North Korea delivers a laugher

Perhaps I shouldn't find this story to be hysterically funny, but I do: "North Korea threatened Wednesday to wipe the United States off the map" - Puhlease! *walks away laughing his ass off*

Kim Jong Il is a funny guy...baaaaaaaahahahahahahahahaha. Funny guy, indeed!!

The AMA & it's doctors are shameful

During an address at a meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA), Obama was booed for even suggesting the idea of reforming health care that may actually save money.

These people should be ashamed of themselves. Doctors, who have saved my life MANY a times in my short little life, should be ashamed to have the clowns at the AMA represent them in this manner.

These people swear an oath to care for all, no matter the cash the dump into their pocket. The doctors I have seen are the best of the best and they should be paid handsomely, but there's a line to be drawn where it gets so out of hand.

They know there needs to be reform, and they should have the cojones to do their part.

The majority of any cuts in compensation for services in this area should be hammered on the drug companies, but some of the elite of the elite doctors should also be willing to take a bit of a pay cut or retire.

You didn't get into medicine to make millions, and if you did...then you don't deserve to be a doctor anyways.

I am a teacher, and I don't do my craft for a giant load of cash. I love my job, and it can be a tough job. It would be nice to make more cash, but I am not looking for other employment because of it. Moreover, I am in support of a wage freeze that my school system has passed for the next school year to save money in our budget since we are so strapped.

Doctors of the AMA, I implore you to vocally support the changes Obama wants to make to the health industry. Yes, the health care industry as currently constructed works well for YOU, but what about those millions of Americans who are getting screwed by having no insurance or really crappy insurance?

We should be working together to kick the insurance companies' ass. Hello people!!

School Vouchers suck, and here's why...

Nate Silver over at 538.com discusses who is calling for school vouchers: Rich whites and poor black people. Who does this leave out...AGAIN...as always? The middle class. I would love to see some actuarial study showing a breakdown of how much the middle class gets for their money compared two the rich and the poor. The rich spend a ton, but they get a ton. The poor don't spend much, but there are gov't programs giving them something. I'm just sayin'...

Now, here's why they suck...and there's a simple reason why: Lets say school X sucks bad. Three miles away, school Y is one of the best in the city. So, a generous group of parents from school X, decide to take the school choice and move their children to school Y.

This causes class sizes in school Y to go up, and any teacher worth their salt will tell you that class size matters. Class chemistry can matter even more, but by adding more pupils, you make keeping the chemistry right that much more tenuous.

The effect will be that school Y plummets in it's performance on test scores, causing the parents to get miffed yet again. Meanwhile, the lost of cash to school X has been crippling. Leaving the students who are poorer to be stuck at a crappy school with less money than before, and no hope of really getting better for years to come.

This is why the families in the inner cities supporting school vouchers flummox me. There is NO WAY the cash they will get as their voucher will seriously cover the full cost of tuition at another school, leaving them stranded with no school to call their own.

Look, as an educator, I know some things need to be fixed. But, it costs money to teach students well. A LOT of money! There's an old saying in the financial investing world: "You have to spend money to make money."

Well, you have to spend money to teach students effectively. We should in no way be trying to do this on the cheap.

Obama is wrong again

A disappointing trend is showing up within the Obama Administration. For a man who ran on the campaign promise of being the most transparent in history, he is failing at this in one very simple area: The Obama Administration is continuing the Dubya policy of not releasing the visitor's logs.

Case law has struck down a Presidential privateer claim that these logs are protected, and are allowed to be kept hidden from the public. Obama has failed to follow the law like his predecessor, and that is a shame.

What is he hiding?

A Liberal's Affirmation

Since I started this humble blog, and ever since I've been talking politics smack...I have argued that as a bloke from the "Heartland," I knew the thinking behind right-wing wackos.

I have also argued that left wingers need to chill the fuck out when it comes to harassing Presidents we liberals are more similar to: Clinton & Obama.

Liberals are at a voting disadvantage of people who identify themselves as such. The data proves it via a new press release on some poll data.

Now, this could be a reflection of the word "liberal" being considered a dirty word by a large chunk of Americans due to the fantastic branding of the word by the Republican party and some people who actually hold a large portion of liberals views, but they can't bring themselves to face the reality that they are in fact liberals.

Tangent: I hate republicans, but they do know how to use language to brand something in such a way that liberals/democrats have never been able to match...we don't have quite the stomach for the cheap distortions the right is so willing to participate in...despite my pleas.

However, despite this effective branding, I think that this the poll shows a largely accurate picture of the political leanings and views of America's body politic. This country continues to lean right, although those days are numbered as the baby boomers go down the death trail of religious-wacko-tears.

White Men, Black people, Gays, & a movie

“Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” – a great movie released in 1967 with the legendary Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn.

Also, a movie I think a majority of Americans still need to see today, as the attitudes addressed in this movie and the undercurrents addressed are still gnawing at the fabric of this great country.

Not, that I had any doubt about this, as I have always spoken out against the irrational, moronic people on the extreme right who think anyone not white and male MUST be taking SOMETHING from them…it has to be!

Moreover, I would love to see a studio re-make/re-format this movie and instead put two gay men or two lesbian women in this situation. Just to address the same type of prejudice and attitudes found in the original screenplay.

You Should Dump Your Health Insurance Immediately

Yes...seriously. Why?

According to a recent study by Harvard: Families who encounter medical problems with private insurance reported average out-of pocket medical bills of $17,749, while the uninsured's bills averaged $26,971. Of the families who started out with insurance but lost it during the course of their illness, medical bills averaged $22,658.

These people were forced to file for bankruptcy as a middle-to-lower class households. So, what's $9 grand more when filing for bankruptcy?

Sounds like an argument to save the cash from the monthly health insurance premium and spend it on jelly donuts.

Ohhh, the many reasons we need health insurance reform in a major way!

The 'Warrior' Gene and boy aggression

A fascinating article abut a study is a potentially eye-opener. Studies apparently have linked the level of aggression in a given boy to the activity/presence of a specific gene within their DNA that is passed of genetically.

I may be overstating or mistaking the specific of the studies, as the bulk of the studies are set to be released in an upcoming issue of Comprehensive Psychiatry.

A very interesting look at what causes such aggression in some boys and not so much in others. This development could begin to explain the lure and the likelihood of gagng violence as a systemic problem in this country.

However, I still think social policy would take of this and the lack of hope and a positive male role model in a young child's life is the real culprit of males joining gangs in such numbers. These studies could give some light into how we can maybe address and treat such conditions in the future if absolutely necessary.

6 and counting

Hmmmm....New Hampshire's Gov. Lynch signs bill making it the 6th state to allow gay marriage....the tide may FINALLY be turning.

Why Conservatives should like the Obama "dates"

I'm tired of the right wing busting Obama's ass about these "dates" he and the First Lady are taking.

I think this is sweet. Moreover, I think it shows good "family values."

It's clear the president and the First Lady have a fantastic marriage and they know how to keep the sparks going that will keep their love affair going for a long time.

Isn't this the picture-perfect image of marriage that the right wing so often wants to project? Here's a couple, clearly in love, raising their two young daughters the appropriate way.

The Obama's are providing a terrific role model for all of America on how to cherish your spouse, and have a healthy marriage.

These little scheduled "dates," are a common solution that marriage counselors prescribe for a marriage that is in trouble and for a couple that needs to re-discover their intimacy.

It is a heartwarming and sweet thing to see them going out on the town together and it's so obvious that they adore and love each other. It's a treat really.