Friday, October 30, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Surprise, surprise
Health Insurers Emerge as Obama's Top Foe in Reform Effort - Washington Post
Strategic advice: hit where it hurts (silver and gold).
Busted Trust - Slate
LATE ADDITION: Democrats Fire Back at Health Industry - Washington Post
Strategic advice: hit where it hurts (silver and gold).
Busted Trust - Slate
LATE ADDITION: Democrats Fire Back at Health Industry - Washington Post
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
We'll leave it there
That darn liberal media again.
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
CNN Leaves It There | ||||
www.thedailyshow.com | ||||
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Saturday, October 10, 2009
It only matters if you enjoy chewing, speaking, social interaction, and substantial employment
The American Way of Dentistry - Slate
Aside from the physical risks of scanty or nonexistent dental care (see the story of Deamonte Driver for an extreme example), it's also worth noting the social consequences. As the author of the above article rightly observes: "In a country in denial about class divisions, a mangled mouth is the clearest indication of second-class citizenship. Missing or rotting teeth are like a scarlet T, declaring their owner to be trash."
Some inequities, some forms of senseless unfairness in life, are probably unavoidable. But some are not.
Aside from the physical risks of scanty or nonexistent dental care (see the story of Deamonte Driver for an extreme example), it's also worth noting the social consequences. As the author of the above article rightly observes: "In a country in denial about class divisions, a mangled mouth is the clearest indication of second-class citizenship. Missing or rotting teeth are like a scarlet T, declaring their owner to be trash."
Some inequities, some forms of senseless unfairness in life, are probably unavoidable. But some are not.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
If Obama's for it, they're against it
Just the kind of thoughtful governance we all hope for:
The Politics of Spite - The New York Times
Speaking of stupidity...
The Medicare-Isn't-Government Meme, Part 4 - Slate
The Politics of Spite - The New York Times
Speaking of stupidity...
The Medicare-Isn't-Government Meme, Part 4 - Slate
Monday, October 5, 2009
No fair!
Interesting comment today in Roger Cohen's NYT column:
So, to the extent such attitudes are in fact to blame, we can say that hundreds of thousands of Americans suffer or die each year from lack of health care due to the simple, shameful fact that millions of us are using the moral-reasoning algorithms of a six year old. ("But Mommmm! I don't wanna share!")
Whatever may be right, something is rotten in American medicine. It should be fixed. But fixing it requires the acknowledgment that, when it comes to health, we’re all in this together. Pooling the risk between everybody is the most efficient way to forge a healthier society.
Europeans have no problem with this moral commitment. But Americans hear “pooled risk” and think, “Hey, somebody’s freeloading on my hard work.”
A reader, John Dowd, sent me this comment: “In Europe generally the populace in the various countries feels enough sense of social connectedness to enforce a social contract that benefits all, albeit at a fairly high cost. In America it is not like that. There is endless worry that one’s neighbor may be getting more than his or her 'fair' share.”
So, to the extent such attitudes are in fact to blame, we can say that hundreds of thousands of Americans suffer or die each year from lack of health care due to the simple, shameful fact that millions of us are using the moral-reasoning algorithms of a six year old. ("But Mommmm! I don't wanna share!")
Thursday, October 1, 2009
The G.O.P. health plan: don't get sick
And if you do, die quickly. (Nice summary, Rep. Grayson.)
The GOP, of course, is using Grayson's presentation to whip up another wave of phony outrage amongst the unthinking faithful-- as if the real source of their irritation isn't that Grayson is right (precisely why he shouldn't apologize: truth is always a valid defense). But apparently some Republi-weenies can't handle the truth -- or a dose of their own medicine (not that it has ever occurred to a serving Republican to characterize an opponent's position accurately).
The GOP, of course, is using Grayson's presentation to whip up another wave of phony outrage amongst the unthinking faithful-- as if the real source of their irritation isn't that Grayson is right (precisely why he shouldn't apologize: truth is always a valid defense). But apparently some Republi-weenies can't handle the truth -- or a dose of their own medicine (not that it has ever occurred to a serving Republican to characterize an opponent's position accurately).
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