in the Road." 

--   Anon.  USMC

Hilary Clinton:  "What difference  does it  make?"

The DETAIL

TIME NOW, Al Jezeera TV clip and report.  One operative spouting Prophet Mohammed nonsense.

Never Forget

And a Merry Christmas to all. 

401k Fracking

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December 5, 2013

Obama's Plan to Snatch Your Savings

By Jeffrey Folks

In his first term, Obama managed to get his paws on health care, banking, energy, student loans, the auto business, and more.  Now he has his sights set on your 401(k).

The left has had its eye on retirement savings for years, but so far takeover attempts have been rebuffed.  One egregious attempt was the proposal, following the 2010 financial crisis, to "safeguard" retirement savings by requiring that they be rolled over into Treasury bonds.  Had this legislation succeeded, it would have appropriated all or part of the retirement savings of millions of Americans.  The funds would have been used to finance further expansion of government.  In return, savers would have received a promissory note from the federal government similar that issued by the Social Security Trust Fund.

Needless to say, most investors were not keen to convert their savings into Treasury obligations -- or, to be more precise, into an unsecured note promising a return approximating that of Treasury bonds.  That is because, as with every other endeavor, government's management of retirement savings (aka Social Security) has been a disaster.

Those who believe that Social Security has done a good job of investing their savings are greatly mistaken.  Over the past 200 years, the real, inflation-adjusted return of the U.S. stock market has been 7%.  Had one invested $100,000 in the U.S. market in 1802, one's total return after inflation (or that of oneself and one's descendants) would have been more than $100 billion.  By comparison, investment in government Treasury bills would have yielded approximately $50 million.  (Figures are extrapolated from John C. Bogle's Common Sense on Mutual Funds.)....

Article

Like I say, I told you so

So, the drowning man escaping King Solomon's Mine would not let go of his new found wealth and was drowned.

US Health, Ayn Rand, and Kurt Vonnegut

Irene sent along some interesting data.  I like the idea of just stealing data and selectively presenting it for my own purposes.

As today's news reports, our education system is still deteriorating as we spend more money. The Marxist have done their job there.  Now, they turn to health care.  They think we should be like other countries. Below are some statistics comparing the U.S. with Canada and England.

I lived in Canada for years and was covered by OHIP, the Ontario medical plan (there is no "national" plan,) so I can attest that the doctors and nurses are fine, but the system prevents efficiency and competition. I had my run in with the "systems" and was saved by calling a chiropractor friend in Califorinia.

I recall, when I was in Toronto, an M.D. was heavily taxed, personally, when income was more than $250,000, so many would close their offices and practice in the U.S. when they reached their max. People, like money, go where they are respected.

I can't believe I found a clip from a 1972 film based upon Harrison Bergeron of Kurt Vonnegut. I recall being struck by the message even as a whippersnapper.  Two subsequent films were made but would never be promoted in our egalitarian correctness.  In the future, we are all equal by virtue of handicaps:  Video with Great Music 

It is important to note, as well, that built into the numbers below are the 10 percenters who skew the statistics as they can afford to obtain private medical coverage above the system for the masses, who rejoice that they are equal in their terrible care:

A recent "Investor's Business Daily" article provided very 

interesting statistics from a survey by the United Nations 

International Health Organization. 

 

 

Percentage of men and women who survived 

a cancer five years after diagnosis: 

 

 U.S. 65% 

England 46% 

Canada 42%  

 

Percentage of patients diagnosed with 

diabetes who received treatment within six  

months: 

U.S. 93% 

England 15% 

Canada 43% 

 

 

Percentage of seniors needing hip 

replacement who received it within six 

months:  

U.S. 90% 

England 15% 

Canada 43% 

 

 

Percentage referred to a medical specialist 

who see one within one month:  

U.S. 77% 

England 40% 

Canada 43% 

 

 

Number of MRI scanners (a prime diagnostic 

tool) per million people:  

U.S. 71 

England 14 

Canada 18 

 

 

Percentage of seniors (65+), with low 

income, who say they are in "excellent 

health":  

U.S. 12% 

England 2% 

Canada 6% 

 

 

************************************* 

 

 National Health Insurance? 

 

U.S. NO     (not yet)

England YES 

Canada YES 

************************************* 

My usual advice:  vote in the primaries against anyone who was for Obamacare, then go buy silver or, at least, bullets. Its worth what you pay for it.

As for Ayn Rand, you figure it out.