Insurance

With the upcoming health-care legislation there’s a strange alignment of interests. With the Single Payer option killed the players now focus on providing insurance coverage for all Americans. But first let us explore the concept of insurance.  Insurance is at its root shared risk. Because the consequences of illness are so great and we all are at risk, insurance as a legitimate solution is agreed by many. However, on the extreme of libertarians forcing the individual to share risks with others that they have nor wish control over is an anathema. They view individual responsibility as the ultimate device to keep humanity alive. Consequences maybe a cruel instructor.  As one leg of the GOP stool the libertarian credo is often espoused by the GOP to abolish all social welfare programs. The corporate leg of the GOP stool sees the gigantic profits to be made in a national health insurance mandate, minus any public option, of course. On the Democrats side the historic view of insurance companies has been most negative. The 30 percent of premiums that go to administrative expenses and profits for the insurance companies are seen by many Dems  as corporate greed taking advantage of the sick and least able to protect themselves. So where are we now? The Dems seem willing to accept and even promote an individual mandate for health insurance, while the GOP  is split among those railing against socialized medicine and those looking to get a government windfall in hard times. Meanwhile,  the 50 million uninsured will continue to become sick and injured while those with insurance will pay not only for their own care but the belated expensive care for the uninsured and the multimillion dollar benefits of the insurance companies. Go figure.

Current Landscape

I got taste of the misinformation that seems to be swallowing the electorate. A man retired from the Army after serving in Korea and Viet Nam let me know that Barack Obama has now said he is of the “Arab religion”.  The treaty that allows the US to maintain forces in Iraq for three years was not signed by George Bush, but rather by Barack Obama. The return of “the draft” is part of Obama’s plan to make America’s military a force to spread that “Arab religion”. For further evidence of the difficulty of democracy the gentle reader is referred to here to examine the ballots in the Minnesota Senatorial election. The past failure of the public education system to imbue the current generation with the principles upon which this nation was founded and how the mechanisms of an election work will continue to have lasting implications. See Codrescu . As rightwing radio begins its assault on the incoming administration with hoots of “Obama’s Recession” we can expect some turbulent times. Nobody said Change was going to be easy.

 

Now reading Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow.

Reconnaissance Mission

Your precinct correspondent recently climbed the party hierarchy for a peek inside the SDEC at a TDP reception after the first day of committee meeting. While munching on oatmeal raisin cookies and swigging coke (designated driver status) he overheard the hot topic of the day, the “Texas Two-Step” primary process. Arguments listing the hardships on the elderly, the handicapped and night shift workers had been pushed since the March primary. But the critical role of party building through the conventions was not going away quietly. With early voting accounting for over half the vote and with “drive-by” primaries the Cardinals of the party wonder if the campaigns have turned the party into nothing but a letterhead with the real body written by the candidates. Would early voters and Election Day voters return as foot soldiers in the fall?  Without the convention sign-in sheets containing vital phone numbers and email addresses how can the party marshal forces to blockwalk, phonebank, turnout for rallies and voice a message of unity? The migration to cell phones from landlines has made phone directories an information pot of only senior citizens.  Sure, Obama has the community organizing skills on steroids, but what about the guy or gal running for Justice of the Peace, Constable, County Commissioner? Are they left to fend for themselves, hopefully have a large family, circle of Facebook friends, with ready cash? If people who vote have no more allegiance to a party and its platform than drop by an Early voting station on a rainy spring Sunday afternoon, will the best candidate really be chosen? Are we doomed to nothing but candidate personality, mass media buys funded by special interests and big donors? We have already seen campaigns where candidates would not endorse or be seen with other candidates for other offices in the same party because that connection might lose them a vote in their own race. What is the logical endpoint? No parties, just totally independent candidates?  How will George Washington’s vision work in the 21^st Century?

Now reading Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow.

Questions from Cattle Country

I’m confused. McCain/Palin are presented as “Mavericks”. But mavericks from what? From fiscal responsibility, non-interventionist foreign policy, and civil liberties? From the GOP, which we are told is the party of fiscal responsiblity, non-interventionist foreign policy, and civil liberties? Or is it  the GOP the maverick from its own core principles? Do we want “mavericks” in charge? Who are they going to work with? If it’s the herd, will they still be “mavericks”?

Cornyn’s Shame

Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has brought shame to the great state of Texas by his vote against the “McCain Amendment”, SA1977. This amendment to the Defense Authorization Act for 2006 would have prohibited the torture of persons held by our armed forces. Sen. Cornyn was  one of just nine Senators to oppose this amendment, while 90 voted in favor.  Was he pandering to the Neocons? Did he learn nothing of the principles of this country while on the Texas Supreme Court? Since Sen Cornyn’s cohorts in the House prevailed in approving torture in the final act, there is NO moral retribution for our enemies who torture captured American military. The lessons of Abu Graib and the renditions will return to haunt Sen. Cornyn as he runs for re-election in 2008. He counting on you forgetting all about his shame.

 http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00249

     

It’s time for him to go.

McCain’s Heroism, peeling the onion

We have all heard the story of John McCain’s military service during the Vietnam War. His valor is evidenced by trying to rescue a trapped pilot on the USS Forrestal during a fire on deck that killed 134 sailors. His streak of 23 bombing missions was terminated when he was shot down and captured by North Vietnamese civilians. Not exactly an accomplishment on the level of Sgt York, so we turn to his refusal to provide propaganda despite long beatings, torture and deprivation. He finally did make a “confession” after years when he reached the breaking point. Human beings each have a individual tolerance for physical torture. I do not think any less of him for breaking. He demonstrated superlative tenacity to hold out for as long as he did. But perhaps there is more to why he could endure the unspeakable than just his military training and family history. Does John McCain have a force of will power that is rooted in stubbornness? The stubbornness that once fixed on a path will not be deterred. A stubbornness of the current administration that has brought our nation into disrepute in much of the world. To be sure McCain has made numerous changes in policy positions over in a long career, but these were mostly out of political expediency and not a reversal of a core value. In a multi power centered world where much of the world population does not agree with American hegemony a U.S. President who sees a hundred years struggle focused on projecting military might will be at a severe disadvantage in spreading Americas values and no amount of bluster and bullheadedness will improve the performance. The heroism of withstanding prolonged torture does not in itself imply wisdom.

L’l Tim

Let me say up front I don’t believe I ever watched a full episode of Meet the Press while Tim Russert was the moderator.  I did catch a few snippets and some excepts over the years.  I am so old I remember Meet the Press with Lawrence Spivak.  My thoughts are with his family in their time of loss. Being only two days younger than Mr. Russert I am again faced with that ruthless fact of life, our fragile mortality.

The current homilies to Mr. Russert show him as a relentless researcher and a good civic-minded family man. The professional performance of Mr. Russert brings to mind that some career strengths, e.g. President Carter, that are not well suited to their position. Just as the nuclear engineering mind of President Carter was not optimal for leading the American people in the malaise of the Post Viet Nam era, the legal training of Mr. Russert missed a critical aspect of the journalism trade. The preparation technique of vigorously researching both sides of legal case leads the journalist to present both sides of the news as plausible, despite the fact that there is no acceptable side in favor of torture or corruption. As a former Democratic staffer Mr. Russert may have felt the need to show absolute balance, to never let his personal political beliefs hint to the viewer that he was biased. Mr. Russert is lauded for asking the tough questions to those in power. The problem as I see it is that when he allowed the interviewee in response to spin or bolster their case he did not then forcefully point out they were wrong and that their defense was based on their own personal ego and enrichment. As an NBC News Vice President Mr. Russert certainly knew that if he rubbed the comfortable noses in the raw truth, they would avoid appearing again, thus risking the ratings competition. The MSM struggles to be affable to both sides to avoid offending known perpetrators of malfeasance to maintain their precious access. Promoting the story of McCain the maverick may make good business sense but it betrays the journalists’ pursuit and publication of the truth.

Shorts

 

Now that the primary race is over we can enjoy some tasteless fun (Rated M).

Hillary supporters – I feel your pain.

 I have a suggestion for President Obama. Move the District of Columbia to New Orleans.  That would get some federal money that way.  Oh I know the current residents would lose their voting franchise, but It hasn’t done them much good before, during or after Katrina.

Should the Presidential race now be called: Obama vs. Ol’ Bomba’ ? Comments welcome.

 

A Balance

HEROES

If you have seen a little too much of partisan competition lately and need a break, here’s a story from a different world where competition is also key. This story is the real America, where competition does not outweigh compassion.  When the media can publicize these stories over the Paris Hilton, four hundred dollar haircuts, and politics of destruction they will serve this nation.

THE OPPOSING VIEW

My wish is  on January 20, 2009 when the new President is sworn into office that he/she completes the oath of office, raises his/her hand off the Bible, shakes hands with the Chief Justice and as the applause rises turns to the Attorney General and says, “I order you to immediately arrest George W Bush and Richard B. Cheney for War Crimes and crimes against humanity.”

 

What’s your opinion? Post a comment and send  a link for this site to like minded individuals.

Reminder from October 2005

Cornyn’s Shame. Senator John Cornyn has brought shame to the great state of Texas by his vote against the “McCain Amendment”, SA1977. This amendment to the Defense Authorization Act for 2006 would prohibit the torture of persons held by our armed forces. Sen. Cornyn was  one of just nine Senators to oppose this amendment, while 90 voted in favor.  Was he pandering to the right-wing extremists moneyed interests? Did learn nothing of the principals of this country while on the Texas Supreme Court? If Sen Cornyn’s cohorts in the House prevail in approving torture in the final act, there will be NO moral retribution for our enemies who torture captured American military. The lessons of Abu Graib will return to haunt Sen. Cornyn when he runs for re-election in 2008. He counting on you forgetting all about his shame by then.

 

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00249