Trustees: Medicare trust fund exhausted in 2026: Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) - The government said Friday that Medicare's giant hospital trust fund will be exhausted in 2026, two years later than projected last year, while the date that Social Security will exhaust its trust fund remained unchanged at 2033.
The latest projections were included in the annual report of trustees of the trust funds. The new report warned that despite the small improvement in Medicare, both it and Social Security face significant funding challenges as the giant baby boom generation continues to retire. Currently, 58 million Americans are receiving Social Security benefits.
"Under current law, both of these vitally important programs are on unsustainable paths," Robert D. Reischauer, one of two public trustees, told reporters at a news conference.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Monday, May 27, 2013
Legislature should approve Medicaid money: Editorial | NOLA.com
Legislature should approve Medicaid money: Editorial | NOLA.com
The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Office's analysis found that Louisiana would save between $532 million and $544 million over the first five years of the expansion. The fiscal office estimates the state would save between $185 million and $510 million over 10 years.
The Department of Health and Hospitals reported recently that the state would save as much as $367.5 million over the first 10 years of the expansion under the Affordable Care Act. DHH's worst-case scenario is that Louisiana would have to spend $1.52 billion to $1.71 billion over a decade.
Even if that turns out to be the case, it is worth it to get almost $16 billion in new funding for health care. Yet ministers, retirees, health clinic operators and many others have pleaded with Gov. Jindal and legislators to take the money to no avail.
The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Office's analysis found that Louisiana would save between $532 million and $544 million over the first five years of the expansion. The fiscal office estimates the state would save between $185 million and $510 million over 10 years.
The Department of Health and Hospitals reported recently that the state would save as much as $367.5 million over the first 10 years of the expansion under the Affordable Care Act. DHH's worst-case scenario is that Louisiana would have to spend $1.52 billion to $1.71 billion over a decade.
Even if that turns out to be the case, it is worth it to get almost $16 billion in new funding for health care. Yet ministers, retirees, health clinic operators and many others have pleaded with Gov. Jindal and legislators to take the money to no avail.
Daily Kos: JFK's "treason" vs. Obama's "treason": Notice any similarities?
Daily Kos: JFK's "treason" vs. Obama's "treason": Notice any similarities?
For those old enough to remember, the far right had a lot of gripes about President Kennedy. And they now echo the same talking points about Obama. Underline ECHO.
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For those old enough to remember, the far right had a lot of gripes about President Kennedy. Indeed, the far right passed out leaflets accusing him of treason.
For those old enough to remember, the far right had a lot of gripes about President Kennedy. And they now echo the same talking points about Obama. Underline ECHO.
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For those old enough to remember, the far right had a lot of gripes about President Kennedy. Indeed, the far right passed out leaflets accusing him of treason.
The National Memo » Separate But Unequal: Apple Defers Its Taxes, You Foot The Bill
The National Memo » Separate But Unequal: Apple Defers Its Taxes, You Foot The Bill
The richest of the rich are different from you and me because instead of paying taxes, Congress lets them pay interest.
This little-known difference was on full display before the Senate Permanent Investigations subcommittee this week, though you would hardly know that from the news reports of testimony by Apple CEO Tim Cook and his top finance and tax executives.
The reality is that America has two income tax systems, separate and unequal. And as with all such separate and unequal systems, the powerful benefit by sticking everyone else with the costs.
The system is so unequal that corporate tax departments at the biggest multinationals have been transformed from cost centers into what Enron called its tax office: a profit center.
The richest of the rich are different from you and me because instead of paying taxes, Congress lets them pay interest.
This little-known difference was on full display before the Senate Permanent Investigations subcommittee this week, though you would hardly know that from the news reports of testimony by Apple CEO Tim Cook and his top finance and tax executives.
The reality is that America has two income tax systems, separate and unequal. And as with all such separate and unequal systems, the powerful benefit by sticking everyone else with the costs.
The system is so unequal that corporate tax departments at the biggest multinationals have been transformed from cost centers into what Enron called its tax office: a profit center.
Unexpected Health Insurance Rate Shock-California Obamacare Insurance Exchange Announces Premium Rates - Forbes
Unexpected Health Insurance Rate Shock-California Obamacare Insurance Exchange Announces Premium Rates - Forbes
Yesterday, Covered California—the name given to the healthcare exchange created pursuant to the Affordable Care Act that will serve the largest population of insured citizens in the nation—released the premium rates submitted by participating health insurance companies for the three health insurance program categories (bronze, silver and gold) established by the Affordable Care Act, along with the catastrophic policy created for and available to those under the age of 30.
Upon reviewing the data, I was indeed shocked by the proposed premium rates—but not in the way you might expect. The jolt that I was experiencing was not the result of the predicted out-of-control premium costs but the shock of rates far lower than what I expected—even at the lowest end of the age scale.
Yesterday, Covered California—the name given to the healthcare exchange created pursuant to the Affordable Care Act that will serve the largest population of insured citizens in the nation—released the premium rates submitted by participating health insurance companies for the three health insurance program categories (bronze, silver and gold) established by the Affordable Care Act, along with the catastrophic policy created for and available to those under the age of 30.
Upon reviewing the data, I was indeed shocked by the proposed premium rates—but not in the way you might expect. The jolt that I was experiencing was not the result of the predicted out-of-control premium costs but the shock of rates far lower than what I expected—even at the lowest end of the age scale.
Friday, May 17, 2013
The real IRS scandal: Reinterpreting the law — MSNBC
Internal Revenue Service agents have been struggling to do their jobs–which have been made essentially impossible by an incorrect interpretation of the law that the IRS made in 1959. It was then that the IRS changed the language of the law without any authority to do so. Here is how the tax law was written in its latest update in 1954 on 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations. The 501(c)(4) designation was to apply only to: “Civic leagues or organizations not organized for profit but operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare.”
But a 1959 interpretation guideline written by the IRS says that: ”To be operated exclusively to promote social welfare, an organization must operate primarily to further the common good and general welfare…” The real IRS scandal: Reinterpreting the law — MSNBC
But a 1959 interpretation guideline written by the IRS says that: ”To be operated exclusively to promote social welfare, an organization must operate primarily to further the common good and general welfare…” The real IRS scandal: Reinterpreting the law — MSNBC
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The Biggest Price-Fixing Scandal Ever | Politics News | Rolling Stone
The Illuminati were amateurs. The second huge financial scandal of the year reveals the real international conspiracy: There's no price the big banks can't fix
Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/everything-is-rigged-the-biggest-financial-scandal-yet-20130425#ixzz2TOQNGcwO
The Biggest Price-Fixing Scandal Ever | Politics News | Rolling Stone
Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/everything-is-rigged-the-biggest-financial-scandal-yet-20130425#ixzz2TOQNGcwO
The Biggest Price-Fixing Scandal Ever | Politics News | Rolling Stone
Thursday, May 9, 2013
The Biggest Creator of Low-Wage Jobs? Uncle Sam | News & Notes, What Matters Today | BillMoyers.com
The Biggest Creator of Low-Wage Jobs? Uncle Sam | News & Notes, What Matters Today | BillMoyers.com
Who employs more low-wage workers than Walmart and McDonald’s combined? You do.
A new study from Demos estimates that American taxpayers fund nearly 2 million low-wage jobs that pay workers less than $24,000 a year ($12 an hour or less). These private-sector jobs are generated by federal contracts, grants, loans and other programs (see chart).
Workers making $12-or-less an hour say that they are scraping by. Often on public assistance, they find it difficult to afford basic necessities like rent, food, health care and utilities. Because of sequestration, pressure on government agencies to spend less money may add even more to their ranks.
Who employs more low-wage workers than Walmart and McDonald’s combined? You do.
Click the chart to zoom, or view the full report.
Workers making $12-or-less an hour say that they are scraping by. Often on public assistance, they find it difficult to afford basic necessities like rent, food, health care and utilities. Because of sequestration, pressure on government agencies to spend less money may add even more to their ranks.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Obama’s Numbers (Quarterly Update)
Obama’s Numbers (Quarterly Update)
Reviewing some key statistical measures of Barack Obama’s presidency so far, we find:
These are some of the insights that emerge from the first in a series of regular quarterly updates of key statistical indicators of the Obama presidency.
As with our “Obama’s Numbers” article in October, and the pre-election update we posted Nov. 5, our intent is to provide accurate measures of what’s changed — for better or worse — since Obama first took office in January 2009.
Reviewing some key statistical measures of Barack Obama’s presidency so far, we find:
- The economy has added more jobs since Obama took office than it did in his predecessor’s entire eight years in office.
- Despite the improved economy, the number of people receiving food-stamp assistance has continued to grow, and now more people have been added to the food-stamp rolls under Obama than under any single previous president.
- Federal spending under Obama has grown faster than inflation, but far more slowly than it did under President Bush.
- Federal debt held by the public has grown by 90 percent since Obama took office.
- Obama has ordered seven times more drone strikes than Bush in the covert conflicts in Pakistan and Yemen, according to independent estimates.
- Domestic oil production has soared; oil imports have dropped by one-third; new cars are getting 17 percent better mileage; and wind and solar power have increased 157 percent.
As with our “Obama’s Numbers” article in October, and the pre-election update we posted Nov. 5, our intent is to provide accurate measures of what’s changed — for better or worse — since Obama first took office in January 2009.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Everything Is Rigged: The Biggest Price-Fixing Scandal Ever | Common Dreams
Everything Is Rigged: The Biggest Price-Fixing Scandal Ever
Everything Is Rigged: The Biggest Price-Fixing Scandal Ever | Common Dreams
The Illuminati were amateurs. The second huge financial scandal of the year reveals the real international conspiracy: There's no price the big banks can't fix
Everything Is Rigged: The Biggest Price-Fixing Scandal Ever | Common Dreams
Thursday, April 25, 2013
It's Official: Paul Krugman Is Right - Business Insider
It's Official: Paul Krugman Is Right - Business Insider
On one side were economists and politicians who wanted to increase government spending to offset weakness in the private sector. This "stimulus" spending, economists like Paul Krugman argued, would help reduce unemployment and prop up economic growth until the private sector healed itself and began to spend again.
On the other side were economists and politicians who wanted to cut spending to reduce deficits and "restore confidence." Government stimulus, these folks argued, would only increase debt loads, which were already alarmingly high. If governments did not cut spending, countries would soon cross a deadly debt-to-GDP threshold, after which economic growth would be permanently impaired. The countries would also be beset by hyper-inflation, as bond investors suddenly freaked out and demanded higher interest rates. Once government spending was cut, this theory went, deficits would shrink and "confidence" would return.
This debate has not just been academic. It has affected the global economy, and, with it, the jobs and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/paul-krugman-is-right-2013-4#ixzz2RU985oSJ
On one side were economists and politicians who wanted to increase government spending to offset weakness in the private sector. This "stimulus" spending, economists like Paul Krugman argued, would help reduce unemployment and prop up economic growth until the private sector healed itself and began to spend again.
On the other side were economists and politicians who wanted to cut spending to reduce deficits and "restore confidence." Government stimulus, these folks argued, would only increase debt loads, which were already alarmingly high. If governments did not cut spending, countries would soon cross a deadly debt-to-GDP threshold, after which economic growth would be permanently impaired. The countries would also be beset by hyper-inflation, as bond investors suddenly freaked out and demanded higher interest rates. Once government spending was cut, this theory went, deficits would shrink and "confidence" would return.
This debate has not just been academic. It has affected the global economy, and, with it, the jobs and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/paul-krugman-is-right-2013-4#ixzz2RU985oSJ
Anti-Islam America | The Progressive
Anti-Islam America | The Progressive
That is not the America we should be creating in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings.
At Sandy Hook elementary school, and at that theater in Aurora, Colorado, we also had scenes of horrible mass violence.
But when white people kill, they are mentally unstable. When Muslims kill, they are terrorists, or as King and others would likely say, “just Muslim.”
That is not the America we should be creating in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings.
At Sandy Hook elementary school, and at that theater in Aurora, Colorado, we also had scenes of horrible mass violence.
But when white people kill, they are mentally unstable. When Muslims kill, they are terrorists, or as King and others would likely say, “just Muslim.”
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Our Hidden Government Benefits - NYTimes.com
Our Hidden Government Benefits - NYTimes.com
DON’T take at face value the claims that Americans dislike government. Sure, a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll found that 56 percent of Americans said they wanted smaller government and fewer services. Tea Party activists, the most vocal citizens of our time, powerfully amplify those demands. Yet the reality is that the vast majority of Americans have at some point relied on government programs — and valued them — even though they often fail to recognize that government is the source of the assistance.
DON’T take at face value the claims that Americans dislike government. Sure, a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll found that 56 percent of Americans said they wanted smaller government and fewer services. Tea Party activists, the most vocal citizens of our time, powerfully amplify those demands. Yet the reality is that the vast majority of Americans have at some point relied on government programs — and valued them — even though they often fail to recognize that government is the source of the assistance.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
U.S. Practiced Torture After 9/11, Nonpartisan Review Concludes - NYTimes.com
U.S. Practiced Torture After 9/11, Nonpartisan Review Concludes - NYTimes.com
The sweeping, 577-page report says that while brutality has occurred in every American war, there never before had been “the kind of considered and detailed discussions that occurred after 9/11 directly involving a president and his top advisers on the wisdom, propriety and legality of inflicting pain and torment on some detainees in our custody.” The study, by an 11-member panel convened by the Constitution Project, a legal research and advocacy group, is to be released on Tuesday morning.
The sweeping, 577-page report says that while brutality has occurred in every American war, there never before had been “the kind of considered and detailed discussions that occurred after 9/11 directly involving a president and his top advisers on the wisdom, propriety and legality of inflicting pain and torment on some detainees in our custody.” The study, by an 11-member panel convened by the Constitution Project, a legal research and advocacy group, is to be released on Tuesday morning.
Debate over the coercive interrogation methods used by the administration of President George W. Bush has often broken down on largely partisan lines. The Constitution Project’s task force on detainee treatment, led by two former members of Congress with experience in the executive branch — a Republican, Asa Hutchinson, and a Democrat, James R. Jones — seeks to produce a stronger national consensus on the torture question.
While the task force did not have access to classified records, it is the most ambitious independent attempt to date to assess the detention and interrogation programs. A separate 6,000-page report on the Central Intelligence Agency’s record by the Senate Intelligence Committee, based exclusively on agency records, rather than interviews, remains classified.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Preschool benefits students for years, education committee hears | NOLA.com
Preschool benefits students for years, education committee hears | NOLA.com
The Picard Center carried out a ten-year study looking at whether education provided through LA4, the state's primary preschool program for at-risk 4-year-olds, stuck with its participants for any meaningful amount of time.
The study found that when compared across a host of measurements, LA4 participants scored better than other at-risk children not enrolled in pre-K programs, even through eighth grade.
The Picard Center carried out a ten-year study looking at whether education provided through LA4, the state's primary preschool program for at-risk 4-year-olds, stuck with its participants for any meaningful amount of time.
The study found that when compared across a host of measurements, LA4 participants scored better than other at-risk children not enrolled in pre-K programs, even through eighth grade.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Texas Refinery Is Saudi Foothold in the U.S. - NYTimes.com
Texas Refinery Is Saudi Foothold in the U.S. - NYTimes.com
In 2002, after Texaco was purchased by Chevron, its stake in what became known as Motiva Enterprises was bought by Shell and Saudi Refining, a subsidiary of Saudi Aramco. Today, Motiva also has two refineries in Louisiana and markets its production through a network of 7,700 Shell-branded gasoline stations across the United States.
Motiva’s crown jewel is its refinery here. The expansion allowed the facility to refine various varieties of crude oil and more than doubled its production capacity to 600,000 barrels a day of diesel, gasoline, jet fuel and other products.
The refinery is designed primarily to refine various grades of Saudi crude and crudes that Shell produces in the Gulf of Mexico, but it has the flexibility to process crude from Canadian oil sands and from other American and Latin American fields. (The proposed Keystone XL pipeline being considered by the Obama administration would connect the Canadian oil sands fields to Port Arthur, a major refinery hub.)
In 2002, after Texaco was purchased by Chevron, its stake in what became known as Motiva Enterprises was bought by Shell and Saudi Refining, a subsidiary of Saudi Aramco. Today, Motiva also has two refineries in Louisiana and markets its production through a network of 7,700 Shell-branded gasoline stations across the United States.
Motiva’s crown jewel is its refinery here. The expansion allowed the facility to refine various varieties of crude oil and more than doubled its production capacity to 600,000 barrels a day of diesel, gasoline, jet fuel and other products.
The refinery is designed primarily to refine various grades of Saudi crude and crudes that Shell produces in the Gulf of Mexico, but it has the flexibility to process crude from Canadian oil sands and from other American and Latin American fields. (The proposed Keystone XL pipeline being considered by the Obama administration would connect the Canadian oil sands fields to Port Arthur, a major refinery hub.)
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
GOP Gerrymandering: Republicans Have House, But Dying Nationally | New Republic
GOP Gerrymandering: Republicans Have House, But Dying Nationally | New Republic
As I say, reality isn’t really the strong suit of the House GOP’s rank and file. But, then, why would it be? At this rate, the party is destined to keep losing presidential races, Senate races, governor’s races … student council elections. But as long as they can avoid outright criminality or damning sexual improprieties—admittedly not always a sure thing—they’ve got the House majority for as long as they want it.
As I say, reality isn’t really the strong suit of the House GOP’s rank and file. But, then, why would it be? At this rate, the party is destined to keep losing presidential races, Senate races, governor’s races … student council elections. But as long as they can avoid outright criminality or damning sexual improprieties—admittedly not always a sure thing—they’ve got the House majority for as long as they want it.
Most Americans think teen pregnancy is getting worse. Most Americans are wrong.
Most Americans think teen pregnancy is getting worse. Most Americans are wrong.
Teen births and pregnancies have plummeted over the past two decades, down 42 percent from 1990. Most Americans, it turns out, have no idea that we’re actually in the midst of a big public health success story.
In a new survey from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, 50 percent thought the teen pregnancy rate had gone up over that period. Eighteen percent correctly answered that it has declined.
Teen births and pregnancies have plummeted over the past two decades, down 42 percent from 1990. Most Americans, it turns out, have no idea that we’re actually in the midst of a big public health success story.
In a new survey from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, 50 percent thought the teen pregnancy rate had gone up over that period. Eighteen percent correctly answered that it has declined.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
The confused debate over Obamacare and insurance premiums
The confused debate over Obamacare and insurance premiums
The intent of Obamacare is to ensure that almost all Americans are covered by high-quality insurance that they can afford. To say that the law will move many Americans onto more costly insurance products is simply to restate part of that premise more negatively, and to leave out the effect of the subsidies, or the change in the underlying insurance product, is to mislead.
The intent of Obamacare is to ensure that almost all Americans are covered by high-quality insurance that they can afford. To say that the law will move many Americans onto more costly insurance products is simply to restate part of that premise more negatively, and to leave out the effect of the subsidies, or the change in the underlying insurance product, is to mislead.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Noonan: Can the Republican Party Recover From Iraq? - WSJ.com
Noonan: Can the Republican Party Recover From Iraq? - WSJ.com
Did the Iraq war hurt the GOP? Yes. The war, and the crash of '08, half killed it. It's still digging out, and whether it can succeed is an open question.
Here, offered in a spirit of open debate, is what the war did to the GOP:
Did the Iraq war hurt the GOP? Yes. The war, and the crash of '08, half killed it. It's still digging out, and whether it can succeed is an open question.
Here, offered in a spirit of open debate, is what the war did to the GOP:
Friday, March 22, 2013
Daily Kos: Rachel Maddow Shows Faux News For The Sham They Are With Obama Award (VIDEO)
Daily Kos: Rachel Maddow Shows Faux News For The Sham They Are With Obama Award (VIDEO)
Today was a very eventful day for President Obama in Israel. He visited Gaza albeit with rockets being launched into Israel from Gaza. He then gave a major speech in Jerusalem to an auditorium filled with cheering university students where he provided encouragement and tough love to both the Israelis and Palestinians. After that speech, the President was awarded the Israeli’s Presidential Distinction Award, the highest civilian award in Israel and the first sitting President to receive one.
As he was getting this most distinguished award, both CNN and MSNBC covered the event live. This should have been a patriotic moment for the country. In accepting the award the President even said he accepted it on behalf of the American people. Fox News was not covering this event. I was compelled to tweet on this as follows in real time.
Today was a very eventful day for President Obama in Israel. He visited Gaza albeit with rockets being launched into Israel from Gaza. He then gave a major speech in Jerusalem to an auditorium filled with cheering university students where he provided encouragement and tough love to both the Israelis and Palestinians. After that speech, the President was awarded the Israeli’s Presidential Distinction Award, the highest civilian award in Israel and the first sitting President to receive one.
As he was getting this most distinguished award, both CNN and MSNBC covered the event live. This should have been a patriotic moment for the country. In accepting the award the President even said he accepted it on behalf of the American people. Fox News was not covering this event. I was compelled to tweet on this as follows in real time.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
The many challenges of banning assault weapons
In 1994, a bipartisan group of lawmakers successfully approved a measure popularly known as the "assault weapons ban," which President Clinton signed into law. When it came to reauthorize the law in 2004, the Bush/Cheney administration was content to see the law die, and Congress took no action.
The many challenges of banning assault weapons
The many challenges of banning assault weapons
Christmas Angels In NewTown
Christmas Angels
The Innocent Taken,
Christmas is Near,
Hearts are Broken,
The Innocent Taken,
Christmas Angels All,
They tell us to Hush,
Now is not the Time,
If not Now, Then When?
The Innocent Taken,
Christmas Angels All,
Hush is the Command,
No Action is Needed,
If not Now, Then When?
The Innocent Taken,
Christmas is Near,
Hearts are Broken,
The Innocent Taken,
Christmas Angels all,
They tell us to Hush,
Now is not the Time,
If not Now, Then When?
There’s Tears for the Angels,
There’s Tears for the Families,
There’s Tears for our Nation,
There’s Tears for Us.
~SusanThur
Fox News Ignores Rupert Murdoch's Call For Gun Control - Business Insider
Fox has imposed a blackout on the debate about gun control and potential new legislation against automatic arms and assault weapons, according to New York magazine.
Fox News Ignores Rupert Murdoch's Call For Gun Control - Business Insider
Fox News Ignores Rupert Murdoch's Call For Gun Control - Business Insider
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
The Twinkie Manifesto - NYTimes.com
Which brings us back to the nostalgia thing.
There are, let’s face it, some people in our political life who pine for the days when minorities and women knew their place, gays stayed firmly in the closet and congressmen asked, “Are you now or have you ever been?” The rest of us, however, are very glad those days are gone. We are, morally, a much better nation than we were. Oh, and the food has improved a lot, too.
Along the way, however, we’ve forgotten something important — namely, that economic justice and economic growth aren’t incompatible. America in the 1950s made the rich pay their fair share; it gave workers the power to bargain for decent wages and benefits; yet contrary to right-wing propaganda then and now, it prospered. And we can do that again.
The Twinkie Manifesto - NYTimes.com
How Deficit Hawks Took Over The Country - Business Insider
But more jobs and growth will help reduce the deficit. With more jobs and faster growth, the deficit will shrink as a proportion of the overall economy. Recall the 1990s when the Clinton administration balanced the budget ahead of the schedule it had set with Congress because of faster job growth than anyone expected — bringing in more tax revenues than anyone had forecast. Europe offers the same lesson in reverse: Their deficits are ballooning because their austerity policies have caused their economies to sink.
How Deficit Hawks Took Over The Country - Business Insider
How Deficit Hawks Took Over The Country - Business Insider
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Monday, November 5, 2012
A Case Study of Republicans vs. Democrats on FEMA | Mother Jones
Mitt Romney apparently still thinks that downsizing and privatizing the functions of FEMA is a good idea. After all, everyone knows that federal bureaucracies are cesspools of incompetence.
Except....it turns out that they're only cesspools of incompetence during certain eras. See if you can spot the trend here:
A Case Study of Republicans vs. Democrats on FEMA | Mother Jones
Except....it turns out that they're only cesspools of incompetence during certain eras. See if you can spot the trend here:
A Case Study of Republicans vs. Democrats on FEMA | Mother Jones
Monday, October 29, 2012
Eugene Robinson: What America will we pick? - The Washington Post
The intensity of the opposition to Obama has less to do with who he is than with the changes in U.S. society he not only represents but incarnates. Citing his race as a factor in the way some of his opponents have bitterly resisted his policies immediately draws an outraged cry: “You’re saying that just because I oppose Obama, I’m a racist.” No, I’m not saying that at all.
What I’m saying is that Obama’s racial identity is a constant reminder of how much the nation has changed in a relatively short time. In my lifetime, we’ve experienced the civil rights movement, the countercultural explosion of the 1960s, the sexual revolution, the women’s movement and an unprecedented wave of Latino immigration. Within a few decades, there will be no white majority in this country — no majority of any kind, in fact. We will be a nation of racial and ethnic minorities, and we will only prosper if everyone learns to give and take.
Our place in the world has changed as well. The United States remains the dominant economic and military power; our ideals remain a beacon for those around the globe still yearning to breathe free. But our capacity for unilateral action is diminished; we can assert but not dictate, and we must learn to persuade.
Eugene Robinson: What America will we pick? - The Washington Post
What I’m saying is that Obama’s racial identity is a constant reminder of how much the nation has changed in a relatively short time. In my lifetime, we’ve experienced the civil rights movement, the countercultural explosion of the 1960s, the sexual revolution, the women’s movement and an unprecedented wave of Latino immigration. Within a few decades, there will be no white majority in this country — no majority of any kind, in fact. We will be a nation of racial and ethnic minorities, and we will only prosper if everyone learns to give and take.
Our place in the world has changed as well. The United States remains the dominant economic and military power; our ideals remain a beacon for those around the globe still yearning to breathe free. But our capacity for unilateral action is diminished; we can assert but not dictate, and we must learn to persuade.
Eugene Robinson: What America will we pick? - The Washington Post
How Wall Street Is Still Rigging the Game - TIME
There is a misconception that Wall Street is composed of rich people gambling with other rich people's money. This couldn't be further from the truth. The secret that Wall Street doesn't want anyone to know is that hedge funds comprise less than 5% of assets in the stock market. The real big players in the market are individual households and the pension funds, mutual funds, university endowments, charities and foundations that are entrusted with your savings, donations, retirement funds and 401(k)s--trillions and trillions of dollars that are invested with Wall Street banks. In effect, you are the big player in the market, and when a bank overcharges a teacher's retirement fund or a charity on a complex product; misprices the Facebook IPO, causing billions of dollars of wealth destruction; helps the governments of Greece and Italy cover up their debt; or rigs interest rates, affecting trillions of dollars of loans, it ultimately comes out of your pocket.~Greg Smith-Time Magazine
How Wall Street Is Still Rigging the Game http://ti.me/TCuXcO via @TIME
How Wall Street Is Still Rigging the Game - TIME
Monday, October 22, 2012
‘Everything people think they know about the stimulus is wrong’
Michael Grunwald: Everything people think they know about the stimulus is wrong. It was called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and it did produce a short-term recovery. We dropped 8.9 percent of GDP in Q4 2008. We lost 800,000 jobs in January 2009. We passed the stimulus. And then the next quarter we saw the biggest jobs improvement in 30 years.
The long-term reinvestment part is working. It spent $90 billion for clean energy when we were spending just a few billion a year. It’s doubled renewable energy. It’s started an electric battery industry from scratch. It jump-started the smart grid. It’s bringing our pen-and-paper medical system into the digital age. It’s got Race to the Top which is the biggest education program in decades. It’s got the biggest middle-class tax cuts since the Reagan era. It prevented seven million people from falling behind the poverty line.
‘Everything people think they know about the stimulus is wrong’
The long-term reinvestment part is working. It spent $90 billion for clean energy when we were spending just a few billion a year. It’s doubled renewable energy. It’s started an electric battery industry from scratch. It jump-started the smart grid. It’s bringing our pen-and-paper medical system into the digital age. It’s got Race to the Top which is the biggest education program in decades. It’s got the biggest middle-class tax cuts since the Reagan era. It prevented seven million people from falling behind the poverty line.
‘Everything people think they know about the stimulus is wrong’
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Plan to streamline solar development in West OK'd - US News and World Report
The government is establishing 17 new "solar energy zones" on 285,000 acres in six states: California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. Most of the land — 153,627 acres — is in Southern California.
The Obama administration has authorized 10,000 megawatts of solar, wind and geothermal projects that, when built, would provide enough energy to power more than 3.5 million homes, Salazar said.
Secretary of Energy Steven Chu said the effort will help the U.S. stay competitive.
Plan to streamline solar development in West OK'd - US News and World Report
The Obama administration has authorized 10,000 megawatts of solar, wind and geothermal projects that, when built, would provide enough energy to power more than 3.5 million homes, Salazar said.
Secretary of Energy Steven Chu said the effort will help the U.S. stay competitive.
Plan to streamline solar development in West OK'd - US News and World Report
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Was Mitt Romney a Good Governor? - The Atlantic
"I think there's really a Romney One and a Romney Two," said Marty Linsky, a lecturer at Harvard's Kennedy School and former Republican state legislator. "Romney One really worked very hard to try to do what he thought was in the best interests of the commonwealth; Romney Two worked very hard to position himself to run for president of the United States."
By the end, Linsky said, "People felt they didn't know who he was. The only way to make sense of his trajectory was that he was only about himself."
Was Mitt Romney a Good Governor? - The Atlantic
By the end, Linsky said, "People felt they didn't know who he was. The only way to make sense of his trajectory was that he was only about himself."
Was Mitt Romney a Good Governor? - The Atlantic
Campaign 2008: Romney's vetoes seldom stood - Page 2 | Concord Monitor
Romney never had a smooth relationship with the Massachusetts legislature. He campaigned for the governor's office promising to "clean up the mess" in the State House and often criticized the bureaucracy on Beacon Hill. But as Romney's dealings with lawmakers grew frostier, the veto pen quickly became his primary tool.
Massachusetts State Rep. Jim Marzilli, a Democrat from Arlington, said the frequency with which Romney's vetoes were rejected showed "his inability to communicate with members of the legislature from either party."
Marzilli continued: "In the first year, he was willing to talk to us a bit. And the legislature wanted to show deference to the newly elected governor. . . . But it became clear after a few months that he was willing to sacrifice the interests of Massachusetts residents to serve his ego to run for president."
Campaign 2008: Romney's vetoes seldom stood - Page 2 | Concord Monitor
Massachusetts State Rep. Jim Marzilli, a Democrat from Arlington, said the frequency with which Romney's vetoes were rejected showed "his inability to communicate with members of the legislature from either party."
Marzilli continued: "In the first year, he was willing to talk to us a bit. And the legislature wanted to show deference to the newly elected governor. . . . But it became clear after a few months that he was willing to sacrifice the interests of Massachusetts residents to serve his ego to run for president."
Campaign 2008: Romney's vetoes seldom stood - Page 2 | Concord Monitor
Romney oversaw millions in fee hikes as Massachusetts governor - Boston.com
But others said the fee hikes were simply an attempt by Romney to protect his political reputation as a tax foe for a possible future campaign for president.
"It's a shell game," said Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University. "He can still say he didn't raise taxes, but fees are taxes by another name. It's a trick."
"It's a shell game," said Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University. "He can still say he didn't raise taxes, but fees are taxes by another name. It's a trick."
Two proposed fees that drew some of the most criticism would have imposed a new $10 charge on those seeking a certification of blindness from the state and another $15 fee for photo identification cards for the blind. They were approved by lawmakers, but later repealed.
Bob Hachey, president of Bay State Council of the Blind, said that while the fees were relatively modest, they could have made life harder on blind individuals on fixed incomes. He said Romney's penchant for fees even earned him a nickname.
"We renamed him 'Fee-Fee.' He was so unwilling to raise taxes that he was wanting to put all these fees in place instead," Hachey said.
Romney oversaw millions in fee hikes as Massachusetts governor - Boston.com
Bob Hachey, president of Bay State Council of the Blind, said that while the fees were relatively modest, they could have made life harder on blind individuals on fixed incomes. He said Romney's penchant for fees even earned him a nickname.
"We renamed him 'Fee-Fee.' He was so unwilling to raise taxes that he was wanting to put all these fees in place instead," Hachey said.
Romney oversaw millions in fee hikes as Massachusetts governor - Boston.com
Saturday, October 13, 2012
The Daily BanterMitt Romney's Secret Plan to Fix the Economy » The Daily Banter
The number of jobs Romney promised to create would’ve been created anyway, according to Moody’s Analytics and the Macroeconomic Advisors, irrespective of Romney’s secret plan. In other words, those jobs will be created even if Romney isn’t president. So his secret plan is basically pointless. 2) Romney’s tax cuts alone would increase the deficit by $5 trillion over ten years, thus obliterating any savings from increased revenue from all of those jobs (that would’ve been created anyway).
The Daily BanterMitt Romney's Secret Plan to Fix the Economy » The Daily Banter
The Daily BanterMitt Romney's Secret Plan to Fix the Economy » The Daily Banter
The Daily BanterMatt Taibbi on why Joe Biden was Right to Laugh at Paul Ryan » The Daily Banter
The Romney/Ryan platform makes sense, and is not laughable, in only one context: if you’re a multi-millionaire and you recognize that this is the only way to sell your agenda to mass audiences. But if you’re not one of those rooting gazillionaires, you should laugh, you should roll your eyes, and it doesn’t matter if you’re the Vice President or an ABC reporter or a toll operator. You should laugh, because this stuff is a joke, and we shouldn’t take it seriously.The idea that you could run for President on a platform of cutting taxes without actually showing how you pay for it really is contemptible. Biden laughed his way through the debate because his opponent is laughable. How Romney and Ryan can run around the country selling a plan that makes absolutely
The Daily BanterMatt Taibbi on why Joe Biden was Right to Laugh at Paul Ryan » The Daily Banter
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Political Animal - Nothing To Say On the Economy
Ezra goes on to discuss Romney’s lurch to the right during the primaries on taxes and the budget, positioning him far beyond the pale in terms of promoting fiscal policies that are both plausible and potentially popular. I’d add that Mitt’s ideological shift is all the more remarkable when you recall he was the preferred candidate of movement conservatives in 2008, before he repudiated much of his own record.
Political Animal - Nothing To Say On the Economy
Political Animal - Nothing To Say On the Economy
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