Friday, December 7, 2018

In the news, Tuesday, November 27, 2018


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NOV 26      INDEX      NOV 28
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from geostrategy.info

The splendors and miseries of Lieutenant Colonel Putin in the Eastern Europe-2 and elsewhere (part 1)
Alexander Perepechko: n a series of papers (parts 1, part 2 and part 3) in Russian for the leading Belarusian newspaper Naviny, I analyzed in detail the current geostrategic situation in the Eastern Europe-2 (Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine), a large macro-region located between the NATO and Russian Federation (RF). I was delighted that these publications were followed by a discussion, often heated, in which a variety of opinions – including my own – were expressed. I assumed at that time that my modest contribution to the geostrategic analysis of the Eastern Europe-2 was over. While keeping an eye on that part of the world, I started a project on health care, a top issue for American voters in the 2018 intermediate elections. But soon it became clear that the Eastern European topic required special attention again. Hostile-aggressive actions of the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin against the West escalated. He even threatened to use modernized nuclear weapons and new missiles in the future war.

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from The Heritage Foundation
RIGHT BIAS, MIXED, think tank in Washington, D.C

This New Rule Will Expand Telemedicine to More Medicare Advantage Users
Good news for Americans who use Medicare Advantage. The Trump administration is proposing a new Medicare rule that will enable more Medicare Advantage enrollees to access telemedicine, a form of health care delivery that uses information technology and telecommunications tools to deliver traditional medical care to patients. This is especially helpful to patients living in remote areas of the country.

China’s "Economic" Losses Aren’t Because of US Trade Success
China’s economic growth has been slowing down, but it was slowing down before President Donald Trump entered the White House. Due to years of heavy government interference, and not allowing for the free flow and efficient allocation of resources, China’s economy has actually grown too fast. Stock markets are not the economy, and nobody wins in a trade war. Let’s not overstate the impact tariffs have at reforming China’s economy.

Reform Underfunded Multiemployer Pension Plans. Don’t Make Taxpayers Bail Them Out.
Failure to rein in new unfunded pension promises could grow plan deficits by hundreds of billions of dollars. Congress should change the rules governing multiemployer pensions so that they cannot make promises they can’t keep. This combination of changes would transform multiemployer pensions into a decidedly more safe and secure retirement system.

4 Problems With the New Climate Change Report
If you’re like me, you’re happy the White House released the latest version of the National Climate Assessment on Black Friday. Publishing the 1,700-page report the day after Thanksgiving saved me from unwanted dinner conversations about our planet’s impending climate doom. But if your aunt calls you up this week spouting claims of mass deaths, global food shortages, economic destruction, and national security risks resulting from climate change, here’s what you need to know about this report. 1. It wildly exaggerates economic costs. 2. It assumes the most extreme (and least likely)climate scenario. 3. It cherry-picks science on extreme weather and misrepresents timelines and causality. 4. Energy taxes are a costly non-solution.

Why Russia’s Latest Aggression Against Ukraine Could Be Aimed at Boosting Putin’s Sagging Approval Ratings
Russian Federal Security Service border patrol boats opened fire Nov. 25 on three Ukrainian maritime vessels. Regarding the new conflict, Ukraine claimed that Russia was “openly aggressive” and that its behavior completely disregarded international law. To boost his rating and distract Russian citizens from the poor socioeconomic situation at home, Putin likely called for aggressive military actions.

Reorganizing the Executive Branch: The Trump Administration’s Plan and What Congress Should Do to Advance It
Without congressional action, the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB’s) reform and reorganization plan is essentially a dead letter. Given the need for coordination between the executive and legislative branches, there are several ways for Congress to enact the OMB’s plan. However Congress decides to proceed, it should not let the structural deficiencies identified by the OMB go unaddressed.

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from The Hill
LEFT-CENTER BIAS, MIXED, newspaper in Washington, D.C.

Congress must deliver on welfare reform to put people back to work
The program at the heart of the 1996 welfare reform will expire in two weeks unless Congress acts. Lawmakers should advance the principles that led to its success and pass meaningful new reform to help more people get back to work. Signed into law by Bill Clinton, the 1996 welfare reform abolished failed programs and replaced them with temporary assistance for needy families. At the core of that program is a requirement that a portion of able bodied recipients of temporary assistance for needy families engage in “work activities” for 20 hours to 30 hours every week.

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from Miami Herald

The United States is composed of 329 million people spread over 3.8 million square miles. In population and land mass, it’s a pretty big place. But those are not the only criteria that matter. Morality matters, too. And on Sunday, by that measure at least, this country seemed rather small. That, of course, was the day we used tear gas against children.

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from The Spokesman-Review
Newspaper in Spokane, Washington

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