On the Contrary

I am still on travel so there will be no report from the vineyard and I still can’t post pictures.  But in the meantime I do turn on the news in the morning and then wonder at what is happening in the world, so here are a couple of nuggets:

• Healthcare Reform – I listened to a reporter on MSNBC report that House Democrats are looking for a way to pay for the package.  Then he said “single payer plan is dead”.  My thought here is then don’t bother.  I can’t figure out what it is that Congress can’t figure out that there is only one way forward.  And in all of this discussion have you heard one informed discussion about how other countries who have universal care have proceeded, the strengths and the weaknesses?  No, but you have heard some wild claims to scare you to hang on to our failing system.  On the money thing, WE ALREADY PAY FOR IT.  It is just hidden in our fees, cost of goods, and our ever increasing insurance costs as the uncovered end up in emergency rooms which is the least cost effective way to pay for their care.  Gut up, understand we all pay for it, and just make it part of the tax base.
• DNA Testing – The Supreme Court in a 5-4 ruling, decided that convicts do not have a right to DNA testing to try to exonerate themselves.  The majority view was that this is a State’s rights issue.  Chief Justice Roberts wrote, “To suddenly constitutionalize this area would short-circuit what looks to be a prompt and considered legislative response.”  So if you live in one of those States who denies you the ability to try to exonerate yourself, this should give you great comfort.  Here is where the statement of nominee Sonia Sototmayer is showing so much wisdom.  She said that her experiences as a Latina woman would give her some insight and understanding that the majority may not understand (I am paraphrasing).  I cannot understand how anyone could believe that allowing the State to deny convicts the right to examine the evidence against them is anything but a lack of life and liberty.  But these guys have never been persecuted by the State and don’t get it.  You might want to ask yourself why States would want to refuse convicts, at their cost, to examine DNA evidence.  Maybe they don’t want to be proved wrong.  Most prosecutors are political positions.  The Constitution was written to protect individual rights and the five that voted against this case think their responsibility is to uphold the legislative process trumps  due process and standing up for the rights of our citizens.
• President’s Popularity – President Obama has taken some hits in popularity lately and it is deserved.  He is trying hard, but as I have written here before, he is taking the middle road and being timid and what we get is compromise to no where.  Where is his and the Democrat’s spine?  Whether it is gay rights, health care, torture, he is just becoming like the rest of them, deciding what is best for us and politically achievable.  Some day I want to be treated like a grown up.  Change is being compromised into more of the same.
• Iran – This is probably one of the most interesting stories about what change is possible.  Watching the brave Persians stand up for having their voice heard has been inspiring.  I think we have handled this well because any perception of U.S. meddling in the Middle East would be counter-productive.  It is also a lesson to us on Iraq and Afghanistan.  Iran is not the monlithic monster invisioned and Muslims will only resolve their problems internally.  Our involvement simply muddies the waters and feeds the fear of an infidel invasion.  The “Supreme Leader” has shown his fallibility and has cast doubt about this regime throughout the world.  Once the seed of change is planted, there is no turning back, just minor setbacks.
• Financial Reform – It is just barely a start.  Note that we are hearing all the usual arguments about government is bad, regulation hurts the economy.  But it wasn’t government that got us into this problem, but the lack of it.  There are tons of arcane details, but the only question you need to consider is whose economy will it hurt?  The bankers or the middle class.  The last eight years have been devastating to the middle class, but who cares, stock prices were up.  The reality is very simple.  In order to have less volatility, the swings in the market have to be smaller.  But we can’t have the wild profiteering that was going on in the financial industry.  So regulation hurts who?  The bankers.  We have nothing yet.