Posted on 04/20/2003 6:13:09 AM PDT by ABC123
Edited on 05/07/2004 9:20:22 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
WASHINGTON
(Excerpt) Read more at tennessean.com ...
Uh, sorry, Rip Van Winkle, you're about twenty years too late on that one. Deflation is the problem now.
-ccm
I was so proud he didn't back down from Estrada, but this tax this thing is a complete failure, and that must be fixed.
It's ironic that, in his first major policy test, Bush's hand-picked choice for Majority Leader undermines Bush's tax cut.
Frist has got a lot to repair, starting with the tax cut and figuring out how to get Estrada and Owen approved.
Ain't been too impressive so far.
The first "critic" of Bill Frist quoted in this column is a socialist scumbag. That tells me all I need to know about the agenda of the author.
Wasn't this paper also unabashedly promoting a state income tax for Tennessee?
Does Pres. Bush still have an interest in Baseball - I mean a monetary interest? Now owning a ranch - doesn't make you a rancher so I don't see any comparison there.
Mr. Frist, and his family is/and will be making money based on the decisions made. If what we have read is true, they cut a few corners. Don't know why it seems if you steal a huge amount, you can just pay a fine - if you steal a little you get sent to jail.
Now all this blind trust seems to silly. He is still making money from that 'blind trust'. He didn't sell it - he still owns it. Whether it makes a difference or not - it looks bad - But that goes ditto for many of the politicians in Washington.
WEll, of course it doesn't. It might in some instances, but not always.
Blind trusts are just silly. Do you really think he is going to vote for something that would bankrupt or seriously decrease his or his family's holdings? Of course not - even though it is good for the country.
It has been so long since I posted to that, I don't really know to what you are referring -but some said that it was no difference than Bush and baseball and ranching. WEll, Bush hasn't been in basball for a long time and he is not a rancher - so that doesn't fit. Mr Frist still has investments in the healthcare field.
Now as for cutting corners and stealing, that might have been a reference to his family's medicare fraud, and the fines they were assessed. It is just strange that a poor person steals a little money, they go to prison - a rich person steals and lot and they get to pay a fine. Now I don't know if Frist is honest or not or if he had anything to do with his family business' dishonest behavior - but isn't it strange, it isn't called theft when it is that much and when it is rich people - but $10,000 for a poor man is theft.
As far as his being a doctor, I don't think that would have that much to do with it - it might even be a plus - but having all that investment in his family's healthcare company, even though in a blind trust (and he doesn't even remember he owns it), does give one pause and should.
As far as a system doctors like - sure I would like to see good doctors succeed. That is to everyone's benefit.
What I have seen in the last few years, is the government' interference in the healthcare of this nation to the point, many cannot afford it - just can't. It stifles progress in this country. A man with a family has to think twice about changing jobs or stepping out and starting a new business. Unintended consequences or intended consequences to the government's actions.
Many of the reasons healthcare is so expensive is because government, in it's wisdom, has mandated so many things be covered by insurance companies who heretofore were able to make the decision not to cover those. In other words, a person buying knew up front what he would be covered for and what he would not be covered for - what it would pay on each item. It was great and affordable, and best of all, it was making your own decisions. Then the government decided people and insurance companies ought not be able to decide what they wished to pay for - so many small business gave up and in steps HMO's. The price went up. Now excuse me if I would look at Mr. Frist and see that his family's interest lies very much in insurance premiums staying up and competition staying down and just wonder how 'blind' he could possibly be expected to be.
That makes him no different that the ones who take big money from agribusiness and help perpetuate the border debacle or pass the 'agribusiness welfare bill' known as the agricultural bill.
I don't know Mr. Frist's morals - I just generally don't want to ask too much of human nature. As for politicians and honesty - don't usually put those in the same sentence. To say his is more honest than -- is not necessarily saying much to me.
By the way, when his family was caught stealing, defrauding, or whatever, did he distance himself from them? Did he give all that stock to charity? Did any of that money that was stolen in any way help to get him elected? Or keep him elected? Family or not, why would such a paragon of virtue continue to use tainted money? He is human - I am not demanding more of him than others - but don't try to make me believe he is pure as the driven snow, either.
I would never go that far with a politician, only this one goes to poor countries and practices medicine there for several weeks a year for free. (See doctors without borders) This puts him way ahead of most people IMO. Can you site the source of his families misdeeds? Were they serious? Was there punishment? You imply that they did something dishonest and used their power and pull to get away with it. This is not good, but I did not know about it. Can you fill me in?
Yes, to a point - that makes him a kind man with a social conscience. Doesn't make him honest. Heck, Jimmah Kaahtah builds homes for humanity.
Can you site the source of his families misdeeds? Were they serious? Was there punishment? You imply that they did something dishonest and used their power and pull to get away with it. This is not good, but I did not know about it. Can you fill me in?
I don't remember the particulars - but it was something like double billing Medicare and they were ordered to pay a fine and restitution. Others will probably know more than I do about it. My observation was in general - why if you steal millions do you get to pay a fine or pay it back. If you steal 10,000, you are probably going to jail - if you have no connections.
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