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How The World Works In Romney's Bubble by Digby , OurFuture.org | October 12, 2012
Once again, Mitt says everybody in America has hunky dory health care even if they don't have insurance: read more »Fast-Forward to 2013 by Marilyn Katz, inthesetimes.com | October 12, 2012
I'll give it to Mitt Romney. During the debate he looked and sounded pretty “presidential”: good haircut, power tie, in command (total control, really) of the debate. Romney’s performance had the intended effect. Virtually every poll across the nation had his numbers soaring in the past week. Many show him leading Obama both in the popular vote and in critical swing states. Presumably, that means many American are now ”looking at Romney in a new light.” While his running mate Paul Ryan didn't do as well, for those who were swayed by Romney's performance, it might be prudent to think past his style or what positions he chose to take that night. Based on Romney’s record—as well as the agendas of his party, his running mate and the Super PACs to which he would owe his victory—let’s take a moment to envision what life would be like under a Romney presidency. read more »At Vice Presidential Debate, Paul Ryan Is Frank About Roe v. Wade Plans by Michelle Goldberg, thedailybeast.com | October 12, 2012
Abortion was discussed only briefly during Thursday night’s vice presidential debate, but the exchange about it was, I think, an important moment, because it drove home the likelihood than a Republican victory in November will mean the end of Roe v. Wade. During the vice-presidential debate, many pro-choice observers were irritated by the way moderator Martha Raddatz framed her lone question about abortion in terms of the candidates’ Catholicism. Nevertheless, the question worked perfectly for Joe Biden. In general, Americans are ambivalent about abortion, but they don’t want to make it illegal. By speaking in religious terms, Biden was able to combine his personal opposition to abortion with a strongly pro-choice stance. Ryan, by contrast, reminded the country that he opposes abortion in all circumstances, and that Romney intends to severely restrict it. read more »Make Paul Ryan Own His Budget … And Its Consequences by Terrance Heath, OurFuture.org | October 11, 2012
Robert Reich has some excellent advice for Vice President Joe Biden, regarding his debate we VP wannabe Rep. Paul Ryan: Don't debate the earnest, affable Paul Ryan who's likely to show up tonight. Debate the right-wing Randian behind those blue eyes. Tell Americans just what that Paul Ryan wants to inflict on their families and communities — and that he's put it in writing. read more »Memo to Joe, Re: Debate by Robert B. Reich, robertreich.org | October 11, 2012
Beware: Paul Ryan will appear affable. He’s less polished and aggressive than Romney, even soft-spoken. And he acts as if he’s saying reasonable things. But under the surface he’s a rightwing zealot. And nothing he says or believes is reasonable – neither logical nor reflecting the values of the great majority of Americans. Your job is to smoke Ryan out, exposing his fanaticism. The best way to do this is to force him to take responsibility for the regressive budget he created as chairman of the House Budget Committee. Ryan won’t be able to pull a Romney — pretending he’s a moderate — because the Ryan budget is out there, with specific numbers. It’s an astounding document that Romney fully supports. And it fills in the details Romney has left out of his proposals. read more »Memo to Joe, Re: Debate by Robert B. Reich, robertreich.org | October 11, 2012
Beware: Paul Ryan will appear affable. He’s less polished and aggressive than Romney, even soft-spoken. And he acts as if he’s saying reasonable things. But under the surface he’s a rightwing zealot. And nothing he says or believes is reasonable – neither logical nor reflecting the values of the great majority of Americans. Your job is to smoke Ryan out, exposing his fanaticism. The best way to do this is to force him to take responsibility for the regressive budget he created as chairman of the House Budget Committee. Ryan won’t be able to pull a Romney — pretending he’s a moderate — because the Ryan budget is out there, with specific numbers. It’s an astounding document that Romney fully supports. And it fills in the details Romney has left out of his proposals. read more »Obama's Record Is His Firepower to Debate Victory by Earl Ofari Hutchinson, Huffington Post | October 4, 2012
Debates are as much about style points as substance. But substance with style points will win every time. And this is where Obama can always beat Romney. It starts with his record that Romney has run against. It's an astoundingly productive, and perfectly defensible record that keeps the focus on these crucial make-or-break election issues, the economy and health care, and then, his handling of foreign policy. Obama can say and keep saying that the economy despite the towering problems has shown clear signs of rebound, with unemployment down, with most economic indicators indicating positive growth, and the administration has proposed measures to reduce the deficit without putting at mortal risk Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. read more »For Hospitals, Health Reform Starts Today by Sarah Kliff, The Washington Post | October 2, 2012
The start of October means, for most Americans, the onset of chilly weather and a chance to start thinking up a new Halloween costume. For budget wonks, it signifies the start of a new fiscal year. And for American hospitals, it means something quite different: October 1 is arguably the day that the health reform law changed the way they get paid for providing health care. There are two big parts of the health reform law going into effect today. One penalizes hospitals if patients are re-admitted to the hospital within one month of a visit for a condition that should have been dealt with on the first trip. The other seeks to redistribute higher Medicare payments to the hospitals that are delivering better care. Both are part of an effort to fundamentally transform the health-care system in the United States by moving it from a system that pays for value rather than volume. read more »A Mandate To Preserve And Extend Our Social Insurance System by Digby , OurFuture.org | October 1, 2012
Those of you who read this blog know that I've been nearly apoplectic over the past few months over the behind the scenes maneuvering to read more »Emergency Medicine by Digby , OurFuture.org | September 25, 2012
So Mitt Romney now believes that everyone should use the emergency room for their health care needs if they don't have insurance. Or, at least, it sounded that way. read more »
The Latest
Monsanto Threatens to Sue Vermont over GMO Labelling, alternet.org | April 15, 2012
After reading Richard Eskow's article about Goldman Sachs getting a 'pat on the wrist' after committing offences that in the past could have shut them down I couldn't help but draw a link with this article about the influence Monsanto wields over the law more »
Report: Worldwide Opposition to Monsanto Growing, commondreams.org | April 5, 2012
(photo: Alexis Baden-Mayer / Millions Against Monsanto)La Via Campesina, Friends of the Earth International, and Combat Monsanto, the groups who issued more »New Study Finds Skyrocketing Increase in Autism, commondreams.org | March 30, 2012
A just released report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that children diagnosed with Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) had a skyrocketing increase of 78% compared to results from a decade ago. more »The GM Debate The US Is Not Having, publicserviceeurope.com | November 13, 2011
The submission by successive US administrations and congress to the GM Lobby, illustrated by silence and suppression of arguments against GM proliferation, is gradually being mirrored in Europe. There is life in the old democracy dog yet, but for how much longer? The EU Commission is trying to dispense with the rule of law. Something the US administration did years ago. more »
Transgenic Cotton Harbours Hidden Dangers, ipsnews.net | October 24, 2011
A disturbing report from Mexico about the out of control spread of Geneticaly Modified species into the food chain. There will be no chances left soon to take a hold of this brewing biological disaster. more »
Health Care: Another One Bites The Dust, Huffington Post | October 15, 2011
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration Friday pulled the plug on a major program in the president's signature health overhaul law – a long-term care insurance plan dogged from the beginning by doubts over its financial solvency. more »Monsanto Herbicide: Why Is Damning Evidence ignored, alternet.org | May 14, 2011
Dr. more »
Lawsuit seeks to invalidate Monsanto’s GMO patents, globalresearch.ca | April 18, 2011
At last a challenge to the Monsanto madness, its been a long time coming.....
“A new invention to poison people … is not a patentable invention.” Lowell v. Lewis, 1817
more »Argentina's Roundup Human Tragedy, i-sis.org.uk | February 5, 2011
According to the US EPA, Monsanto's weedkiller Roundup is “relatively low in toxicity, and without carcinogenic or teratogenic effects.”.
In Argentina science has proven this wrong, and a tragedy has occurred. This is especially important because of the USDA's approval of GM Roundup Ready (RR) Alfalfa for unregulated introduction to the US food chain. more »
TARP expected to cost U.S. only $25 billion, CBO says, The Washington Post | November 30, 2010
The Troubled Assets Relief Program, which was widely reviled as a $700 billion bailout for Wall Street titans, is now expected to cost the federal government a mere $25 billion - the equivalent of less than six months of emergency jobless benefits. more »
