Sept. 16, 2005 - 22:01 MDT

PERSONAL LEVEL

Today went as well as it can for an old man. Having been roto-rooted by Phospho-soda, clenching my jaws as it were while going across the metro area, the colonoscopy went quite well with a minimum of discomfort.

Happy results, no polyps, no suspected cancer. It is all cool, except, doctor found diverticulosis and he coupled that with the results of my colonoscopy of the late eighties - early nineties to an arterio-venous dysplasia that the doctors decided was the cause then. The bleeding has stopped. He recommended me upping my fiber-tab amount to double and then Hee, Hee, going with the flow.

Heather took me out for a meal at IHOP where I attacked the table water and inhaled coffee and consumed a full order of Denver Omelet and pancakes. Pancakes drenched in Blueberry syrup for dessert if you please.

Then home, a time for digestion to work a bit, make a very short entry, answer an e-mail or two and then parted the covers and slept the afternoon and early evening away. Probably will go to bed early (early for me that is) and get some more rest.

So, what's this about Dumbya giving the wrong speech ? ? ? ? Has he ever made a right one, maybe one without that "F___ you, I've got mine," smirk ? ? ? ?

Then a column by Steven V. and Cokie Roberts, "Voters begin to wonder whether Iraq worth effort," strikes a responsive chord which resonates in my soul. Wondering if there ever will be or was any justification for a pre-emptive war and the consequent loss of lives, money and materiel on both sides.

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Then an article by Jim Abrams of the Associated Press, in part:

PENSION AGENCY FACING HUGE INCREASE IN LIABILITY

WASHINGTON -- "The government agency that guarantees worker pensions could see its liabilties quadruple over the next decade, jeopardizing the benefits of millions of retirees, a new report says."

"In a report made public Thursday, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. shortfalls will reach nearly $87 billion over the next decade, up from about $23 billion in 2004."

"The PBGC, created in 1974, guarantees payment of basic pension benefits for about 44 million workers and retirees in more than 31,000 private-sector defined benefit pension plans."

"It receives no funds from general tax revenues; its operations are financed largely by insurance premiums and investment returns."

"The corporation was running a surplus through 2001, but its bottom line has taken a sharp turn for the worse with a rash of bankruptcies among large companies in recent years. Bankruptcy filings this week by Delta and Northwest could further add to its financial burdens."

"The PBGC covers only part of the benefits due to employees who have contributed to failed pension plans. The current maximum guarantee for workers who retire at the age of 65 is about $45,000 a year."

"Congress is considering various legislative approaches to ensure the long-term solvency of the PBGC while guananteeing that workers will receive their promised benefits when they retire."

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Uh huh, is this the vaunted "vested pensions" that we were promised ?

"A private corporation with supposed Congressional oversight with its backing coming from insurance premiums and investment returns." Seems to me to be a rather shaky scheme anyway I look at it. So the employee pays the premuims, which are invested and supposedly are enough to take care of PROMISED benefits. Hee, hee, but only to a certain level.

A corporation is supposedly a business organization that makes a profit for itself and its shareholders. So where does the PBGC's profit come from ? The investments, premiums or both ? What is the income of the top brass of that PBGC rainbow ?

Privatizing to me seems to be a way the government has of shunning its responsibilities."

This tonight from a very PERSONAL LEVEL . . . . . . . . .

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