In his article on the cruel idea of “Health Care as a Privilege,” Jonathan Chait mentioned a spate of pre-court-decision stories: … showing in human terms what sort of conditions we would be perpetuating in the event that five Republican Supreme Court Justices, or a potential Republican-run government next year, partially or completely nullify the Affordable Care Act. A man will watch the tumor in his leg grow to the size of a melon, and his wife will sew special... Read more
President Barack Obama: Earlier today, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act — the name of the health care reform we passed two years ago. In doing so, they’ve reaffirmed a fundamental principle that here in America — in the wealthiest nation on Earth — no illness or accident should lead to any family’s financial ruin. I know there will be a lot of discussion today about the politics of all this, about who won and... Read more
The Republican privilege-principle of Tyler Cowen, Bryan Fischer and Rick Perry isn’t just morally monstrous, it’s also bad economics. “We need to accept the principle that sometimes poor people will die just because they are poor,” says Cowen. “There is simply no way to control the cost of health care if hospitals are obligated to provide healthcare to all regardless of their ability to pay,” says Fischer. But they’re both wrong. Poor people aren’t the source of the runaway cost... Read more
That’s a feature, not a bug. It’s a boast, not an accusation. It is, the speaker says, a “principle” that must be “accepted,” not an injustice that must be corrected. It sounds like an accusation — “You people think we should just accept that poor people will die just because they are poor.” That sounds like a really nasty thing to accuse someone of. Jonathan Chait is reluctant to accuse Republicans of anything that viciously cruel. His argument stops short... Read more
Some say that America is under attack by Satan himself. Liberals have been duped by Satan: You look at the average liberal in the United States, they believe things that are folly. They believe things that are irrational. They believe things that make no sense, that cannot stand up to the test of reason and logic. Why do they believe that? Because they are dupes, they have been deceived and fooled by the Prince of Lies, the Father of Lies... Read more
Mike Huckabee, an ordained Southern Baptist minister, is bearing false witness. “It’s becoming increasingly clear to a lot of believers that this administration is not just indifferent to people of faith, it’s hostile,” Fox News personality and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said last week. I take it that by “it’s becoming increasingly clear” what Huckabee really means here is something like “it’s become increasingly popular to say this as a talking point for dishonest people who would sell their... Read more
I haven’t closely followed the controversy over the attempt by the University of Virginia’s board to oust its president in favor of a more corporate-friendly administrator. All I know for sure is that the man they attempted to make the new UVA president, Dean Zeithami, is not qualified for that job. In fact, Zeithami may not be qualified for any job. This is demonstrated by the language — and I use the word generously — of this description, relayed by... Read more
David Roberts: “Coal is the enemy of the human race, mainstream economics edition“ Once you strip away the econ jargon, the paper finds that, on the margin, electricity from coal imposes more damages on the U.S. economy than the electricity is worth. That’s right: The next coal-fired power plant is a net value-subtraction. A parasite, you might say, that will enrich a few executives and shareholders at the public’s expense. If you’re of a wonky bent, it’s worth digging in.... Read more
Jesse James DeConto reports for The Christian Century on an alternative to the predatory credit of payday loans: As former Pittsburgh cop Tony Wiles knows, people who need money fast are vulnerable. “I grew up in the inner city, so I’ve seen it all,” he said. “Loan sharks, pawnshops and payday loan companies on every corner.” Wiles hadn’t considered doing anything about the issue until Rock Dillaman, his pastor at Allegheny Center Alliance Church, preached a sermon on justice. The... Read more
Both Alvin McEwen and Rachel Held Evans point us to Joan Garrett’s insightful, empathetic portrait of a Red Bank, Tenn., family: “A tempest in my soul: A son’s secret brings a Southern Baptist minister to his knees.” This is beautiful storytelling and impressive reporting. It is, in other words, what good journalism looks like. Kudos to Garrett for immersing herself so thoroughly in her story, and kudos to the Chattanooga Times Free Press for giving her the time and the... Read more
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