Shecanbe-unemployed?

"The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) has concluded that Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius violated the Hatch Act by engaging in political activity during an official appearance at the Human Rights Campaign’s gala in the battleground state of North Carolina this past February."

"The matter now has been referred to President Obama, who has the statutory responsibility to take “appropriate action” in light of the OSC’s finding that Secretary Sebelius violated the Hatch Act. The presumptive penalty for a Hatch Act violation is termination from government employment, which, if challenged, can be reduced to a suspension of no less than 30 days without pay. Notably, a former U.S. attorney was suspended last year for 100 days for a violation that was considerably more nuanced than the violation by Secretary Sebelius."

I wouldn't hold your breath expecting any accountability here, which is a good thing for this blog, that would be a lot of canned jokes that would need replaced if she was fired.

MVNHS© still swirling

As we continue our inexorable march off the ObamaCare cliff, it may be instructive to note how such a plan fares "in the real world:"

"Patients’ lives are at risk in [MVNHS©] hospital wards that are “on the brink of collapse” due to a critical shortage of out-of-hours doctors and growing numbers of the elderly."

Turns out, when the government runs health "care," people die. That's because care is secondary to rules, and docs aren't incented to put patients' needs first:

"[D]octors’ shifts are limited by the European Working Time Directive and they do not want to work anti-social hours."

In fact, the Much Vaunted National Health Service© just killed off over a thousand seniors, which just has to be good for the ol' bottom line. That's due to the fact that some 70% of hospital beds are occupied by "over-65's." Since the US now has over 10,000 citizens a day turning that magic age, the Brits have company in that regard.

Add to that the existing shortage of hospital beds under MVNHS© "management," and one can see where selective thinning of the senior herd may be desireable.

But hey, it's just economics, nothing personal.

How much do YOU know?

For Life Insurance Awareness Month, the folks at H&R Block (whom Bob quoted the other day as awaiting final IRS rules on ObamaCare) have produced a pretty neat infographic on - of all things - life insurance:

Click image to see a larger versionHow Much Do You Know About Life Insurance via H&R Block

Health Wonk Review: Gridiron edition

Louise at Colorado Health Insurance Insider presents this week's collection of wonky posts, all looking to score a touchdown for your attention. here's a LOT of great material here, well worth your time.

MVNHS©: Cold and Dead

Fresh off killing young cancer victims, the Much Vaunted National Health Service© continues illustrating the deadly consequences of government-run "health care."

The cold:

"A retired schoolmaster took his own pillows and duvet into a new £170million hospital wing because he was so shocked by the conditions in which his son was being treated."

William Handy (no relation), under treatment for a stomach issue, was found "shivering under blood-stained sheets." When his father complained, he was told that cleaners had "refused to come in because they feared catching an infection."

An infection? At a hospital? Really?

There was also trash on the floor, which the alleged cleaners also refused to handle.

But Mr Handy was the lucky one.

The dead:

"A young mother died from a heart condition after doctors repeatedly told her she only had heartburn when she complained of severe chest pains."

The 28-year old, Gemma Jones, had been seen by various minions of the MVNHS© providers over several months. Each time, she was brushed off, even though a simple (and inexpensive) test could have immediately shown the problem.

Good thing she didn't have to worry about blood-stained sheets, though.

But those are just one-offs, right?

Right?

Not so fast:

"Britain is suffering from an exodus of doctors ... [MVNHS©] is suffering a 'brain drain' of doctors as more medics trained at taxpayers' expense choose to pursue their careers overseas."

And why not? As we've seen above, British medical "facilities" are a disgrace, pay is low, and there's no incentive or reward to excel.

Good thing that can't happen here, though.

Right?

Life Happens

Continuing our coverage of Life Insurance Awareness Month:



Now, you may be wondering what this has to do with life insurance.

The risk of your bikini (unintentionally) coming off is remote.

The chance of dying isn't.

[HatTip: Jon Bloom]

And Speaking of Taxes . . . .

Dear Congress,

The IRS regrets to inform you that we will not be able to attend your party.

We appreciate the thought, but your idea of fun is just not our cup of tea.

Sincerely,

I.R.S.

"IRS revenue agents will not be involved. There will not be audits," IRS Deputy Commissioner Steven Miller told a subcommittee of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

The law, passed in 2010 and upheld by theSupreme Court, will charge individuals a fee, or tax, if they fail to buy insurance starting in 2014.

Opponents of the healthcare measure have focused on that requirement, with some Republicans saying they worry the IRS, the agency responsible for tax collection and tax law enforcement, will harass people who fail to buy insurance."In most cases, taxpayers will file their tax returns reporting their health insurance coverage, and-or making a payment, and there will be no need for further interactions with the IRS," Miller said.

CNBC, "IRS will not be enforcers", Sept, 2012

So there you go.

A law, with a mandate, but no policemen.

Yeah, this is going to work real well.