The debate on a U.S. national health insurance bill has ranged over three main plans: at one end, the single-payer system most favored by the people; at the other end, the all-private system favored by insurance companies; and in the…
As the U.S. Congress works on a national health care bill, people have lined-up behind three main proposals. The one most favored by citizens and doctors — and many Democratic lawmakers — is the single-payer system, which would improve and…
In the 1990’s right-wing talk spread to nearly every radio dial in the United States, and, day-after-day, pelted liberal-thinking citizens with scorn, and railed against use of government to help the people — even knocking long-established programs such as the…
In September last year, the Bush regime left behind its old refrain that “the fundamentals of the economy are strong,” and went to Congress for a quick $700B to bail out collapsing banks stuck with toxic assets.x60x61 Then-Treasury Secretary Henry…
(Analysis.) In his inauguration speech, President Obama made this appeal:x50 [T]he time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history …” But when a child clings to…
In the first days of the Bush regime, the National Security Council discussed invading Iraq around a map showing how its oil fields would be carved up, and Vice President Cheney held secret meetings with oil company executives to formulate…
(Analysis.) Why should an American want to be a citizen of the great United States, instead of just a member of one’s own little tribe? What is the purpose of the United States? The preamble to the U.S. Constitution answers…
(Expletives not deleted.) After his stint on Wall Street, Michael Lewis wrote Liar’s Poker, a famous book that gave an inside story of the high-rolling Wall Street of the 80’s, with its exorbitant salaries and careless handling of investors’ money.…
In their latter years, Kurt Vonnegut (1922-2007), and some of his fellow famous authors, each showed, I think, something of his outlook on life with a little story or a quip. For instance, Vonnegut told about an uncle who often…
On the cold, rainy inauguration day of 2001, angry crowds lined the parade route to jeer the new president, who had gained the office by the Supreme Court quashing a vote count. “Hail to the thief!” yelled the crowd, and,…