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Who is Guarding Liberty? – Liberty News Now

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Danzig

This last presidential election cycle was all about Outsiders. From Bernie Sanders, to Ted Cruz and Donald Trump, they all ran as the outsider candidate. Why? The answer is obvious. People are sick and tired of politicians and the whole political system.

Why are people tired of the system? Because it seems as if politicians lie, waste our hard-earned money on insane programs, and give it away; often to the undeserving. One wonders if they care more about their reelection than the good of the country. Political office, it seems for many, is the quickest way to the good life and personal fortune. No wonder Donald Trump is our president, people were looking for the real Outsider.

Outsiders have always been a breath of political fresh air. Elected officials that run against the political wind, those who dare, even at the expense of their own political good, to stand for constitutional principles and our personal liberties.

Before the title Outsider became part of our national vernacular, there were modern day trailblazers, those who stood against the Establishment. Those who, even though were in the body politic, for the good of the citizenry, fidelity to the Constitution and love of country, were outside. Persons in government who did go along to get along.

One such Outsider, from the Clinton era, was Bob Barr. Congressman Barr was appointed by Ronald Reagan as U. S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. In that capacity, as a Republican, he successfully prosecuted Pat Swindall. Swindall (appropriately named) was a Republican member of the U. S. House of Representatives for Georgias 4th District. He was convicted of perjury.

This did not sit well with other Republicans.

Congressman Barr led the call to impeach then President William Jefferson Clinton. Which as the Washington Post reported at the time, was making the Republican leadership just a tad nervous (Washington Post). He was always an Outsider.

This Outsiders purpose was to serve the people who put him in office, not the political elite. At the time he was calling for the impeachment of President Clinton he quipped, My constituents didnt send me up here to glad-hand and have a good time. They sent me up here to get something done.

As the consummate Outsider, in 2008 Bob ran for President of the United States, not as a Republican, but as the Libertarian candidate.

What does this Outsider do when elected office is behind him? Continue to fight for the rights granted the individual in our beloved Constitution.

Bob Barr practices law and runs Liberty Strategies in Atlanta, Georgia. He has a weekly column published nationally and has served on the board of the NRA since 1997, along with sitting on the board of several other organizations.

Bob also heads Liberty Guard, a non-profit and non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting individual liberty. Liberty Guard has one mission: Protect and Defend Individual Liberty! This has always been Bobs driving passion.

We recognize that life, liberty, and property were granted to us by God, and set forth by our Founding Fathers. Our country was created to protect these freedoms but has lost sight of their fundamental importance in recent years. We seek to correct that and place focus back on these founding principles (Liberty Guard).

Liberty Guard demands a flat tax. They have delivered thousands of petitions to the Congress on a rolling basis.

In 2010 Liberty Guard formed the Opt-Out Alliance. This program was created to protect air travelers from unwarranted screening methods, such as naked body scans.

Currently Liberty Guard is considering the Deep State, the bureaucrats who are imbedded in the government, that are responsible for the leaks undermining the Trump Administration. Not only are these government employees a problem for any administration, that governs contrary to their personal ideologies, but due to the unlimited power they have in the arena of personal data collection and the possibility of misusing the data, they are worrisome to anyone who values their privacy. They literally have the power to destroy the career and reputation of anyone who disagrees with their political views.

Solutions to reining in the Deep State are not readily available. However, under the leadership of Bob Barr, always the champion of privacy, Liberty Guard desires to expose this corruption and offer legal solutions.

Presently Liberty Guard boasts 123,898 members. It has saved $32,000,000 tax dollars and delivered over 1,000,000 petitions.

So, what does this Outsider do when elected office is behind him? Continue to fight for the rights granted the individual in our beloved Constitution.

Why Liberty Mutual is diving deeper on telematics – Information Management

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Danzig

Usage-based insurance has been kick-started this year thanks to advances in technology, and Liberty Mutual has taken notice. The company announced upgrades and additions to its UBI portfolio in January, including gamification and driver-feedback components.

Nick Grant. senior director, product technology solutions for the auto insurer, recently spoke with Information Management's sister publication Digital Insurance in on why the company is making big moves now.

Digital Insurance: Why is Liberty Mutual investing more in telematics and UBI now?

Nick Grant: Liberty Mutual is always looking to provide new value to existing and new customers through innovative uses of data and technology. Our new products use innovative technology to help you become a better, safer driver and ultimately worry less on the road.

DI: What have you learned about the UBI customer is the profile of a potential UBI policyholder widening?

Grant: Weve found that more and more consumers are looking for personalized offers, messages, pricing and recommendations from their auto, home or life insurance providers. Using the data compiled from telematics-based apps and products such as ByMile, HighwayHero and RightTrack allow Liberty Mutual Insurance to cater to this desire for personally tailored advice, information and even policies. It also helps foster a positive relationship between Liberty Mutual and their customers, and will hopefully lead to safer roads as well.

DI: How are advances in connected-car technology making UBI more accessible as an option for insurers?

Grant: Traditionally, usage-based insurance programs relied on customers plugging in a device to collect driving data. But with our new mobile offerings, we are able to streamline the evaluation process making it easier for customers to save on their insurance while learning safer driving habits. Our customers will be able to take advantage of these new mobile offerings not just with a plug-in device but with the ease of either downloading an app on their smartphone or using our new tag device that sticks on the windshield giving them multiple options for savings.

The RightTrack app uses both a tag device and a mobile phone. The advantage is that you get the data accuracy from the device with the convenience of the mobile app to provide portal for customers to keep track of how their driving is saving them money on their auto insurance. In addition, Liberty Mutuals HighwayHero app is available to everyone- not just customers- and includes a gamification element allowing drivers to compete for badges of honor and safety ratings. Additionally, Subaru drivers in select states can now access RightTrack through their Subaru Starlink [connected car] systems.

DI: How else is the Internet of Things having an impact on your business? And what does it mean for data protection and privacy?

Grant: Liberty Mutual values and respects our customers privacy. We will not share personally identifiable usage data we collect with any third party except to service our customers auto policies, for research, or as required by law. Inovation is a top priority and we have dedicated, nimble teams constantly evaluating and working on key trends and technologies such as next-generation vehicles and sharing economy that could have future impact on the insurance industry and its customers.

Nathan Golia is editor-in-chief of Digital Insurance. Nathan.Golia@sourcemedia.com

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Why Liberty Mutual is diving deeper on telematics - Information Management

Delphi, Indiana: Family of murdered girls expected to speak publicly on Thursday – WRTV Indianapolis

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Danzig

DELPHI, Ind. --Family members of Abigail Williams and Liberty German are expected to make a statement to media for the first time on Thursday.

Neither family has spoken publicly since the girls went missing on February 13. It is unclear which family members will address the media.

The families of both girls toured the Delphi investigation headquarters last week.

While there, Abigail's grandparents made a stop at a board where the community can leave messages for investigators. Their message to police offered prayers and thanks:

Where are the police when you need them? I have uttered these words whenever a speeding or reckless driver nearly runs me or someone else off the road. Where are the police when you need them? They are here, in Delphi, with us. We pray for your protection, and we are forever grateful for your service Diane & Eric (Abbys grandparents)

Libby, 14, andAbby, 13, went missing on February 13 while hiking near the Monon High Bridge. Their bodies were found the next day less than a mile from where they were last seen alive.

RELATED | State Police: 'Please don't spread rumors' in Delphi investigation

The reward for information leading to an arrest in the girls murder hit $219,000 on Monday after significant donations over the past week from local businesses, families, Pat McAfee and Colts' owner Jim Irsay.

If you would like to donate to the reward fund, you can mail a check to the Indiana State Police Alliance, 1415 Shelby Street, Indianapolis, IN, 46203. Put "Delphi Reward" on the memo line of your check

Indiana State Police have released a picture of a suspect, which was taken by Liberty on her cell phone. She also captured the man's voice saying "down the hill." You can listen to that recording below.

Indiana State Police are still encouraging anyone with information on the case, no matter how insignificant, to call the Delphi Homicide Investigation Tip Line at (844) 459-5786 or 1-800-225-5324 (800-Call FBI). Tips can also be emailed toAbbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com. Information can be reported anonymously.

FULL DELPHI COVERAGE |Indiana's 'Singing Contractors' record emotional tribute to Delphi murder victims|ISP: Do not use social media to report tips on murders of Delphi teens|Don't share the Delphi suspect 'sketches'|FBI moves to larger space for Delphi case|Delphi girls murdered: What is the evidence?|New audio could help solve Delphi killings| Delphi murders have parents watching kids closer|Report Delphi tips to police, not social media|Security concerns on Delphi trails after murders|Dont share the Delphi suspect sketches|German family friend: She was a good kid|See somebody walking near Delphi? Call police|Prosecutor: Dont harass people about Delphi|ISP on Delphi murders: "Everyone is a suspect"|PHOTOS: Motorcycle fundraiser for families of Delphi murder victims|Search warrant served at Delphi home in connection to teen murders, no arrests made|Friend of killed Delphi girl: I question everything|State Police say an Amber Alert would not have done any good|A look at the property where the bodies of two missing teen girls were found|ISP wants to speak to this man and anyone who was near Delphi trail when two teens went missing|Community in shock after bodies of two missing teens found|Community concerned about safety as police search for suspect in death of teens|MAP: Where the two bodies of the teen girls were found near Delphi, Indiana|Why wasnt an Amber Alert issued when girls were reported missing in Carroll County?|Delphi Timeline: Teen girls found dead after disappearing while hiking|Two bodies found during search for Carroll County teens|MISSING: Two 13-year-old girls dropped off to go hiking near Carroll County trail

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Delphi, Indiana: Family of murdered girls expected to speak publicly on Thursday - WRTV Indianapolis

Islam-critical Kirralie Smith seen as potential …

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Danzig

As Kirralie Smith sits at a sidewalk table in Taree for an interview this week, there is a palpable tension. Sheis mistrustful of what she calls the mainstream media, particularly those elements she believes are biased towards the left.

But Smithhas agreed to talk because she will, she says, use any platform to express her view that Islam is an ideology of violence, intolerance and sexism.

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Kirralie Smith is a well-known anti-Islamic politician and activist, and she is being tapped as Australia's newest libertarian leader.

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Police are searching for a man who stole the name and qualifications of an Indian doctor who treated patients across several Sydney hospitals for 11 years. Vision: Network Ten

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A woman and her seven-year-old boy were killed in a car crash on the Hume Highway near Wilton, a seven-year-old twin sister is in a stable condition. Vision: Network Ten

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A woman and her seven-year-old boy have died in a crash on the Hume Highway near Wilton, a seven-year-old girl is fighting for life with critical injuries.

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A low-pressure system over the Tasman Sea provided surfers with decent rides at Dee Why this morning. Video by Nick Moir.

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A woman and a seven-year-old boy have died following a horrific crash on the Hume Motorway south of Sydney. A seven-year-old girl is fighting for life in hospital with critical injuries. Vision: Nine News.

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The former head of the NSW gaming authority has said it was a mistake for the former NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell to grant a licence to James Packer to build a high rollers casino in Sydney without a public inquiry. ABC TV's Four Corners

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Violence has increased in suburbs surrounding the lockout precincts in the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross, according to a report from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.

Kirralie Smith is a well-known anti-Islamic politician and activist, and she is being tapped as Australia's newest libertarian leader.

Smith received relatively little attention during the last federal election as a NSW Senate candidate for the Australian Liberty Alliance, the political offshoot of the Q Society, which describes itself as "Australia's leading Islam-critical movement".

("Q Society supports an integrated multi-ethnic Australia and rejects racism, which the Oxford dictionary defines as: 'Belief in the superiority of a particular race.' Since Islam is not a race or ethnicity, being critical of Islam is not racist," its website explains.)

But she is likely to receive far more press in the coming weeks as the co-defendant in a defamation action being brought by the businessman Mohammed El-Mouelhy, who was the subject of a critical video produced by the Q Society and presented by Smith.

Already Smith and the Q Society, also named in the suit, have rallied an impressive line-up of public supporters, including Coalition right-wingersCory Bernardi, George Christensen and the former MP Ross Cameron, who are among a handful of public figures set to address fundraisers to be held in Sydney and Melbourne on February 9 and 10.

We sit and both reach for our phones to turn on recording apps. Smith has already explained that she wants her own record of our conversation. The tension dissipates a little when a sky-blue ute throbs past us and Smith laughs and points out the personalised number plate, "TRUMP1". Later she will tell me that she rejects the suggestion she is right wing, rather, she says she a part of the silent majority of mainstream conservatives whose voices are now being heard due to victories of Donald Trump and the Brexit campaign.

Smith says she never intended to pursue politics. She has always been happiest as a wife and mother. "I love being my husband's wife," she says to emphasise the point.

As it was, a confluence of events brought her to her mission. In 2000 Smith and her husband Greg, a tradesman, sought out volunteer work in Mali and there met the Assemblies of God missionary Faouzi Arzouni, whom she describes as a Muslim apostate who became a friend and mentor.

Two years later the couple went on another trip, a 10-day visit to refugee camps ofthe displaced of what is now known as the Maluku sectarian conflict in Indonesia, during which Christian and Muslim communities fell into violent political and ethnic conflict. Smith recalls sitting in refugee camps hearing terrible stories of violence perpetrated by Muslims.

In 2009 Smith's husband took her to a talk being given by Mark Durie, an Anglican vicar. During that lecture Durie expressed concern about buying certain supermarket products because they had been certified as halal.

Smith was intrigued and began her own investigations on the internet, learning that many brands are halal-certified, and that a portion of the fees paid for such certification is donated to Muslim charities. In other countries, Smith contends, those charities have directed funds towards groups with terrorist links. Her online investigation became a website, Halal Choices, a campaign and, with the support of Bernardi and Christensen, a parliamentary inquiry into "third party" food certification. Finally it became a political ambit, with Smith running for the ALA in a campaign launched by the anti-Islamic immigration Dutch MP Geert Wilders.

"There is no question of our country being Islamified. Now, this reply constituted a historical error as soon as it was uttered," Wilders once told Dutch parliament.

"I can report that they have had enough of burkas, headscarves, the ritual slaughter of animals, socalled honour revenge, blaring minarets, female circumcision, hymen restoration operations, abuse of homosexuals, Turkish and Arabic on the buses and trains as well as on town hall leaflets, halal meat at grocery shops and department stores, Sharia exams, the Finance Minister's Sharia mortgages, and the enormous over-representation of Muslims in the area of crime, including Moroccan street terrorists," Wilders said.

Smith says she does not believe there is an imminent threat of adopting Sharia law, but is concerned about what she calls "creeping Sharia".

"We are being encouraged very strongly to tolerate Sharia finance, halal certification, the hijab," she says.

"Sharia is definitely present in Australia I believe there are honour killings and it is all reported under domestic violence or another name," she says. As evidence she says she has close friends who are pastors who work in churches who have provided sanctuary to victims.

But Smith's concerns are broader than creeping sharia. During the US election she was horrified by Hillary Clinton's support for abortion rights. She opposes political correctness, Safe Schools andbig government regulations imposed upon farmers by distant bureaucrats.

"I pretty much oppose everything the Greens stand for," she says.

She was also appalled by the Liberal Party's abandonment of Tony Abbott for Malcolm Turnbull.

This broader political outlook, and Smith's articulate direct manner, has led some observers to speculate that she is a potential leader for a new conservative movement, one energised by the international populist surge.

She is, says John Adams, a former Coalition adviser who has written about the need for more intellectual depth in the new conservative movement, a more capable and charismatic messenger than, say, Pauline Hanson. ("I think Pauline has a lot of good sentiment, I am not sure about the ability," says Smith of Hanson.)

In the months since the campaign Smith has kept in touch with supporters via videos on her Facebook page. In them she is relentlessly bright and articulate, upbeat about Christmas and Australia Day, though scandalised by the recent billboard that showed a pair of little girls celebrating in a hijab andcheerily opposed to the "threat" of multiculturalism. She denies ever having had media training, though confesses that she is constantly asked if she has.

Asked if she plans to run for office again Smith says she cannot answer the question as her entire focus is directed towards the defamation action and her family.

"People say this is sexist, well I am sexist, I love being a wife and mother, that is the best I have ever done in my life I love being my husband's wife."

In the next breath she adds that sheand her husband have made the decision to use any platform to put forward their message.

"I want to be able to look my children in the eye and say I did everything I could to stand for what is right."

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported the Reverend Mark Durie's relationship to the Q Society. He is in fact an occasional speaker for the Q Society.

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Islam-critical Kirralie Smith seen as potential ...

Is it lonely being a libertarian in college? – Red Alert Politics

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Danzig

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Being a libertarian in college can feel like youre a Jedi surrounded by a droid army. Youre constantly under attack with only a few friends. Well, this is the way Tom Ciccotta portrayed it in a New York Times op-ed on February 28th.

Leftists, in an effort to make campuses welcoming ostensibly, for everyone end up frequently silencing conservative and libertarian students, Ciccotta, a senior at Bucknell University, wrote. They paint any argument that isnt progressive as immoral, so conservative students can find themselves branded as such. Needless to say, this can be socially isolating.

Ciccotta is completely sincere in his analysis about life as a libertarian on campus. But is his experience the norm or the exception?

Christina Herrin attended The University of Iowa, one of the most liberal colleges in the state. She was regularly involved in the Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) and as well as Rand Pauls presidential campaign in 2015 and 2016. She told Red Alert Politics that there were many instances in which she felt the administration and other students were against her. On one occasion, pro-life chalking they etched was washed away because it was offensive. In another instance, Iowas YAL chapter was kicked off campus while trying to demonstrate against the war on drugs.

I agree 100 percent with [Ciccottas] article and institutions that promote free speech zones and safe spaces and dont encourage diversity of thought are doing a great disservice to my generation, Herrin said. It is sad to me because even though I dont agree, the amount I have learned while debating with others has taught me so much about my own argument, and has actually pushed me to be more conservative/liberty minded.

It was frustrating and difficult for me, as a student, to have friends who were unwilling to even come listen to Rand Paul speak when we brought him to campus because he was whatever liberal sound bite youd like to insert, she continued. It is hard to have people that are so guarded by their walls to even look at another opinion.

Conner Dunleavy, who attends the University of Albany, also felt that college campuses were biased against libertarian positions. He said that he was lucky because libertarian-leaning organizations like YAL were growing rapidly. However, outside of that, there were very few people willing to be open to his politics.

Outside of our clubs, however, universities are often political deserts where only the perceived majority opinion is tolerated, Conner Dunleavy said to RAP. Naturally it seems conservative students were our allies, outnumbered together and facing the sometimes violent liberal students who tend to try shouting down minority opinions.

Yet, Ciccotta, Dunleavy, and Herrins experiences werent universal among prominent libertarians when they were in college.

I do not feel like my views get silenced as much, but there is a lack of political diversity in most of the liberal arts majors, said Vamsi Krishna Pappusetti, a student at Arizona State University. My YAL chapter does not get protested nor do the faculty keep us from tabling or holding meetings. We try to table out as much as we can and I never really dealt with many hecklers. I cannot say the same for other students though from either TP USA or College Republicans.

So while most libertarians did feel isolated in a political desert, there were exceptions to the rule. Not every student felt surrounded waiting for Yoda to save them.

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Is it lonely being a libertarian in college? - Red Alert Politics

Mr. Libertarian goes to Washington – Rare.us

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Danzig

Writing in the March/April issue of Politico Magazine, Tim Albertas headline posesa question that has been all too popular nowadays. Namely, does the age of Trump signal the end of the libertarian dream?

From the piece:

After generations of being relegated to the periphery of American politics, they are seeing some of their most precious ideals accepted and advocated for at the highest levels of government. But in many policy areas, there has never been a president who poses a greater threat to what they hold dearone who is poised, potentially, to reorient the GOP electorate toward a strong, active, centralized and protectionist federal government.

RELATED:Rand Paul can save health care reform

Indeed, so far the Trump administration has beenpretty schizophrenic when it comes to liberty. On one hand, the confirmation of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is thegreatest political victory school choicecommunity has experiencedon the federal level. Similarly, President Trumps two-for-one deregulatory special, while questionable on its implementation, signals a serious effort to dismantle the regulatory state.

On the other hand, Trump is so far removed from libertarian ideals on other issues, itboggles the mind. He wants to spend $1 trillion on big government infrastructure projects. He wants to build up the military and once threatened to bomb the shit out of ISIS. His protectionist agenda threatens less immigration, travel, and trade across Americas borders.

This split in policy has similarly split libertarians politically and professionally.As a young professional in Washington, Ive seen many close friends and acquaintances in the libertarian network get tapped by the administration for a potential job. Some say yes, reasoning that its better to have a seat at the table than be on the menu. Others say no,reckoning that theres no need to abandon their ideals if theyre already satisfied at a job where they can keep them.

Of course, theres no right or wrong answer. A well-functioning administration should ideally have both practical libertarians on the insidedoing the hardwork implementingpro-libertychange as well as idealist libertarians on the outsideholding them to their most cherished values. This dual dynamicseems to only avail itself during Republican administrations, presenting libertarians with a rare opportunity in the age of Trump to actually achieve some policy victories.

In short, anyone bemoaning the end of the libertarian moment in the age of Trump isnt looking close enough. Certainly, libertariansmay have seemed stronger when we were a united opposition front to the Obama administration. After all, its much sexier to be a critic than thanan actual agent of change. Nevertheless, Trumps ascent to the presidencyis itself a vindication of libertarian policy on certain issues (education, regulation) and an invitation on othersto join the team and fight for liberty (taxes, spending).

RELATED:Who are we? | The liberty movement in the Trump era

The movement is sure seem silent or even fractured in the next few years, but looks may be deceiving. Behind the stillness are hundreds of libertarians infiltrating the administrative state, influencing federal bureaucracies that havent been subject to internal restraint for years. Behind the split are libertarian think tanks and advocacy groups who have the ear of the ruling Republican party and can successfully pressure them to make pro-liberty policy victories.

In short, Mr. Libertarian has gone to Washington, and the opportunities are endless.

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Mr. Libertarian goes to Washington - Rare.us

‘Logan’ proves Wolverine is the most libertarian superhero ever – Red Alert Politics

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Danzig

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From its inception,X-Menrelied heavily on political undertones and took on sensitive subjects including racism, segregation, AIDS, and war. The latest (and best)film in the franchise isLogan no exception and while being more character-driven than previous films, it shows why Wolverine is the most libertarian superhero of all time.

The film takes place in the year 2029 and the character of Wolverine has aged significantly, is living off the grid with Professor X, and is making a living bydrivinga limo using a car sharing app whats more libertarian than Uber?His superhero days are long behind him and the only time he acts violently is when hes provoked.

Throughout the film, Wolverine constantly fantasizes about living on a boat with Professor X and being free of dealing with anyone a poor mans version of Peter Thiels dream of seasteading.

His fantasies are interrupted when a new character named Laura emerges, she has the same super powers and has suffered at the hands of military scientists who conducted experimentations on Logan and gave both of them adamantium claws.

(**SPOILER ALERT **)

Logan wasnever been a believer in mutant brotherhood and the identity politics that surrounds the X-Men comics. Hes a loner, a recluse, and a libertarian, he doesnt want to be part of any institutions and questions other mutants for their needing to belong.When Professor X demands they protect Laura he at first rejects the idea insisting its not my problem but has a change of heart when he learns shes his cloned-daughter who raised in a military lab.

His decision to protect Laura and Professor dont come out of any identity-based philosophy, but only for the fact that he choose to treat them like family.

The last X-Men decides he has to get his daughter to safety in a community 0f mutants, away from the long reach of the military-industrial complex that destroyed his life.

Over the course of the 9 X-Men movies featuring Wolverine, the character is a constant struggle to live independently of the government intrusion, the police state that tries to document and imprison mutants, and the identity politics that forces mutants to live their entire life based upon the features they were born with.

Its inLoganthat Wolverine finally is able to achieve those libertarian dreams for his daughter.

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'Logan' proves Wolverine is the most libertarian superhero ever - Red Alert Politics

Download New Podcast: Libertarian Tree Hugger – Wealth Daily – Wealth Daily

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Danzig

The podcast is finally here...

Wealth Daily subscribers are getting the first look at brand-new podcast the Libertarian Tree Hugger.

In this weekly show - headed by Jeff Siegel - we cut the nonsense, tackle "real" issues and provide practical advice on everything from organic farming to surviving Trump's America.

What you can expect is a straight forward, no lies approach. We don't hold back. But that is your gain. We want to highlight the growing industries, political issues and wise investments that are taking place in this new America.

When it comes to policy and controversy, last week was a doozy.

Today we focus on the controversy surrounding tech billionaire Peter Thiels data-mining company Palantir and itsnew tech, which is basically an early-stage Muslim registry.

We take a moment to reflect on Jeff Sessions' self-recusal from all cases involving Russia (ouch, Republicans). And Jeff delivers a scathing critique of one of Americas central systems: education. Will we even have schools after a month of Devos?

As always, we love to hear from, so feel free to drop us a line.

You can subscribe to the Libertarian Tree Hugger on Buzzsprout.

Or you can listen on our podcast player below:

We look forward to talking to you next week.

Jeff Siegel

Jeff Siegelhas been active in the financial publishing business since the mid-90s.

A true capitalist, Jeff has made his fortune in what's known as socially responsible investing, focusing primarily on alternative energy and transportation markets, sustainability, legal cannabis, and agriculture. He's a regular on the conference circuit, and every now and then you might find him appearing on Fox, CNBC, or Bloomberg.

From 1994 to 2001, Jeff worked for Agora Publishing, one of the largest financial newsletter publishers in the world, before packing his bags and traveling across the globe in search of mega-trends and his own version of nirvana...

He found both in the world of "green" markets.

Jeff's early analyses of alternative energy and socially responsible investing drew much criticism from the status quo. His unapologetic capitalist spirit and abrasive nature didn't earn him many accolades from colleagues, either...

But after accurately predicting dozens of trends in the ever-changing landscape of "green" market investing, many have since traded their preconceptions of socially responsible investing for profits.

Often declaring, Capitalism is a catalyst for positive change, Jeff continues to spot the most lucrative renewable energy, organic food, and cannabis companies in the world. And his thousands of loyal readers have made small fortunes in the process.

Each week, Jeff shares the latest in "green" market news as well as his own market updates and recommendations.

Jeff also works as a consultant, has been a featured guest on Fox, CNBC, and Bloomberg Asia, is the author of the best-selling energy book, Investing in Renewable Energy: Making Money on Green Chip Stocks, and is the co-author of Energy Investing for Dummies.

Alexandra Perry

Alexandra Perry is a contributing analyst for Wealth Daily and Energy and Capital. She has multiple years of experience working with startup companies, primarily focusing on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, alternative energy, and biotech. Her take on investing is simple: a new age of investor can make monumental returns by investing in emerging industries and foundational startup ventures.

Sign up to receive the Wealth Daily newsletter - it's absolutely free! In each issue, you'll get our best investment research, designed to help you build a lifetime of wealth, minus the risk. Plus, by signing up, you'll instantly receive our new report: Surviving the Coming Economic Collapse.

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Download New Podcast: Libertarian Tree Hugger - Wealth Daily - Wealth Daily

The Worlds Best Islands | Travel + Leisure

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Danzig

The Philippines are having a moment.This year, three of the top 10 islands in the world, as decided by Travel + Leisure readers, are inthis Asian archipelago.

Every year for our Worlds Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globeto share their opinions on the top cities, islands,cruise lines, spas, airlines, and more. Readers ranked islands according to their activities and sights, natural attractions and beaches, food, friendliness, and overall value.

The Philippines predominance shows that discerning travelers are willing to travel great distances for the rewards of clear waters and sugary white beaches. There is never a dull moment in Cebu, said one T+L reader, who claimed the Philippine island, which ranked sixth on the list,is perfect for travelers who don't want to spend a lot of money on recreational activities. Hiking through canyons, swimming with whale sharks, and diving from the top of a waterfall are just a few of the activities visitors can try.

Only a puddle-jump away is the island of Boracay, which one reader deemed a natural treasure. The crowning jewel of this tropical destination isShangri-La's Boracay Resort(No. 8 among this year's Top Resort Hotels in Southeast Asia), which is nestled in a cove and offers guests supreme luxury amid verdant hills and powdery beaches.

Not all the islands on the list are remote or exotic. Hilton Head, off the shore of South Carolina, is all plantation-style architecture, golf courses, and Lowcountry cuisine. And as a key stopover on migration routes, Hilton Head is a birder's paradise.

The Hawaiian islands of Maui and Kauai, which appear on the Top 10 list year after year, provide both the allure of faraway lands and the convenience of a domestic getaway. For me, said one surveytaker, going to Maui is like going home: comfortable, familiar, and beautiful.

With Maui and Kauai's manicured golf courses and upscale resorts boasting triple infinity pools and chic bungalows, its easy to feel pampered. But the islands' natural attractions play a huge role in their appeal, too. You can watch migrating humpback whales trace the rugged coast, hike up towering volcanoes and across black-sand beaches, or get lost in the lush rain forests that are punctuated by waterfalls and obsidian bluffs.

What all of these award-winning islands have in common, to be sure, is a transcendent beauty and an ability to coax any traveler into a state of bliss.

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Islands of the Four Mountains’ artifacts exhibited for the first time – KTOO

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Danzig

An aerial view of the Islands of the Four Mountains in the central Aleutians. (Photo by NASA Earth Observatory)

Not many people make it to the Islands of the Four Mountains.

But with a new exhibit at the Museum of the Aleutians, Unalaskans can now explore one of the chains most isolated areas.

Its a group of islands to the west of us, said museumDirector Virginia Hatfield. Between the Andreanof Islands, which include Adak, and the Fox Islands, which include Unalaska and Umnak, theres a little group of islands and theyre very volcanic.

Hatfield was one of the archaeologists who boated out to the islands three years ago for their first in-depth excavation.

During the dig, her team uncovered the sites of five former villages. The oldest were occupied 4,000 years ago, while the most recent settlement was only abandoned in 1763.

It was the last occupied site in the Islands of the Four Mountains, during the time we call the Aleut Revolt, said Hatfield. The Russians killed a lot of Unangax and relocated whoever survived to Umnak. We found evidence a metal knife, a glass bead and a musket ball that tells us the Russians were there at that time.

Theres no evidence that anyone has lived on the islands since that conflict, but Hatfield said the dig produced hundreds of artifacts that point toward a rich prehistoric culture.

The exhibit showcases technology the Unangax used prior to the Russian occupation from 1,000-year-old ulus, fashioned from stone, to elegant bone tools, carved from marine mammal skeletons.

We have a handful of fishing tools, but we also have some needles, Hatfield said. We have some root diggers, some bird darts, and a throwing board pin, which is something they used to throw spears.

The exhibit marks the first time that artifacts from the Islands of the Four Mountains have been displayed to the public.

Hatfield said scientists are still studying the collection, including the flat griddle stones that were used as prehistoric frying pans.

We have a researcher whos currently looking at the fat deposits on these griddle stones, she said. We expect to find otter, seal and bird fats. Well also see fish and maybe even bivalves, like mussels.

The exhibit will stay open in Unalaska for another month, before it moves to its permanent home at the Aleut Corporation in Anchorage.

After that, Hatfield said the museumwill host a community art show and a traveling exhibit called Living Alaska, dedicated to contemporary art from around the state.

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Islands of the Four Mountains' artifacts exhibited for the first time - KTOO

Chinese Authorities Want to Fly Tourists to Disputed Islands – TIME

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Danzig

A satellite view of the Crescent Group of islands which is part of the disputed Paracel Islands located in the South China Sea on Jan. 22, 2016.USGS/NASA Landsat /Orbital Horizon/Gallo Images/Getty Images

Authorities in southern China want to launch commercial air tours to disputed islands in the South China Sea .

Plans to fly tourists to the Paracel islands, also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan, were listed as a priority by officials in Hainan, the South China Morning Post reports .

China's southernmost province, Hainan is responsible for administering the Paracels and other disputed territory including the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal. Cruise tours from Hainan to the Paracels were launched in 2012, and last year carried over 12,000 passengers.

The addition of air tours is currently awaiting approval from the government and military, according to a document released to Hainan delegates at the National Peoples Congress in Beijing.

The islets and reefs of the Paracels have been the center of dispute for decades. Vietnam had previously controlled some islands in the archipelago, while China controlled others. In 1974, China gained control over all the Paracel islands in a brief but bloody battle that killed 71 people.

[ SCMP ]

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Chinese Authorities Want to Fly Tourists to Disputed Islands - TIME

Two Springfield traffic islands will be turned into monarch butterfly habitats – Springfield News-Leader

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Danzig

A monarch lands on a swamp milkweed plant on South Creek on Friday, September 4, 2015.(Photo: Valerie Mosley/News-Leader)Buy Photo

Two traffic islands on Sunset Avenue will be populated with native Missouri plants to provide habitats for monarch butterflies, with money from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Springfield City Council voted 8-0 to accept a grant of $6,200 from the department of conservation at Monday night's meeting. CouncilmanTom Prater was absent.

The grant requireda match from the city in the form of in-kind services, valued at $9,600. The funds will come from the 1/4-cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax.

Planting native wildflowers on the traffic islands one located at Sunset and Grant Avenue and the other at Sunset and Fort Avenue will accomplish several things, according to Director of Public Works Dan Smith.

Smith said it will be easier to maintain the native, naturally drought-resistance plants than the turf grass currently on the islands, which requires weekly mowing.

The wildflowers will also provide an educational opportunity for pedestrians on the trail near the traffic islands and local elementary school students who can use the traffic islands as outdoor classrooms, Smith said.The city plans to install informational signs about the wildflowers.

Thegrant application to the department of conservation said the city plans to see if people are interested in volunteering to help plant and maintain the wildflowers.

Smith said enhancing the traffic islands with wildflowers is an extension of the South Creek restoration project, which involved tearing out aconcrete stream bed.

In 2015, the News-Leader reported the South Creek project cost $1.1 million in construction and $140,000 in design. The city also received a grant of $765,000 from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Volunteers spearheaded an effort in 2015 to pluck monarchbutterfly eggs and caterpillars from milkweed plants that grew along South Creekto save them from being squashed by heavy machinery.

The city's recent grant request listed 55 native plants that will be planted on the traffic islands along Sunset, including multiple varieties of milkweed, the only source of foodfor monarch caterpillars.

The population of monarch butterflies has declined significantly over the past two decades.Today, monarchs number less than one-tenth of their population in 1996, when scientists estimated there were 1 billion of the insects.

Springfield Public Works is scheduled to plant wildflowers on the traffic islands over the summer, starting in July.

Lisa Bakerink, executive director of Friends of the Garden, previously told the News-Leader thatlate September is the monarch butterflys peak migration through Missouri, as they fly to wintering grounds in Mexico.

USA Today contributed to this report.

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Honeymoon ideas: try the British Virgin Islands if you like cocktails, pristine Caribbean beaches and private islands – The Independent

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Danzig

The mythical perfect honeymoon. Every couple has their own internal checklist, but if you're in the market for beaches so pristine you'll feel guilty about Instagramming them, private islandsand intimate hotels where you can quietly argue with your new spouse without the entire staff knowing about it, the British Virgin Islands certainly fit the bill. With around 60 islands, there's plenty of room for different types of honeymooners: white sand beaches and clear blue seas tick the relaxing boxes, but for the more adventurous there's everything from surfing and scuba diving to parachuting and canopy tours. Then there's celebrity spotting the Obamas, of course, chose Richard Branson's exclusive Necker Island for their first trip after leaving office.

What's more, a ban on franchises means that not only are there no McDonald's or Starbucks in the BVIs, but there are no chain hotels, either. So while it takes a little more effort to pick somewhere, you're in for a more interesting stay. We tried four hotels on four different islands, each offering something to make your holiday unique.

The mostly undeveloped Guanaisland: you're unlikely to stay indoors (Guana Island)

On its very own island, Guana began as the ultimate private members' club in the 1920sand, almost a centuryon, it offers a luxury travel experience without the oppressively obsequious service which so often comes with that. That doesn't mean you won't get everything you need (as well as things you didn't even know you wanted)from staff: co-managers Andrei and Antonia are happy to organise everything from spa treatments to scuba diving, but they'll also give you the space to relax and explore its unique surroundings in your own time.

As well as the opportunity to swim, snorkel, or just sit with a cocktail on the island's pristine beaches, Guana also offers incredible views from its 26 hiking trails. The island is 90 per cent undeveloped and has just a handful of staff living there, giving it an intimate atmosphere. Guests can stay in villas with their own infinity pools, or rooms which offer views over the Caribbean Sea. This is one place, though, where there's no need to splash out on an upgrade:evenhoneymooners won't want to spend too much time indoors.

Villas have private infinity pools (Guana Island)

The all-inclusive resort calls itself "a wildlife sanctuary with a cocktail hour". Three meals a day including wine at dinner are provided, but with chef Xavier Arnau using organic ingredients grown in the island's own orchard, the menu never gets samey.

'A wildlife sanctuary with a cocktail hour' (Guana Island)

With a maximum of 32 guests at any given time, three resident flamingos and a chef with a Michelin-star pedigree, it's no surprisepeoplekeep coming back we met a couple who had been holidaying there every year since the 1970s. As for location, it is just a 10-minute boat ride away from the BVIs' main airport. Guana's captain will pick you up and drop you off at your convenience.

Doubles from 570, all inclusive

Wifi: free

Access: On a case by case basis

Rooms:*****

Service:*****

Value:****

It's a 30-second roll out of bed to the beach at Surfsong (Surfsong)

Surfsong is three minutes from the BVIs' main airport and 30 seconds away from the beach but at night you'll hear the sound of waves crashing into the sand rather than airplanes landing."Intimate" is the key word at this secluded five-acre boutique resort on Beef Island, which was opened a decade ago by Canadian couple Cate and Mark Stephenson. Guests have the option to stay at one of seven uniquely designed villas: three havefour-poster beds, four face directly onto the beach and one is in atreehouse.

From four-poster beds to a treehouse, Surfsong's villas are all unique (Surfsong)

The accommodation is self-catering, but that doesn't mean you'll have to cook. Guests can organise private dinners in their villasor eat at the resort's restaurant, The Courtyard at Surfsong, where executive chef David Cioppa offers gourmet dishes made from local produce.

The villas are self-catering, but that doesn't mean you need to cook (Surfsong)

Villas from 337, room only

Wifi:free

Access: Showers are not accessible, though villas otherwise are.

Rooms:****

Service:****

Value:****

Peter Island's beaches are exceptional, even for the BVIs (Peter Island)

Peter Island has a unique sell: it provides a luxury experience while making it seem like you're discovering your very own desert island. The private island offers buzzing bars, hiking, free water sports lessons and an award-winning spa that's been tagged as one of the best in the Caribbean. The massages alone are worth a trip, but if that isn't enough to excite you, there's also the opportunity to enjoy lunch on a secluded beach or what might just be the best cocktails in a 100-mile radius at their bar. Most beaches in the BVIs are beautiful, but Peter Island's are exceptional. If you can afford it, book a Beach Front Junior Suite, where you're not only steps away from the sand but have a private hammock and hot tub too. Going all out? Villas each come with their own pool, bar, chef and butler.

No excuses here: Peter Island offers complimentary water sports lessons (Peter Island)

If you pick Peter Island, make sure you book a meal plan the rooms are relatively affordable but the food is pricey, at around $100 dollars for lunch for two with drinks. As for getting there, it's a 20-minute ferry ride from the biggest island of the BVIs, Tortola although high rollers make use of the island's very own helicopter pad.

Rooms from 356, room only

Wifi:free

Access:Two wheelchair-accessible rooms and wheelchair access at restaurants

Rooms:****

Service:*****

Value:***

Frenchmans' beach may be man-made, but that means it's truly private (Frenchmans)

Let's get this out the way: Frenchmans isn't on the beach per se, but don't let that put you off. The resort offers stunning views of Tortola and the surrounding islands, and its man-made beach means it offers one of the few truly private shores in the Caribbean, due to an idiosyncratic law which means all beachfrontsare publicly owned. The villas are pristine and gorgeously furnished, but the real reason for choosing Frenchmans is the hospitality. General Manager Peter is the perfect host,happy to cater to your every whim (even if that means driving you around the island). Not only does he know the best spots in Tortola, but he'll create a personalised itinerary for you to see them. An absolute must stay, even for a night.

Villas from 233, B&B

Wifi:free

Access:Not wheelchair accessible

Rooms:***

Service:*****

Value:*****

Getting there

There are no direct flights from the UK. The writer travelled as a guest of Norwegian, which flies from Gatwick to San Juan in Puerto Rico from November to late March from 318 return (excluding baggage, seat assignments and food). From there, it's a 40-minute flight to the British Virgin Islands' main airport on Beef Island (off Tortola). Airlines operating the route include Seabourne Airlines, InterCaribbean and Cape Air, which uses tiny nine-seater planes; fares start from 188 per person.

More info:www.bvitourism.co.uk

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Honeymoon ideas: try the British Virgin Islands if you like cocktails, pristine Caribbean beaches and private islands - The Independent

The Best of Cruise Lines’ Idyllic Private Islands – Forbes

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Danzig

Forbes

The Best of Cruise Lines' Idyllic Private Islands
Forbes
With their pristine beaches, aquamarine waters and variety of adventures both in the water and on the shore, a visit to a cruise line's private island is often a highlight of a cruise In fact, according to cruise experts CruiseCompete, private islands ...

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The Best of Cruise Lines' Idyllic Private Islands - Forbes

If This Video Doesn’t Put Galapagos Islands on Your Bucket List, Nothing Will – Bravo (blog)

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Danzig

Youll definitely remember the story of Garrett Gee, because its the stuff of your wanderlust fantasies (not to mention revenge fantasies against your workaday life). To recap, hes the Utah dad who sold an app for $54 million and bailed on the trappings of ordinary existence for a trip around the world with his family. That trip is still going strong after more than a year.

At week 64, the fam (which goes by the online moniker The Bucket List Family) headed to the Galapagos islands, where they created an exclusive video to share with Jet Set readers.

In short, the experience started out rocky: Garrett lost his bag. With the bag missing somewhere in Panama, Garrett wore the same thing all week. Fortunately for wife Jessica, she swears she married the only man who doesnt stink when he sweats so matters could have been worse.

In fact, despite a run-of-the-mill travel hiccup, the scenario was pretty epic: The family marveled at all the animals they began to spot immediately after their arrival. Their first glimpse was of mating manta rays in the sea, followed by huge pelicans, a shark, and crabs. Next up? Their roadway was blocked by a giant tortoise. Overall, Garrett and Jessica agreed they most loved spotting penguins and flamingos.

I love nature, I love the wildlife, Garrett says in the clip. This was my heaven Im already looking at the calendar planning when we can come back here.

Watch the clip for more of their journey, which includes context and tips for how to do your own Galapagos trip which will definitely be on your own bucket list now, if it wasn't already plus some pretty epic closeups of uber-cute sea lion faces underwater that you need in your life on a Monday when you're actually still at your job, plotting to reinvent your life as a permanent traveler.

Jet Set is Bravo's launch pad for the most extravagant, luxurious, and unforgettable travel experiences. Ready for takeoff? Then Like us on Facebook to stay connected to our daily updates.

If This Video Doesn't Put Galapagos Islands on Your Bucket List, Nothing Will - Bravo (blog)

Study identifies 90 genes in fat that may contribute to dangerous diseases – Science Daily

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Danzig

Study identifies 90 genes in fat that may contribute to dangerous diseases
Science Daily
Unlike many genetics studies, the huge project looked at how genes' activity actually manifests in human patients -- in this case, 770 Finnish men. The results will help doctors and scientists better understand how normal gene variations can affect ...

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Study identifies 90 genes in fat that may contribute to dangerous diseases - Science Daily

Obamacare Lite? New GOP Health Care Bill Has Host of Critics – NBCNews.com

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Danzig

A new Republican health care plan keeps much of the basic framework set up by Obamacare, but with a conservative twist, analysts say.

But it's full of holes, with no detail on how to pay for its provisions and no estimates at all of how much it will cost taxpayers.

While conservatives praised the emphasis on personal responsibility, liberals said it would take newly won health insurance away from millions and cost people protection from some of the worst abuses of the insurance industry.

And it's not even clear if all Republicans in Congress will vote for it. At best, analysts agreed, it's a work in progress.

"I think their basic overriding philosophy is to let the states decide a lot of things, which is sensible," said economist Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Forum and a former director of the Congressional Budget Office.

Related: Entry Ban Could Cause Doctor Droughts in Pro-Trump States

Moments after the House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means committees unveiled their plans on Monday, Michigan Republican Rep. Justin Amash called it "Obamacare 2.0" on Twitter.

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, another Republican, called it "Obamacare Lite."

"What they kind of have is a repeal plus," said healthcare expert Joe Antos of the American Enterprise Institute, who's done stints in the Congressional Budget Office and the Health and Human Services Department.

"This is a kind of a hodge podge and I don't see it's much different from what we saw a few weeks ago," Antos told NBC News.

The plan stops the unpopular mandate that required almost everyone to have some sort of health insurance. It replaces that by allowing health insurance companies to charge 30 percent higher premiums if customers had gone 63 days or more without health insurance.

Both provisions were meant to prevent people from waiting to buy health insurance until they were sick.

"That could encourage some healthy people to sign up initially," said Larry Levitt, a health policy expert at the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation.

Related: Is Obamacare Collapsing?

The 2010 Affordable Care Act required health insurance companies to cover anyone who wanted to buy insurance, and is laid out a minimum list of conditions that had to be covered or services provided, from pregnancy care to cancer screenings.

It stopped a once-common practice of capping coverage once a customer started costing too much, and aimed to limit bare-bones plans that covered almost nothing.

Many of these appear to be preserved in the new plans, at least for a time, along with another popular provision that allowed young adults to stay on their parents' plans until they turned 26.

The new American Health Care Act would allow health insurance companies to charge older people five times as much as they charge younger clients the current limit is three times as much.

Taxes that paid for the old Obamacare subsidies, which helps an estimated 85 percent of people who bought private health insurance on the exchanges, are gone. Instead of subsidies, the plan provides tax credits for people making less than $75,000 a year.

There are few details on how the Republicans plan to pay for the tax credits, however.

"I don't understand where the money comes from. I understand what they have taken away, said Republican health economist Gail Wilensky, who now is a senior fellow at Project HOPE. "It's just a mystery."

Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, a strong supporter of Obamacare, said it will return many Americans to pre-Obamacare days.

"This bill would strip coverage from millions of people and drive up consumer costs. It shreds the Medicaid social safety net that serves more than 72 million people, including many children, senior citizens and people with disabilities," said Pollack. "And it once again leaves millions of people in America with chronic illness and disease at the mercy of insurance companies."

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi on Capitol Hill on Jan. 4. Kevin Lamarque / Reuters

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California called it a "Make America Sick Again" bill.

"Republicans even enable insurers to once again charge more or deny coverage to millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions, abandoning those families who lapse in coverage for any reason at all," she said

House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr., a New Jersey Democrat, and Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard Neal of Massachusetts said they could would not support the plan.

"The Republican repeal bill would rip health care away from millions of Americans, ration care for working families and seniors, and put insurance companies back in charge of health care decisions contrary to everything President Trump has said he would do with his health care plan," they said in a joint statement.

The plan sets out a path to revising Medicaid, the joint state-federal health plan for low income people. It allows the 31 states plus Washington D.C. that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act to keep getting federal funding to do that but inexplicably leaves out the 19 most Republican states that refused to take part.

Instead, those states will get cash. It's not enough, said Wilensky. "I don't think $10 billion is enough," she said.

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen says the changes to Medicaid will eventually leave many people out in the cold. "Medicaid provides the ultimate safety net for individuals who need it the most. I am extremely concerned about that," she said.

The ACA was designed to get health insurance to more Americans, and it did. At least 20 million more people have health insurance than before the law was enacted, about half of them on new exchanges set up to help people buy private health insurance, often with federal subsidies, and about half through an expansion of Medicaid.

In 2010, the year the law was signed, 48.6 million Americans or 16 percent of the population had no health insurance. The ACA brought that to below 9 percent.

Republicans are wary of making changes that will take health insurance away from millions of Americans, but are under pressure to make the reforms look more like a return to private industry, with less government oversight.

Antos said the plan may compromise too much.

"Some Republicans will say, 'No, you've gone too far (and) give things away' and other Republicans will say, especially in the Senate, 'you haven't gone far enough to say what you are going to replace it with'," he said.

"So it seems like there's a sweet spot here, but it's not a sweet spot that a politician would want to be in."

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Obamacare Lite? New GOP Health Care Bill Has Host of Critics - NBCNews.com

Jayapal urges single-payer health care at town hall – KOMO News

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Danzig

U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal believes a single-payer health care system would provide coverage to every American for less money, and could be supported by modest new taxes based on patients' ability to pay. (Photo: KOMO News)

SEATTLE U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal wants to strip "profits" out of the health care equation, even as Republicans try to bring an end to the Affordable Care Act.

The congresswoman says America needs to hand over health care financing to a public agency, and stop helping insurance companies earn money off of people's illnesses.

I say that we keep up the fight and we continue to push to make sure that we save our health care, Jayapal told the cheering crowd gathered at Town Hall.

Republican leaders want to dismantle the ACA in favor of a new insurance system centered on tax credits. Jayapal said the problem with that plan is that it is still profit-driven.

There is some discussion going on about how we pivot to the idea of single payer system with no profit," the congresswoman said.

Jayapal believes a single-payer system would provide coverage to every American for less money, and could be supported by modest new taxes based on patients' ability to pay.

I don't think that we don't have enough money, Jayapal said. The issue is that we're not taxing the right people with the right rates."

In contrast, Republicans would offer a range of tax credits tied to age and income for people to buy insurance. Jayapal admits her version of "Medicare for all" has yet to go mainstream but said she is winning people over to the idea.

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Jayapal urges single-payer health care at town hall - KOMO News

Alliance of Companies Unveil First Steps Aimed at Cutting Health … – Wall Street Journal (subscription)

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Danzig

Alliance of Companies Unveil First Steps Aimed at Cutting Health ...
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A U.S. alliance formed last year by more than three dozen companies, including American Express Co., Johnson & Johnson and Macy's Inc., is announcing its ...

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UPDATE: House GOP releases bill replacing Obama health care overhaul – nwitimes.com

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Danzig

WASHINGTON House Republicans on Monday released their long-awaited plan for unraveling former President Barack Obama's health care law, a package that would scale back the government's role in health care and likely leave more Americans uninsured.

House committees planned to begin voting on the 123-page legislation Wednesday, launching what could be the year's defining battle in Congress and capping a seven-year Republican effort to repeal the 2010 law. Though GOP leaders expect their measure to win the backing of the Trump administration, divisions remain and GOP success is by no means ensured.

The plan would repeal the statute's unpopular fines on people who don't carry health insurance. It would replace income-based subsidies the law provides to help millions of Americans pay premiums with age-based tax credits that may be less generous to people with low incomes. Those payments would phase out for higher-earning people.

The bill would continue Obama's expansion of Medicaid to additional low-earning Americans until 2020. After that, states adding Medicaid recipients would no longer receive the additional federal funds the statute has provided.

More significantly, Republicans would overhaul the federal-state Medicaid program, changing its open-ended federal financing to a limit based on enrollment and costs in each state.

In perhaps their riskiest political gamble, the plan is expected to cover fewer than the 20 million people insured under Obama's overhaul, including many residents of states carried by President Donald Trump in November's election.

Republicans said they don't have official estimates on those figures yet. But aides from both parties and nonpartisan analysts have said they expect coverage numbers to be lower.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said the bill would "drive down costs, encourage competition, and give every American access to quality, affordable health insurance." He added, "This unified Republican government will deliver relief and peace of mind to the millions of Americans suffering under Obamacare."

But besides solid opposition from Democrats, there were signals galore that Republican leaders faced problems within their own party, including from conservatives complaining that the measure isn't aggressive enough in repealing parts of Obama's law.

"It still looks like Obamacare-lite to me," said Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., among three Senate conservatives who have criticized the emerging GOP bill. "It's going to have to be better."

The Republican tax credits ranging from $2,000 to $14,000 for families would be refundable, meaning even people with no tax liability would receive the payments. Conservatives have objected that that feature creates a new entitlement program the government cannot afford.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, wouldn't rule out changes in the measure by his chamber, where significant numbers of moderate Republicans have expressed concerns that the measure could leave too many voters without coverage.

"The House has the right to come up with what it wants to and present it to the Senate by passing it. And we have a right to look it over and see if we like it or don't," Hatch told reporters.

Underscoring those worries, four GOP senators released a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., shortly before the bill was unveiled.

They complained that an earlier, similar draft of the measure "does not provide stability and certainty for individuals and families in Medicaid expansion programs or the necessary flexibility for states." Signing the letter were Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Cory Gardner of Colorado and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

Thirty-one states and the District of Columbia opted to expand Medicaid coverage under the law and accept beefed-up federal spending for the program. Around half those states have GOP governors, who are largely reluctant to see that spending curtailed.

In another feature that could alienate moderate Republicans, the measure would block for one year federal payments to Planned Parenthood, the women's health organization long opposed by many in the party because it provides abortions. It also forbids people receiving tax credits to help pay premiums to buy coverage under a plan that provides abortions.

Republicans said they'd not yet received official cost estimates on the overall bill from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. That office's projections on the bill's price tag and the number of people the measure would cover could be key in winning over recalcitrant Republicans, or making them even harder to win over.

A series of tax increases on higher-earning people, the insurance industry and others used to finance the Obama overhaul's coverage expansion would be repealed as of 2018.

In a last-minute change to satisfy conservative lawmakers, business and unions, Republicans dropped a plan pushed by Ryan to impose a first-ever tax on the most generous employer-provided health plans.

Popular consumer protections in the Obama law would be retained, such as insurance safeguards for people with pre-existing medical problems, and parents' ability to keep young adult children on their insurance until age 26.

Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Andrew Taylor contributed to this report.