@lotlizard

https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2017/12/daniel-ellsberg-u-s-military-pla...

And: the European Union and “integration” as neoliberal Trojan horse for German hegemony:

https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2017/12/germanys-dystopian-plans-europe-...

To give an example, with the launch of the European Semester, the EU’s key tool for economic policy guidance and surveillance, an area that has historically been a bastion of national sovereignty – old-age pensions – has now fallen under the purview of supranational monitoring as well. Countries are now expected to (and face sanctions if they don’t): (i) increase the retirement age and link it with life expectancy; (ii) reduce early retirement schemes, improve the employability of older workers and promote lifelong learning; (iii) support complementary private savings to enhance retirement incomes; and (iv) avoid adopting pension-related measures that undermine the long term sustainability and adequacy of public finances.

This has led to the introduction in various countries of several types of automatic stabilizing mechanisms (ASMs) in pension systems, which change the policy default so that benefits or contributions adjust automatically to adverse demographic and economic conditions without direct intervention by politicians. Similar ‘automatic correction mechanisms’ in relation to fiscal policy can be found in the Fiscal Compact.

The aim of all these ‘automatic mechanisms’ is clearly to put the economy on ‘autopilot’, thus removing any element of democratic discussion and/or decision-making at either the European or national level. These changes have already transformed European states into ‘semi-sovereign’ entities, at best. In this sense, the proposals currently under discussion would mark the definitive transformation of European states from semi-sovereign to de facto (and increasingly de jure) non-sovereign entities.

@Unabashed Liberal Went with one of the add-on plans (G,H?) that has no copays through UHS. It's all just a toss into the dark; FSM knows what Medicare remnants will look like in two years. Or, surprise! Cancer Dx! Armaggedon first?

a Tweet later this evening. I look forward to listening to the vids when I get a little more bandwidth. (My main hotspot is on the brink, so I'm roughing it until I can get a replacement. And, I'm shopping for a new data plan.)

It's possible that we'll get a smathering of snow, sometime this weekend. Hope you have a good day at work--stay warm if your job involves outside activity.

I saw a quote from the CEO of Aetna the other day that's probably given me a few more gray hairs. I'm concerned that the CVS/Aetna merger might have a negative impact on Traditional Medicare. I'll see if I can collect my thoughts well enough to pen my concerns, later. My primary concern stems from a transcript I've read from a recent Congressional hearing, concerning so-called 'test pilot' programs.

Have a nice weekend. Hope to catch up with you Guys later!

Mollie

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The "Grand Bargain" isn't dead--it's being implemented incrementally through piecemeal legislation. Please read "The Moment Of Truth."

@Unabashed Liberal Wondered what you knew about this?

...

Medicare should start at 50 https://t.co/G0c7jScXzT via @BV pic.twitter.com/V6t5iQCZLn

— Bloomberg (@business) December 9, 2017

a Tweet later this evening. I look forward to listening to the vids when I get a little more bandwidth. (My main hotspot is on the brink, so I'm roughing it until I can get a replacement. And, I'm shopping for a new data plan.)

It's possible that we'll get a smathering of snow, sometime this weekend. Hope you have a good day at work--stay warm if your job involves outside activity.

I saw a quote from the CEO of Aetna the other day that's probably given me a few more gray hairs. I'm concerned that the CVS/Aetna merger might have a negative impact on Traditional Medicare. I'll see if I can collect my thoughts well enough to pen my concerns, later. My primary concern stems from a transcript I've read from a recent Congressional hearing, concerning so-called 'test pilot' programs.

Have a nice weekend. Hope to catch up with you Guys later!

Mollie

---

The "Grand Bargain" isn't dead--it's being implemented incrementally through piecemeal legislation. Please read "The Moment Of Truth."

@on the cusp to read it!

a fellow c99er. It dropped below freezing here last night, and will again tonight.
It is sunny, will be a nice drive.
We will have Tex-Mex because that's just how we roll.

@Azazello I think it has to do with something that's in the air.

how come he can't walk ?

@enhydra lutris

gateways of "fake news". "Fake news" is deviation from the approved narrative, but what about cases where alleged news that is supportive of the approved narrative is demonstrted to be fake? Should Google now ban CNN?