Dem & Repub Platforms on Immigration

Posted on March 31, 2024 by Jim

A few months ago before Google Bard was rebranded as Gemini, I asked it several questions to assess the state of AI.


Like any “expert” the answer from an AI needs to be verified by human intelligence and may include made up “facts.”


This example asks the AI to compare two documents. I have not verified the AI’s analysis, but present it raw.


Analysis Request


Contrast the immigration policy in the 2016 Republican platform and the 2020 Democratic platform.


AI Answer


The 2016 Republican platform and the 2020 Democratic platform differ significantly in their approaches to immigration policy.
The 2016 Republican platform called for a number of measures to reduce immigration, including:

* Building a wall on the US-Mexico border
* Increasing the number of border patrol agents
* Ending sanctuary cities
* Canceling the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program
* Making it more difficult for people to obtain visas

The 2020 Democratic platform, on the other hand, called for a number of measures to expand immigration, including:


* Creating a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants
* Expanding the DACA program
* Reforming the asylum system
* Increasing the number of refugees admitted to the United States
* Ending the travel ban from several Muslim-majority countries

The two platforms also differ in their approach to border security. The 2016 Republican platform emphasizes the need for a physical barrier on the US-Mexico border. The 2020 Democratic platform, on the other hand, focuses on investing in technology and personnel to improve border security.


In addition, the 2016 Republican platform calls for a reduction in legal immigration. The 2020 Democratic platform, on the other hand, calls for an increase in legal immigration.


The two platforms also differ in their approach to family reunification. The 2016 Republican platform calls for making it more difficult for people to sponsor family members for immigration to the United States. The 2020 Democratic platform, on the other hand, calls for making it easier for people to sponsor family members for immigration to the United States.


Overall, the 2016 Republican platform and the 2020 Democratic platform reflect the two parties’ very different views on immigration policy. The Republican platform is focused on reducing immigration, while the Democratic platform is focused on expanding immigration.

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Killing Grandma for Universal Healthcare

Posted on March 28, 2024 by Jim

A few months ago before Google Bard was rebranded as Gemini, I asked it several questions to assess the state of AI.


Like any “expert” the answer from an AI needs to be verified by human intelligence and may include made up “facts.”


This example is a strictly factual question, but note that the AI inserted unrequested value based evaluations.  Such judgements by the AI reflect accepted opinion, but accepted by whom? Sometimes it is a common consensus and other times it is a fringe bias.


During the HillaryCare debates in the 90s, Clinton Administration plans for death panels were a chilling topic for debate. Such panels would decide when a patient should stop receiving medical care, essentially to save costs.


Recently this issue has been framed as Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). In Canada, MAID has risen to 3% of all deaths. Meanwhile, Canada maybe expanding MAID to the mentally ill. Media reports in Canada frequently report instances of citizens being offered MAID instead of denied or delayed medical care.


Although I support euthanasia, when government pays the healthcare bills, it becomes a means for bureaucrats to cut expenses by killing those with expensive illnesses.


Question


In Canada and some European countries, there is expanding policies for Medical Assistance in Dying. Are any US states considering adopting such policies?


AI Answer


Yes, there are a number of US states that are considering adopting policies for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). In fact, MAID is already legal in 10 US states and the District of Columbia. These states are:

* California
* Colorado
* District of Columbia
* Hawaii
* Maine
* Montana
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* Oregon
* Vermont
* Washington

In addition, there are a number of other states that are considering legislation to legalize MAID. These states include:

* Connecticut
* Delaware
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Maryland
* Massachusetts
* Minnesota
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New York
* North Carolina
* Ohio
* Pennsylvania
* Rhode Island
* Virginia
* West Virginia

The support for MAID is growing in the United States, and it is likely that more states will legalize it in the coming years.


MAID is a controversial topic, but there are a number of people who believe that it is a compassionate option for terminally ill patients who are suffering. MAID allows patients to choose to end their lives on their own terms, rather than having to endure pain and suffering.


There are also a number of people who oppose MAID, believing that it is morally wrong to kill. They argue that MAID devalues human life and that it could be used to pressure vulnerable people into ending their lives.


The debate over MAID is likely to continue for many years to come. However, it is clear that the support for MAID is growing in the United States, and it is likely that more states will legalize it in the coming years.

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Higher Education Act Reauthorization Status

Posted on March 26, 2024 by Jim

Advocates for limited government power often suggest including sunset dates in legislation so bad laws have automatic triggers to end them. Yet this is already a common practice; however, our legislators actually use the practice for self-promotion by “rewinning” past victories with the Voting Rights Act or environmental statutes being examples of legislators’ self-congratulations.
Sometimes reauthorization of expiring statutes can be contentious as occurred recently with the Violence Against Women Act.


Meanwhile, publicly contentious laws may be extended before reauthorization by Congress extending their end date through inclusion in unrelated legislation such as a omnibus spending bill that is certain to pass. The Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) is an example of such an extended statute.


The HEA is contentious because our country’s post-secondary education system has become dependent upon its funding. This ongoing evasion by Congress comes at a time when public criticism of post-secondary institutions and federal student loans are high. Meanwhile Republicans and Democrats cannot come to agreement on reforms while proposed reauthorization legislation ignores existing problems. Thus Congress kicks the can down the road until the next year or so.
Note that all law and policy related to federal post-secondary education finance such as loans and grants can be rewritten and reformed through reauthorization.


Unfortunately news reports of this situation are few and insufficiently clear as politicians do not benefit from drawing attention to their failures. Curious about the ongoing state of nothing being accomplished, several months ago I asked Google’s Bard (now called Gemini) about the status of HEA reauthorization.


Remember that like with an expert, an AI can be wrong and make up “facts.”  Yet, it is a good place to start research.


Question


What is the current status of reauthorizing the Higher Education Act of 1965?


AI Answer


The Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965 is the primary federal law governing higher education in the United States. It was last reauthorized in 2008 and has been operating on a series of temporary extensions since then.


There is a broad consensus that the HEA needs to be reauthorized, but Congress has been unable to agree on a number of key issues, including:

• How to make college more affordable
• How to improve the quality of higher education
• How to increase accountability for colleges and universities

In 2019, the House of Representatives passed a bill to reauthorize the HEA, but the Senate did not take action on the bill. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted negotiations on the HEA, and they have not since resumed.


In January 2023, the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing on the HEA reauthorization, but there is no clear timeline for when Congress will take further action.
Some of the key issues that are likely to be debated in the HEA reauthorization process include:

• College affordability: Congress will need to decide how to make college more affordable for students and families. This could include increasing Pell Grants, expanding access to tax credits, or making it easier for students to refinance their student loans.
• Quality of higher education: Congress will need to decide how to improve the quality of higher education. This could include increasing funding for research, improving the accreditation process, or requiring colleges to disclose more information about their outcomes.
• Accountability: Congress will need to decide how to increase accountability for colleges and universities. This could include requiring colleges to report on their graduation rates and student debt outcomes, or establishing new sanctions for colleges that fail to meet certain standards.

The HEA reauthorization process is complex and challenging, but it is an important opportunity to improve the higher education system in the United States.

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Federal Borrowing to Pay for State Spending

Posted on March 24, 2024 by Jim

A few months ago before Google Bard was rebranded as Gemini, I asked it several questions to assess the state of AI.


Like any “expert” the answer from an AI needs to be verified by human intelligence and may include made up “facts.”


This example is a strictly factual question about a specific document, but note that the AI inserted unrequested value based evaluations. Such judgements by the AI reflect accepted opinion, but accepted by whom? Sometimes it is a common consensus and other times it is a fringe bias.


I asked this question because I noticed that in the Biden Administration’s first budget the federal deficit was about equal to federal payments to states and municipalities. This raised the issue to me about the policy of the federal government essentially borrowing money for states to spend.


Question


In the most recent federal budget created by OMB, what is the total amount of transfer payments from the federal government to states and localities? Also, what was the projected federal deficit?


AI Answer


According to the Analytical Perspectives: Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2023, the total amount of transfer payments from the federal government to states and localities in the most recent federal budget created by OMB is $818.4 billion. This includes grants, subsidies, and other payments to state and local governments for a variety of purposes, such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure.


The projected federal deficit for fiscal year 2023 is $1.4 trillion. This means that the federal government is expected to spend $1.4 trillion more than it collects in revenue.


The federal deficit Is projected to increase in the coming years, due to a number of factors, including the aging population, rising healthcare costs, and tax cuts. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that the federal deficit will reach $2.7 trillion by 2033.


The federal deficit Is a concern because it can lead to higher interest rates, which can make it more expensive for the government to borrow money and can also slow economic growth. The CBO projects that the federal debt will reach 118 percent of GDP by 2033, which would be the highest level ever recorded.


There are a number of things that can be done to reduce the federal deficit, such as raising taxes, cutting spending, or both. However, any changes to the federal budget would need to be approved by Congress and the President.

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What is the Condition of US Social Security Trust Fund?

Posted on March 22, 2024 by Jim

A few months ago before Google Bard was rebranded as Gemini, I asked it several questions to assess the state of AI.


Like any “expert” the answer from an AI needs to be verified by human intelligence and may include made up “facts.”


This example is a strictly factual question about a specific document, but note that the AI inserted unrequested value based evaluations.  Such judgements by the AI reflect accepted opinion, but accepted by whom? Sometimes it is a common consensus and other times it is a fringe bias.


Question


In the last actuary report on the Social Security Old Age program, what was the size of the trust fund and annual interest income?


AI Answer


According to the 2022 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Federal Disability Insurance Trust Funds, the size of the OASI Trust Fund at the end of 2022 was $2.7 trillion. The annual interest income on the OASI Trust Fund in 2022 was $66 billion.


The OASI Trust Fund is financed by Social Security payroll taxes paid by workers and their employers. The Trust Fund is used to pay Social Security benefits to retired workers, their spouses and children, and survivors of deceased workers.
The OASI Trust Fund is projected to be depleted in 2035. This means that, without changes to the Social Security program, the Trust Fund will not be able to pay full benefits to beneficiaries after that time.


The Social Security Administration is working on a number of proposals to address the long-term financial challenges facing the Social Security program. These proposals include raising the payroll tax cap, increasing the retirement age, and reducing benefits.


The Social Security program is an important safety net for millions of Americans. It is important to find solutions that will ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the program so that it can continue to provide benefits to future generations.

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