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one nation, under surveillance
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in bed with the red
number 148 04.20.08
source: OECD
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The health insurance industry has
adopted a new pricing structure
that charges consumers a
percentage of the cost of
expensive medicines instead of
fixed co-payments, resulting in
skyrocketing health care bills for
patients with serious illnesses.
The shift in policy began with the
introduction of the Medicare
prescription drug program and is
now incorporated into 86 percent
of those plans, as well as at least
ten percent of private group
coverage plans, according to an
investigation by the New York
Times. The newspaper found
that some patients receiving
advanced drug treatments have
seen their out of pocket
expenses rise thousands of dollars
a month.
The pricing system, referred to by
insurers as “Tier 4”, has been
adopted as a response to
employers seeking ways to keep
the cost of group coverage down,
according to health insurance
industry spokesmen. But
heathcare analysts and patients’
rights advocates warned that the
move toward Tier 4 represented
an erosion of the basic concept of
private insurance: spreading
narrow risks over a large
membership pool. Health
economist James Robinson of the
University of California at
Berkeley told the Times, “It’s
very unfortunate social policy.
The more the sick person pays,
the less the healthy person pays.”
Insurance industry analysts expect
more plans to adopt Tier 4
pricing, and note that some plans
already have a Tier 5 for more
expensive drugs. it's all true
adopted a new pricing structure
that charges consumers a
percentage of the cost of
expensive medicines instead of
fixed co-payments, resulting in
skyrocketing health care bills for
patients with serious illnesses.
The shift in policy began with the
introduction of the Medicare
prescription drug program and is
now incorporated into 86 percent
of those plans, as well as at least
ten percent of private group
coverage plans, according to an
investigation by the New York
Times. The newspaper found
that some patients receiving
advanced drug treatments have
seen their out of pocket
expenses rise thousands of dollars
a month.
The pricing system, referred to by
insurers as “Tier 4”, has been
adopted as a response to
employers seeking ways to keep
the cost of group coverage down,
according to health insurance
industry spokesmen. But
heathcare analysts and patients’
rights advocates warned that the
move toward Tier 4 represented
an erosion of the basic concept of
private insurance: spreading
narrow risks over a large
membership pool. Health
economist James Robinson of the
University of California at
Berkeley told the Times, “It’s
very unfortunate social policy.
The more the sick person pays,
the less the healthy person pays.”
Insurance industry analysts expect
more plans to adopt Tier 4
pricing, and note that some plans
already have a Tier 5 for more
expensive drugs. it's all true
The Bush administration has signaled that
it intends to proceed with its plan to
reorganize the nation’s spy satellite
operations, making detailed satellite
imagery available for the first time to
federal, state, and local law enforcement
agencies. Critics have questioned the
legality of the overhaul, saying it
improperly diverts military assets to
domestic law enforcement purposes.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael
Chertoff announced last week that the
controversial National Applications
Office, which will have authority over a
wide array of sophisticated surveillance
technologies, is ready to begin
operations, despite a host of
unanswered questions from
Congressional committees about the
legal basis for the new program and the
scope of the surveillance being
it intends to proceed with its plan to
reorganize the nation’s spy satellite
operations, making detailed satellite
imagery available for the first time to
federal, state, and local law enforcement
agencies. Critics have questioned the
legality of the overhaul, saying it
improperly diverts military assets to
domestic law enforcement purposes.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael
Chertoff announced last week that the
controversial National Applications
Office, which will have authority over a
wide array of sophisticated surveillance
technologies, is ready to begin
operations, despite a host of
unanswered questions from
Congressional committees about the
legal basis for the new program and the
scope of the surveillance being
undertaken. Members of the academic
community have also expressed fears
that law enforcement priorities will
change the focus of US satellite
programs, which have traditionally
served primarily scientific functions.
In October Congress blocked DHS from
funding the National Applications Office
until questions about its legality and
operations were resolved and until a
Government Accountability Office
review of the proposed surveillance and
data sharing program was completed.
The GAO has yet to report on the
satellite office, and Democratic
congressional leaders last week
expressed dissatisfaction with the
assurances Chertoff has provided so far.
But last week Chertoff told a group of
reporters, "I think we've fully addressed
anybody's concerns." it's all true
community have also expressed fears
that law enforcement priorities will
change the focus of US satellite
programs, which have traditionally
served primarily scientific functions.
In October Congress blocked DHS from
funding the National Applications Office
until questions about its legality and
operations were resolved and until a
Government Accountability Office
review of the proposed surveillance and
data sharing program was completed.
The GAO has yet to report on the
satellite office, and Democratic
congressional leaders last week
expressed dissatisfaction with the
assurances Chertoff has provided so far.
But last week Chertoff told a group of
reporters, "I think we've fully addressed
anybody's concerns." it's all true
Insurance Policies
Test Patients
Test Patients
Privacy Off the Radar for Spy Satellites
Record low levels in the Colorado River
system and steadily decreasing snowpack
in the Sierra Nevada Mountains may
combine to create major water
shortages in California and other
Western states that derive their supply
from these sources, according to
recently published government data.
A report compiled by the US Geological
Survey concluded that even a modest
rise in the mean temperature of 1.5
degrees Fahrenheit over the course of
this century would severely impact water
supplies for at least seven states. Other
government statistics indicate that as
many as 36 states could face water
shortages within the next five years.
Some Southeastern states have already
begun to experience unprecedented
local conditions, including a shortage
that recently resulted in a court battle
system and steadily decreasing snowpack
in the Sierra Nevada Mountains may
combine to create major water
shortages in California and other
Western states that derive their supply
from these sources, according to
recently published government data.
A report compiled by the US Geological
Survey concluded that even a modest
rise in the mean temperature of 1.5
degrees Fahrenheit over the course of
this century would severely impact water
supplies for at least seven states. Other
government statistics indicate that as
many as 36 states could face water
shortages within the next five years.
Some Southeastern states have already
begun to experience unprecedented
local conditions, including a shortage
that recently resulted in a court battle
over water rights involving Georgia,
Florida, and Alabama.
The USGS report on the Colorado River
calculated average flows using historical
data and models using various
temperature thresholds. The researchers
found that flows would be dramatically
reduced if temperatures rose just 1.5
degrees, even though the United
Nations Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change projects global warming
to proceed at more than twice that rate.
Researcher Gregory McCabe, who
coauthored the USGS report, told
Bloomberg News, “It turns out, in the
Colorado, just modest warming can have
significant impacts.”
Environmental scientists have warned
that one effect of rising sea levels caused
by global warming will be saltwater
Florida, and Alabama.
The USGS report on the Colorado River
calculated average flows using historical
data and models using various
temperature thresholds. The researchers
found that flows would be dramatically
reduced if temperatures rose just 1.5
degrees, even though the United
Nations Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change projects global warming
to proceed at more than twice that rate.
Researcher Gregory McCabe, who
coauthored the USGS report, told
Bloomberg News, “It turns out, in the
Colorado, just modest warming can have
significant impacts.”
Environmental scientists have warned
that one effect of rising sea levels caused
by global warming will be saltwater
infiltration of coastal aquifers,
rendering obsolete much existing
civic infrastructure for the treatment
and delivery of water. At the same
time, inland aquifers will be depleted
by decreased annual snowmelt and
periodic droughts. Major reservoirs in
the Northeast, Midwest, and Rocky
Mountain states are already at
dangerously low levels, and recent
studies have shown that Nevada’s
Lake Mead and Utah’s Lake Powell,
the two most important reservoirs in
the country, are threatened, with
one report warning that Lake Mead
could be dry by 2021.
In recent years, major investment
funds have bought stakes in filtration
and desalinization technologies, as
well as privatized municipal water
delivery systems. it's all true
rendering obsolete much existing
civic infrastructure for the treatment
and delivery of water. At the same
time, inland aquifers will be depleted
by decreased annual snowmelt and
periodic droughts. Major reservoirs in
the Northeast, Midwest, and Rocky
Mountain states are already at
dangerously low levels, and recent
studies have shown that Nevada’s
Lake Mead and Utah’s Lake Powell,
the two most important reservoirs in
the country, are threatened, with
one report warning that Lake Mead
could be dry by 2021.
In recent years, major investment
funds have bought stakes in filtration
and desalinization technologies, as
well as privatized municipal water
delivery systems. it's all true
Climate Change Causing Trickle Down Effect To Evaporate
The combination of higher production
costs and the diversion of food crops to
bio-fuel crops has led to a situation
where 100 million people could be
driven in to deeper poverty threatening
the stability of fragile nations across the
globe. Rising food prices have led to
riots in Morocco, Mexico, Senegal,
Egypt and Haiti. Russia and Thailand
have instituted price controls on basic
food products, and last week the world’s
fifth largest exporter of rice, Kazakhstan,
imposed a ban on rice exports.
A recent UNESCO report on the state
of the world’s agriculture reported that
wheat prices have risen by 137 percent
and soy prices have risen by 87 percent
costs and the diversion of food crops to
bio-fuel crops has led to a situation
where 100 million people could be
driven in to deeper poverty threatening
the stability of fragile nations across the
globe. Rising food prices have led to
riots in Morocco, Mexico, Senegal,
Egypt and Haiti. Russia and Thailand
have instituted price controls on basic
food products, and last week the world’s
fifth largest exporter of rice, Kazakhstan,
imposed a ban on rice exports.
A recent UNESCO report on the state
of the world’s agriculture reported that
wheat prices have risen by 137 percent
and soy prices have risen by 87 percent
since last year. The study’s authors
found, “the diversion of agriculture crops
to fuel can raise food prices and reduce
our ability to alleviate hunger throughout
the world.”
Ministers from 185 countries attending a
scheduled conference of the
International Monetary Fund and the
World Bank agreed that the international
food crisis is a greater threat to stability
than the global financial emergency that
has received greater attention. World
Bank President Robert Zoellick said that
the bank estimates “that a doubling of
food prices over the last three years
could potentially push 100 million people
in low-income countries into deeper
found, “the diversion of agriculture crops
to fuel can raise food prices and reduce
our ability to alleviate hunger throughout
the world.”
Ministers from 185 countries attending a
scheduled conference of the
International Monetary Fund and the
World Bank agreed that the international
food crisis is a greater threat to stability
than the global financial emergency that
has received greater attention. World
Bank President Robert Zoellick said that
the bank estimates “that a doubling of
food prices over the last three years
could potentially push 100 million people
in low-income countries into deeper
poverty.” IMF managing director
Dominque Strauss-Kahn said that the
diversion of food crops to fuel crops
is a “crime against humanity.”
United Nations Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon has organized a task
force to formulate programs to help
impoverished populations deal with
the food crisis. Ki-moon said in his
address at the opening of the United
Nations Conference on Trade, “We
hear the call of the least developed
countries to deal with market failures
and stabilize world food prices. The
millions of deprived populations of
developing nations expect definitive
time bound actions." it's all true
Dominque Strauss-Kahn said that the
diversion of food crops to fuel crops
is a “crime against humanity.”
United Nations Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon has organized a task
force to formulate programs to help
impoverished populations deal with
the food crisis. Ki-moon said in his
address at the opening of the United
Nations Conference on Trade, “We
hear the call of the least developed
countries to deal with market failures
and stabilize world food prices. The
millions of deprived populations of
developing nations expect definitive
time bound actions." it's all true
A federal audit of the Pentagon’s largest
defense contracts found that projects
are consistently delayed and severely
over budget.
The Government Accountability Office
found that 95 Defense Department
contracts have exceeded their budgets
by a combined $295 billion. The
auditors found that the projects were
delivered an average of two years behind
schedule and that none of the 72
projects reviewed this year met best
practices standards for stable design and
processes critical for cost, schedule and
performance oversight. The total cost
of the defense projects that were
audited is $1.6 trillion. The report
found that “In most cases, programs also
failed to deliver capabilities when
promised, often forcing war fighters to
spend additional funds on maintaining”
older equipment.
The GAO reported, “Total acquisition
costs for major defense programs in the
fiscal year 2007 portfolio have increased
26 percent from first estimates.” That
compares with six percent total cost
increases for projects in the year 2000.
Auditors also reported that costs for
research and development for the
weapons projects reviewed increased 40
defense contracts found that projects
are consistently delayed and severely
over budget.
The Government Accountability Office
found that 95 Defense Department
contracts have exceeded their budgets
by a combined $295 billion. The
auditors found that the projects were
delivered an average of two years behind
schedule and that none of the 72
projects reviewed this year met best
practices standards for stable design and
processes critical for cost, schedule and
performance oversight. The total cost
of the defense projects that were
audited is $1.6 trillion. The report
found that “In most cases, programs also
failed to deliver capabilities when
promised, often forcing war fighters to
spend additional funds on maintaining”
older equipment.
The GAO reported, “Total acquisition
costs for major defense programs in the
fiscal year 2007 portfolio have increased
26 percent from first estimates.” That
compares with six percent total cost
increases for projects in the year 2000.
Auditors also reported that costs for
research and development for the
weapons projects reviewed increased 40
percent over the original estimated final
costs.
One of the projects reviewed was the
development of the Littoral Combat
Ship for the Navy. Auditors reported
that the final cost of building the first
two ships will exceed the $472 million
budgeted by the Pentagon by 100
percent. The original cost estimate for
the entire project is $5.2 billion. The
government’s contract with Boeing to
build weaponized unmanned aircraft and
vehicles called Future Combat Systems
has exceeded its final cost by 40
percent. A radio system being
developed by Boeing is currently 310
percent over budget.
Representatives for Boeing said in a
statement that the company is
committed “to deliver on our promises
to our military customers…in the most
cost-effective way possible.”
The GAO began reviewing the costs
associated with specific military weapons
systems contracts in 2002.
Since that time, The Pentagon has
doubled its commitment to purchase
weapons systems. The auditors
reviewed 72 of 95 high cost weapons
systems contracts. it's all true
costs.
One of the projects reviewed was the
development of the Littoral Combat
Ship for the Navy. Auditors reported
that the final cost of building the first
two ships will exceed the $472 million
budgeted by the Pentagon by 100
percent. The original cost estimate for
the entire project is $5.2 billion. The
government’s contract with Boeing to
build weaponized unmanned aircraft and
vehicles called Future Combat Systems
has exceeded its final cost by 40
percent. A radio system being
developed by Boeing is currently 310
percent over budget.
Representatives for Boeing said in a
statement that the company is
committed “to deliver on our promises
to our military customers…in the most
cost-effective way possible.”
The GAO began reviewing the costs
associated with specific military weapons
systems contracts in 2002.
Since that time, The Pentagon has
doubled its commitment to purchase
weapons systems. The auditors
reviewed 72 of 95 high cost weapons
systems contracts. it's all true
State and federal agents have killed
or captured and sent to
slaughterhouses a third of one of the
last remaining herd of wild buffalo
over the course of this past winter
threatening the genetic diversity of
the herd. More bison have been
slaughtered this year than any time
since the late 1800’s.
The herd, which roams an area of
federal land, parts of which are in
Yellowstone National Park and the
Gallatin National Forest in Montana,
has been thinned by more than 1550
bison due to a federally mandated
program intended to protect the
health of privately owned beef cattle
herds that graze on the same federal
lands. A group of citizens,
conservationists, Native Americans
and outfitting businesses have come
together to file an emergency rule-
making petition with the US
Department of the Interior to put an
end to the slaughter of the bison.
The petition calls for halting the
thinning program when the herds’
populations reduce to 2000. Both
herds have been thinned to less than
that number this winter. it's all true
or captured and sent to
slaughterhouses a third of one of the
last remaining herd of wild buffalo
over the course of this past winter
threatening the genetic diversity of
the herd. More bison have been
slaughtered this year than any time
since the late 1800’s.
The herd, which roams an area of
federal land, parts of which are in
Yellowstone National Park and the
Gallatin National Forest in Montana,
has been thinned by more than 1550
bison due to a federally mandated
program intended to protect the
health of privately owned beef cattle
herds that graze on the same federal
lands. A group of citizens,
conservationists, Native Americans
and outfitting businesses have come
together to file an emergency rule-
making petition with the US
Department of the Interior to put an
end to the slaughter of the bison.
The petition calls for halting the
thinning program when the herds’
populations reduce to 2000. Both
herds have been thinned to less than
that number this winter. it's all true
...If Iran makes the
wrong choice, America
will act to protect our
interests"
Washington DC 04.10.08
wrong choice, America
will act to protect our
interests"
Washington DC 04.10.08
verbatim number 29.1
"The regime in Tehran also
has a choice to make...If Iran
makes the right choice,
America will encourage a
peaceful relationship
between Iran and Iraq...
has a choice to make...If Iran
makes the right choice,
America will encourage a
peaceful relationship
between Iran and Iraq...
450 500 550
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Global Hunger Crisis Looms Larger Than Financial Meltdown
Cowboys Hide
Behind Buffalo Bill
Behind Buffalo Bill
Contractors Hit DOD With Budget Busting Bombs