For those not enamored by the Michael Jackson-mania that has overtaken the world since the singer's death, this article by Gilles Hertzog of France's Liberation may prove satisfying. Decrying what the phenomena says about modern civilization, Hertzog's intense 1100-word intellectual diatribe says in part: "It was a universal tsunami of tears and lamentation; a worldwide … [Read more...] about Michael Jackson: Mirror of Our Alienated Lives – Liberation, France
KILLING COMPETITION – OH REALLY??
Some critics of current Democratic healthcare reforms falsely assert that a public option entity would kill competition within the U.S. private health insurance market. This claim begs several questions. Is the private health insurance market really competitive? Should it even be based on free-market principles? Several studies have shown that in most cases across the … [Read more...] about KILLING COMPETITION – OH REALLY??
Having Ignored Krugman’s Law, Obama Should Heed Cheney’s Law
Both laws are essentially the same -- the only difference being that one is stated as a warning, the other as a credo: … [Read more...] about Having Ignored Krugman’s Law, Obama Should Heed Cheney’s Law
Health Reform As Self Reform
This article in the Atlantic is the best "conservative" argument against the health system/reform that I've read. Regardless of how you feel about the policy proposal, the description of the root problem is entirely accurate and rarely addressed. For my money, I find two major problems with his proposal as well as a few over generalizations. Market competition relies on the … [Read more...] about Health Reform As Self Reform
Healthcare, Chess and Unintended Consquences (Guest Voice)
Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of TMV or its many writers. Healthcare, Chess and Unintended Consquences by Average Joe In the flap over an Op Ed article penned by the CEO of Whole Foods, John Mackey rehashes a right wing idea I blogged about after the CPAC convention in March. This idea has been widely touted as one of the conservative … [Read more...] about Healthcare, Chess and Unintended Consquences (Guest Voice)
Jelly Donuts and Junk Food: Uncle Sam, Save Us!
In light of all the heated discussion about health care reform, this Houston Chronicle article seems pretty timely: Obesity is causing “death and illness on a massive scale,” according to a new study by University of Virgina and Urban Institute researchers. And it is all but impossible to treat. “Unless there is some vast improvement in the efficiency of the health care … [Read more...] about Jelly Donuts and Junk Food: Uncle Sam, Save Us!
Woodstock And The Slippery Economic Slope
The country is now remembering the Woodstock weekend's 40th anniversary. I missed that big mud slide four decades ago. I was bumming around Europe at the time after doing my military service. But Woodstock and my bumming have something in common — both, in very different ways, represented the very acme of American economic life. I don't want to pretend that the Ozzie & … [Read more...] about Woodstock And The Slippery Economic Slope
“Why We Need Health Care Reform,” from the Horse’s Mouth
Fellow blogger Mark Daniels just posted ”Two Helpful Primers on the Health Care Reform Debate," linking to two good overviews of the health care reform debate and issues, one from The New York Times and the other from The Wall Street Journal. In this morning's New York Times, there also happened to be an Op-Ed on "Why We Need Health Care Reform," by a person who, albeit far … [Read more...] about “Why We Need Health Care Reform,” from the Horse’s Mouth
Scenes from the Garden
For a hopefully relaxing Sunday morning, a few scenes from the garden to put your spirit at ease. Mother Nature is still failing to cooperate for the most part, but our plants are gamely working away during an unusually cold and rainy summer. What? You thought that somebody who totally fails to qualify as a liberal could enjoy working in a garden? Remember... even Hitler … [Read more...] about Scenes from the Garden
Thought for the Day
Jeff Ely at Cheap Talk: At Legoland, admission is discounted for two-year-olds. But a child must be at least three for most of the fun attractions. At the ticket window the parents are asked how old the child is. But at the ride entrance the attendants ask the children directly. The parents lie. The children tell the truth. … [Read more...] about Thought for the Day
Avlon’s Wingnuts Of The Week: LaRouche and Palin
Centrist writer and commentator John Avlon has announced his latest Wingnuts of the Week: former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and Lyndon LaRouche. Here's his lead in on the CNN blog: It’s become the summer of the wingnut. Unhinged eruptions at town halls are becoming standard operating procedure, as forces from the right face off against forces deployed by the left. … [Read more...] about Avlon’s Wingnuts Of The Week: LaRouche and Palin
Hot, Loud August (Guest Voice)
Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of TMV or its many writers. Hot, Loud August by Will Durst If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to visit Washington, D.C. in August, you understand the custom of the federal government releasing all its high-profile delinquents back into their home communities and calling it recess. D.C. was built on a swamp, … [Read more...] about Hot, Loud August (Guest Voice)
Les Paul
Cam Cardow, The Ottawa Citizen This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Les Paul
Experiences in Afghanistan & Iraq Leave Many in Military Advocating Combat Roles for Women
This past week, I spent time visiting with a woman who worked at the Curtis-Wright airplane plant in Columbus during World War Two. She wasn't a Rosie the Riveter, but Blanche the Solderer. (I know the designation isn't alliterative. But her name really is Blanche.) The World War Two experience no doubt planted seeds for the modern Women's Movement, which took off in the … [Read more...] about Experiences in Afghanistan & Iraq Leave Many in Military Advocating Combat Roles for Women
Two Helpful Primers on the Health Care Reform Debate
If you're like me, busy working ten hours a day or so, the claims and counterclaims in the current "discussion" over health care reform may lead you a bit confused, with little opportunity to check the veracity of the claims. Here are two overviews of the health care reform issue and the arguments advanced by its advocates and opponents. One from The New York Times and … [Read more...] about Two Helpful Primers on the Health Care Reform Debate
More From Bruce Bartlett
Literally as I was posting the excerpt from Bruce Bartlett on The GOP’s Misplaced Rage, Steve Benen quoted Bartlett from an email conversation: I believe that political parties should do penance for their mistakes and just losing power is not enough. Part of that involves understanding why those mistakes were made and how to prevent them from happening again. Republicans, … [Read more...] about More From Bruce Bartlett
So, Uh, The Banking System Is Still Insolvent
AKA Why There Will Be Another Banking Panic And Market Disaster Remember how all the banks made a big show of paying off TARP money to demonstrate how they had recovered? Well that was pretty much a lie and they are all extremely under capitalized. It should be noted that the entire rationale for letting the banks mark to model instead of market was that the market was not … [Read more...] about So, Uh, The Banking System Is Still Insolvent
What John Mackey of Whole Foods Actually Wrote vs What the WSJ Ran: See For Yourself
When I first read the WSJ opinion piece by Whole Foods CEO John Mackey, something seemed a little odd. So, I also went to his blog and glanced at the article he had submitted to the WSJ. It seemed, just to an editor's squinty eye, that what Mackey wrote was originally about 200 words longer than the WSJ piece. Mr. Mackey is known for quoting stats, people, and studies... and … [Read more...] about What John Mackey of Whole Foods Actually Wrote vs What the WSJ Ran: See For Yourself
Two Mexican Midget Wrestlers Killed by Fake Prostitutes
Reality is stranger than fiction: The world of Mexican midget wrestling is in mourning after two of its most famous stars were apparently poisoned by fake prostitutes. Brothers in armlocks Alberto and Alejandro Pérez Jiménez were found dead in a hotel room after being drugged and robbed. The women who spiked the twins' drinks are thought to be members of an organised … [Read more...] about Two Mexican Midget Wrestlers Killed by Fake Prostitutes
Thank Sean Hannity For Getting One Thing Right
Sean Hannity, one of the conservative commentators on Fox News I usually find repugnant, deserves credit for calling national attention to a tragic scenario that is playing out in California's fertile San Joaquin Valley. The nation's largest bread and fruit basket is experiencing a third year of drought made worse by severe cutbacks in imported water because of federal … [Read more...] about Thank Sean Hannity For Getting One Thing Right