In mandating that public charities must provide contraceptive and abortion prescriptions for their employees in conflict with their stated and long-term religious beliefs, ObamaCare has definitely overstepped its rightful boundaries.
An editorial in the Wall Street Journal dated 8 February 2012 outlines the problem very well:
“The political furor over President Obama's birth-control mandate continues to grow, even among those for whom contraception poses no moral qualms, and one needn't be a theologian to understand why. The country is being exposed to the raw political control that is the core of the Obama health-care plan, and Americans are seeing clearly for the first time how this will violate pluralism and liberty.”
In my opinion, this action of the Department of Health and Human Services represents the exercise of pure political muscle without considering the Constitutional rights to freedom of religion, which is guaranteed to all Americans. The government policy ludicrously claims that organizations which qualify for the title of religious organizations are only churches—religious hospitals, homeless shelters, schools, soup kitchens, and other religious charities are really not religious organizations in the opinion of the government. Therefore, they apparently do not qualify for protection under the First Amendment of the Constitution.
The WSJ editorial goes on to say, “The entire thrust of ObamaCare is to standardize benefits and how they must be paid for and provided, regardless of individual choices or ethical convictions.”
This government grabbing of Constitutional liberties must stop!! Today it is religious freedom; tomorrow it will be something even more intrusive, if possible.
If you want to read the whole editorial, I suggest you go to http://on.wsj.com/wk8ZaY.
We, Americans, have a natural hope and trust in government to provide what is best for us, but what we hope for in the Affordable Care Act is an illusion; and we absolutely must recognize this Act for what it is—an illegal government theft of our basic rights. Listen to what Patrick Henry said about such government action: “It is natural for man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth; and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and having ears hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.”
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
It’s Time To Quit Low Interest Rates
An op-ed in the Wall Street Journal of 6 February by Charles Schwab points out that in the 37th month of central government manipulation of the free-market system, the Federal Reserve’s near-zero interest rate policy is still not accomplishing its goal of stimulating the economy.
“The Fed policy has resulted in a huge infusion of capital into the system, creating a massive rise in liquidity but negligible movement of that money. It is sitting there, in banks all across America, unused. The multiplier effect that normally comes with a boost in liquidity remains at rock bottom. Sufficient capital is in the system to spur growth—it simply isn't being put to work fast enough.
“Average American savers and investors in or near retirement are being forced by the Fed's zero-rate policy to take greater investment risks. To get even modest interest or earnings on their savings, they move out of safer assets such as money markets, short-term bonds or CDs and into riskier assets such as stocks. Either that or they tie up their assets in longer-term bonds that will backfire on them if inflation returns. They're also dramatically scaling back their consumer spending and living more modestly, thus taking money out of the economy that would otherwise support growth.
“In short, the Fed's actions, rather than helping, are having the perverse effect of destroying the confidence of businesses and individuals to invest and the willingness of banks to loan to anyone but those whose credit is so strong they don't need loans.”
It seems the money is there for the asking; but with consumer confidence at such a low ebb, nobody is willing to risk anything on borrowing. It seems to me that if America were to elect a President, such as Mitt Romney—an obviously skillful and insightful businessman—the confidence in American business and entrepreneurship would explode in a burst of borrowing and investing.
“The Fed policy has resulted in a huge infusion of capital into the system, creating a massive rise in liquidity but negligible movement of that money. It is sitting there, in banks all across America, unused. The multiplier effect that normally comes with a boost in liquidity remains at rock bottom. Sufficient capital is in the system to spur growth—it simply isn't being put to work fast enough.
“Average American savers and investors in or near retirement are being forced by the Fed's zero-rate policy to take greater investment risks. To get even modest interest or earnings on their savings, they move out of safer assets such as money markets, short-term bonds or CDs and into riskier assets such as stocks. Either that or they tie up their assets in longer-term bonds that will backfire on them if inflation returns. They're also dramatically scaling back their consumer spending and living more modestly, thus taking money out of the economy that would otherwise support growth.
“In short, the Fed's actions, rather than helping, are having the perverse effect of destroying the confidence of businesses and individuals to invest and the willingness of banks to loan to anyone but those whose credit is so strong they don't need loans.”
It seems the money is there for the asking; but with consumer confidence at such a low ebb, nobody is willing to risk anything on borrowing. It seems to me that if America were to elect a President, such as Mitt Romney—an obviously skillful and insightful businessman—the confidence in American business and entrepreneurship would explode in a burst of borrowing and investing.
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