Home » The Watercooler for 11/07/09 9:00 AM
The Watercooler for 11/07/09 9:00 AM
DFA's home for a free form, open-ended discussion of what matters most to committed progressive activists.
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a global transaction tax would make finding the money flows of the drugs and arms trades transparent as well as dampen speculation
but I wouldn't make it high enough to do anymore than pay for banking regulation and protection (which done right would be a pretty substantial bill, if it included proscecution and detective work of money laundering for the drugs and arms, besides the usual fraudulent trading suspects)
A transaction tax on each transaction does nothing except tax transactions.
It says nothing about their worth or transparency.
What is needed is transparency and an honest rating system.
Also, seperate the mundane deposit-mortgage bank from the investment bank.
If the gamblers want to play in the investment side and go broke...to bad..
Those that want to invest in CDs are secure.
This means assets and liabilities don't influence the deposit side. Investment sides can go broke without influencing the deposit side one iota.
.even posted second
"very true and if every American had an electronic medical record the insurance companies could easily sort through the 30 million Americans who will now be forced to buy health insurance by Congress and triple their profits"--
No. There has always been a significant amount of Luddite-based fear around electronic medical records (EMR's).
You would benefit from researching HIPAA guidelines, particularly the definition of "protected health information" in section 164.501.
That insurers have access to our treatment information at all is a result of the shift to managed care in this country over 25 years ago.
Insurers fall into the HIPAA category of "covered entities" which are bound by restrictions and limitations imposed by HIPAA. You might google covered entities and HIPAA and learn something as well.
But again, whether your medical record is paper or electronic record your insurer does have (unfortunately) restricted access to your records.
There is no reason to assume that if EMR's were created under a national format that insurance providers could demand a read of every single American for the purpose of culling out the uncovered.
However, if the new health care plan does ultimately includes a requirement of coverage an uncovered person may not be discovered until the first time they seek treatment. Nothing to do with EMR's, in other words.
There is a plethora of literature on the medical benefits to standardized, mobile EMR's. My partner is quite conversant with this literature as a function of her medical research career.
While your response is quite common it is uninformed.
There are also restrictions on the transfer of EMR information over VPN's, wired or wireless networks. PHI (private health information) is required to be de-identified (again researching HIPAA will help you understand how de-identification requirements are met).
Bottom line, there already exists significant protection of patient privacy via HIPAA as it relates to EMR's. If we ever get standardized, nationalized EMR's there will be additional protections put in place, and again, the health benefits far outweigh the privacy risks which can be managed.
Do some research on it.
can gain access to virtually any digital information, no matter how high the classification, or how many "safeguards" have been put in place.
Then there's the ever-present possibility of venal. corrupt, or just plain incompetent record keepers
- Nothing to stop anyone with access to paper records to access personal info
By Love White Castles on Nov 7, 2009 11:19 AM ESTat the moment. What is your perfect solution?
A determined and skillful hacker........ can gain access to virtually any digital information, no matter how high the classification, or how many "safeguards" have been put in place.-----
If this gross overstatement were even close to the truth then online banking would have collapsed years ago, we couldn't have e-Bay, Amazon and all of the other internet commerce that exists today.
It has proliferated because of the convenience and wouldn't be possible if your statement were true. Hacks into these systems have been few and far between.
https vs. http
What is the difference?
Sorry for being so elementary for those of you who know the difference.
My former software company developed medication adherence assessments for HIV patients under an NIH grant award. Working with leading medical researchers we learned more than most people would ever want to know about HIPAA and PHI (private health information) as it relates to electronic medical records and the electronic transfer of PHI. All of our software team had to take a course on it, actually, along with many, many long conversations with the researchers on this topic.
Again, my partner is well versed in the literature on the reduction of medical error via EMR use. She is a co-author on a paper published by the 5 medical universities in the UC system.
This body of knowledge isn't dismissed by a hackneyed phrase...."any hack can break any system" but it's all you've got so....who's the hack?
- I thought about the online banking analogy as well
By Love White Castles on Nov 7, 2009 11:33 AM ESTBeen doing it for years, never a problem. I pay all of my bills that way, even my mortgage. Haven't written a check in years. Payroll deposit, stock deposits, trading. Banking wire transfer services, the list goes on.
More BS based on willful (?) ignorance
- Phil said "very true" in agreement with what you had posted
By Phil Specht on Nov 7, 2009 4:16 PM ESTand then pointed out the fear that millions of Americans rightly have that the mass of medical information being accumulated by insurance companies that have been used to deny care and generate profits is suddenly "Luddite"
I'm all for electronic records and recognize their medical benefit but I also recognize medical information has been greatly abused in the past. where do you think knowledge of a pre-existing condition comes from?
you have to sign away privacy rights as a patient to get a filling at the dentist
the Senate hasn't yet acted and much mischief can yet be done in conference
just a call for vigilance
- I think it would help all of us if we read the small print
By Love White Castles on Nov 7, 2009 5:35 PM EST.
- "where do you think knowledge of a pre-existing condition comes from?"
By cChal on Nov 7, 2009 7:29 PM ESTFrom the overwhelming majority of paper based medical records.
As I explained, the insurers have limited access to our health records as a result of managed care....not as a result of electronic medical records.
I also love the op-ed from George McGovern:
It's Simple: Medicare for All
Had the administration used this tag line to promote the PO there would have been overwhelming support from the beginning. jmo.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in The Independent.
Could there be a more accurate description of the Obama-Brown message of congratulations to the fraudulently elected Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan? First the Palestinians held fair elections in 2006, voted for Hamas and were brutally punished for it – they still are – and then the Iranians held fraudulent elections in June which put back the weird Mahmoud Ahmadinejad whom everyone outside Iran (and a lot inside) regard as a dictator. But now we have the venal, corrupt, sectarian Karzai in power after a poll far more ambitiously rigged than the Iranian version, and – yup, we love him dearly and accept his totally fraudulent election.
And now we are still trying to persuade his opponent to join a national unity government, an administration led by the man whose vote-stuffing was the very reason that same leader of the opposition – the good pseudo-Pashtun Abdullah Abdullah – refused to run in a second round of elections. And Karzai got his fawning congrats from the Obama-Brown twins. So that’s OK then. Wagons Ho. For Westmoreland, read McChrystal. Send in the brave 40,000 to join the rest of the US cavalry as it fights its way west – or rather south-west – to the Khe Sanh of Afghanistan in Year Eight of the War on Terror.
Public schools
Public schools get their financing from
local, state, and federal government funds. In most cases, they must
admit all students who live within the borders of their district.
Charter schools and magnet schools are two relatively new kinds of
public schools.
• Charter schools began appearing in
the early 90s. They are autonomous, "alternative" public schools
started by parents, teachers, community organizations, and for-profit
companies. These schools receive tax dollars but the sponsoring group
must also come up with private funding. Charter schools must adhere to
the basic curricular requirements of the state but are free from many
of the regulations that apply to conventional schools and the
day-to-day scrutiny of school boards and government authorities.
Considered
cutting edge, charter schools usually challenge standard education
practices and sometimes specialize in a particular area, such as
technology, the arts, or a back-to-basics core-subjects approach. Some
charter schools are specifically for gifted or high-risk kids. They
usually offer smaller classes and more individual attention than
conventional public schools. To find out more about charter schools and
where to find them in your area, visit the U.S. Charter Schools Web site.
have been generally accepted these days as almost necessary. Though they can squeeze by some of the public school requirements, they still must succeed as well as public schools or they soon lose their schools.
Obama seems to have embraced them and has mentioned them several times in his speeches about education.
Summit Prep - and it attracts the kids in the neighborhood that actually want to learn and do more than become a drug dealer when (if) they grow up. Pat is right, it's not the 50's, or even the 60's or 70's anymore. Long past time to offer better options for education that are accesible to those who cannot afford private schools.
Charter schools began appearing in the early 90s. They are autonomous, "alternative" public schools started by parents, teachers, community organizations, and for-profit companies.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't think our children's public education should be done for profit. period
it is a free country, send your kids anywhere you want if taxpayers don't foot the bill
For profit companies help fund the schools. The schools themselves are not for profit.
Send your kids anywhere you want where taxpayers don't foot the bill? HUH? That would be private schools. Magnets and charters are NOT private schools.
Slow down and read, Phil. And then process it as the educated person you are.
• Magnet schools are highly competitive, highly selective public schools renowned for their special programs, superior facilities, and high academic standards. They may specialize in a particular area, such as science or the arts. Students who apply to these schools go through a rigorous testing and application process. Some magnet schools have boarding facilities to allow students from out of state to attend. Magnet schools were first launched in the late 1970s to help desegregate public school systems by encouraging children to attend schools outside their neighborhoods. Student diversity is still an explicit goal of most magnet schools.
http://www.babycenter.com/0_school-types-the-difference-between-public-private-magnet-ch_67288.bc
I'd never even heard of magnet schools. An open mind can learn a lot here.
I miss the lectures from Charlie Grapski.
Not over yet but at least it's in process.
Rich Kolker is also on Facebook, as is Robert Oler (ok everyone, let's not start on Oler though I do want to share that he has found a new love, getting married and is soon to be a father). I've been enjoying his posts and many here would be surprised to see that he is on the same page as us on many topics nowadays.
Off to a much needed hair appointment, good day to all.
I am talking them up in Michigan where the only real magnet schools are religious schools.
We watched By the People last night, the story of the Obama campaign. We thought it was excellent.
The early caucus win in Iowa reminded us of our going to Des Moines to campaign for Govrnor Dean. In fact, the Obama headquarters resembled the same headquarters that Dean used. I don't know if it was the same.
But, the enthusiam, the energy, meeting people from all over the country and Canada, it made us glad we had gone. Unfortunately the Dean campaign didn't treat Iowa as a caucus state. The Obama campagin learned from that and did.
Something that stood out was the honesty, the good will, the temperament of Barack Obama. He was funny, consistently kind, generous, thoughtful, and he inspired even more of the same enthusiasm and trust that Howard Dean did.
I thought that the Obama's seemed so solid, so balanced, so clear about their values, and again their civility and good will was evident throughout. They were the Norman Rockwell dream of the American family.
One note that was sad: Hillary never called to congratulate Barack when he won the nomination, and in fact, wasn't available on her cell phone. That night her speech and Terry McAuliffe's never mentioned that Barack had won. That was poor. But then, campaigns reveal who we are as humans and individuals.
I don't see a leader of his capabilities and temperament anywhere here or internationally. I think he is extraordinary and the movie brought that home.
Something that stood out was the honesty, the good will, the temperament of Barack Obama. He was funny, consistently kind, generous, thoughtful, and he inspired ----
I thought the same thing.
One note that was sad: Hillary never called to congratulate Barack when he won the nomination, and in fact, wasn't available on her cell phone. That night her speech and Terry McAuliffe's never mentioned that Barack had won. ------
Their primary was the close and contentious. They've long since moved past primary night phone calls. He chose her as his Secretary of State.
- We watched this wonderful documentary Tuesday night
By Joan In Florida on Nov 7, 2009 11:51 AM ESTIt was so fortunate and with uncanny luck that the doc. was started before O even decided to run for president, and so the producers of this were already onboard for the entire trip to POTUS.
We did have to sadly:) *give up* watching the results of the vastly overrated "Super Tuesday" results including the highly speculative prognosis of the 2010 election defeats of the Democrats.
Seems every time there is an election of any little size, the next day the media is already working on the next one--particularly MSNBC, "The Place for Politics."
Having spent my working life in public schools and having been educated for 12 year in a private Catholic school, we need variety. While I can't say that all charter schools are good; nor do I think that the 50s model of education in public schools is sufficient for the 21st century, we need to work for change, more parent involvement, better and more diverse offerings, and yes, there is a need for base line data that everyone as a citizen should have.
Watching Jay Leno the other night with a quiz from the stars made me shudder. The level of knowledge was about 7 years of age.
Change is needed and a variety of avenues should be explored. I've heard very good things about Arne Duncan and read a little, though not enough to express an opinion.
Thanks for the infor, LWC. Always welcome.
Once again, some feel the need to dump on ONE PERSON, when we all know that a system is made up of many people. Thanks for recognizing that the current public school system is only as good as the property taxes that feed into it - totally unfair and failing miserably, especially here in California.
Nothing wrong with options for the kids who really want to learn and not screw around all day, at the expense of the sanity of teachers and serious students.
- "totally unfair and failing miserably, especially here in California".
By Joan In Florida on Nov 7, 2009 12:04 PM EST
I lived in Orange County during the 60's. My first two kids attended kindergarten and first grade in Santa Ana. The schools there were outstanding at that time. It's so sad to see these school systems suffer from lack of money, over population, mismanagement, apathy, or all of the above.
Florida schools have not fared any better. I believe they are ranked near or at the bottom now, when once they were quite good but never as good as they should have been.
As always, there are always a few individual schools that shine brightly so there is always hope.
I think Hillary is doing an outstanding job. I am proud and grateful that she's Secretary of State. But, it was poor, and to the credit of the producers, they didn't show the speeches and ignoring of Barack's receiving the nomination. In contrast, the Obama campaign seemed much more secure and able to be civil.
But then, the first viable woman candidate for the presidency, WOW. Much praise for the strenth of her campaign, and even better her competence in her position now.
And LWC, I agree totally. As a teacher you had to try to address the majority, and that meant that students on the top and bottom of the achievement/talent range were often lost. There's a lot to be said for heterogeneous grouping, but there's a need also to engage every student, and that's where charter schools, magnet schools, individual opportunities, a variety of offerings, and activites coordinating the community and businesses can serve. For instance, the local opera company worked with a music teacher's class, and students were able to be in the opera.
Some businesses, a newspaper, for instance, had student interns. We need these new connections and and arrangements. Arne Duncan, from what I've read, is very supportive of this.
and all I'm really trying to say is that I think our candidates move past campaign acrimony far sooner than we do. They seem to be able to shake it off as soon as the election is over.
Eventually, you made need that person who was a bitter foe.
It is like there are no lasting anger.
I was with the McCain campaign during the 2000 primary when Bush personally went after McCain's family. McCain's losing brought me back to the Dem side.
I could never figure out how McCain could support Bush after the nasty stuff was said about his family.
The answer is campaign rhetoric is not to be taken seriously.
It must be difficult for anti-Obama's to understand an elected official who tries to keep campaign promises.
that lapse, but it is unimportant, and thank goodness neither Hillary nor Obama hung onto it. It takes a really tough individual and a secure personality to run for public office. Both Hillary, especially Hillary after the media circus over Bill's infidelity, are that tough.
We're watching C-SPAN now, the House hearings on the Health Care Bill. As you'd expect, the Republicans are playing the fear card for all it's worth.
these congress Dems should know be smart enough to click ignore. The fear card works for some scaredy cats in the general population.
"We're watching C-SPAN now, the House hearings on the Health Care Bill."--
Well, let's hope for the best. I can't bear to watch it...to burnt out on the fearmongering and too saddened by the Dems that oppose the PO, not to mention pissed off!
I'm going to get a short bike ride in as it's a sunny day and then we're pulling out the Summer garden and prepping for the Winter garden. Pulling out all but the lettuce (grows year-round in our climate) and the tomatoes as they are still producing.
dog, what do you think about Warren Buffett purchasing Burlington Railroad...positive sign? At a minimum he must believe that the administration is serious about upgrading rail across the country, right?
Thanks again to all for the thoughtful, informative conversation.
See you later.
- Buffet said he bought BN because his dad never bought him a train-set
By dog soldier on Nov 7, 2009 1:49 PM ESTBuffet is seeing things few others are seeing; long term growth and manufacturing.
Otherwise, why buy a freight train?
He believes the economy will be stronger then ever over the next five years (http://www.cnbc.com/id/33602516)
He already owned about a third of the company anyway.
- we have competeing railroads that run on either side of the Mississippi here and
By Phil Specht on Nov 7, 2009 4:40 PM ESTBN is by far the better run train. good buy.freight is a tough business though with many competitors. it is amazing they can compete with the inherent efficiency of barge traffic, or the public subsidy of roads that truckers enjoy
shipping containers are selling for scrap metal price so freight won't get pricey til that changes, but none of the coal fired plants have shut down and record crop have to be moved and the river will freeze before harvest is over whatever the prices
a railroad runs through the back of my farm and it is absoltely amazing what amount can be hauled by that person at the front of a hundred car unit train (with the help of those thousands of horses)
the weight of a battery wouldn't be a problem, they ought to go green
- They are also a large commuter railroad in the Chicago area
By Love White Castles on Nov 7, 2009 5:43 PM ESTI took the BN for 23 years into Union Station when I worked downtown.
C-SPAN. A precedural vote taking place right now. Four dems voted against it, and of course, all the Republicans so far.
What's up with Iowa football today? My son is watching now.
Good news on the kitty front. Little guy *got rid of* most of the ribbon and there is a smidge left in his colon (sorry to be icky) but this is a huge relief. Little Baby Baloo is a fighter!
HRC going on now. Wow! Would be interested in hearing others thoughts on all of this today. The Catholic Bishops have given their *blessing*. LOL
Are we or are we not political junkies? I'm downstairs with my coffee, noebooks, and watching avidly. It's fascinating, and this will be a historic day. Whether it passes or fails, we will be different from then on.
Boener, or however you spell his name, just asked Henry Waxman to guarantee that the same abortion language will remain if Stupak (from Michigan, representing Marquette, Alpena, and my home town of Escanaba) proposed in his amendment for abortion will stay in this bill, that is, the government won't pay for abortions. Boener knew there was no guarantee, but made that the focus of his argument. Pathetic!
As I watch, what a snapshot of our country! Mary Bono from California, representing Palm Springs, lots of rich golfers, was somewhat hysterical in her opposition.
Years from now when I'm a very old woman, I will remember today and the voices that represent us. It really is a matter of what we value: money versus people.
I'll keep dropping in. I hope you will too. And, glad for kitty's health.
Yes, Pat, we are junkies. I might add that I'm a proud junkie. I'm amazed quite frankly at the ignorance or almost complete lack of interest in this historic debate. That's why I visit this blog. I read some diaries over at Daily Kos ~ too many to link to.
I'll check back in later. Off to the store.
now supports the bill. Interesting.
On JAN 15th 2010 - WE WILL MARCH ON WASH DC IN NUMBERS HERETOFORE UNSEEN TO
DEMONSTRATE OUR SUPPORT FOR THE FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES WE STILL BELIEVE IN
AND WANT TO SEE OUR POTUS & REPS FIGHT FOR.
I understand that letters to congress and phone calls work. Been there,
am doing that. But in today's political environment, perception and
image (TV to be precise) are everything. We need to show our numbers, our vigor, and our commitment to REAL,
SUBSTANTIVE, AND FUNDAMENTAL (not incremental) CHANGE in a way that
will capture the national media's attention and call attention to our
discontent. This astroturf, right-wing, TeaBag movement has been
successful in creating the misperception that "Millions" of Americans
are fed up with Gov't (specifically Obama). THE REALITY, however, is
that many more of us voted for our President because we hoped for more
from our government. More compassion, more diplomacy, more honesty,
more protection, and more equality.
I KNOW WE HAVE IT IN US, THE APPARATUS FOR ORGANIZING AND COORDINATING SUCH AN EVENT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE. IF YOU FEEL THIS A WORTHY CAUSE LET IT BE KNOWN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY ACROSS THE COUNTRY - ON JANUARY 15, 2010, THE 1st ANNIVERSARY OF POTUS OBAMA'S INAUGURATION, AMERICANS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WILL DESCEND ON WASH DC IN THE STRONGEST SHOW OF SUPPORT EVER FOR A SITTING POTUS & THE POLICIES WE SENT HIM TO FIGHT FOR.
SPREAD THE WORD!!! JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=206771574224
debates?
The Republican arguments are : government take-over, tax burden for generations to come, loss of choice and liberty, and secrecy in crafting the bill.
Democrats seem to be doing a good job of refuting these false claims. I could be wrong, but I sense a confidence on the part of Democrats that this bill will pass. I so much hope so. No, it's not perfect, and there are probably loop holes and consequences that can't be foreseen, along with compromises that delay and don't address crucial needs, but something has to happen. We've got to make a start, and if we don't, we will truly fail. President Obama's political strength will be diminished, when we need him to be credible and influential more than ever with respect to his decision about Afghanistan. For instance, should he decide not to increase troop strength, we the people will have to be behind him because the outcry of weak, of not protecting the country, of being anti-American will be heard everywhere.
So, now the debate continues.
but youse guys make an awful good substitute, lol! Keep up the good work!
I kept working at the harvest and listened to the football game so now I have to catch up on the House debate. They must have the votes, but I hope few promises were made to change this or that in conference to get a vote or two.
- This has not been an honest debate with all the lies spread by Republicans all summer.
By Phil Specht on Nov 7, 2009 4:47 PM ESTthe good news is there need be no pretense of bi-partisanship now
simply grand, folks were playing rounds of golf, however most of the state was inside watching the Hawks (the magic is gone 9-1)
I'm hoping the loss might mean a Sugar Bowl matchup with LSU.
seem prepared and are refuting hte lies as they come up. They are bringing statistics: for instance, John Salazar from Southern Colordo talked about his counties as being underinshured, one county had no doctor at all. He gave numbers of those who would then be able to get insurance, those who would be able to get improved benefits, and how many doctors would be added to serve citizens and patients.
John Lewis gave a powerful speech about morality. I could be wrong, but I am sensing confidence from the Democrats. They are speaking well, giving substantial information, reassuring Medicare patients, vets (one republican said that vets would be denied choide and the democrat refuted that), and os it goes. Just maybe, just maybe. I have to say, I'm praying that it passes. It can always be improved, faults corrected, and loopholes re-examined. We need this.
Hi Puddle and Phil.
proofing. Apologies.
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By Phil Specht on Nov 7, 2009 10:03 AM ESTUK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for a new "social contract" with the world's banks to make them more responsible to society.
Addressing the G20 finance ministers in St Andrews, Brown said that imposing any new tax or fee to fund future bail-outs would have to be a global agreement.
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