http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/health-care-executive’s-medicare-fraud-scheme-included-lobbying-washington

‘Health-Care Executive’s Medicare Fraud Scheme Included Lobbying Washington’
Posted by Michael F. Cannon

*** begin quote ***

Miami health-care executive Larry Duran orchestrated one of the largest Medicare frauds in U.S. history, submitting more than $205 million in phony claims and landing a record-breaking 50-year prison sentence for his crimes.

*** and ***

The basic scheme, records show, worked like this: Duran and Valera paid up to $400,000 a month in kickbacks to assisted living centers, halfway homes and others to procure a steady stream of patients for their clinics, which claimed to be providing group mental health treatment. Doctors frequently faked records or signed off on charts without seeing any patients.

*** and ***

The basic theorem is this: market actors have greater incentives to prevent fraud, because it’s their own money on the line. Politicians are spending other people’s money, so their incentive to prevent fraud is far less. Therefore, fraud will always be higher in government programs than in similar market endeavors.

*** end quote ***

I remember back to my first encounter with “health, health insurance, and health costs”, a least the first one that I remember, was my appendix operation.

I got great care and my Mom, rest her soul, got the bill. I remember it was just a little less than $500!

A huge amount in those days.

She took some from savings, some from family, and some from her “stash”. (Depression era people ALWAYS had money stuffed somewhere in case the banks closed again.)

That bill was on the refrigerator and everyone looked at it for errors.

(Visitors tried to remember if I got the stuff that was on the bill.)

She paid the bill and assembled all the bills (i.e., hospital, doctor, drugs) and sent it to Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance.

A couple of months later, she received a check and an explanation. On the refrigerator again.

It was about 80% of what she paid.

There was a lot of conversation and some correspondence about the whole matter.

Eventually, she got another check for a little more.

Fraud?

Not likely with that level of scrutiny!

So, I agree that Gooferment program equals fraud.

Argh!

Clearly, there has to be a fundamental restructuring of these programs so that the beneficiary pays something. Even a tiny per centage will prevent fraud.

# # # # #

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/not-single-christian-church-left-afghanistan-says-state-department

Not a Single Christian Church Left in Afghanistan, Says State Department
By Edwin Mora
October 10, 2011

*** begin quote ***

(CNSNews.com) — There is not a single, public Christian church left in Afghanistan, according to the U.S. State Department.

This reflects the state of religious freedom in that country ten years after the United States first invaded it and overthrew its Islamist Taliban regime.

In the intervening decade, U.S. taxpayers have spent $440 billion to support Afghanistan’s new government and more than 1,700 U.S. military personnel have died serving in that country.

The last public Christian church in Afghanistan was razed in March 2010, according to the State Department’s latest International Religious Freedom Report. The report, which was released last month and covers the period of July 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010, also states that “there were no Christian schools in the country.”

*** end quote ***

Can someone remind me what our objectives are in the AfPak region?

Was religious freedom on the list?

BYOB

Bring the girls and boys home now!

# # # # #

http://bigpeace.com/elcid/2011/10/07/pakistani-doctor-who-helped-us-find-bin-laden-to-be-tried-for-high-treason/

Pakistani Doctor Who Helped US Find Bin Laden To Be Tried For High Treason
Posted by El Cid Oct 7th 2011 at 7:40 am in Espionage, Intelligence, Terrorism
From the UK’s Daily Mail:

*** begin quote ***

Dr. Shakeel Afridi

A Pakistani doctor accused of running a vaccination programme for the CIA to help track down Osama Bin Laden should be put on trial for high treason, a government commission in Pakistan has said.

*** end quote ***

https://reinkefaceslife.com/2009/11/07/goverotrageous-the-usa-always-betrays-its-friends/

Why would any foreign national help us and be left behind?

It just seems so obvious!

# # # # #

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/09/27/7-arrested-for-alleged-sat-cheating-ring-at-great-neck-north-high-school/

7 Arrested For Alleged SAT Cheating Ring At Great Neck North High School
Educator: Pressure On Kids Massive; Attorney: District, Not Courts, Should Rule
September 27, 2011 11:58 PM

Related Tags: Carol D’Auria, Great Neck North High School, Jennifer McLogan, Long Island, Mona Rivera, Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice, Peter Haskell, Samuel Eshaghoff, SAT, SAT scam

*** begin quote ***

MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – Seven former and current students of a prestigious Long Island high school were arrested Tuesday in an alleged SAT cheating ring.

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced that six Great Neck North High School students had paid 19-year-old Samuel Eshaghoff thousands of dollars to take the SAT for them.

Eshaghoff, who graduated from the high school in 2010 and is currently enrolled at Emory University in Atlanta, was paid between $1,500 and $2,500 per student. He has been arrested and charged with scheme to defraud, falsifying business records and criminal impersonation.

*** end quote ***

Hmmm, … I don’t understand.

Why is this any of the Gooferment’s business?

Who was defrauded? A corporation; that’s not a person.

Isn’t this SAT’s problem for poor identification and authentication problem?

Why is it the taxpayers’ problem?

I just don’t understand.

# # # # #

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=348077

YOUR GOVERNMENT AT WORK
EPA to property owner: ‘Your land is our land’
$40 million in fines pending over plan to build new home
Posted: September 23, 2011 9:50 pm Eastern
By Bob Unruh

*** begin quote ***

“The reality of the Sacketts’ situation is that they have been unambiguously commanded by their government not to complete their home-building project, to take expensive measures to undo the improvements that they have made to their land, and to maintain their land essentially as a public park until the property is ‘restored’ to the satisfaction of the EPA. They have been threatened with frightening penalties if they do not immediately obey; but they have been refused the prompt hearing they should have received as a matter of right in any court,” Pacific Legal argued.

*** end quote ***

Absolutely outrageous.

The Gooferment is out of control.

Secession is the only way out of this mess.

# # # # #

http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/93908.html

Parents Aren’t Safe
Posted by Karen De Coster on August 30, 2011 05:12 AM

*** begin quote ***

Here’s another way for the government-media safety parade propaganda machine to sell folks on the dangers of biological parents and the “safety” of our government parents: thanks to parental negligence, kids bring “unsafe” lunches to school that are ripe for bacteria. As usual, researchers study something – anything – that is insignificant and turn the non-issue into a major safety issue to be chatted about endlessly by the gullible media halfwits. And this news leads to a media storm and suggestions for treating your kid’s lunch like an organ being shipped off for transplant.

*** end quote ***

I just shake my head. It’s a miracle that the human race can survive without “our betters in Gooferment” telling us how to feed children.

Maybe if “We, The Sheeple” didn’t mandate sending them to prison, then they could be safely fed at home while they are being home schooled. And, parents, who choose to send their children to school elsewhere than home, would take care of the issue of safe food.

Maybe there should be no food in school? Didn’t the media just tell us that the kids are too fat?

# – # – # – # – # 2011-Aug-30 @ 11:22

http://hamptonroads.com.nyud.net/2011/07/two-neverfinished-navy-ships-head-scrap-heap

Two never-finished Navy ships head to scrap heap
By Scott Harper
The Virginian-Pilot
July 15, 2011

*** begin quote ***

They were the only two that went unfinished, and were part of a 1985 budget request from the Navy for three oilers for a combined $567 million, according to records.

The two were built at the Pennsylvania Shipbuilding Co. in Philadelphia, which defaulted on its Navy contract in 1989. The ships were then sent to Florida to be finished. But disputes over costs and materials in Tampa led to the termination of that contract in 1993, according to records.

*** end quote ***

Waste, more waste, and ongoing waste.

# # # # #

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/local/after-jail-time-for-contempt%2C-alleged-rape-victim-returns-to-testify

After Jail Time for Contempt, Alleged Rape Victim Returns to Testify
Updated: Friday, 15 Jul 2011, 10:47 PM EDT
Published : Friday, 15 Jul 2011, 10:37 PM EDT
Taryn Asher, Fox 2 News

*** begin quote ***

That nightmare only continued at a Wednesday hearing , when she claims defense attorney Gabi Silver kept badgering her on the stand insinuating that she brought this attack on herself, causing this victim to snap in court.

“I said just get to the point bitch, it slipped out, it was inappropriate… all the bottled anger” says the alleged victim.

Without a warning, she says 36th District Judge Vanessa Bradley held her in contempt and ordered her to spend three days in jail.

*** end quote ***

Ahh, Gooferment judges, can’t even tell the good people from the bad. It’s all about the assumption of the right to initiate force.

Contempt?

The whole system deserves contempt.

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http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=318537

Democrats stealing from poor, sick
Roger Hedgecock
Posted: July 04, 2011

*** begin quote ***

Apparently “this type of scam” is not only tolerated in Illinois, by a vote of the Democrat-controlled state Legislature and decree of the Democrat governor, charity fraud is the law of the state.

According to the Illinois Times, “Over the last two years, the state of Illinois, in order to pay its bills, has seized more than $1.6 million from at least 15 different ‘charity’ funds to which Illinoisans voluntarily donate for causes like feeding the hungry and helping the homeless.”

In the Illinois News-Gazette, state Office of Management and Budget spokeswoman Kelly Kraft stated that $434,000 of that $1.6 million will never be repaid but promised that the balance will be repaid within 18 months.

In the Obama national media, a well-worn story line has the Republicans taking food from the mouths of hungry children and denying medical care to the sick whenever there is discussion of the federal budget deficit or raising the debt ceiling. For Democrats in Illinois, taking food from the mouths of hungry children and denying medical care and disease research funding by embezzling charitable donations is the law of the state.

*** end quote ***

This is an absolute disgrace.

How to prevent it? Stop allowing them to take power and certainly don’t give them any more money!

Argh!

# # # # #

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2010172/Casey-Anthony-trial-Matthew-Bartlett-jailed-6-days-middle-finger-gestures.html

Man jailed for six days for middle finger gestures at Casey Anthony trial

By DAMIEN GAYLE

Last updated at 12:43 PM on 1st July 2011

# – # – #

Free speech?

The Gooferment shall make no law …

Yeah, right.

# # # # #

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/amazon-306409-affiliate-california.html

Published: June 29, 2011
Updated: June 30, 2011 5:00 a.m.
Amazon ends deal with 25,000 California websites
Jan Norman Orange County Register

*** begin quote ***

Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law California’s tax on Internet sales through affiliate advertising which will immediately cut small-business website revenue 20% to 30%, experts say.

*** and ***

Board of Equalization Member George Runner blasted Brown for signing the law. “Even as Governor Jerry Brown lifted his pen to sign this legislation, thousands of affiliates across California were losing their jobs. The so-called ‘Amazon tax’ is truly a lose-lose proposition for California. Not only won’t we see the promised revenues, we’ll actually lose income tax revenue as affiliates move to other states.”

*** end quote ***

Corelation?

Nah, how could there be. Aren’t “We, The Sheeple” stupid?

Like when MD taxed “millionaires” and the next year there were ⅓ less millionaires around to be taxed.

Now you might say “counterproductive”. I’d say “educational”.

Like stereotypical drug addicts, politicians are addicted to “spending other people’s money”. They feather their nests admirably during their time as “public servants”. Do you feel “serviced”? Like the stallion put out to stud and the taxpayers the mare getting <past tense synonym for the act of procreation>!

Now, think about the crooks in DC, who need trillions, and lo and behold what does their wandering doth see? But all your IRAs and 401Ks just ripe for the plucking. (Or are we back to the stallion and the mare again?) All they have to do is pass a diktat and strong arm about 2200 “custodians”.

With that be the last straw?

# # # # #

http://www.downsizedcfoundation.org/fda.html

How the FDA helped kill my Dad
A case study in government harm
by Jim Babka

*** begin quote ***

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a noble purpose — to protect you from dubious drug claims and toxicity. Most government programs are created for high-minded or compassionate reasons.

But the FDA probably kills more people than it saves.

*** end quote ***

I wouldn’t say “probably”.

I wonder personally how, if the FDA had it’s head out of its collective <synonym for donkey>, then perhaps a drug or treatment might have been available to save her.

I have no details. No specifics. But, just a lingering nagging doubt that if the politicians and bureaucrats were not “helping” or “protecting” me and mine.

Just imagine all the good that could be done if all the expense of unnecessary overhead was wrung out of the process and put to better use.

Imagine “Consumers’ Reports” for medicine?

I’d subscribe!

And, what about all these “charities” that seek to cure stuff but never go out of business. The March of Dimes cured polio and then shifted on to “birth defects”. And United Way pays their CEO millions; how much does the Salvation Army pay its troops?

Sorry, but we could be better served by “simplifying” the Gooferment out of all these processes.

imho

# # # # #

http://www.rollcall.com/news/weiner_pension_benefits_million-206582-1.html

Weiner’s Pension, Benefits Could Top $1 Million

# – # – #

Are you kidding me? That’s what’s wrong with this whole scheme to defraud the taxpayer.

# # # # #

http://www.lifenews.com/2011/06/01/new-zealand-court-unborn-children-have-no-right-to-life

New Zealand Court: Unborn Children Have No Right to Life
by Steven Ertelt | Washington, DC | LifeNews.com | 6/1/11 6:00 PM

*** begin quote ***

The New Zealand Court of Appeal has issued a legal decision saying unborn children have no legal rights under the laws in the Pacific island nation. It also ruled on whether the Abortion Supervisory Committee was improperly approving abortions on mental health grounds.

*** end quote ***

“Rights”?

When do you get “your rights”?

The NZ Court seems to feel that when they say you can have them.

There’s another school of thought that says when you can pick up a gun and defend them.

It’s when one of two sides of a conflict have enough power to hurt the other side badly enough, then we have a concession. Enough of those and we have a general acceptance of mutually agree rights.

So, when do you get yours?

And, when do the politicians and bureaucrats agreed to leave you alone?

… when there are enough people in the streets willing to kill and die for the issue.

So what IS that issue that will reverse the Gooferment as the new uncrowned King of all life?

# # # # #

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/05/28/2333197/church-fined-for-improper-tree.html

Albemarle Road church fined $100 per branch for excessive tree pruning
By Brittany Penland Correspondent
Posted: Saturday, May. 28, 2011

*** begin quote ***

Every two to three years, Eddie Sales trims and prunes the crape myrtles at his church, Albemarle Road Presbyterian Church.

But this year, the city of Charlotte cited the church for improperly pruning its trees.

*** and ***

“The purpose of the tree ordinance is to protect trees,” Johnson said. “Charlotte has always been known as the city of trees. When we take down trees, we need to replace these trees.”

Individuals who would like to trim their trees should call the city foresters to receive a free permit to conduct the landscape work.

Foresters will then meet with the person receiving the permit and give instructions on how to properly trim their trees, Johnson said.

The state Division of Forestry recommends that anyone trimming trees should be certified by the National Horticulture Board, but certification is not required to receive a permit.

On private property, fine amounts are based on the size of the tree improperly pruned. For small trees such as cherry trees or crape myrtles, the fine is $75 per tree. Excessive cutting can increase that fine to $100 per branch.

For large trees such as oaks or maples, the fine is $150 per tree.

Because there is a widespread lack of understanding on how to prune crape myrtles in the Charlotte area, Johnson said, residents found in violation regarding these trees are asked to simply replace them, and the fine will be lifted.

*** end quote ***

Guess down in North Carolina, they never heard of the First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments. Popularly, know as Freedom of Religion, Freedom from Harassment, and Freedom from Takings.

I know what needs “pruning” in Charlotte — Gooferment.

You have to be kidding me!

Argh!

# # # # #

http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/88179.html

0.14468 oz of silver

$5.06

# # # # #

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/04/with-passwords-broken-us-rolls-out-internet-identity-plan.ars

With passwords “broken,” US rolls out Internet identity plan
By Nate Anderson

*** begin quote ***

NIST hopes to arrive at privacy standards that will give Internet users confidence in using such credentials, to clarify the liability that credentials providers will face should someone still manage to steal your identity, and to issue a “trustmark” that accredits participating credential providers and websites.

Public meetings on NSTIC begin in June, and NIST hopes to be funding pilot projects by 2012. Still, ordinary Internet users won’t be able to use the system for three to five years.

*** end quote ***

The Gooferment did so well with the Social Security Number, I think they should just leave everyone the hell alone.

What’s next tattoo everyone?

Kick the ISPs! They are being paid to provide access. Credit cards! That sounds like a reliable identity to me.

Argh!

# # # # #

Identity Fraud would be impossible with out the Gooferment’s lame “social security number”. Argh! Everything is so predictable!

http://arstechnica.com/security/news/2011/04/texas-exposes-addresses-ssns-of-35-million-residents.ars

*** begin quote ***

And now, a large group of Texans are about to have it a lot worse:the state revealed Monday that personal information for 3.5 million citizens has been exposed to the public, including names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and more.

*** end quote ***
# # # # #

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/sc-dc-0330-court-prosecutors-20110329,0,4120668.story

Supreme Court rejects damages for innocent man who spent 14 years on death row
By David G. Savage, Washington Bureau
March 29, 2011, 3:14 p.m.

*** begin quote ***

WASHINGTON – A bitterly divided Supreme Court tossed out a jury verdict Tuesday won by a New Orleans man who spent 14 years on Death Row and came within weeks of execution because prosecutors had hidden a blood test and other evidence that would have proven his innocence.

*** end quote ***

The essence is that, without a pattern of mistakes, one mistake is OK. IMHO even one mistake is TOO much. Where the death penalty is involved. Where the prosecutors are guilty. Goes back to my oft stated objection to Gooferment, you expect justice from the Gooferment’s courts where the Gooferment is one of the adversaries? It can’t happen.

# # # # #

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/crime/os-illegal-barbering-arrests-20101107,0,2783682.story

Criminal barbering? Raids at Orange County shops lead to arrests, raise questions
By Jeff Weiner, Orlando Sentinel
November 7 2010

*** begin quote ***

As many as 14 armed Orange County deputies, including narcotics agents, stormed Strictly Skillz barbershop during business hours on a Saturday in August, handcuffing barbers in front of customers during a busy back-to-school weekend.

*** end quote ***

What a complete waste of time, money, and attention!

It’s an example of racist licensing laws.

Why do we need the Gooferment to insert itself in the “hair biz”?

Don’t you think that the free market can handle that?

# # # # #

Please read this one. Priceless!!!

http://www.lewrockwell.com/crovelli/crovelli50.1.html

Anarchy vs. Barney Fife by Mark R. Crovelli

*** begin quote ***

If our lives and fortunes were indeed dependent upon protection from a handful of people swaddled in hideous blue polyester, mankind would have long ago lost them. If human nature were truly as depraved as these arguments would have us believe, then the chubby blue line would long ago have been annihilated by its vastly numerically superior criminal adversaries. No “criminal” worth the name would be deterred from committing his favored atrocities by a small group of lightly-armed fat people, whose national reputation is tied inextricably to the donut. To even suggest that this 300 million-strong horde of savage, would-be criminals are kept at bay only by some irrational fear of blue polyester is so asinine that it makes the flat-Earthers look like geniuses by comparison.

*** end quote ***

Emphasis mine; think it’s a great zinger.

# # # # #

http://reason.com/blog/2010/10/04/limits-of-libertarianism-hypot

Limits-of-Libertarianism Hypothetical Brought to Life in Tennessee
Katherine Mangu-Ward | October 4, 2010

*** begin quote ***

Obion County resident Gene Cranick decided not to pay the $75 fee, and then he set a fire in his backyard in two large barrels. The fire began to spread, and he called 911. The 911 operator told him that because he hadn’t paid the fee, the fire department would not respond. Cranick’s wife told the 911 operator that she would be willing to pay “whatever the cost” to hire the Fire Department to put out the fire, but was told that this was not an option. The Fire Department did not come out until the fire spread to a neighbor’s yard — the neighbor had paid the fee — and the firemen put out the neighbor’s fire but not Cranick’s.

*** end quote ***

Did he have fire insurance on his house? If he did, I bet his insurance company lawyers are hard at work reviewing their policy language.

Note Gooferment fire department; does Sears refuse to service folks who don’t buy their service plans? Of course not!

# # # # #

# # # # #

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=210789

Social Security example of government rigor mortis
Posted: October 02, 2010
Star Parker

*** begin quote ***

Social Security passed in 1935. Although there have been changes in the way of tax increases and expansions of the program, Social Security is essentially the same system as was passed 75 years ago.

*** and ***

Americans are retiring earlier and living longer. In 1950, the median male retirement age and male life expectancy were about the same – 66. By 2005, the median retirement age for men was under 62 and the median male life expectancy was over 75.

*** and ***

And the promise we get from our leaders is that they will save and preserve a system that was conceived 120 years ago and enacted here 75 years ago. This is leadership?

Not only is our Social Security system unsuited to our times, it is bankrupt. It went into a deficit situation this year and its overall unfunded liabilities – the total amount promised less the total amount for which there is funding – is almost $20 trillion.

*** end quote ***

Clearly “Social Security Insurance”, which is NOT Social, NOT Security, NOT insurance, is an meme that no longer fits. If it ever did! The stated public purpose was “welfare” when the public was scared by the Great Depression; the unstated private purpose was to amass political power. It basically setup many if, not all, of the problems that we are facing today. Bu allowing the Gooferment to raid the “mythical lockbox”.

Argh!

How can you “insure” against old age?

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