After last night’s passage of Health Care Reform in the House of Representatives, we have been flooded with American views on and analyses of the good, the bad and the ugly of that historic bill. But, what does the rest of the world say about it? Germany’s Spiegel has a provocative piece this morning with the interesting title,” US Health Care -- Good for America, Bad for … [Read more...] about One European View on Health Care Passage: Good for America, Bad for the World
CA Proposition 14: Democracy with Independent Voters
Here's the latest round-up of news and views about California's open primary initiative, Proposition 14, on the ballot June 8. Partisans showed their true colors last week with back-room deals and litigation on the ballot wording. Prominent independent attorney Harry Kresky's commentary on HuffPo "Words Matter" sheds lots of light on the nature of our democracy. And Phil … [Read more...] about CA Proposition 14: Democracy with Independent Voters
Change Has Come to America
Well, it's done. Pretty much. After all that's happened -- after all the right-wing tea-party and town-hall protests, after all the Republican lies about death panels and whatever else they could make up, after all the news media's ignorant reporting and regurgitation of Republican talking points, after the election of Scott Brown in Massachusetts, after all the compromises … [Read more...] about Change Has Come to America
Copyright Battle Over Marvel Superheroes
If ever you thought those advocating copyright term extensions were looking out for the interests of artists, not corporations, think again. This case lays bare the ugly copyright sausage factory: [Copyright lawyer, Marc] Toberoff is tackling what could be one of the most significant rights cases in Hollywood history; it’s certainly the biggest involving a superhero franchise. … [Read more...] about Copyright Battle Over Marvel Superheroes
Health Care Reform a Policy Victory for Moderates
The health care reform debate of the past year has highlighted a growing gap between our politics and actual policy-making, and the misplaced emphasis on the former. Politically, health care reform sparked one of the most partisan and radical legislative debates we've seen in years. But paradoxically the resulting policy is about as centrist and moderate as you can get while … [Read more...] about Health Care Reform a Policy Victory for Moderates
Yes, They Made History (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- Yes, we did. Finally, President Obama can use those words. The passage of health care reform provided the first piece of incontestable evidence that Washington has changed. Congress is, indeed, capable of carrying through fundamental social reform. No longer will the United States be the outlier among wealthy nations in leaving so many of its … [Read more...] about Yes, They Made History (Guest Voice)
A Major Victory For The Have Nots
In the end, it was a battle of the haves against the have nots. The nots won 219-212 as if it was a high scoring basketball game that extended into 10 overtimes. President Obama is set to sign the new health legislation bill into law within the next 24 hours. Some critical repairs to the law is now in the Senate's court. For 10 hours Sunday I watched C-Span coverage of … [Read more...] about A Major Victory For The Have Nots
When Political “Debate” Crosses the Line
This is surely IT. … [Read more...] about When Political “Debate” Crosses the Line
A Disaster That Didn’t Happen
The Democrats celebrated an overtime victory in the health care Super Bowl in subdued fashion--no champagne corks popped in the Oval Office, no one dumped Gatorade on Nancy Pelosi--a suitable response to winning by not losing. When the cry of "baby killer" at Bart Stupak had faded and the last vote was counted, the significance of a year-long struggle was that Republicans … [Read more...] about A Disaster That Didn’t Happen
Michael Moore to Republicans: It Covers You Too
Michael Moore has posted an open letter to Republicans. Says he, The Great Thing About the Health Care Law That Has Passed? It Will Save Republican Lives, Too: Thanks to last night's vote, that child of yours who has had asthma since birth will now be covered after suffering for her first nine years as an American child with a pre-existing condition. Thanks to last night's … [Read more...] about Michael Moore to Republicans: It Covers You Too
The “Dirty Little Secret” of Health Care Reform
And now the deed is done, as Macbeth said upon emerging from the chamber with blood covering his hands. The Democrats' majority in Congress has finished their series of back room deals and procedural maneuvers and gotten some version of their health care "reform" package voted past the bipartisan opposition to it and on its way to the President's desk. And now that it no longer … [Read more...] about The “Dirty Little Secret” of Health Care Reform
Georgia Supreme Court: Caps on Malpractice Lawsuits Unconstitutional
From the AJC's Political Insider, Jim Galloway, a morning jolt: The Georgia Supreme Court announced today that, in a unanimous 7-0 ruling, it has found a state law limiting damages awarded for pain and suffering in medical malpractice lawsuits to be unconstitutional. The cap on awards was the heart of the 2005 attempt at tort reform. Look for the ruling to restart Georgia’s … [Read more...] about Georgia Supreme Court: Caps on Malpractice Lawsuits Unconstitutional
The Good News and Bad News on the Health Care Reform Bill’s Passage
Both supporters and critics agree on this: the passage of the health care reform bill was a historic event. What they can't (or in some cases simply will not) agree on is what it means. Here are some thoughts on the Good News and Bad News about the bill, the process it took to pass, and what it revealed about our polity and our leaders: THE GOOD NEWS is that the fact that … [Read more...] about The Good News and Bad News on the Health Care Reform Bill’s Passage
Healthcare Reform vs. The Surge
I've been pondering the common analogy between President Obama's support for healthcare reform (HCR for short) and President Bush's support for the surge in Iraq, both in the face of strong popular resistance. The political arguments for and against have been essentially the same, except with the parties reversed. Three years ago, President Bush spoke of the need to do what … [Read more...] about Healthcare Reform vs. The Surge
Sausage Making (Guest Cartoon)
This guest cartoon is by Sarjex, who describes herself as “a lonely little wingnut in the crazy liberal mecca of San Francisco.” … [Read more...] about Sausage Making (Guest Cartoon)
“Health-Care Reform: Obama, Dems Owed Americans Nothing Less & Delivered”
A look at the passage of health care reform by Shaun Mullen -- what it will mean and is unlikely to mean. … [Read more...] about “Health-Care Reform: Obama, Dems Owed Americans Nothing Less & Delivered”
Health Care Baby
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Health Care Baby
Astonishing: U.S. Republicans Turn Backs on History – L’Express, France
Have U.S. Republicans made a colossal mistake by battling health care reform right up to the end? Continuing with our look at global reaction to President Obama's legislative triumph, Philippe Coste of France's L'Express writes that he's shocked not only at Republican shortsightedness, but, compared with European health care, with the modest size of the reform itself. For … [Read more...] about Astonishing: U.S. Republicans Turn Backs on History – L’Express, France
A European’s Letter to America on Healthcare
Over the next week, I’ll be very closely reading Watching America.com, the site that translates foreign news about the USA, to see how the world will react to Congress’s historic vote on healthcare. The general failure of the American healthcare system, in terms of both failure to deliver quality healthcare to all of society and, despite this, the huge amount of money spent, … [Read more...] about A European’s Letter to America on Healthcare
Universal Health Care – It’s the principle that won tonight
For all the in-depth analysis of what the just-passed health care reform bill does for ordinary Americans, and the intensely personal nature of the health care debate up to now, the most significant achievement tonight was actually an abstract one. For the first time in American history the Federal government is legally and profoundly committed to universal health insurance. … [Read more...] about Universal Health Care – It’s the principle that won tonight