Thursday, September 10, 2009

A Fundamental Question

WSJ: Under Obama's plan, "Most individuals would be required to purchase health insurance."

Can someone explain to me how a requirement that each and every American buy health care coverage is constitutional ? Where in the US Constitution is the Federal government given the power to impose this on individual persons ? Where is this even implied ?

The Tenth Amendment states that "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." The Ninth Amendment has been interpreted to include a right to privacy, among others, which I certainly do not dispute. So isn't one's choice of funding one's health care a matter of privacy ?

I suppose those reading a "broad" interpretation might find some fig leaf under the Commerce Clause to support such a mandate. By the way, those with a "broad" interpretation really just make it up as they go along.

So what is to be done to improve the health care system - which is indisputably a mess for anyone who has any serious experience using it. First recognize what I proved yesterday, viz., that health care is NOT a fundamental right; it's a shared benefit.

The shared benefit: just provide every person a voucher - the shared benefit - expressed or implied, to buy health insurance or some kind of health care. Then make it law that if a person does not choose or exercise or spend his voucher, his voucher is randomly or somehow exercised automatically to cover him. That's it. No mandate.

The next questions are what is covered, and how to pay. You'll have to wait for those ... I've got to save something for future writings.

Actions

Doing nothing. I'm sitting on the call option positions and waiting.

VVUS is interesting as a drug speculation, IF the diet drug works and is safe. I might buy 100 shares as a marker/reminder note once the hub-bub dies off. Approval is a couple years off, so there's plenty of time to get a serious position.

Word of the Day

"Descry" - verb, transitive [$10] literary
Descry means catch site of, discern.
Sentence: Reading accounts of Obama's speech on health care last evening, I was unable to descry anything new or substantive; it was all mere rhetoric, typical of The Bloviator.

Das Worte der Woche

"Hören" - verb; past participle is gehört.
Hören means to listen, to hear.
Der Satz: Ich habe Obama heute machte nicht gehört.
Sentence: I did not listen to Obama last night.

61 comments:

Bud said...

good morning Bman !!!!


meredith whitney on cnbc.............sweeeet

Bud said...

VVUS


atta boy Bman !!!! welcome to the world of excessive speculation.............good to have you on board



'stocks like NVAX disgust me'

Bud said...

VVUS


nailed that yday in the tank


danke vielmals jim !!!!



retroactive indeed

Bunkerman said...

Molatova ... had she admitted gross error per last spring yet ?

or saying to sell JPM at 20 ?

If not, why would anyone believe her now ?

Bunkerman said...

uh ... I wonder what the defination of "nailed" is ?

the stock was up 4-5 pts ... did you get 1/2 pt ?

;)

well, making money is ... making money.

Bunkerman said...

I'll wait for $10, then hold for $100 if the drug works.

Mikey said...

Bunky......i think you were long ROSE a while ago do you like it ?

Bunkerman said...

ROSe was in Obama Fund ... I sold it in July when I liquidated Obama in my distractions.

Never looked again.

I liked it then as a chance to get a big move on recovery, dunno now.

I didn't overanalyze it even then, as I was looking at 50 stocks.

It seemed like a survivor.

Bud said...

what's wrong with making 1/2 point ???


or 20cents..........or 30 cents .........or whatever........oh the arrogance.........Bman you beginin to sound like the other pompous jerks here.......well no surprise.......y'all brainwashing each other



Verstehen Sie mich, Punker ?

Bunkerman said...

Uh Bud ... I did say,

"well, making money is ... making money."

But why do "some" thinking making 40 pts is ... the wrong way ?

Bud said...

USA well on it's way to johannesburg...........like i said yday..........start makin travel plans for southafrica 2010

Mikey said...

Thanks Bunky.........

Bunkerman said...

there was Babe Ruth ... and Ty Cobb.

Both greats.

No problem with making 1/2 pts, I just question the screeching in glee.

Bunkerman said...

but I suppose it's really a bit of good natured ribbing ... all in fun.

Bunkerman said...

lolol ... as is comparing 40 pts homer to a 1/2 pts blip hit.

;)

Mikey said...

Bud...the Lagoon has also been doing good with those stocks you've been posting lately.

Bud said...

well...........i guess i'll have to knock some sense into this blog


it is very very very very difficult to make 40points in a stock.................you need alot of capital........do some extensive research...........and also get lucky


if you are a trader who pays the bills trading..............waiting for 40 points may take years..........so u need a steady supply of cash flow while u wait



hold for 100 my ass............that ain't a strategy........how are the guys who are 'holding for 100' from 2007 doing ????????

Bud said...

or 2006.........or 2005.......or 2004



pffffffffffffffffffffffffft

Bud said...

oh no..........meredith says home prices have another 25% to fall minimum

her reason..........unemployment to go hgher

mfl59 said...

ummmmmm.....doesn't Lzrd hold stocks for many many points? get your facts straight son......doesn't his trading "pay the bills"?

not everyone is fkkking dirtbag flipping out of a 20,000 share position after feeding it out to the "customer"....pffftttt

Bunkerman said...

what is the "Lagoon", Mikey ?

An old friend who trades a lot was wondering about the Tank lately. I'd like to suggest an alternative.

NOT ME !!!!!!

Bunkerman said...

Molotova wants publicity.

If buyers are stepping up with multiple offers on BK sales, hwo can prices fall more ?

Bunkerman said...

very true, mfl ... I noticed that despicable behavior, too, many moons ago.

Bunkerman said...

in another setting, it's called, "pump & dump"

Bunkerman said...

was Googling ... is that the message board for SharkInvesting ?

Bunkerman said...

if so, no confirm necessary.

If different, please point me to it.

Mikey said...

Bunky....The Lagoon is a divison of "The Tank" with two chat rooms. One for active trading, and one for more of a swing type

Quint used to run it

mfl59 said...

Bud did you sucker punch Leisman?

"stick and move" indeed

Bunkerman said...

thanks Mikey ... I'll pass it on.

Spin-em said...

good to see Sal Bass writing again.....


It's like a sauna in here I feel like I'm...back at the desert.

Frosty said...

Bunky...your boy pigshark petitioning against the trader tax...ppffttt...come on Sal we know how to fix this, JIHAD JIHAD JIHAD, karachistyle....we are white and won't be ignored.

Bunkerman said...

a petition ... gosh that will surely do a lot of good.

Pfft!

Spin-em said...

US like a white girl fallin for the darkmeat sweet talker...3 years down the road..ya got 3 lil rappers and find urself down at 5-0 station payin for his ankle bracelet......

Bunkerman said...

roflmao, spin ... once I understood it.

Spin-em said...

good to see Mikey post...you'd think we could get Big Al in here...he's got a cult-like following..lool

Bunkerman said...

Big Al has a day job - not a trader. I think he reads evenings, weekends.

Mikey said...

thank you Spin

Spin-em said...

great buy on EBIX dip mike

thanks

MVP,MVP,MVP

mfl59 said...

Bunkerman you gonna flip some of those calls, or?

Frosty said...

Bunky...taking any sugar...please post all beefer style flips...thanks in advance.

Bunkerman said...

Nope, not yet.

I'll flip some around S&P 1100, then the rest at 1190.

These move seem rather like a grinding advance. I suppose I'd flip some on a big riparoo.

Was thinking about that momo stock, PG, though.

Working on Polish here.

simple stuff ... listen and respond drills.

Czyja to jest gazeta ?
To jest moja gazeta.

mfl59 said...

Youll flip some around 1100 and 1190....I see...

I thought you bought Dec 2009 calls...wont they have expired by that time, or?

Bunkerman said...

hahaha

I can roll them out to Jan or Feb if my forecast is working

Bunkerman said...

options trading tactics

roll out, roll up, etc.

or write calls at higher stikes, etc.

Hmm maybe I should write about these for Bud's benefit

;)

Bunkerman said...

you forget my forecast is 1200 by year end

Frosty said...

Bunky, screw it...let's light this candle.

mfl59 said...

SVA

"danke vielmals jim"

douchebag

Bud said...

well well well


frosty makes a plate appearance today..........listen dude..........that karachistyle joke is getting old.............if that's all u got.....stay on the bench

Frosty said...

easy Mike...no need to make Sal CRY.

Bud said...

Bman aren't these options strategies some of the same tactics you accuse beefers of doin ??


why is it ok for you ......and not for them ???

of course i think anyone should be allowed to trade whatever whenever however they like.............i'm a big believer in the free market and price discovery

Bud said...

EBIX


nailed it !!! 30cents? 40cents ?? a buck ??? 2bucks ???? doesn't matter.........pays for the extra topping on my pizza tonite


danke vielmals jim !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bud said...

i don't see any EBIX post from 'mike'..........oh wait.....private email..........retroactive motherf'kers



'thanks mike'

Bud said...

wow bob........CRY what a call !!!


you're so clever........so witty..........so cool .......you're also a f'ng douchebags


man i'd luv to sucker punch you



'floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee'





PS......still wanna be friends ??

mfl59 said...

"man i'd luv to sucker punch you"

you just summed up your enitre lousy career in one play Sal....

Bud said...

" hey Sal......why you gotta talk shit........be so rude........so vulgar....so nasty ? "


cuz i'm a nasty motherfucker !!!!!

Bud said...

Bman are options an asset class ???

Frosty said...

freind thinks I'm playing a 16...five a side.....gitttyyygitttyyyyuuuppp

Bunkerman said...

uh ... Bud ... I know you like animal metaphors

Do you know the difference between a pony & a war elephant ?

Imagine you are seeing a cute, lobable pony trotting up to you ... or a huge bull war elephant.

Which do you fear will stomp you to a quishy mess?

Verstehen Sie mich, Punker ?

Bunkerman said...

luvable pony

Spin-em said...

Big Al kick ur feet up..its 5 oclock somewhere.....

When its time to relax,
one beer stands clear.
beer after beer
Paki----Brau taste too good
to hurry thruuuu....
Si if you've got the time
SalBass has the beer..

Spin-em said...

WAAAH WA WA...... WAAH WAAH.....WAAAH WA WA......

GOOOOO Jane's team