Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

Just How Many Immigrants are in the United States?

If we are going to chase or discuss undocumented residents, we should at least know the numbers of them. The word immigrants includes US citizens and undocumented residents. Some more data: “How many immigrants are coming to the US?” USAFacts. A report from 2023. “Statistics on unauthorized US immigration and US border crossings by year,” […]

What Happens When the GriNch Steals Healthcare?

As taken from “Who Will Pay If ACA Tax Credits Lapse?” A commentary out of MedCity News which speaks to the issue of losing subsidies. The Republicans are the instigators in blocking healthcare subsidies for up to 700-800% FPL for citizens. They must have some serious IOUs tucked away to carry them above and beyond […]

Unintended consequences

The Trump Administration’s war on underrepresented minorities is targeting his base—young white men. “For years universities and colleges have been trying to keep the number of men and women on campuses evened out at a time when growing numbers of men have been choosing not to go to college. Some schools have tried to attract […]

Heritage Foundation’s Influence

An interesting piece by Paul Krugman. Never really looked closely at the Foundation. Too busy with other issues I have worked with over the years. Things such as supply chain, transportation, manufacturing, throughput analysis, etc. Not sure I would call the Foundation a fraud; but then, I do not have the bandwidth to make such […]

Rate of Global Heating in the Arab World

“Rate of Global Heating in the Arab World is Twice the Global Average,” Informed Comment The World Meteorological Organization has issued its annual report on the 22 countries of the Arab world, covering last year, and presents alarming conclusions about human-driven climate change in that region. 2024 was the hottest year on record in the Middle East, […]

Rural healthcare pay-to-play

The Trump Administration is holding a gun to the heads of rural citizens in blue states. To get taxpayer dollars to care for chronic illnesses and addiction and mitigate hours-long drives for basic services, states will need to change their laws: “When the Trump administration begins distributing the money at the end of the year, […]

GOP to Cover Fancy Saunas but Not Insurance Premiums

Health Savings Accounts Backed by GOP Cover Fancy Saunas but Not Insurance Premiums, MedPage Today With the tax-free money in a health savings account (HSA), a person can pay for eyeglasses or medical exams, as well as a $1,700 baby bassinet or a $300 online parenting workshop. Those same dollars can’t be used, though, to pay for most […]

Don’t Immigrate Without It . . .

A New Way to Come to America. Buy your way in . . . The Gold Card is not a new visa category in name, but rather a new immigration pathway proposed through an executive order signed on September 19, 2025. The program would allow eligible foreign nationals to receive an immigrant visa (commonly known […]

Student Loans for Future Public Service Employees and Other Students

Student Loans are something Congress likes to mess with as an issue. The issue being, students are making off with millions or billions of dollars. Nothing could be further from the truth. Student loans will follow people till their death whether they can pay it or not. Congress has no issues in troubling young students […]

Ch12 – MedPAC Report to Congress 2025

What you are reading here is a piece on the costs of Medicare Advantage Plans versus Traditional Medicare. Why is one so different than the other? The differences in MA and FFS are in coding intensity and selection. The later does not have such. MedPAC March 2025 report to the Congress Pages 338 to Page […]