So is this guy an economist? If so he should take a look at the density and geography of SF and New York. The reason they are so unaffordable is because they are built out. Has more to do with scarcity. What a jerkoff.
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So is this guy an economist? If so he should take a look at the density and geography of SF and New York. The reason they are so unaffordable is because they are built out. Has more to do with scarcity. What a jerkoff.
phgreek
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I can only lean on my life's experiences here...
A lot of truth to that point about scarcity...I saw my parents buy a beach house in Sea Isle City in '91...they payed 40K...they came west in 2002 ish. They sold that beach house for 430K. What happened...Bill Clinton put a moratorium on building along the beach...scarcity.
However, scarcity explains housing prices...
I Worked in midtown, lived in Jersey, and didn't own anything...the cost to do that, even w/o a mortgage, or a car payment for that matter was pretty crazy...I left there and came to Utah doing essentially the same job, and my wages dropped...but I could buy a house and a car and was still slightly ahead in what I was able to save...And I think that's the point.
so my early professional life experience tells me this...if you are a normal engineer non-executive type person, you will be better able to accumulate savings and ultimately achieve some level of wealth outside NY. I can only assume that translates to other big cities. Obviously if you are an executive...that money starts to overcome any of those issues...
I agree with this. The problem I had with the article is that it took some pretty basic supply and demand issues (the California coast from Malibu to South Orange County is wall to wall development, SF is water on three sides ect...) and tries to twist it into some sort of political rant. If Texas continues to allow sprawl it's going to outpace its natural resources (ie water) and eventually when the State is forced to hit the brakes housing prices will go through the roof in the most desirable areas (Austin for example). Again it will be interesting to see where Texas is at in ten years. The thing about the Bay Area is there are relatively affordable places to live and BART allows for an easy commute to the emoyment Hubs. LA not so much.
phgreek
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Yea...will be interesting to see what Texas does when the growth isn't accelerating, but just steady or declines...
I don't know the bay area that well...I will say in the east, anyone who worked in the city and wanted to do the wife, 2 kids and a dog thing lived in Connecticut, and took a train to work every morning...but damn that's like 2 hours plus every day on the commute....YUCK.
Irish Houstonian
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Texas doesn't really have a long-term water access problem, relative to other states. Which isn't to say that it's not an issue, or couldn't get bad in another drought, but it doesn't have a long-term horizon problem like, say, Las Vegas/Arizona/SoCal.
irishpat183
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If the last drought (two years ago) didn't screw us over, we're fine.
That was brutal.
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NDFan4Life
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Sticker shock often follows insurance cancellation
MIAMI (AP) — Dean Griffin liked the health insurance he purchased for himself and his wife three years ago and thought he'd be able to keep the plan even after the federal Affordable Care Act took effect.
But the 64-year-old recently received a letter notifying him the plan was being canceled because it didn't cover certain benefits required under the law.
The Griffins, who live near Philadelphia, pay $770 monthly for their soon-to-be-terminated health care plan with a $2,500 deductible. The cheapest plan they found on their state insurance exchange was a so-called bronze plan charging a $1,275 monthly premium with deductibles totaling $12,700. It covers only providers in Pennsylvania, so the couple, who live near Delaware, won't be able to see doctors they've used for more than a decade.
"We're buying insurance that we will never use and can't possibly ever benefit from. We're basically passing on a benefit to other people who are not otherwise able to buy basic insurance," said Griffin, who is retired from running an information technology company.
The Griffins are among millions of people nationwide who buy individual insurance policies and are receiving notices that those policies are being discontinued because they don't meet the higher benefit requirements of the new law.
They can buy different policies directly from insurers for 2014 or sign up for plans on state insurance exchanges. While lower-income people could see lower costs because of government subsidies, many in the middle class may get rude awakenings when they access the websites and realize they'll have to pay significantly more.
Those not eligible for subsidies generally receive more comprehensive coverage than they had under their soon-to-be-canceled policies, but they'll have to pay a lot more.
Because of the higher cost, the Griffins are considering paying the federal penalty — about $100 or 1 percent of income next year — rather than buying health insurance. They say they are healthy and don't typically run up large health care costs. Dean Griffin said that will be cheaper because it's unlikely they will get past the nearly $13,000 deductible for the coverage to kick in.
Individual health insurance policies are being canceled because the Affordable Care Act requires plans to cover certain benefits, such as maternity care, hospital visits and mental illness. The law also caps annual out-of-pocket costs consumers will pay each year.
In the past, consumers could get relatively inexpensive, bare-bones coverage, but those plans will no longer be available. Many consumers are frustrated by what they call forced upgrades as they're pushed into plans with coverage options they don't necessarily want.
Ken Davis, who manages a fast food restaurant in Austin, Texas, is recovering from sticker shock after the small-business policy offered by his employer was canceled for the same reasons individual policies are being discontinued.
His company pays about $100 monthly for his basic health plan. He said he'll now have to pay $600 monthly for a mid-tier silver plan on the state exchange. The family policy also covers his 8-year-old son. Even though the federal government is contributing a $500 subsidy, he said the $600 he's left to pay is too high. He's considering the penalty.
"I feel like they're forcing me to do something that I don't want to do or need to do," Davis, 40, said.
Owners of canceled policies have a few options. They can stay in the same plan for the same price for one more year if they have one of the few plans that were grandfathered in. They can buy a similar plan with upgraded benefits that meets the new standards — likely at a significant cost increase. Or, if they make less than $45,960 for a single adult or $94,200 for a family of four, they may qualify for subsidies.
Just because a policy doesn't comply with the law doesn't mean consumers will get cancellation letters. They may get notices saying existing policies are being amended with new benefits and will come with higher premiums. Some states, including Virginia and Kentucky, required insurers to cancel old policies and start from scratch instead of beefing up existing ones.
It's unclear how many individual plans are being canceled — no one agency keeps track. But it's likely in the millions. Insurance industry experts estimate that about 14 million people, or 5 percent of the total market for health care coverage, buy individual policies. Most people get coverage through jobs and aren't affected.
Many states require insurers to give consumers 90 days' notice before canceling plans. That means another round of cancellation letters will go out in March and again in May.
Experts haven't been able to predict how many will pay more or less under the new, upgraded plans. An older policyholder with a pre-existing condition may find that premiums go down, and some will qualify for subsidies.
In California, about 900,000 people are expected to lose existing plans, but about a third will be eligible for subsidies through the state exchange, said Anne Gonzalez, a spokeswoman for the exchange, called Covered California. Most canceled plans provided bare-bones coverage, she said.
"They basically had plans that had gaping holes in the coverage. They would be surprised when they get to the emergency room or the doctor's office, some of them didn't have drug coverage or preventive care," Gonzalez said.
About 330,000 Floridians received cancellation notices from the state's largest insurer, Florida Blue. About 30,000 have plans that were grandfathered in. Florida insurance officials said they're not tracking the number of canceled policies related to the new law.
National numbers are similar: 130,000 cancellations in Kentucky, 140,000 in Minnesota and as many as 400,000 in Georgia, according to officials in those states.
Cigna has sent thousands of cancellation letters to U.S. policyholders but stressed that 99 percent have the option of renewing their 2013 policy for one more year, company spokesman Joe Mondy said.
Cancellation letters are being sent only to individuals and families who purchase their own insurance. However, most policyholders in the individual market will receive some notice that their coverage will change, said Dan Mendelson, president of the market analysis firm Avalere Health.
The cancellations run counter to one of President Barack Obama's promises about his health care overhaul: "If you like your health care plan, you'll be able to keep your health care plan."
Philip Johnson, 47, of Boise, Idaho, was shocked when his cancellation notice arrived last month. The gift-shop owner said he'd spent years arranging doctors covered by his insurer for him, his wife and their two college-age students.
After browsing the state exchange, he said he thinks he'll end up paying lower premiums but higher deductibles. He said the website didn't answer many of his questions, such as which doctors take which plans.
"I was furious because I spent a lot of time and picked a plan that all my doctors accepted," Johnson said. "Now I don't know what doctors are going to take what. No one mentioned that for the last three years when they talked about how this was going to work."
Sticker shock often follows insurance cancellation
MIAMI (AP) — Dean Griffin liked the health insurance he purchased for himself and his wife three years ago and thought he'd be able to keep the plan even after the federal Affordable Care Act took effect.
But the 64-year-old recently received a letter notifying him the plan was being canceled because it didn't cover certain benefits required under the law.
The Griffins, who live near Philadelphia, pay $770 monthly for their soon-to-be-terminated health care plan with a $2,500 deductible. The cheapest plan they found on their state insurance exchange was a so-called bronze plan charging a $1,275 monthly premium with deductibles totaling $12,700. It covers only providers in Pennsylvania, so the couple, who live near Delaware, won't be able to see doctors they've used for more than a decade.
"We're buying insurance that we will never use and can't possibly ever benefit from. We're basically passing on a benefit to other people who are not otherwise able to buy basic insurance," said Griffin, who is retired from running an information technology company.
The Griffins are among millions of people nationwide who buy individual insurance policies and are receiving notices that those policies are being discontinued because they don't meet the higher benefit requirements of the new law.
They can buy different policies directly from insurers for 2014 or sign up for plans on state insurance exchanges. While lower-income people could see lower costs because of government subsidies, many in the middle class may get rude awakenings when they access the websites and realize they'll have to pay significantly more.
Those not eligible for subsidies generally receive more comprehensive coverage than they had under their soon-to-be-canceled policies, but they'll have to pay a lot more.
Because of the higher cost, the Griffins are considering paying the federal penalty — about $100 or 1 percent of income next year — rather than buying health insurance. They say they are healthy and don't typically run up large health care costs. Dean Griffin said that will be cheaper because it's unlikely they will get past the nearly $13,000 deductible for the coverage to kick in.
Individual health insurance policies are being canceled because the Affordable Care Act requires plans to cover certain benefits, such as maternity care, hospital visits and mental illness. The law also caps annual out-of-pocket costs consumers will pay each year.
In the past, consumers could get relatively inexpensive, bare-bones coverage, but those plans will no longer be available. Many consumers are frustrated by what they call forced upgrades as they're pushed into plans with coverage options they don't necessarily want.
Ken Davis, who manages a fast food restaurant in Austin, Texas, is recovering from sticker shock after the small-business policy offered by his employer was canceled for the same reasons individual policies are being discontinued.
His company pays about $100 monthly for his basic health plan. He said he'll now have to pay $600 monthly for a mid-tier silver plan on the state exchange. The family policy also covers his 8-year-old son. Even though the federal government is contributing a $500 subsidy, he said the $600 he's left to pay is too high. He's considering the penalty.
"I feel like they're forcing me to do something that I don't want to do or need to do," Davis, 40, said.
Owners of canceled policies have a few options. They can stay in the same plan for the same price for one more year if they have one of the few plans that were grandfathered in. They can buy a similar plan with upgraded benefits that meets the new standards — likely at a significant cost increase. Or, if they make less than $45,960 for a single adult or $94,200 for a family of four, they may qualify for subsidies.
Just because a policy doesn't comply with the law doesn't mean consumers will get cancellation letters. They may get notices saying existing policies are being amended with new benefits and will come with higher premiums. Some states, including Virginia and Kentucky, required insurers to cancel old policies and start from scratch instead of beefing up existing ones.
It's unclear how many individual plans are being canceled — no one agency keeps track. But it's likely in the millions. Insurance industry experts estimate that about 14 million people, or 5 percent of the total market for health care coverage, buy individual policies. Most people get coverage through jobs and aren't affected.
Many states require insurers to give consumers 90 days' notice before canceling plans. That means another round of cancellation letters will go out in March and again in May.
Experts haven't been able to predict how many will pay more or less under the new, upgraded plans. An older policyholder with a pre-existing condition may find that premiums go down, and some will qualify for subsidies.
In California, about 900,000 people are expected to lose existing plans, but about a third will be eligible for subsidies through the state exchange, said Anne Gonzalez, a spokeswoman for the exchange, called Covered California. Most canceled plans provided bare-bones coverage, she said.
"They basically had plans that had gaping holes in the coverage. They would be surprised when they get to the emergency room or the doctor's office, some of them didn't have drug coverage or preventive care," Gonzalez said.
About 330,000 Floridians received cancellation notices from the state's largest insurer, Florida Blue. About 30,000 have plans that were grandfathered in. Florida insurance officials said they're not tracking the number of canceled policies related to the new law.
National numbers are similar: 130,000 cancellations in Kentucky, 140,000 in Minnesota and as many as 400,000 in Georgia, according to officials in those states.
Cigna has sent thousands of cancellation letters to U.S. policyholders but stressed that 99 percent have the option of renewing their 2013 policy for one more year, company spokesman Joe Mondy said.
Cancellation letters are being sent only to individuals and families who purchase their own insurance. However, most policyholders in the individual market will receive some notice that their coverage will change, said Dan Mendelson, president of the market analysis firm Avalere Health.
The cancellations run counter to one of President Barack Obama's promises about his health care overhaul: "If you like your health care plan, you'll be able to keep your health care plan."
Philip Johnson, 47, of Boise, Idaho, was shocked when his cancellation notice arrived last month. The gift-shop owner said he'd spent years arranging doctors covered by his insurer for him, his wife and their two college-age students.
After browsing the state exchange, he said he thinks he'll end up paying lower premiums but higher deductibles. He said the website didn't answer many of his questions, such as which doctors take which plans.
"I was furious because I spent a lot of time and picked a plan that all my doctors accepted," Johnson said. "Now I don't know what doctors are going to take what. No one mentioned that for the last three years when they talked about how this was going to work."
Sticker shock often follows insurance cancellation
Irish Houstonian
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FYI, most of those jobs are part-time.
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How do you know that?
Polish Leppy 22
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For all the Bush-hating leftists who yelled "Bush Lied, People Died" from 2001-2008, let's cut it both ways: our president is a serial liar.
June 15, 2009: “No matter how we reform health care, we will keep this promise to the American people: If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor, period. If you like your health-care plan, you’ll be able to keep your health-care plan, period. No one will take it away, no matter what.”
June 15, 2009: “No matter how we reform health care, we will keep this promise to the American people: If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor, period. If you like your health-care plan, you’ll be able to keep your health-care plan, period. No one will take it away, no matter what.”
phgreek
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...but, but universal healthcare is worth the lie, and any cost...
Irish Houstonian
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The House Ways and Means Committee report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Of the 1.9 million jobs added since Obama took office, only 270,000 are full-time.
Thus:
And with the Employer Mandate, those part-time jobs will only get part-timier.
Part-Time Nation | House Committee on Ways & Means
connor_in
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Will Insularity, Incompetence and Lies Doom Obamacare? - NationalJournal.com
...and this article seems to be pro-President Obama but still taking whacks at him
...and this article seems to be pro-President Obama but still taking whacks at him
phgreek
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Typical DC BS: Feinstein basically wired a Billion Dollar deal to...Her husband...Fvck these people, they deserve neither our admiration nor respect...not even that normally afforded the position...she needs to get run on ethics violations...because this certainly has the "appearance" of COI.
snopes.com: CBRE/Richard Blum and USPS
snopes.com: CBRE/Richard Blum and USPS
phgreek
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agree.
there isnt a list long enough or a computer with enough bandwith to show all the conflicts of interest between congressmen/women of ALL parties and business interests.
Black Irish
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It would probably still run better then the Healthcare.gov website.
phgreek
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...I agree...I know this isn't a party specific thing...its a DC thing.
Only in the US... can you use food stamps to buy... ne tall Frappaccino and a slice of pumpkin loaf...
![WNVideo.js](http://<script type='text/javascript' src='http://KPTV.images.worldnow.com/interface/js/WNVideo.js?rnd=531869;hostDomain=www.kptv.com;playerWidth=630;playerHeight=385;isShowIcon=true;clipId=6506239;flvUri=;partnerclipid=;adTag=Video%2520Player;advertisingZone=;enableAds=true;landingPage=;islandingPageoverride=false;playerType=STANDARD_EMBEDDEDscript_EMBEDDEDscript;controlsType=fixed'></script><a href="http://www.kptv.com" title="KPTV - FOX 12">KPTV - FOX 12</a>)
FOX 12 investigators: Food stamps used for Frappuccinos - KPTV - FOX 12
FOX 12 investigators: Food stamps used for Frappuccinos - KPTV - FOX 12
Polish Leppy 22
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Only in the US... can you use food stamps to buy... ne tall Frappaccino and a slice of pumpkin loaf...
FOX 12 investigators: Food stamps used for Frappuccinos - KPTV - FOX 12
Frappuccinos? Are we out of booze, cigs, lobster tail, and filet?
irishpat183
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This is probably the best thing you've ever done for your fellow Californians
BobD
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I've been busy the last few days. How did the tea party do in the elections yesterday?
All I've seen so far is that New York has a democratic mayor for the first time in 20 years, Virginia has a democrat for governor, a regular republican beat out a tea party member in Alabama for a chance at a house seat and Christie the closet democrat won again.
All I've seen so far is that New York has a democratic mayor for the first time in 20 years, Virginia has a democrat for governor, a regular republican beat out a tea party member in Alabama for a chance at a house seat and Christie the closet democrat won again.
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Horrible. I really don't know what the "tea party" is but it seems like a euphemism for ultra socially conservative these days... even though the origins seem to have been for limited government control... I don't know where you draw the line. Speaking of Virginia, Ken Cuccinelli got the Republican nomination over more moderate Republicans. He then went and got destroyed by attack ads that painted him as hating women, etc. The simple fact is that any Republican running on a strictly pro-life stance these days is getting KILLED in the women's vote and losing by almost default.
Terry McCaulife was a horrible candidate. Career politician, bad economic ideas, sleazy backdoor business deals, etc. And he still won narrowly because Cuccinelli was even worse. That's the state of politics in the United States. And for the first time I can remember, Virginia has a Governor who on the surface appears to suck at life. Gilmore, Warner, Kaine, McDonnell... all really legit dudes from both parties who did an awful lot for the state. Just a shame.
irishpat183
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^You're "we won" attitude is killing our country
No, we didn't win ****. We just got more of the same garbage. Your ignorance towards the tea party and their message is what keeps you a drone. Or sheep. Which ever you prefer to be called.
RDU Irish
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Don't see people starving in the streets. Here is a weeks worth of groceries to feed a family of four - just off the top of my head, much of which is assuming packing lunches five days for all four:
Two dozen eggs - $4
Three boxes of cereal - $6
Two gallons of milk - $6
Two half gallons of soy milk - $6
Cheese (two shredded, one singles) - $6
Three loaves of bread - $6
Lunch meat - $5
Hot dogs - $2
Peanut Butter - $3
Jelly - $3
2lbs of chicken - $6
2lbs of beef - $6
5 boxes of pasta - $6
10 pound bag of potatoes - $5
Mac & Cheese mix - $5
Throw in $25 of fruits, veggies and other stuff and you have plenty to eat for $100 per week. Not to mention, buying in bulk and on sale you can save substantially on this, I am rounding up on most of this.
Cutting food stamps 5% isn't going to have people starving in the streets.
RDU Irish
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I could eat at McDonalds for $5 a day. Burrito for breakfast, side salad and McChicken for lunch, McDouble and Yogurt Parfait for dinner. It's people thinking they are entitled to super sized double quarter pounder w/cheese meals at $7 or $8 when they can't pay their bills that blows my mind.