National Journal online reports: "According to the Congressional Budget Office, which released its new Budget and Economic Outlook report [last week], a 10-year repeal of the growth-rate formula that froze doctors' rates [for Medicare reimbursement] at current levels would cost $316 billion, compared with $290 billion when CBO last calculated the rate in November. The difference may make permanent repeal of the formula -- always a long shot -- even less palatable to lawmakers. But even with the doc fix on hold, the report projects that spending on health care programs will explode in the coming decade. Assuming that doctors get the [27 percent] pay cut that Congress typically erases, Medicare gross spending is still expected to grow by 90 percent by 2022. The report cites the program's growth, as more Baby Boomers retire."

People keep telling me, "Medicare is a popular program. How do you tell people that Medicare is a problem? People like it."

Associated Press reports: "Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard began military exercises Saturday in the country's south, the latest show of force after threats to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for tougher Western sanctions. The latest military maneuvers got under way following stern warnings by Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, about any possible U.S. or Israeli attacks against Tehran's nuclear facilities. It also comes after Western forces boosted their naval presence in the Gulf led by the American aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln."

This is the result of a foreign policy which amounts to 3 principles, conveyed repeatedly by the United States to the government of Iran: (1) "Please like us"; (2) "We have to do these sanctions, but really, you're our friend"; and (3) "We know our country is a big racist imperialist and we apologize for that."

A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.

-- George Bernard Shaw

“Life’s not fair! I’m gettin’ a raw deal!” We hear it just about every day.

Life is neither fair nor unfair. Only people can be fair or unfair.