How American Health Care Killed My Father
David Goldhill, The Atlantic, September 2009, page 38

This article profoundly effected my views on the health care debate. I wasn’t happy with either side of the debate, but wasn’t sure how a better plan would look. It’s an extremely complex issue. I like David’s ideas very much.

When it comes to the current debate about health care/insurance reform the Republicans on the right are disingenuous, crazy and blinded by their hatred for a black president. The proposals on the left are merely Band-Aids and do not address, nor will they fix, the causes of our medical mess.

(more…)

government · health care · politics · the atlantic

All but the Ring: Why Some Couples Don’t Wed
Lisa Selin David, Time, May 25, 2009

A Gay-Marriage Solution: End Marriage?
Michael A. Lindenberger, Time, March 16, 2009

Is marriage on its way to becoming the relationship equivalent of our appendix (in that it’s no longer needed but can cause a lot of pain)?

I sure hope so. Marriage is an archaic institution that has a benign effect on a relationship, at best. The legal benefits of marriage, however, are significant. Committed Unmarrieds pay dearly for their decision to forgo government’s stamp of approval on their relationship. The same-sex marriage fight is primarily one of benefits and semantics. If government would get out of the business of marriage, these problems would disappear immediately. There would be no losers (except, perhaps, the wedding industry and divorce attorneys).

Thank you for directing my attention to these articles, Brian.

court · gay · government · law · lgbt · marriage · politics · prop-8 · same-sex

Stem cell scientists hail new era
Carolyn Y. Johnson, Boston Globe, March 10, 2009

Obama yesterday followed through on promises he made during his election campaign, signing an executive order allowing federal funding for embryonic stem cell research and directing the National Institutes of Health to write guidelines within 120 days for how the research should be conducted.

He also signed a memorandum to elevate science within his administration, clarify the responsibilities of the office of science and technology policy, and ensure that “we base our public policies on the soundest science . . . and that we are open and honest with the American people about the science behind our decisions.”

“President Obama’s new executive order on embryonic stem cell research is a sad victory of politics over science and ethics,” Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, said in a statement.

That’s rich. It is the science community that has been hampered by W.’s anti-science policies and who are cheering this executive order. Furthermore, stem cell treatments and cures have the potential to help many millions of people live longer healthier lives. It is immoral to oppose this research.

My favorite part of this wonderful news may be the memorandum President Obama signed that elevates science within his administration by saying, “we base our public policies on the soundest science”. I think the American people deserve more than wishful prayers. This shift in public policy gives me great hope.

executive order · government · obama · politics · research · Science · stem cell · stem cell research

Do these guys have a sweet gig, or what?!

I’d love to have all that gear and be part of the White House Press Corps. Every moment must be captured for a frenzied twenty-four hour cut-throat news cycle.

This is the pen and executive order Obama would sign on his first full day as President.

I’d be the guy with the jacket and jeans. Doesn’t the guy on the left look like a younger Bill Gates?

executive order · obama · pen · photographer · politics

Ever learned something that seems so obvious you wonder why it took so long to figure out? Like, evolution or atheism, for example.

A Plan to Hire the Best Teachers
NY Times, November 28, 2008

While I was reading a recent editorial in the NY Times this morning I though, “well duh”. I’m amazed that senior teachers have, for so long, been able to transfer at will, even when the receiving principle objects. Who, I wonder, thought that was a policy which would benefit the students. We don’t operate an education system to employ teachers, do we?

It is refreshing that New York City and its teacher’s union have updated their policy to allow principles to build cohesive and effective teams without undue consideration for tenured faculty. I was also refreshed to learn that teachers in New York City public schools are paid up to $100,000 per year. If other school districts invested as much in their talent our educational systems might not be in the dire situation in which they currently find themselves.

Within a year or so, the city should know which teachers were passed over for salary reasons and which ones have languished in the reserve pool because of poor performance. Once the data is in, the city and the union will need to negotiate a plan for ushering the inadequate teachers out of the system.

Good riddance.

editorial · education · new york city · ny times · nyc · politics · school · teachers union · tenure · union

A reassuring figure for Treasury
Economist.com, November 22, 2008

I’m so glad Hank Paulson is going to be leaving with W. What a disaster. I’m equally thrilled by President-elect Obama’s choice for his replacement. Perhaps I should be grateful Mr. Paulson was ineffective, otherwise we would have privatized Social Security. Imagine that!

Mr Geithner looks a lot younger than his 47 years (though not as young as he did before the crisis began). He skateboards and snowboards and exudes a sort of hipster-wonkiness, using “way” as a synonym for “very” as in “way consequential” and occasionally underlining his point with the word “fuck”.

Cool.

In temperament he seems similar to Mr Obama: he is suspicious of ideology, questions received wisdom, likes a competition of ideas and is keenly aware of how uncertain the world is.

He is a quick learner: within a year of joining the New York Fed he could debate the intricacies of monetary policy with academic experts. But he will join an Administration rapidly filling up with heavyweights on economic policy, not least of them Mr Summers. Indeed, one of the big questions of the new team that Mr Obama is expected to unveil on Monday is just how Mr Summers, a brilliant but intimidating and sometimes abrasive figure, will fit in.

Mr Obama is assembling a formidable economic team. With the economy perhaps on the precipice of its worst recession since the Depression, he will need it.

So instead of an ideological crony we’re going to get competence? Fuck yeah.

Related post:
Krugman for Treasury, November 10, 2008

economy · geithner · government · obama · paulson · politics · treasury

My best mate, Steven Pam, recently referred to me an interesting article in the Herald Sun about a new political party whose platform is all about sex.

Sex flirts with politics
Laurie Nowell, November 16, 2008

…should what happens in your bedroom be decided by minority religious lobby groups?

Certainly not! While I could never take this party seriously, I do think the issues they support are important and need a voice.

New word: wowser. Love the word. Thanks, Aussies.

australia · freedom · liberal · liberty · politics · sex

I’ve recently been having a discussion with a friend about economic philosophies, among other things. The last three books I’ve read have been about economics. I dig the free market, I do, but only one that is heavily regulated. Capitalists serve themselves first, and society maybe never. Taking care of us is the responsibility of the collective we call government.

I read a very interesting article in the current issue of Esquire magazine about Dean Kamen, his inventions and idiosyncrasies (which are many). One quote that particularly resonated with me concerns America and her values.

you get what you celebrate in a free market and America builds momuments to the things it values and unfortunately most of those monuments are giant sports arenas, which don’t contribute anything to the future.
~John H. Richardson, Esquire, December 2008, page 98+

Well said.

business · capitalism · economy · esquire · government · politics