Healthcare Cost and Obamacare

Like all sentient people in the US, I have noted the staggering  increase in healthcare costs.   Compared to 1970, when national expenditures on healthcare (in 2023 constant dollars) were $450 billion, the US spent $4.87 trillion in 2023.  This represents about 17.6 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and is projected to be 20…

Traffic Safety

Bump outs (aka curb extensions and neckdowns) One of the increasingly popular methods for “traffic calming” is the “bump out.”  This is a short extension of a curb that balloons into the street at an intersection.  A motorist approaching an intersection will therefore experience a narrowing of the traffic lanes. These devices have several factors…

Contemporary Topics in Healthcare

Medicaid Medicaid is a government program designed to help low income people pay for medical care.  It is jointly funded by the states and the federal government.   Congress has passed a bill (“One Big Beautiful Bill”–OBBB) that will reduce federal Medicaid funding by 15 percent over the next decade.*  This will raise premiums to the…