Life In Sherman Oaks

Efforts in the United States to control health care costs ($2.6 trillion in 2010) are largely divided by the debate over (a) stronger role for government regulation or (b) market-based models that encourage greater competition. We are a nation that believes in competition. We believe that through competition, the best product or service is created. That if many people are offering a service or product, the people who offer the [...]

Who is this Ayn Rand that Republicans like Paul Ryan (the author of the 2013 GOP budget) follow and what did she teach that some Republicans like so much? Sometimes we can understand what people believe when we know a little bit about their background. And that’s probably the case with Ayn Rand. Ayn Rand was born in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1905. A city of starvation during World War [...]

Conservatives are telling Americans that health care in America is worse off since Medicare was passed. That Medicare actually caused the cost of health care to rise. That before Medicare, doctors and hospitals would take care of the poor for free and would again, were it not for Medicare. So let’s look at these claims, one by one. 1. In 1962, approximately 51% of all persons over the age of [...]

The phrase “general Welfare” is the only phrase to appear twice in the United States Constitution. It first appears in the preamble to the Constitution and then later in Section 8. It’s important for seniors, in particular, to understand the background of the phrase, because it is Section 8 of the Constitution’s “general Welfare” clause that the Supreme Court found Social Security to be Constitutional. Exactly what does Section 8 [...]

Here we go folks! Time for the annual block party once again!! Sunday, October 2 is the date so SAVE IT! Look for more info to come — but I can tell you we’ll be having a pie eating contest AND a bicycle decorating contest!!! Look for a flier at you front door soon!

The GOP Leader of the house, John Boehner of Ohio, gave a speech on the debt limit to Wall Street on Monday, May 9, 2011. In that speech, John Boehner seemed to be backing away from the GOP plan (crafted by Paul Ryan with the help of the Heritage Foundation, and put forth last month) – to replace the current system of Medicare Health Insurance Program Americans have enjoyed for [...]

Rep. Paul Ryan and the GOP began attacking AARP this week as a “left wing” group. CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE. And I took particular personal issue with this, because I was able to become a gerontologist because of AARP back in 1975. So — what is AARP and what does it do? The American Association of Retired Persons, has 40 million members and acts as an advocate for seniors citizens [...]

Today, Medicare has $321.3 billion in reserve. In 2009, employees/employers paid $225.4 billion in premiums into Medicare. Medicare paid out $242.5 billion to the nations 40 million seniors. American’s pay into Medicare as a party of the employee payroll program. Employers contribute an equal amount. You pay 1.45% of your income into Medicare and in return, you are entitled to Medicare insurance care once you reach 65 which pays 80% [...]

Facing Death: Frontline Video From 11.22.10

What is a Living Will? What Do I need to prepare one? A living will is the simplest and least powerful form of an “advance medical directive.” It tells any caregiver what kind of medical care you want, given certain conditions. Typically, a living will (called that because it is effective while you are living), is limited to use during “end of life” situations only. What does that mean? It [...]

One of the least known facts about the health care overhaul approved by Congress earlier this year included a requirement that insurance companies spend at least 80 to 85 percent of their premium revenues on actual medical care, as opposed to administrative expenses, CEO salaries, and profits. So why are premium prices going up for some this year? Well, in part, because insurance companies are getting ready for the regulations. [...]

Between 2001 and 2008, 2.4 million jobs were lost to outsourcing. Outsourced manufacturing jobs included the advanced technology industry; computer, semi-conductor, audio visual equipment were the hardest hit. All you have to do is walk through Walmart and see all the items that Americans buy from China, because the prices are low. Vizio TV’s, computers, blue rays… And these jobs will never come back to the United States because (a) [...]

It’s time for the Davana Terrace Block Party @ Murietta Ave for 2010! Date is SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2010! Just like last year, we’ll have tons of fun! Egg toss, BINGO, money hunt, tons of food (POT LUCK! Bring your favorite dish!) Cost for a family of four if paid BEFORE the day of the event? $20.00 $25 for a family of 5 or more. And $25 at the door. [...]

In 2001, G.W. Bush and the GOP gave the wealthiest among us a tax cut. Then, because that seemed so easy, G.W. Bush and the GOP gave the wealthiest among us a second tax cut in 2003. Economic growth during the Bush administration was 2%. Less than is now. And these tax cuts for the wealthiest among us added $1.3 trillion to our current deficit. Those tax cuts are set [...]

Why would anyone vote for a woman who laid off 18,000 workers in one year. Who’s profits dropped 89% in her first 2 years as CEO if HP? Who took HP money offshore so she wouldn’t have to pay taxes in America? Carly Fiorina is a true example of a corporate type. With no concern for America, but only for corporate profits, is she really who we want for a [...]

For about a year, as the Wall Street loans in the then current subprime bonds began to default, Wall Street had frantically searched for new borrowers to replace them. A ponzi scheme of sorts, if you will. When they ran out of people, they had to pay up. And they couldn’t. They didn’t have enough money in reserve; except the government didn’t know exactly how much because so much had [...]

Unless you’re living under a rock somewhere, you have at least heard about political opinion polls. Fox has its Polls, Gingrich has the WinstonGroup Pollsters, there’s Rasmussen, USA TODAY, Pew, Harris, Gallup – just to name a few. Each and every day we are bombarded with pundits quoting percentages from this poll or that poll that suggests 49% of the American public doesn’t want health care reform, 51% wants the [...]

Image via Wikipedia One common assumption about the subprime mortgage crisis is that it was caused by poor folks with bad credit. Amongst some groups, especially those putting all the blame on Barney Frank — is that this subprime mess and the resultant recession is all about minorities that just had to have a house they couldn’t afford — so some kindly banker did their best to give them the [...]

(A message from Brad) Dear Friends, I would like to invite you to participate in a town hall meeting I am holding Sunday, February 21st from 2:00-3:30 p.m. PST at Reseda High School (18230 Kittridge Street). I will provide an update on recent action in Congress. Please save the date. Over the years, I’ve had over 100 town hall meetings in the San Fernando Valley. They are an excellent opportunity [...]

First, Republicans went out and complained loudly and often on TV that the Obama administration had made an egregious error in not getting the Christmas Bomber to talk more before reading him his Miranda Rights. That this suspect should have been taken into custody by the military. All during January, over and over Republicans issued scathing attacks on the administration — stating that we were much less safe as a [...]