Moyers Interviews Robert Reich on "Who Runs Government"

An interview worth your time over at Truthout.com -- click here for the full text:

Teaser quote:

BILL MOYERS: One of the problems with the Clinton health plan when you were Secretary of Labor was that it was too complex to explain to journalists like me, members of Congress, and the public. So in a sentence, if you can, tell me what a true public option would be in healthcare reform.

ROBERT REICH: Well, regardless of what you want to call it, Bill, it could be called liverwurst. I mean, it simply means that the public- average members of the public have a choice, if they want it- of either their private for-profit insurers like they now use or a public not-for-profit insurer.

And that public insurer would resemble ideally Medicare- low administrative costs. And it would have the economies of scale. It would be so large that it could actually negotiate low drug prices and very, kind of low premiums. That's what the private insurers are scared of. That's what the-

BILL MOYERS: Why are they scared of that?

ROBERT REICH: Because that means that their profits will be squeezed. They don't want anything that's going to squeeze their profits. And, they're putting up smoke screens. They're putting up other things that may look like public options but don't have the bargaining leverage to get drug prices down and also to keep the private insurers honest.

Enjoy keeping abreast of the health care crisis and its effect on Washington,

Bp

[photo credit in linked article]

Obama and "Prolonged Detention"

Ok, dammit, here is the straw. Camel's back is broken. Obama is talking about detention without trial. Not only not closing Guantanamo, but keeping it working in the same way it is now -- for holding SUSPECTS WITHOUT TRIAL. Indefinite detention -- no charges, no rights, for "preventative detention."

Get that phrase in your head -- "preventative detention." Meaning someone, somewhere, in the government has decided that you MAY commit a crime, IN THE FUTURE, so they're going to lock you up now. For as long as they want, without a trial.

Do the math on that. The real math.

God damn it.

Here is an excellent post at Pearls Before Swine about the speech in which this came out and the ramifications. There are lots of sources cited at the bottom for your perusal and investigation. And below is the Rachel Maddow clip talking about this as well.



Now we have to fight the Obama administration for basic human rights in our own country.

Here is the link to USA.Gov's "contact your government" page. I knew we'd have to be on top of this administration, but I didn't know it would be over issues this dire. Dammit.

Bp

[via Dani, of Dani Boynton Photography]

Obama calls a spade a spade

In his 3rd press conference, the most telling remarks made by Obama (to me) were one ones calling Water boarding torture.

It remains to be seen whether the Obama White House will actually move forward on this and prosecute those responsible, but I'm not holding my breath.

Again, as I've said here and elsewhere, that this country is talking at all about the "merits" of torture dizzies me with shame and frustration.

Bp

[photo credit in linked article]

Guantanamo lawsuit inspires backslide from Obama administration

That man on the right's name is Binyam Mohamed. He was beaten nearly to death, abused, and tortured for years by the United States government in Guantanamo, and in countries like Morocco where he was "extraordinarily renditioned" specifically to be tortured. He's utterly innocent of any crime, and had no information whatsoever to pass on that would help in the "war on terror." He's been released back to Britain, but will never be the same.

First off, if you think his treatment is justified in any way whatsoever -- please go see a mental health professional. I'm not being melodramatic, I'm dead serious. Go get help, before you become a danger unto others or yourself.

Secondly, Binyam's case is exposing the current administrations limitations on taking responsibility for these crimes. The Obama administration has invoked the much-maligned "State Secrets" defense when pressed about the flagrantly illegal and immortal treatment of this man.

After the State's Secrets privilege was invoked by administration lawyers, this is what Anthony D. Romero of the ACLU had to say:

“This is not change,” he said in a statement. “This is definitely more of the same. Candidate Obama ran on a platform that would reform the abuse of state secrets, but President Obama’s Justice Department has disappointingly reneged on that important civil liberties issue. If this is a harbinger of things to come, it will be a long and arduous road to give us back an America we can be proud of again.”

Remember, the machine is still the machine. If we want things to change we can't pretend that everything's gonna be ok now that this charismatic man is in office.

If this pissed you off, get a hold of your senators and representatives and The White House and yell... loudly.

Bp

Chomsky, keepin' it real about the Obama administration

Here is Chomsky's first appearance since the election, shown on Democracy Now [an excellent source of real political information, btw].

Like a tiny little Godzilla, Chomsky comes to stomp on everyone's flowers. Though he does give credit where credit is due as well.

Interested in a different perspective on our current political scene? Then this is a good watch for you. Wanting to stay starry-eyed and blissful? Best skip it.







Enjoy fresh air, even if it's a bit chilly,

Bp

The Limits of the Presidency

I'm starting a new label for the blog this morning: the Limits of the Presidency. W. and his team had limits, despite how we feel. They didn't repeal public education, or privatize social security, or invade Iran, or repeal Roe V. Wade. He had limits. Sometimes, it feels like they didn't have limits, but they did. And -- their team lost this election. So he only got to steal two.

Obama has limits now. Lots and lots of them. To be elected President, I'm absolutely positive you have to get in bed with most of the same powers that supported the last president. I'm not expecting miracle-working from this guy, quite the opposite. I'm expecting business-as-usual, with some bright spots.

I'll give the downer news first: it doesn't look like the Obama team is going to go after the Bushies for the very flagrant and obvious war crimes they committed. See this Truthout article on the subject.

On the bright side, it really looks like they will close Guantanamo. See this Washington Post article. That's huge. Very very huge.

So I'm going to keep my eye on this administration and continue to write letters and push and agitate and communicate for change, because to push at them is to push at the powers behind all the recent presidents.

This guy's not a messiah, nor is he the anti-christ (and there are VERY dedicated folks in both those camps, believe me). He's just another president that we have to keep honest.

Enjoy keepin' on keepin' on,

Bp