BlogHide Resteemsrgz (28)in political • 5 years agoUse quarantine time productivelyHere is an opportunity for citizens to use quarantine time productively: Educate yourselves about local government taxing and spending. Learn what the law requires, and scour local expenditures…rgz (28)in medical • 5 years agoUse quarantine time productively, helping nurses and docsRather than wasting days in quarantine twatting about nonsense, make time productive to medical professionals by spending an hour a day on factual research about the economic hardships burdening…rgz (28)in medical • 5 years agoSolution:Hospitals on Indian ReservationsConvoluted exemptions exist for hospitals and GPOs, exeptions from federal anti monopoly and anti kickback laws which are strictly enforced against medical doctors. This hypocritical policy…rgz (28)in medical • 5 years agoBypass medical transaction third party gatekeepersWe are all de facto cash payers when one considers deductible and copays. And, people are finally wising up that paying cash for many meds is cheaper than paying the copay for the…rgz (28)in medical • 5 years agoFight corruption with it's evil-evil-twin: Anti-Evil. Like a Positron.Medical provision in America is already socialized, and is non-equitable in its distribution, due to third party gatekeepers dictating (under impenetrable secrecy) who gets what and how much will be…rgz (28)in politics • 5 years agoMedical resource allocations by GPOsAre resources controlled by third party gatekeepers distributed equitably? A timely example we should all discuss is this: commonly occurring saline bag shortages at hospitals. When an epidemic…rgz (28)in medical • 5 years agoWho gets saline bags in viral epidemic?GPOs enjoy unique exemption from Federal Anti-Kickback Law. GPOs are not required to disclose pricing information, kickback specifics, or other information relevant to Americans whose taxes fund…rgz (28)in medical • 5 years agoMedical price transparencyPatient Joe I went to obtain an informed consent, And convey to the patient what that meant, I spent the next several moments explaining Concepts I'd learned over eight years of training.…rgz (28)in politics • 5 years agoAlt-Illinois could starve the beastIllinois is governed by the people, for the people... if you can even call them people...who are enriched by the Illinois political industry. It is the perfect business model, so long as there…rgz (28)in tax • 5 years agoZealotry in local governmentsMost people do not realize how much property tax is taken from them, details of how it is spent, or whether communities in other States are getting the same quality social services provided, but…rgz (28)in gbo • 5 years agoAnti-Kickback Safe Harbor can be deadlyA small group of Congressmen obtained a special exemption from Federal Anti-Kickback laws for their clients' GBOs (or GPO, stands for Group Buying/Purchasing Organizations) and fiercely protects…rgz (28)in coronavirus • 5 years agoCongress, GBO safe harbor, coronavirus, predictable crisis.Coronavirus epidemic is a real possibility here, and hospital personnel are rightfully concerned about having access to necessary supplies for supportive care. In coronavirus pandemic, people may…rgz (28)in tif • 5 years agoIllinois TIF not popular outside The Political ClassOne might think that TIF is popular with Chicago citizens. One would be wrong. There is a Chicago group working hard to shine lights on 'dead-of-the-afternoon' political deals, and educate the…rgz (28)in tif • 5 years agoTIF in Illinois: what is required?Illinois TIF Statute describes conditions required in broad and ambiguous language. Here's what is required to make a TIF District: Must be within a municipality. "Blight" or "danger of…rgz (28)in property • 5 years agoIllinois TIF: the processIllinois TIF law describes municipalities may create TIF districts at their own broad discretion. Political darlings are chosen recipients of TIF monies-- free gifts of taxpayer cash, publicly…rgz (28)in politics • 5 years agoTIF in IllinoisTIF in Illinois is governed by this Statute: (65 ILCS 5/Art. 11 Div. 74.4 heading) DIVISION 74.4. TAX INCREMENT ALLOCATION REDEVELOPMENT ACT In order to declare a TIF district, there must be…rgz (28)in tax • 5 years agoTIF: what if EVERYBODY had one?TIF is tax increment financing. In Illinois it is weaponized tax-taking for purposes of crony-capitalism. The sum of the profits to TIF recipients (friends of the regime) are often exceeded by the…rgz (28)in politics • 5 years agoWe cannot economically survive local politics......so shouldn't we stop being distracted by national politics? The percentage of Illinois mean and median household income taken for property taxes (a hyper-local taxation which has zero to do…rgz (28)in politics • 5 years agoCan't beat 'em, won't join 'em......so emulate 'em, except do it for public good not private evil. Illinois political industry craft policies as determined by lobbyists (who are former legislators) which serve their personal…rgz (28)in political • 5 years agoTIF: T is for taxes, the rest is one big IFTIF (tax increment financing) is a favorite weapon of mass taxation used by Illinois municipal governments to thwart meagre Statutory taxpayer protections. TIF allows 35 years of inflationary…