Rush Limbaugh Show – December 31, 2008
To Listen to Broadcast click here.
FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS – Save by reducing taxable income
Surprisingly, these accounts, offered by many companies, even small ones, are often not used by consumers — so if you didn't sign up for 2009, consider it next time around. …
Ten Ways to Trim Your Health Care Costs
The one expenditure that a lot of people assume they have little or no control over is health care costs. Yet, a little common sense and a healthy dose of consumerism can reward savvy shoppers with significant savings without sacrificing care, says Devon Herrick, Ph.D., a Senior Fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis.
The Fed's Historic Move
The Federal Open Market Committee's action on Dec. 16 was historic in its boldness and its willingness to go further into unchartered waters. In addition to reducing the target Fed …
Retirement Account Reforms: Good and Bad
Since January 2008, 401(k) account balances have dropped up to 25 percent, on average, leaving millions of workers and retirees worried about the future of their retirement savings. Congress and President-elect Obama are considering changes to 401(k)s and other retirement accounts in response to the market turmoil. Which proposals are good ideas to improve retirement savings, and which would make matters worse?
The Fed's Historic Move
The Federal Open Market Committee's action on Dec. 16 was historic in its boldness and its willingness to go further into unchartered waters. In addition to reducing the target Fed …
CNBC – December 16, 2008
Click here to view the video.
Don't Pull Back
Economist David M. Smick's recent book, "The World Is Curved," shows that during the past quarter-century we have had a global "golden age of wealth creation and poverty reduction never …
Don't Pull Back
Economist David M. Smick's recent book, "The World Is Curved," shows that during the past quarter-century we have had a global "golden age of wealth creation and poverty reduction never …
Make Fair Value Fair
The last time I looked I couldn't find mark-to-market accounting in the Constitution of the United States. It must be the eleventh commandment because it's obviously sacred. I understand the …
Obama Health Plan
President-elect Obama has appointed Jeanne Lambrew as Deputy Director of the newly formed White House Office for Health Reform. In this position, Dr. Lambrew will be a major force in shaping health care policy for the Obama Administration. Foreshadowing the national policy debate to come about the Obama Administration's health policy, NCPA President John C. Goodman recently debated the pros and cons of various health care reform options with Dr. Lambrew.
NCPA President recently debated newly appointed Health Reform Deputy Director, Lambrew
President-elect Obama has appointed Jeanne Lambrew as Deputy Director of the newly formed White House Office for Health Reform.
The Impact of Foreign Trade on the Economy
Foreign trade has become more important to our economy in recent years. Exports and imports of goods and services have grown rapidly. A growing trade volume benefits our standard of …
Lights Out for Thomas Edison
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 will soon ban the most common light bulbs in the United States. New efficiency standards will require manufacturers to produce incandescent bulbs that use less energy per unit of light produced, starting with 100-watt incandescent bulbs in 2012, down to 40-watt bulbs in 2014.
The Impact of Foreign Trade on the Economy
Foreign trade has become more important to our economy in recent years. Exports and imports of goods and services have grown rapidly. A growing trade volume benefits our standard of …
Productivity and the Job Market
As the recession deepens, unemployment will continue to rise. How far it will rise largely depends on how much spending by consumers, businesses and the government slows – since demand …
Medicare, Social Security Owe Up to $52 Trillion to Current Retirees and Workers
If the federal government stopped the Medicare and Social Security programs tomorrow — collecting no more payroll taxes and allowing no more accrual of benefits — it would still owe up to $52 trillion to those who have already earned these benefits, according to a new study by the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA).
Health Care Entrepreneurs: The Changing Nature of Providers
The market for medical care does not work like other markets. Providers typically do not disclose prices prior to treatment because they do not compete for patients based on price. Payments are usually not made by patients themselves but by third parties – employers, insurance companies or government. And the amounts paid are not really market-clearing prices; they are "reimbursement" rates negotiated with bureaucratic institutions and networks. Furthermore, when providers do not compete on price, they usually do not compete on quality either. In fact, in a very real sense, doctors and hospitals are not competing for patients at all – at least not in the way normal businesses compete in markets.
Thinking About Tomorrow
How large is the federal government's debt? The figure most likely to be reported in newspapers is the debt held by the public. This measure currently stands at $6.3 trillion and is rising. However, the debt held by the public tells only a small part of the story. How should the government account for the predicted shortfalls of Social Security and Medicare? Officially, they are considered government "obligations," but not "liabilities" or "debts." The reason: retirees and workers do not have a contractual right to the benefits they expect to receive.
Productivity and the Job Market
As the recession deepens, unemployment will continue to rise. How far it will rise largely depends on how much spending by consumers, businesses and the government slows – since demand …
Consumers Better With Competition
As a new Congress begins to look at health care insurance options, some of the more liberal members are already discussing proposals for a single?payer, universal health care plan. Click …