The title of this article alone would be enough to effectively make most American politicians say forget about it. The facts, however speak louder than political buzzwords. Despite having the highest GDP of any nation in the world, America’s healthcare system is ranked 37th best. Despite all the debates about helping the poorest Americans with healthcare reform, the uninsured rate is still about 15.4%, accounting for just over 45 million Americans. In his article, “The Cure That Dares Not Speak Its Name”, Robert Kuttner breaks it down on how Canada, Great Britain and Germany have managed to succeed with universal care, and why our next push might need to be more ambitious than a “public option”.
A conversation on Twitter got me thinking (thanks to Luis). It started with me making the statement that musicians shouldn’t be making millions of dollars a year. Teachers and social workers struggle to pay bills, yet some of the richest people in our country make millions by recording music. It ended with me being called a communist.
The idea of capitalism rests upon the assumption that the market is dependent on the consumer. If customers have options and information, the value of products will be adjusted to fit the consumers’ demand. When an industry is dominated by a few very influential players in a market with high barriers to entry, this concept goes to shit. Right now, you’ve got four major labels (Sony BMG, Universal, EMI, & Warner) deciding your options for you. Instead of having thousands of artists to choose from, the majority of the population is force fed 50-100 options in each segment. This means most artists never make it. Very few make it big. Some artists seen as marketable get huge pushes and end up making millions. Most end up broke.
I’ll keep it 100 with you. Climate change is not my area of expertise. For those of you for whom it is, please let me know what’s really good, and what I can do to help. From everything I’ve been told, and what little research I’ve done, I can at least say that I understand how big of a challenge we’re really facing in the coming decades. Analysis from the top experts in the field suggests that the way we’ve been living and consuming just isn’t gonna fly from here on out. The real challenge then, is formulating concrete solutions. Enter TED, whose annual conference hosts talks from the best and the brightest in almost any field you can imagine. Being that Bill Gates has been responsible for some of the most crucial advances in both technology and philanthropy in the last half century, I’d say his thoughts on the subject are worth listening to. Take it away Bill.
The first time I watched this I felt a bit numb. And in a way helpless. Like something was happening that I couldn’t do anything about. Something so far away, but something so real. How’d it get to this? What can I do? I feel so helpless. But who am I to feel helpless? I can’t pick up and move to Liberia next week and try to help. Or can I? For the time being I think the best is to help educate others. I can tell you about it. And maybe you can tell someone else. And they can tell someone else. And soon we can all do something about this. Raising awareness is important, but once we become knowledgeable about something, we also become responsible for it. If absolutely nothing else, let this serve as a bit of perspective. In short, life is not the same for everyone. And people say FML…
Good to see Barack taking a stand against the banks. In his weekly address, the president slammed major banks and financial institutions for irresponsibility and selfishness in the wake of the economic collapse they helped to cause. However, the address was also a proposal for a fee imposed on banking practices, with the aim of recovering the money taxpayers paid during the bailout. Unsurprisingly, Republicans and lawmakers are lining up pretty unanimously against the idea. Given the economy hasn’t picked up much since the bailout, and Wall Street cats are still picking up 8-figure bonuses, I’d say it couldn’t hurt. Guess we’ll wait and see if they can get this through.
As I’m sure most are already aware, an absolutely devastating 7.0 earthquake rocked Haiti and its capital city of Port-au-Prince yesterday. The quake was the largest to hit the region in the last 200 years, and the destruction it has caused has been substantial, with a potential death toll in the tens of thousands, as reported by Haitian president Rene Preval. Needless to say, our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragedy. At times like these, its important to be thankful for what we have, and to do what we can to help those in need. Granted these are tough times for almost everybody, but if you’re able to contribute, please do. Look below for a variety of organizations currently working to provide relief in Haiti. Your help is appreciated.
For all the fear-mongering we hear in the media about socialism, I think it’s more important to look at the facts. Paul Krugman, who received the Nobel Prize in economics last year, wrote this op-ed piece in the New York Times to discuss the economic realities of the European countries that operate as social democracies. If economies in the E.U. are marginally less productive, public welfare is actually better all around. Better healthcare, better social services and more reasonable hours for workers than in the States. In Paul’s opinion, we could learn a thing or two. Maybe next time, we’ll take a little more time to think before we let pundits and uninformed politicians scare us into gutting healthcare legislation. Take it away Paul.
Some food for thought for the New Year. It’s crazy. For some folks money is everything, for other’s it means nothing. I think those that know how to comfortably manage it are doing the best. The video featured above is a cautionary tale to those who put their money (and trust) in large corporate banks. Are community banks the 2010? Perhaps. It’s up to you to decide.
One of the major changes Barack brought to the White House was a firm stance on controlling climate change and reducing carbon emissions nationwide. Which is a good thing. Unfortunately, the proposed system of cap and trade has its critics, and with good reason. The notion that a market-based approach like the one on the table, is the solution to our ecological woes just doesn’t seem plausible. I’m not an expert on the subject, but Annie Leonard is. The Story of Cap & Trade is a simple and informative video that breaks down exactly what cap and trade means, offering other possible solutions to the looming problem of climate change.
You’d be hard pressed to find a show realer than The Boondocks. In just two seasons, the comic-strip turned cartoon show has already made a lasting impression with some of the sharpest satire on TV. Whether tackling the R. Kelly scandal or the Iraq War, featuring guest appearances from Katt Williams or Weezy, Aaron McGruder’s series held no punches, and offered valuable perspective with each episode. After spotting this over at Clutch Magazine, I thought it was only necessary. If Zettler Clay’s piece is a touch preachy, it’s also extremely relevant. There’s no doubt in my mind that we could all benefit from a third season, and a much-needed dose of reality.
Yesterday, L.A.’s City Council voted to limit the number of medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles to 137, with a target goal of 70. The number is a drastic drop from the figure of over 1,000 currently operating in the county. Additionally, dispensaries will not be allowed to operate within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, libraries or residences. Why local government is focusing on shit like this in a time of economic distress is just confusing. The numbers would certainly seem to suggest that cannabis clubs are one of the few avenues where small business is still flourishing. What does this mean for the business owners who opened their shops legally, or the employees who make a living working there? The vote goes down today. Hopefully the L.A. Times will help us make sense of it all.
Never have so few companies controlled so much of the music played on the radio and for sale at retail stores. At the same time, there are more bands and more ways to discover their music than ever. Music seems to have split in two – the homogenous corporate product that is spoonfed to consumers and the diverse independent music that finds devoted fans online and at clubs across the country.
This one’s for the music fans. An important film to say the very least. If you’ve ever wondered why you always hear the same shit on the radio, this film will answer your questions. Exploring the development and progress of American music, filmmaker Andrew Shapter unveils the realities that currently plague the record industry and American music at large. Featuring interviews with artists from the likes of Erykah Badu to Elvis Costello, the documentary provides viewers with an accurate portrayal of where the music business has been, where it’s at, and where it’s going. Whether you’re an artist, a producer, a businessman or a fan, you need to full screen this shit and just let it rock. Trust me.
I think most of us have a lot to be thankful for. If you’re reading this post, the odds are that you own a computer, and have access to the internet at the very least. In all likelihood, you’re about to grub out with some folks you love too. I think during the best times though, it’s important to stay mindful of the many folks in the world who haven’t been quite as fortunate. The Global Oneness Project offers some insight, calling attention to the problems of hunger and poverty, and the ways in which ecological crises will exacerbate these problems in years to come. At the root of their philosophy is the simple idea that we all live in an interconnected world, and that we each have the ability to help in solving the problems we face together. Much thanks to Samra for the valuable perspective.
It’s rare that we get an opportunity to get a glimpse into the lives of the famous. Their privacy so sacred, it’s not often that we receive a view of an individual completely in their element. Fortunately, freelance photojournalist, Pete Souza has provided us with a glimpse into the life of President Obama. Far removed from any podiums or microphones, Souza has captured a unique view of the President, shooting him while boarded Air Force One. Accompanied, by his advisors, secretaries, security and wifey, Souza has presented a compelling view into the inner world of Barack Obama.
