Monthly Archives: November 2013

November 3, 2013

The “You Can Keep Your Health Plan” Pledge

by: Joseph S. Fichera


November 3, 2013

The “You Can Keep Your Health Plan” Pledge

By: Joseph S. Fichera

The President was wrong when he said you could keep your health care plan under the Affordable Care Act. He should have said you can keep your health care plan IF it meets the new minimum requirements that Congress believes are in the best interests of all Americans.

It’s ok to establish new minimum standards but nothing is free. And that’s what has been glossed over/distorted or whatever in the debate. Expanding coverage to the uninsured and expanding coverage of the insured while reducing costs are competing objectives. There are “efficiencies of scale” and “productivity gains” to be had but they rarely occur immediately.So what we are dealing with right now are called “transition costs” among other things. Obama the professor and policy wonk understands this. The rest of us don’t really. The President needs to speak in plain English. Keep his promises and fix the parts of thaw that need fixing. Yes, easier said than done…but he needs to begin the process rather than defend the plan at all costs.


Post Published Date: November 3rd, 2013

Obama-Biden or Clinton 2012

by: Joseph S. Fichera


November 3, 2013

Obama-Biden or Clinton 2012

By: Joseph S. Fichera

A new book (“Double Down”) says that Obama’s campaign staff explored the option of dumping Joe Biden for Hillary Clinton as VP. No confirmation that Obama knew of the “testing the waters.”

What’s most troubling for me is the lack of personal loyalty solely for political/personal gain. It is one thing to ask someone to step aside because of a specific issue that creates a liability, a hinderance to a larger objective. But that was not the case. Biden was/is an excellent VP as VPs go. The thought was “what do we get if we dump him and pick up Hilary?”….a win at any cost strategy…even the trust and loyalty of a colleague. Me first?

As for whether the President knew… Where was the “Are you nuts? The boss would never go for that!” or “Yes we can but no we shouldn’t?” It just is troubling. Nothing to do because all the alternatives were/are worse. Just disappointing I guess.


Post Published Date: November 3rd, 2013