Blog Archive: May, 2009

In the United States, the majority of people get their health insurance through their job or that of a family member’s. For many workers, that means staying in a job they don’t like just to keep the health benefits they and their families depend on. Ensuring they cannot be denied coverage if they leave their job is not enough to free them from this ‘job lock’ to become entrepreneurs or move on to more satisfying and lucrative work. They have to know they will be able to afford the coverage and that the coverage they get will cover the care they need. To accomplish that we need a public health insurance plan option.

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Yesterday's furrowed brows over the long-term prospects for the American economy have been replaced for the moment by raised eyebrows at this morning's Commerce Department report that the economy shrank during the first quarter by 5.7 percent—bad, but not as mad as economists predicted. read more »

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Is Medicare the right model for a public health insurance option, or is the Veteran's Administration hospital system better? Both sides of that argument make good points. But before we wade into the details that will be hashed out in the coming weeks, don't lose sight of the goal of the public health insurance option.

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One of the things I'm really liking about the new regime is the way the stark, terrified silence of the Bush years is giving way to noisy, energetic public discussion of subjects that would have been considered hardcore political pornography just a year or two ago. read more »

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On the menu: A steaming platter of arroz, gandoles y pernir that's upsetting some political stomachs on the right. And those green shoots being advertised by some economists? They may not be the alfalfa sprouts of recovery you hoped for.

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Recently, some policy experts have called for a “compromise” approach on universal health care that would involve state-based public plans designed to mimic state self-insured health plans or a government contract with one or more private insurers to administer claims. Neither approach would achieve the cost savings nor delivery system changes that a truly national public plan could.

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Congressional Republicans are marginally more popular and significantly less contagious than the swine flu. Even conservatives are keeping their distance. House leader John Boehner's perpetual tan has become a presidential punch line. Senate leader Mitch Dr. No McConnell is known only for obstruction. Ideologues like Rush rush to fill the leadership vacuum, seeking to purge the party of any lingering moderates. It's gotten so bad that neo-con Bill Kristol suggests that leading presidential candidates for 2012 might well be the oft disgraced Newt Gingrich and..gulp.. Darth Cheney himself.

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The media still calls America a “center-right” nation, but “center-left” is closer to the truth. On issues ranging from health care to energy, the public is more progressive than people think. A new report documents the trends and challenges the mainstream media to recognize reality.

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Note: We discussed the potential value of the Sotomayor nomination fight to the broader cause of fighting racism, classism, gender persecution and systemic privilege on KKZN AM760 yesterday. You can listen here. read more »

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Bondholder resistance makes GM bankruptcy virtually certain. Conservative step up health care attacks. Liberal organizers "not too worried" about Sotomayor.

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