On single-payer healthcare… "'I could make a lot more money if I didn't have to pay that,' he acknowledges. But the greater burden, he says, are the hours of administrative paperwork he has to deal with — and all the confounding choices from insurers. Though he tries to pick a good option, he says, 'I have no idea if it's a good [health] plan or a bad plan, in comparison to everything else.'… Restaurant industry groups have largely opposed the idea of a single-payer system, worrying it would mean tax hikes. But some individual owners are increasingly open to the idea." Yes this. Want to cut costs in healthcare, eliminating the need for large departments of coders and people getting pre-authorizations and you will cut a large cost out of the system. Now do retirement plans where you are expected to be a financial guru to plan your future (or at least bring back the fiduciary rule).
"A guide in Mexico's monarch butterfly preserve has been found apparently slain, officials say, days after a butterfly activist in the same region was found dead in uncertain circumstances."
"More than 200 people the United States has sent back to El Salvador have been killed or seriously abused — including sexually assaulted and tortured — according to a new report by Human Rights Watch." The sample was from 2013 to 2019, and I have a feeling there's a lot of people who can't be traced. (Grokked from Xeni Jardin)
"The Justice Department official leading the investigation of big tech companies’ market dominance is stepping aside from the department’s Google probe because of his previous lobbying work for Google as a private attorney."
"Prosecutors have dismissed charges against two Massachusetts women who had been accused of hurting and threatening two children during what authorities described as a Voodoo ritual… The case was withdrawn because the children would not be available to testify at trial, the prosecutor wrote." Well, their mother did hire the women to perform the ritual (this is not an excuse, but of course she wouldn't make the children available because of her own culpability).
"The European Union expressed major reservations about President Trump's newly unveiled plan to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying it doesn't meet "internationally agreed parameters" on issues such as where Israel's borders should be drawn… The plan, which has been roundly rejected by Palestinians, sides with Israel on major sticking points such as Jerusalem, settlements in the West Bank and the right of return for Palestinian refugees." Gee, ya think?
Sure the President's ranting and Fox News (aka Bullshit Mountain) are just harmless. "An Arizona man indicted in October for threatening to kill Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) told police he was likely reacting to a Fox News segment when he left the alcohol-fueled voicemail, according to newly filed court documents." (Grokked in a roundabout way from Laura J Mixon)
"U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres laid out a sobering view of the current state of the world Tuesday, saying that 'a wind of madness is sweeping the globe' as instability erupts into unpredictable and violent conflicts. The problems are made even worse, he said, by faltering economic situations and countries that disrespect U.N. Security Council resolutions 'before the ink is dry.'" I expect "winds of madness" or "mad wind" to become a political catch phrase.
"President Trump's State of the Union address included some surprising moments — both emotional announcements and a blunt reaction from the speaker of the House — all playing out live before a prime-time audience… Here are six of the highlights…"
"Nancy Pelosi deviated from tradition in introducing President Trump at 2020 State of the Union."
"President Trump took a shot at Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, declaring at his annual State of the Union address, 'We will never let socialism destroy American health care!'" Medicare for all would reduce our national healthcare spending by a few trillion. "'If you believe that we should defend American patients and American seniors, then stand with me and pass legislation to prohibit free government health care for illegal immigration,' (Trump) said." That he can say this with a straight face while proposing some draconian cuts to Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security, which are paid for by separate taxes (that they're not talking about cutting) just show the lying duplicity of conservatives. Also, illegal immigrants don't get free healthcare, that's already the law. This is a red herring.
"Fred Guttenberg, a gun control activist whose daughter died during the 2018 Parkland mass shooting, has spoken about being ejected from the gallery during President Trump's State of the Union address Tuesday." Remember when a sitting Congressman yelled "You lie!" and he got praised?
"President Donald Trump awarded the Medal of Freedom to conservative radio personality Rush Limbaugh on Tuesday in an unprecedented move during the State of the Union address." Fuck Rush Limbaugh. This was pure red meat for the base and should not have been done during the SOTU.
You might remember me saying that the fight against Fake News is a matter is citizen education. Well, "With democracies around the world threatened by the seemingly unstoppable onslaught of false information, Finland – recently rated Europe’s most resistant nation to fake news – takes the fight seriously enough to teach it in primary school." (Grokked from Steven Gould)
"The two leaders of Milwaukee’s host committee for the 2020 Democratic National Convention have been placed on leave pending an investigation into allegations that they oversaw a toxic work environment, a letter sent to staff working on planning the event revealed." The difference is Democrats actually do something about misogyny in their ranks (most of the time).
"A group of prominent Upstate Republicans is preparing to launch a wide-scale effort this week to encourage GOP voters across South Carolina to vote for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Feb. 29 Democratic primary, The Post and Courier has learned… The Republican plan to impact the Democratic race, emerging just weeks before the 'First in the South' primary, has two goals: Boost the candidate who the Republicans believe presents the weakest general election threat to President Donald Trump and pressure Democrats to support closing state primaries in the future." Tell me again how "principled" conservatives are, cause that one never gets old. (Grokked from Xeni Jardin)
Fall out. "Ivan Yakovina, a political commentator in Kyiv, says Ukraine's political class has become disillusioned with the United States… 'Previously it was Ukraine that was unpredictable. Now, we have no idea what's going to happen in the United States next week,' Yakovina says. 'A lot of people are disappointed. America used to be a beacon of freedom, liberty and anti-corruption efforts. Now a lot of Ukrainians feel like, "yeah, we are by ourselves."'"
"If the Iowa caucuses were a pop quiz on how well the nation is prepared for the 2020 elections, it looks like almost everyone failed. Or at least that they need to do a lot more remedial work." No it wasn't a preview. This is hype meant to sell news. Although it should be a warning for buying or using new electronic voting systems (or any software or hardware) that hasn't been beta tested or put through it's paces before doing a general roll out. And it's not just election systems (the hospital is notorious for doing this and breaking everything). Also, have a paper record/backup.
"Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., is neck and neck with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Iowa caucuses, according to a partial release of results from the state Democratic Party."
"Sen. Rand Paul read aloud the name of the alleged whistleblower who first raised alarms about President Donald Trump's conduct toward Ukraine. And most Republicans didn’t seem to care… After being denied by Chief Justice John Roberts last week, Paul used a period reserved for senators’ impeachment speeches to read aloud the name of an intelligence community official alleged to be the whistleblower." Your weekly reminder that Rand Paul is not some high-minded intellectual. Just like Brad in the bar who tells you about how libertarianism is the only true politic and everyone should pay their own way right before he complains about the high-cost of beer, Rand is also a dick. (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)
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