Hey, Hey, Hey An Online Insurance Jargon Translator is up and running over at CIGNA

Courtesy of Carrie Teegardin over to the AJC.


Cigna Insurance has installed a Insurance jargon translator on their website to help folks understand some of the legal mumbo jumbo that litters the pages of the average insurance policy. This is a big step forward.


Insurance providers are over run with all sorts of lawyers, attorney's, para legals and other variants of the legal trade. Over time this has led to proliferation of specialized language that seeks to nail down responsibilities, limit liabilities and provide the all important "back door outta here!" escape clauses that are vital to maintaining the Insurers financial health.


Well the jig is up now with Cigna's handy dandy Jargon translator. Or not.


Here are some examples:

adjudicate

process your claim for payment claimant you explanation of benefits (EOB)   after you visit your doctor, you’ll get an explanation of benefits outlining the services you received, how much they cost, and how much your plan paid holistic   comprehensive, integrated national committee for quality assurance (NCQA)   a watchdog for quality of care over managed care plans and physician organizations out-of-pocket (OOP)   the total of all your payments before your insurance pays at 100% (may or may not include your deductible) Over all, the jargon translator is a little weak. There appears to be exactly 42 phrases it provides translations for and none of them decode BOHICA.

Libertarian Candidate for Commissioner of Insurance Shane Bruce gets a Special Mention at Poli-Tea

It's Academy Award Time Folks.


The hard working guys and gals over at Poli-Tea have given one of my flip Cam videos a special mention in their recent review of independent political videos produced so far during the national campaign cycle. While my stuff isn't really typical of the messages crafted by my fellow Libertarian and other third party types, I'm sticking with the real time, no script, no rehearsal, one take stream of consciousness  format.


I am gonna look into adding some text though, and maybe some graphics at the end of the next one I shoot. I've done 22 of these little flip cam videos so far and that's about 22 more than either Ralph Hudgens or Mary Squires have put out for public consumption. Which raises some interesting questions, can Ralph or Mary run one stage of a three gun match? Can either of them ride a scooter? Or sail a boat? Or pull parts of a junker? Do they have any skill sets besides being a conventional politician?


Inquiring minds want to know.

Libertarian Candidate for Governor gets Major Facetime at the AJC and the Albany Herald

Meet the 20% Solution.


Yet another excellent article about Libertarian John Monds and his historic run for the Governorship by Terry Lewis down at the Albany Herald. Our guy John has been getting consistent reviews in the state's print media for the last several weeks as the 2010 campaign enters into it's final phases. 


My personal favorite this week was the story that Kyle Wingfield over at the AJC put up that looked at the nuts and bolts of Georgia law concerning ballot access for political bodies. The comment trail on that particular piece is spectacular as it showcases some of the best rebuttals I've read on the wasted vote syndrome, the lesser of two evils syndrome and and this stellar example by The Ultra-Humanite:

The Ultra-Humanite

October 3rd, 2010
9:58 am

Seems to me a vote for either Barnes or Deal would be the wasted vote.So if you’re going to waste a vote anyway – and there’s absolutely no way that you can convince me that voting for Barnes or Deal would not constitute a wasted vote, why not turn that ‘wasted’ vote into a vote that sends a message?

I’m not saying Monds is the greatest candidate Georgia has ever seen. I’m not saying that he’s got a magic wand that he’ll wave upon being elected that will fix everybody’s problems and turn Georgia into a utopia. But my God, look at the alternative! Can anybody make any sort of halfway serious case that Nathan Deal is the kind of candidate that inspires confidence or respect? Can anybody say with a straight face that Roy Barnes will display anything less than the bad ideas and political cowardice that marked his first term?

Actually, a vote for Barnes or Deal would send a message – that all the talk about being fed up, about being tired of big intrusive government and corrupt politicians is just talk. It’ll send a message that, when it matters, when it counts, Georgians are more than happy to keep the system grinding along, grinding up the lives and wealth and productivity of the state, grinding up the state’s future, in the name of maintaining that all-important, all-powerful two-party system. Though, if we’re honest with ourselves, we know deep down inside that it is a one-party system with two faces working for pretty much the same goals.

Why not at least try something different? Why just submit to the inevitable disappointment? Have we as Georgians become so cowardly, so cynical, so firmly entrenched in political dogma that the mere mention of a fresh political perspective must be met with hoots and derision? Is the idea of less government intrusion and more freedom of choice truly so intimidating? Is the Libertarian ideal of ‘live and let live’ really such a crackpot notion? I would like to think that we are not yet so far gone as a society that people can only think of political candidates in terms of who they will control or what they will plunder in accordance to our wishes. I would like to believe that there are still a vast number of Georgians who believe in quaint notions such as individual liberty, limited government, fiscal responsibility, governmental accountability, and political integrity. A vote for John Monds is a vote for all of these.

Let’s not waste our votes this time around on a repeat of the same old establishment candidates that promise only to continue the cycle of corruption and increasing government power. We have a chance to try for something better. Let’s not waste it.

What do Libertarians and HALO Spartans Have in Common

Just keep plugging away. 

The OODA Loop as Applied to The Commissioner of Insurance Race

Good looking determined kind of guy that John Boyd.


Meet the father of the OODA loop, a technique designed and refined by Ace fighter pilot John Boyd to train other pilots in the merciless art of aerial combat.


Observe, Orient, Decide, Act.


Then do it again if your target is not a flaming mass of wreckage hurtling to earth. It's a beautiful expression of the cycle of events in any conflict, it's the cycle that winners use and losers lament.


So what does the OODA loop have to do with the race for Commissioner of Insurance between republican Ralph Hudgens, democrat  Mary Squires and Libertarian Shane Bruce? Everything.


I'm running an asymmetric campaign based mostly in cyberspace because those are assets I have access to. If you've been following my Quixotic quest to become Georgia's first Libertarian Commissioner of Insurance, you know that I'm part time citizen politician and I have a full time gig that keeps me off the physical campaign trial except for a couple of days each week.  As we head into the final 30 days of this cycle that means I can pull off another 8 personal appearances between now and 2 NOV 10.


That's not enough. 


Fortunately for me my two opponents have settled down into normal campaign rhythms, attending a forum here and a BBQ there. Setting up for the onslaught of radio, TV and direct mail pieces and plotting about the best time to release the all important fund raising numbers to garner some free press and cluck about how the will of the people is reflected by the amounts raised.


How do I offset that? Is it possible to utilize the internet to gain control of Google first page results on a given search phrase? Especially with a time sensitive search parameter? I'd give that a big fat yes.


Example 1 search term Shane Bruce Time Frame 1 week


Example 2 search term Ralph Hudgens Time Frame 1 week


Example 3 search term Mary Squires Time Frame 1 week


I find it astonishing and amusing that I'm affecting my opponents news cycles on Google search. I intend to continue doing so for the next 30 days just to see what happens. 


OODA, Baby, OODA.

The Bitter Patriot Presents his US Senate Survey Results

The Bitter Patriot has been featured on our Blogroll for quite a while and this is why.


Check out Doug Harman's US Senate Survey:

Chuck Donovan, Libertarian Candidate for US Senate from GA answers survey, the other two, not so much.

Survey Questions
1. Will you cosponsor and call for roll call votes on Ron Paul's Audit the Fed bill, designed to bring transparency to the Federal Reserve (H.R. 1207/ S. 604 in the 111th Congress)?
2. Will you support legislation removing capital gains and sales taxes on gold and silver coinage?
3. Will you vote to oppose any legislation that allows the federal government to prohibit the sale, use, or carrying of firearms?
4. Will you support a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution that includes hard spending limits and allows for no increase in taxes or other federal revenue enhancements?
5. Will you support legislation that forbids U.S. troops from serving under United Nations command?
6. Do you support and will you vote to protect states asserting their rights under the Tenth Amendment?
7. Will you oppose Big Labor's Card Check bill and any other legislation designed to empower union bosses?
8. Do you support U.S. withdrawal from the United Nations?
9. Will you support the American Sovereignty Act to restrict the Executive's ability to forge international agreements that lessen our sovereignty?
10. Will you oppose using U.S. forces to occupy a foreign nation without a declaration of war?
11. Will you oppose any attempt to nationalize our health care system, including any sort of public option for insurance?
12. Will you oppose so-called "Cap and Trade" legislation?
13. Will you vote to eliminate the IRS?
14. Will you vote against any budget that increases our debt?
15. Will you oppose federal power grabs like roving wiretaps and warrantless searches, and oppose Patriot Act renewal that includes such items?
16. Will you oppose any legislation that requires states and citizens to participate in a National Identification Card program?
17. Will you oppose the so-called "NAFTA Superhighway" and any move toward a North American Union?
18. Will you support legislation that ensures Members of Congress have at least 72 hours to read any bill before it is allowed to come to the House floor?
19. Will you oppose all tax increases?
20. Indicate the tax cuts you are willing to vote for:
Across the Board Income Tax Cut
Capital Gains Tax Cut
Business Tax Cut
Estate Tax Cut

Senate CandidatesQ1Q2Q3Q4Q5Q6Q7Q8Q9Q10Q11Q12Q13Q14Q15Q16Q17Q18Q19Q20
Johnny Isakson (R ) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - , - , - , -
Chuck Donovan (L )Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y, Y, Y, Y
Michael Thurmond (D )No response

Libertarian Candidate for Lt Governor Dan Barber gets Major Facetime at Macon.Com

Associated Press Coverage Baby.


Libertarian Candidate for Lt Governor was featured in an extensive article by Kate Brumback of the Associated Press in todays Macon.Com online edition.
It's great read about a great candidate and the readership is encouraged to check it out.


When you're done head over to VoteDanBarber and get even more info on how this guy would make a great Lt Governor. Stack him up against Casey Cagle or Carol Porter and then cast your ballot for Liberty.


Vote for Libertarian Dan Barber for Lt Governor!

Libertarians Shane Bruce and Dan Barber will be at the North Georgia State Fair Tonight

Personal appearance time folks.


I'll be manning the LP booth at the North Georgia State Fair tonight along with Libertarian Candidate for Lt. Governor Dan Barber. We'll be set up in the exposition hall so please do stop by if you're at the fair and want to engage in a little personal politickin'. 


The fair is in Marietta, GA and a crude map is furnished below. 


See you there!

Republican Ralph Hudgens has Seen the Light on Getting Rid of Georgia's Insurance Premium Tax

Hot off the "You Gotta Pay To See It" presses of Disk Petty's InsiderAdvantage site.


Ralph's seen the light on Georgia's Insurance Premium Tax (GIPT) and publicly called for it's elimination at yesterday's roving tax reform meeting. Cha-Ching!


One of the predicted side effects of our Libertarian Ticket run in this election was that our mere presence on the ballot would drive our opponents to adopt some of our stands on selected issues. That has happened with Ralph Hudgens.


I think eliminating the Premium Tax is a great idea and call for the legislature to get busy on that. And I thought that way  back on 11 NOV 09 and 27 MAY 10  and 10 NOV 09 and 5 JUL 10. And right here, right now.


Eliminating the state Insurance Premium Tax is as Libertarian as you get. Congratulations on moving ahead on that one Ralph, now how about some Libertarian solutions to todays other problems in Georgia's Insurance Industrial complex?

Like Georgia's Health Insurance mandates. I think Ralph's leaning Libertarian on that one if what Mary Squires said at the press conference is accurate and I think it is based on the video floating around over there in democratland of Ralph saying the mandates jack up the cost of everyones health insurance. They do jack up the cost of everyones insurance.


And there's the Captive Insurance market, the uninsured motorist issue and scads of other stuff in InsuranceLand that could use Libertarian governing principles to find a solution. I'll be watching Ralph's journey of discovery  as the race draws on to see just how Libertarian he winds up.


Same Sex Marriage? Decriminalization? No death penalty? I think his head would explode if he went that far.

Libertarian Chuck Donovan and the AJC's Truth-O-Meter

Convoluted Ain't it?


There is an incredibly long post over at the AJC's Truth-O-Meter column on assertions by Libertarian Chuck Donovan that Johnny Isakson never met a spending bill he didn't like. Especially real estate related bills. 


In an in-depth review stretching back to Johnny's days in the house the Truth-O-Meter says 1/2 true. OK, half true. Which half? 


The readership is urged to head over and check it out for themselves and pose themselves the question, do I vote for a whole Senator in Chuck Donovan or settle for "Half a Man" Isakson?