| August 31, 2009 |
|
The Purpose Driven Life
Rebecca Sive | 1:15 PM | Blog Post
It's hard to imagine Rick Warren had Ted Kennedy in-mind when he wrote The Purpose Driven Life,* but judging by all that was said at Kennedy's Saturday funeral, including President Obama's beautiful remarks, Ted Kennedy's life seems to have been a case-in-point.**
Of course, Saturday's most poignant reading of Ted Kennedy's life, as a man who persevered (in pursuit of good for others), was in Ted Kennedy Jr.'s remarks, regarding walking up a snowy hill.***
"And I was trying to get used to my new artificial leg. And the hill was covered with ice and snow. And it wasn’t easy for me to walk. And the hill was very slick. And as I struggled to walk, I slipped and I fell on the ice. And I started to cry and I said, 'I can’t do this.' I said, 'I’ll never be able to climb up that hill.'
“And he lifted me up in his strong, gentle arms and said something I will never forget. He said, ‘I know you can do it. There is nothing that you can’t do. We’re going to climb that hill together, even if it takes us all day.’
“Sure enough, he held me around my waist and we slowly made it to the top. And you know, at age 12 losing your leg pretty much seems like the end of the world. But as I climbed on to his back and we flew down the hill that day, I knew he was right. I knew I was going to be OK.
“You see, my father taught me that even our most profound losses are survivable, and that is — it is what we do with that loss, our ability to transform it into a positive event, that is one of my father’s greatest lessons."
But Ted Kennedy's biggest lesson for me, albeit from his funeral, was this reminder: Ted Kennedy led a purpose-driven life--for the biggest purposes in life: eliminating racism, sexism, and all other forms of injustice.
Though I was raised in a solidly Democratic family (for example, as a 36-year-old with four young children, my father ran for Congress on the Democratic ticket, in an overwhelmingly Republican district), my parents viewed (and, I think, still view), the Kennedy's with some disapproval.
The Mary Jo Kopechne tragedy left a very bad taste, and, combined with an incident we experienced--when a Democratic-Party rally came to a crashing halt while everyone searched for then-Senate-candidate Bobby Kennedy's lost (gold) cuff link--I was raised to view the Kennedy's with some disdain.
But, then, I got to Saturday's funeral service, albeit via CNN.
Saturday morning's lesson about perseverance--in pursuit of a purpose beyond oneself, and, yes, even beyond one's family--is exactly the lesson my sometimes-Kennedy-disapproving parents taught every day, including, I'm sure, on the day that gold cuff link was lost, and on the day Mary Jo Kopechne died.
I've tried to take their lesson to-heart. Truthfully, some days, it's hard, especially when it's a day at the end-of August.
But, this end-of-August day, and whether you liked and admired Ted Kennedy, or not, take-to-heart his last lesson for his children and for the rest-of-us: the purpose-driven life matters.
I close with the words of Wordsworth (a favorite of my father), said by the President Saturday:
"As tempted more; more able to endure,
" As more exposed to suffering and distress;
"Thence, also, more alive to tenderness."
Rebecca
_________________________________________________________________
*
http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/en-US/Home/home.htm
**
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/2009/08/president-obamas-eulogy-for-sen-ted-kennedy.php
***
http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/2009/08/29/ted-kennedy-jr-brings-self-others-to-tears/
Of course, Saturday's most poignant reading of Ted Kennedy's life, as a man who persevered (in pursuit of good for others), was in Ted Kennedy Jr.'s remarks, regarding walking up a snowy hill.***
"And I was trying to get used to my new artificial leg. And the hill was covered with ice and snow. And it wasn’t easy for me to walk. And the hill was very slick. And as I struggled to walk, I slipped and I fell on the ice. And I started to cry and I said, 'I can’t do this.' I said, 'I’ll never be able to climb up that hill.'
“And he lifted me up in his strong, gentle arms and said something I will never forget. He said, ‘I know you can do it. There is nothing that you can’t do. We’re going to climb that hill together, even if it takes us all day.’
“Sure enough, he held me around my waist and we slowly made it to the top. And you know, at age 12 losing your leg pretty much seems like the end of the world. But as I climbed on to his back and we flew down the hill that day, I knew he was right. I knew I was going to be OK.
“You see, my father taught me that even our most profound losses are survivable, and that is — it is what we do with that loss, our ability to transform it into a positive event, that is one of my father’s greatest lessons."
But Ted Kennedy's biggest lesson for me, albeit from his funeral, was this reminder: Ted Kennedy led a purpose-driven life--for the biggest purposes in life: eliminating racism, sexism, and all other forms of injustice.
Though I was raised in a solidly Democratic family (for example, as a 36-year-old with four young children, my father ran for Congress on the Democratic ticket, in an overwhelmingly Republican district), my parents viewed (and, I think, still view), the Kennedy's with some disapproval.
The Mary Jo Kopechne tragedy left a very bad taste, and, combined with an incident we experienced--when a Democratic-Party rally came to a crashing halt while everyone searched for then-Senate-candidate Bobby Kennedy's lost (gold) cuff link--I was raised to view the Kennedy's with some disdain.
But, then, I got to Saturday's funeral service, albeit via CNN.
Saturday morning's lesson about perseverance--in pursuit of a purpose beyond oneself, and, yes, even beyond one's family--is exactly the lesson my sometimes-Kennedy-disapproving parents taught every day, including, I'm sure, on the day that gold cuff link was lost, and on the day Mary Jo Kopechne died.
I've tried to take their lesson to-heart. Truthfully, some days, it's hard, especially when it's a day at the end-of August.
But, this end-of-August day, and whether you liked and admired Ted Kennedy, or not, take-to-heart his last lesson for his children and for the rest-of-us: the purpose-driven life matters.
I close with the words of Wordsworth (a favorite of my father), said by the President Saturday:
"As tempted more; more able to endure,
" As more exposed to suffering and distress;
"Thence, also, more alive to tenderness."
Rebecca
_________________________________________________________________
*
http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/en-US/Home/home.htm
**
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/2009/08/president-obamas-eulogy-for-sen-ted-kennedy.php
***
http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/2009/08/29/ted-kennedy-jr-brings-self-others-to-tears/
Labels: Barack Obama, MaryJo Kopechne, Rick Warren, Senator Ted Kennedy
| August 25, 2009 |
|
Sweet (Oh so sweet) Sixteen
Rebecca Sive | 8:29 PM | Blog Post
You need to go to the 17th entry on the Crain's Chicago Business, just-published list of the highest-paid CEO's of Chicago's not-for-profits to find a woman.
Once you get there, you see that that woman is Deborah Rutter, head of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, coming in at a cool $448,000 and change.
But lest you think that ain't bad, here's an interesting factoid: David Mosena, head of the Museum of Science and Industry, rolls-in at way-cooler number-two, at a way-cooler 1.1 million and change, yet the assets he manages are significantly less than those managed by Ms. Rutter.
Something's (seriously-wrong) with this picture, people.
Here are some other quick observations:
--Of a total of 25 people listed, five are women. All but Deborah are among the last on the list, i.e., numbers 19, 21, 22 and 25.
--And here's another goodie: Number 25, Elizabeth Glassman, President and CEO of the Terra Foundation for American Art, like Deborah Rutter, manages institutional assets almost twice the size of those managed by David Mosena, Mr. Way-cool-number-two.
Truth-be-told, I'm wondering if I'm reading this right. It is late, after all.
If I'm not, call me, quick, 'cause I'm really, really bummed-out by this little chapter.
But, if I am right, I call again for the formation of the 51% club, an organization for the demographic majority of Chicagoans, fighting for the rights of that majority; that group would be women, by the way.
For I'm of the view that governments, including the governments of not-for-profits, should be of the people, by the people, and for the people. And, as it happens, in this (municipal) case, that would be people who are women.
When I turn to the Crain's list of "Chicago Non-Profits' Highest Earners: Other Employees," I see that number one on that list, at a way-way cool 1.3-million-and-counting, is Susan E. Manske, the chief investment officer of the MacArthur Foundation.
My takeaway from all this? Remember the term "math anxiety"? Well, women: If you've got it, get-over-it; for math is the way to success in the not-for-profit world, not social work. Alternatively? Be a man.
Rebecca
Once you get there, you see that that woman is Deborah Rutter, head of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, coming in at a cool $448,000 and change.
But lest you think that ain't bad, here's an interesting factoid: David Mosena, head of the Museum of Science and Industry, rolls-in at way-cooler number-two, at a way-cooler 1.1 million and change, yet the assets he manages are significantly less than those managed by Ms. Rutter.
Something's (seriously-wrong) with this picture, people.
Here are some other quick observations:
--Of a total of 25 people listed, five are women. All but Deborah are among the last on the list, i.e., numbers 19, 21, 22 and 25.
--And here's another goodie: Number 25, Elizabeth Glassman, President and CEO of the Terra Foundation for American Art, like Deborah Rutter, manages institutional assets almost twice the size of those managed by David Mosena, Mr. Way-cool-number-two.
Truth-be-told, I'm wondering if I'm reading this right. It is late, after all.
If I'm not, call me, quick, 'cause I'm really, really bummed-out by this little chapter.
But, if I am right, I call again for the formation of the 51% club, an organization for the demographic majority of Chicagoans, fighting for the rights of that majority; that group would be women, by the way.
For I'm of the view that governments, including the governments of not-for-profits, should be of the people, by the people, and for the people. And, as it happens, in this (municipal) case, that would be people who are women.
When I turn to the Crain's list of "Chicago Non-Profits' Highest Earners: Other Employees," I see that number one on that list, at a way-way cool 1.3-million-and-counting, is Susan E. Manske, the chief investment officer of the MacArthur Foundation.
My takeaway from all this? Remember the term "math anxiety"? Well, women: If you've got it, get-over-it; for math is the way to success in the not-for-profit world, not social work. Alternatively? Be a man.
Rebecca
Labels: Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Crain's Chicago Business, David Mosena, Deborah Rutter, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Museum of Science and Industry, Terra Foundatin
| August 24, 2009 |
|
R and R: Nope, not rest and relaxation,
Rebecca Sive | 12:49 PM | Blog Post
but railroads and regulations.
My every-morning must-read, Mike Allen's column for Politico,* offered-up this juicy morsel about healthcare reform, from today's Los Angeles Times.**
Here is the gist of the article:
"The half-dozen leading [healthcare] overhaul proposals circulating in Congress would require all citizens to have health insurance, which would guarantee insurers tens of millions of new customers --many of whom would get government subsidies to help pay the companies' premiums.
" '...It's a bonanza,' said Robert Laszewski, a health insurance executive for 20 years who now tracks reform legislation as president of the consulting firm Health Policy and Strategy Associates Inc.
"....Laszewski said the industry's reaction to early negotiations boiled down to a single word: 'Hallelujah!'
"The bills vary in the degree to which they would empower government to be a competitor and a regulator of private insurance. But analysts said that based on the way things stand now, insurers would come out ahead.
" 'The insurers are going to do quite well," said Linda Blumberg, a health policy analyst at the nonpartisan Urban Institute, a Washington think tank. 'They are going to have this very stable pool, they're going to have people getting subsidies to help them buy coverage and . . . they will be paid the full costs of the benefits that they provide -- plus their administrative costs.'"**
What has this got to do with railroads, you ask? Well, the answer is in this book: Railroads and Regulation: 1877-1916, by Gabriel Kolko.***
Kolko's central thesis was as follows:
" '....large-scale units turned to government regulation precisely because of their inefficiency'....Kolko...broke new ground with his critical history of the Progressive Era. He discovered that free enterprise and competition were vibrant and expanding during the first two decades of the twentieth century; meanwhile, corporations reacted to the free market by turning to government to protect their inherent inefficiency from the discipline of market conditions....Kolko's thesis 'that businessmen favored government regulation because they feared competition and desired to forge a government-business coalition' is one that is echoed by many observers today.'"
Kolko taught us that far from fearing or disliking big government, big business welcomes big government--because of big government's unique ability to shape the playing field and protect the interests of those already on it. To quote Billie Holiday: "Them that's got shall get; Them that's not shall lose."****
Think "cash for clunkers" on this, its last day.
Ah, August.
Rebecca
_________________________________________________________________________________
*www.politico.com
**http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-healthcare-insurers24-2
***
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel_Kolko
****
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Bless_the_Child_(Billie_Holiday_song)
My every-morning must-read, Mike Allen's column for Politico,* offered-up this juicy morsel about healthcare reform, from today's Los Angeles Times.**
Here is the gist of the article:
"The half-dozen leading [healthcare] overhaul proposals circulating in Congress would require all citizens to have health insurance, which would guarantee insurers tens of millions of new customers --many of whom would get government subsidies to help pay the companies' premiums.
" '...It's a bonanza,' said Robert Laszewski, a health insurance executive for 20 years who now tracks reform legislation as president of the consulting firm Health Policy and Strategy Associates Inc.
"....Laszewski said the industry's reaction to early negotiations boiled down to a single word: 'Hallelujah!'
"The bills vary in the degree to which they would empower government to be a competitor and a regulator of private insurance. But analysts said that based on the way things stand now, insurers would come out ahead.
" 'The insurers are going to do quite well," said Linda Blumberg, a health policy analyst at the nonpartisan Urban Institute, a Washington think tank. 'They are going to have this very stable pool, they're going to have people getting subsidies to help them buy coverage and . . . they will be paid the full costs of the benefits that they provide -- plus their administrative costs.'"**
What has this got to do with railroads, you ask? Well, the answer is in this book: Railroads and Regulation: 1877-1916, by Gabriel Kolko.***
Kolko's central thesis was as follows:
" '....large-scale units turned to government regulation precisely because of their inefficiency'....Kolko...broke new ground with his critical history of the Progressive Era. He discovered that free enterprise and competition were vibrant and expanding during the first two decades of the twentieth century; meanwhile, corporations reacted to the free market by turning to government to protect their inherent inefficiency from the discipline of market conditions....Kolko's thesis 'that businessmen favored government regulation because they feared competition and desired to forge a government-business coalition' is one that is echoed by many observers today.'"
Kolko taught us that far from fearing or disliking big government, big business welcomes big government--because of big government's unique ability to shape the playing field and protect the interests of those already on it. To quote Billie Holiday: "Them that's got shall get; Them that's not shall lose."****
Think "cash for clunkers" on this, its last day.
Ah, August.
Rebecca
_________________________________________________________________________________
*www.politico.com
**http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-healthcare-insurers24-2
***
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel_Kolko
****
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Bless_the_Child_(Billie_Holiday_song)
Labels: " Mike Allen, "God Bless the Child, Billie Holiday, cash for clunkers, Gabriel Kolko, Los Angeles Times, politico.com
| August 19, 2009 |
|
The not-so-invisible empire: Part 2: Roger Simon nails-it.
Rebecca Sive | 8:55 AM | Blog Post
Good morning,
Here's Roger Simon in today's Chicago Sun-Times*:
"To compete with the huge health care industry, you have to be huge yourself or you get steamrolled. That's why a public option would work and a system of smaller health care 'coops' almost certainly would not.
"In general, the health care industry wants health care reform and for a very simple reason: It would mean 47 million new customers, many of them young and healthy.
"But the industry does not want a public option as a part of that reform, because a public option would be large enough to negotiate with private insurers, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and doctors for lower costs."
Why is Simon making this point: Exactly for the same reason I wrote my blog yesterday, recommending the President take-up the James-Carville/Huey-Long playbook.
That is, Simon is wondering whether the President has the "guts," (Simon, again), to push for the public option, which, as Simon also points-out, the President knows--and has said--is the way to create competition with the empire otherwise known as the" health-insurance industry."
Mr. President: Take-on the big guys, and share their wealth.
I'm reminded of the words of the British feminst-anarchist, Kate Sharpley:
Here's Roger Simon in today's Chicago Sun-Times*:
"To compete with the huge health care industry, you have to be huge yourself or you get steamrolled. That's why a public option would work and a system of smaller health care 'coops' almost certainly would not.
"In general, the health care industry wants health care reform and for a very simple reason: It would mean 47 million new customers, many of them young and healthy.
"But the industry does not want a public option as a part of that reform, because a public option would be large enough to negotiate with private insurers, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and doctors for lower costs."
Why is Simon making this point: Exactly for the same reason I wrote my blog yesterday, recommending the President take-up the James-Carville/Huey-Long playbook.
That is, Simon is wondering whether the President has the "guts," (Simon, again), to push for the public option, which, as Simon also points-out, the President knows--and has said--is the way to create competition with the empire otherwise known as the" health-insurance industry."
Mr. President: Take-on the big guys, and share their wealth.
I'm reminded of the words of the British feminst-anarchist, Kate Sharpley:
"We have nothing to lose but our chains." *
Kate Sharpley continues:
strong>"We are striving to bring about a condition of society in which there shall be neither slave nor master, neither poor nor rich, where all shall be able to satisfy their human desires, in a word we are striving for FREEDOM (sic)." **
Rebecca
*http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/1723095,CST-EDT-simon19.article
Kate Sharpley continues:
strong>"We are striving to bring about a condition of society in which there shall be neither slave nor master, neither poor nor rich, where all shall be able to satisfy their human desires, in a word we are striving for FREEDOM (sic)." **
Rebecca
*http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/1723095,CST-EDT-simon19.article
* "An Address To The Army," The Sheffield Anarchist, July 19, 1891.
Labels: Barack Obama, Chicago Sun-Times, healthcare cooperatives, healthcare reform, Huey Long, James Carville, Kate Sharpley, Roger Simon, the public option
| August 17, 2009 |
|
With a nod to James Carville, a refresher from the Huey Long playbook
Rebecca Sive | 11:31 AM | Blog Post
In T. Harry Williams' Pulitzer-Prize winning biography of Louisiana Governor Huey Long,* Williams describes how Long came to power: how Long came to be in the position--among other great things--to provide free textbooks to public school children, eliminate the poll tax, and build roads to reach needy families in isolated bayou settlements.
Basically, the bottom-line is, minute-one, Huey took on the big guys.
Minute-one, Huey took on Standard Oil.
Long was a 25-year-old back-country-Louisiana lawyer, just elected to the State's Public Service Commission, who thought that Standard Oil, "the invisible Empire (sic),"** should be taxed as a public utility.
Though Long was unsuccessful while a Commissioner, less than a decade later, when he was Louisiana's Governor, he succeeded.
And what did Long do with that tax money? Well, he used it to pay for those free textbooks for Louisiana's schoolchildren.
But this was just for starters. A few years later, during the depths of the Great Depression, when Long was a U.S. Senator, he proposed the "share our wealth" program. Check-it-out: it's amazing, and, boy, could we use it now.
"In a national radio address on February 23, 1934, Huey Long unveiled his 'Share Our Wealth' plan, (also known as Huey Long's "Share the Wealth" plan), a program designed to provide a decent standard of living to all Americans by spreading the nation’s wealth among the people.
"Long proposed capping personal fortunes at $50 million each, (roughly $750 million in today's dollars), through a restructured, progressive federal tax code and sharing the resulting revenue with the public through government benefits and public works.
"[The] Share Our Wealth Proposal:
"Cap personal fortunes at $50 million each (equivalent to about $750 million today)
"Limit annual income to one million dollars each (about $12 million today)
"Limit inheritances to five million dollars each (about $60 million today)
"Guarantee every family an annual income of $2,000 (or one-third the national average)
"Free college education and vocational training
"Old-age pensions for all persons over 60
"Veterans benefits and healthcare
"A 30 hour work week
"A four week vacation for every worker"***
In my (play)book, Huey Long is the original "speak-truth-to-power"**** guy.
I think we need a very big dose of his medicine right about now.
I was reminded of the ever-so-important, Huey-Long chapter of American history when I read James Carville's Sunday comments about passing a (meaningful) "healthcare reform" bill in our lifetimes.
“'What about this?,' Carville said Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union, 'Suppose they pass a House bill that can get 56 Senate Democrats.'
"Then, Carville suggested, instead of using reconciliation, a special budgetary maneuver in Senate procedure that frustrates GOP attempts to mount a filibuster, Democrats should call for a vote.
'And make [Republicans] filibuster it. But [do this] the old kinda way...they filibuster it and [then] make’em go three weeks and all night and (Democrats) will be there the whole time.
"Then, you say, 'They’re the people that stopped it. We had a majority of Democrats. We had a good bill. They stopped it.’"*****
Perhaps, the health care coop approach, the alternative to the "public option" apparently now under consideration by the President's counselors, is the best way to provide comprehensive, affordable health care to all. I leave that to others to evaluate.
But, in any event, what playbook should the President be reading, right-about-now?
If we the people, and not the not-so-invisible empire of health insurers, big drug companies, large hospital chains, etc., (see Bob Herbert in today's The New York Times on this point******), are to get the (health-care) change we can believe in, what should the President do now?
I think the President should take-up the strategy of the Louisiana-duo, right-about-now.
They have it right: speak truth to power; force power to the table; force power to deal-the-deck on the table, not underneath it; and accept nothing less than what the people need.
For the only change that matters in this "healthcare reform" discussion is guaranteeing that every sick person gets affordable and good healthcare when she needs it.
And, as Huey Long proved, the only way this will happen is by forcing a (very) public discussion with the powerful, forcing them to share their wealth.
So, let's do as the Rajin' Cajun and his mentor suggest: force the powerful to be visible and accountable, so that their means can be used for our ends.
Rebecca
_________________________________________________
*Williams, T. Harry. Huey Long, Alfred A. Knopf, 1969. ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._Harry_Williams
**
http://books.google.com/books?id=JP-1JJsG7awC&pg=PA61&lpg=PA61&dq=huey+long+%22invisible+empire%22&source=bl&ots=MCNSmQyu31&sig=6xrUimAvHCcvUemOm7Na3cw3JMc&hl=en&ei=9rGKSvH4LIaaMYiqqMwP&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1
***
http://www.hueylong.com/life-times
****
http://www.quaker.org/sttp.html
*****http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/08/16/carville-dems-should-force-gop-to-filiburster-health-care-reform
******http://http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/opinion/18herbert.html?_r=1/2009/08/18/opinion/18herbert.html?_r=1
______________________________________________________
For a terrific piece on the importance of Huey Long to today's policymakers, read this: http://www.brooklynrail.org/2009/03/express/remembering-huey-long
Basically, the bottom-line is, minute-one, Huey took on the big guys.
Minute-one, Huey took on Standard Oil.
Long was a 25-year-old back-country-Louisiana lawyer, just elected to the State's Public Service Commission, who thought that Standard Oil, "the invisible Empire (sic),"** should be taxed as a public utility.
Though Long was unsuccessful while a Commissioner, less than a decade later, when he was Louisiana's Governor, he succeeded.
And what did Long do with that tax money? Well, he used it to pay for those free textbooks for Louisiana's schoolchildren.
But this was just for starters. A few years later, during the depths of the Great Depression, when Long was a U.S. Senator, he proposed the "share our wealth" program. Check-it-out: it's amazing, and, boy, could we use it now.
"In a national radio address on February 23, 1934, Huey Long unveiled his 'Share Our Wealth' plan, (also known as Huey Long's "Share the Wealth" plan), a program designed to provide a decent standard of living to all Americans by spreading the nation’s wealth among the people.
"Long proposed capping personal fortunes at $50 million each, (roughly $750 million in today's dollars), through a restructured, progressive federal tax code and sharing the resulting revenue with the public through government benefits and public works.
"[The] Share Our Wealth Proposal:
"Cap personal fortunes at $50 million each (equivalent to about $750 million today)
"Limit annual income to one million dollars each (about $12 million today)
"Limit inheritances to five million dollars each (about $60 million today)
"Guarantee every family an annual income of $2,000 (or one-third the national average)
"Free college education and vocational training
"Old-age pensions for all persons over 60
"Veterans benefits and healthcare
"A 30 hour work week
"A four week vacation for every worker"***
In my (play)book, Huey Long is the original "speak-truth-to-power"**** guy.
I think we need a very big dose of his medicine right about now.
I was reminded of the ever-so-important, Huey-Long chapter of American history when I read James Carville's Sunday comments about passing a (meaningful) "healthcare reform" bill in our lifetimes.
“'What about this?,' Carville said Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union, 'Suppose they pass a House bill that can get 56 Senate Democrats.'
"Then, Carville suggested, instead of using reconciliation, a special budgetary maneuver in Senate procedure that frustrates GOP attempts to mount a filibuster, Democrats should call for a vote.
'And make [Republicans] filibuster it. But [do this] the old kinda way...they filibuster it and [then] make’em go three weeks and all night and (Democrats) will be there the whole time.
"Then, you say, 'They’re the people that stopped it. We had a majority of Democrats. We had a good bill. They stopped it.’"*****
Perhaps, the health care coop approach, the alternative to the "public option" apparently now under consideration by the President's counselors, is the best way to provide comprehensive, affordable health care to all. I leave that to others to evaluate.
But, in any event, what playbook should the President be reading, right-about-now?
If we the people, and not the not-so-invisible empire of health insurers, big drug companies, large hospital chains, etc., (see Bob Herbert in today's The New York Times on this point******), are to get the (health-care) change we can believe in, what should the President do now?
I think the President should take-up the strategy of the Louisiana-duo, right-about-now.
They have it right: speak truth to power; force power to the table; force power to deal-the-deck on the table, not underneath it; and accept nothing less than what the people need.
For the only change that matters in this "healthcare reform" discussion is guaranteeing that every sick person gets affordable and good healthcare when she needs it.
And, as Huey Long proved, the only way this will happen is by forcing a (very) public discussion with the powerful, forcing them to share their wealth.
So, let's do as the Rajin' Cajun and his mentor suggest: force the powerful to be visible and accountable, so that their means can be used for our ends.
Rebecca
_________________________________________________
*Williams, T. Harry. Huey Long, Alfred A. Knopf, 1969. ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._Harry_Williams
**
http://books.google.com/books?id=JP-1JJsG7awC&pg=PA61&lpg=PA61&dq=huey+long+%22invisible+empire%22&source=bl&ots=MCNSmQyu31&sig=6xrUimAvHCcvUemOm7Na3cw3JMc&hl=en&ei=9rGKSvH4LIaaMYiqqMwP&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1
***
http://www.hueylong.com/life-times
****
http://www.quaker.org/sttp.html
*****http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/08/16/carville-dems-should-force-gop-to-filiburster-health-care-reform
******http://http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/opinion/18herbert.html?_r=1/2009/08/18/opinion/18herbert.html?_r=1
______________________________________________________
For a terrific piece on the importance of Huey Long to today's policymakers, read this: http://www.brooklynrail.org/2009/03/express/remembering-huey-long
Labels: Barack Obama, healthcare cooperatives, healthcare reform, Huey Long, James Carville, share our wealth, the public option
| August 7, 2009 |
|
"I Love New York"*
Rebecca Sive | 12:44 PM | Blog Post
So, this is all I could think-of, upon hearing that Sonia Sotomayor will be confirmed tomorrow as a Supreme Court Justice. Anyplace that could create her, and make tomorrow possible, is great by me.
A close second was the song "Jim Dandy to the Rescue," first recorded by LaVern Baker in the mid-1950s. I kept thinking: "Sonia tooooo the rescue."
Third, I thought of the term: "A Bronx Cheer." But,then, I looked-it-up, and found that it's a term of derision yelled at Yankee Stadium.
But, today, I'm betting it's not. I bet the Stadium, and the streets beyond, are just full of real-Bronx cheers (for Sonia).
Congratulations, Judge; this New-York-born-girl, albeit born in another borough, is just thrilled.
Rebecca
*Written and composed by Steve Karmen.
**Sung by Lavern Baker, written by Lincoln Chase. The song was named one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll and was ranked #343 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song was covered by southern rock band Black Oak Arkansas. (This information is from Wikipedia.)
A close second was the song "Jim Dandy to the Rescue," first recorded by LaVern Baker in the mid-1950s. I kept thinking: "Sonia tooooo the rescue."
Third, I thought of the term: "A Bronx Cheer." But,then, I looked-it-up, and found that it's a term of derision yelled at Yankee Stadium.
But, today, I'm betting it's not. I bet the Stadium, and the streets beyond, are just full of real-Bronx cheers (for Sonia).
Congratulations, Judge; this New-York-born-girl, albeit born in another borough, is just thrilled.
A great weekend to all.
Rebecca
*Written and composed by Steve Karmen.
**Sung by Lavern Baker, written by Lincoln Chase. The song was named one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll and was ranked #343 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song was covered by southern rock band Black Oak Arkansas. (This information is from Wikipedia.)
| August 6, 2009 |
|
Cellphone City
Rebecca Sive | 10:20 PM | Blog Post
Good evening,
Here's Tuesday's Chicago Sun-Times front-page headline: "Cell Phones: Every Other Kid Has One."
Then, Wednesday's Sun-Times included this editorial: "Cell Phones for Preteens? No."
Though I regularly agree with this editorial page, today I say: "no."
Here's why: In this month of non-stop discussion about health care reform, most of the talk is about how we will get coverage, and who will pay for it. Lost in this discussion is addressing the health crisis among our nation's children that desperately needs solving now--by using all the means at our disposal.
You know the data: epidemic rates of diabetes and obesity among teenagers; sky-high rates of pregnancy among teenage girls who can't support their babies; 25% of teenagers with some STD; too little exercise and time outdoors.
We could use those cellphones to address this crisis. Why not use these phones to communicate positive health messages and easy-to-implement prevention strategies; direct these children to helpful resources and community services; to encourage them to talk to others when they are considering unhealthy choices?
I haven't heard about a project like this: has anyone else?
And while, on this beautiful summer evening, I love the image the Sun-Times presented, of Mom or Dad sticking their head out the front door and calling the kids, that's just not sufficient to this evening's need.
Rebecca
Here's Tuesday's Chicago Sun-Times front-page headline: "Cell Phones: Every Other Kid Has One."
Then, Wednesday's Sun-Times included this editorial: "Cell Phones for Preteens? No."
Though I regularly agree with this editorial page, today I say: "no."
Here's why: In this month of non-stop discussion about health care reform, most of the talk is about how we will get coverage, and who will pay for it. Lost in this discussion is addressing the health crisis among our nation's children that desperately needs solving now--by using all the means at our disposal.
You know the data: epidemic rates of diabetes and obesity among teenagers; sky-high rates of pregnancy among teenage girls who can't support their babies; 25% of teenagers with some STD; too little exercise and time outdoors.
We could use those cellphones to address this crisis. Why not use these phones to communicate positive health messages and easy-to-implement prevention strategies; direct these children to helpful resources and community services; to encourage them to talk to others when they are considering unhealthy choices?
I haven't heard about a project like this: has anyone else?
And while, on this beautiful summer evening, I love the image the Sun-Times presented, of Mom or Dad sticking their head out the front door and calling the kids, that's just not sufficient to this evening's need.
Rebecca
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