HEALTH INSURANCE MANDATES

Mandates do not drive down premiums.

In Massachusetts, they’ve had the opposite effect. After the enactment of Commonwealth Care in 2006, every provider group — from the fertility doctors to the substance-abuse counselors — persuaded the health-care officials that no plan would be “comprehensive” without their services. The result? Cheap insurance isn’t just hard to come by in the Bay State — it’s illegal.

I would note that I just got notified by my company of a new Federal mandate (the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008) that will almost certainly drive up my health insurance premiums next year.

Here’s a thought: non-comprehensive health insurance. Why not let me select which benefits I’m willing to pay for?

CNN VS “FAUX” NEWS

The White House communications director, Anita Dunn, contrasted Fox News with CNN: “Fox News is just a Republican opinion outlet ... while CNN is a real news network.”

Hmm. Well, I once posted the lead stories on each service’s web site. I think it’s safe to say that CNN and FOX certainly cater to different viewership, but I would be hard-pressed to argue that FOX’s selection of news stories for its “top stories” is more opinionated than is CNN’s selection.

Via Instapundit.

COLLEGE BANS CROSS-DRESSING

Almost sounds like they’re religious bigots - or not.

The story is here.

AUTUMN VIEWS

Some views from around the neighborhood.



The beginnings of change in the yard. Still mostly green, but some reds and yellows are appearing. We've had rain, so it may be a colorful autumn this year.
A spectacular red.

Red highlights in the tree tops behind the neighborhood homes.

The yellow leaves alongside the house are spectacular in the evening sun.