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Health Reform for Christmas

by: Colorado Pols

Thu Dec 24, 2009 at 07:12:59 AM MST


As the Washington Post reports:

The Senate approved a landmark health-care bill Thursday morning that would provide coverage to more than 30 million people and begin a far-reaching overhaul of Medicare and the private insurance market.

Vice President Biden presided over the 60-39, party-line vote, which brings Democrats closer than ever to realizing their 70-year-old goal of universal health coverage.

For the first time, most Americans would be required to obtain health insurance, either through their employer or via new, government-regulated exchanges. Those who can't afford insurance plans would receive federal subsidies. And Medicaid would be vastly expanded to reach millions of low-income children and adults.

Difficult issues must be still resolved in final negotiations with the House, which has passed more liberal health-care reform legislation, and those talks could stretch through January and perhaps into February, Democratic leaders said. But Democrats are increasingly confident that President Obama will sign a bill into law in early 2010.

"Health care reform is not a matter of 'if,' " White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters Wednesday.
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Health Reform for Christmas | 94 comments
Fed Gov't is Santa Claus
And some got a bigger present than others, like the $300 Million Sen. Landreau (D-LA) bragged about getting when accused of selling her vote for only $100 Million.
Christmas Eve message from Michael Bennet
Just popped up in the email. First Christmas even vote since 1895. Thanks, Republicans.

I just got back to the office from voting on health care reform, and I wanted you to know that I voted to change our broken system -- and we won.

Finally, real progress on an issue that I know matters to us all. While this bill isn't perfect, it is a historic step in the right direction.

Thanks to your stories and your relentless work, we just passed a bill that saves money, saves lives, and gives our working families a fair shake. This legislation will provide coverage for thousands of additional Coloradans, eliminate exclusions based on pre-existing conditions, and protect our seniors by strengthening Medicare. And, it does all this while being paid for and not increasing the budget deficit.

Now that we've taken the first step -- after nearly a century of trying, we can, and will, improve on health care reform in the years to come.

Right now, I'm excited to finally be headed back to Colorado to spend some much needed time with my family, before we get right back to working with you.

Susan, Caroline, Halina, Anne and I wish you a very Happy Holidays.

Michael Bennet
U.S. Senator

 
C'mon, now
You can't totally blame the R's.
They said they wanted it to be like Waterloo. And so now it will be.

And the D's hae to shoulder some responsibility for taking on such a large, emotional and complicated issue.  Why, if they had just stuck with no-bid contracts for everything and endless imprisonment without trial and not re-building the federal flood controls around New Orleans, none of this would have happened. Hell they could have had several Ensign/Sanford/Craig/et al sex scandals and all of this could have been avoided too.

So while it's always fun to make fun of the R's - let's just remember if we would have eleced John McCain all of this could have been avoided.

[ Parent ]
Here's a different version of Bennet's Holiday card.
I just got back to the office from voting on health insurance reform, and I wanted you to know that I voted to change our broken system -- and the health insurance companies won.

Finally, real progress for my paymasters the insurance companies and Wall Street on an issue that I know matters to us all. While this bill isn't perfect, it is a historic step in the right direction that will enable insurance companies to jack up their rates while forcing Americans to buy insurance they can't afford.

Thanks to your stories and your relentless work, we just passed a bill that will cost the taxpayers more money, destroy lives by bankrupting middleclass families, and gives our working families more to worry about financially. This legislation will provide coverage for thousands of additional Coloradans, eliminate exclusions based on pre-existing conditions, and protect our seniors by strengthening Medicare. And, it does all this while giving huge handouts to the insurance companies who will then increase your premiums to record levels never seen before.

Now that we've taken the first step -- after nearly a century of trying, we can, and will, further erode the middleclass on health insurance reform in the years to come.

Right now, I'm excited to finally be headed back to Colorado to spend some much needed time with my family, before we get right back to working with you.

Dick Fuld, Hank Paulson, Alan Greenspan, John Tiner/Hector Sants, Fred "the shred" Goodwin and I wish you a very Happy Holidays.

Michael Bennet
U.S. Senator

For those who don't get that I altered his card, I did.  

[ Parent ]
You & Jane Norton would get along great.
Have you invited her into your living room yet for a "Scream Epithets 'Bout Democrats" session?  Looks like a good time all'round!

I'm not as sweet as I used to be.
[ Parent ]
"… would get along great."
Jamba, I usually agree with you, but I'm doubtful about this
[ Parent ]
Well, at least...
...Jane would let Sharon say all manner of stupid, random things without challenge.  I think that's an essential ingredient for getting along with Sharon.

I'm not as sweet as I used to be.
[ Parent ]
To be fair
Jane might urge Sharon to "channel all that negative energy" into electing a Republican to the Senate ... which is the likely result of Sharon's antics.
[ Parent ]
What "channel"?
All we need to do is alienate the middle and demotivate the D's - R nomnee wins.
[ Parent ]
I agree with you entirely, Jamba
On a side note:
1.My new bifocals are in!
2.For the people that like to attack me, I'll have some cavalry on the way soon.
If there is one thing I am good at it is motivating people from many communities to political action. They will adopt anonymous names to fight fire with fire if need be. They aren't sock puppets, though. The ip addresses can be tracked and verfied.
So my friends that like to tell me FO I say:I'd prefer to adopt a more civil manner in expresing our differences.
3. I'm very happy that the bill passed and moves on to the conference committee.
4. Merry Christmas to all my Christian friends.


judge elected officials by their actions, not by their rhetoric
[ Parent ]
Got Your Back, Ray.


ITLDUSO  
Honk hello when you see my license plate!
[ Parent ]
Thanks caroman
You are one of many that are on the way.
I apprecciate the support

judge elected officials by their actions, not by their rhetoric
[ Parent ]
Hey, Ray.
Um...what?

You're now mad at me because I pointed out that you compared posters here (not even me) to Klansmen?

Oh, well.  Have a wonderful Christmas.  No snark.

[ Parent ]
No I'm not amd at you
As a matter of fact I'm using one of your statements last year as my current tag line.

I did explain how anonymity here when used to attack people reminds me of the klansman's sheet. That is true. Perhaps you didn't read that comment.

I bet with my focus on civility, and the importation of some of my supporters to counter attack when a small group of people who obviously don't like me will return the debate here to more true discussion.

A small group here apparently has felt that they can drive off people with insults and personal attacks. It may have worked with others. I'm betting that I have more friends than they do.

judge elected officials by their actions, not by their rhetoric

[ Parent ]
The George Bailey solution:-)
It's a wonderful life

Exercise your right to peaceably assemble and reclaim the commons. Stop the militarization of America.
[ Parent ]
This is so effin weird.
This is like 7th grade and retorts such as "My brother can beat up your brother."

I've never said a thing pro or con about you, Ray (that I can recall). Indeed, I don't have a clue who you are.

This sort of tactic does not make me think that I would like you in real life.

But, hey, hope you and all your backers are having a swell holiday.

"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge." --ChuckieD, 1871

[ Parent ]
This is weird - and laughable
I don't dislike you, Ray.  In fact, I had a pretty positive opinion about you until this past week when you went off the deep end.  And if you think I was driving you away, well, that's your opinion, not mine.

"We're below sharks and contract killers." -- Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), speaking on Congress's 9% approval rating
[ Parent ]
I haven't gone off the deep end
Anonymous attacks are not justifiable.

You've identified yourself it would seem, so it appears that you have some character.

If you want to debate without insults then maybe we can put this issue to rest between me and you.  

judge elected officials by their actions, not by their rhetoric

[ Parent ]
yikes-
Not everyone gets the Bizarro world   reference, but...

a) the bill isn't done yet.  The House and Senate versions have to be the same before it goes to the President. There are several ways to accomplish that, but they appear headed to a conference committee .  Pushing on those committee members would seem to be a good use of energy.

b) If the final bill looks anything like the Senate version just passed, 80% of all premiums paid to health insurance companies will have to go toward care or be refunded to the payors.

c) I get that you think despise Senator Bennet and you have expressed some of why you think he could be despicable. I also understand you have a preference for Romanoff.  What makes Romanoff so preferable?    

[ Parent ]
80%????? 80 Effin' percent?
That's outrageous.  Since Big Inso eats up 25-35% of premiums for overhead now, all they have to do is cut a few CEO perks and they are there.  Seriously, since there won't be much need for underwriters with this gift bill, there's the slop.

If there is any industry that knows how to use mirrors and blow accounting smoke, it is the insurance one.  Masters of Deceit.  

"Oh, look, I've raped only 20 kiddies this week.  I used to do 30 a week."  

I have tried really, really hard to listen to JO and Sharon on the one side, and David, Krugman, and others here on the other side.  If the final bill looks anything like the Senate version, kill it.  

"Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth." Paul Krugman, 9/2010

[ Parent ]
IIRC you have been dealing with one of those not-so rare worst case kind of health care scenarios.

I've been there, more than once actually.

Single payer is the most logical choice. We don't have the votes for it.
In fact, it is pretty clear that at the moment the most changes and improvements we do have the votes for is what we're about to get.

Meanwhile, I'll keep your family in my prayers.

[ Parent ]
Thanks, MADCO...Things have gotten worse.
My mother broke her left arm in two places 3am Monday.  It's taking my brother, my sister, and of course, the resident caregiver (me) to keep things (barely)going.  

Just when you think things suck, the universe will teach you that things can suck a lot more.......


"Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth." Paul Krugman, 9/2010

[ Parent ]
Sorry to hear that, Paul.
I don´t know all the details of your situation now, but I sure hope things start to get better soon.

We're all in this story together: Let's make sure that we write it well.
http://www.steveharveyforcolor...
[ Parent ]
I'm sorry
Please give your mom a hug from me. It's awful when life piles on.

Where all the cool kids will be on Saturday - Code War!
[ Parent ]
When I was in the shit
I recall people giving me all kinds of hopeful and well intentioned but ultimately useless advice, including movies and books.
I especially liked The Secret. I thought it was very very funny until I realized they thought they were serious. If they had just explained the grays, and maybe the chupacabra, it would have been better.

Barbara Ehrenreich gets it mostly right.  

You are in it for sure. And I got no answers but this: what worked for me was painkillers for them and Marx brothers and other comedy for me.  I've heard the let go, let God but what worked better for me was let go, let groucho . And there is no right answer for everyone, you get to decide.


[ Parent ]
Groucho is great
Classic. Laughter is good medicine.

judge elected officials by their actions, not by their rhetoric
[ Parent ]
Hopefully the House amends to 85%
They won't get 90% and still get it past the Senate, but they might get 85%.  That would be significant and at least within striking range of the profits/overhead allowed in other countries.

I'm very interested to see how the House goes about moving towards conference / reconciliation of the bills.  Good things or not so many good things will be decided on the mechanism they choose.

"We're below sharks and contract killers." -- Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), speaking on Congress's 9% approval rating

[ Parent ]
well, how wonky in the details you wanna go?

It's 80% for group plans, 85% for insurance purchased by the self employed and small businesses.

Once the exchanges are running, and health insurors want in, the limit can be adjusted.  Or we could get a public option, or Medicare buy-in, or ... or ... or

And then there's the qualifying level of income to get federal subsidy. I can't find the number, but at least one likely House rep on the conference committee suggested that limit could be pretty high.

[ Parent ]
I don't want more subsidies
Really, if we're going to be guaranteed paying this out to insurers, I don't want that many subsidies.  I'd rather have Medicaid expansion with some kind of buy-in to offset the costs for "richer" people who can afford some small part of the premium.

I don't see major changes coming from the conference, much as I'd like to see them.

My best hope is that the next budget resolution will include a provision to use budget reconciliation to pass a Medicare buy-in provision for the Exchange.  Doing so for a public option might not pass the Byrd Rule, but for Medicare buy-in, it has a chance to affect Medicare stability and so it passes muster for reconciliation.

"We're below sharks and contract killers." -- Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), speaking on Congress's 9% approval rating

[ Parent ]
or expanded Medicaid...
what a great idea.
[ Parent ]
Expanded Medicaid
This would put more pressure on states to make mandatory payments.Thus, it would cause further budget cuts in Colorado.

Bush/Cheney changed Medicaid and forced states to make heavier mandatory payments.
With the greying of America here (the baby boom generation is reaching retirement age)
Medicaid itself would need to reformed for this to work.

judge elected officials by their actions, not by their rhetoric

[ Parent ]
Medicaid itself would need to reformed

You say that like it's a bad thing.
[ Parent ]
Medicaid reform would be ok
It just would have to be done. Without Medicad reform then exapanison it puts more pressure on the states' budgets which are already at the breaking point.

Federalizing Medicaid would be ok in my opinion.

judge elected officials by their actions, not by their rhetoric

[ Parent ]
Agreed (n/t)


"We're below sharks and contract killers." -- Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), speaking on Congress's 9% approval rating
[ Parent ]
My note from Sen Udall
"I wanted to send an e-mail to wish you and yours a happy holiday season.  If the U.S. Senate completes its work tomorrow on Christmas Eve day -- as scheduled -- I will then fly home to Colorado to be with Maggie, Jed, and Tess."

"As you may know, the Senate has worked for three weeks without a break as we have debated the health insurance reform bill.  We hopefully will pass that bill tomorrow.  It's been tough to be away from Colorado and my family for many weeks, but it's been necessary so that I could work on one of the biggest issues of our time.  I know that some of you are disappointed with the shape that the health care bill has taken.  I admit -- it's not a perfect bill.  But it is landmark legislation that lays the foundation for a system that will insure millions more people, make health insurance more affordable, hold the insurance companies accountable, and actually reduce our spiraling deficit.

"While the health care debate has been going on, I also have been busy with several other issues.  One matter I continue to focus on is fiscal discipline.  I've joined forces with several other senators -- of both parties -- to spur action on addressing our nation's deficit and debt.  Because of our perseverance, we have secured votes in January on two key issues:  the creation of bipartisan deficit-reduction task force and the enactment of "pay as you go" budgeting requirements.  This has ruffled the feathers of some congressional leaders, but it hasn't stopped us.  I also have conferred with Vice President Biden and Treasury Secretary Geithner about how to get our nation on a path to fiscal discipline.  Stay tuned."

"The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten." Calvin Coolidge

60-39 vote?
Did a Republican die?

ITLDUSO  
Honk hello when you see my license plate!
He was off diddling a kiddie somewhere for Christmas.


"Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth." Paul Krugman, 9/2010
[ Parent ]
I think the NV was Bunning
He missed the cloture vote yesterday.  This morning's vote hadn't been posted yet at Senate.gov when I looked earlier.

Today, you're either going to get better or you're going to get worse, but you're never going to be the same.  Which one will it be?  --Joseph V. Paterno
[ Parent ]
Has the good Senator explained what happened to him?
Has he reacted to all that prayer that some Senator would be absent?

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpoin...

[ Parent ]
I think
that he's his own "preexisting condition."

Today, you're either going to get better or you're going to get worse, but you're never going to be the same.  Which one will it be?  --Joseph V. Paterno
[ Parent ]
Dang those Boomerang Prayers
The prayers wishing ill on a Democratic Senator reminded me of the prayers for rain during the Thursday night DNC at Invesco.  Instead, they got snow in the mountains the week before making Denver look great.
Ho Ho Ho!

ITLDUSO  
Honk hello when you see my license plate!
[ Parent ]
Thank You Ben Nelson!
By all means Federalize Medicaid for all states.  PO'd that Nebraska would get a special deal out of the HCR bill to cover the increase in Medicaid.
Ideologically, I'm happy to do anything to expand the social net. The slippery slope to Single Payer gets steeper and slipperier with each expansion to new segments of the population, and the more we get federal involvement. There are a number of great reasons to push on this.

(1) The Federal Tax code is more progressive than most states. Federalizing Medicaid shifts more of the tax burden to the wealthy taxpayers.  

(2) Having the Feds regulate medicaid insurance helps define a guaranteed minimum to health care benefits, which will secure the floor of for all other plans. Presently, Medicaid benefits can be variable depending on each state's budget or opposition to providing welfare to its citizens.

(3) Yeah, there is the little thing of Taxes vs Debt, but the economy could certainly use additional stimulus money. Providing medical care to people has a very high stimulative effect. The recession is killing state budgets everywhere as they are prohibited from running debt. Federalizing Medicaid would provide a huge kick in the stimulus package.

(4) Medicaid doesn't have the famous 20-30% cost hit from private insurance. To the extent that more people are served by an insurance program with 5-10% overhead, national health expenditures will go down.

(5) Cost Control. Medicaid health delivery is frequently offered through FQHCs(Federally Qualified Health Centers) which are much more efficient at delivering cost effective health care than big, for-profit hospitals.

The cost savings of FQHCs doesn't get the attention it deserves. Why are they so efficient? First, primary care delivery, is inexpensive and has a huge impact on health costs down the road. Most important: FQHCs are required to provide cost transparency, while for-profit hospitals hide costs and do a lot of cost shifting, i.e. those $10 aspirins and $100 crutches.  

Suthers wants to sue
Politico
GOP AGs may sue over health bill
...the intent is to determine whether Congress had the power to allot funds to Nebraska differently from other states.

...Colorado GOP Attorney General John Suthers also dismissed the Democratic criticism, telling POLITICO: "How do Democratic attorneys general look citizens in the eye and say, 'It's OK for you to pay Nebraska Medicaid expenses so we can round up enough votes on health care?'"

Ummm, Suthers just now noticed that allocations to the states are not dollar for dollar on every project? Isn't this something he should have raised in the late 1700s when the practice started?

Right.
But you can't pay premiums for one State and not for another.

If this passes, it's going to face immediate challenges on 10th and 14th Amendment grounds.

This unbelievably corrupt BS that went on with Nelson might be what actually sinks it, if abortion doesn't do it first.

[ Parent ]
I don't think it should pass
But I think the AGs are going to have an incredibly hard time saying that each of their states isn't getting something in Medicaid subsidies already.

That the subsidies aren't equal has been true since Medicaid started.  The 10th Amendment doesn't apply now any more than it's applied to most decisions made by the Federal Government in the past 150 years.  And the 14th Amendment equal protection clause applies to the States vs. citizens, not to the Federal government.  Regardless, nothing in the Constitution says anything about equal expenditures, only taxation.

"We're below sharks and contract killers." -- Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), speaking on Congress's 9% approval rating

[ Parent ]
Sorry - Commerce Clause wins again.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D...

And I don't know if you've noticed, but this is FAR from the first time a particular Senator received some jack for his State as the result of his legislative actions.

Or are you willing to dismantle the Bridge to Nowhere?

"The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten." Calvin Coolidge

[ Parent ]
Actually, John C. Calhoun made that very point, Aaron.
With great clarity and vehemence, arguing against Henry Clay's "American system" that used tariffs, collected primarily on Southerners, to pay for "internal improvements," mostly in northern and northwestern states.  
[ Parent ]
Yeah, but
Calhoun also used the concept of "minority rights" to defend, indirectly, the institution of slavery. It makes it hard for me to take the guy, and his notions of social and distributive justice, seriously.

We're all in this story together: Let's make sure that we write it well.
http://www.steveharveyforcolor...
[ Parent ]
Well, does Thomas Jefferson's ownership of slaves
give you pause about his own ideas?  The all time hypocrite award has to go to Patrick Henry.  When he said "Give me liberty or give me death" he specifically included his liberty to enslave others, which he did with great rapacity.
Sometimes, we have to remember that an idea is not responsible for its author.  
[ Parent ]
thanks for my new sig line, Voyageur
a neat little xmas gift

In fact, I just registered
www.veryliberalagitatedpissedoffpeoplewithnoorganization.com
-Laughing Boy
[ Parent ]
I completely agree with your criticism
Voyageur, and actually had it in mind as I was posting. There is, however, a loose but significant connection between the two notions we're attributing to Calhoun: Both can be arguments against equalizing inequities, and both, I feel, ultimately fail on that basis.

Of course, diminished state sovereignty in favor of increased national authority to, among other things, redistribute wealth from one state to another, or prohibit some humans from owning others, does not always result in just outcomes, nor does it always result in unjust ones. But Calhoun rejected it summarily, and I would argue that history has shown us that it has led to good results in at least some instances.  

We're all in this story together: Let's make sure that we write it well.
http://www.steveharveyforcolor...

[ Parent ]
BTW, I agree with Indipol:
That's an excellent line.

We're all in this story together: Let's make sure that we write it well.
http://www.steveharveyforcolor...
[ Parent ]
It's not original to me, but I can't remember who first said it.
Have a great holiday, fellow history buffs.
[ Parent ]
Likewise, V.
Merry Christmas (which, pantheistic Amercian Jew that I am, I have decided to treat as a universal greeting)! Thanks for all of your great contributions to the discussions here.

My daughter is still sleeping off last night's festivities, of chaotic Mexican family gift-opening, fire-crackers, and kid-conflicts. Life..., it just keeps happening.

We're all in this story together: Let's make sure that we write it well.
http://www.steveharveyforcolor...

[ Parent ]
I'm an agnostic myself, raised as a Roman Catholic.
If I was forced to pick a religious affiliation, Reform Judaism comes closest to my views, it that it blends a strong commitment to reason with a reverence for the past and the enduring truths that religious figures were trying to discern.   But since there is only one chance in 365 that the birthday of the historical Jesus actually fell on what was then the Solstice, and celebrated as the birthday of Mithras, Dec. 25, I agree with yopu that I just use Merry Christmas or whatever as a universal well-wishing.  
[ Parent ]
Not to mention
that it just "happened· to fall on the Roman Saturnalia, thus making the celebration less conspicuouus..., before failing to celebrate would have incurred the wrath of the state instead.

We're all in this story together: Let's make sure that we write it well.
http://www.steveharveyforcolor...
[ Parent ]
See, Steve, brief, concise. I have learned something, Thank you.


 For politics, geezers are golden.
by: BlueCat @ Tue Aug 16, 2011 at 19:19:14 PM MDT
[ Parent ]
Your welcome, as always!
I've always liked to mix it up. My shortest post ever was a period, and nothing more, at least tied for the shortest post anywhere, anywhen (unless posting nothing is possible on some sites).

Alas, it´s only the long ones people associate with my name....  :)

We're all in this story together: Let's make sure that we write it well.
http://www.steveharveyforcolor...

[ Parent ]
Dwyer,
I almost passed on pointing this out, because I feel bad for the horse (not to mention the fall-out that may follow), but the brief, concise post above that you learned something from was a mere fact, which is easily communicated briefly and concisely. Analyses and arguments sometimes require more space.

I've always said that Pols is (and Polsters are) great at exchanging facts, opinions, links, and sometimes clever repartee, but weaker on fully developed arguments and analyses. My motto is that we live in a complex and subtle world, in which the need to disseminate complex and subtle ideas, and accustom one another to working with them, is one of the most vital challenges we face.

It's not that different from the notion that we need to improve math and science education in America. The two are really very closely connected: One refers to demands we are not meeting well in the global economy, and one refers to demands that we are not meeting well in the marketplace of ideas upon which democracy depends.

We're all in this story together: Let's make sure that we write it well.
http://www.steveharveyforcolor...

[ Parent ]
hey Steve,
I don't disagree with any of this, and actually might be a good reason for a separate blog as you were going for in another post.  You'd just have to be realistic and realize that one reason Pols is popular is because of the quick comments, not in spite of it.  People would go to a deep analysis themed blog, but far less than will go to a quick repartee blog.  Just the way it is.  What you want:

we live in a complex and subtle world, in which the need to disseminate complex and subtle ideas

already has an outlet: the academic journals.  The info is there, the subscriber base is slight because the vast majority of people either can't handle the density or don't want to.  Those inclined gravitate toward the small community similarly inclined.  I think you're saying that you'd like to change that, and get a large body interested in deep analysis.  My take is that you're already saturated: those who want to be there and/or have the capacity for it, already are there.

Merry Christmas.

In fact, I just registered
www.veryliberalagitatedpissedoffpeoplewithnoorganization.com
-Laughing Boy

[ Parent ]
Merry Christmas, to you too, Indi!
And you make a very good point, one that I've thought about often. But, as you may know, the vast majority of articles published in peer-reviewed journals are completely inaccessible to lay-people.

Intermediaries already exist: Science writers, such as James Gleich (who wrote "Chaos: Making a New Science"), Fritjov Capra ("The Tao of Physics" and "The Web of Life"), Stephen Hwking ("The History of Time"), Stephen Jay Gould ("Wonderful Life"), and Brian somethingornother (Grant? Graves?) who wrote "The Elegant Universe." Most are scientists with the ability and will to make scientific information accessible to lay-people.

My belief is that the more layers of mediation, which create the more venues of dissemination, couched in more degrees of accessibility, the better.

There seems to me to be a space between the kind of information bandied about here, and the kind of information found in books such as, say, "Guns, Germs, and Steel" or "The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers," in which more information-intensive discussions can take place, for which a potential market or audience or membership exists, but which has not yet been adapted to this particular medium. I'm not saying that the demand is strong, but rather than the utility of finding it and cultivating it and making the offering available is a project which I value.

So, I agree with you completely, but consider the potential layers (of accessibility and information intensivity) to be nearly inexhaustible, and the value of trying to fill them in, in order to maximize our shared effort at cultivating our most precious resource, to be extremely high.

Cheers, Buddy! Back to the festivities....

We're all in this story together: Let's make sure that we write it well.
http://www.steveharveyforcolor...

[ Parent ]
Brian Green ("The Elegant Universe")
I should also have mentioned Isaac Asimov and Carl Sagan, among the great popularizers of scientific ideas. And, among the popularizers of political and economic thought, the authors of "Freakonomics" come to mind. Some social science books that largely have an academic audience are pretty readable, such as Elinor Ostrom's "Governing the Commons," and Tom Schelling's "The Strategy of Conflict."

We're all in this story together: Let's make sure that we write it well.
http://www.steveharveyforcolor...
[ Parent ]
Very good analysis
I think Pres. Lincoln settled the idea of states rights v. federalism.

It's odd how the old Democrats came to hold Republican values (Federalism, strong central government, Civil rights)

The Republican came to hold Democratic Party values (states right, weak federal government)

This oddity caused me to do extensive reading to figure out how it came to pass.
It's much more complicated than simply the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

I won't elaborate any further, but the transformation did occur.

judge elected officials by their actions, not by their rhetoric

[ Parent ]
The early Republican Party, late 19th century, sounded very progressive
I've heard Thom Hartmann read the platform of the party, ca. 1876 and it sounded like a mix of TR progressivism and Democratic liberalism.  

My sense is, and I'm offering no proof, that the Democratic party became the conservative one until FDR.  

Way oversimplified, I know.  

"Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth." Paul Krugman, 9/2010

[ Parent ]
I think
there's an eternal balancing act to be struck, at all levels, from global to within the nuclear family (and perhaps even within the individual psyche), alowing as much micro-level ("local") autonomy as possible, while delegating upward just the amount needed to solve collective action problems and create macro-level checks against micro-level tyranny (while, of course, retaining micro-level checks against macro-level tyranny).

The "founding fathers" were concerned about macro-level tyrannies, having just slipped free of what they perceived to be one (the English yoke), They were somewhat oblivious to the dangers of micro-level tyranny (being themselves, for the most part, micro-level tyrants). But subsequent national and world history, and an inevitable confrontation with the issues the drafters of the Constitution managed to postpone, made clear that a complete system of checks and balances requires a federal ability to check state tyranny as well as vice versa, and a state ability to check familial tyranny (eg, domestic abuse), and, more recently, a global ability to check national tyrannies (particularly those that flare into outright genocides).

Constantly refining our institutions to prevent both over- and under-centralization of power (or sovereignty) is one of the most basic of all ongoing political challenges, at all levels.

We're all in this story together: Let's make sure that we write it well.
http://www.steveharveyforcolor...

[ Parent ]
You're right Aaron

When I was an auditor for the DHHS/OIG every state participated with the federal government at different levels with the poorest states getting a higher percent of federal dollars for Medicaid.  If my memory serves me correctly some states were so poor the participation was in the 90% range.  
[ Parent ]
Happy Holidays, Laughing Boy
Although your bet is with 'jobu,' I figured I'd just concede (is it conceding if you're obviously going to lose?) that I owe you dinner, since jobu and I are, shall we say, equivalent.

I have to admit that Congress has failed abjectly to give us the health care reform that I wanted, and that would have a chance at solving some of the systemic problems.

Anyway.  I lose our bet.  I will happily buy you a steak and some vino at Elway's sometime in January.

Why don't...
You just join Middle, SXP, SSG Dan, and Fidel for steak dinner, and we'll all go dutch.  Fidel is having a baby in days, and I'm not going to let him buy me dinner no matter what he says.

It's not so much about making anyone pay, anyway, and it might be a nice way to meet some of the folks.  

My email is on my profile.  Cheers.

[ Parent ]
Happy Christmas to you and yours, LB.
Hope you have a wonderful holiday.

I'm thinking Fidel's baby should be here any day now. How exciting for him--a Christmas baby!

Anyway, the very best to you on a snowy Christmas.  

"I wouldn't characterize caloric intake as "professional development." c rork

[ Parent ]
If we can do it in the New Year...
...you just got back from OST,now I'm heading to Chapel Hill NC on Sunday. (We weaseled out of the NL family visit, and took the much cheaper flight to NC to have a reunion from my March AFB days)....

I've got the first round of emails - only day that's out is Jan 4th, as I've got a class I have to attend....

"The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten." Calvin Coolidge

[ Parent ]
Good to see your signature again LB
While we'll never share the same ballot it is always good to read posts from thoughtful conservatives.  I appreciate your writing.  It gives me hope that the tea bagging extremists won't ruin what was once a decent political party.  Take care and Merry Christmas to you.
[ Parent ]
Health Care Reform? You Have to be Kidding!!
Please don't insult my intelligence by calling that multibillion-dollar giveaway to the health insurance industry "health care reform."
OK How about progress?
My wife has very treatable asthma but uses her inhaler every day.  When she was out of work, she was denied coverage by EVERY health insurer she applied to because of this "pre-existing" condition.

You might be crazy angry about this bill but I am OK with the provision to prevent insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions.  Because insurance companies won't be able to discriminate they will have to start pushing better preventive health programs to improve their bottom line.  Capitalism and the profit motive will drive them to help raise the general health of our population for their own fiscal health.

It is a great day in the neighborhood today.

[ Parent ]
Unfortunately...
There are apparently still a number of provisions in the bill that would allow the insurance companies and employers to cheat those with pre-existing conditions like asthma.

Here's an old article on the problem: by penalizing workers who fail to pass physicals, the new law creates a loophole that discriminates based on pre-existing conditions.

Don't stop fighting to improve the bill - it's not done yet, and we shouldn't accept it as it stands.

"We're below sharks and contract killers." -- Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), speaking on Congress's 9% approval rating

[ Parent ]
Any of you scholarly types know if the Conference Committee
report can be filibustered?  I assume it can, otherwise, we just fix this mess in conference and bring it back to the floor and pass it 58-41 (with Bunning drunk as a lord and missing the vote as usual, and tell Lieberman to go to hell.  Or else tell Snowe we'll put her face on Mount Rushmore if she'll offset Lieberman.  (Nelson we can deal with, his price is reasonable. Leiberman's ego is insatiable.)
Talked about this yesterday
Yes, it can, at least according to the best analysis I've seen.

They can't prevent it from being introduced, and they can't filibuster by proposing amendments, and they can't filibuster by debating points of order.  But they can filibuster the final vote.

"We're below sharks and contract killers." -- Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), speaking on Congress's 9% approval rating

[ Parent ]
David Sirota makes perfect the enemy of great improvement
from HuffPo
For those caught up in the obsequiously triumphalist bullshit coming from the DC elite - you know the crap about the Senate allegedly passing the most important piece of progressive legislation in American history today (an analysis I completely reject) - it's important for us all to remember that the health care battle isn't over - and specifically, the battle over the public option isn't over.
...
Somehow, everyone's forgotten that 60+ House Democrats have signed a letter just a few months ago saying:

Any bill that does not provide, at a minimum, for a public option with reimbursement rates based on Medicare rates - not negotiated rates - is unacceptable.


Where all the cool kids will be on Saturday - Code War!
yea, the House always says that
and grumbles and grumbles and grumbles about the filibuster.  I don't like to repeat stuff I posted in other threads, but I watched Tom Delay get his panties in such a twist about this that he refused to bend on MTBE and lost an entire $30B energy bill by 1 vote when the final conference report went to the Senate.  If he would have given one inch to reality, he would have had his $30B energy bill minus one little sweetener for his funders.

So my point is, 60+ Reps can bitch and whine all they want, but political reality will smack them in the faces and they will vote for it.  

The good thing for the House is that they get far more conferees than the Senate, so they have the votes in the conference committee to get their way on all the little things that will go largely unnoticed by media, bloggers, etc.  But public option?  No.  


In fact, I just registered
www.veryliberalagitatedpissedoffpeoplewithnoorganization.com
-Laughing Boy

[ Parent ]
This was my response to your earlier inquiry about anonymity
I'd rather not get drawn into getting angry with people that hide.But it is true that the anonymity of the this site gives rise to abuse. It permits people to say things that they never would say in public.
For example, you simply ask why Rep.Perlmutter hates veterans when he did more than anyone else to bring the VA regional hospital to Aurora.I don't think that you'd ever put your real name to that post in public. You hide behind anonymity.
If I'm wrong then post by your own name.

The  blatant sexuality attacks against Norton, and against me for meeting people on FB (from Ralphie) are ridculous. I don't like Norton, Nevertheless, I wouldn't attack her for the way she dresses. It's sexual harassment. In the work environment people would be fired for it.

The flat out name calling to Sharon Hanson has been inappropriate. The amount of just telling people to FO on this site disturbs.
She may say some offensive things, but she doesn't deserve to be treated the way she has been.

I think that it's a good analogy.
Though in some ways, the klan is  more honest. One knows right away from the costume that they are hateful people.They still hide from owning their hatred, just like people here do

judge elected officials by their actions, not by their rhetoric

I need to learn to click reply rather than comment
This was in wrong place, so I'll explian it a little bit.
This was in response to laughing boy thinking that I was mad at him. I'm not mad at him. I believe that discussion on this board should remain somewhat civil.

A small group of people who obviously don't like me think that they can drive me off with insults. It may have worked for them in the past with others.

Before personally attacking someone, please keep that analogy (that hiding behind personal attacks behind anonymity reminds me of the sheet of a klansman. It does.

If people want to make personal attacks, they should open an account under their own name. That's just my opninion.  

judge elected officials by their actions, not by their rhetoric

[ Parent ]
And oh, by the way
Have a merry Christmas.

Today, you're either going to get better or you're going to get worse, but you're never going to be the same.  Which one will it be?  --Joseph V. Paterno
[ Parent ]
Thanks Ralphie
I'm Jewish. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.  

judge elected officials by their actions, not by their rhetoric
[ Parent ]
Ralphie didn't attack you for anything
You were the first one to bring up FB.  Then you attacked someone for what you perceived to be sexist remarks, even though that person was teasing someone else.

I thought your FB profile was interesting juxtaposed against your accusations.

If you think that's an "attack," then maybe you need a thicker skin.

Today, you're either going to get better or you're going to get worse, but you're never going to be the same.  Which one will it be?  --Joseph V. Paterno

[ Parent ]
Nope
Doesn't fly , Raphie. If you want your Colorado politicians to have to answer the same question We can sart that.We could for your favotite politicians.

We'll call it the Rslpie inquisition.

I did a normal FB questionaire when you open an account. Your  follow up was ridiculous. You are the worst. Phenix rising will be closely followed in his database of questions to see who tht person's favorite politicians are, too.

My friends who are slowly signing up will do the qaestioning, and I will only say that I can't control them when they persoally attck you, and your political favorites.

I bet their tag lines will be the Ralphie inquisition strikes again.


judge elected officials by their actions, not by their rhetoric

[ Parent ]
We probably won't do this
because I'm not as disgusting as you.But the Ralphie inquisition can certainly come to pass if you press it.  

judge elected officials by their actions, not by their rhetoric
[ Parent ]
You know who I support
As of right now, I should support - just for the paranoid fun of it - anyone that you support.  Maybe you should re-think your support of them based on my own support.  That is perhaps the most childish "threat" I've seen posted on this blog.  You want to waste your friends' time micro-analyzing my posts in an attempt to control and attack me?  Fine.  I won't be the one whose reputation is sullied in the end.

"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool, then to speak out and remove all doubt."

"We're below sharks and contract killers." -- Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), speaking on Congress's 9% approval rating

[ Parent ]
Then let me say this as non-anonymously as possible
Ray,

A number of your statements in comments made during the past week were off-base, prejudicial, and in many cases made out of an attempt to defend your "non-anonymous" reputation from stains self-inflicted and/or self-imagined.

You failed to pay attention to my warning that you were digging your own hole well after the point when you should have realized on your own that it was time to stop digging.

On the whole, you have only yourself to blame.

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news; normally, I wouldn't bother responding to your ongoing war against your own insecurity, but since I participated in what you obviously see as your "persecution", I felt I owed it to the site to get this out into the open so that we could, in the long term, maintain the level of discussion you say you desire from this place.

If you feel the need for more of my honesty and straight-forward responses, I would suggest that taking this to an e-mail exchange would be better.  I've spent years on this blog attempting to be a voice of civility and honesty, and this stupid persecution complex has seen me issuing more comments on personal behavior than has, I think, any other poster since the blog was founded.  It doesn't need any more...

Sincerely,
Les Barstow

"We're below sharks and contract killers." -- Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), speaking on Congress's 9% approval rating

[ Parent ]
Completely off subject...
You're brilliant!  Those all yours?

"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."

12/15/11 - RIP squeaky duck. You were plush, loved and finally ripped apart after over a year.

[ Parent ]
Actually, I copied and pasted...
</snark>

I don't enjoy writing this kind of stuff.  Ray is, in general, a solid contributor, as are you.  I'm with Ray in that I don't like seeing the personal crap overwhelming the conversation.  It's amazing the number of posts you can skip over just by jumping past long threads when someone starts sniping.

"We're below sharks and contract killers." -- Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), speaking on Congress's 9% approval rating

[ Parent ]
Great Les,
Thank you for outing yourself.

You have only yourself to blame. If in fact you haven't lied.

It looks as though that you have spent the last year covering for droll in an attempt to drive people off. I disagree with your assesment of your digusting personal attacks. Blaming victims is exactly what perps do.

 

judge elected officials by their actions, not by their rhetoric

[ Parent ]
P.S. If you want to stop personally attacking me
and debate in a civil manner, then I'll abide by that.  

judge elected officials by their actions, not by their rhetoric
[ Parent ]
A year?
I've spent the past week telling you that your comments on droll were off-base.  I haven't had to cover for her; haven't tried to "drive people off", because I've never thought you needed to be driven off - and I don't give myself that much credit of power regardless.

Do you know how aggravating it is conversing with someone who is seriously convinced the world is out to get them?  I do - now.

"We're below sharks and contract killers." -- Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), speaking on Congress's 9% approval rating

[ Parent ]
My real identity has been "outed" for years
I mentioned my profile - you obviously couldn't be bothered to visit it to see that it points to my photography business - a business with my name attached.

I've even signed posts here in the past - only a few times, as I don't normally consider it necessary to "double-sign".  Responding to your persecution rants is the first I've done so in over a year, because I hoped that putting my name to a post would convince you that I wasn't just ranting behind what you ignorantly considered to be an anonymous front.  Obviously that was a failed assumption.

"We're below sharks and contract killers." -- Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), speaking on Congress's 9% approval rating

[ Parent ]
Fine
If you want to stop personally attacking me
and debate in a civil manner, then I'll abide by that.  


judge elected officials by their actions, not by their rhetoric
[ Parent ]
Health Reform for Christmas | 94 comments
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