The Fiscal Times: Edward Morrissey: The VA Scandal Exposes Single Payer Health Care Flaws

Posted on June 17, 2014 by kireschneider

In case there wasn’t already enough evidence that America will never have a Scandinavian or British style government-run health care system that includes both health insurance and health care the scandal at the U.S. Veterans Administration and failing to provide our military veterans the health care that they deserve is the ‘smoking gun’.
Monopolies public or private for-profit or non-profit which is what the VA health care system is a public non-profit health care system they do not work for the simple reason that their patients or customers do not have other options. So whether these services do a good job or not they are guaranteed of staying in business and continuing to operate regardless of the service that they perform. Which means they do not have the incentive that frankly most Americans need whether we work in the public or private sectors to do a good job. Because they know they’ll most likely always have a job working for that monopoly. Unless they are caught doing something so horrible that embarrasses the agency that they work for.
But that is just one problem with the VA health care monopoly. The other one having to do with the fact that since they are the only game in town when it comes to veterans health care and since this country has essentially been at war since 2001 now they have a lot more customers or veterans they are simply responsible for. And because of that are probably overwhelmed with the services they have to provide.
It seems to me at least to be basic commonsense to allow Americans who’ve risked their lives for their country and ours to simply have freedom of choice in where to get their health care. And both Congressional veterans health care reform bills provide at least some of that choice for where our veterans can get their health care in the future. The VA, or a public non-federal hospital, or get their health care from the private sector.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtQb2rNDCLk

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The Daily Beast: America is Coming to Terms With its Racial Past

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Derik Schneider
When it comes to reparations for African-Americans I have one which I believe obvious yet important question that comes to mind. Yet even though it is obvious the people who are in the pro-reparations group regardless of race do not seem to understand or have thought about. Where would reparations stop?
If you are familiar with American history and I love America as much as any other American, but perhaps for different reasons. But if you are familiar with American history you know that America has a history of abusing races and ethnicities of people starting with American-Indians. Then moving on to Africans with the African slave trade. Denying women the right to vote simply because of their gender. Go up to World War II with the concentration camps for Japanese as well as German and Italian-Americans. Because of some sick belief that these Americans were loyal to their mother countries the same countries that we fought in World War II.
And even if you are able to answer that question I have another one for you. Which gets to punishing people by taking their money and not just British or Caucasian Americans for what happened to Africans during slavery. But the country as a whole including successful and even wealthy African-Americans for what happened to their ancestors. Taking money from Americans from all races and ethnicities to give to let’s say less-fortunate African-Americans who people in the pro-reparations camp believe are still suffering from slavery.
But for anyone who thinks I’m going too negative here I have a solution to empower the less-fortunate in America including poor African-Americans, but that would benefit millions of Americans of all races. A 21st Century Infrastructure and Reinvestment Bank that would provide educational and job training opportunities for Americans of all races who need this. As well as rebuilding and building strong communities especially for Americans who’ve been left behind in our economy.
The way for the less-fortunate or people in general to succeed in America regardless of their race is to have the tools and opportunities to succeed. That starts with a good education as they are growing up. But for adults who didn’t have that, or didn’t take advantage of that growing up empowering them to finish their education so they can succeed in life. Not punishing Americans for the sins of their ancestors.

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AlterNet: Robert Reich: American Capitalism is in Crisis

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Derik Schneider
alternet.orgSource:
There are a lot of so-called Progressives in America who are really are what would be called Social Democrats or Socialists in Canada or Europe that argue that “Canada and Europe does it better economically than America. So America should move to Canada or Europe”. That is transform our economic system that looks more Canadian or European becoming more socialist. With a large welfare or superstate there to take care of everyone regardless of income level.
Well at risk of stating the obvious even if you get past the social and cultural differences between Americans and Europeans and Canadians what works in one country doesn’t automatically work in another country. If you get past the fact that Americans tend to be individualistic (not including our Progressives) and want the freedom to take care of ourselves. And that Canadians and Europeans tend to be collectivist and like big government taking care of them. Or the fact that total population of Canada and Scandinavia is roughly sixty-five-million people over six countries. And they all produce the natural resources of large countries and are all energy independent. And that America is a country of three-hundred and ten-million people and still imports oil and gas. The fact is Canada and Scandinavia can afford to be much more socialist because they have the resources to do so and the people who want it.
Its not that American capitalism or what I call liberal capitalism doesn’t work. It is the fact that we’ve moved away from what works for us economically. Which is a strong education and infrastructure system and stopped investing in the things that work in education. And keep funding the things that do not work. Like forcing kids to go to school based on where they live instead of what is the best school for them. With the parents having the freedom to make that decision for them. Small energy independent countries can afford to be socialist especially if their people want that. But large countries that get a lot of energy resources from other countries have to rely on their people to take care of themselves. Which means they have to have the skills to be able to do that. And schools need to give them the opportunity to have that and have the resources to make that happen. With a modern solid infrastructure system that empower everyone to be able to get around the country in a safe and timely manner.
There is no such thing as “free public services”. If government is providing services for the people than the taxpayers are paying for those services. So the question is how best for people to get the services that they need to live well. And for me that means having an educated country with the resources to take care of themselves and live in freedom. Which benefits everyone and keeps the cost of government down.

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The Federalist: Robert Kraniski: What the Left Doesn’t Get About the Constitution

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Rik Schneider
“What the Left Gets Wrong About Constitutionalism”. Perhaps not the best title for this post because it implies that the Left meaning the whole Left doesn’t understand the U.S. Constitution, or doesn’t understand perhaps aspects of it. Even though it was actually Liberals who wrote the Constitution and as a Liberal myself the U.S. Constitution is a big reason why I’m a Liberal. Maybe the title of this piece should be what “parts of the Left get wrong about the U.S. Constitution”. Or what today’s so-called Progressives who are actually Social Democrats, or what I like to call Eurocrats get wrong about the U.S. Constitution.
But being that is it may to talk about the factions on the Left who do not like aspects of today’s Constitution, or agree with it which is where I agree with classical Conservatives and Libertarians on I’m going to focus on people who are called Progressives today but are really what is common in Europe and called Social Democrats. People who believe in social democracy as opposed to liberal democracy and constitutional federalism. Which is how America is governed today with a lot of power and responsibility put on individuals over their own lives. And with the states and locals in a lot of cases playing the supportive role when it comes to people who can’t take care of themselves. As opposed to social democracy or unitarian government where a lot of power in the country is centralized with the federal or central government. Not just to support people who can’t fully support themselves. But to take care of and provide a lot of if not most of the basic services that people need to live well.
Its social democracy and unitarian government that today’s so-called Progressives want to bring to America. And almost if not do away with the Constitution then to completely rewrite it only leaving in what they like about it. But where the Federal Government would be a hell of a lot bigger when it comes to supporting all Americans regardless of income level. And where there would be a lot less power for the private sector, states and locals, as well as individuals over their own lives.
The problem that Social Democrats (as I call them) have when it comes to establishing a Scandinavian or Anglo style of government in America is the U.S. Constitution itself. Because it limits what government can do when it comes to the economy and into Americans lives for good or bad. And their idea of governmental power is again social democracy. That if a majority of the people want government to do something for them. Or outlaw or limit what people can do for themselves. That they believe majority rule is all that Congress and the President need to pass whatever the so-called “will of the people”. America is simply not governed that way for the most part. We have a Constitution that lays out what government can do. And it takes a huge consensus to reverse that.
So what Social Democrats get wrong about the U.S. Constitution is their own governing philosophy. They believe if the people want government to do something than all they need is for Congress and the President to make that happen. They want majority rule all the time when it comes to government. And the American form of government is simply not set up that way.

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Economist’s View: Daniel Little: Economic Institution’s & Democratic Equality

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Erik Schneider
The Opportunity Society that New Democrats started talking about in the late 1980s and early 1990s was also designed to counter the Reagan Revolution of the early 1980s. That made government especially big centralized government look like the problem and what was holding back freedom for millions of Americans. What the Opportunity Society says that government shouldn’t be seen or be the problem or the solution for Americans who struggle, or for Americans in general. But as one tool that can help people in need get the tools that they need to live in freedom and be able to take care of themselves.
But also the Opportunity Society is something where that all Americans again regardless of income level and how they start out in life have a quality of opportunity to succeed in life. Where universal quality education is available to all. Especially for Americans who are growing up in low-income communities. Or trying to raise their kids in those communities. Or simply trying to survive on their own in those low-income communities. And where quality universal education includes K-12, but also college, vocational and job training as well for everyone.
Again government shouldn’t be the source or the problem when it comes to quality of life in America. It should be a tool one tool especially when it comes to financing that Americans regardless of how they start out in life can take advantage of to obtain freedom for themselves. So they are taking care of themselves and not needing public assistance for their economic survival.

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Slate Magazine: John Dickerson: Hillary Clinton’s Hard Choices Plays it Safe

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Erik Schneider

Source:The New Democrat  

Hillary Clinton did a book event last Friday with a local Washington book store Politics and Prose and was interviewed there by a women who worked for her at the White House in the 1990s and when Hillary was Secretary of State during the first Obama Administration. In her speech she was talking about hard choices even though she really didn’t mention any that she made herself. And also talked about big ideas even though she really didn’t mention any of her own.

This is the major weakness of Hillary Clinton as a presidential candidate and why she’s not President of the United States now. She doesn’t let people know what she is about politically and doesn’t want to take hard stances on key issues other than the traditional key Democratic issues as it relates to women’s issues and civil rights. But then doesn’t seem to want to be on the record of the 21st Century Liberal Democratic issues as it relates to the War on Drugs and marijuana. To go along with privacy especially at it relates to the War on Terrorism.

Hillary wants to be where she believes is the safest place for her politically. But she sees and American political scene that is looking for a strong leadership and strong leaders. So she believes the way to capture those voters is to talk about those things and try to convince people without giving much evidence to support herself as a strong leader that she believes in strong leadership too. So she talks about the need for ‘big ideas’ and writes a book called Hard Choices without laying out those things.

If Hillary Clinton can’t communicate to the American voters Democrats and otherwise of why she should be the next President of the United States other than the need for electing a female President, she’ll lose another Democratic presidential contest where she was the heavy favorite going in. Because at the end of the day American voters want to know who they may vote for and what would come with electing that person and where they are on the key issues of the day.

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PBS NewsHour: Shields & Brooks: The Flagging Labor Force, Congressional Mid-Terms & Foreign Policy

Posted on May 9, 2014 by kireschneider

Source:The New Democrat 

I agree with Mark Shields and David Brooks when they say that the jobs report is good news and a positive step.  If we get a few more reports like this it will be good for Democrats because Americans will see that the economy is improving.  More importantly, it will be good for the country to see job reports near three-hundred-thousand per month, several months in a row, and see many Americans gong  back to work,


As far as the mid-terms, that 27-60 right track wrong track direction for the country, according to the Washington Post ABC News poll, is like a baseball team that should be a strong contender but is 10-15 games out of first place at the all star break. Not something that could kill your season by itself but is bad news and a problem that Democrats are going to have to overcome and bring down or risk not just losing the Senate, in November, but taking big losses in the House as well.

When a big problem in foreign policy occurs, President Obama continues to be criticized for getting caught off guard and not having a vision from which he can derive responses.  Mark Shields hit on that in this video where he said that “President Obama is a great speaker but where he’s lacking in foreign policy is an ability to make to clear what his vision is and what he believes.”

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Crooks & Liars: Dave Johnson: ‘Democrats Who Move Right Lose Elections’

Posted on May 9, 2014 by kireschneider

Source:The New Democrat 
The former great, RIP, Progressive Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tip O’Neal, had a saying, “All politics are local.”  Well, of course, that is not all true but a lot of it is, especially when you are talking about Congressional elections where only voters in a district or state  vote for the next Representative or Senator for that seat in the next Congress.

This means that, whether you are a candidate or the incumbent, you have to know the district or state that you represent, or want to represent, in order to get elected and reelected. To put it simply, you can’t be a Bernie Sanders Socialist running statewide in Mississippi and expected to get elected. Keep in mind that Senator Bernie Sanders represents Vermont, probably the most socialist leaning state in the union, with a population of around eight-hundred-thousand and only one U.S. Representative.

You can’t be a religious-right candidate, who wants to incorporate their religious views into law, and expect to be elected statewide in New Hampshire, which just happens to be the most liberal-libertarian state in the Union. It, again, is small state with little more than a million people but it is the “Live Free or Die state” that doesn’t like big government, economic or personal, and wants government to butt out of individual’s lives.

I still give Senate Democrats the edge in retaining the U.S. Senate in November and I don’t see them losing a lot of seats in the U.S. House either. I say that because, since 2005-06, they’ve figured out that the way to win House and Senate seats is by having their candidates represent the districts and states they are running in politically and ideologically. That means not recruiting Democrats who are as far to the left as, lets say, Elizabeth Warren, running in Red States but, in such situations, have fiscally conservative, socially moderate to liberal candidates instead.

They also recruit New Democrats, the real Liberals of the Democratic Party, the JFK/WJC wing of the party, to run in the Northeast and Midwest and even the West Coast and Mid Atlantic. Democrats who are very liberal on social issues and believe in economic opportunity and empowerment instead of  government dependence.  This makes them pretty liberal on economic issues as well.  You recruit for the district and state instead of saying that Socialist Bernie Sanders and New Deal Progressive Elizabeth Warren can get elected anywhere in the country.  That is beyond political fantasy.

The social democrat, Occupy Wall Street, wing of the Democratic Party believes in recruiting the most left Democrat possible and getting out the vote for that person.  The Democratic Party has many leftist members of Congress who work only to advance their agenda and will never work with Republicans on anything.  They wonder why Democrats lost 5-6 presidential elections from 1968-88 and lost the U.S. Senate in 1980 and Congress as a whole in 1994.

Senators Mark Pryor, Mary Landrieu, Kay Hagan, Mark Begich, Senate candidates Allison Grimes, Michelle Nunn, Arkansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Alaska, Kentucky and Georgia respectfully are the potential for Democrats to hold the Senate in 2014.  They are Senators from deeply red states but are perfectly tailored to represent them because these states tend to like candidates and incumbents who are somewhat independent and aren’t afraid to go against their party establishment and aren’t very far to the right or left politically.  They all have a non-elitist, non-Washington, common person approach to  politics.

Democrats hold the Senate now with a 55-45 majority because they have a lot of senators who represent red states.  They could easily pick up 3-4 more with Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi and Kansas, states with unpopular Republican incumbents because they recruit for the state instead of the party.  The  Republican Party hasn’t figured this out yet.  They have 45 senators and are in the minority because they are fanatically bound to nominate the furthest right candidate no matter the district or state.

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Thom Hartmann: Dr. Ravi Batra: A Revolution is Coming!

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Derik Schneider

Source:The New Democrat

Just an editor’s note: I watched about seventeen-minutes of this video and didn’t hear a damn thing about any revolution.  Actually seventeen minutes before I started writing about this video and continued to watch it while I was blogging.

I’m getting tired of hearing these bold predictions about ending unemployment in a year or two, as in Dr. Ravi Batra’s case, or even ten years.  These predictions are worth as much as a paper cup of creek water. You would only drink that if you were dying of thirst and had nothing else to drink.  We need to be talking about bringing unemployment down to historic levels, between 5-6 percent, since the late 1980s and getting back to the size of workforce that we had back in 2006-07.

To do that we need Congressional action.  We need to finally get back to rebuilding our infrastructure. We moved away from that in the early 2000s and have fallen deeply behind as a result. We need more access to job training and education for our low-skilled, low-income adult population.  We need to get companies to invest in those communities.  We need a real national energy policy built around producing American natural resources which create jobs inside of the United States.

We need, as well, to lower taxes on all investments and profits made inside of the United States, along with eliminating corporate welfare, so that more companies, domestic and foreign, would be encouraged to invest and make money in America.  This would get us back to strong economic growth of three-percent or more and create 200-300 thousand jobs a month with a falling unemployment rate, debt, and deficit.  Our economy would be headed back to full strength.

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The Week: Shikha Dalmia: Affirmative Action is Doomed: Here’s What Progressives Can do About it

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Ederik Schneider

Source:The New Democrat 

The rhetoric of affirmative action is running out of steam.  The real Roosevelt (Franklin and Theodore) and LBJ Progressives need to step up to the plate and say “We are losing ground badly on this issue and we need a real progressive alternative now.”  They should tell the New Left Socialists who believe in equality at all costs, “Shut the hell up and go back to the kiddy table where you belong because the adults are now back in charge and we’ll take us to the promise land.”

What I’m saying here is that the real Progressives in America not the far-left Socialists and leftists and statist micro-managers on the Left who want to run Americans’ lives for them, want to use government to see that all Americans have a fair shot at living in freedom and taking advantage of that freedom and the opportunities it provides.  They need to  restore the Progressive good name with a positive economic agenda built around education and economic development that would benefit communities that are struggling in America right now.

Instead of giving Americans access and status because of their race, ethnicity or gender, empower them to obtain that access and status for themselves.  Whether you support affirmative action or not, and I don’t, even as we are moving to a majority-minority country, affirmative action is losing political support and support in the judiciary, as well. There isn’t a current majority for support on the U.S. Supreme Court and there may never be again.

What what the real Progressives need to do to counter this is to say what we are going to do instead.

We are going to back strict and effective enforcement of civil rights laws as they obtain to race, ethnicity and gender with financial sanctions being assessed on anyone guilty of violating these rights,  the funds from those financial sanctions going to the victims.

We are going to empower all Americans who are disadvantaged by poverty to get themselves out of it.  We are going to target communities with high levels of poverty which lack education and infrastructure, regardless of race and ethnicity and encourage companies to invest in those areas with good jobs, more than service sector jobs.  We will make job training opportunities available from both the public and private sectors for low-skilled, unemployed Americans so they can get good jobs.  We will empower these Americans to build their own businesses in their communities.

We are going to have a real education reform agenda that will not have to be approved by the teachers’ unions. Yes, we are going to give more funding to the low-income communities for their skills.  We are going to encourage well-qualified Americans to teach in underserved communities. We are going to allow parents to send their kids to the public school of their choice.  No longer will they be trapped in a failing school not getting the education they need to be successful in life simply because of where they live.  Teachers’ pay will be based on how well their students are learning, not how long they’ve been teaching.

If the goal is to lift more people out of poverty and reduce it to the point that it is no longer considered a big deal anymore,  like inflation, here’s a progressive agenda that would benefit millions of low-income Americans whether they are adults or not. If the goal is to have a progressive agenda that benefits millions of African and Latin-Americans, who tend to come from low-income communities, here’s one  that benefits those communities and would make affirmative action a thing of the past, as it should be. 

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