Back and Better Than Ever!

Hey! Elizabeth Edwards is going to be in my neighborhood talking about Health Care!

And Bob Herbert has a nice column on the health care plan of John McCain which is not so much a health care plan but a health care crisis in the making:

These are changes that will set in motion nothing less than the dismantling of the employer-based coverage that protects most American families.

A study coming out Tuesday from scholars at Columbia, Harvard, Purdue and Michigan projects that 20 million Americans who have employment-based health insurance would lose it under the McCain plan.

There is nothing secret about Senator McCain’s far-reaching proposals, but they haven’t gotten much attention because the chatter in this campaign has mostly been about nonsense — lipstick, celebrities and “Drill, baby, drill!”

More on Health Care: The Ladies Edition!

This is how I feel about John McCain's health care plan. Here's why Elizabeth Edwards thinks it won't work. Relying on the market means that decisions are made according to costs. And you know who health insurers think cost too much? Women. Not only do they have babies ($$$!) but they also are more likely to seek preventive care.

Some of my best friends are ladies, my friend.

Reason #4: Killer Tomatoes!

Loads of folks have gotten sick from e-coli from maters. And remember the killer dog food issues? Yeah, it stinks when you have no control over the products you buy. Small government is a good idea in theory but sometimes in practice it means lead in your children's toys and peanut butter smeared with salmonella. And energy shortages. A lot of this has happened because of the atrophying of oversight agencies like the F.D.A. under the watch of the Rethugs.

Some people call this regulation by the market. Paul Krugman calls it E.Coli conservatives.

Food is really important, dudes. So let's make it safe cuz this stuff is ruining my dinner. We don't need to drown government in a bathtub, just make it do its job, eh?

Reason #3 I'm Barking: Torture

Look, I don't have much faith in you naked apes. You've botched a lot of things but I never imagined that we would actually have to sit down and talk about why torture is problematic. But we do. So--naked apes--don't torture. Here's a comparison of candidate positions.

Seriously. Cut it out.

Reason #2 I'm Barking for Barack: War

I would very much like the war to end and this? Is terrifying, especially from a guy who is "confused" about the difference between Sunni and Shia. And Iran and Al Qaeda.





On Obama:

This article by Christopher Hayes in The Nation really made me think.
Here's an article Obama wrote for Foreign Affairs.
Here's Obama's foreign policy in his own words.
Here's stuff about his main advisers.

Reason #1 I'm Barking: HEALTH CARE

I am fortunate to have a great health care plan--my ma ape's undying devotion and her plastic. But I know not all apes are so fortunate and they have to worry about paying their medical bills instead of getting better. Now Obama is teaming up with another naked ape I can tolerate--Elizabeth Edwards!--to talk about the health care. Single payer, baby! This sounds preferable to the Bush plan:

“The immediate goal is to make sure there are more people on private insurance plans. I mean, people have access to health care in America. After all, you just go to an emergency room.”


Now--who do I talk to about some apes I'd like to get into a low cost spay and neuter program?