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Thursday, April 12, 2007
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TPM Cafe: "But I also think it's important to be clear-eyed about single-payer. And since we've all been talking about the virtues of single-payer, let's look at some of the more valid objections - even though they are not typically the ones that dominate the debate.
"One is about setting prices. In a single-payer system, the government plays a much more direct role in setting prices. This raises fairness issues. If doctors and hospitals think a particular insurer isn't paying enough, they can demand higher reimbursements and, failing that, simply refuse to see that insurer's patients. But if they think the government isn't paying enough, they really have no such option.
"There are also efficiency questions: Will the government allocate its dollars - whether through price-setting or some sort of global budgeting - in a way that maximizes the public interest? You don't have to be a card-carrying libertarian to believe that, as a general rule, the market probably sets prices better than the government will."
"2008 pres"
8:09:34 PM 
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Josh Marshall: "I can say that I am very confident, very confident that that reporter is correct and that orders from Pat Fitzgerald were the reason for the change in White House policy in 2004. So the change in policy was tied to yet another criminal investigation of the White House. And the White House and the key employees in question -- namely Karl Rove and people working for him at the White House political office -- were specifically on notice not to destroy the emails they sent through the RNC servers. And yet they took affirmative steps to continuing destroying them, even after all of this had happened."
"2008 pres"
8:04:13 PM
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Our hosting service is having problems this morning. If you're seeing this things have cleared up.
7:08:13 AM
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Howard Dean is in Denver today to rally the troops for the 2008 Democratic National convention (and do some damage control with local union leaders), according to the Denver Post. From the article, "He'll meet this morning with AFL-CIO president John Sweeney, whose labor federation called for the convention to be moved, before addressing a crowd of supporters at an 11 a.m. rally at Denver's downtown convention center. The uncomfortable juxtaposition of meetings for the Democratic National Committee chairman underscores a central problem that Dean must overcome to launch a presidential candidate. Leaders of the AFL-CIO and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters have criticized the state as being unfriendly toward unions. Dean wants to settle the labor disputes quickly. Dean's predicament, experts say, also is an opportunity for unions to win concessions from state and local governments...
"Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa threatened that protests could 'blow up' convention week. But some local unions say they are taken aback by national labor's harsh words and insist they will use the opportunity for civility and coalition building. The local prize would likely be gains for government workers, experts say, as Democrats would have little sway over private employers. An oft-mentioned goal is a 2008 initiative to win collective- bargaining rights for 32,000-plus state workers. Though many states recognize such rights, they are less common in the Interior West. The New Mexico Legislature recently gave its state workers collective-bargaining powers. Montana workers also have them. Winning Colorado workers those rights could help unions point to new victories and build momentum."
"2008 pres"
7:02:28 AM
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© Copyright 2009 John Orr.
Last update: 3/15/09; 12:50:13 PM.
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