Weekend Update 11-12-2011

Telecommuters are more productive and tend to work more. Of course, only a subset of jobs are suitable for telecommuting, but for those for which it is appropriate, the benefits tend to outweigh the negatives. Also? I was sick this week (a bug I caught from my daughter), but simply had too much to do to afford to call in sick. I was, however, able to drag myself to my laptop in my home office and bull through it. Last night I slept for fourteen hours, but I got done what I needed to get done this week.

Boom for Whom? The only group that has benefited from the disastrous financial deregulation that began in the 1980s has been the top 1% of Americans. Pictures make the difference easy to see.

Blame the welfare states for the euro crisis? Of course, by now it should be clear that things like facts have no impact on those making such assertions. But still, it’s getting a little ridiculous.

Judge Silberman’s opinion supporting the ACA is an incredibly important one leading up to the Supreme Court decision on the case. While four of the five “conservative” judges (actually neo-conservative activists) will almost certainly rule against it, Justice Anthony Kennedy has tended to be a serious justice, concerned about actual jurisprudence and precedence more often than not. I would say he’s the swing vote on this matter. I’ve disagreed with many of his opinions and believe he made an error that will forever stain his service as a Supreme Court Justice in Citizens United, but it remains an open question whether or not he will repeat his error in this case. Of course, in this instance, I will note that it’s speculation which direction the corporate lapdogs on the Supreme Court will lean. While the health care industry certainly wants to see many provisions of the ACA gutted, the individual mandate is actually one they want. For the record, I still think either Medicare for everyone or a tightly regulated health insurance exchange of private non-profit insurance providers (like Switzerland) is the best approach for our country. Nevertheless, the ACA was what we were able to pass and is immensely better than nothing. It’s a starting point, at least.

LaVonne Neff captures the essence of the health care “debate” eloquently. Screw whether or not it’s the Christian thing to do. Health care reform in the US is the human thing to do. It really has gotten that bad. And if you can’t see it, you’re either deliberately wearing blinders or you’re a callous, heartless ass. Or both. There really is no nice way to say it. And if you don’t believe it could be you or your loved ones suffering at some point, then you’re a fool on top of it all.

If you missed it, this is Jon Stewart enjoying Governor Goodhair’s debate “blooper“.