Tom Friedman Strikes Again | The Smirking Chimp

Tom Friedman Strikes Again | The Smirking Chimp.

Once again, Taibbi had me in stitches.  I pray he never stops picking on Tom Friedman- it’s just too funny!

A Textbook Example of What’s Wrong with Education | Edutopia

This article is a clear and concise explanation of what is so wrong with the textbook industry in this country.

A Textbook Example of What’s Wrong with Education | Edutopia.

This is an issue that has been a big concern to me ever since I was a consumer of grade-school textbooks.  Even then I could tell that they were terrible: over-priced, over-produced, slick and pretty but with no filler.  Over the years, the more I learn about how the textbook industry works, the less I like.   I grew up in Texas, cited in the article as one of the worst states (and unfortunately, the most influential) when it comes to public school textbooks, and I am not surprised to learn about how broken the system is.  We need genuine reform of the textbook publishing industry from top to bottom, at ever grade level.

You Are Being Lied to About Pirates

Check out this story from the Huffington Post- it was eye-opening.

Johann Hari: You Are Being Lied to About Pirates.

Truthdig – Reports – Lessons of the Exxon Valdez

Truthdig – Reports – Lessons of the Exxon Valdez.

President Used Marijuana but Mocks & Dismisses Legalization – Salem-News.Com

President Used Marijuana but Mocks & Dismisses Legalization – Salem-News.Com.

Eliot Spitzer – Predatory Lenders’ Partner in Crime – washingtonpost.com

Eliot Spitzer – Predatory Lenders’ Partner in Crime – washingtonpost.com.

AIG Exec Whines About Public Anger, and Now We’re Supposed to Pity Him? Yeah, Right | The Smirking Chimp

AIG Exec Whines About Public Anger, and Now We’re Supposed to Pity Him? Yeah, Right | The Smirking Chimp.

Crash pilot who paused to pray is convicted | Oddly Enough | Reuters

Crash pilot who paused to pray is convicted | Oddly Enough | Reuters.

Single Payer Health Care

Amy Goodman’s new blog, as well as the latest episode of Democracy Now, focus on the issue of single payer health care.  Despite the fact that President Obama advocated for single payer health care throughout his senate career, he has now declared it “off the table”.  Single payer advocates were almost completely shut out of the recent health care summit.  Originally none were invited, but after much complaint and political pressure two individuals were allowed in, compared to dozens of representatives each from the insurance industry, the pharmeceutical industry, and other groups with a vested interest in the status quo.  There were also few representatives from patient’s rights groups.

Single payer health care is not necessarily the same as socialized medicine (though I don’t understand why that has such a bad connotation these days), and many experts are beginning to admit that single payer is the only logical solution to the nation’s health care crisis.  This country spends around %15 of its GDP on health care, more than any other “first world” nation, and yet we have incredibly poor access to health care, and we rate among the worst in the world for general health, childhood health, and infant mortality.  The insurance industry makes billions of dollars every year while working tirelessly to avoid paying for even basic care.  Everyone agrees that the system is broken, and most people agree that the insurance industry is the primary reason, and yet we continue to let the insurance industry shape healthcare policy in this country.  This needs to end.

At least one person got the point.

http://homelessness.change.org/blog/view/michelle_obama_serves_soup_nation_misses_the_point