Category Archives: Economy

Uncompensated Care

June 12, 2013 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 6 Comments

Lately, data are indicating that the seemingly inexorable rise in our health care costs may be attenuating. Is this real? Or, just an artifact? Given that there are large variations in health costs across the US, what does this trend mean for our local, state, and federal taxes. And, given that these difference in regional costs will become exacerbated as more (Republican) states refuse to run their own health care exchanges, some of us are in for additional costs.

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Business Management, Economy, Taxes, Technology

Average<>Median

June 10, 2013 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 10 Comments

I am always amazed (annoyed?) at the innumeracy of the American (ok, the world’s) populace. It’s one of the ways polemicists can convince folks of certain “facts”– even when there is no logic behind their words.

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Economy, Technology

MOOC or mook?

May 22, 2013 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 2 Comments

I have mixed emotions about these massive open online classes. The homonym MOOK (yes, they are really called MOOC’s) comes to mind. But, then I recall the first biology and microbiology courses I took. At one school, where the total enrollment (including night school) was under 4000 in all degree programs, there were 300 kids in this class. In another institution, where the enrollment was about the same (but more prestigious, and no part time students), and there were 250 in the other.

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Economy, Medicine

$ 242,000…

May 20, 2013 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 10 Comments

If only we would make tough choices. The system – at least for the past years- is arranged to punt decisions down the line. Where the choices are the same, anyway- just more expensive.

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Economy, Medicine

The Future is Not So Pretty…

May 17, 2013 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 4 Comments

Not my normal sort of blog. Actually, the kind you would kind on Sequioa Seniors. (This blog no longer exists…) But, I’m writing about it because it involves economics and regulations. And, it’s the future that we did not want to see- for anyone.

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Economy, Energy

It’s way past time to bury these items

May 16, 2013 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 15 Comments

OK. It’s rant time. But, no, I have not lost power again- yet. Although, I must admit, having bought my house some 25 years ago, I have had the “opportunity” to experience a blackout- longer and more pervasive than the one that hit the Northeast when I was a young lad- enough times that I find it amazing that we consider ourselves to live in the “First World”.

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Economy, Taxes

How a business can pay no taxes

May 1, 2013 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 8 Comments

It’s amazing what can happen when a corporation has a slew of professionals that do nothing but make sure that their tax bill is very low- zero would be ideal. Oh, I know, we all want to pay the lowest amount of taxes- but companies like GE have managed to pay no taxes, in spite of their profits.

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Economy

Till Death Do Us Part?

April 26, 2013 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 11 Comments

Betty Thompson would be pissed. Yes, she would. Because, she knew that the best way to have divorce ‘work’ in America was to make things equitable. She worked hard to change the laws in Virginia. Instead of basing the split of assets from who had the title (which typically was the male, especially when she began her practice) to “equitable distribution”. And, while she knew that alimony had to have a finite limit- and not proceed for decades or for life- that change came slower.

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Economy, Energy, Technology

Anti-terror techniques

April 25, 2013 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 25 Comments

Yes, I am going to use current events to scare you. Maybe that way you will DEMAND action from Congress (or your country’s legislature) to pass laws, to fund solutions- to stop problems, before they occur.

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Economy, Energy

Is XL the excellent choice?

April 17, 2013 Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. 8 Comments

I’ve stayed out of the fray for a while now. (Don’t cluck-cluck me; I really have!) Because I wanted to see what each side would really use for their arguments; you see, there is nothing that is intrinsically safe, unsafe, right, or wrong with either side’s position. No, it’s the execution that will make the difference. About what am I talking? Harvesting tar sands for oil refining and piping them thousands of miles.

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