Brent Nyitray
Fairlington Blade
Let the mutherfuker burn!
jnc4p
Kevin S. Willis
Michigoose
lmsinca
markinaustin
Memetrics
novahockey
quarterback
ScottC
yellojktHouse Republicans sure had a busy week. In addition to cutting SNAP by a pretty significant amount, they culminated the week in another repeal/defund Obamacare vote.
Notching its 42nd vote against Obamacare and knowing full well that the Democratic Senate will reject it, Republicans in the House cast their vote, staged a noisy celebration in front of a placard declaring “SenateMustAct,” and then left town for several days to give time for the Senate to demolish its work.
“The Senate will not pass any bill that defunds or delays Obamacare,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said flatly.
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The latest in the Naval Shipyard shooting is that his targets appear to be random based on video surveillance. It looks like Aaron Alexis’ mental state has become the focus of most commentary.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The contract worker who opened fire at the Washington Navy Yard this week appeared to have no particular target as he moved through a building and shot and killed 12 people, FBI Director James Comey said on Thursday.
Comey, whose agency is leading the investigation into the shooting, said that in surveillance video the man identified as 34-year-old Aaron Alexis “appears to be moving without particular direction or purpose.”
Thousands of workers streamed back into the Washington Navy Yard on Thursday, three days after Alexis, a former reservist working at the site as a contractor, opened fire with a shotgun as he wandered several floors and hallways.
The Department of Veterans Affairs said on Wednesday that Alexis was treated for insomnia in August at hospitals run by the VA, but that he said he did not have violent thoughts and did not seek care from a VA mental health specialist.
His credentials were still valid, although Rhode Island police had warned the Navy in August that Alexis had reported “hearing voices” and said he believed people were following him and “sending vibrations into his body,” according to a Newport police report.
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Coloradans are returning home after a week and a half of horrible weather. They’re calling it the 1000 year flood now. A week and a half ago Golden had over a foot of hail. They had to bring out the snow plows in 90 degree weather and when it melted it added to the flooding. The pictures in the link are pretty incredible.
Up and down Colorado’s Front Range, the number of dead rose to seven, with three others missing and presumed dead. But the number of unaccounted-for people dropped to about 140, thanks to rescues and restored communications.
“Right now we’re just moving from the life-saving mode to the life-sustaining mode,” said Kevin Kline, director of the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
Kline said it was too early to estimate the dollar damage but added, “It’s going to be big.”
The damage spans 17 counties and nearly 2,000 square miles.
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I finally got my first iPhone last weekend, a hand-me-down from one of my kids. It’s okay (the phone I mean). We have so many lines coming in here and with my kindle and a non-contract phone for traveling, I never really felt the burning desire, but I finally relented. But this is nuts.
When the first iPhone went on sale, it was unlike any other phone that had ever hit the market. Gadget fanatics lined up across the country to shell out more than $500 for Steve Jobs’ totally new innovation.
Apple’s seventh iPhone launches today and the lines still persist. Around the world, from China to New York to London, people have gathered outside Apple Stores for the launch of the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s.
The iPhone 5s costs $200, the iPhone 5c $100.
But why? Why are they breaking down the doors for phones they can buy online or can walk in and get at the store later in the day? Why are people sleeping on the streets to get phones that have been updated with just a couple of new impressive features?
“I want the gold one and everyone wants the gold one.”
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For your viewing pleasure here’s a list of movies that opened Friday the 20th and a couple that either stand out or look like ticket sellers to me.
Prisoners – Film centers on a small town carpenter whose young daughter and best friend are kidnapped. After the cops fail to find them, the man turns vigilante and starts an investigation of his own. Jake Gyllenhaal, whom I like for some reason, stars as the cop.
Rush – An action/adventure Set against the sexy and glamorous golden age of Formula 1 racing, this film portrays the exhilarating true story of two of the greatest rivals the world has ever witnessed-handsome English playboy Hunt and his methodical, brilliant opponent, Lauda. Taking us into their personal lives on and off the track, Rush follows the two drivers as they push themselves to the breaking point of physical and psychological endurance, where there is no shortcut to victory and no margin for error. If you make one mistake, you die. This one’s directed by Ron Howard so might be worth watching.
Generation Iron – This one’s a docu/drama that examines the professional sport of bodybuilding today and gives the audience front row access to the lives of the top 7 bodybuilders in the sport as they train to compete in the world’s most premiere bodybuilding stage – Mr. Olympia. This is a limited release so that might mean something……………lol
Disclaimer: This is not an endorsement of any of the above movies……….hahaha
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: The Week in Review |
All Things in Moderation 
So it looks like the folks at Reuter’s, at least, are blaming the poor showing yesterday in the stock market on Blackberry’s falling profits and layoffs and not the House Republicans.
(Reuters) – Investors may be tempted to shy away from stocks in the next week or two as the latest version of the fiscal follies plays out in Washington.
It’s understandable. The prospect of a government shutdown or, worse, default on the federal debt, rekindles memories of 2011 when Washington’s infighting prompted the loss of the United States’ triple-A credit rating and was a primary driver behind the stock market’s last full-on correction.
The sense from Wall Street analysts this time, however, is that the current drama is likely to feature more bluster than bravado and contains overblown threats.
“Looking back at the pattern that has emerged since the debt ceiling fiasco back in 2011, the Republican leadership got the message that if there is a government shutdown, most likely their party is going to get blamed,” said Brian Jacobsen, chief portfolio strategist at Wells Fargo Funds Management in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
“They’re going to be very sensitive to that public sentiment as we get closer to a midterm election year” in 2014, Jacobsen said.
“In spite of all the brinkmanship being talked about … there will be a deal and then we will move on,” said Stephen Massocca, managing director at Wedbush Equity Management in San Francisco.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/20/us-usa-stocks-weekahead-idUSBRE98J10K20130920
(Reuters) – BlackBerry Ltd warned on Friday it expects to report a huge quarterly operating loss next week and that it will cut more than a third of its global workforce, rekindling fears of the company’s demise and sending its shares into a tailspin.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/21/us-blackberry-warning-idUSBRE98J0V220130921
My daughter up-graded her iPhone yesterday (and waited in line) but they ran out of the gold ones early on and so she’s paying an extra $10/mo so she can trade in her new coral one for the gold when it becomes available………………………sheesh. I don’t get it.
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Prisoners – Film centers on a small town carpenter whose young daughter and best friend are kidnapped. After the cops fail to find them, the man turns vigilante and starts an investigation of his own. Jake Gyllenhaal, whom I like for some reason, stars as the cop.
I thought about this years ago, I always wondered why (or maybe if I had the courage to do it myself if I was in her situation) Nancy Holloway didn’t have that Vandersloot kid kidnapped and tortured until he fessed up a la Prisoner.
What would other people do?
Welcome to the 21st century Lms, re your IPhone! What model do you have? I find mine indispensable. Next decision for you, do you upgrade to IOS7? So far I like it (IOS7.). I have a 4s but have no desire to upgrade, it works fine. For me, design wise, the 3s felt best in the hand, though it does look dated now. The curved back was great in the hand.
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I think I might go see Prisoners tonight. (With one gone to college and the second independently mobile, we are finding ourselves with an uncomfortable amount of empty time on the weekends that must be filled!) I took my youngest to a movie last week and saw the previews of Prisoner and it looked good, although not, perhaps, if you still have young kids.
Speaking of which, the movie my daughter and I saw last Friday was Insidious. It was kind of a last minute call, and I hadn’t realized it was opening night, so the theater was packed…with teenagers. Maybe I am turning into an old fart, but never again! Those damn kids did not shut up for the entire movie. Literally constant talking, and not in soft whispers but a casual conversational tone, as if no one else was in the theater at all. Really pissed me off. I think I embarrassed my daughter because at one point I turned around and yelled at the kids right behind us. She did have to admit, though, that they did shut up after I did. I think I scared them more than the movie did.
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We saw Prisoners tonight. Taut suspense almost throughout. I recommend it.
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What would other people do?
Not sure I could personally torture or watch someone else torture another human being but I sure would sanction it if one of my kids were in danger. As I’ve said before I’d do whatever I could within and outside of legal means, then fall on my sword.
Welcome to the 21st century Lms, re your IPhone!
I know. If you saw all the tech stuff I do here you’d know I’m not exactly stuck in the 20th though. I was being really stubborn about the phone. We have 4 phone lines plus a cable line coming in here, along with an 800 number. I feel like I spend too much time on the phone as it is and enjoyed being out of reach when not working or at home for the most part. The kids finally convinced me I was missing out. That’s still debatable, although I do like using the blue tooth hands free feature in my car. I hope I don’t turn into one of those people who’s always looking at her phone when people are trying to have a face to face conversation with me. My DIL does that, if she’s not looking at her phone while we’re talking, she’s looking over my shoulder for someone more interesting to converse with………………….drives me crazy.
Oh, and it’s a 4s.
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I guess I find mine indispensable but for internet access and twitter. I spend a lot of time in my job waiting for other people, so having stuff to read, and ATiM to check, is a great way to fill up the down time.
I happen to like talking to people so putting the phone down isn’t that hard for me.
You’re right though, when it comes to work, especially a home based business, you can be “too accessible.”
When are you getting IPad? Or are you waiting for the new model?
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No IPad for me. I got the new Kindle last Christmas and it does basically the same things and I love it.
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My wife has a nook reader (she loves it) and also uses her laptop quite a bit. After having the IPad, unless I have to do a lot of typing, I’d just as soon avoid using the laptop. It just feels so cumbersome and, well, antiquated. 😉
And yes, I’m an Apple fanboi.
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The pouting and foot stomping in this op ed is really funny.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dont-blame-boehner-for-house-dysfunction/2013/09/20/511aa3a0-2208-11e3-a358-1144dee636dd_story.html
The belief that passing transportation and farm bills is responsible legislating is exactly what’s wrong with the political class. Those bills, in particular, are obscene corporate welfare.
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“In addition to cutting SNAP by a pretty significant amount”
Running the numbers on this from your article:
Current cost is cited at “almost $80 billion-a-year food stamp program ”
The house cut is $ 4 billion or 5%.
The program was cited as having over double the cost since 2008, so presumably in 2008 it was less than $40 billion.
I’m not seeing a cut of 5% after a growth rate of over 100% as “hateful, punitive legislation” as Reid puts it.
I’d cut farm subsidies first, but the rhetoric that Reid and the others use for what are relatively modest cuts after dramatic cost escalation just makes me hope that the Republicans stand their ground to tell Reid to go fuck himself.
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J, see above for the Political classes opinion on those damnable anarchists that are fucking it up for the rest of them.
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Not a Reid fan, I just report, you decide. That’s the framing D’s are using.
Off to a swim meet………………….maybe I’ll actually beat someone this time…..lol
Happy Saturday, and I expect a lot of dialogue to review and comment on when I return.
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lms:
Off to a swim meet………………….maybe I’ll actually beat someone this time…
Remember, what I said the other day….if you ain’t the top dog in the race, the view never changes.
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I love his bravado…
http://hotair.com/headlines/archives/2013/09/21/obama-calls-boehner-rules-out-debt-negotiations/
“Don’t call my bluff [John]!”
What rational person believes him at this point? By stating this, doesn’t Boehner now haw to get some concession, just to maintain his credibility?
Does Obama actually think he is believed?
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Kick ass and take names at the swim meet. Be the fish!
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It’s almost as if considering toilet paper a basic right requires price controls (to keep it affordable) and that leads to shortages.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/venezuela-orders-temporary-takeover-toilet-paper-factory-002437055.html
I’m sure there will not be a parallel in our new right to healthcare.
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Excellent blog post on healthcare cost control by Megan McArdle.
http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-20/health-care-costs-are-driven-by-technology-not-presidents.html
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Scott
With one gone to college and the second independently mobile, we are finding ourselves with an uncomfortable amount of empty time on the weekends that must be filled!
Hah, I remember those days…………time for you and your wife to get reacquainted.
Still not the top dog, but a little closer…….lol
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There is an expense missing from this chart
http://m.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/09/where-americans-rich-and-poor-spent-every-dollar-in-2012/279727/#disqus_thread
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McWing:
Hah. Yes, there is a rather significant expense missing. It would have been especially notable when broken out for the poorest and richest quintiles.
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Scott: there’s a reason I haven’t been to a movie in a movie theater in about 10 years!
Almost went to one last week, but my friend and I opted out at the last minute.
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Yes, please do.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/21/american-gun-out-control-porter
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I’ve read about these ads but haven’t seen them. Has anyone seen them? I assumed they were internet ads but it sounds like they may be running on television somewhere. I doubt I’ll see them if that’s the case.
3. Koch brothers: Cervical cancer is a small price to pay to defeat Obamacare.
In their abject desperation to forestall the implementation of Obamacare, right-wing zealots released some ads this week that are bound to go down in history as some of the most absurd pieces of political video ever created.
The ad campaign created by Generation Opportunity, which is funded by the ultra-conservative Koch brothers, specifically targets young people with the rather irresponsible message that they really don’t need health insurance. Better to “opt out,” pay the fine, it’s cheaper. Also, for young women, it avoids those uncomfortable gynecological exams, the ones that might save you from cervical cancer. The somewhat deranged looking advertisement features the legs of a woman in stirrups, presumably ready for her potentially life-saving pap smear, when all of sudden a wooden marionette Uncle Sam pops up between her legs. Uncle Sam apparently wants her. In the final scene, Uncle Sam is shown holding a speculum.
Young men can also get in on the invasive healthcare action with Obamacare. Another ad features a young man about to receive a prostate exam. He is told to take off his pants, and Uncle Sam appears behind him.
We knew right-wing Republicans had an unhealthy obsession with our orifices, from advocating mandatory vaginal probes for abortion seekers to seeking reinstatement of anti-sodomy laws, but these ads are truly hitting a new low. The good news is that the young people seeing them are not so easily fooled.
Caution: If you see the ads you might make the mistake of thinking you are watching “Saturday Night Live” parodies, even if it is the middle of the day on Tuesday.
I deleted the link but it was at alternet. I wasn’t endorsing the story it was nestled in, or the way it was written. I’m trying to be careful about the links I put up lately. Some of the language in the one above is misleading but I’m interested in seeing the ads to make up my own mind about them. They sound truly bizarre.
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I’ve seen the one with the woman in doc’s office in stirrups on some channel we were watching on cable… we don’t get that many channels either…. it’s a totally disgusting ad.
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Hah, I found them. Really weird and creepy. It’s an interesting way to portray the message that young people should pay the fine rather than sign up for insurance.
For all the horror movie theatrics, “GenOpp,” as the group probably hopes the kidz will call it, says its message is financial: “What we’re trying to communicate is, ‘No, you’re actually not required to buy health insurance,’” President Evan Feinberg explained to Yahoo! News. “You might have to pay a fine, but that’s going to be cheaper for you and better for you.”
No. If “choose fine not exchange!” really is GenOpp’s message, the ads are not only creepy but also a bait and switch, relying more on circa-2009 fears about the government takeover of medical decisions than on any rational financial argument that paying the fine is wiser than signing up for exchanges. These ads make no mention of exchanges, fines, or anything else; in fact, they provide no rebuttal to the Affordable Care Act at all, substantive or otherwise. They just have a dude in a scary mask about to violate a woman. So much for what Feinberg is “trying to communicate.”
http://www.mediaite.com/online/these-new-anti-obamacare-ads-are-the-creepiest-things-youll-ever-see/
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I think they’re cool and demonstrate the governments coming involvement in uteruses (and prostate for the male ad).
I love the “ultra-conservative Koch” brothers moniker. The same ultra-conservatives that support legalized pot and donate, stupidly, to NPR.
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Cervical cancer is cool, McWing?
Really?
Have you known someone with prostate cancer? I have, and he committed suicide. I really don’t find you at all funny with this.
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This is Phil:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/saltlaketribune/obituary.aspx?n=phillip-l-sweat&pid=122964860
He didn’t “pass away peacefully”–he shot himself and his 16-year-old son found him right before he died. Prostate cancer isn’t funny or cool.
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Besides the creepy uncle sam with the speculum, I thought it was interesting that they claim their message was to encourage kids not to buy health insurance based on some sort of financial formula I’m unaware of but what they’re really doing in the ad is portraying the heavy hand of government run health care……………which is it?
McWing, are you saying the Koch brothers aren’t ultra-conservative just because they may want to legalize pot (I have to wonder what their angle is on that) and because they donate to NPR?
You must not be a conservative either since you support open borders based on that formula.
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Michi, did you watch the ads? If so, where in there, what time mark in the ad, did they mention cervical cancer or prostate cancer?
Lms, I guess I identify sometimes as a con but probably am more militantly Objectivist then anything else. I think the “ultra-mega-genocidal-Koch brothers” identify as Libertarian more than anything. I just think the monitor is a scream.
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She could be complaining of vaginal itching and he could have hemmeroids.
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McWing
Is there a reason you have to go even more extreme than the linked piece?
“ultra-mega-genocidal-Koch brothers”
Do you think we should be recommending to young adults to forego health insurance and pay the fine? Or is this just another scheme to ensure the failure of the ACA on the backs of young people?
Every time I find a subject that interests me it becomes a joke around here. I even mentioned that I wasn’t actually endorsing the language in the quotation but was merely curious about the ad itself. Naturally then you focus on the language in the quotation. Frustrating.
I think I’ll just go back to linking boring non-partisan pieces again. And no I’m not feeling sorry for myself and I’m not even mad, I’d like to have a debate but it’s impossible here. Either the piece is a joke with no value in debate or we have to spend half our time arguing over semantics. I’ll stick to helping Scott with his history posts and my new week in review idea and make sure I keep it neutral. You guys are on your own if you actually want to debate something………………maybe there’s still someone out there interested in doing that.
End Rant……………………..
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Cervical cancer is cool, McWing?
I just watched the gynecologist ad. At no point was cervical cancer mentioned or implied at all. Indeed, the woman in the ad seems happy to be making her “first” visit, so I have no idea how McWing’s endorsement of the ad could sensibly be construed to be suggesting that cervical cancer is “cool”. Why anyone would even introduce the notion is inexplicable.
I agree with McWing that Obamacare fundamentally (and nefariously) changes the relationship between citizen and state, and so I also agree with him that any steps that might prevent it from being fully implemented or might eventually lead to its demise are a good idea. Including encouraging people not to sign up.
I agree with lms that the ad doesn’t make a financial argument at all, but is designed instead to make people fearful about the government being involved in their health treatments. As for the ad being “creepy”, well, yes, and intentionally so. It is sending the message that allowing the government to get involved with your health care is creepy, and so you should avoid it if you can.
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lms:
Every time I find a subject that interests me it becomes a joke around here.
I don’t understand why you think McWing made a joke of they subject of your interest. All he said was that he thought the ad was “cool” and has since explained why. How is that making a joke of it? Does one have to agree with you that they are “weird and creepy” in order not to be seen as making a joke of it?
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Every time I find a subject that interests me it becomes a joke around here.
Precisely. Which is why this has become conservatives only.
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Do you think we should be recommending to young adults to forego health insurance and pay the fine? Or is this just another scheme to ensure the failure of the ACA on the backs of young people?
Yes. I view the ACA as an existential threat that fundamentally changes the relationship between government and citizen.
Every time I find a subject that interests me it becomes a joke around here. I even mentioned that I wasn’t actually endorsing the language in the quotation but was merely curious about the ad itself. Naturally then you focus on the language in the quotation. Frustrating.
As I wrote above I view the ACA as a complete disaster and think it should be repealed, I think any attempts to stop, delay or defund it, as long as it is within the bounds of the law are fair game. I also thought the descriptor of the Koch brothers was hilarious and I was just riffing off of that and I didn’t mean to derail the conversation. I think both the Alternet piece and the Mediate peice are exceedingly hyperbolic in their descriptions of the ads as well as their utter dismissal of a principled stance against ACA and the concept of healthcare as a right. You may think however that my view of the ACA and the concept of healthcare as a government gauraneeted right is equally hyperbolic. I love to discuss that. Look, if I link to a Ann Coulter piece, or Michelle Malkin, feel free to riff on that.
I think I’ll just go back to linking boring non-partisan pieces again. And no I’m not feeling sorry for myself and I’m not even mad, I’d like to have a debate but it’s impossible here. Either the piece is a joke with no value in debate or we have to spend half our time arguing over semantics.
I don’t understand this. I thought the point of this place was to argue first principles? In our debates, we’ve discovered that most of us agree on abortion and even reasonable controls for it, as well as our own distrust for the motives of “the other side.” That seems productive to me. Why shy away from argument? Yeah, it can get heated sometimes, having a core belief challenged can be very threatening but in the end we learn things, even if only that we truly believe what we believe despite the challenges.
I mocked the descriptor of the Koch brothers and that’s it. I didn’t mock you.
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McWing, now you want to have a serious debate? Look, I’m not afraid of being challenged or shying away from an argument. I put a disclaimer in about the piece for a reason and then you go ahead and focus on the very thing that I tried to steer you and everyone else away from.
Like I said, I can just stick to boring and “moderate” commentary from now on if you don’t want to discuss issues until I practically beg you to. Have any of you noticed how difficult it is to find political commentary that isn’t highly partisan and mocking if not downright derogatory of the other side? That doesn’t really mean there’s no value does it? Should I take the time to strike through all the words that I may not completely agree with or approve of like some kind of church lady on steroids?
I wanted to talk about the ad and those were the only places I found that were discussing it or showing it……………………………..whatever.
I’m going to go watch a movie with my husband. He helped me in the pool today knock a second or two of my flip turns so I owe him and it sounds like a hell of a lot more fun anyway.
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Where, aside from a, er, aside about the Koch brothers did I indicate Imdid not what a serious debate? I link stuff most days and would love to have a discussion about them or any other issue for that matter you link. I’m sorry if I haven’t responded enough to your links.
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I’m sorry if I haven’t responded enough to your links.
Yes, I’m sure that’s what I was talking about. You figured it out. Too bad I don’t have any bourbon in the house…………..I could use a drink.
Manana.
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That’s right Scott, I expected mcwing to agree with me.
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I haven’t seen the ad referenced. Don’t have time to chase it down.
My view:
The other industrialized nations do more health care with less and the prerequisite for that appears to be universal affordable health care. The other countries do it many different ways including socialized medicine, socialized insurance, and regulated private markets. We are understandably turning in the direction of a regulated private market. ACA is a faltering step in the direction of a regulated private market.
The ad as described takes exception to the federal hand in the market and apparently demeans a formerly beloved symbol of our nation, is that right?
It apparently treats health care itself as a forcible invasion of our privates. Is that right?
It’s motive is to scare young people into not enrolling for insurance, is that right?
Does anyone here think that our pre ACA health care delivery has been efficient or affordable or transparent? Or is it that some of you think ACA will be less so?
In the end, if health care delivery were a truly competitive market, I too believe it would work well. But since it has not worked well I believe it has not been a truly competitive market, and it has not been for so long, and in so many ways, that I think it cannot be made so by libertarian principles. Thus I think libertarian principles must permit for regulation here, as it must do for anti-trust regulation.
I preferred many alternatives to ACA. We talked about them here. But I prefer the bumbling ACA to what we have been doing, which has been a mix of various “silos” and non-competitive markets within a system that has mandated that emergency care cannot be refused, in hugely profitable hospitals taxpayer subsidized as charities, by a declining force of MDs who restrict entry into and competition with their profession, trained in Med Schools so expensive that they must have specialties to earn enough to repay their debt in ten years,and so much more. ACA does little to address these problems one by one, but other nations found that universal health care led to addressing similar problems when their previous non-universal systems did not.
Of course, I still don’t understand why we did not simply pass Wyden-Bennett as the intro step to universal health care.
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Mark:
The ad as described takes exception to the federal hand in the market and apparently demeans a formerly beloved symbol of our nation, is that right?
I would say that it not really focused on the market, but rather on the relationship between doctors and and patients, and the notion that the government is inserting itself in between the two. I don’t think it “demeans” a beloved symbol of our nation.
It apparently treats health care itself as a forcible invasion of our privates. Is that right?
Yes.(See subsequent comment.)It’s motive is to scare young people into not enrolling for insurance, is that right?
Yes.
Does anyone here think that our pre ACA health care delivery has been efficient or affordable or transparent?
In some ways yes, in some ways no. But I think it is necessary to distinguish between health care delivery and insurance delivery.
Or is it that some of you think ACA will be less so?
It will most certainly be less efficient in many respects. And it will certainly be less affordable in many instances, although the concept of affordability becomes muddled when introducing government subsidies for some people.
Of course, I still don’t understand why we did not simply pass Wyden-Bennett as the intro step to universal health care.
Probably because the ultimate goal of the many of those driving reform was not to make the market more efficient, but was rather to destroy the market in order to create a single payer system.
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Mark:
Sorry, I answered one of your questions incorrectly.
It apparently treats health care itself as a forcible invasion of our privates. Is that right?
Not at all. It doesn’t say anything about health care itself at all. It is focused on the government’s involvement in the system.
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FYI – According to Wonkblog there’s already a $5 billion cut in SNAP scheduled to take effect this year. In light of that, the Republican bill is probably excessive. They should just let current law take effect.
“Then, as part of the 2009 stimulus bill, Congress temporarily boosted food-stamp benefits — the average benefit was $133 per month last year, although that increase expires this November.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/09/23/why-are-47-million-americans-on-food-stamps-its-the-recession-mostly/
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[crawls out from trench]
Look, if you’re going to stab me in the back, you’d better finish the job.
or else i might spend a week taking all your clients.
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