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- Quote from professional golfer John Rahm (7/19/23) ” I understand the PGA Tour wanting to do something for the players who stay…but I’ll be the first to say I wasn’t forced into anything. It was my choice to stay….I think it was the best choice for myself and for the golf I want to play”. He was referring to the choice of remaining on the American tour or jumping to the Saudi golf tour. Less than a year later, he jumped. Money speaks louder than words. It’s only a matter of time before many others join John.
- A recent national survey on obesity shows the ten most obese cities in the US. All are south of the Mason-Dixon line and all are in “red” states. Other facts from the survey: 42% of the US population is obese; the estimated medical annual cost of obesity is $173 billion (remember that when you think a national healthcare system is affordable); and the medical costs for obese adults are $1,861 higher annually than costs for healthy weight individuals.
- Two separate court cases caught our attention. Both seem to exemplify the Trump effect on appointing GOP-minded judges during his term. The first is an Ohio case where the Governor of Ohio, Mike DeWine appointed and removed a public employee pension board member who was sympathetic to the plight of the plan members. As soon as Mike realized his mistake he corrected it by returning enough board reps to do his bidding. That case is going to court and may be judged by a GOP-dominated State Supreme Court. The other case involves Amazon. Because Amazon employees are engaging in union organization activities lawyers for Amazon have challenged the authority of the National Labor Relations Board (an 88 year old institution) as “unconstitutional”. They are undoubtedly counting on some GOP-leaning judge appointed by Trump to throw out the NLRB so Amazon can make billions more while the worker bees get whatever Amazon wants to give them. The failure of the judiciary to protect citizens is appalling and getting worse every day.
- Put this in the “are you kidding me?” file. Recently it was revealed what college football coaches have negotiated in their contracts as buyouts: Kirby Smart-Georgia- $92.5 million; Brian Kelly-LSU- $ 70 million; James Franklin-Penn State- $64.5 million; Dabo Swinney-Clemson- $ 64 million; Josh Heupel- Tennessee- $46.5 million; Ryan Day-Ohio State- $46 million; Nick Saban-Alabama- $45 million. Is it any wonder that students carry huge student loan debts into their entire lifetime? And these numbers are what the coaches have negotiated IF THEY FAIL. If they win they are paid millions for as many as ten years.
- A recent report says that nearly 300,000 doctors were paid twice for veterans care. Health and Human Services indicated that these duplicate payments occurred because the Medicare Administrator did not implement controls to address duplicate payment potential. $128 million was the tab for this error. If you can believe it, the VA and Medicare do not share information to coordinate billing and payment. Who–in any sense of logic–would have put such a stupid and error-prone system in place? And is anyone going to pay the price for not doing his/her job? Is there any accountability? and how do we know this hasn’t happened before? and, are other expense payments being duplicated? The story doesn’t address how your Federal tax dollars are being spent.
- The latest US stats on violent crime are in and they are encouraging. Murders dropped 13%; property crime down 3%; overall, violent crime down about 6%. The Biden American Rescue Plan of investing $1.9 Trillion allows cities to invest billions in public safety. Which is the Party of Law and Order? This Plan passed through Congress with Dems leading the way.
- Bet on the Dodgers to win the World Series this year and next year and next year and…you get the idea. Their payroll tops $1 billion. They have bought the most talented players for every position and they have an expensive and exclusive pitching staff. Clayton Kershaw, a long time Dodger hero, had retired at the end of last season but when he saw the roster for this year he came back. He knows it will be fun this year as his mates romp. Check out the Vegas odds on Dodger dominance. And will Ohtani be punished for gambling involvement? What do you think…after all he’s not in Cincinnati?
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