Blue Cross Settlement and Health Care

The Providence Journal reports that Blue Cross of Rhode Island will be giving $20 million from their reserve funds to Rhode Island Foundation to administer for charitable purposes as part of their settlement with the Feds. The agreement appears to stipulate that they will not raise rates to make this happen.

It seems to me, if they are able to give $20 million to RIF without raising rates, then there was at least $20 million available to reduce rates or provide health care. RIF usually manages funds for a 1% fee per year, so they should get $200,000 per year out of the deal. Wherever the money is invested will benefit from holding $20 million. Funds are usually distributed yearly at 4.5% of the fund balance so at least $900,000 per year will be available for charitable purposes regarding health.

The $20 million in reserve funds must have come from subscribers. How does giving the money that they paid or perhaps overpaid for health coverage to a charity result in justice for alleged corruption?

Over and over again, we see the unions and management battling over rising health care costs. Management does not create the double digit inflation. Public and most decent private employers traditionally provided health care coverage - it was not a luxury item. Yet, as the inflation increases the large and small businesses pass along the costs - taking even bigger bites out of disposable income - and health care becomes a luxury.

The ugliest argument that I have seen in the we vs them battles is "My employer makes me pay alot for health care coverage, why should (insert unionized public employee jobs here) not pay alot?" The unions are about the only group left being able to hold some sort of line on keeping decent and affordable health care available to the middle and lower economic classes. The fight for national health care was lost - the lobbyists bought all the votes they needed. Why are unions being blamed for holding the line? Isn't it just spin to waste energy on American businesses battling American workers when neither is the source of the problem?

The number of underinsured and uninsured is rising. How many who do without the luxury of health care now, could have been brought into the system with $20million?

Winning the Oil Endgame

Rhode Island has the potential - right now - to embark on an aggressive campaign to capitalize on our natural resources and help to replace our dependence on foreign oil. And, we should. See how we can win the oil endgame in this excellent presentation by Amory Lovins - cofounder of the Rocky Mountain Institute and prolific energy wise author:



We must win the endgame. Visit: oilendgame.com for the report.

Liberals and Conservatives?

I was looking at a blog site called Rhode Island's Future today. One of the great things about that site is their collection of links to various blogs written by Rhode Island citizens. I think quite a few of the postings being presented are very intelligent and great food for thought. It is wonderful that this medium has opened up a means of communication and publication for anyone who wants to write.

One of the most difficult things for me to understand, especially in Rhode Island politics, is the contrast between the labels of 'liberal' or left-wing and 'conservative' or right-wing. Having grown up around very well educated and worldly people who characterized themselves as liberals and Democrats, I learned that liberal meant someone who was able to engage in critical thinking skills. They were able to think for themselves and see that value of opposing viewpoints.

Over and over again, I now see politicians and political wannabees characterize themselves as liberals and Democrats who place great value on being endorsed as a 'loyal party member'. And, by becoming a 'loyal party member' of the long term ruling group of politicians, it means they paid their dues and did not question authority. It my mind, that does not make them 'liberal' or thoughtful.

On the other hand, I have heard awful comments from the new right, disparaging progressive republicans for supporting the environment, for trying to include all classes of people in decisions, and for supporting the constitutional separation of church and state. They end up being labeled RINOs (republican in name only) for being out of lock step with what has been called neo-conservatism.

The Rhode Island's Future site includes a list blogs labeled as 'Lefty Blogs' separated from other Rhode Island blogs. Yet, when I read what they have to say, I see more personality and lifestyle similarities between people labeling themselves as hard core Republicans and staunch Democrats, than between liberals or conservatives. I know RI Democrats who drive gigantic Cadillac Escalades, would never be caught recycling their own trash (leave that to everyone else to do), engage in speculative development, and declare the value of being a 'loyal party member'.

I know Republicans who are extremely open minded, care about the environment, and embrace democracy, yet have been ostracized by the same type of people who value 'lock step' loyalty above all of those things.

The lock step groups from each side would have us all fight among ourselves on their behalf to keep things the way they are. Their use of labels is an old scary tactic fueling the we vs them mentality and gives momentum to the party attack dogs. A lie for a lie and an untruth for an untruth.

Rhode Island would be helped if we could focus on the truth and solving our collective problems. Lock step loyalty is archaic and irrelevant. It is a sure-fire guarantee that the person will not act from their heart and mind, but simply support the status quo.

The Truth is - Rhode Island needs to change in order for us all to prosper in the coming years - not just the few Cadillac drivers who don't recycle and benefit from keeping things the way they are.

Eileen Spillane

Eileen Spillane, Rhode Island Democratic Party insider and two-time unsuccessful candidate for the Rhode Island District Twelve Senate seat, has used her campaign web site RI12.blogspot.com during the past year to disparage me and my work as the former director of the Middletown Public Library. On November 26, 2007, Eileen let loose with another one of her bizarre rants. What could have triggered the latest outburst from her? I have not worked at the Middletown library for over a year now. Is she trying to run for office again by mustering anti-public-librarian sentiment?

This time, Eileen rants about a decision in July 2007 by the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office in reaction to a complaint made in December 2006 against the Middletown Library Board of Trustees by a diverse group of citizens regarding Open Meetings and use of electronic mail.

I was not a party to the complaint, so I never saw the complaint or the evidence provided by the citizens to the AG. However, I did receive a copy of the decision. Since my name was mentioned and I was unfairly maligned, I asked for the evidence and testimony given by the Trustees and their attorney to the State that referenced me. The Attorney General's office refused to provide that information.

Since I was never contacted and my attorney was never contacted, we asked Adam Shoals of the AG Civil Affairs division who they had contacted in their investigation. According to Adam, the AG's office contacted Attorney George Rinaldi who provided testimony from some of the Library Trustees and their Attorney Dan Kinder. George was working with Dan at the same law firm. I was never contacted. My attorney was never contacted. It is my understanding that the complainants were never interviewed. And, the investigation took over seven months.

I wrote a letter to the Attorney General's office on September 12, 2007 asking that the false and misleading information about me be redacted from their decision. I have never heard back from them.

Eileen Spillane writes: Mr. Balliot had been directed by the Library Trustees's in Sept. to come up with a organizational plan to work "civilly and cooperative with the Board." Gosh, ain't that just awful. Mr. Balliot did not & asked the board's extension for the Oct. meeting until Nov.

The truth is, the Trustees all received copies my fourteen page plan at the October meeting as requested along with a nearly hour long oral report explaining the contents. The session was recorded and around thirty members of the public attended. Why would testimony be admitted from the Board that contradicted the official minutes submitted by the Board itself? In who's interest was it to deny the existence of a report that was publicly received, recorded, and witnessed by thirty people?

I am not familiar with the legal rules of investigations or testimony. But it sure seems to me, if you asked a fifth grader to find out why two groups were having a disagreement, most likely they would talk to both sides. That is fair. I was not party to the complaint and never contacted. Yet, my reputation was disparaged by the AG's office published decision of a one-sided investigation and continues to be disparaged by Democratic Party insider Eileen Spillane.

My work in Middletown was, in fact, exemplary.
Rhode Island insider politics, however, is not.

Wind Power

There are great opportunities for the use of wind power in Rhode Island. Governor Carcieri has presented an energy agenda for capitalizing on those opportunities:

Secure Renewable Energy Resources for Rhode Island
Of the many forms of renewable energy alternatives available, wind shows the most promise. Wind power is clean, green power that is not subject to variations and increases in fuel price. Thirty-four states already have wind energy projects. Between 1981 and 2004, installed capacity increased from 10 megawatts to 6,740 megawatts nationwide. Wind currently provides 20 percent of electric power in Denmark and almost 5 percent in Germany. Rhode Island must explore this option. The State Energy Office, in cooperation with the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC), has already begun an effort to facilitate the development of wind power in Rhode Island. Ultimately, Governor Carcieri hopes that 15 percent of Rhode Island’s electricity demand will be supplied by environmentally progressive wind power.

We don't have oil. We don't have coal. We don't have natural gas - and we all know the controversies surrounding each of those uses of fossil fuel. But, we do have wind.

In who's interest is it to stop the development of wind power in Rhode Island and the region? Although it is meant as a parody, this clip from The Daily Show contains many ironic truths:

Of course, smokestacks and oil rigs are not the most aesthetically pleasing creations either. Neither are oil spills and smog.

According to John Doerr, one of the financial geniuses of Silicon Valley, green technologies are the "biggest economic opportunity of the 21st century." John Doerr spoke at TED and made this riveting presentation:

Seeking Salvation and Profit in Green Tech

Rhode Island must take advantage of the opportunities available to it. Party politics should not impede progress that will benefit all Rhode Islanders.

The Truth is - we need it!