Insurance premiums for small businesses are being driven higher not just because of an increase in healthcare costs, but also because Wall Street wants higher returns:

The higher premiums at least partly reflect the inexorable rise of medical costs, which is forcing Medicare to raise premiums, too. Health insurance bills are also rising for big employers, but because they have more negotiating clout, their increases are generally not as steep.

Higher medical costs aside, some experts say they think the insurance industry, under pressure from Wall Street, is raising premiums to get ahead of any legislative changes that might reduce their profits.

Now, you might think with health insurance reform pending in Congress, the industry would be concerned about screwing its customers. But you'd be wrong because Washington doesn't run this country, Wall Street does:

“There’s no one out there who hasn’t had to do a mea culpa to Wall Street,” said Sheryl Skolnick, an analyst for Pali Capital who follows the companies. While the industry is particularly vulnerable now in Washington, she said, “it seems like they’re more afraid of Wall Street.”

Oh Barry, don't be so mealy-mouthed:

If the Fed is Wall Street’s bitch, than Congress is the Street’s whore.

Read the whole thing. He forgot to mention the criminal "news" media, but it's still good.

[I've spent a lifetime looking past misogyny fossilized in language, so I'm letting this one go too, almost.]

George Washington of Washington’s Blog, posted Black's recent proposal on Naked Capitalism. Black is Associate Professor of Economics and Law at the University of Missouri – Kansas City, and the former head S&L regulator, and author of the book, The Best Way to Rob a Bank is to Own One. Black' has been a lonely voice in the wilderness warning that the entire financial collapse, from sub-prime mortgages, to rating agencies, to the creation and handling of credit default swaps, is fraught with criminal fraud that both the Bush and now the Obama administrations have refused to deal with.

Today and yesterday saw major demonstrations on Wall Street. The NY Daily News, Reuters, Xinhau, Associated Press, and even the Tennessean all have stories. But Isvestia is silent. That is worse than dishonest. It is embarrassing.

Developers, and real estate promoters, are the shiznit when it comes to making money for themselves. But when it comes to running companies they bought via outright confidence games, guys like Sam Zell pretty much suck. So now Tribune Media's in the tank, hundreds of jobs are gone, several news outlets are shutting down ... and Sam Zell's gonna get MONEY!! Hat tip Jim Hightower.

Via Upset the Setup:

No Bailout for Wall Street -- Protest on Wall Street this Thursday at 4pm!

If you go to this, please take pictures and post about your experience.