Financial markets make no allowance for human compassion, they are incapable of making moral or ethical judgments. They are designed for a different purpose and when we assume that they can do that for which they were not designed we guarantee failure. This is the reason that our health care system costs us twice what those of countries with clearer vision do, and why it delivers us a shorter lifespan.
Fundamentalism is a bad thing, it is ignoring the facts in favor of doctrine. If there is an inherently evil concept in human history, this is it. It has been uniformly destructive in every instance of it's use and I see no rational by which it can ever be expected to be otherwise.
RAmen.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Scott Brown - Elected, or Selected?
The recent editorial by Karl Rove, in which he predicted 3-6 point victory for Scott Brown dovetails all too cleanly with news that Diebold's optical scan machinery was employed to count the votes. This is a corporate sham election, and unless the people of Massachusetts take action to prevent this election from being certified without an investigation (unlikely given the concession by Coakley) it will be the first of many more to be stolen by the right wing machine - literally.
Massachusetts voting machines are programmed and serviced by New England Diebold affiliate LHS Associates.
"The electronic voting systems used in Massachusetts are notoriously plagued with problems and vulnerabilities, and are in violation of federal voting system standards. Moreover, they are sold, programmed, and maintained by a company with a disturbing criminal background."
Unfortunately it really is this easy to subvert representative democracy. It's not really fair, or right, and it is something we should all work to fight against. Don't let corporations pretend to count your votes!
Massachusetts voting machines are programmed and serviced by New England Diebold affiliate LHS Associates.
"The electronic voting systems used in Massachusetts are notoriously plagued with problems and vulnerabilities, and are in violation of federal voting system standards. Moreover, they are sold, programmed, and maintained by a company with a disturbing criminal background."
Unfortunately it really is this easy to subvert representative democracy. It's not really fair, or right, and it is something we should all work to fight against. Don't let corporations pretend to count your votes!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Joe Lieberman: Blinded by the Right
Health care reform is almost ready for a vote, and now Joe Lieberman, Independent Senator from Connecticut is promising to filibuster with the GOP.
I say: let them filibuster. Let them spend the holidays reading the phone book and trying to deny health care to the American people. Eventually they will have to let the vote happen, and health care will pass.
I say: let them filibuster. Let them spend the holidays reading the phone book and trying to deny health care to the American people. Eventually they will have to let the vote happen, and health care will pass.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Public Option NOW
The insurance industry has decided to turn on the health care reform bill, and attacks at the best possible moment for Democrats. Rather than continuing to work on this bill that protects insurance companies, the foolish corporations have elected to mount an offensive on the bill. They will regret this decision, because it means the beginning of the end of private insurance.
With cover provided by private companies who want to raise rates on consumers, the Dems will have every reason to pursue a robust and universal public option. If private insurance companies want to raise rates by thousands of dollars, then the best solution for consumers is an option that eliminates them from the process.
The left is gearing up for a fight in 2010 - and answering the insurance companies with strong congressional action is a great way to earn the trust of voters, and bring real reform to America's health care systems.
With cover provided by private companies who want to raise rates on consumers, the Dems will have every reason to pursue a robust and universal public option. If private insurance companies want to raise rates by thousands of dollars, then the best solution for consumers is an option that eliminates them from the process.
The left is gearing up for a fight in 2010 - and answering the insurance companies with strong congressional action is a great way to earn the trust of voters, and bring real reform to America's health care systems.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
SCOTUS - pants on fire
The Supreme Court failed to address the unconstitutional ruling of Florida's judiciary, and let stand a law that violates the basic rights of students in that state. The decision not to hear this case is a direct attack on current precedent. In 1943, the SCOTUS ruled on a similar case, and concluded that students enjoy the same right of conscience as any other citizen, and cannot be compelled to salute or to pledge allegiance to the flag.
This hits very close to home for me, as I was one of the few students in my school who objected to the pledge, and refused to legitimate the indoctrination it represents. If I had been subject to discipline of the nature practiced in Florida, I expect I would have brought a suit as well. Coercing students into reciting the pledge serves no legitimate purpose, and requiring parental excuses does nothing to remedy the assault on the first amendment.
This is a travesty, but at the same time, I am of mixed mind - would the SCOTUS have overturned their previous ruling? That could have been an even worse disaster. Still, I encourage students in Florida (and everywhere) to ignore such laws and follow their conscience and the constitution. The precedent from 1943 still stands, and the right to freedom of expression trumps any judicial pronouncement in these cases.
This hits very close to home for me, as I was one of the few students in my school who objected to the pledge, and refused to legitimate the indoctrination it represents. If I had been subject to discipline of the nature practiced in Florida, I expect I would have brought a suit as well. Coercing students into reciting the pledge serves no legitimate purpose, and requiring parental excuses does nothing to remedy the assault on the first amendment.
This is a travesty, but at the same time, I am of mixed mind - would the SCOTUS have overturned their previous ruling? That could have been an even worse disaster. Still, I encourage students in Florida (and everywhere) to ignore such laws and follow their conscience and the constitution. The precedent from 1943 still stands, and the right to freedom of expression trumps any judicial pronouncement in these cases.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Boehner's Blog
http://republicanleader.house.gov/blog/?p=632
I am an American voter who supports the public option as part of comprehensive health care reform. There are 200 million Americans like me who want Congress to act in our best interest and include a government plan to keep insurance companies honest.
You currently have access to public health care as a member of Congress, care that I pay for when I remit my taxes each year. I want to have access to a similar program, where pre-existing conditions, ability to pay, and restrictions on participating facilities are not an issue.
Thousands of my fellow Americans die each month for lack of health insurance. Our nation currently spends twice as much as similar nations who have implemented public health care - and all of these nations also have better health outcomes than we do.
The Republican plan to date has been nothing short of insanity. Please, if you want to do something for America, support the public option. Or at least stop lying about the massive grassroots support that it enjoys. If you claim not to have met a supporter of public health care, you might want to look in the mirror. You already enjoy it - why should the rest of us have to do without?
I am an American voter who supports the public option as part of comprehensive health care reform. There are 200 million Americans like me who want Congress to act in our best interest and include a government plan to keep insurance companies honest.
You currently have access to public health care as a member of Congress, care that I pay for when I remit my taxes each year. I want to have access to a similar program, where pre-existing conditions, ability to pay, and restrictions on participating facilities are not an issue.
Thousands of my fellow Americans die each month for lack of health insurance. Our nation currently spends twice as much as similar nations who have implemented public health care - and all of these nations also have better health outcomes than we do.
The Republican plan to date has been nothing short of insanity. Please, if you want to do something for America, support the public option. Or at least stop lying about the massive grassroots support that it enjoys. If you claim not to have met a supporter of public health care, you might want to look in the mirror. You already enjoy it - why should the rest of us have to do without?
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Re: Strangers to Dissent, Liberals Try to Stifle It
"You're either with us or against us in the fight against terror." - George W Bush
The author's agenda is showing. Liberals are not strangers to dissent - we invented and perfected it. That's the problem. There is a time and a place for dissent, and there is a right and a wrong way to dissent.
The current dissent represents spectacularly the 'wrong way', and Obama is just speaking truth to stupid.
Original article by By Michael Barone
The author's agenda is showing. Liberals are not strangers to dissent - we invented and perfected it. That's the problem. There is a time and a place for dissent, and there is a right and a wrong way to dissent.
The current dissent represents spectacularly the 'wrong way', and Obama is just speaking truth to stupid.
Original article by By Michael Barone
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