Slouching Towards Oblivion

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Wendell Rides Again

I'd not been aware that Wendell Potter was putting this stiff out regularly, but there he is over at MichaelMoore.com

Some of the best circularity I've come across in a long time:
Health insurers often complain that one of the chief reasons why they are having a difficult time at the negotiating table with hospitals these days is because of consolidation. The reason for that consolidation, however, is the exploding problem of uncompensated care, hospitals have no choice but to consolidate. Well, they actually do have another choice: close. Which is what many hospitals have had to do because they could not find a willing partner with which to affiliate.
Read some of Wendell's posts and then tell me Obama's not trying to do right by us.

(hat tip = VWE)

Something Good

As stoopid as our legislature and some of our preachers make us look (especially so lately), it's good to remember Viginians manage to do the right thing on occasion too.

A pair of Bald Eagles is nesting somewhere in Richmond, down on the James River.  The two eggs are expected to hatch this week.

via Richmond Times-Dispatch




Live video for mobile from Ustream

Doonesbury Monday


Affordable Care

From Daily Kos via Democratic Underground:
1. There will be non-profit insurers offering health care plans in the exchanges on top of traditional private insurers (regulated STRONGLY by the health care law). The public option never really disappeared. It was just replaced with non-profit language that will turn into non-profit options just as strong as the proposed public option. Besides, many states are integrating public options into their exchanges.

2. Medicaid will be significantly expanded to 15 million poor uninsured americans in 2014. People in deep poverty will have significantly better lives. Everyone at less than 133% of the poverty level will be covered under medicaid. Native Americans will be insured for the first time in their lives and will enjoy modernized health care. The Indian Health Care Act is reauthorized and strengthened by this medicaid expansion.

3. Medicare's trust fund will be extended 12 years. Seniors have free preventive care and check ups. Lots of money have been saved through waste trimming and fraud recollecting.

4. Small business tax credits will have their amounts magnified for small businesses in 2014. When juxtaposed with the strongly regulated exchanges, coverage will be very affordable for small businesses.
This is what Repubs are trying so desperately to repeal.

And if you're all about helping the little guy in business for himself and strokin' along and doin' his best to make the dream come true, all you have to do is look at number 4 - now how exactly do you vote for somebody who's mouthin' off about Repeal-And-Replace?

Sunday, March 11, 2012

And So It Goes

I love the fact that new-ish technologies are getting to be common enough (and easy enough to use) that people of not inconsiderable talent have good ways to let it all out.