Editor's Blog | August 13, 2009
Health care myths and hollering morons

Fishy doesn't begin to describe it. I mean the president's plan, not the critics who point to disconcerting facts within the plan. Sarah Palin's "death panel" rhetoric isn't helpful (to stay nothing of the idiots who show up to town hall meetings with "Death to Obama" signs). But I deliberately write "isn't helpful" rather than "blatantly false." There is the provision that divides the amount of money a particular procedure will cost by your life expectancy to arrive at a formula that tells government officials whether or not you get the procedure. For a deviated septum, not so bad. But for a heart condition? Okay, so it's not a "death panel;" it's one step removed. Feel better?

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Boomer Behavior
Woodstock revisited

Now that the brown acid (not particularly good) has worn off, the societal impact of 400,000 screaming kids in a muddy field in upstate New York is being re-examined. Surprisingly, the 40th anniversary of Woodstock brings more criticism than commendation.

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Tales of Client Strategy
401(k) contributions rebound

While it's true we got hit with poor retail sales and first-time unemployment numbers, they're mitigated by another indication of recovery — increasing 401(k) contributions. Not only are the size of the contributions once again growing, but companies that slashed their matching contributions expect to reinstate them soon.

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Trend of the Week
Boomers looking for (social) security

In spite of all the advice that discourages retirees from collecting Social Security too early, boomers can't wait. Paul Briand of Examiner.com cites an Associated Press report that applications are up 23 percent from a year ago, in part because boomers are anxious about their retirements and eager to lock in a monthly payment, even a small one. Another force at work, however, could come from "anxiety about the future of Social Security and a desire to lock into a monthly benefit now before anyone starts tinkering with the program." In that case, it doesn't matter how many times you tell clients that waiting until full retirement age can increase their payout by between 25 percent and 30 percent.

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