This is the cause of my life. It is a key reason that I defied my illness last summer to speak at the Democratic convention in Denver—to support Barack Obama, but also to make sure, as I said, “that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American…will have decent, quality health care as a fundamental right and not just a privilege.” For four decades I have carried this cause—from the floor of the United States Senate to every part of this country. It has never been merely a question of policy; it goes to the heart of my belief in a just society. Now the issue has more meaning for me—and more urgency—than ever before. But it’s always been deeply personal, because the importance of health care has been a recurrent lesson throughout most of my 77 years.>
— Ted Kennedy
Where is Hillary when you need her?
Perhaps I should have phrased it a little differently… an email to the White House via their website.
——————————————-
I cannot begin to tell you how disappointed I am in Obama and his wavering on the public option. Without a public option, IMHO, there is no health care reform.
I wish he would stand up to Right that are doing everything they can to defeat health care reform. It is time to grow a pair.
——————————————–
I had some much hope when he got elected. He is turning out to be much too conservative for my taste, and too willing to compromise. To throw something as important as health care reform into the dysfunctional family that is Congress was a bad, bad, move. And now he is about to surrender about the public option. Where is Hillary when you need her? She has a pair.
Health Care on 4 Napkins from Dan Roam
The Quiet Coup
Author of the article, The Quiet Coup, is is Simon Johnson, former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund.
Here is a quote from the opening of the artilce:
“The crash has laid bare many unpleasant truths about the United States. One of the most alarming, says a former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, is that the finance industry has effectively captured our government-a state of affairs that more typically describes emerging markets, and is at the center of many emerging-market crises. If the IMF’s staff could speak freely about the U.S., it would tell us what it tells all countries in this situation: recovery will fail unless we break the financial oligarchy that is blocking essential reform. And if we are to prevent a true depression, we’re running out of time.”
Scary stuff.
Obama the Utopian
I describe myself as a Utopian. I have a friend who when I said that would laugh and tell me I was being unrealistic.
I am a Utopian, not because I believe we will ever achieve Utopia, but because unless you aim high you will not achieve high.
It is obvious to me that Obama believes this principle. He is a fellow Utopian.
Must read article – “Why We Must Fix Our Prisons”
Senator Jim Webb wrote an article for Parade Magazine Why We Must Fix Our Prisons Click link to read full story.
Some quotes from the article:
“With so many of our citizens in prison compared with the rest of the world, there are only two possibilities: Either we are home to the most evil people on earth or we are doing something different–and vastly counterproductive. Obviously, the answer is the latter. “ Continue reading “Must read article – “Why We Must Fix Our Prisons””
Exactly what are we teaching our kids?
One of the big arguments I heard after Clinton’s escapade with the lady of the blue dress was that it was a horrible example for our children. While I thought Clinton was a good president I did wish he could keep his zipper up.
The latest go around of corporate greed is teaching a different lesson.
To my email buddies/correspondents:
Anyone who knows me even slightly knows that I like to argue and talk politics. They also know that I am somewhere to the left on the political spectrum.
I am probably not as near open minded about listening to other opinions as I fancy myself. Nevertheless that is my goal.
I’ve been known from time to time pass on emails, editorials, jokes, Continue reading “To my email buddies/correspondents:”
HP Pay Cuts – an unfair act of economic opportunism and greed.
Here is a link to a blog entry on DamianSanders.net. It is somewhat long, but is an interesting case study in what is so wrong with this country (world?) that has been hijacked by corporate greed.
HP Pay Cuts – an unfair act of economic opportunism and greed.
I’ve been having a bit of a discussion about what is evil (See the article on Epicurus’ old questions).
It is obscene for the executives of these corporations to make the money they do. Continue reading “HP Pay Cuts – an unfair act of economic opportunism and greed.”
Would this treaty be signed today?
From the book, Doubt: A History, by Jennifer Michael Hecht:
As second president of the United States, Adams signed into law the Treaty of Tripoli (1797), which declares that “the government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion” and is in no way an enemy to Muslims. On this basis “it is declared…that no pretext arising from religious opinion shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.” Further, “The United States is not a Christian nation any more than it is a Jewish or a Mohammedan nation.” It was carried unanimously by the Senate.
I just have a hard time believing that a treaty containing such language would be passed at all today, let alone unanimously!
I could even see the Okie delegation storming out in protest.