Tuesday, October 27, 2009

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Push To Legalize Marijuana Gains Ground In California Top
These are heady times for advocates of legalized marijuana in California -- and only in small part because of the newly relaxed approach of the federal government toward medical marijuana. More on Health
 
Robert L. Borosage: The New Red Ink Scare Top
We've got a new red scare. Forget Glenn Beck, the fear isn't that America is going red, it's that it is in the red. Conservatives in both parties are raising alarms about deficits and government spending. Well, get over it. If we are going to generate growth and shared prosperity out of the mess we are in, expanded public investment must be a centerpiece of the new economy. In today's Washington, this verges on heresy. The chattering classes are raising a clamor about Obama's deficits. The growing fixation, fanned by conservatives in both parties, may well cripple any short term recovery. Worse, the wrong-headed debate could well undermine the reforms vital to the new economy we need to build out of the ruins of the old. Both parties still pay tribute to false idols that should have been discarded in the recent economic collapse. Republicans rail against everything Obama, chanting, "Where are the jobs?" while calling for rolling back the stimulus, abandoning health care reform, cutting spending and, no surprise, more tax cuts. They seem to have learned nothing from the crisis. Sure, they claim that they have put aside their fiscally wastrel ways, blaming it all on Bush, and have become born again fiscal conservatives. But this leaves them in the bizarre posture of arguing that "deficits don't matter" when the economy is growing, but are unacceptable when the economy is sinking. Step on the gas when the economy is already racing and on the brake when it is sputtering. The perpetually tanned leader of House Republicans John Boehner clearly believes that Americans have neither memory nor common sense. The continued high disregard that most Americans have for Republican legislators suggests otherwise. But conservative Democrats of various ilk -- the corporate New Dems, the old boy Blue Dogs -- echo the Republican fears, using the recession-driven deficits to revive their efforts to force cuts in "entitlements" (read: Social Security and Medicare). This is both bad policy and bad politics. In reality the world has changed. In the old economy, Americans took on more and more personal debt, and America ran up more and more global indebtedness, as we served as the world's consumer. That era was based on growing household debt, stagnant incomes, Gilded age inequality, and inflating asset bubbles -- first the dotcoms and then housing. It's over. Sure the banks, bolstered by literally trillions in subsidies from the Federal Reserve and Treasury, are setting up the casino again. But Americans, sobered by trillions lost in the value of their homes and savings, aren't binging anymore. In the short term, as consumers cut back, businesses are laying off workers, foreclosures are continuing, bankruptcies are up. States and localities are cutting services and workers, and face staggering deficits again next year. Fifteen million Americans are unemployed -- and the number keeps rising. Only federal deficit spending and the unprecedented monetary policies of the Fed have staved off a deeper depression. The problem with Obama's stimulus is that it is too small, not too big. We'd be wise to spend more to forestall layoffs at the state and local level, to put people directly to work in urban corps and green corps, to add to public construction projects, to extend unemployment benefits, food stamps and other income supports. Instead the deficit mania seems likely to force a stealth stimulus at best, done piecemeal and half-assed. The Congress will hopefully extend unemployment compensation in the hardest hit states. Some spending will be boosted in annual appropriations. To quiet conservative yapping, various tax breaks are increasingly bruited about -- $250 for every Social Security recipient, the unproductive tax credit for first time home buyers, and worst of all, the goofy jobs tax credit for businesses (2/3 of which will subsidize businesses for jobs that would have been created anyway and most of the rest will go to those who game the system). But the most destructive effect of the red ink scare could be on our long term growth strategy. With consumers cutting back and businesses understandably reluctant to invest without increasing demand, expanded public investment is vital to generate demand, growth and jobs. (For a more detailed versoin of this argument, see economist Thomas Palley here.) We need to rebuild America. For too long, we've starved investment in the areas vital to our future -- in 21st century infrastructure, in research and development, in education and training. Vastly expanded investment in modernizing the electric grid, extending and accelerating broadband, building fast trains, replacing collapsing water systems, doing just the basics in education from pre-K to sophisticated worker training would generate jobs, fuel growth and produce a far more productive private economy. The American Society of Engineers tallies up over $2 trillion in investment needed just to bring our core infrastructure up to passable levels. That says nothing of building the next generation base essential to a high wage society in a global economy. Moreover, public investment is central to moving from a policy unleashing Wall Street speculation to one rebuilding Main Street manufacturing. Less of public investment tends to leak abroad. We can use our purchasing power to encourage companies to bring the best technology here, and help bring the supply chains with them. With the energy and environmental costs of transport rising, buying and supplying locally already has momentum. And with a concerted investment agenda in new energy, we can insure that America is a leader in the new green industrial revolution. All of this in turn can help us move to a more balanced trade policy even as we engage China and the other mercantilist nations in multilateral efforts to rebalance the global economy. Much of this investment sensibly should be financed, whether through public investment banks or by deficit funding. The investments will bring returns over time; and the benefits will be enjoyed by rising generations, so it is sensible they share the costs. Just as there's a difference between borrowing for a good education and running up credit card debts on Caribbean vacations, there's a difference between investing in areas vital to our future and running up deficits with top end tax cuts, military adventures and obscene drug company subsidies. Obama's record deficit this year is the product of the economic collapse. Once the economy starts growing and people go back to work, the deficit will come down. And that need not get in the way of committing to the investments we need, so long as we're willing to pay for them over the long run. But what of the staggering long term deficits - running publicly held debt up to nearly three times the size of our GDP by 2050 - as decried by the Peterson Institute and others? There is one core reality of these fantastic projections. The great bulk of the deteriorating long term projections come from out of control costs of health care. Hold health care costs down to sensible levels and there is no problem. Fail to solve soaring health care costs and there is no solution. We can neither tax enough nor cut enough spending to pay for the projected costs of health care. This isn't exactly radical stuff. This week in Washington, the Campaign for America's Future, which I co-direct, will host a conference featuring Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell from America's battered manufacturing heartlands, the CEO of US Steel and Rich Trumka, the new president of the AFL-CIO, leading economists and legislators to make this case, and lay out an agenda for action. (To follow the conference go to here .) But Democrats are now said to be worried that the red ink scare will take its toll in the 2010 elections. Take another look. A recent poll for the Economic Policy Institute by Hart Research shows most Americans are more sensible than ideological. Over half of Americans think unemployment is the largest problem facing the country, as opposed to less than one fourth who say the federal budget deficit is. Even a majority of Republicans agrees on that. Two-thirds of the country say the recovery plan has helped, but 81% believe Obama needs to do more to address the jobs problem. Over 60% of those polled think the focus should be on creating jobs and investing, while only 36% would focus on cutting federal spending. Now Americans don't like taxes, and think, sensibly enough, that government wastes their money. But they are looking for policies that will generate jobs and growth and make sense. That's why public investment in new energy consistently polls off the charts. In 2010, candidates will be running with unemployment over 10% and deficits near record levels. Surely the election will turn on who is fighting the hardest to put people to work and get the economy going, not who is best at cutting the deficit. Eventually, if we are going to have a strategy that works, we've got to make and win the case for expanded public investment over the long term, financed in part and in part paid for, once people start going back to work again, by top end tax hikes and new priorities. We've done the whole small government, low taxes, deregulation number. We got top end tax cuts, declining wages, collapsing sewers and gridlock, a ruinous financial casino and global indebtedness through corporate trade policies. The result was growing inequality, a sinking middle class, over a fourth of America's children in poverty, increasingly destructive climate change, and a harsh financial collapse and recession. It is time to go another way. More on Careers
 
Alana B. Elias Kornfeld: TED MED 2009: The Missing Piece In Understanding Our Health Top
Tonight marks the start to the 2009 TED MED conference , which runs from October 27th through 30th at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, California. TED , an acronym for technology, entertainment, and design, is a non-profit devoted to "ideas worth spreading." This year's TED MED is the fifth in a series created by Mark Hodosh and Richard Saul Wurman, focused on the intersection between medical and healthcare, personal to public. I invite you to follow me as I live blog from the event this week and provide you with the most up-to-date information as it unfolds. In the inaugural session tonight, we heard about tissue engineering and cellular-based tissue regeneration from Damien Bates, the chief medical officer of Organogenesis , and Anthony Atala, the director of Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine and chair of urology at Wake Forest University (think: crafting new organs and tissues--more to come on that in a later post). Then Neal Baer, the executive producer of ER and Law & Order, Special Victims Unit spoke about the power of storytelling for medical and health education (prior to an episode, which taught that HPV can lead to cervical cancer, a random sampling yielded 9 percent of people knew this vs. 30 percent after the show aired). But the most compelling and immediately applicable information came from Bill Davenhall, the global marketing manager for Health & Human Services Solutions, ESRI , the largest geographic information system (GIS) software developer in the world. Davenhall spoke about the missing piece to understanding personal health: the environment. He said the basic formula for good health is: Genetics + lifestyle + environment = risks So, if you manage the risks you'll live a good life. He raised the very important issue that whenever we visit a physician we fill out questionnaires that refer only to genetics and lifestyle (what diseases are in your family history and whether or not you smoke/drink), but we're never asked about environment: i.e. the places we've lived, where we spend our time, and what risks we've exposed ourselves to through those choices. The quest to understand came when Davenhall had a heart attack out of no where it seemed. He was given a clean bill of health before and after the attack. But It wasn't until he tracked his environmental history - childhood in Scranton, P.A. breathing in methane gas and burning coal waste, midlife in Louisville, K.Y. where he breathed in the exhaust of incinerated rubber, and then moved to California where he's spent his senior years so far breathing in carbon dioxide and high doses of ozone. He said if he ever wanted to get a heart attack, he should've lived in exactly the places he chose. It completed his puzzle. He believes physicians should be asking place history, how close we live to a freeway, what the quality of our drinking water and food is, and advises the following steps. 1. We must teach physicians the value of geographical education and the emerging field of geomedicine. 2. While we're spending billions building an electronic health record, we must also build a place record inside that medical record. And our technology might be at the right place to support it. Davenhall spoke about his friend who allowed himself to be tracked for two years through his cell phone and now has his own place history. He suggested that if we build our place histories into our iPhones, it could end up being what our physicans look at when we go in for a visit in addition to our other medical records. Toxic release maps are public information and can be found on the National Institute of Health's website . Check it out to see if you live near any hazardous waste sites. Tomorrow is a full day...so keep checking back for updates. Here's to your health! More on Health
 
Schwarzenegger "Fuck You": Did Gov Send Lawmaker Obscene Message Through Acrostic Poem? (PHOTO) Top
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger typically attaches a message to bills he signs or vetoes telling lawmakers why he took the action. A Democratic assemblyman who heckled the governor during a recent event in San Francisco actually received two messages: the veto letter itself and a not-so-subtle rebuke creatively hidden within it. Like a find-the-word puzzle, the second message was visible by stringing together the first letter of each line down the left-hand margin. It consisted of a common four-letter vulgarity followed by the letters "y-o-u." "My goodness. What a coincidence," said Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear. "I suppose when you do so many vetoes, something like this is bound to happen." Schwarzenegger's veto messages are sent to the lawmakers who authored the bills, and posted on the governor's Web site. McLear noted that the left-hand margin of past veto messages has spelled out words such as "poet" and "soap." The target was San Francisco Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, who had sponsored AB1176. The bill, which passed unanimously in the Assembly and Senate, would have granted the Port of San Francisco expanded financing power to redevelop a former shipyard into a new neighborhood known as Pier 70. "Kudos to the governor for his creative use of coincidence," said Ammiano's spokesman, Quintin Mecke. "You certainly have to have a sense of humor in politics. Unfortunately, this humor came at the cost of the Port of San Francisco." Whether coincidence or smackdown, the phrase contained in Schwarzenegger's Oct. 12 veto message could be seen as retaliation for Ammiano's behavior during a local Democratic Party fundraiser earlier this month in San Francisco. Story continues below Schwarzenegger, a Republican, had been invited to the event by former San Francisco mayor and Assembly speaker Willie Brown, a Democrat. His appearance at the Fairmont Hotel caught many of the attendees by surprise and came after a summer of contentious budget negotiations that forced lawmakers to cut billions of dollars from core state services, including education and health care programs. On a video clip of the governor's appearance, Ammiano can be heard shouting "you lie" and other derogatory phrases as other attendees booed and heckled Schwarzenegger's brief speech. After the governor left, Ammiano took the stage and gave a rambling diatribe in which he criticized Schwarzenegger for a wide variety of perceived offenses. In part, the freshman lawmaker was upset that Schwarzenegger had vetoed bills in 2005 and 2007 that would have legalized gay marriage. The governor has said the issue should be decided by voters or the state Supreme Court. Schwarzenegger also opposed Proposition 8, the initiative voters passed in November to ban same-sex marriage. Of the eight Ammiano bills sent to the governor's desk this year, Schwarzenegger vetoed six � five of them after the Oct. 7 heckling incident. Mecke, Ammiano's spokesman, said the lawmaker wants to move on. "We will call it even and start with a clean slate with the governor from here on out," he said. See the letter here:
 
John Brown: A Modest Proposal: Make the Pentagon Our Very Own Ministry of Culture! Top
During the U.S. presidential campaign, the Obama-Biden team announced it would would "expand cultural and arts exchanges throughout the world." And Michelle Obama recently stated that the "spouses of world leaders forge bonds by sharing the arts ... It is a form of diplomacy in which we can all take part.'" But these words, despite their honorable intentions, have not resulted in much noticeable action. The White House and the State Department seem -- understandably -- too busy with problems ranging from Iran nukes to global warming to worry about the government supporting concerts, exhibits, or poetry readings overseas. (The position of Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, part of the Department's public diplomacy operation, is still vacant ). Given this dire situation, at least according to some culture vultures, something urgent must be done support US cultural diplomacy -- narrowly defined, U.S. government support for the presentation and promotion of American culture overseas. This urgent need, arguably, is vital to the national interest because culture, no matter how you define it, counts more than ever in international relations. "Globalization, it turns out, has only intensified, not diminished, cultural differences among nations," says the New York Times . And the U.S., even if we Americans think people from elsewhere should like us --- or should be like us -- still has a lot of cultural "explaining" to do to citizens of other countries, many of whom are concerned about American cultural imperialism . Even Hollywood and McDonald's haven't succeeded in meeting this challenge. Some would say they've made it even worse. As for non-business organizations picking up the cultural ball, listen to the words (true, not universally shared by the US arts community) of Michael Kaiser , President of the Kennedy Center: [W]hile some American embassies abroad have been active in bringing American artists and arts groups to 'their' countries in recent years, this is still a very minor activity of the Department of State. But does traditional cultural diplomacy work? ... Does sending a symphony orchestra to play for a thousand of the most powerful people in the capital of another nation truly affect the way our nation is viewed? As the Obama administration tries to rebuild America's image abroad, do we need to send dance companies and theater companies abroad? My response ... is no. Given this rampant lack of support for cultural diplomacy, both inside and outside of government, what is to be done, as Lenin asked? Thinking "outside the box," may I suggest that we make the Pentagon our very own Ministry of Culture. Yes, the Pentagon. After all, it's not an urban legend that there are more members of military bands than diplomats serving overseas ! But let me get serious and give my reasons for this modest proposal: 1. In the past, the military has successfully disseminated American culture -- granted, perhaps unintentionally. Take, as an example, Berlin during the Cold War : In creating its own broadcast presence in Berlin, the American Military Government set on course a radio operation that would do much more than intended-simply announcing information from the military authorities to the German residents of Berlin. The unintended consequences were that the radio station would become a leading source of culture, education, political enlightenment for those in West Berlin and a political instrument in dealing with the Communists-both Soviet and German-in the what was to become the German Democratic Republic (GDR). And let's not forget US military paraphernalia and uniforms, which for many years enjoyed popularity among youth overseas as they represented, to some of them, a form of American culture, at times of a "camp" quality. In a way (if you'll allow a historical speculation), the U.S. military followed the tradition of Romans centurions and their troops, spreading their culture -- often involuntarily -- through its sheer presence, symbols and equipment. Pax Romana = Pax Americana. Pax, that is, while both lasted. 2. In recent years, Department of Defense (DoD) brass has shown an increasing interest in culture -- perhaps not high culture, at least for now, but culture in a more anthropological sense , as a way human beings define themselves in their daily lives. This perspective is the not unhappy consequence of two tragic wars -- in Iraq and Afghanistan -- which the military realized could not be won by bombs alone. The troops, now say the generals, have to be able to connect with the local population in far off countries by being familiar with their language and mores. Give GI Joe "cultural sensitivity" training ! And, as has been widely reported, Secretary Gates himself underscores the importance of "soft power," of which a nation's culture is an an essential part, according to Professor Joseph Nye (a former Defense Department official), the coiner of the term. 3. The Pentagon has at its immediate disposal the resources, both material and human, to support American cultural presentations overseas. No need for extra funding. At a moment's notice, its huge transport planes and aircraft carriers can start carrying American performers and cultural materials (e.g., exhibits) overseas (after all, if the military can have hospital ships to assist foreign populations in need, why can't it have "culture carriers" to bring U.S. artists and their creations to other lands?). Announcements about cultural events can be publicized by leaflets dropped from helicopters and other aircraft, as well as by Pentagon media/cyberspace outlets. 4. With the Pentagon our first ever Ministry of Culture, no one will ever say again, as did the painter John Sloan , that "he would welcome a ministry of culture because then he would know where the enemy was." ...
 
Jamie Frevele: Eric Millegan on Living (and Acting) with Bipolar Disorder: Part 1 Top
Mental illness is one of the most frightening things that can happen to a human being. It's like fighting an invisible war. Not imaginary -- invisible. It's there, but no one can see it, but the person fighting it feels every inch of it. And hopefully, others will believe it exists. When our organs have something wrong with them, like our hearts, livers or bones, there is a pretty tangible effect for those around us to witness. But we can, for the most part, still function. When the organ afflicted is the brain, however, the organ running the show, deciding how we act, react, communicate, socialize, etc., it's just...different. There are no open wounds, bruises, swelling, anything other people can see. How do they know it's not fake? And what if you're an actor for a living? I've been a fan of Eric Millegan since early 2008 , when I started watching the Fox show "Bones." He played my favorite character, the unintentionally hilarious Asperger's case Zack Addy. Ironically, while he was shooting the seasons that made me a fan of the show, Eric Millegan, while playing a wholly unemotional character, was going through emotional hell. Recently, he posted on his YouTube channel that he had been living with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder and was ready to talk about it. Creative types are, by nature, excellent storytellers, so here, in his own words, is Eric Millegan's story: There were times when I was going through hell inside, but people on the outside didn't necessarily notice. [So], I was able to press forward. I remember at the up-fronts for "Bones" the very first season, I was going through a nasty episode. With me, everything gets very, very quick in my chest, everything really hurts, and everything's really fast, and I was on the verge of tears, and I even had to excuse myself so I could leave and cry my eyes out. And I remember Emily [Deschanel] and I were in a limo together and I said, "I'm really going through a tough time right now," and she was like, "I can't tell at all." And in a way, it was a nice breakthrough for me, like "I can just keep trying to do things even though I feel a certain way." On performing at New York's Cast Party: I wanted to sing a song at Cast Party, but I was really a mess inside. My emotions were all over the place. I [thought], "I don't think I can do it," but I kinda wanted to get up and sing a song. So, I got up - Chita Rivera was in the audience, of all people - and I sang "Leaving's Not the Only Way to Go" from "Big River," and I got a standing ovation and cheers from Chita Rivera, and I remember that being so exciting. I remember I walked up onto the stage, like I didn't take my coat off or anything, and I sat there in the stool and sang, and I really connected with people. I connected with Chita Rivera, even though I was going through a [bipolar] episode. On support from "Bones": A lot of times I feel I probably would have ended up in a mental hospital if it weren't for the structure that "Bones" gave me. But [showrunner] Hart Hanson came to me at the end of the first season and said "You're valuable to the show, so if you need to [leave] and get better, you'll still have your job when you come back." And that meant a lot. And I did not end ended up going to the mental hospital because I've worked my whole life to get a job like "Bones." To get a job that's that high-paying, that high-profile, and it was my big break, and I didn't want to miss one second of my big break... But very specifically, Emily and Hart were the ones who knew about it early on, and they were very, very supportive. Hart Hanson, who has experience with loved ones who were mentally ill, says he "had a little warning of what was coming with Eric." "On the pilot, he seemed lost and slightly awkward and slightly timid - none of this was true, by the way. But what I noticed first was that he would tie his shoes many, many, many times until they were balanced...There's any number of things [that the] symptoms I recognized could be. Depression was one, although I did recognize mania. I was hoping that he was obsessive-compulsive." On his breakthrough: The big breakthrough day was when I woke up really, really depressed one morning - very, very, very depressed - then I got really happy and decided I would go to Disneyland. And then I got to Disneyland and I started crying. And I was like, "Something's wrong with me," and I called Charles, my partner, and said, "Something is wrong with me. I was crying and crying and crying and I have no idea what's wrong." And that's when I knew something was wrong. I had just gone from really depressed, to really happy, to crying, and something was just not right. After Disneyland, Hanson became a crucial figure in Millegan's support system. "I felt I had no choice. It was odd, because it was just somebody I hired, and I saw he was in trouble, and the next thing you knew, we were in there, in the midst of this thing, and there was just no hope of turning your back on him. It's like sticking your foot in a river and getting pulled in, and I was just in it. And I'd just shrug and say, 'I'm in it. I'm in it with him, and he will be okay, he will take his medication, and he will get better,' and it all turned out to be true, but it was very stressful at the time. It was very stressful being around someone who was having such a hard time. Such a terrible time, and terrified of making a misstep. Terrified to say the wrong thing or do the wrong thing. It was really quite something." When he got the part on "Bones," Millegan moved from New York to Los Angeles, which he says "definitely" triggered symptoms of bipolar disorder. "The combination of the move to LA and getting the television show." On denial: I thought, "Oh, this is just moving to LA. I moved to LA and they're going to give me a bunch of drugs and make me eat sushi and stuff." On being diagnosed and telling the cast and crew: Hart knew when I knew. When I was diagnosed, he was the first person I told. Emily I probably told not long after that. The others didn't know for a while. Eventually they found out. Hart was slowly telling crew, producers and actors on the set. I don't think I told Michaela [Conlin] directly. I think she found out. Tamara [Taylor], didn't come in till second season, but early in the second season, I pulled Tamara aside and said "Hey, this is what I'm going through." Hanson recalls, "He had a very tough time. It was a very tough time with mood swings and mania. Essentially, he and I had a talk and I said it was up to him and I wanted him to talk to his shrink, but I thought it would be better if the people he was working with knew what he was wrestling with." On working: For whatever reason, I was able to still do what I had to do. From "Action" to "Cut," I could hold it together. Then in my trailer, I would be a mess. But when we actually shot the scenes, I just did it. I just did it because I didn't want to lose it. Hanson says, "He'd recover from just about being a puddle on the floor and then do his scenes. And it was very impressive. Not everyone could have done that." In Part 2: Going on medication, suicidal thoughts, and going public. Eric also recommends the book "Detour: My Bipolar Road Trip in 4-D" by Lizzie Simon , a gift from Emily Deschanel, which recounts stories of several people living with bipolar disorder. For more information on bipolar disorder and mental illness, visit the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance .
 
Malou Innocent: Matthew Hoh: A Great American Patriot Top
Former Marine captain Matthew Hoh became the first U.S. official known to resign in protest over the Afghan war. His letter of resignation echoes some arguments I have made earlier this year, namely, that what we are witnessing is a local and regional ethnic Pashtun population fighting against what they perceive to be a foreign occupation of their region ; that our current strategy does not answer why and to what end we are pursuing  this war ; and that Afghanistan holds little intrinsic strategic value to the security of the United States. In his own words: The Pashtun insurgency, which is composed of multiple, seemingly infinite, local groups, is fed by what is perceived by the Pashtun people as a continued and sustained assault, going back centuries, on Pashtun land, culture, traditions and religion by internal and external enemies. The U.S. and NATO presence and operations in Pashtun valleys and villages, as well as Afghan army and police units that are led and composed of non-Pashtun soldiers and police, provide an occupation force against which the insurgency is justified. ... I have observed that the bulk of the insurgency fights not for the white banner of the Taliban, but rather against the presence of foreign soldiers and taxes imposed by an unrepresentative government in Kabul. The United States military presence in Afghanistan greatly contributes to the legitimacy and strategy message of the Pashtun insurgency. Click here to read the entire letter. So, what's the situations like now? Afghanistan's second-round presidential elections scheduled for early November will do little to change realities on the ground. Counterinsurgency--the U.S. military's present strategy--requires a legitimate host nation government, which we will not see for the foreseeable future regardless of who's president. What's the political strategy? President Obama has painted himself into a rhetorical corner. He's called Afghanistan the "necessary war," even though stabilizing Afghanistan is not a precondition for keeping America safe. We must remember that al Qaeda is a global network, so in the unlikely event that America did bring security to Afghanistan, al Qaeda could reposition its presence into other regions of the world. Should we stay or should we go? The United States must begin to narrow its objectives. If we begin to broaden the number of enemies to include indigenous insurgent groups, we could see U.S. troops fighting in perpetuity. The president has surged once into the region this year. He does not need to do so again. This is the deadliest month so far; thoughts? Eight years after the fall of the Taliban regime, Afghanistan still struggles to survive under the most brutal circumstances: corrupt and ineffective state institutions; thousands of miles of unguarded borders; pervasive illiteracy among a largely rural and decentralized population; a weak president; and a dysfunctional international alliance. As if that weren't enough, some of Afghanistan's neighbors have incentives to foment instability there. An infusion of 40,000 more troops, as advocated by General Stanley McChrystal, may lead to a reduction in violence in the medium-term. But the elephant in the Pentagon is that the intractable cross-border insurgency will likely outlive the presence of international troops. Honestly, Afghanistan is not a winnable war by any stretch of the imagination. More on Afghanistan
 
Karzai's Brother On C.I.A. Payroll: NYT Top
WASHINGTON — Ahmed Wali Karzai, the brother of the president of Afghanistan, gets regular payments from the CIA and has for much of the past eight years, The New York Times reported Tuesday. The newspaper said that according to current and former American officials, the CIA pays Karzai for a variety of services, including helping to recruit an Afghan paramilitary force that operates at the CIA's direction in and around Kandahar. The CIA's ties to Karzai, who is a suspected player in the country's illegal opium trade, have created deep divisions within the Obama administration, the Times said. Allegations that Karzai is involved in the drug trade have circulated in Kabul for months. He denies them. Critics say the ties with Karzai complicate the United States' increasingly tense relationship with his older brother, President Hamid Karzai. The CIA's practices also suggest that the United States is not doing everything in its power to stamp out the lucrative Afghan drug trade, a major source of revenue for the Taliban. Some American officials argue that the reliance on Ahmed Wali Karzai, a central figure in the south of the country where the Taliban is dominant, undermines the U.S. push to develop an effective central government that can maintain law and order and eventually allow the United States to withdraw. "If we are going to conduct a population-centric strategy in Afghanistan, and we are perceived as backing thugs, then we are just undermining ourselves," Maj. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, the senior American military intelligence official in Afghanistan, was quoted by the Times in an article published on its Web site. Ahmed Wali Karzai told the Times that he cooperates with American civilian and military officials but does not engage in the drug trade and does not receive payments from the CIA. Karzai helps the CIA operate a paramilitary group, the Kandahar Strike Force, that is used for raids against suspected insurgents and terrorists, according to several American officials. Karzai also is paid for allowing the CIA and American Special Operations troops to rent a large compound outside the city, which also is the base of the Kandahar Strike Force, the Times said. Karzai also helps the CIA communicate with and sometimes meet with Afghans loyal to the Taliban, the newspaper reported. CIA spokesman George Little declined to comment on the report. More on Afghanistan
 
Janice Taylor: Dish The Dirt: Denise Austin On Saddlebag Slimmers & Fit Bottoms Top
This past week, this 50 pound big-time-loser met up with Denise Austin , America's #1 fitness guru at the Skecher's New York stop on the " Shape Up America " tour. Denise Austin ventured into fitness - big time - at the age of 12, playing the gymnast. As opposed to myself, who at the age of 12 ventured into obesity, playing the 'fattest!' Polar opposites in childhood, finding middle ground as adults, I met up with Denise Austin, fitness guru, to discuss saddlebag slimmers and fit bottoms. JT: Hi Denise. I'm so excited to be walking and talking with my favorite fitness guru! As I understand it, you ventured into fitness big time at the age of 12, as a gymnast and that your philosophy is to make fitness fun and fit it in wherever!!! To that end ... I need to know... Do you REALLY do leg lifts while brushing your teeth every night? DA: I do whenever I remember to do it. I always lean forward which gives you a little stretch and then I sometimes bend my knee to do a leg curl. JT: And how exactly do you work your thighs while on the phone? DA: I'm on the phone so much with work and my personal life, so I try to make the most of every minute. Walking lunges are great for thighs. Leg squats are also great to do while you are on the phone. Just all you do bend your kness like you're going to sit in a chair making sure to keep your knees aligned over your ankle and then stand up straight squeezing your butt on the way up. I also like to do leg lifts out to the side. All you do is stand with your feet together and extend your leg to the side... I call this one the saddlebag slimmer as it's really great to slim those hips which is a trouble spot for lots of women. JT: What is your soul goal? DA: To be happy healthy... and to share my life with my family and good friends and spend more time with them; not just 'quality' time, but more time. I enjoy all my relationships with my husband, my kids, my sisters and my girlfriends and maintaining a healthy relationships across the board nurtures my soul. JT: How does exercising feed your soul goal? DA: Exercise is a great way to get rid of stress and anxiety. It clears the head and gets rid of all that stuff that is annoying you and really isn't all that important. It filters out any grouchie-ness - it's a great mental filter. I also love to go for a good walk - it makes me feel good. Seeing nature, breathing fresh air makes me grateful and feels good. JT: What's your greatest personal challenge? DA: Finding the right balance I think is a challenge for everyone and to be able to be able to balance husband, kids and career and maintain a harmony in all that I love to do. It's challenging because I love all that I do and I want to do so much, but I can't do it all. JT: What is the most interesting thing that is happening your life right now? DA: Wow, there is so much happening right now... There is the SKECHERS Shape up America Tour which has been a great experience traveling around the country and meeting people. We've literally seen thousands of people as we travel from city to city who are not getting out to walk in their SKECHERS Shape-ups. I also have two new DVDs coming out for the holidays; a new book due in January and am also developing a new TV show for 2010. JT: What takes you off course? DA: Food! I love to eat and go out to dinner with friends and family and order all kinds of things. I love dessert. JT: How do you get back on course? DA: I wake up the next day and do a more challenging workout or add on a few extra minutes. But I don't let things get me down. I approach each day as a fresh start. JT: If you were to fill yourself with words, what would they be? DA: It's the same words and phrases I tell people all the time, 'You're worth it; take the time for yourself to be healthy; and I deserve my own time.' JT: What is the most important thing you know? DA: That life is so short and I realized that when my mother passed away. You really need to live with no regrets. Life is very precious. This is the real thing! Spread the word ... NOT the icing, Janice For platterfuls of daily weight loss wisdom, creativity and humor, visit: Janice's Beliefnet blog Our Lady of Weight Loss Janice Taylor Living More on The Balanced Life
 
Jay Carciero, Psych Patient, Is Killed After Attack On A Doctor Top
BOSTON — A man stabbed a doctor while being treated at a psychiatric office at a Boston medical building Tuesday and was fatally shot by an off-duty security guard who saw the attack, police said. The attack took place in the afternoon at a high-rise affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital. The female doctor, identified by hospital officials as Dr. Astrid Desrosiers, was in serious, but stable condition. Police said the suspect died of the gunshot wounds. He was identified as Jay Carciero, 37, of Reading. "During the course of the stabbing incident an off-duty security officer who was armed interceded. He produced a weapon and ordered the suspect to drop the knife. And when the suspect did not comply, he shot the suspect," said Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis. The security guard was not affiliated with the hospital and just happened to be on the fifth-floor of the building where the attack occurred, according to Bonnie Michelman, the hospital's security director. "Certainly heroic, we are happy he was here," said Michelman. The victim also works as an instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and is affiliated with the Haitian Mental Health Program. Public records show the 49-year-old Desrosiers was licensed to practice in the Massachusetts 16 years ago. Desrosiers is a graduate of the State University of Haiti's School of Medicine and Pharmacy and the Harvard University School of Public Health. Her major research interests include the role of psychosocial factors in the treatment of mood disorders, health disparities and the impact of multicultural issues on patient care. "A caring and dedicated professional, Dr. Desrosiers has spent her career providing extraordinary care and treatment to patients who are among the most vulnerable and those with the most severe psychiatric disorders," Massachusetts General Hospital said in a statement. "Her commitment, compassion and courage are an inspiration to all of us. The entire MGH family is pulling together for her speedy recovery." Carciero's sister-in-law, Lisa Carciero, said the family was devastated by the news and would not make public comments. Carciero and his brother, John, did not have home phones listed. Police temporarily locked down the Staniford Street building, telling employees and patients they could not leave. Nearby streets were shut down for about an hour. They were let back in when authorities determined the danger had passed. David Schoenfeld, a biostatistician who works in another suite of offices on the fifth floor, where the attack took place, said he heard a commotion and found the suspect lying on the floor. "Two nurses rushed in and administered as much first aid as they could until the ambulances arrived a couple of minutes later," Schoenfeld said. Schoenfeld said he did not see the doctor who had been stabbed. The attack took place at the Massachusetts General Hospital Bipolar Clinic & Research Program, in a building near the main hospital. The program provides clinical care, conducts research and educates the community about bipolar disorder, according to its Web site. The building is in a largely commercial area that includes businesses with treatment specialties and several medical groups associated with Massachusetts General. "There wasn't too much panic or confusion in the building," said Arthur Frigault of Waltham, who was with his wife for an ophthalmology appointment on the sixth floor. Frigault, who did not hear the shots, went to the lobby but was not allowed to leave as police entered the building. He later saw a man and a woman taken, on stretchers, from the building. He said the woman was "all bloodied up." David Wert, who lives near the medical building, was home with his infant daughter when he saw the commotion outside and became worried about his wife, Alicia, who works on the second floor. "We came out to see if Mommy was OK," said Wert, who was carrying his child. Police did not allow him in the building, but his wife called him about five minutes later to say she was all right. "It was pretty nerve racking," Wert said.
 
Kathleen Reardon: Are We in a National Emergency Hoax? Top
This time labels won't cut it. My three children and perhaps yours are smack-dab in the middle of the high-risk group, and we keep watching people on television lined up to get the H1N1 flu shot wondering where those fortunate people live. Where most of us live you know that H1N1 is a national emergency , but there's nothing you can do about it. The vaccine is always coming next week. You know that they don't want to close the schools until so many people are sick that education is nearly impossible. Okay, I guess. But, what they don't know is where you can get your kids, and yourselves, into a line that actually leads to prevention. Now, if this doesn't remind you of the government's inept Hurricane Katrina response where people desperate for water and help waited, waited and waited, then you must have been born in the last few years. The head of the CDC, Thomas Frieden, has apologized. He says he "shares" our frustration. Is that what he was doing in August when he downplayed flu fears? And why was the White House not on that problem right away given that its own report contradicted this view? The apology is disingenuous and doesn't mean beans to parents wondering if their child is going to be one of the unfortunate who, for some as yet unknown reason, has a violent reaction to H1N1. And why are we in the dark ? And why is that acceptable? Have members of Congress gotten H1N1 shots or sprays yet? Have their families? Well, what about yours and mine? If it's a national emergency and an informed hospital health care worker I overhead talking today is right, that most of the flu we're now seeing is H1N1 and the severity of the threat is being understated, then what is going on? Is this the same government that wants us to believe that we need to send thousands of troops to Afghanistan? If they can't even get flu shots to kids in danger at home, then what makes us think these geniuses know what they're doing there either? Once again are their kids being protected and ours not? We're in a national emergency and most of us are seeing squat when it comes to a national response. There is no excuse for this. No apology makes it acceptable. If we don't see action now, then we need new people in government, a new party to run against the two bought and sold ones. As we can see this time, and there will be other times, they don't protect our children until they're good and ready to get around to it. But they don't mind sending them half way around the world to make some generals happy, our president a "wartime" one, and some masters of the universe even more deliriously wealthy. If they want our trust, they can earn it. Dr. Reardon also blogs at bardscove . More on Afghanistan
 
Dan Solin: Is the Morality Gene Missing? Top
The daily news reinforces my belief that there is something rotten at the core of the financial services industry. I am not discussing old news like Bernie Madoff. Here are some of the items that crossed my desk this week: 1. The SEC charged two brokers in a Smithtown, New York, firm, and a real estate promoter, with fraud. The brokers allegedly sold risky, unregistered stock in real estate ventures to elderly investors who attended "free lunch" seminars. The defendants collected over $12 million from 90 senior citizens by promising them returns of 50%. According to the complaint, the promoter charged excessive fees of over $1 million and helped himself to an interest free loan to buy a personal residence. 2. The New York Times reports that an Intel employee had a ten year history of passing on insider information to the Galleon hedge fund. The founder of the fund, billionaire Raj Rajaratnam, has been indicted for insider trading. Galleon suffered massive redemptions and has an uncertain future. 3. The SEC charged a Merrick, New York, stock broker with fraud for creating and distributing phony press releases to manipulate the prices of public companies. The motive: The broker and his clients purchased the stock of these companies prior to the issuance of the releases and no doubt sold before the companies issued corrections. 4. In a lawsuit filed in Federal Court in Boston, famed mystery writer Patricia Cornwell claimed her investment advisors decimated her personal fortune and abused the trust she gave them by misusing a Power of Attorney to write unauthorized checks. Whether you are rich or poor, brilliant or in your declining years, a segment of the securities industry sees you as having a bull's-eye painted on your back. The size of that segment is growing. Dan Solin is the author of The Smartest Retirement Book You'll Ever Read. The views set forth in this blog are the opinions of the author alone and may not represent the views of any firm or entity with whom he is affiliated. The data, information, and content on this blog are for information, education, and non-commercial purposes only. Returns from index funds do not represent the performance of any investment advisory firm. The information on this blog does not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice and is limited to the dissemination of opinions on investing. No reader should construe these opinions as an offer of advisory services. Readers who require investment advice should retain the services of a competent investment professional. The information on this blog is not an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell any securities or class of securities mentioned herein. Furthermore, the information on this blog should not be construed as an offer of advisory services. Please note that the author does not recommend specific securities nor is he responsible for comments made by persons posting on this blog.
 
Brigitte Mars: Seven Herbal Teas to Enhance Your Life Top
  Nothing warms the body and soul like holding a steaming mug, inhaling its subtle scents as you slowly sip. Why be limited to caffeinated beverages when the herb world can bring flavor, nutrients and health benefits? Herb tea offers an opportunity during busy days for time out, reflection and even affirmation. One might think, “I’m nourishing my immune (or digestive, nervous, etc.) system, ” while drinking. The brain, being in  close proximity to the nose and tongue  responds to the message of the aromas. Teas are available in tea bags and provide convenience for an on-the-go lifestyle. Herbs available in loose bulk form  (from health food and herbal stores) make a wider world of herbs available, and minimize packaging. Bulk herbs are a good value and offer the opportunity to select exactly what you desire. You may even have a few wild things in your backyard  (providing pesticides haven’t been used in at least a couple of years) that can be used as tea! Store dried herbs in a glass jar or a non-plastic airtight container and label. Storing herbs near light and heat (such as in windowsills and above the stove) can deteriorate the herb quality quickly. Keep teas in a cupboard where they can be protected to better conserve their flavors and therapeutic properties. Nature will provide more herbs the next year, purchase no more than you are likely to use within the year. When making tea, use fresh cold water. Avoid aluminum cookware, which is a soft metal and can come out in the tea. Best choices are glass, cast iron, stainless steel or unchipped enamel. For those that can't be bothered with tea strainers, you may find tea balls or infusers in shops where herbs are sold. These are perforated utensils that can be filled with herbs, and placed in a teapot or pot of water for about ten minutes. This work best for leaves and flowers. Tea can be enhanced with a touch of honey or a squeeze of fresh lemon.   Expand your herbal repertoire. Herbs can have potent effects and just because something is natural, it is still wise to learn about their properties. A few user-friendly herbs might include: Anise seed  ( Pimpinella anisum ) is a member of the Apiaceae (Parsley) Family. It has a lovely licorice- like flavor for those who enjoy sweets and don’t want the calories. Anise seed aids digestion and freshens the breath. Chamomile flowers ( Matricaria recutita ) are members of the Asteraceae (Daisy) Family and have been used to calm anxiety way before Peter Rabbit’s mother gave him some chamomile after his stressful day at Mr. McGregor’s garden.   The flavor is pleasantly bitter with an aroma reminiscent of apples. Chamomile calms the nerves and stomach.  Ginger root ( Zingiber officinale ) is a member of the Zingiberaceae (Ginger) Family. This relative of cardamom and turmeric is zippy and warming. It improves poor circulation that results in cold hands and feet. It is one of the best herbs for improving digestion and nausea (including motion sickness). Consider this an ally after a large holiday meal. Lemon balm leaf ( Melissa officinalis ), a member of the Lamiaceae (Mint) Family has a lemony flavor loved by most everyone.  Lemon Balm has long been said to lift the spirits yet calm overactive children and improve focus. Raspberry leaf ( Rubus species ), a member of the Rosaceae (Rose) Family, and relative of apples, strawberries and peaches has a flavor similar to black tea, though without the caffeine. It is rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium and iron. Rose hips ( Rosa species ) another Rose Family member have a tart taste and are natural sources of vitamin C and flavonoids that help strengthen the body’s capillaries.  Peppermint ( Mentha piperita ) is one of the many delectable members of the Lamiaceae (Mint) Family and fresh tasting. It has been used for thousands of years as a gentle stimulant, and to calm upset stomachs. Invite some of your favorite friends over for a tea party and have a toast to a great fall. You don’t have to be a tease to enjoy a variety of teas! What are some of your favorite herbal teas?   For more ideas, check out the many recipes in my book, Healing Herbal Teas .   Brigitte Mars, a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild, is a nutritional consultant who has been working with Natural Medicine for over forty years. She teaches Herbal Medicine at Naropa University, Omega, Boulder College of Massage, and Bauman Holistic College of Nutrition. She has a weekly local radio show called "Naturally" on KGNU and a private practice. Brigitte is the author of twelve books, including The Desktop Guide to Herbal Medicine , Beauty by Nature , Addiction Free Naturally , Healing Herbal Teas , and Rawsome! . Click here for more healthy living articles, raw food recipes, videos, workshops, books, and more at brigittemars.com.       More on Food
 
Paul David Walker: CEO Secrets Part Two: A Meditation Practice Top
The best leaders are able to be totally present at will. In a board meeting or when closing an important deal, the best leaders can be in the present while integrating their knowledge and all the events that are happening around them simultaneously.

 The truth is anything can cause your conscious mind to let go of comparative thought and find "Integrative Presence." It would be impossible to catalog all experiences people have had. What is important is to know the difference between the two states of mind. Meditation is a practice that will help you find your personal road map into this powerful state. 
 When I have asked people to describe how they feel when they experience "Integrative Presence" they say things like: confident, at peace, exhilarated, powerful, graceful, focused and present. Some report a slow-motion effect. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar told how the five seconds he had to win the NBA championship with one shot seemed like five minutes. He felt relaxed, as if he had all the time in the world, yet he appeared to move like lightning to the rest of the world -- the very definition of "Integrative Presence." His creativity, within these few precious seconds, was nothing less than pure genius. He was integrating the skills he had learned over the years, his desire to make the shot, and the flow of the moment, without interruption from his thoughts.
 There Is No Substitute For Practice 
 Most people have experienced this state of mind ; the question is what percent of your life is spent in this state. The art of getting into this state of mind is letting go of thoughts and connecting with the flow of events in the moment. Meditation is practice for your mind and body. An athlete must practice their sport, a leader must practice disciplining their mind. Meditation is a time-tested form of practice. 

There is no Substitute for Practice. 
As in sports, there is no substitute for practice. Knowing how to move from "normal thinking" into Integrative Presence comes from practice. Take time to connect with your peak experiences and observe how you transitioned yourself. Find ways to still your mental chatter and connect with the present, and you will become a much more effective leader and a happier person. 

Meditation Technique 
 The following is a simple meditation technique that can help you clear your mind. It will help establish an inner road map to stillness, which allows you to flow with present reality. The Right Environment: Find a quiet place and arrange to have no distractions or interruptions. A special place in your home or a place out in nature. It is especially important in the first stages of meditation to find a special place. It helps you move towards stillness naturally. Over time you will be able to meditate anywhere, at any time, even as you walk through hallways. Sit Comfortably: You want your body to be at ease. Find a chair that is comfortable and sit up straight; be sure not to cross you arms or legs. Sitting up straight in a way that you will not have to move should one of your limbs fall asleep is important. Three Deep Breaths: Take three deep breaths and hold the oxygen in as long as you can on each breath, and let the oxygen out suddenly once you can no longer hold the air. Breathe Normally: Return to your normal breathing pattern. Close your eyes and put your attention on your breathing process. Follow your breath in and then out. Notice the rhythm and depth of each of your breaths. Spend 2-3 minutes just following your breath with your attention. Imagine a Beautiful Place: Imagine yourself in a beautiful place in nature. Choose a favorite spot or create a spot that would be ideal for you. Each time you begin meditating come back to this place. It will serve as an anchor for peace and help you to relax each time. Once you have felt the peace of this place, use it as a background and return your attention to your breathing. Let Go of Thoughts: As thoughts arise in your mind, do not resist them. Practice observing without processing, and then letting go of them. You can imagine them floating up into the sky or being absorbed by nature. As you let go return your attention to your breathing. Deepen Your Breathing: Once you have found your natural rhythm increase the depth of your breathing. Inhale 10-15 percent deeper and exhale 10-15 percent deeper. Play with this deeper rhythm until it becomes natural. Continue to let go of thoughts as they arise. Notice Stillness: Notice that at the moment you fully inhale, just before you exhale, there is a still point. Likewise, after you have fully exhaled, there is the same still point. One, the inhale, is full and the second, the exhale, is empty. Notice the difference. Fall into Stillness: At times when your total focus is on this deeper breathing process, you will notice the stillness inside you. Let your consciousness fall into this stillness. Let go and don't be afraid; it is your destination. Stay there as long as your ego will allow. It might take a number of sessions before you achieve this, but it is worth the practice and discipline. Open Your Eyes: In about 20-25 minutes gently open your eyes without moving and notice the world around you. Notice your state of mind and journal your experience. Take This State of Mind With You: Practice staying with this state of mind as you get up from your chair and walk, focusing on your breathing as before. Find a rhythm between your steps and your breath. Count how many breaths per step until you find a comfortable pace that is a little deeper than normal. This will help you begin to integrate this state of mind into your daily life. Do Short Meditations: Once you have mastered this practice you will be able to take a few minutes to clear your mind between meetings or even with short pauses during meetings. Meditation creates the same state of being that Florence Joyner and other athletes achieve when they are in "The Zone." Your consciousness will deepen and widen and you will be able to perform more effectively. Remember, there is no substitute for practice. 

As you continue to meditate, you will find the quality of your thought improving. You will have great ideas and find it easy to solve problems. Creating this space of stillness within you leads to Integrative Presence. Meditation is a powerful tool for those who are creating the future. It helps with idea generation and stress reduction. If you are a leader, you need both to be successful. More on Yoga
 
Lisa Bennett: Five Reasons Why We Don't Care About Climate Change Top
For the past five years, ever since my second child was born, I've been asking why we don't take climate change more seriously. The easy answer, of course, is that it's just too much to think about, especially with more immediate economic concerns. This week's poll from the Pew Research Center on the People & the Press made that abundantly clear: Only 57 percent of Americans now believe the Earth is warming , down from 77 percent in 2006. Given growing reports that the effects of climate change are actually occurring faster than predicted, it's not surprising that Andrew Kohut, director of the research center, called the results "implausible." So what is the bigger answer to why we're ignoring the biggest threat in human history--or, as a future generation might put it, fiddling while Rome burns? Through my interviews with ordinary Americans and dozens of experts in a wide range of fields, I have found that there are five key reasons: First, from an evolutionary perspective, we are not programmed to take future threats as seriously as immediate ones; and though ice caps are melting and storms worldwide are intensifying, for most of us, this is still going on somewhere out there. It's not yet happening where we can feel it and see it. And that can't compare to worrying about paying this month's bills. Second, it costs money to do some of the right green things. Much to my children's embarrassment, for example, I still drive an SUV. I bought it 130,000 miles ago when we lived where snow could fall four feet in a weekend, and I thought an SUV was the safest way to get around. Now that I live in a place where it never snows (to my children's chagrin) I have no reason to drive it, except the fact that I can't afford a hybrid. Third, we have become so distanced from nature, after centuries of trying to wield our power over it and generations of relegating our children to spending more time indoors, we have lost some of our innate ability to care about the natural world. Fourth, many of us no longer believe we can make a difference in the world. During the past 50 years, America's population has doubled and industries from banking to cat food have been supersized. In comparison, we feel increasingly small and powerless and imagining that we could actually do something about a problem as momentous as global warming seems Quixotic at best. Finally, we think we never have enough time--and, in some ways, we're right. In recent decades, the rise of families composed of two working parents (or a single working parent) has created a lifestyle that ill-equips us to address issues outside our own personal, immediate concerns. Given the increasingly frantic pace of life, we are moreover encouraged to do the things we can do quickly and postpone (or simply ignore) the rest. And thanks to our shortened attention span, we even cast aside the knowledge that big things have a way of catching up with us. So is it hopeless? Nine out of ten experts I interviewed about this ultimately admitted to being pessimistic about whether we will rise to the global warming challenge in time to avert the predicted disasters. There has been progress, they acknowledge, but incremental progress in the face of exponential change simply won't cut it. Then again, most somewhat quietly add, one never truly knows. Surprising, unexpected things do happen. And sometimes people suddenly wake up and focus on that which once seemed dismissible. I believe this. In fact, I've experienced it. So I'm putting my money on parents. After all, we know (or should know) that by the middle of the century--when our young children are the age many of us are now--low-lying cities, such as New York, Boston, and Halifax, Nova Scotia, are predicted to experience the greatest rise in sea levels on the planet. Millions of people worldwide are expected be displaced or worse; and storms, droughts, famine, disease, and warfare are all projected to intensify. Reflect on that with a parent's heart and it becomes near impossible to look into your children's eyes and not take this threat to their future more seriously. More on Climate Change
 
Earl Ofari Hutchinson: Obama Should Tear Up Matthew Hoh's Afghan War Resignation Letter Top
President Obama should tear up former Marine Matthew Hoh's resignation letter. Hoh is an American hero. Hoh is the first US official to resign in disgust over the Administration's wrong-headed course in fighting the Afghan war. He told Obama exactly what he needs to hear about Afghanistan: that the Afghan war is a failed, flawed, no-win war. That it's a sinkhole for billions of tax dollars and a death trap for hundreds, maybe thousands, of US troops. This is all to prop up a hopelessly corrupt, dope profiteering, unpopular regime. It's a war that outside of a handful of hard headed generals, unreconstructed Bush neo-cons, and GOP ideologues few Americans think is worth fighting. Obama is somewhere in the middle of the mess. At one time he was gung ho to fight in Afghanistan no matter the costs. He's now not so sure. He's had a plan on his desk for weeks to dump more money and troops into the country, and every day the generals pester him to do it. His uncertainty about it has turned into a stall of the generals who yap at his heels to escalate the war. But his stall hasn't turned into a toughened stomach lining that would allow him to say no to escalation, and then get the wheels turning to get the US out of the no-win war. Obama's tin ear to Hoh's warning about flawed administration policy could be disastrous politically and personally for him. A majority of Obama's most fervent backers have gently chided him for his blindness on the war. These are the supporters he will need in order to beat back the GOP counterinsurgency against him, to make gains or at least cut potential Democratic losses in the midterm elections in 2010, and to back his shaky health care reform package. Afghanistan looms large as Obama and the Democratic Party's Vietnam, if Hoh's warning is not heeded. Public shell shock over unpopular wars always works to the advantage of the challenger over the incumbent president whose name is linked to the war. The unpopular Korean and Vietnam wars helped do in Truman and the Democrats in 1952, and President Johnson and the Democrats in 1968. They also had a tsunami effect on Democratic elected officials. In both election years, the Democrats had a decisive edge over the Republicans in Congress, a wide body of public support, and political prestige. Eisenhower, and later Nixon, painted Korea and Vietnam as a hopeless muddle that Truman and Humphrey (in tandem with Johnson) made a mess of. The two Democratic presidents paid dearly for it, and Bush and the Republicans paid just as dearly for the Iraq quagmire. Despite Obama's talk about Afghanistan being the right war, in the right place, at the right time, White House insiders say that he's worried about getting stuck with this unpopular war. He knows that failed and flawed wars and the public's distaste for those wars helped topple two sitting Democratic presidents, and hopelessly discredited a Republican president. He doesn't want to make the mistake of repeating their fatal history. Matthew Hoh has served notice on Obama of this danger. He should reject his resignation letter. Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His forthcoming book, How Obama Governed: The Year of Crisis and Challenge (Middle Passage Press) will be released in January 2010. More on Barack Obama
 
RJ Eskow: Health Reform: Look How Far We've Come. Now Where the Heck Are We? Top
The public option is dead: Long live the public option. Wait. Maybe it is dead. The rocky road to health reform is likely to induce severe mood swings, considering the elation after Harry Reid's announcement yesterday and the gloom after Joe Lieberman's threatened defection today. Maybe the health reform process needs a sign like the ones carnivals put up over the Tilt-a-Wheel: "Must be this tall to ride this attraction." The public policy option presented by Harry Reid may not meet the consensual definition of "robust," but it isn't the opposite of robust either. We'll need another adjective to describe it if it passes: Hale? Stout? "Ruggedly mild with a hint of oak in the aftertaste?" But while they're working on terminology, Democrats should be mapping their course of action should Sen. Reid succeed. Much of the work will begin, not end, when and if this bill passes. Putting Sen. Lieberman aside for a moment (and who wouldn't want to?), what can we expect to see if the final health reform bill conforms to Sen. Reid's outline? The crystal ball is somewhat murky, since some of the most critical features of the bill aren't fleshed out yet. But we know that progressives are counting on the public option to be a check on insurance industry abuses, and to slow down the health care cost spiral. Maybe, maybe not. The public option will only impact the system globally if it has clout (which comes from volume), cost savings, and an attractive package of benefits. How likely is that under the proposed Senate bill? Here's what we can surmise so far: The opt-out : I was surprised at the anger my last post on opt-outs provoked in some progressives. "Ideological rigidity," said some. I still think the opt-out weakens an already-compromised public option, and that it clashes with some of the moral rhetoric from Democrats. But, as I wrote at the time, "Is a 60-vote, non-reconciliation outcome in the Senate worth (it)? Maybe in the end the answer will be 'yes,' but that question should only be posed after all other options have failed." Well, apparently they've failed. Now the opt-out is looking like a shrewd tactical move, and let's hope it succeeds. But every such tactical reduction reduces the public option's ability to effect system-wide change. That's not ideology, it's common sense. A number of people expressed great skepticism when I said that a number of states would exercise the opt-out provision if it were enacted. Now, two short weeks later, even the Democratic candidate in the Virginia governor's race is suggesting he'll opt out if elected. So a public plan that was forecast to win 5% of the expanded insurance market is now likely to gain something less than that. What will the final number be - 4%? 3%? We don't know. But those progressives who are waxing euphoric need to come back down to earth. Their mission, should this bill pass, will be to keep the number of state defections as low as possible. They can't do that by repeating the old mantra, "People would never be so foolish ..." After all, they said that during the 2004 election, too. Campaigning against opt-outs will be Job #1 if this bill passes. If that happens, then, to paraphrase Joe Hill: "Don't celebrate, organize." Medicare rates : The Reid plan isn't technically "robust," because it doesn't tie public option doctor/hospital reimbursements to Medicare rates. Again, that may be smart politics - but it weakens the PO's cost-competitiveness. This is a complex issue, but the bottom line is this: If the public option has to negotiate its own rates with health providers, and it's only likely to get an average of 5% in any given market, it's not going to have a lot of clout to get favorable pricing. Sure, it will save on marketing costs, but so will any other insurance plan in the exchange. So how much of a cost-check is it going to be? To make matters more complicated: If a public option is tied to Medicare rates, that might cause more doctors to drop out (or "opt out") of Medicare. That could create an access problem. But that issue could be managed by giving the public option the flexibility to make exceptions in its rate structure by region and/or type of provider. Mandates again : There's talk of easing the employer mandate, while keeping the individual mandate. That could get tricky, because it could shift a greater portion of the cost back onto working families. And mandating the purchase of private insurance in states without the public option could be unpopular. Paul Krugman may be overly sanguine about the likelihood that health reform will be well-received after (or if) it's implemented. Those polls showing that the Massachusetts reform is popular among doctors are not surprising, since they benefit when more people have insurance. The fact that only 2.6% of that state's residents remain uninsured sounds good, but that figure was 5.7% before reform. So they've cut their uninsured problem by slightly more than half (55%). Similar results nationwide would leave more than 20 million Americans uninsured (assuming 47 million now), which could be politically unpopular. And while one poll shows that only 11% of Massachusetts residents polled would repeal reform, that's in a state that lacks the rampant right-wing extremism we see nationally. Other polls there have shown that most people personally affected by the state's reforms are unhappy with them. On the national level, these disaffected people may well turn out to be swing voters, especially after the Media Noise Machine has worked on them. Benefits Design, Insurance Exchanges, and Cherry-Picking : As Professor Krugman points out, Massachusetts has been proactive in mandating benefits design, showing a level of political will that may be absent on the national stage. If the insurance exchanges do not mandate a decent level of coverage, families who pay those large insurance premiums may still face financial disaster should a major injury or illness take place. In states where the public option provides more generous benefits than private carriers do, the end result may well be what the insurance industry calls "cherry-picking." That's what health plans do when they design their benefits and administer their plans in ways that make life especially difficult for those who need more care, or who are more likely to need it in the near future. If insurance exchanges aren't given the tools to manage the cherry-picking problem, the public option could become a toxic waste site where for-profit carriers dump the sick and needy. The end result could be a public option that actually costs more than private insurance. The Keyword is 'Evolution' : So, do I dislike the Reid bill? Not at all. I suspect it's the best we're going to get, and we'll be lucky if we do get it. As I've confessed before, I've consulted for health insurers in the past (as well as employers, unions, foundations, tech companies, and others - which I do more often). Part of that job is to point out all the bad things that could happen, so that people can plan accordingly. Each of the above problems can be addressed, but only with awareness and forethought. The keyword in this planning process is 'evolution.' If a watered-down plan is all we can get - and it looks like it is - it's wise to design it so that it can evolve toward a better system in the future. The public option is one way to do that, by forcing insurers to lower costs or lose market share. Lawmakers are right when they point out that, as it's now designed, it's not the most significant part of the program. But if it's there, and we don't eviscerate its cost-saving potential, it can be a powerful lever for future change. We're likely to see continued voter dissatisfaction after this bill is passed. That can be a good thing, if mechanisms have been put in place that permit quick response to those dissatisfactions when they arise. That's a good reason to support the Wyden Amendment, which would allow anyone to elect the public option. It's also an argument for improved regulation of insurance company benefits, and for retaining the option of using Medicare rates at some point in the future. As for how to handle Sen. Lieberman - hey, I wish I knew. RJ Eskow blogs when he can at: A Night Light The Sentinel Effect: Healthcare Blog Website: Eskow and Associates More on Joe Lieberman
 

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