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Established 1973 — Last updated: Tuesday, February 9, 2010, 2:11 PM
Citizens alert (12/10/09): Proposed US healthcare legislation will continue our spending double per capita compared to qualitatively better healthcare systems in advanced countries. What's that mean? It means $4,000/person/yr extra profit will continue going to health industry cartels/mafias for a total of $1.2 Trillion/yr. extra profit ($100 Billion/mo.), continuing our highest health care overhead to businesses and the self-employed. Thus there is a potential FREE $1.2 Trillion/yr. stimulus to our economy if we just become as efficient as peer nations. Understand? Therefore, if proposed legislation is not radically remedied for efficiency it will stand as proof of complete failure of our government due to “corporate donations.”
 
The problem is much larger than just health care—Pentagon spending immediately comes to mind. The essense of the problem is that Politicians (mostly lawyers elected with corporate donations) and Lobbyists (very highly paid by corporations, mostly) are the wrong people to write complex legislation to help us. This notice will remain until corporate dominance of our government ends.
It's as if we lived in North Korea! The U.S. government & news media won't discuss that total US spending per capita is double per capita spending in dozens of countries who receive better health care: 2007, 2003, 1998 Health Care Reform Reality Check
Handy reference.
SOURCE: The White House | TIMELESS?
Health Care Reform: An Online Guide
Handy reference.
SOURCE: Slate Mag. | TIMELESS?
OECD Health Data 2009
[Subscribe to get detailed data.]
SOURCE: OECD | TIMELESS?
International Health Care Primer
[PDF] Handy reference.
SOURCE: American Medical Student Association | TIMELESS?
Videos of National Health Care Systems In Other Countries
SOURCE: Public Broadcasting System & ABC News | TIMELESS?
States Face Worsening Recession with Health Care Funds on the Chopping Block
The crimp in funds is forcing cutbacks in basic social services like health care in certain states, reported here.
by James Ridgeway | 02.03.10
Drugmaker Got Kickbacks for Nursing Home Patients
Johnson & Johnson knew that their drug, used in this way and on these patients, could actually increase the risk of death. But what’s the death of a few old, disoriented, defenseless, forgotten people, compared with the potential for fantastic profits? Not much, apparently.
by James Ridgeway | 01.18.10

Global Warming Links
SOURCE: Readers | TIMELESS
The Supreme Court's Partisanship
By opening the floodgates on corporate campaign money, the Supreme Court has advanced the GOP cause.
by Robert Parry | 01.28.10
Thinking About Fictions
Last week five of the nine Justices of the Supreme Court really stepped in a fresh pile. The US Supreme Court ruled that corporations, unions, and not-for-profit groups have the right to spend as much as they want supporting or opposing the election of a candidate, which gave added life to an earlier legal fiction, the corporation.
by Fred Cederholm | 01.25.10
US Democracy's End of the Road
A Supreme Court ruling on corporate campaign cash and the Left's errors have put U.S. democracy in danger.
by Robert Parry | 01.24.10
Editorial: U.S. Supreme Court Nails Down the Coffin of Democracy
As individual citizens, let us encourage the Senators and Representatives who comprehend that this U.S. Supreme Court decision must be overturned by the Legislative Branch through strict laws regulating corporate entities' influence on our imperiled democracy.
by staff | 01.22.10
Security Fools
The Rule of Law Has Been Lost
Insouciant Americans are content for their government to behave illegally. A majority supports torture despite its illegality, and a McClatchy-Ipsos poll found that 51 percent of Americans agree that “it is necessary to give up some civil liberties in order to make the country safe from terrorism.”
by Paul Craig Roberts | 01.22.10
Local Democrats Invited to Brainstorming Session on Sun., Jan. 31
Just because longtime city Democratic clubs have disbanded doesn't mean their members have lost interest in politics.
SOURCE: Mount Royal Democratic Club Members | 01.26.10
Local Newsbriefs
 
Baltimore City Events Calendar
SOURE: City of Baltimore | TIMELESS

'The Power of Nightmares': Underwear vs. ReasonIt's useless to point out that the "underwear bomber" failed. The response to terrorism in the US is all about what "might happen."
reviewed by Chris Knipp | 02.04.10
Arts & Education Events:
forever? Free Concerts on Thursday Nights at Cross Keys


Letters to the Editor
by Readers | Ongoing
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Growing Hunger in America
Money For Imperial Wars & Wall Street Deemed More Important
Despite a growing national crisis, Obama proposed a budget freezing social spending for three years, a de facto cut in real terms. At the same time, he lets Wall Street keep pillaging, plans more wealth transfers to the rich, and proposed the largest ever defense and homeland security budgets, leaving little for cash-strapped states and growing millions of desperate people.
by Stephen Lendman | 02.09.10
No Direction Home: Pakistan and the Imperial Principle
The principle of unlimited violence -- the right of America to kill people anytime, anywhere in the world -- is never questioned. The only argument that "serious" people can have concerns the application of this principle; i.e., is it in our best interest to kill these people now, or wait until later, or maybe kill some other people instead....
by Chris Floyd | 02.06.10
The US Supreme Court: Vanguard of Friendly American Fascism?
The US Supreme Court has ignominiously promoted economic oppression against the poor, favoring inhuman and soulless corporate entities in a multitude of decisions that benefited their interests instead of what was best for humanity.
by Gary G. Kohls, M.D. | 02.04.10
The New War Against Money
The question is: who rules the world—democratically elected governments or corrupt governments in unison with banks and corporations?
People who lose their jobs and, in turn, lose their homes and basically their lives, do not experience freedom, they experience the ruthless logic of the system. The financial system.
by Stefan Thiesen, Ph.D. | 02.04.10
David Brooks Goes After Greedy Geezers
"Conservatives" talk about the urgent need to cut Medicare & Social Security benefits and costs because they won’t risk taking on excessive spending for health care and defense industry goods and services, since that would risk losing large corporate campaign donations.
by James Ridgeway | 02.04.10
Howard Zinn and the State of the Union
Barack Obama is possibly the only public speaker capable of telling us that he's going to violate us in the name of saving us and we all choke up with gratitude.
by Tom H. Hastings | 02.04.10
Budgets, War and Blind Ambition: The Limited Minds of the American Elite
Our elites cannot conceive of an end to empire even while knowing that ending imperial wars and dismantling of America's global military empire would save trillions of dollars in coming years, allowing for spending on needed domestic initiatives including deep tax cuts.
by Chris Floyd | 02.02.10
Obama's Budget Ducks Pentagon Cuts
By exempting the Pentagon from a "freeze," President Obama tries to shield Democrats from GOP attacks.
by Ivan Eland | 02.02.10
Remembering Howard Zinn (1922 - 2010)
Zinn was a people's historian. His book pays homage to the ones history forgot and ignore. His life's work was dedicated to inspiring new generations to work for the society he envisioned - moral, righteous, free, just, egalitarian, at peace.
by Stephen Lendman | 02.01.10
Obama's Outreach to Americans: Empty Rhetoric, Business As Usual
Smooth rhetoric belies Obama's failed agenda, one he'll continue without progressive change under new leadership that cares, what neither party offers nor ever will with priorities leaving millions out of luck and on their own.
by Stephen Lendman | 01.29.10
American History 101: We Are Devo
The presidential history of Richard M. Nixon paints a striking, even shocking contrast to the prevailing political weather today. It shows, with stark power, how very far the center of political gravity has shifted in the past 36 years.
by Chris Floyd | 01.29.10
Freeze Frame: Flopsweat and Farce in the Hollow Halls of Power
It has become clear that Obama, like Clinton before him, had no real political program to enact; he was happy to say whatever it took to get enough votes to put him into office, while also assuring the real brokers of national power -- Big Money, Big War -- that he was a "safe pair of hands."
by Chris Floyd | 01.27.10
S.C. Republican’s Plan: Starve the Poor So They’ll Stop “Breeding”
Lt. Governor, Andre Bauer: If you feed, them, they’ll just come back for more–and worse still, they’ll multiply.
by James Ridgeway | 01.25.10
Granny D on Campaign Finance Reform
"Let us say, through the enactment of new laws, that a politician can no longer take any action...if the action...would cause special gain to a major donor of that official’s campaign."
by James Ridgeway | 01.25.10
It's Time for Kucinich, Conyers, Feingold and Other `Progressives' in Congress to Take a Stand
It's time for the Progressive Caucus in Congress to put up or shut up: Quit the party! You ain't doing no good for nobody serving in Congress as a Democrat!
by Dave Lindorff | 01.23.10
Terrorism Defined: Bill Clinton Lights Our Way to Truth
Killing and robbery and coercion by people who do have state authority is, obviously, something else altogether: humanitarian intervention, perhaps, or liberation...
by Chris Floyd | 01.21.10
Massachusetts' Message of Stupid
Whatever Massachusetts thought it was saying with Scott Brown's Senate election, it was a message of stupid.
by Robert Parry | 01.21.10
Political Earthquake Rocks Massachusetts
After one year in office with a Democrat-controlled Congress, voters express disillusion, frustration, and anger over promises made, then broken, and a realization that once again they were betrayed.
by Stephen Lendman | 01.21.10
How Obama Lost His Way
In his first year, President Obama comforted a shaken Establishment but neglected the hard-hit public.
by Robert Parry | 01.21.10
Critical Mass: Dem Agenda Opens Right-Wing Doors
If you want more Scott Browns in power, then by all means, keep pushing that Democratic agenda. You'll soon have Scott Browns and Sarah Palins running out of your ears.
by Chris Floyd | 01.20.10
Obama Cuts Deal that Will Reduce Social Security, Medicare and all Entitlements
Deal with "Democrat leaders" represents a capitulation to conservatives in both parties, and would leave Democratic liberals accepting unconditional surrender not only on health care, but on the most basic of all New Deal programs.
by James Ridgeway | 01.20.10
Outsourcing War: The Rise of Private Military Contractors
It's a tall order to stop PMCs given how entrenched they are.
A coalition of groups opposed to Blackwater called on Congress to investigate why criminal charges against the company were dismissed on grounds of prosecutorial misconduct. They also want to "pull the funding on war profiteers like Blackwater (and) stop them for good."
by Stephen Lendman | 01.19.10
The Silence and the Shield: Depraved Indifference to the Atrocities of Power
A story of three captives – all of them innocent men, cleared for later release – who were almost certainly murdered in a secret site in the American concentration camp in 2006, apparently for protesting prison conditions.
by Chris Floyd | 01.25.10
Dark as a Dungeon: A Brutal System Stripped Bare
I urge you to read Scott Horton's story in full. Hold it in your mind the next time some sanctimonious official begins extolling the exceptional virtues of our shining city on the hill.
by Chris Floyd | 01.19.10
The Crisis is Not Over
The Second Wave
The threats to the U.S. economy are extreme. Yet, neither the Obama administration, the Republican opposition, economists, Wall Street, nor the media show any awareness. Instead, the public is provided with spin about recovery and with higher spending on pointless wars that are hastening America’s economic and financial ruin.
by Paul Craig Roberts | 02.04.10
Rule by the Rich
Don't Look to Washington for Help
The enormous damage done to the U.S. economy by jobs offshoring, work visas, and financial deregulation cannot be offset by government stimulus plans, which expand the debt burdens that are crushing Americans.
by Paul Craig Roberts | 02.02.10
Thinking About Definitives
My country and my state need major fixing, but I have yet to see any viable/workable plan(s) proposed by any of our apparent statewide candidates.
by Fred Cederholm | 02.01.10
The Battle of the Titans: JPMorgan vs. Goldman Sachs
Or Why the Market Was Down for 7 Days in a Row
Goldman, which has the power to manipulate markets with its high-speed program trades, may be engaging in a Mexican standoff [with Obama and Volker]. The veiled threat is, “Back off on the banking reforms, or stand by and watch us continue to crash your markets.”
by Ellen Hodgson Brown, J.D. | 01.29.10
State of the Union: Obama’s “Automatic IRA” Plan Could Make Bush’s Wildest Dreams Come True
We could see Americans’ Social Security cut by a small percentage (remembering that raising the retirement age is, effectively, a cut), while simultaneously, a small percentage of their pay is deducted and invested in the private sector. And suddenly–presto–George W. Bush’s wildest dreams have come true.
by James Ridgeway | 01.27.10
Obama, Read Your Reagan on Capital Gains Taxation
Tax breaks on Wall Street gains, with two small exceptions, fail three fiscal policy tests. They serve no purpose. They’re a limitless drain on the Treasury. And they’re inequitable: they favor wealth, not work.
by Gerald E. Scorse | 01.26.10
Funding Public Health Care with a Publicly-Owned Bank: How Canada Did It
Along with other progressive countries, Canada funded infrastructure and social programs using interest-free credit issued by its own central bank.
by Ellen Hodgson Brown, J.D. | 01.24.10
Thinking About Accelerants
What will fund the Mexican “War on Drugs” when oil revenues dry up? Will border violence increase? Will Mexican domestic “stability” cease? Will illegal emigration into the US accelerate?
by Fred Cederholm | 01.18.10
Err-America
Air America had come into a market saturated by right-wing talk radio—and then committed suicide by incompetence.
by Walter Brasch | 02.04.10
The Right Gets Itself 'Wired'
For years, the Right's media infrastructure had only one weak spot, the Internet, but now that is changing.
by Robert Parry | 02.03.10
Bob Somerby's Daily Howler
Somerby is undoubtedly America's best mainstream media critic, holding both "conservatives" and "liberals" to account for unprofessional journalism. Usually updated by noon.
by Bob Somerby | TIMELESS
Human Rights Abuses in Israel and Occupied Palestine
"[A] disturbing (government-sponsored) trend... has (gained) currency in Israel over the past year - both in public discourse and sometimes in practice - to make human rights conditional: on fulfilling some obligation, having financial means, or belonging (or not belonging) to certain groups."
by Stephen Lendman | 02.05.10
Child Slavery in Haiti
Child slavery is now well-planned assembly-line practice. One such operation is the "Haitian Orphan Rescue Mission," formed by Idaho-based groups, planned a Dominican Republic orphanage for up to 200 children, earmarked for US adoptions, conversion to Evangelical Christianity, and apparent extremist indoctrination.
by Stephen Lendman | 02.03.10
Blood is His Argument: Tony Blair's Gentle Cuddling at Iraq "Inquiry"
The Chilcot panel was never going to bring any powerful miscreant to accountability. It was set up -- like the American 9/11 Commission -- to siphon off festering anger and suspicion with a show of official concern.
by Chris Floyd | 01.30.10
Obama Ignores Key Afghan Warning
In agreeing to escalate the Afghan War, President Obama rebuffed dire warnings from the U.S. Ambassador.
by Ray McGovern | 01.28.10
Haiti's Earthquake: Natural or Engineered
"An unconfirmed report by the Russian Northern Fleets says the Haiti earthquake was caused by a flawed US Navy 'earthquake weapons' test...."
by Stephen Lendman | 01.27.10
Focus on Israel: Harvesting Haitian Organs
Disdain for International Law is Breathtaking
Israeli organ harvesting is a longstanding practice, well known by "most if not all the Israeli medical establishment...." In Haiti, publicity about their providing humanitarian aid is cover for this illicit operation, another crime against humanity.
by Stephen Lendman | 01.26.10
Helping Haiti’s Elders
Old people tend to suffer disproportionately during disasters, and are less capable of fending for themselves in the aftermath. I suspect they also tend to be disproportionately overlooked by even the most well-meaning relief efforts.
by James Ridgeway | 01.26.10
Focus on Haiti: Washington's Militarized Takeover
Top Priority is Command & Control, Hindering Desperately Needed Humanitarian Aid
US troops control Port-au-Prince's airport and port facilities, blocking and slowing aid, including relief flights from NGOs, France, Brazil, Italy and other countries, diverting them to the neighboring Dominican Republic, hours from Port-au-Prince on bad roads.
by Stephen Lendman | 01.25.10
The Lessons of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions
Just as civil society-led boycotts ended South African apartheid, so can they end decades of Israeli crimes of war and against humanity against Occupied Palestine. The task is to educate and inform to build global outrage to critical mass enough for change.
by Stephen Lendman | 01.22.10
Disaster Capitalism Headed to Haiti
Above all, Haiti needs democratic governance freed from US control, military occupation, and the kind of oppression it's endured for centuries so its people can breathe free.
by Stephen Lendman | 01.18.10
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