Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

TARP, Neil Barofsky, Rep. Alan Grayson and Transparency

by divorced one like Bush Via Glenn Greenwald and his article The war being waged on the TARP watchdog’s independence comes an interview with Neil Barofsky the man charged with over seeing TARP. It appears the White House is not keeping true to the President’s campaign of a more transparent government. …the Obama administration is […]

Golgotha program update

Robert Waldmann Looks like there are still people interested in Marx. I guessed Brad would be interested (OK so I link begged but just a little) but I wouldn’t have guessed that James Wimberley would be. Mainly this post is about an e-mail from Ben Ross which I print (with permission) after the jump Ben […]

Small business is? And who speaks for them?

rdan The term small business is bandied about a lot, and often includes employers with 10 employees as in here and similar with Republicans. Yet it appears these little companies are not represented by SBA, nor Manufacturers of America, yet account for a large portion of our economy. Is that accurate?? A small business is […]

Useful Models for Reform?…Mayo and Cleveland Clinics

by Tom aka Rusty Rustbelt Useful Models for Reform? President Obama often cites the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic as models for providers in a new era of health care reform. Question: Can these two models be replicated throughout the country? Answer: Not likely. The Mayo Clinic is unique but has replicated itself a […]

Taxing wealthy to pay for health care

by divorced one like Bush As we are talking about taxes and health care this is The Real News Network article regarding raising taxes on the wealthy to pay for health care. (The Real News Network is a global online video news network that listens to and is dependent on its audience. No ads. No […]

Stagecoach Driver Waxman issues Ultimatum on HR3200: Get on Board or We Leave Without You

by Bruce Webb Waxman: Blue Dogs must relent on health reform” (UPDATE: the linked article has subsequently been rewritten and expanded. What follows is the version from earlier this morning) House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) says there is “no alternative” to having healthcare legislation bypass his committee if Blue Dog Democrats […]

What is competition?

rdan A reader commented that market share statistics do not reflect whether competition occurs in a health insurance market. To stress a point he stated competition occurs when companies >1, and many states have competition of >2 major players, which makes for a more competitive market than a monopoly allows. Competition to me means that […]