Commentary

The real myth of health insurance reform

Tuesday, 01 September 2009 16:07 Joseph Phillips

One of the more pernicious myths surrounding the debate over health care is the oft repeated claim that conservatives do not want reform. Nonsense! What we do not want is the warm bucket of snake oil currently being sold to the American people by this administration. Conservatives have long argued for the need to reduce mandated benefits, reduce the reliance on third-party payers and get rid of public policies that hinder entrepreneurship and innovation. This is the kind of reform conservatives want – the right kind of reform.

Katrina's children—Still struggling

Tuesday, 01 September 2009 16:05 Marian Wright Edelman

"Dear President Obama: My name is Jade Windon, 7th grade student at McDonogh 42 Charter School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mr. President, I write to you expressing how many of our lives continue to be affected today by the storm that happened almost four years ago. Hurricane Katrina devastated the lives of everyone here and in the Gulf Coast region. Here in New Orleans, we are making very little progress. Our communities are still feeling the effects of Katrina. I ask you Mr. President to please help us rebuild our lives and city. Our school, jobs and health care are just a few of the things that I would like to see fixed. Thank you Mr. President and may God Bless America, especially New Orleans. Sincerely, Jade Windon."

Senator Ted Kennedy fought to achieve the greatest good across race and class

Friday, 28 August 2009 17:04 Janice S. Ellis

Senator Ted Kennedy certainly epitomized Aristotle’s “Man of Practical Wisdom” when it came to fulfilling Plato’s vision of what government should be about, “seeking the greatest good for the greatest number.”

Real healthcare requires a real public option

Friday, 28 August 2009 13:49 Rep. Barbara Lee, chair, Congressional Black Caucus; Rep. Michael Honda, chair, Congressional Asian Pacific Caucus; Rep. Nydia Velazquez, chair, Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Rep. Raul Grijalva, co-chair, Congressional Progressive Caucus; Rep. Lynn Wools

Throughout the month of August, defenders of the healthcare status quo have assailed efforts to reform a system in crisis. They have raised any number of spurious claims ranging from the absurd to the macabre in a desperate attempt to stand between 47 million uninsured Americans and their doctors. But the debate over reforming America’s broken healthcare system isn’t only about covering the uninsured. We must also control the escalating premiums and deductibles draining the bank accounts of the two-thirds of Americans with health insurance.

Town halls on race

Wednesday, 26 August 2009 11:55 Joseph Phillips

What would a town hall on race look like? I do not mean the aesthetics – the color of the carpet or where panelists would sit, but the guts of it – the substance. I am pondering the question because I was recently asked to help organize and participate in a series of such discussions across the country and for the life of me I can’t understand what the purpose would be.

Pump up the volume!

Tuesday, 25 August 2009 15:56 William Reed

Evidence of Black political and economic empowerment is mixed. On political empowerment, Blacks now hold high rankings in Congress, but their impact for Blacks in general is negligible. The economic empowerment is represented by Cathy Hughes, founder and chair of Radio One, Inc. And the battle has been drawn, Hughes, and cast, at Radio One is waging a war against targeted members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) is worth note.

Live and let live: Michael Vick too

Friday, 21 August 2009 13:46 William Reed

Michael Vick's reinstatement to the NFL and recent signing by the Philadelphia Eagles is a bit of victory for those who tire of seeing American mainstream society make Black American athletes “public enemy number one” when they screw up. If you are in synch with values and a mindset that accepts as fact: Allen Iverson is ‘edgy”, Michael Irvin is some kind of criminal and Terrell Owens is a malcontent, you are a part of an American tradition of vilifying Black athletes.