Divemedic

Free health care in Spain

During my recent trip to Europe, we took a tour in Spain. During that tour, we passed a private medical clinic. The tour guide pointed it out, and then said that one of the best things about living in Spain was the “free health clinics.” He then said that there were private clinics that people must pay for, but almost no one did so, because they were so expensive that only the rich could afford them, and the best doctors and care were in the free clinics, anyway.

I asked him why the rich would pay for inferior care, and he had no answer.

To me, the fact that the rich can pay for care in for profit clinics tells me that the care there must be better than the free clinics, or else they would go out of business.

By Divemedic, ago

No go zones

Like all large cities, there are areas of Orlando that are just not safe to enter. In Orlando, one of those areas is Pine Hills. Locals have referred to that area as “Crime Hills” since the late 80’s. The area of Pine Hills used to be an upscale neighborhood that primarily housed engineers who worked for Martin Marietta’s (later Lockheed Martin) Orlando plant. It was the first neighborhood in Florida to contain golf courses. At just over 12 square miles, this neighborhood is just about 1% of the total land area of the county, but accounts for 10% of the murders, and 15% of robberies.

Martin Marietta was once the largest employer in Orlando, with 15,000 employees. I remember when I was a child, my father (who was an engineer for an electronics firm) used to do work there, but he could never tell me what he did there, claiming it was classified. However, he would occasionally bring home pictures of missiles being test fired, which my brother and I happily hung on our walls.

By 1987, that payroll had declined to 5,700. The engineers have moved away, and the area is now what they call an “ethnically and racially diverse” neighborhood where crime runs rampant. The census figures for the area’s income are unreliable because the statistical area includes a high income area that makes it appear to be more affluent than it is.

So with that background, we are now equipped to hear the tale of how Tavaris Davis got robbed. Apparently, one man at a convenience store was robbing another at gunpoint, and the two began shooting at each other. Then a third man joined in. Marksmanship was poor, because all of the shots exchanged hit cars, buildings, etc. with only one person being hit in the ankle. When Tavaris Davis realized what was going on, he fled. While fleeing, he was robbed at gunpoint by a group of locals who were unrelated to the individuals robbing each other at the nearby store.

The vast majority of gun violence in this nation is located within just a few square miles. The rest of the nation has a crime rate that is on par with Canada. The areas that are filled with crime tend to be “diverse” neighborhoods. Unless we can have an honest conversation about race and the causes of crime without people calling others “racist,” we can never find a solution.

By Divemedic, ago

Low turnout

There is a lot of ink and electrons being used by the press to hype the victory of the Democratic Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in New York’s 14th Congressional district. The reason such a big deal is being made of this is due to the fact that she upset a long term incumbent, despite the fact that she was outspent nearly 18 to 1.

The incumbent, Joe Crowley, was the leading candidate to take over as the Speaker of the House, should the Democrats win back that body. Moveon is hailing this as some sort of change for the Democrats where this “blue wave” of Socialism, led by the nation’s youth, will sweep the nation. A quote from Moveon:

These results are also a shot across the bow of the Democratic establishment in Washington: a young, diverse, and boldly progressive Resistance Movement isn’t waiting to be anointed by the powers that be. Americans from all walks of life who demand change are taking reins of power and showing the Democratic Party what its future looks like.

I don’t think so. Her platform includes eliminating immigration enforcement, free health care, free college, free houses, loosening of criminal enforcement, and guaranteed Federal jobs for everyone. She has no real plan for funding these ideas, except “raise taxes.”

A closer look at exactly how she won the Primary indicates that her win is less about a sea of change and more about voter apathy. She won just shy of 16,000 votes out of 27,000 cast, in a district with over 236,000 registered Democrats. That equates to a voter turnout of under 12 percent. In fact, looking at the turnout in New York, turnout for Democrats was between 4 and 14 percent. On the other hand, turnout for Republicans was mostly between 15 and 19 percent.

I don’t think that this primary is as much a sea change as it is a statistical anomaly caused by low voter turnout. Where this is significant is that a twenty year Congressman who was a leader in the House was ousted, and will be replaced by a freshman. New York 14 is a solid Blue district, where 80% of voters vote Democrat, 70% of residents don’t speak English, and that won’t change in November. I think what we are seeing is the traditional base of the Democrats is staying home, and this places some of the Democrat seats in jeopardy.

Voter turnout will have a huge factor in the upcoming elections, as it always does in midterms. With no real platform other than “resist Trump” it remains to be seen whether or not the Democrats can energize their base enough to make a difference.

By Divemedic, ago

Get over it

Let’s say that there are two basketball teams that decide to play a game. Each coach decides that he will follow a different strategy: one decides to have his players drive the lane and score from inside, the other decides to have his players shoot from the outside and score 3 point shots.

The game plays out, and the first (driving) team scores 42 baskets for a total of 84 points, but loses to the second (three point shooting) team, who scored 29 baskets for a total of 87 points. The fans of the first team are incensed because their team scored more times than the other, and they insist that the league declare their team to be the champion. They demand that the three point shot be eliminated from the game. Surely, if it wasn’t for that stupid three point rule, their team would have won.

The following season, the fans decide that they will not allow the other team to play. The engage in a system of buying tickets to the team’s games and then they sit on the court and refuse to leave so the team can play. They also harass every employee of the team, from the guy who sells beer in the stands to the coach. They stand outside their houses, harass their children at school, and even refuse to allow them to enjoy an evening out.

This story is, of course, the story of the 2016 election and the Democrats’ response to it.

By Divemedic, ago

Attempted armed burglary

One of the things that happened while I was away in Europe was a rash of auto burglaries. All of them happened on the same night- four cars were broken into, one a cop car. Of the other three, one had an IPad stolen, one car was stolen outright, and one had a firearm stolen from the glovebox.

When I got home and reviewed my security cameras, it turns out that the criminal tried to break into my vehicle. He initially blinded my camera with a flashlight, and then kept his face covered while trying my doors. Since they were locked, he moved on.

The thing is, by the time he was trying to break into my truck, he was already armed with the firearm he stole. NEVER confront a trespasser or potential burglar unless you are armed.

By Divemedic, ago