Center of Attention
Oct 1st, 2007 | 4 responses
A round up of recent posts by various bloggers who either attempt to strike a balanced note on heated debates and controversial issues, or improve our ability to find our own sense of balance by exposing us to new information and different points-of-view.
NOTE: Going forward, we will try to publish a “Center of Attention” post at least three times a week, likely on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, rather than Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich attempts to add some balance to recent claims made by Clarence Thomas and Bill Clinton.
[H/t Andrew Sullivan.]
Dave Schuler examines the “scope of the problem” of those without health insurance.
Donald Douglas revisits the subject of African Americans, the GOP, and “a new rights agenda.” Meanwhile, Cobb considers “the end of whiteness.” (I recognize these posts are not entirely cross-relevant, but I found it enlightening to read them back-to-back, and thought perhaps you would, too.)
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4 Responses to “Center of Attention”
Color me as unimpressed with Schuler or Mankiw. To assume that everyone who is offered coverage and refuses it shouldn’t be counted in estimates of the uninsured is just mind-boggling. It shows a complete ignorance of the real world of people in this country who make money in the low 5 figures. First, it’s gross income, not net after payroll taxes. To assume that insurance isn’t being turned down simply because they can’t afford for the money to come out of their paycheck is the height of arrogance and ignorance.
oh why does Colonel David Hunt hate America?
I note how those who are able to afford the best of everything will alwyays find a dozen reasons, why the need for health care reform is misunderstood, why this isn’t the right time to talk about it, why the only people complaining are those squandering their money on plasma TVs and drugs, why it’s a problem in some other state and should be taken care by some other state, and etc and etc.
I will concede this one point: if more people lived in bus shelters instead of paying rent, then there would be more of them able to buy minimal insurance.
Meanwhile, not for one second do they consider what ist costs the economy to have large segments of the population without adequate insurance or adequate health care.
Short-sighted and small minded, is how this attitude strikes me.
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I really like Obama, but Reich’s citing of having ja goat herding father in Kenya as an example of international experience struck me as funny.