It is not clear how this dilema will be resolved but the issues are laid out in this article.

Health Costs Eat Away at Retirement Contributions

Health-care costs are increasingly vying with retirement contributions for a piece of the household budget. More than a third of Americans squeezed by higher medical costs say they\’ve reduced their contributions to retirement and other savings accounts in response.

Thirty-six percent of those who\’ve seen their health costs climb in the last year report they\’ve decreased their retirement savings compared with 25% who said so in 2004, according to a survey of 1,000 adults from the nonprofit, nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI). More than half — 53% — say they\’ve ratcheted down other savings.
http://biz.yahoo.com/weekend/medcost_1.html

Exactly how they “ratcheted down other savings” is hard to figure as most Americans do not save, but…

in many ways health insurance… has been about other people’s money and as a result we’ve become ravenous consumers spending other people’s money.

Having worked in organizations with generous health care programs, this is all too evident. If everyone had to pay the full cost of their health coverage as a line item on their pay statement, they might behave differently. It was a big shock when I started paying for ours. If these folks were paying directly out of their own pockets even a small percentage of the costs, they might not be so inclined to need these services. Of course they are paying indirectly. Whining about declining salary increases and bonuses is loud and clear.

They can’t both be right. Or can they?

From John Mauldin

The debate is framed by two very different estimates of economic growth and Fed policy. Because JP Morgan Chase, mentioned above, thinks that the economy is going to grow enough that inflation will remain a problem, they think there will be three more interest-rate hikes between now and June, taking the Fed funds rate to 6%.

But there are others, like Goldman Sachs, who think the economy will slow and bring inflation down with it. Goldman thinks the Fed will cut rates five times next year, bringing the Fed funds rate down to 4%.

One assumes that these firms are betting their customers’ money on these outcomes. The cynic says they will win either way, so the customers will lose no matter what. This may be just marketing rather than economics anyway.

On the other hand, it could happen that they are both right. If so, it will be a pretty wild ride for everyone.

I’m really trying to be positive and upbeat – looking for good news and solutions, rather than being part of the problem. However, it is very difficult when items like this come along. What is so frustrating is that there is really little that individuals can do to change this. I voted Liberatarian. Well, it is a start…

A Look at the Numbers: How the Rich Get Richer
Mother Jones
http://www.motherjones.com/news/exhibit/2006/05/perks_of_privilege.html

IN 1985, THE FORBES 400 were worth $221 billion combined. Today, they’re worth $1.13 trillion—more than the GDP of Canada.

We aren’t talking about some third world country here. The enormity of this is unbelievable.

There are forty or so of these little factoids – most make my blood boil, but here are a few that speak volumes about the state of the U.S. moral decline by the wealthiest and those so-called “elected” representatives.

ONLY THE WEALTHIEST 20% of Americans spend more on entertainment than on health care.

And what about the millions who don’t pay anything for healthcare because they don’t have any?

ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION, the federal minimum wage has fallen 42% since its peak in 1968.

THE $17,530 EARNED by the average Wal-Mart employee last year was $1,820 below the poverty line for a family of 4.
5 OF AMERICA’S 10 richest people are Wal-Mart heirs.

PUBLIC COMPANIES spend 10% of their earnings compensating their top 5 executives.

10 FORMER ENRON directors agreed to pay shareholders a $13 million settlement—which is 10% of what they made by dumping stock while lying about the company’s health.

POOR AMERICANS spend 1/4 of their income on residential energy costs.

How does this happen? How can it be set right so that all Americans share more equitably in the natural wealth, innovation and resourcefulness that made the U.S. the envy of the world? In a democracy, voters have a say at the ballot box. Too bad this isn’t an option for Americans. We’ll just have to find another way. And we will…

Good source of information about indicators of all sorts and valuable tutorials on meaning and application.

Incredible Charts
http://www.incrediblecharts.com/

Indicators A to Z
More than 50 powerful indicators with practical trading strategies and examples.
Trend indicators, momentum indicators, volume indicators, volatility indicators, market indicators…
http://www.incrediblecharts.com/technical/indicators.htm

Indicator Basics
Trending v. Ranging Markets
No one indicator is suited to all market conditions. Trend indicators lose money during a ranging market, as fluctuations in a narrow price range whipsaw traders in and out of positions. In a trending market, momentum indicators give too many signals and should only be used to confirm trend indicators.
http://www.incrediblecharts.com/technical/indicator_basics.htm