Author: Jeff Cassman

If It Please the Crown…May I Have My Meds?

Posted on by Jeff Cassman

There are a lot of reasons why healthcare in America costs so much more than it would in a free market, and this sign posted at my local Walgreen’s demonstrates just one way the government drives up costs; they don’t trust you or your doctor to make decisions on your own. You have to return to your physician, sit in his waiting room for a few hours, pay the inflated co-pay (he charges you more because he has to deal with insurance), then return to the pharmacy to get a simple prescription refilled. When you consider the out-of-pocket costs, the insurance payments, your travel expenses and your lost opportunity costs, you’re probably paying 30 or 40 times what the free market value really is.

Tired of ridiculous health care costs? Your state and federal legislators are the primary reason. Let them know what you think.… Read the rest

Is It Moral to Volunteer for the US Armed Services?

Posted on by Jeff Cassman

I volunteered to serve in the United States Air Force and do not regret the decision.  During my time as an Intelligence Analyst, my unit was involved in Latin America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.  I saw some extraordinary things and the DOD paid for college and grad school.

However, since I left active duty in 1997 I have come to a better understanding of what “Just War” involves, and our nation’s history of nearly non-stop war….for land, wealth and control.  It began with our rebellion against a Christian monarch in England because 3% taxes were unreasonable.  Today most of us pay several times that just in sales taxes…and 10 times that in income taxes in support of a anti-Christian state which persecutes us.

Rarely has the United States fought a defensive war, and even if that prerequisite is ignored, our means have almost always been unjust (such as with the intentional fire-bombing of German civilians or the atomic bombing of Japanese civilians).

Having abandoned our own constitutional republic for a corporatist mobocracy, today we seem to be fighting offensive actions designed to force secular democracy on others.  This wouldn’t even satisfy the neo-conservative principles I once believed in, and that many on the right still cling to as if they were taught by Christ Himself.  Trump’s recent bombing of Syria brought out the worst in the Right, most of whom applauded the decision, but none of whom could explain why it is good that we … Read the rest

How to Lose Friends and Arguments Quickly and Easily

Posted on by Jeff Cassman
It is rare I find myself in a discussion of any seriousness without someone resorting to personal attacks, ridicule and simple name-calling. I do not think the guilty parties recognize how bad this is for themselves, and their ideas.
 
First, when you engage in one of these activities, you are showing the entire audience-not just the person you are attacking, but everyone who will ever read those words-that you are either ignorant on the matter at hand, and unable to articulate an argument, or of such poor character that you cannot resist the temptation to attack the person, rather than their idea. You get pleasure from insulting them, but care not for advancement of truth.
 

This never reflects well on you, or your argument. It also plants the idea in the mind of your audience that perhaps people who believe like you all suffer from a weak and/or corrupt mind. This is not a fair observation, but it is a likely one. If you want to advance truth, you care more about effective persuasion than hurting your interlocutor.

Secondly, the personal attack represents a violent approach that, on the surface, suggests you are incapable of argumentation, and thus, must resort to violence to get your way. In other words, you are a bully. If you don’t know the difference between a bully, and someone who is simply strong, then you might be guilty of this. A bully rules through fear and force. A strong man rules through power. There is
… Read the rest

How to Lose Weight Consistently Without Starving

Posted on by Jeff Cassman

On January 1st, I decided it was time to address the issue of my weight gain over the last three years.  The cause of my weight gain was simple (I stopped running, stopped lifting, and ate and drank everything I wanted), so the solution was simple also.

In six weeks I’ve lost approximately 15 pounds and dropped two pant sizes.  My BP has dropped from, shall we say, “Go to the ER”, to ‘high normal’.  I still eat almost everything I want.  If I got serious I could lose another 15 pounds in 30 days, but because of my lifestyle choices, the number of birthdays we celebrate and various other excuses, I will probably take 60 days to lose the next 15 pounds, and I’m okay with that.

I’ve done this before and it works, so I have confidence and patience.    It helps that my Wife usually prepares my meals for me.  It doesn’t help that my children enjoy surprising me with martinis they’ve made for me to see whether I can tell if it was shaken or stirred.

My point is:  this works.  I did it before to lose 60 lbs successfully.  Go off the plan, and I can put it all back on.

Note:  Google has asked me to put a disclaimer here.  The disclaimer is:  these results are not typical.  I can’t promise you will experience the same results.  You may lose more, faster, if you have more to lose.  You may lose less and more … Read the rest