Say Anything Blog

Would that be “Eggs Benidict” Heitkamp?

What must it be like to be an uber-leftist democrat and blog on this issue for so long, and in such examination of minutia to find that there was no wrong doing. No fraud. How must it feel to campaign on this issue to only find out that the basis of your campaign is so utterly with out merit and hollow. What will they turn their sights on next? Something tells me it will be finding a way to keep more North Dakotan’s money, and expand the government, and increase the number of people who are supported and thus dependant on the government.

C.

Please explain this one.  Why does Conolly or WSI believe ND WSI is 33 in benefit rankings. The NASI report http://www.nasi.org/usr_doc/NASI_Workers_Comp_2005_Full_Report.pdf
Page 24 table 10 puts WSI at 33.  But please go to page 17 and read state Benefits relative to wages and the rank of 33 means nothing.
“While benefit payments that are standardized relative to wages in a state provide a useful perspective for looking at changes within particular states over time, the data do not provide meaningful comparisons of the adequacy of benefits across states.”

and just how to you start a new thread on this site?
first time here

Thanks Mike.

If you register you can post a reader blog.  Not on the home page but they do get attention.

Rob is a good host.  Just watch out for Proof

“The monster was the best friend I ever had.”

Boris Karloff

Mike, this is how you get a reader blog.

As for this:

Why does Conolly or WSI believe ND WSI is 33 in benefit rankings. The NASI report http://www.nasi.org/usr_doc/NASI_Workers_Comp_2005_Full_Report.pdf
Page 24 table 10 puts WSI at 33.

They probably do so because NASI is the best measure available.

We see this same problem with teacher pay rankings.  We’re always told that North Dakota is at the bottom for teacher pay in the nation, yet those pay rankings are never adjusted for cost of living.

Really, though, that seems like a rather minor issue.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

I ask again.  Why does Conolly or WSI believe ND WSI is 33 in benefit rankings?

They probably do so because NASI is the best measure available????? what????

Within the NASI report itself “While benefit payments that are standardized relative to wages in a state provide a useful perspective for looking at changes within particular states over time, the data do not provide meaningful comparisons of the adequacy of benefits across states.”

Mike, repeating the same thing over and over again isn’t going to prove your point.

The NASI measure may be flawed, but even with flaws may be the best or only measure we have to go by.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

You are as right as rain Mike.  Trying to compare something as complicated as benefits that vary significantly state by state is, at best, difficult.  Thinking you can do it with one number is simplistic bull only.

“The monster was the best friend I ever had.”

Boris Karloff

Rob, ouch. that hurt. go back and reread conolly report page 26, E. WSI Benefits. Conolly is saying you can not use NASI to say you are among the finest in the nation or 33rd. Read just a part of NASI starting on page 17. NASI says you can not use Table 10 to compare state to state.

Then Conolly compares waiting period and retroactive in which ND does look good.  But comparing the length of 104 weeks of temporary total disability in ND with Minnesota (104 years also) but Montana, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin having a term of the “duration of the disability” would not be so impressive.

Then Conolly to widow benefits chart.  North Dakota being in the norm at 67%.  That is ok. But typically our workforce is paid less than about 45 other states our widow benefits would show up as less dollars.  Not so impressive.

Moving on to minimum and maximum total disability chart On temporary total disability the law states the minimum or calculation of 662/3 percent of workers average weekly wage whichever is less.  Minimum doesn’t count.  Maximum would only have value if one makes $52,000 yearly and I think average yearly income in ND is closer to $30,000. 
While this my be true in the other states also, one has to look a little deeper than just a chart.
Less dollars times 662/3 percent will always equal less benefits.