Fwd: Who's going to operate on your brain?!?

Yasser Said  Dr Yasser Said is a board certified physician practicing in the United States. RSS

American doctors terrified of litigation

The threat of lawsuits negatively impacts not only the doctor-patient relationship, but patient care in general. Last Modified: 16 Feb 2012 08:55 inShare3 Email Print Share Feedback

Malpractice premiums in high-risk specialties, such as neurosurgery, can be up to $140,000 per year [GALLO/GETTY] Chicago, IL - Imagine that you are floating in a small raft, in the middle of the ocean, with a fiery sun beating down on your back. There is one other person in the raft, who is thirsty, so you give him the only bottle of water available. He chokes on the water and develops pneumonia. When you are rescued two days later, your companion goes to your boss, and tells him you should be fired and they compensated. Welcome to the world of medical malpractice. Not much is supposed to scare the modern American physician. After all, they work in a complex environment of growing specialisation, within an ever-changing practice landscape. They deal with matters of life and death on a daily basis. Despite statistics by the WHO that put the overall US healthcare ranking among the lowest for western democracies, American physicians are widely regarded as the best in the world, with excellent use of the latest medical evidence in their practice. "There is something that is on the mind of every American physician, every single day - the threat of litigation." Yet, there is something that is on the mind of every American physician, every single day - the threat of litigation. It is difficult to understate the effect this has on the collective psyche of physicians. Even family practitioners, who are sued the least of any specialty, can expect at least a 40 per cent likelihood that they will betaken to court in their career. For high-risk specialties such as obstetrics and neurosurgery, litigation is accepted as a matter of when, not if.  Indeed, malpractice premiums of $140,000 per year are not unheard of in these fields. The terror of litigation Being sued is a traumatic event in the life of a physician. For one thing, physicians must deal with the possibility that they failed the patient in some way - the very person they are sworn, and trusted, to protect.  There are multiple meetings with defence lawyers, and possibly the prosecution, which are disruptive and time-consuming for physicians, who often work 60 hours a week or more. At the end, there is the courtroom, where 12 jurors who have little medical experience wait to judge the physician. The prosecution pays handsomely for expert witnesses to support their case against the defendant. It is thus no surprise that many litigation cases end in a cash settlement without the trauma of the courtroom. "One or two successful lawsuits, whether justified or not, can destroy a physician's career... Against this backdrop, one can easily understand where the term 'defensive medicine' comes from." In some counties in the US, if a physician is found guilty of malpractice, the prosecution can go after their assets, including savings and homes. Malpractice suits also affect the ability to get on staff at other hospitals, referrals from insurance companies, and licencing in other states. One or two successful lawsuits, whether justified or not, can destroy a physician's career. At the very least, these lawsuits change the prism through which the physician views patient care. Against this backdrop, one can easily understand where the term "defensive medicine" comes from. It is impossible for a physician in the US to examine and diagnose even a single patient without considering the possibility of litigation. This fear of lawsuits permeates every aspect of medicine. Physicians document patient visits, knowing that a judge can subpoena their clinical notes. They are careful when corresponding with patients or their peers via e-mails or text messages, knowing that these can also be subpoenaed. The effect this might have on patient care is hard to know.   What is easier to measure is the effect on the costs of the healthcare system. Patients with back pain often end up with an expensive MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), rather than less costly options. The MRI is so sensitive that it is capable of detecting abnormalities in the human spine that have no clinical significance. However, ignoring an abnormality could later result in a lawsuit. So, many of these patients are then referred to surgical subspecialists, who may order their own tests, or refer these patients for injections or procedures to avoid lawsuits themselves. 'Don't get sued' So what, you ask? Well, the patient then learns that invasive testing and procedures are the only valid way to treat their condition. They become less willing to accept more conservative treatment measures. It makes sense that they would then advise their acquaintances to get MRIs if they have back pain. As every physician knows, if a patient enters the office insistent on a particular test, it is too dangerous from a liability standpoint to ignore his/her requests. Ordering the MRI is easier, and legally more astute, than spending several minutes counselling the patient as to why the MRI is not helpful. Since studies have shown that patients tend to sue doctors they don't like, disagreeing with a patient too strongly is a surefire way to increase a physician's legal liability; after all, lawsuits can shorten a physician's career. If a physician sees 5,000 patients a year, shortening their career by a few years means that tens of thousands of patients will never get the benefit of seeing that physician. One can see how justifiable it becomes for a doctor to just do whatever the patient wants - even if it isn't the best decision for that particular patient. "Things have gone too far. Doctors routinely stop seeing patient populations that they perceive as high-risk. They order unnecessary tests to protect themselves from lawsuits. The patient-doctor relationship is put under tremendous strain." Supporters of patient rights often claim that litigation is the best way to protect those rights. They are correct - to a point. Medical errors occur, and if the error is a result of negligence or poor medicine that results in harm to the patient, it is appropriate to compensate that patient. But things have gone too far. Doctors routinely stop seeing patient populations that they perceive as high-risk. They order unnecessary tests to protect themselves from lawsuits. The patient-doctor relationship is put under tremendous strain. Those who would argue for litigation as the best method to hold doctors accountable, simply do not understand the everyday practice of healthcare. Instead, the lawsuit has become the go-to method for conflict resolution, while physicians feel more like commodities and less like human beings. Most patients have no idea how the rampant litigation in the medical field affects their doctors, and their own health, and more importantly for society - the public good. Medical professionals who practice in other countries may be shocked by the degree to which the proverbial sword of litigation hangs over the head of every American doctor. They have good reason - this is, for now, the way that American society has chosen to deal with conflicts within the doctor-patient relationship. "Do no harm" is the first thing taught to every medical student. It is a shame that this impressionable and idealistic group of young people is also learning the first lesson of modern medicine in the United States: "Don't get sued". Dr Yasser Said is a board certified physician practicing in the United States. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial policy.

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Warning!!!!!!!!! Love it!

 

 

 

 

This morning the Muslim Brotherhood warned the United States that if the United States continued meddling in Egypt , Libya , and other potential hot spots in the middle east, they intend to cut off America's supply of 7-11 and Motel 6 managers. If this action does not yield sufficient results, cab drivers will be next, followed by Dell, AT&T and AOL customer service reps. Finally, if all else fails, they have threatened not to send us any more presidents either. It's gonna get ugly, people.

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What Obama’s 2013 Budget Looks Like…

New post on Scotty Starnes's Blog What Obama's 2013 Budget Looks Like… by Scotty Starnes Scotty Starnes | February 23, 2012 at 1:01 PM | Tags: Obama's 2013 budget, President Obama, wealth redistribution | Categories: Political Issues | URL: http://wp.me/pvnFC-6GD Comment    See all comments Unsubscribe or change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://scottystarnes.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/what-obamas-2013-budget-looks-like/ Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

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3 of 4 GOP candidates would add to deficits

"Hmm. 3 of 4 would add to deficits. Now if only I could figure out which three." -- Thomas E. Woods Jr.

America's Debt Challenge
3 of 4 GOP candidates would add to deficits
By Jeanne Sahadi @CNNMoney February 23, 2012: 1:57 PM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Newt Gingrich's economic plan would do a lot of things. But reducing the debt and balancing the federal budget aren't among them.

Same goes for Rick Santorum's and Mitt Romney's economic plans.

Indeed, a preliminary analysis by the independent Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget released Thursday estimates that the three candidates' plans could add between $250 billion and $7 trillion of debt over the next nine years.

By contrast, the proposals of Ron Paul could reduce the debt by $2.2 trillion, the group estimated.

The estimated changes in debt were made relative to what the CRFB calls a realistic baseline, in which the Bush-era tax cuts are made permanent, scheduled payment cuts to Medicare doctors are prevented and $1.2 trillion in automatic spending cuts are waived.

Under that scenario, debt held by the public will rise to 85% of GDP by 2021, up from about 70% today. Both are well above the country's historical average of 40%.


Newt Gingrich's plan

Debt over next decade: Adds $7 trillion, increasing debt to GDP to 114%.

Costliest proposal: Create an alternative flat tax of 15%, which would increase debt by $3.4 trillion.

Biggest cost saver: Turn means-tested federal programs such as Medicaid into block grants to states and cut federal funding for these programs in half, saving $2.4 trillion.

Interest costs on the debt: Raises it by $900 billion.

The Gingrich campaign, in a statement, essentially dismissed the CRFB analysis "because they show no comprehension of how to score the impact of economic growth in helping to balance the budget."

The campaign maintains that his plan would create 6.6 million jobs in the first two years and balance the budget in his first term.


Rick Santorum's plan

Debt over next decade: Adds $4.5 trillion, increasing debt to GDP to 104%.

Costliest proposal: Reduce and reform individual income taxes, at a cost of $3.6 trillion.

Biggest cost saver: Transform various social programs into block grants to states and capping their growth, saving $950 billion.

Interest costs on the debt: Raises it by $640 billion.


Mitt Romney's plan

Debt over next decade: Adds $250 billion, increasing debt to GDP to 86%.

Costliest proposal: Reduce corporate taxes, which would increase debt by $1 trillion.

Biggest cost saver: Reduce federal workforce costs, saving $530 billion.

Interest costs on the debt: Raises it by $40 billion.

The CRFB said it will update its analysis to include the revised tax plan that Romney released on Wednesday. He said he wanted to cut marginal tax rates for individuals by 20%, among other things.

While Romney said his tax plan would not add to the deficit, he didn't offer specifics as to how he'd pay for his newly proposed tax cuts. Absent those offsets, the CRFB roughly estimates that his plan could add $2.6 trillion in debt, boosting debt to 96% of GDP by 2021.


Ron Paul's plan

Debt over next decade: Reduces it by $2.2 trillion, lowering debt to GDP to 76%.

Costliest proposal: Get rid of various income taxes, such as the Alternative Minimum Tax and taxes on investment income, Social Security benefits and tips, at a cost of $2.5 trillion.

Biggest cost saver: Reduce many parts of non-defense spending, such as eliminating five federal departments including education, commerce and energy, saving $4.5 trillion.

Interest costs on the debt: Lowers it by $300 billion.

- CNN's Gregory Wallace contributed to this report.



http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/23/news/economy/gop_candidates_deficits/index.htm

Insinuation as War Propaganda

"Fast forward a decade to the current day. Seventy-one percent of Americans­almost exactly the percentage that thought Saddam was behind 9/11­think that Iran has nuclear weapons. It's a small sample, but it is consistent with polls over the last couple years, each one showing a majority believing Iran already has nukes, and almost nine out of ten Americans sure that Iran is seeking them.
...
"What's bizarre about this, other than the fact that there is no credible evidence that Iran has nuclear weapons, is that no one in a position of official authority is claiming it either! Every report from the International Atomic Energy Agency, even when framed in a way to make Iran seem ominous, confirms the "non-diversion" of nuclear materials to weaponization purposes. The CIA and intelligence community have consistently stood by the National Intelligence Estimate findings that Iran has not sought a nuclear weapon since 2003 (and Iran doing so back then is only suspected based on very scant evidence produced by the Israeli government)."

Insinuation as War Propaganda
By Anthony Gregory | Thursday February 23, 2012 at 10:41 AM PST

In 2002 and early 2003, the Bush administration made its case for war with Iraq. There were assertions given about Saddam's maintenance of weapons of mass destruction and ties to al-Qaeda. What was never said explicitly, however, was that Saddam Hussein was behind 9/11. Yet by late 2003, seventy percent of polled Americans thought Saddam Hussein was personally behind 9/11. Bush's Republican voters were especially convinced of this.

Yet Bush and his officials never said this. And after the multiple disasters of the Iraq war began to present themselves with great clarity, the Bush officials were questioned about their pre-war intel. Yet they could say, strictly speaking, one thing they never claimed was Saddam was behind 9/11.

Condoleezza Rice had said something about the attacks originating in the same region or area as Iraq. There was all sorts of insinuation that Saddam might have been involved. And surely the Bush team never put an ounce of effort into disabusing the American people of the completely false notion that Saddam was behind 9/11. The vast majority of Americans believed it­indeed, at times, more Americans thought Saddam was behind the attacks than believed the Iraq War was just!­yet it was not only completely untrue, but not directly rooted in any explicit assertion given by the administration. Various pro-war commentators had said it, but Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Powell­none of them ever did.

Fast forward a decade to the current day. Seventy-one percent of Americans­almost exactly the percentage that thought Saddam was behind 9/11­think that Iran has nuclear weapons. It's a small sample, but it is consistent with polls over the last couple years, each one showing a majority believing Iran already has nukes, and almost nine out of ten Americans sure that Iran is seeking them.

Indeed, talking with "respectable" liberals­the type who listen to NPR and watch Jon Stewart­I find repeatedly that even folks who don't want to go to war assume that every reasonable American knows that Iran is on the brink of having nukes, if the regime doesn't already have them.

What's bizarre about this, other than the fact that there is no credible evidence that Iran has nuclear weapons, is that no one in a position of official authority is claiming it either! Every report from the International Atomic Energy Agency, even when framed in a way to make Iran seem ominous, confirms the "non-diversion" of nuclear materials to weaponization purposes. The CIA and intelligence community have consistently stood by the National Intelligence Estimate findings that Iran has not sought a nuclear weapon since 2003 (and Iran doing so back then is only suspected based on very scant evidence produced by the Israeli government).

What's more, in the last week or so, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta stressed that not only does Iran not have nuclear weapons; there is no evidence that Iran even wants nuclear weapons!!

Even if Iran wanted to make nuclear weapons, it would probably take three or more years. Iran is reportedly attempting to enrich its uranium to 19.75% LEU. Nuclear weapons require 95%­and there is no evidence that Iran has the means to do this. It is even more dubious to believe a nuclear-armed Iran would be some sort of unprecedented threat for the United States, but that's neither here nor there.

So what's the deal? The Obama administration (and the Bush administration, and the UN) have all had the same official position: Iran doesn't have nukes, and the Iranians probably aren't looking to get them. Yet seven out of ten Americans think Iran already has them. Meanwhile, every Republican presidential candidate except Ron Paul warns about the unparalleled threat of a nuclear Iran, and the Obama White House punishes the country with tighter sanctions and ever more threats.

Indeed, Obama has thrived on the insinuation that Iran has nukes. When he acted tough back in 2009 because Iran had been caught red-handed with its fledgling nuclear facility at Qom­a civilian nuclear facility that Iran readily alerted the international community to, consistent with its continuing adherence to the Non-Proliferation Treaty to which Iran is a signatory­he did so against a backdrop of insinuation that of course everyone knows Iran wants nuclear weapons. He did this even though all that existed at Qom, according to an IAEA official, was a "hole in a mountain." Why didn't the president remind the public instead that there is little to worry about, since the entire Defense Department and intelligence community confirm that Iran has no nuclear weapons program?

If a war begins with Iran, it will largely be on the basis of propaganda believed by the public, propaganda that the government has never officially articulated. In the past, the U.S. thrived on outright lies for war: the Gulf of Tokin Incident, Kuwaiti babies being ripped from incubators, and so forth. There has long been a fair share of unsubstantiated allegations involved behind major U.S. wars­the USS Maine being sunk by the Spanish, the Zimmerman Telegram posing an actual threat to the United States, the Serbians committing genocide of ethnic Albanians, killing many tens of thousands of civilians in the late 1990s, and so on.

Yet today lies and unproven allegations are not enough. The U.S. warfare state appears to thrive on insinuation in its war propaganda. The U.S. war machine's top brass never outright declare the most provocative claims about U.S. enemies. That way, when the war goes south and people begin accusing the political class of misleading them, the empire's defenders can easily say (accurately in word if not in spirit): "Bush never claimed Saddam was behind 9/11! Obama never claimed Iran had nuclear weapons!"

But don't think for a moment that our rulers aren't glad the American people believe what they do. It makes wars so much easier to wage when the public buys into all sorts of nonsense. The plausible deniability that insinuated propaganda gives the ruling class is just icing on the cake.

http://blog.independent.org/2012/02/23/insinuation-as-war-propaganda/

Spending, not Taxation, Is the Problem

Thursday, February 23, 2012
Spending, not Taxation, Is the Problem
by Jacob G. Hornberger

With President Obama and various Republican presidential candidates competing to reduce corporate income taxes, it must be election time. Do you ever feel like you're living in a Latin American country, where the presidential candidates are notorious for offering all sorts of political candy to the voters during the campaign season?

The whole notion of reducing taxes is, of course, ridiculous. Why? Because as Milton Friedman pointed out, the real level of taxation is the amount of money the government is spending. Whatever the government is spending is what the government must collect in taxes. Thus, when spending exceeds tax revenues and the government lowers taxes on one group, another group will have to make up the difference with increased taxes.

Suppose, for example, the government is spending $100,000. Suppose that there are three groups in society. Group A is paying $50,000 in taxes. Group B is paying $30,000. Group C is paying $20,000. The amount of ax revenues equals the amount of federal spending.

During campaign season, in the attempt to garner votes, presidential candidates promise to lower taxes for people in Group A by $20,000.

But that's not all. The candidates also promise to deliver additional government welfare to all three groups, the total cost of which will be $30,000.

The mainstream media cheers! The voters are ecstatic. This is absolutely fantastic! Reduced taxes and increased benefits! Would could be better than that? We have the best presidential candidates in the whole world!

But there is obviously a big problem. With the campaign promises, government expenditures will total $130,000 (including the additional $30,000 in welfare benefits) while tax receipts (including the $30,000 reduction in taxes for Group A) now total $70,000. That's a $60,000 deficit..

Since government gets its money through taxation, that's obviously a problem. The government must get the additional $60,000 from someone. By lowering taxes on Group A, the government must increase taxes on Groups A or B to cover the difference.

Of course, the government could go into the capital markets and borrow the money, which is what the U.S. government, the Greek government, and many other governments have been doing for a long time. But that only delays the inevitable. When the bonds come due, taxes must be imposed on people to pay off the amount borrowed.

Another course of action, one that the U.S. government has used for decades, is simply to print the money rather than impose higher taxes on those people in Groups B and C. That's where the Federal Reserve, or central bank, comes into play. Its job is to enable public officials to pay off government debt in money that then constantly falls in value due to its ever-increasing supply.

That's, in fact, why the value of the U.S. dollar is worth only a fraction of what it was worth when the Fed was established. It's also why Americans are now relegating to using coins consisting of cheap alloys rather than gold and silver. The bad money drove out the good money.

The obvious benefit to inflation is that it enables politicians to promise tax cuts and welfare increases without overt tax increases to make up the difference. Politicians know that the mainstream media and most voters will look upon them as fantastic magicians who clearly love the people. When prices begin rising in response to the debased currency, the politicians know that the mainstream media and most people will never figure out that it is the government's doing. They'll inevitably blame the rising prices on "big corporations," "greed," or "market forces."

The real problem facing our nation is the out-of-control spending ­ spending that far exceeds the amount of taxes being collected. That has led and continued to lead to out-of- control debt, which inevitably leads to inflationary debasement of the money supply by the Federal Reserve.

As long as spending continues to soar, the economic problems facing the American people will continue to grow, just as they will continue to grow for the people of Greece.

The best solution out of this morass, however, is not just to cut federal spending so that it equals tax revenues. Instead, the time has come for Americans to challenging the entire welfare-state paradigm and warfare-state paradigm that have brought us so many problems.

Repealing and dismantling both the welfare state and the warfare state would mean no more socialist programs, including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and no more overseas military empire or domestic military industrial complex. It would mean no more Federal Reserve. And it was mean no more income taxation, rendering moot political promises to reduce income taxes at election time.

http://www.fff.org/blog/jghblog2012-02-23.asp

Pay Up or Die

Pay Up or Die
by Laurence M. Vance

"I like to pay taxes. With them, I buy civilization." -- Oliver Wendell Holmes

Because I don't like to pay taxes, I was intrigued by the title of the article by Stephen Foster that I was directed to titled: " 102 Things NOT To Do If You Hate Taxes." The article is a liberal defense of the legitimacy of the government (usually federal, but sometimes state or local) confiscating a portion of Americans' incomes and redistributing and reallocating the incomes because the government provides certain services. Implied throughout the article is the myth that none of the 102 things listed "NOT to do" would exist without the government. The above Holmes quote appears at the end of the article.

Before the list of the 102 things "NOT to do if you hate taxes," the article is prefaced with this statement: "So, you're a Republican that hates taxes? Well, since you do not like taxes or government, please kindly do the following."

Since when do Republicans hate taxes? Since when do Republicans not like taxes or government other than when it is Democrats collecting the taxes and running the government? There is only one Republican member of Congress that I am aware of who has called for the complete elimination of the federal income tax – Ron Paul. Although I am not a Republican, since I still "hate taxes" and "do not like taxes or government," I feel compelled to analyze the list of things I should not do.

What follows is Foster's complete list of 102 things that no one should do if he hates taxes – all followed by my comments.

1. Do not use Medicare.
It is not the job of government to pay for medical care or have anything to do with medicine. But if the government is going to tax me for it against my will, then I am going to get my money back one way or another even if I have to use the service.

2. Do not use Social Security.
It is not the job of government to operate a retirement/disability system. But if the government is going to tax me for it against my will, then I am going to get my money back one way or another even if I have to use the service.

3. Do not become a member of the US military, who are paid with tax dollars.
First of all, who would want to be a member of the U.S. military in the first place? Secondly, most of what the military spends is on offense and should be cut from the budget. And third, the United States had no income tax until 1913, but certainly had no trouble funding a military before then.

4. Do not ask the National Guard to help you after a disaster.
It is not the job of the government to help anyone after a disaster. And it is a myth that no one would be helped after a disaster if the government did not send help. The American people are a resourceful and generous people.

5. Do not call 911 when you get hurt.
It is not the job of the government to provide 911 services. And it is a myth that this service could not be provided by the private sector.

6. Do not call the police to stop intruders in your home.
Especially when it is the police who are intruding in your home. More intruders are stopped dead every year with a gun than are stopped dead by police who don't arrive until after you are dead or have been robbed.

7. Do not summon the fire department to save your burning home.
It is not the job of the government to fight fires. And it is a myth fires would never be put out if the government did not provide fire fighters. Many fire departments are private and/or volunteer.

8. Do not drive on any paved road, highway, and interstate or drive on any bridge.
It is not the job of government to construct roads, highways, interstates, or bridges. And it is a myth that there would be no roads and bridges if the government did not construct them. In early American, most roads and bridges were privately owned and some of them are privately owned today. See Thomas DiLorenzo's "The Role of Private Transportation in America's 19th-Century "Internal Improvements" Debate" and Walter Block's The Privatization of Roads & Highways.

9. Do not use public restrooms.
It is not the job of government to provide restrooms. And it is a myth that no one would be able to find a restroom while traveling or walking about without the help of government. Any American can walk into any McDonalds anywhere and use the restroom.

10. Do not send your kids to public schools.
It is not the job of government to operate schools or have anything to do with education. And it is a myth that no one would be educated without government schools. Public schools are a recent development in American history. And just look at the multitude of private schools and parents that homeschool their children.

11. Do not put your trash out for city garbage collectors.
It is not the job of government to collect trash. And it is a myth that trash would not be collected if the government did not collect it. Many areas of the country rely on privately owned garbage collection companies.

12. Do not live in areas with clean air.
It is not the job of government to make sure that the air is clean. And it is a myth that the air would not be clean if the government did not establish air quality standards and mandate that they be followed.

13. Do not drink clean water.
It is not the job of government to make sure that drinking water is clean. And it is a myth that no drinking water would be clean if the government did not establish clean water standards and mandate that they be followed.

14. Do not visit National Parks.
It is not the job of government to designate National Parks. And it is a myth that there would be no large parks if the government did not designate them. But if the government is going to designate National Parks, then it should have user fees so that the ones who visit are the ones who pay for the privilege. Meanwhile, if the government is going to tax me for it against my will, then I am going to get my money's worth. See Gary North's "The National Parks: The Super-Rich's Greatest Idea."

15. Do not visit public museums, zoos, and monuments.
It is not the job of government to operate museums, zoos, and monuments. And it is a myth that no museums, zoos, and monuments worth seeing would exist if the government did not operate them. There are probably thousands of museums, zoos, and monuments across the country that are privately owned. But if the government is going to operate museums, zoos, and monuments, then it should have user fees so that the ones who visit are the ones who pay for the privilege. Meanwhile, if the government is going to tax me for it against my will, then I am going to get my money's worth.

16. Do not eat or use FDA inspected food and medicines.
It is not the job of government to inspect food or medicines or have an agriculture department or have anything to do with medicine. And it is a myth that no food or medicines would be inspected without the government inspecting them. Can Americans not even eat without government assistance?

17. Do not bring your kids to public playgrounds.
It is not the job of government to construct playgrounds. And it is a myth that kids would have no playgrounds if the government did not construct them. Many private developments now have playgrounds for the children of residents.

18. Do not walk or run on sidewalks.
It is not the job of government to construct or mandate or control sidewalks. I am looking out my office window at the sidewalk in front of my house as I type this and government is the last thing that comes to my mind. But for safety reasons, I don't recommend that anyone run on the sidewalk.

19. Do not use public recreational facilities such as basketball and tennis courts.
It is not the job of government to construct recreational facilities. And it is a myth that recreational facilities would not exist if the government did not build them.

20. Do not seek shelter facilities or food in soup kitchens when you are homeless and hungry.
It is not the job of government to shelter the homeless or feed the poor in soup kitchens. And it is a myth that the homeless would not be sheltered or the poor fed if the government did not operate or fund shelters and soup kitchens. Ever heard of rescue missions? They have been taking care of the physical and spiritual needs of the down-and-out for decades.

21. Do not apply for educational or job training assistance when you lose your job.
It is not the job of government to provide educational or job training assistance when you lose your job. And it is a myth that no one would receive educational or job training assistance if the government did not provide it.

22. Do not apply for food stamps when you can't feed your children.
It is not the job of government to issue food stamps to the poor. And it is a myth that the poor would go hungry if the government did not issue them food stamps. See my article "Food Stamp Politicians."

23. Do not use the judiciary system for any reason.
Good idea. Now, if only the government would quit charging people with victimless crimes and forcing them to use the judicial system.

24. Do not ask for an attorney when you are arrested and do not ask for one to be assigned to you by the court.
It is not the job of government to provide attorneys. And if the government would quit arresting people for victimless and made-up crimes, then few would need to ask for an attorney.

25. Do not apply for any Pell Grants.
It is not the job of government to provide Pell Grants or have anything to do with education. And it is a myth that no one would go to college without a Pell Grant. Americans went to college for hundreds of years before Pell Grants.

26. Do not use cures that were discovered by labs using federal dollars.
It is not the job of government to fund labs to discover cures for anything. And it is a myth that no cures would be discovered if the government did not fund labs. But regardless of who discovered them in the past, that is no reason not to use them now.

27. Do not fly on federally regulated airplanes.
It is not the job of government to regulate the airline industry or any other industry. And it is a myth that airlines would not be safe or operate as now without government regulations. I should also note that the federal government deregulated much of the airline industry beginning in 1979.

28. Do not use any product that can trace its development back to NASA.
It is not the job of government to have a space agency or develop products. See my article "Not Even the Sky Is the Limit."

29. Do not watch the weather provided by the National Weather Service.
It is not the job of government to operate a weather service. And it is a myth that no one would know the weather if the government did not operate a weather service. But if the government is going to tax me for it against my will, then I am going to watch to my heart's content.

30. Do not listen to severe weather warnings from the National Weather Service.
It is not the job of government to issue severe weather warnings. And it is a myth that no one would be warned about severe weather if the government did not do the warning. But if the government is going to tax me for it against my will, then I am going to listen to my heart's content.

31. Do not listen to tsunami, hurricane, or earthquake alert systems.
It is not the job of government to issue alerts for tsunamis, hurricanes, or earthquakes. And it is a myth that no one would be alerted to tsunamis, hurricanes, or earthquakes if the government did not do the alerting. But if the government is going to tax me for it against my will, then I am going to listen to my heart's content.

32. Do not apply for federal housing.
It is not the job of the government to provide housing or have anything to do with the housing industry. And it is a myth that the poor would have no housing if the government did not provide it. Government housing is a recent development in American history. And the vast majority of housing is privately owned.

33. Do not use the internet, which was developed by the military.
This is about as simplistic as saying that Al Gore created the Internet. No one who knew anything about the history of the Internet would make such a vague and crude statement.

34. Do not swim in clean rivers.
It is not the job of government to make sure that rivers are clean. And it is a myth that no rivers would be clean if the government did not establish river water standards and mandate that they be followed.

35. Do not allow your child to eat school lunches or breakfasts.
It is not the job of government to fund school lunches or breakfasts. And not everyone who eats breakfast or lunch at school has it paid for by the government.

36. Do not ask for FEMA assistance when everything you own gets wiped out by disaster.
It is not the job of government to provide anyone disaster assistance. And it is a myth that no one would receive assistance if the government did not provide it. The American people are a resourceful and generous people.

37. Do not ask the military to defend your life and home in the event of a foreign invasion.
The military is so busy fighting foreign wars and occupying foreign countries that Americans would be better off defending themselves.

38. Do not use your cell phone or home telephone.
What phones have to do with the government is beyond my comprehension.

39. Do not buy firearms that wouldn't have been developed without the support of the US Government and military. That includes most of them.
How do we know that these firearms wouldn't have been developed without the support of the U.S. government and military? But regardless of who developed them in the past, that is no reason not to use them now. How else will Americans be able to protect themselves from their government and military?

40. Do not eat USDA inspected produce and meat.
It is not the job of government to inspect produce and meat or have an agriculture department. And it is a myth that no produce or meat would be inspected without the government inspecting it. Can Americans not even eat without government assistance?

41. Do not apply for government grants to start your own business.
It is not the job of government to give grants to anyone to start a business. And it is a myth that no one would start a business if the government did not provide grants. Ever heard of venture capitalists? Ever heard of Steve Jobs or Michael Dell?

42. Do not apply to win a government contract.
Most government contracts should be eliminated. The United States had no income tax until 1913, but certainly had no trouble paying for government contracts before then

43. Do not buy any vehicle that has been inspected by government safety agencies.
It is not the job of government to inspect products or have safety agencies. Ever heard of Underwriters Laboratories? It is a private organization.

44. Do not buy any product that is protected from poisons, toxins, etc…by the Consumer Protection Agency.
It is not the job of government to protect products from poisons or toxins or have a Consumer Protection Agency. And it is a myth that products would be dangerous without government protection. There is no reason why private consumer protection agencies could not do the job.

45. Do not save your money in a bank that is FDIC insured.
It is not the job of government to be in the insurance business or have anything to do with banking.

46. Do not use Veterans benefits or military health care.
We have too many veterans because of our senseless foreign wars. And who would want to experience the horrors of military health care?

47. Do not use the G.I. Bill to go to college.
Again, we have too many veterans because of our senseless foreign wars. It is not the job of government to have anything to do with education.

48. Do not apply for unemployment benefits.
It is not the job of government to provide unemployment benefits. And it is a myth that no one would have unemployment insurance if the government did not provide it. Americans purchase on the free market health insurance, life insurance, cancer insurance, dental insurance, disability insurance, homeowners' insurance, renters' insurance, parcel-shipping insurance, and auto insurance. Why not unemployment insurance? See my "The Unemployment Racket."

49. Do not use any electricity from companies regulated by the Department of Energy.
It is not the job of government to regulate electricity companies or have a Department of Energy. And it is a myth that some people would not have electricity if the government did not provide it. Most electricity in the United States is provided by private companies.

50. Do not live in homes that are built to code.
It is not the job of government to establish building codes. And it is a myth that buildings would not be constructed safely if the government did not establish building codes.

51. Do not run for public office. Politicians are paid with taxpayer dollars.
Who would want to get elected to office and rub shoulders with the dregs of society? The United States had no income tax until 1913, but certainly had no trouble paying politicians before then.

52. Do not ask for help from the FBI, S.W.A.T, the bomb squad, Homeland Security, State troopers, etc…
Don't worry, we won't. We want to say as far away from these elements of the police state that we possibly can.

53. Do not apply for any government job whatsoever as all state and federal employees are paid with tax dollars.
Most state and federal jobs should be eliminated. The United States had no income tax until 1913, but certainly had no trouble paying government workers before then.

54. Do not use public libraries.
It is not the job of the government to provide libraries. And it is a myth that there would be no libraries if the government did not provide them. Have you been in a public library lately? I see a more people doing web surfing and checking out movies than I see checking out books.

55. Do not use the US Postal Service.
It is constitutional for the government to have a U.S. Postal Service. However, if people were allowed to compete with the Post Office on mail delivery without fear of going to jail because of the postal monopoly, then few people would use the Post Office. The Postal Service is supposed to be funded by the services it provides. If it is not taking in enough money to cover its costs, then it needs to raise its prices.

56. Do not visit the National Archives.
The United States had no income tax until 1913, but certainly had no trouble archiving documents before then. But if the government is going to maintain an archive, then it should have user fees so that the ones who visit are the ones who pay for the privilege.

57. Do not visit Presidential Libraries.
Presidential libraries are privately funded and do not belong in this list.

58. Do not use airports that are secured by the federal government.
It is not job of government to secure airports or have anything to do with aviation. And it is a myth that airline travel would not be safe without the groping hands of the TSA.

59. Do not apply for loans from any bank that is FDIC insured.
It is not the job of government to be in the insurance business or have anything to do with banking.

60. Do not ask the government to help you clean up after a tornado.
It is not the job of government to help anyone clean up after a tornado. And it is a myth that no one would get help cleaning up after a tornado if the government did not provide the help. The American people are a resourceful and generous people.

61. Do not ask the Department of Agriculture to provide a subsidy to help you run your farm.
It is not the job of government to subsidize agriculture or have an agriculture department.

62. Do not take walks in National Forests.
It is not the job of government to designate National Forests. And it is a myth that there would be no protected forests if the government did not protect them. But if the government is going to designate National Forests, then it should have user fees so that the ones who visit are the ones who pay for the privilege. Meanwhile, if the government is going to tax me for it against my will, then I am going to get my money's worth.

63. Do not ask for taxpayer dollars for your oil company.
It is not the job of government to transfer taxpayer money to oil companies or any other company.

64. Do not ask the federal government to bail your company out during recessions.
It is not the job of government to bail out any company during a recession or otherwise.

65. Do not seek medical care from places that use federal dollars.
It is not the job of government to spend federal dollars on medical care or have anything to do with medicine.

66. Do not use Medicaid.
It is not the job of government to pay for medical care or have anything to do with medicine. And it is a myth that the poor would not have access to medical care unless the government paid for it.

67. Do not use WIC.
It is not the job of the government to have welfare programs. And it is a myth that low-income women and their infants and children would go hungry if the government did not give them welfare.

68. Do not use electricity generated by Hoover Dam.
It is not the job of government to construct dams or generate electricity. Electricity generated by the Hoover Dam is paid for by those who use it. And it is a myth that some people would not have electricity if the government did not provide it. Most electricity in the United States is provided by private companies.

69. Do not use electricity or any service provided by the Tennessee Valley Authority.
It is not the job of government to generate electricity, provide any service by the TVA, or even have a TVA. It is a myth that some people would not have electricity if the government did not provide it. Most electricity in the United States is provided by private companies.

70. Do not ask the Army Corps of Engineers to rebuild levees when they break.
It is not the job of the government to build levees. It is a myth that no levees would be built or rebuilt if the government did not do the work.

71. Do not let the Coast Guard save you from drowning when your boat capsizes at sea.
Don't worry, it won't. The Coast Guard is too busy fighting the war on drugs.

72. Do not ask the government to help evacuate you when all hell breaks loose in the country you are in.
It is not the job of government to help evacuate anyone. Travel to other countries should be at one's own risk. But if the U.S. government would stop making enemies around the world, the people in other countries might be more inclined to protect Americans.

73. Do not visit historic landmarks.
It is not the job of government to designate historic landmarks. And it is a myth that there would be no historic landmarks if the government did not designate them.

74. Do not visit fisheries.
It is not the job of the government to have anything to do with the fish industry or any other industry.

75. Do not expect to see animals that are federally protected because of the Endangered Species List.
It is not the job of the government to protect endangered species. And it is a myth that endangered species would die out if the government did not protect them.

76. Do not expect plows to clear roads of snow and ice so your kids can go to school and so you can get to work.
It is not the job of government to build roads in the first place. And it is a myth that no roads would be cleared if the government did not clear them.

77. Do not hunt or camp on federal land.
The federal government shouldn't own any land outside of Washington DC that is not a military base. See my "This Land Is Not Your Land."

78. Do not work anywhere that has a safe workplace because of government regulations.
It is not the job of the government to institute workplace regulations. It is a myth that workplaces are only safe because of government regulations.

79. Do not use public transportation.
The New York City subway system was originally privately owned just as all "public" transportation should be and would be if governments did not regulate taxis and buses.

80. Do not drink water from public water fountains.
It is not the job of government to provide water fountains. And it is a myth that there would be no water fountains if the government did not provide them. Go into any Wal-Mart and get a drink if you're thirsty.

81. Do not whine when someone copies your work and sells it as their own. Government enforces copyright laws.
Copyrights are constitutional, but someone copying my work and selling it as his own is fraud. We don't need copyright laws to prevent that. The United States had no income tax until 1913, but certainly had no trouble enforcing copyright laws before then. On patents and copyrights, see the work of Stephan Kinsella. See also Against Intellectual Monopoly by Michele Boldrin and David K. Levine.

82. Do not expect to own your home, car, or boat. Government organizes and keeps all titles.
It is not the job of government to organize and keep titles. It is a myth that this could not be done without the help of government.

83. Do not expect convicted felons to remain off the streets.
Convicted felons roam the streets now. So what is your point?

84. Do not eat in restaurants that are regulated by food quality and safety standards.
It is not the job of government to regulate food quality and safety standards. It is a myth that restaurants are only safe to eat in because of government safety standards.

85. Do not seek help from the US Embassy if you need assistance in a foreign nation.
The United States had no income tax until 1913, but certainly had no trouble paying for ambassadors to foreign countries before then. And again, the government could institute user fees so that the ones who need help are the ones who pay for the help.

86. Do not apply for a passport to travel outside of the United States.
Why should the government require me to get a passport in the first place? This is a recent innovation.

87. Do not apply for a patent when you invent something.
Applying for a patent costs thousands of dollars so it seems as if those who use the patent system are the ones paying for the privilege. Patents are constitutional, but the positive effect of patents on innovation is dubious. On patents and copyrights, see the work of Stephan Kinsella. See also Against Intellectual Monopoly by Michele Boldrin and David K. Levine.

88. Do not adopt a child through your local, state, or federal governments.
It is not the job of government to have anything to do with the adoption of children. And the adoption tax credit should not be refundable.

89. Do not use elevators that have been inspected by federal or state safety regulators.
It is not the job of government to inspect the safety of elevators. It is a myth that elevators are only safe because of inspection by government safety regulators.

90. Do not use any resource that was discovered by the USGS.
The USGS is the United States Geologic Service. It is not the job of government to discover resources. It is a myth that resources would not be discovered without government assistance.

91. Do not ask for energy assistance from the government.
It is not the job of the government to provide energy assistance. It is a myth that the poor would suffer without energy assistance from the government. Many energy providers solicit money from their customers to help provide energy assistance to the poor.

92. Do not move to any other developed nation, because the taxes are much higher.
And so are the services. I didn't think it mattered how high the taxes were as long as commensurate government services were provided?

93. Do not go to a beach that is kept clean by the state.
It is not the job of government to keep beaches clean. It is a myth that beaches are only kept clean because the government cleans them.

94. Do not use money printed by the US Treasury.
We have no choice because of government legal tender laws.

95. Do not complain when millions more illegal immigrants cross the border because there are no more border patrol agents.
If the government would stop the drug war, end welfare, stop forcing schools to provide a free public education to children who are not American citizens, end birthright citizenship, and stop forcing hospitals to provide health care to those with no ability to pay, then the illegal immigrant problem would vanish.

96. Do not attend a state university.
It is not the job of state governments to provide education or have anything to do with education. And it is a myth that no one would be educated without government schools. There are a multitude of private colleges in existence. But if states have provisions in their constitutions to operate universities, then those who attend them should pay the full cost of their tuition.

97. Do not see any doctor that is licensed through the state.
It is not the job of government to license doctors or have anything to do with medicine.

98. Do not use any water from municipal water systems.
It is not the job of government to provide water. It is a myth that no one would have running water if the government did not provide it. Some water systems are privately owned, as they all could be and should be.

99. Do not complain when diseases and viruses, that were once fought around the globe by the US government and CDC, reach your house.
It is not the job of government to fight disease or have anything to do with medicine. And it is a myth that no diseases would be conquered if the government did not fight them.

100. Do not work for any company that is required to pay its workers a livable wage, provide them sick days, vacation days, and benefits.
It is not the job of government to require companies to pay certain wages or provide sick days, vacation days, or benefits. And just look at all the benefits that some companies offer that have nothing to do with government regulations. Wages and benefits should depend on a free labor market, not government decree.

101. Do not expect to be able to vote on election days. Government provides voting booths, election day officials, and voting machines which are paid for with taxes.
What difference would it make if no one voted for police statist A over police statist B? The United States had no income tax until 1913, but certainly had no trouble funding elections before then.

102. Do not ride trains. The railroad was built with government financial assistance.
It is not the job of government to finance railroad construction or have anything to do with the railroad industry. And it is a myth that no one could ride trains unless the government funded them. See Thomas DiLorenzo's The Role of Private Transportation in America's 19th-Century "Internal Improvements" Debate.

The author concludes: "Without taxes, our lifestyles would be totally different and much harder. America would be a third world country. The less we pay, the less we get in return."

Pay up or die. That is the mentality of "102 Things NOT To Do If You Hate Taxes." Without government oversight, businesses would do nothing but rip off their customers, poison their customers, endanger their customers, and kill their customers. Without government oversight, the air would be unfit to breath, rivers would all be contaminated, food would be poisonous, and drinking water would be full of toxic chemicals. Without government oversight, the poor would starve to death, there would be no transportation, no infrastructure, disease would be everywhere, only the rich would have access to health care, there would be no zoos, parks, forests, or museums, garbage would pile up in the streets, criminals and illegal immigrants would roam wild, no one would go to school, fires would burn out of control, and no product or workplace would be safe.

Pay up or die. Civilization depends on it.

http://lewrockwell.com/vance/vance279.html

Stupid Rule; Stupid Republicans

"First of all, let's be clear why I am singling out the Republicans. It is Republicans that talk about cutting taxes, not Democrats. It is Republicans that talk about limiting government, not Democrats. It is Republicans that talk about smaller government, not Democrats. It is Republicans that talk about getting the government out of our lives, not Democrats. This doesn't mean that Republicans really believe any of these things, but they are the ones talking about them, not Democrats."

Stupid Rule; Stupid Republicans
by Laurence M. Vance

One of the stupidest, most asinine, and most evil things that Americans will encounter this tax season is the gift tax.

According to the IRS:

The gift tax is a tax on the transfer of property by one individual to another while receiving nothing, or less than full value, in return. The tax applies whether the donor intends the transfer to be a gift or not.

The gift tax applies to the transfer by gift of any property. You make a gift if you give property (including money), or the use of or income from property, without expecting to receive something of at least equal value in return. If you sell something at less than its full value or if you make an interest-free or reduced-interest loan, you may be making a gift.

How bad does the IRS want to tax you for giving someone a gift? Here is your answer: "The general rule is that any gift is a taxable gift. However, there are many exceptions to this rule. Generally, the following gifts are not taxable gifts."

• Gifts that are not more than the annual exclusion for the calendar year.
• Tuition or medical expenses you pay for someone (the educational and medical exclusions).
• Gifts to your spouse.
• Gifts to a political organization for its use.
• In addition to this, gifts to qualifying charities are deductible from the value of the gift(s) made.

And what is the annual exclusion amount? Again, according to the IRS: "All of the gifts made during the calendar year to a donee are fully excluded under the annual exclusion if they are all gifts of present interest and they total $13,000 or less."

My, how generous is the federal government! As long as you don't give someone a gift worth over $13,000 then you don't have to pay any gift tax.

But why do we have a gift tax in the first place? Don't we already pay taxes on the money we earn? Why should we be taxed again just because we give away money instead of spend it? Is this not double taxation? Of course it is. But the federal government loves taxing money twice. Is there a tax deduction for Social Security and Medicare taxes paid? Of course not. Are dividends taxed after corporations already paid taxes on their profits? Of course they are.

The reason why we have a gift tax is because we have an estate tax. Without a gift tax, the rich could give away all their money before they die and thus avoid paying the estate tax. But what's wrong with that? Haven't they already paid taxes on not only the money they earned, but also on their capital gains and interest they received? For more on the estate tax, see my article "A Libertarian View of the Estate Tax."

The rule that you cannot give away to someone more than $13,000 in a year without paying a gift tax is a stupid rule.

Stupid rule; stupid Republicans.

Republicans? How can I possibly blame this stupid rule on Republicans? Hasn't the gift tax been around since 1932?

First of all, let's be clear why I am singling out the Republicans. It is Republicans that talk about cutting taxes, not Democrats. It is Republicans that talk about limiting government, not Democrats. It is Republicans that talk about smaller government, not Democrats. It is Republicans that talk about getting the government out of our lives, not Democrats. This doesn't mean that Republicans really believe any of these things, but they are the ones talking about them, not Democrats.

The Republicans gained a majority in the House and Senate in the third year of Clinton's first term as president. This was the first time that the Republicans had controlled the entire Congress since the 83rd Congress of 1953-1955 under President Eisenhower. The Republicans could have put a bill to repeal the gift tax on Clinton's desk every day. When Clinton refused to sign it, they could have garnered enough public opinion in support of repealing the gift tax so that Clinton was forced to sign it. The Republicans made absolutely no attempt to do so. Instead, all we heard from them were excuses about needing a larger, veto-proof majority in Congress or a Republican in the White House to ensure the passage of Republican bills.

Well, they got their Republican president in 2000 and what happened to the gift tax? Absolutely nothing. Why wasn't the elimination of the gift tax made part of the Bush tax cuts? The Republicans controlled the Congress and the presidency from the inauguration of George Bush on January 20, 2001, until May 24, 2001, when Republican senator Jim Jeffords switched from Republican to independent. After the 2002 election, the Republicans regained control of the Senate. The Republicans lost both the House and the Senate in the 2006 election. This means that for four years without interruption the Republicans controlled the Congress and the White House. If ever in history the gift tax could have been repealed then that was the time. But it wasn't repealed any more than any other wealth redistribution scheme was repealed. Instead, the government grew by leaps and bounds. It is not government that Republicans want to limit, make smaller, and get out of our lives, it is only government controlled by Democrats.

The late Sam Francis (1947-2005) used to call the Republican Party the Stupid Party. Is there any doubt that he was entirely correct?

http://lewrockwell.com/vance/vance280.html