MURDER, POLITICS, AND THE END OF THE JAZZ AGE
by Michael Wolraich
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MURDER, POLITICS, AND THE END OF THE JAZZ AGE by Michael Wolraich Order today at Barnes & Noble / Amazon / Books-A-Million / Bookshop |
Paul Krugman, who has been a critic of the President, feel that he will be one of the most consequential presidents we have had. He has done a lot more then what he has been given credit for.
Yes, Obama has a low approval rating compared with earlier presidents. But there are a number of reasons to believe that presidential approval doesn't mean the same thing that it used to: There is much more party-sorting (in which Republicans never, ever have a good word for a Democratic president, and vice versa), the public is negative on politicians in general, and so on. Obviously the midterm election hasn't happened yet, but in a year when Republicans have a huge structural advantage – Democrats are defending a disproportionate number of Senate seats in deep-red states – most analyses suggest that control of the Senate is in doubt, with Democrats doing considerably better than they were supposed to. This isn't what you'd expect to see if a failing president were dragging his party down.
Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/in-defense-of-obama-20141008#ixzz3G0hiBZmd
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Comments
tom toles on the Stop Obama Congress:
by NCD on Mon, 10/13/2014 - 10:21am
Republicans in the House are busy making noises about shutting down the government after the election if they don't get cuts that they want again. I guess they didn't noticed that Eric Canter was fired in the primary and M. McConnell is struggling to hang on to his seat.
The local food bank started this week are only offering twice a month pick up. It was once a week. This is because of the current budget stand off. I don't think many have any idea this is going on again.
by trkingmomoe on Mon, 10/13/2014 - 5:48pm
We can change the world, it's dying.
Oh Momo
We must change the world!
by Richard Day on Mon, 10/13/2014 - 5:11pm
It is going to get changed because this is not sustainable.
by trkingmomoe on Mon, 10/13/2014 - 5:55pm
When he praises Obamacare, Krugman ignores the data from the Federal Reserve Banks, which reveals disastrous results. http://dailycaller.com/2014/08/25/federal-reserve-banks-agree-obamacare-...
I don't agree that Obama hasn't gone to war gratuitously. He is very warlike. This new war in Iraq may last years.
by Aaron Carine on Tue, 10/14/2014 - 2:25pm
Costs have gone down with Obamacare and unemployment is down. Perhaps the Fed survey is flawed
http://www.vox.com/2014/9/24/6836181/in-conservative-media-obamacare-is-...
by rmrd0000 on Tue, 10/14/2014 - 2:57pm
Jeebus, you use a link from the Daily Caller? You have to be kidding me right. However, let's just get this straight Aaron, none of the Federal Reserves have actually stated this, the report they are citing makes theclaim you've presented and you bought it hook line and sinker. That's too bad, since those Federal Reserves don't actually state what the Daily Caller says they do.
They have merely cited employer concerns and employers saying they will lay people off because they have concerns without evidence. Without evidence. This was in 2013, and they are based on evidence gathered, just concerns by employers.
Let's talk about actual facts no Daily Caller propaganda.
From the Journal of American Medical Association:
The New England Journal of Medicine:
If you are going to rely on a conservative propaganda rag to make points expect to refuted.
From the Seattle Times:
Uncompensated care to hospitals were as high as $45 billion in 2013. Government programs helped defray 65 percent of those costs, the study estimated. That left providers billions of dollars in the hole.
More on safety net hospitals.
Poltifact on rising insurance costs:
Oh my right wing rags caught not reporting the facts.. Oh whoda thunk it?
by tmccarthy0 on Tue, 10/14/2014 - 3:47pm
Thx
by rmrd0000 on Tue, 10/14/2014 - 3:53pm
Okay, that was a careless citation, but I read the statistics presented by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, and I'll see about posting a link.
by Aaron Carine on Tue, 10/14/2014 - 4:27pm
Here.
http://www.newyorkfed.org/survey/business_leaders/2014/2014_08Supplement...
http://www.philadelphiafed.org/research-and-data/regional-economy/busine...
I should know to cite primary sources, since I've complained about David Ray Griffin doing citations of other people's citations. Apologies.
by Aaron Carine on Tue, 10/14/2014 - 4:38pm
Here is data on job creation in the health care industry that runs counter to the Fed surveys
http://www.forbes.com/sites/dandiamond/2014/06/06/since-obamacare-passed...
by rmrd0000 on Tue, 10/14/2014 - 4:46pm
Source for private sector data
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/07/upshot/in-jobs-report-two-milestones.h...
Source for health industry data
http://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/blog/2014/05/healthcare-amazing-j...
by rmrd0000 on Tue, 10/14/2014 - 5:06pm
The point of Obamacare was not to increase the number of people employed in the healthcare industry, but to get people better and more affordable healthcare. In this it has partially failed, at least if the data from the banks is accurate(I can't say which sources are most accurate). The Forbes article said that a substantial number of healthcare jobs were being created before Obamacare.
by Aaron Carine on Tue, 10/14/2014 - 7:51pm
So we go from the Fed surveys showing disastrous results to a partial failure of Obamacare
by rmrd0000 on Tue, 10/14/2014 - 10:32pm
Aaron, you do know there is a difference between a survey of what these employers thought would happen and what has actually happened. Right?
by tmccarthy0 on Wed, 10/15/2014 - 8:04am
The New York and Philadelphia banks weren't only asking about what might happen, they were also asking about what had already happened.
by Aaron Carine on Wed, 10/15/2014 - 8:38am
Tmac is pointing out that private sector job creation is increasing under Obama despite what the surveys say. By the way, if you are concerned about private sector job growth pick the Democrat to do better than the Republican. In fact the much maligned Jimmy Carter compares well with Ronald Reagan in job creation. GW was abysmal.
Job creation is increasing despite the survey reports of not hiring.
http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2014/04/by-request-public-and-private-...
by rmrd0000 on Wed, 10/15/2014 - 9:13am
There isn't really a contradiction between increasing job creation(recovery had to come sometime) and the data in the surveys. Some companies can be employing fewer people in a time of job creation. Anyway, the surveys show more people being employed part-time, and talked about increases in deductibles and premiums, which has nothing to do with unemployment.
by Aaron Carine on Wed, 10/15/2014 - 9:21am
So now you are not talking about health care access and you are not talking about employment? You are now talking about personal health care cost? Please clarify.
Edit to add
If you are saying that like Social Security the program will need modifications, we agree. There will have to be modifications when single payer is implemented
by rmrd0000 on Wed, 10/15/2014 - 10:23am
I started out saying that I was talking about "disastrous results". Sure, the results aren't all bad, but here are the problems: companies employing fewer people(yes, national unemployment is going down, but that may not comfort someone who got laid off because of Obamacare), companies employing more people part-time, and increases in premiums and deductibles.
I would like to see single payer implemented, but I imagine that will require substantial changes in the political climate.
by Aaron Carine on Wed, 10/15/2014 - 3:31pm
You are saying exactly the things conservatives always say.. Well it could've been bad according to some surveys of companies...
Give me a break that isn't what happened Aaron. Those were Carnack style surveys, what do you think will happen, not results.
Oh and tell me when your insurance premiums haven't gone up? I'd like to know. Mine have gone up every year almost for the 30 years I've been insured. But now those companies have to prove they are spending premiums on actual care and not salaries. 80%+ of premiums must go towards care, and if they don't the consumer gets a refund.
Whatever I'm done, you can't convince people with facts when they don't want to believe actual facts. So you stick to the Daily Caller and I'll stick to knowing you are looking for reasons to declare this a failure even when the evidence points in another direction.
by tmccarthy0 on Wed, 10/15/2014 - 3:38pm
I haven't stuck to the Daily Caller, have I? After being shamed by being caught in a sloppy citation, I used other sources. You should read the surveys again; they weren't only asking about what might happen; they also asked about what has happened.
It might be a coincidence that 91 percent of companies raised premiums after Obamacare, but I doubt it.
I said that the results weren't all bad, but I stand by the use of "disastrous" to describe the negative results documented by the banks.
by Aaron Carine on Wed, 10/15/2014 - 5:29pm
The argument you are making is identical to what Conservatives say about the New Deal. The Depression would have ended sooner if there was no Social Security.
http://smile.amazon.com/FDRs-Folly-Roosevelt-Prolonged-Depression/dp/140...
You admit that Single Payer could not have happened in the present climate. What would you have done?
by rmrd0000 on Wed, 10/15/2014 - 5:51pm
I referred to actual problems with Obamacare. That isn't very similar to what conservatives said about the New Deal.
I don't know if Obamacare is better than doing nothing--it might turn out to be, but it wasn't supposed to have the effects the banks have documented. I myself never liked forcing people to buy insurance.
I'll try to find out how fast the premiums and deductibles in employee health plans were rising before Obamacare.
by Aaron Carine on Wed, 10/15/2014 - 11:56pm
Health care had to be addressed because of its impact on government expenditures. Have you seen any projections that Obamacare is detrimental in this aspect? As far as the impact noted by the Fed surveys, the CBO projected no increase in unemployment or underemployment. Underemployment are those who want to work more hours.There was a projection that some would work fewer hours.
http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/45010-breako...
If nothing had been done, you'd be arguing that Obama should have done something because doing nothing was disastrous. Since you don't like Obamacare and you don't like forced insurance, what do you want done? I don't think that anyone believes the Affordable Care Act would not need modification. What is your plan?
by rmrd0000 on Thu, 10/16/2014 - 8:04am
I'd like to try single payer. But if Obamacare turns out to be worse than the old system, then we don't have to present an alternative--the old system was the alternative. Maybe Obamacare will turn out to be better than the old system; I don't know. My point is that the things documented by the Fed surveys weren't supposed to happen; that has to influence our assessment of Obamacare.
I acknowledged that unemployment is going down, but Obama didn't tell us that people would lose their jobs because of his plan.
by Aaron Carine on Thu, 10/16/2014 - 10:52am
So you believe that doing nothing rather than taking a first step towards reform was better. You admit that single payer was not going to happen in the current environment. People who were not covered are now covered, In what decade do you project the tide would turn enough for single payer to become an option?
by rmrd0000 on Thu, 10/16/2014 - 11:37am
I don't know how well Obamacare will ultimately turn out. But if does fail, then doing nothing would have been better. I don't know what the future will bring. I don't know when single payer will become an option; I'm not a prophet.
by Aaron Carine on Thu, 10/16/2014 - 12:42pm
What percentage of companies typically raise premiums? I.e., is 91 percent higher or lower than average? As others have mentioned, back before any of us had ever even heard about Obama, it seemed like insurance companies were raising premiums every year.
by Verified Atheist on Wed, 10/15/2014 - 6:26pm
Yes you started out talking about disastrous results. Now you say the results aren't that bad.
So you really meant to say that program needs modifications but that is hard to come by given an obstructionist Congress.
by rmrd0000 on Wed, 10/15/2014 - 4:00pm
Then someone else is picking up the tab, besides all of the other needs, of the welfare state and all the rest of the Federal Bureaucracy
Does it really pay to work, busting your butt? Making all kinds of sacrifices in order to become rich?
Executive Office of the President
Executive Departments
Back to Top
Independent Agencies and Government Corporations
Boards, Commissions, and Committees
Quasi-Official Agencies
by Resistance on Tue, 10/14/2014 - 5:05pm
Hey Wolraich, I am flagging this comment, because I think he is calling me crazy and I thought you didn't allow personal attacks.
by tmccarthy0 on Wed, 10/15/2014 - 3:39pm
It's often difficult to parse his comments, so it's not clear at all to me that he's calling you crazy. (It's not clear to me at all what his point is, either.) That said, if he is calling you crazy, I'd consider it a compliment.
by Verified Atheist on Wed, 10/15/2014 - 6:27pm
Funny
by rmrd0000 on Wed, 10/15/2014 - 7:35pm
Be nice. Some of us miss her comments and glad she has taken time to comment on this thread.
by trkingmomoe on Wed, 10/15/2014 - 11:06pm
My intention was not to be mean to her, but rather to make her realize that our appreciation of her is in no way affected by anything R might say.
by Verified Atheist on Thu, 10/16/2014 - 8:00am
We realize that she is reality and fact based and R .............
by rmrd0000 on Thu, 10/16/2014 - 8:59am
In re-reading what I wrote, I think you might have misinterpreted my last sentence. What I meant by that last sentence was that R calling you crazy is a better indicator of your sanity than just about anything else I can think of.
by Verified Atheist on Thu, 10/16/2014 - 2:18pm
Six replies?
Get a BINKY?
I would suggest it’s easier for someone like me, who abstains from drinking the Kool-Aid to realize the affect the Kool-Aid is having on some.
This isn't just crazy, it is insane.
US: $17,770,878,224,354 - Debt as of September 2014
Her comment was about the middle class tax cuts.
We need revenue to support ALL the programs, the whiners want, not tax cuts.
Rocket science? Either cut programs or raise revenue; to reduce debt.
The whiners “Give us tax cuts and increase our benefits”?
It really does only take; 51% (rounded up) of the takers and spenders, to win elections.
17 trillion, 700 billion in debt......now that is insanity.
by Resistance on Thu, 10/16/2014 - 8:07pm
It's Missy who wishes me to parse my sentences.
hahahahah
But in that case, I was crazy.
hahahahahah
I always think of Trump.
I mean I recall that JP Morgan died with only 10 million bucks in assets over liabilities and Rockefeller was heard to say:
I thought he had money.
hahahahahah
If you have a home valued at $250,000.00 and you have a mortgage of ten grand, I mean, what is debt?
We have as a nation a hundred trillion dollars in assets or more in just land and mineral rights in this country and no we do not have 17 trillion dollars of debt. We guarantee too much for the assets of the pigs, but....
The pigs, whom we financed paid it all back even though we are insurers to this date and except for Maddox, few went to prison over their sins.
I am becoming more socialist as the days progress.
What the hell am I talking about, anyway?
Bury me as a commie, hell I don't care.
by Richard Day on Thu, 10/16/2014 - 8:10pm
Pigs don't know pigs stink.
by Resistance on Thu, 10/16/2014 - 8:10pm
Burial, you’re kidding right?
Tell the pigs to eat you
Soylent green ; is people
by Resistance on Thu, 10/16/2014 - 8:22pm
Resistance, I respect you.
If you wish to debate the issues, I will comply with that challenge.
Go ahead.
Just give me four or five days.
You can blog it, as it were.
You can have all the points.
Just frame the issues in your blog and I will discuss my side of the issue.
I will not call you out as a troll and I know you will not do the same.
I am ready.
Go ahead.
But you shall end up with thousands of 'hits' and that is okay with me.
I just am not sure what the issues are anymore.
Obama likes to 'listen in' on our conversations, just like George.
The rich spend all this money on elections for both sides.
Money appears to purchase voters.
Voters appear sometimes to be idiots since they can be 'bought'.
They are purchased through advertising, like dish soap or fast food.
I would just appreciate a heads up regarding how you are going to approach this subject.
Now this is a liberal blog site, however Mike W and Mike M and others might demur.
Go ahead.
I just wish to underline, that I like you.
I aint gonna call you a troll or a bad person.
There is something wrong in America when FUNDING ends up deciding races. Those with the most money usually win.
But as far as what WE own as Americans, mortgages have been around for thousands of years.
And so have national as well as state debts.
THE END
by Richard Day on Thu, 10/16/2014 - 8:52pm
Here are just some rules for the debate.
No one, including you or me, might attack the responder or commenter or whatever as crazy or dispossessed or stupid or an idiot or anything like this.
No one, including you or me, might attack the responder or commenter or whatever as a NAZI or a commie or a fascist or anything like this.
No one, including you or me, might attack the comment as being asinine or stupid or without any substance or the equivalent....
No one can say that just because ten folks agree with me or 'my side' that you lose.
There is no loser.
Unless we are all losers.
And you cannot bring up 140 issues. Six issues seems fine as long as I am given five days notice.
And here is my email:
[email protected]
okay? please respond!
by Richard Day on Thu, 10/16/2014 - 10:32pm
You've always been a fair person and always well liked.
If I thought my email address was secure, I would consider cultivating a long friendship with you.
It would be great to sit down over coffee every week and discuss so many issues with you and although we might find a disagreement in opinion; I believe we'd respect one another and would consider the welfare of the other.
As you can imagine, there are many folks outside, that don't seem right.
Remember the fellow that used Teddy Roosevelt as his (avatar?) Using his real name (because he had a problem with anonymous) and some one came to his door unexpectantly?
Scary thought to think that in this country, the Freedom to express yourself, might come with a price put on your head, by those opposed to resistance. No pun intended
Amended to include
Tax cuts would be a good starting point.
We shouldn't have had them. I would have liked to have seen NAFTA repealed, with Tariffs and duties imposed, to finance the needs of the American people.
Who told Obama or the Democrats, that Tax cuts, were the primary concern of the people?
I guess that is how you win elections? Talk Tax cuts because the people are not savvy enough to understand debt?
Burger King and Walgreens and others should not allowed to do business that allows them to escape taxes that support programs the people need and want.
They treat us with contempt because we allow it.
Good night.
by Resistance on Fri, 10/17/2014 - 12:04am
Oh please consider it.
You and me Resistance could make history.
No kidding.
Of course my friends and allies will answer your contentions.
I just wish to try something new!
No kidding.
Take your time.
No terrible assaults upon your honor.
No kidding again.
I just thought, with rules, we might find more in common than hatred.
THAT'S ALL.
That's all I got!
Take your time.
You have my email.
by Richard Day on Thu, 10/16/2014 - 11:43pm
Oh I forgot Resistance.
You can just message me here.
After all these years you sure the hell know I am not FBI.
I laugh.
But we are safe here!
You and me.
hahhahahah
Think about it.
You are here.
There is some song, I am here.
by Richard Day on Fri, 10/17/2014 - 12:21am
Oh hell Mac, I am called crazy all the time!
And for good reason. hahahahah
No you aint crazy, and I have no idea what a personal attack is anyway.
Resistance is a force that we must confront.
And I am asking for a debate about the issues.
And not a debate about craziness.
You Mac are one of my favorite debaters. ha
And one of my best friends on the internet.
Wait and see if Resistance takes up my challenge.
And we shall agree not to attack Ad Personam as it were. hahahahah
I am trying something here.
Let us see where it goes?
by Richard Day on Thu, 10/16/2014 - 9:32pm
The fact is, the whole country needs access to affordable health care to keep us all safe from pandemics. You want a pandemic nipped in the bud before it gets a foot hold. Germs don't give a crap if you are rich or poor. It is as important as seat belts in a car. It is time that conservatives realize that. We cannot build a wall around this country. We are part of the globe.
by trkingmomoe on Wed, 10/15/2014 - 4:40am