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Every so often I intrude TO/OT with a personal pick of a site that I find important that I feel needs to be shared and not lost in the shuffle of the constant flow of thoughts on The Planet.

And yet with globalization, we seem to have developed a strange apprehension about the efficacy of our ability to apply the innovation and hard work necessary to successfully compete in a complex security and economic environment. Further, we have misunderstood interdependence as a weakness rather than recognizing it as a strength. The key to sustaining our competitive edge, at home or on the world stage, is credibility — and credibility is a difficult capital to foster. It cannot be won through intimidation and threat, it cannot be sustained through protectionism or exclusion. Credibility requires engagement, strength, and reliability — imaginatively applied through the national tools of development, diplomacy, and defense.

The Y Article

A National Security Narrative

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

kesmarn says:

Working in a hospital tends to teach people to keep their emotions pretty much under control — at least while they’re on the job. But tonight I came about as close to losing it as I ever have.

I was admitting a patient who needed in-patient attention because she was so sick from the side effects of chemo that she was getting dehydrated. She was down to about 88 pounds and was so weak that walking the short distance to the bathroom was almost too much for her. In the process of the admission interview, we are required to ask patients whether they have any concerns about paying for medications or their hospitalization.

Her answer was: “Oh yes! The state just threw me off of Medicaid. I ended up on Medicare, but I have no Part D, so I have to pay for all my own meds.” (This included her chemo.) “I’ve tried and tried to call my case worker but the phone just rings and rings most times. If I am able to get through, all I can do is leave a voice mail. And the case worker never calls back.”

I assured her that the Social Service people would get on the case and advised her to let them fight the battle for her while she got some rest.

Inside, I was boiling.

This is not “austerity.” This is murder.

How Kasich and his Tea Party cronies could expect this frail, very ill woman to navigate through the systematic and deliberately neglectful maze they had set up is beyond me. I’m sure the medicaid case workers have ridiculously unrealistic caseloads. I doubt that they are intentionally refusing to return her calls. No. The blame for this horror story doesn’t fall on the patient, the case worker, the hospital, or the Department of Job and Family Services.

The blame for this belongs squarely on the shoulders of John Kasich, the Koch brothers who own him, and the RW in the State of Ohio.

There should be an especially hot corner of the Great Eternal E-Z Bake reserved for that crew, comes the REAL rapture.

EVIL!

~~~~~~

 

American Civic Knowledge Survey

Both the ancient Greeks and Romans valued wise and public-spirited citizens. Let’s see just how wise you really are? Are you a Barbarian, Philosopher King, or something in-between?

 

Mapping the Measure of America

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Emerald1943
Member

An interesting piece from “Politicus USA” that nails it:

http://www.politicususa.com/en/dumb-down-2012
============================

When attempting to analyze intelligence, there are many standardized tests to get an approximation of an individual’s ability for abstract thought, understanding, communication, reasoning, learning, planning, emotional intelligence and problem solving. However, there are very few reliable standardized tests available to measure common sense. There are numerous studies that measure the correlation between common sense and an individual’s intelligence quotient, but common sense is dependent on factors that are too varied to form an opinion of a population’s ability to make sound judgments of practical benefit to themselves and society in general. It is becoming evident that a segment of America’s population is lacking in intelligence and common sense, and the result has been devastating for all Americans. The ascendance and support two of the GOP presidential contenders have garnered is further proof that much of the population is wallowing in rank stupidity that should embarrass most Americans and part of the blame lies with the media.

It is always a mystery why anyone would support and vote for ignorant buffoons like Michele Bachmann or Rick Perry, but religious fanatics have always appealed to morons. However, when morons support candidates who appeal to a deity for intervention as a solution to problems that sound economic policy and scientific research have resolved, one cannot help but mourn the loss of common sense and reason. For the past ten years, the segment of the population who has voted for policies that are against their own self-interest has grown to the point that America is close to economic collapse and theocracy. There is no excusing the insane policies of Bachmann and Perry, but the fact that they are enjoying any popularity is mind-boggling; and frightening.

The other day, Michele Bachmann made the coldhearted remark that the Virginia earthquake and hurricane Irene were warnings from god that America must follow Republicans’ economic agenda. She said, “I don’t know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians. We’ve had an earthquake; we’ve had a hurricane. He said, ‘Are you going to start listening to me here?’ Listen to the American people because the American people are roaring right now. They know government is on a morbid obesity diet and we’ve got to rein in the spending.” Any reasonable American comprehends that god does not send Bachmann private messages about the economy, and it begs the question; why isn’t Bachmann laughed off the national stage immediately? Part of the reason is the media did not report her remarks on every news program and newspaper in the nation, but the prescient point is her message resonates with a large segment of the population. Bachmann has also floated the idea that eliminating the minimum wage is a solution to America’s economic woes and that she still enjoys any support whatsoever is stunning in itself. There is a large segment of the population that supports Bachmann’s bid to be leader of the free world, and they are stupid beyond belief to support a candidate who will preside over their descent into abject poverty.

Rick Perry is the current GOP front-runner for president and he is as much a fundamentalist nut-job as Bachmann. A while ago, Perry called for three days of prayer to end the drought that is devastating Texas as well as to solve America’s economic problems. Despite his appeal to lunacy, Perry enjoys widespread support among Republicans as well as the fundamentalist nutcases who joined him in praying for rain and an economic fix. Perry has also continued his argument that Social Security is a Ponzi scheme and patently unconstitutional. He has also made sure that creation is being taught to school children as science, and denies that global climate change is occurring despite the overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary. Perry, like Bachmann, should be laughed out of office for his extreme beliefs and reliance on god to solve America’s problems, but he is not because a large segment of the population is absolutely stupid.

Besides their beliefs about an ancient Jewish deity speaking to them, both Bachmann and Perry are promoting policies that will condemn Americans to a life of poverty so corporations can continue raping the economic life out of working-class America. It is safe to say that their supporters will be affected most by their belief that Social Security is bad and the minimum wage is wrong. Obviously, the racist element plays a factor in their popularity, but even racists cannot subsist on less-than-minimum wages or no Social Security. Any American who supports or votes for Perry or Bachmann is voting against their own self-interest. It isn’t just this year that conservatives have voted against their own self-interests and it informs that there is a growing epidemic of voter stupidity.

There are numerous examples of poor, elderly voters advocating for more tax breaks for the rich and corporations even though they are barely subsisting on less than $800 a month from Social Security. Earlier this month, teabag leaders said their supporters would take economic hits, privatized Medicare, and lower wages that Republicans were promoting to bring the deficit under control. There is a point that survival should overcome stupidity, but this nation has become so tragically stupid that it is beginning to affect the entire population. One could excuse low intelligence, but it is difficult to excuse lack of common sense that is dooming every person in America. Of course, a major share of the blame is on main-stream-media that will not report to the masses the insane agenda Republicans are promoting so the wealthy can continue prospering.

There is no answer to the epidemic of stupidity among Republicans who support Bachmann and Perry. Their support among fanatic Christian extremists is one thing, but when main-stream Republicans are lining up to praise, contribute, and support the incredibly stupid candidates, there is a problem that will eventually doom America. Good economic policy can help the economy and create jobs, and sound science can lead to alleviating global climate change, but appealing to god, eliminating the minimum wage, and privatizing Social Security will never help the American people. America survived Adolf Hitler and Osama Bin Laden, but it cannot survive rank stupidity from its own citizens. It is unfortunate, but Republicans count on Americans’ stupidity to win elections, and unless there is an interdiction of common sense and intelligence, this country is doomed. It is too bad the Founding Fathers did not prohibit stupid people from inhabiting this country because if they did, we would not be in the dire shape we find ourselves.

KQµårk 死神
Member

Everyone should read this but they won’t. Thanks for posting it and I retweeted it already.

Republicans count on two kinds of ignorance. First they count on fooling stupid people to vote for them. Second they count on people who lean left to be so jaded that they don’t vote.

Emerald1943
Member

Thsnks KQ! To me, this just puts it into a nutshell, albeit a little lengthy nutshell.

There have been a few people who have called out this RW fundamentalist religious movement as the most dangerous element in our country. And it would seem that some people are so afraid of this deity that they raise no objections. How sad that in this day and age, people run scared from myths and fairy tales…just sayin’.

choicelady
Member

Em – it’s not that people are afraid of the Deity but of appearing to be as intolerant as the RW. Liberal and progressive people, especially people of faith, want to rise about rage, hate, disdain for their fellow human beings and appear reasonable and kind. What happens though is that it leads to fear of taking a stand. The Right has almost NO truck with Jesus – they follow not a word of his teachings which is what distinguishes him from other prophets. But the Left removes themselves from all examples of his power and courage to stand in clear opposition to harmful practices and people. When he spoke of the meek it was those who had no voice. He HAD a voice and wasn’t afraid to use it!

Trust me on this – opposing the Dominionists is truly dangerous, not just professionally but personally. They KILL people! But it has to be done – there is no way they are to be tolerated as just another view of the world. That is what too many did in Weimar Germany – dismissed the threat. There needs to be clear and convincing opposition, and those voice are increasing and are increasingly public. Welton Gaddy for one – head of the Interfaith Alliance – has been very outspoken. But it will take time and gumption for people to stand in opposition loudly and clearly. And I will put money on the fact that no Dem will do this as part of a campaign.

Can’t appear to be intolerant, y’know.

Emerald1943
Member

CL, yes…you are correct. Had I more time when I wrote this, I would have said something similar to your comment. There are people who, thankfully, are speaking out against the fundamentalists, and I am glad to see it. But I am afraid that you are right about the Dems…none of them seem to have the backbone to speak out. Sometimes it is good to be intolerant when it is something that is so damaging to our country and our form of government.

Thanks for saying what I didn’t! 🙂

And PLEASE be careful! Keep an eye out! I’m on a tight schedule today and will get back to discuss this with you later!

KillgoreTrout
Member

Good morning Em. I saw a video clip of Bachman saying that bit about the earthquake and Irene, on CBS nightly news. Right after the clip finished playing, the anchors of the program were very casual about Bachman’s remarks. She said these things in a joking manner, but it was the type of joking manner that people use when they want to say something outrageous that they really believe and disquise that belief in half-hearted humor. It was very evident, at least to me, that she was not really joking and aimed to put that thought in people’s minds. She wasn’t really going for a laugh, although she got one.
People like Bachman and Perry and Palin will attempt to plant the seeds of their insipid beliefs in the minds of their followers in any form they think will work, without making themselves seen as the nutjobs they really are. We here at the Planet and elsewhere can see right through them, but as the article you posted says, there are far too many stupid and superstitious people that can’t.

funksands
Member

Good article by Dean Baker (a fav of mine)

The End of Loser Liberalism: Making Markets Progressive

http://www.cepr.net/index.php/publications/books/the-end-of-loser-liberalism?utm_source=CEPR+feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+cepr+%28CEPR%29

Plus he lets you download the whole book for free! 🙂

KQµårk 死神
Member

Cheers I have to look it up.

KQµårk 死神
Member

OK this is one of the most alarming statistics I ever heard about healthcare in America compared to Europe. In fact it’s so alarming I don’t believe it until I see how the statistic was determined. Just wanted to right this little disclaimer in case it cannot be verified.

Number of hospital-acquired infections that lead to death:
Europe: 1 in 122
United States: 1 in 7

Here’s the graphic attached to the article.

The Hazards of Hospitals
Created by: Medical Billing and Coding

http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2011/08/how-hospitals-harm-us.html

I guess that 1 in 7 number hits me because I did once have an infection I acquired in a hospital and now I feel like I literally won in a sick game of Russian Roullete.

SueInCa
Member

KQ
There is an infection that is very common from hospital stays like C.difficile, bacterial and staph infections. Hospitals have more germs than your bathroom at home more than likely.

KQµårk 死神
Member

I have no doubt people get that many infections because what you said is 100% true. But do that many people in the US die from them. It seems like it would be a national health crisis like one of those “outbreak” movies.

SueInCa
Member

KQ not sure what the real death rate is, it could be hidden in that people leave the hospital then the infection flares up aand they go back but the connection is not made, purposely or not.

KQµårk 死神
Member

OK now I’m really suspicious of how they found that 1 in 7 number since I found a figure that refutes it.

Mortality/Morbidity Healthcare-associated infections result in excess length of stay, mortality and healthcare costs. In 2002, an estimated 1.7 million healthcare-associated infections occurred in the United States, resulting in 99,000 deaths.[11] In March 2009, the CDC released a report estimating overall annual direct medical costs of healthcare-associated infections that ranged from $28-45 billion.[12]

A report from the CDC showed that among the intensive care units in the United States, the year 2009 had 25,000 fewer central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) than in 2001, representing a 58% reduction. Between 2001 and 2009, an estimated 27,000 lives were saved and potential $1.8 billion cumulative excess health-care costs were prevented. Coordinated efforts from state and federal agencies, professional societies, and healthcare personnel in implementing best practices for insertion of central lines were thought to play a role in this achievement.[

About 1 in 17 is still very bad but this article says less people were infected in 2009 compared to 2002 so the situation seems to be getting better at least with overall infection rates.

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/967022-overview#a0199

escribacat
Member

HP outdoing its vile self with an outrageously despicable headline this evening. What a bunch of third-rate hacks.

KQµårk 死神
Member

That is all they have nowadays. They make Drudge look sane in comparison.

AdLib
Admin

Wait until Glenn Beck buys HP from AOL…then again…maybe he already has?

ADONAI
Member

Today’s Top 5

Top 5 Candy Bars of All Time

1.)Whatchamacallit – Still my favorite to this day

2.)Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups – Probably the most popular candy bar in America right now.

3.)5th Avenue – Simple, cheap, very tasty.

4.)Kit Kat – There’s 4 of them!

5.)Crunch Bar – Used to be number one. Still a favorite.

[img]http://www.homesickamerican.com/WebRoot/BT2/Shops/BT4105/4D9A/F254/A295/F761/6A5E/0A0C/05E8/9A6F/whatchamacallit.jpg[/img]

SueInCa
Member

I cannot believe you did not List Mounds or Heath Bar, two of my faves

KQµårk 死神
Member

I’m a nut I prefer Almond Joy. :mrgreen:

I don’t think they make Bounty bars anymore though. 🙁

KillgoreTrout
Member

Sometimes you feel like a nut….sometimes you don’t!

SueInCa
Member

Almond Joy has nuts, Mounds don’t because sometimes you feel like a nut, somtimes you don’t. LOL I have a game I always play at showers using old sayings and TV shows, it is always a hit:

It’s the real thing___________

Can you guess?

KillgoreTrout
Member

Coke!

SueInCa
Member

Yep, cn you believe some people do not get that one?

SueInCa
Member

KQ I sorta remember at least the name, not sure I ever ate a Bounty. I used to love Hollywood bars too, dark chocolate.

KQµårk 死神
Member

Very tough so I’ll cheat. 😉

1) Any fine chocolate bar with raisins and nuts is my fave starting with Cadbury (sucks Hershey’s bought the right to make them here) fruit and nut bar.

2) Any fine chocolate bar with caramel alone or with nuts and again Caramellow is a good example.

3) Ghiradelli chocolate squares (I’m literally eating a dark chocolate and mint now). Lindt’s is also very good and has some exotic flavors. I think Godiva is a bit overrated.

4) Any chocolate Europeans use to bring us from there when I worked for European companies.

5) Baby Ruth and about 90% of the commercial chocolate bars on the market.

I actually interned at Nestle’s chocolate one summer in one of their R&D labs way before they went all corporate psychopath. The R&D chefs from Sweden use to make us all kinds of wonderful treats. I use to love when they made Crunch bars with a bit of Strawberry flavor added.

I guess you get it now. I love chocolate. I only eat it in moderation now and eat much more dark chocolate than I did as well.

funksands
Member

What? No Payday? Heresy!!

KQµårk 死神
Member

Ah Payday is on my list too even though it’s not a chocolate bar.

SueInCa
Member

KQ If you take a couple candy corn and a peanut and eat them together, it tastes like a payday. It would make a good trail mix for fall.

Khirad
Member

Lawrence O’Donnell predicts with certitude an Obama reelection.

Now I’m scared.

ADONAI
Member

Well, if hes’ processed the results in his quantum matrix then I believe we can trust it.

If he’s trying to be human and “go with his gut”, we may be in trouble.

AdLib
Admin

GOP Presidential nominee Tim Pawlenty has no comment…well, he did have a comment but he was too afraid to make it.

ADONAI
Member

HP is infuriating. It’s like the trolls have completely taken over.

How many times can you attack the same talking points?

Nothing, NOTHING in the entire history of our country has EVER been solved by lowering taxes. The biggest economic booms in our nation’s history came after we RAISED taxes.

FDR, Reagan, and Clinton.

And who cuts taxes during a war?! TWO WARS?! The previous administration provided a detailed blueprint of what NOT to do and it’s centerpiece was cutting taxes. Oh, and they raised spending to unprecedented levels.

Clinton didn’t spend that much and that motherfucker LOVED to spend. And every President gets blamed for their predecessors failures. Bush I got shafted by Reagan’s dismal second term decisions. Obama is taking heat for Bush II’s.

It’s SO goddamn obvious! It’s right in front of heir faces! HOLY SHIT IT MAKES ME ANGRY!

rant over.

KQµårk 死神
Member

You should see the trolls over there now. They think a debate for an election months away is more important than the president trying do do something to create jobs. That’s all we need another circle yerk to Ronald Raygun who would have never been accepted by the GOP of today like you say.

ADONAI
Member

Speaking of Reagan, that was a topic today over there. But it doesn’t matter.

They don’t debate, argue, whatever you wanna call it. Challenging ideas is the hallmark of an enlightened species. But they won’t.

They breeze over whatever you just said and go right back into talking points. And I wouldn’t even mind that if they had a reasonable argument to back them up. Hell, ANY argument to back it up. Lie, give me some figures you got on the Drudge Report, something! Democrats use talking points too, everyone does, but it’s just a launching point to a larger debate. Not their whole damn argument!

What’s it called, “bumper sticker politics”? Cause that’s all it ever sounds like. Things I could read on a pickup truck back home.

KQµårk 死神
Member

Spot on and well said AD.

That’s the whole thing I’ve been saying about false equivalencies. That’s right everyone does it but one side does it because that’s all they got.

javaz
Member

OMG!
People still post on HP?

Crap, I can’t remember now when I left that POS site – but think it was when I discovered the PPOV.

Never went back.

Once you go PPOV, you never go back – damn, was hoping for a rhyme.

ADONAI
Member

Once you go Planet you never…panic? I dunno. I’m struggling too!

There are still a few people there I enjoy talking to. I try to get them to come here but they love the fight. I use to love the fight. Now i tolerate it.

javaz
Member

Isn’t it amazing how addictive blogging is?

Have you ever met anyone from the Interboobs?

I did once and it was enlightening, and not in a bad way exactly.

It wasn’t from a political site, but from a Yahoo game site, so maybe that makes it different?

She was a very nice person, very nice, but nothing like you’d have imagined.

OH!
And I actually did meet, right in my neighborhood, a woman from HP!

That was by chance and when she said that she blogged on HP and proudly announced that she had over 300 friends, and she noticed our Kerry/Edwards sign in our yard, she hoped that we were Arizona people and not winter visitors.

Ended up that I knew her from HP and had her as a friend, and even though I recognized her name, she didn’t recognize mine.
LOL

I never did do good on HP, as I was honest in my opinions back then.

I’ve learned to temper voicing my opinions.

SueInCa
Member

Not here, you are allowed. I have never found one of your opinions outrageous…..

Khirad
Member

Once you go Planet, you never plan it.

And oh yeah, dammit, Janet.

AlphaBitch
Member
AlphaBitch

HA! I had “Once you go Planet, you’ll never pan it”

AdLib
Admin

Once you go POV, you never go POS again?

AlphaBitch
Member
AlphaBitch

Once you go POV, you’ll never go HP. Oh wait – that’s the same as POS, right? BTW: You will have mail. Soon.

choicelady
Member

No – people don’t post there. Trolls and flaming PLs do.

Big difference.

KQµårk 死神
Member

IMAGE NAMEIMAGE NAMEIMAGE NAMEIMAGE NAMEIMAGE NAME

HP Sell Out to AOL = $315MM
AOL + Aryanna = -$288MM
Vindication for PlanetPOV Members = PRICELESS!!!

ADONAI
Member

An almost 30 million dollar deficit. That’s pretty bad.

funksands
Member

NOW Donald Trump is interested…..

ADONAI
Member

Maya Angelou says memorial makes MLK look ‘arrogant’

Poet and author Maya Angelou says a recently unveiled monument to civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. is inscribed with a quote taken out of context that makes the preacher seem “arrogant.”

I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness, the inscription on the 30-foot-tall statue of King reads.

“The quote makes Dr. Martin Luther King look like an arrogant twit,” Angelou told The Washington Post’s Gene Weingarten, and added that she thinks it should be changed. “He was anything but that. He was far too profound a man for that four-letter word to apply.”

The quote was taken from a sermon King gave shortly before his death, where he imagined what his own eulogy would sound like.

“If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice,” King said. “Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter.”

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/maya-angelou-says-memorial-makes-mlk-look-arrogant-153930799.html

KillgoreTrout
Member

I have to disagree with Ms. Angelou. When those words were spoken, it was not arrogance. King knew he would probably be assassinated and wanted his true legacy to be remembered. He was a “drum major for justice, peace and righteousness.” Today, that may sound arrogant, but people have to remember or learn that America was a very different country back then and desperately needed a man like Martin Luther King. He risked death almost every day of the last two years of his life in an attempt to bring justice, peace and righteousness.

ADONAI
Member

KT, I think her argument is that this isn’t what he said. And she’s right. He said “IF OTHERS want to call me..etc., etc.” and basically said he didn’t do this for the praise but because it must be done.

I think she believes he wasn’t a self promoter and I have to agree with that. But I also agree with you. He was these things. Even if he didn’t want the notoriety, those are the things he wanted his legacy to be about.

If you’re gonna praise me, praise me for the right things. Seems like semantics but I’d expect no less from a poet laureate. 🙂