Health Law in Peril

Based on the opinion expressed in this article, and an interview I listened to on NPR, it seems that the individual mandate included in the President's health care law is in real danger.

This is shocking to many of the law's supporters, who seem to have overlooked that a well-intentioned law could run contrary to the Constitution by extending Federal power beyond it's legal limit. Even if the law fulfils what they see as a moral obligation of government, this does not make it constitutional.

Of course, by the time the Court issues its opinion in the fall, they could uphold the mandate and all this become moot.

Awesome Video Saturday CXCII

Two-year old kid dancing. Nothing else need be said.

Round-up

Here are a few things that I found interesting today-

• A large Political Action Committee (Super PAC) is now raising money to pay back its founder and primary backer, and perhaps others. Love or hate the Super PAC, at least we live in an era where intense media scrutiny works to provide greater transparency. Needless to say, it is not a cause to which I will be contributing.


• I just used the phrase "needless to say." This is a phrase that is always accompanied by the speaker saying whatever the speaker once thought needed no saying. This phrase belongs in the "with all due respect" (I don't respect you) english language dustbin.


• Newt Gingrich may name a running-mate well in advance of the Republican National Convention. This is funny because by that time Newt may only be in the running for head of his local homeowner's association. The fact that said running mate may be Texas governor Richard Perry means that they'd better "save a pretzel for the gas jets."


• If you are predominantly a mouth-breather, you can now put that hot air to work thanks to a Brazilian entrepreneur. He's invented a device that will let you do a little Darth Vader act, powering little turbines to charge your mobile devices.


• The apparent murder of 16 Afghans by a U.S. serviceman is a terrible, terrible tragedy. It seems clear that the situation there is worse than we are being told, and the return on our very costly investment is smaller and smaller.

Ballin'

So BYU is in the tourney, but in a play-in game against Iona. I'm not terribly surprised. One bracket I saw had us as high as a twelve seed, which seemed generous given our very uneven play this year.

I guess you look for some kind of motivation in a thing like this, and perhaps a feeling of being underestimated will work to our advantage. Time to play like you want it.

If you are interested in doing a bracket, I set up my annual group on ESPN.com. The password is "spotd"

Awesome Video Saturday CXCI

In light of the upcoming March Madness, here is one funny story from one of the most storied rivalries in the game-

Regulation Disorientation

This article was published in The Economist a few weeks ago. It is a very solid critique of our current, governmental regulatory regime. Bottom line? It's a mess.

I find it ironic that The Economist this, having acted as very outspoken proponents of President Obama, his health care plan, and initiatives like Cap and Trade. A little buyer's remorse?

I have long held that the regulatory morass is a major reason behind the sluggishness of our economic recovery. Even if the economy improves by the November election, it will have less to do with the president's policies and more to do with the innovation endemic in our economic engine.

In fairness, the bad regulation is nothing new, and not unique to either party, but the buck stops at the top.

Awesome Video Saturday CXC

Sometimes hilarious, sometimes painful- Golfcart Fail Compilation: