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Name: Mark Kuhnke MD
Location: Springfield, IL
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Another day, another new tax proposal

Posted by Mark Kuhnke MD on Saturday, September 26, 2009 9:46:21 PM
         
     It seems the Left is working overtime trying to create new ways to separate the American earners from their money.  Just this week I have seen accounts of proposed taxes on soft drinks and tanning services, and now John Podesta is floating a value added tax on all goods and services with few exceptions.  Podesta puts forth the idea that the time is right for such a tax, not as a substitution for income tax, but as an additive.  If you haven't heard any of this, you might want to get yourself fitted for a hearing aide - but be careful.  They're  contemplating a new tax on medical devices, the so-called Qtip tax, as well.  It doesn't take an economist to derive the fact that most of these new taxes will, indeed, be borne by the middle class. 
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Hold on to your healthcare!

Posted by Mark Kuhnke MD on Friday, December 12, 2008 10:22:45 AM
   Right out of the chute, former Senator Tom Daschle, the designated appointee of Barack Obama for Secretary of Health and Human Services, attacked the current healthcare system of the United States.  The South Dakota politician maligned the current system as overpriced and underserving, and vowed to make changes to the system to afford service to all Americans.  As a healthcare provider (I'm a surgeon , but I'm using governmentspeak here,) I do fear the overwhelming changes that this administration may force upon us.  The universal healthcare model, so touted by many on the left, is far from perfect, and offers many negatives, such as out of control costs, overutilization, rationing of care, centralizing of facilities, and extreme delays in service (just ask any Canadian.)
     Of course, there are flaws in our current fee for service system.  However, at this time, any economically deprived individual, down and out for whatever reason, can present to any facility in America and get adequate care -  the same care that the local muckety-mucks would receive.  Those of us actively engaged in the healthcare system DO NOT adjust the management of true emergency services based on social status, income, or wealth.  A surgical or medical emergency is managed by MEDICAL   protocols, irregardless of an individual's position in the community.  More to follow.
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Economics and Gas Prices

Posted by Mark Kuhnke MD on Thursday, February 28, 2008 11:57:24 PM
   I find it interesting that today there is talk of $4 per gallon gasoline this summer.  Just two weeks ago, purportedly due to $3 per gallon gasoline, the US reserves of refined gasoline were at record levels.  The average price of gas was actually following economic principles and  falling, at least until Venezuela stopped selling oil to Exxon.  That bit of news, along with the bump in crude oil prices to $102 per barrel, has driven prices back up, for now.   If people and businesses were cutting back at $3 a gallon, imagine what would happen at even higher levels.  As the reserves climb, the prices for the refined product will fall, followed by the crude product.  If, however, there is no cutback of usage, then prices will certainly continue to climb. 
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