Liberal Talk Radio

I’d always wondered how an atrocity like the farm bill continues to exist. Now I know: it’s tied to the food stamps program, thus creating an interdependent block of congressional votes from the Kansas prarie to the South Bronx.
Of course, the poor people who use food stamps would probably be a [...]

Is there a “third way” for health care payments, one that relies neither on employers nor the Feds?
Contemplating GM’s arrangement with the UAW — in which GM will set up a VEBA (”Voluntary Employee Benefits Association”) — I think there might be.
This would be something similar to the classic model for a building society (aka [...]

As promised, Hillary Clinton unveiled her own health care plan today.
I’m not sure how her plan would actually help most Americans (probably about as much as Edwards’ or Obama’s plans would, elements of which Clinton’s plan clearly cops). But it’s a triumph of PR.
Clinton is clearly keeping one eye squarely on the past with [...]

Apropos of our discussions of health care, Ezra Klein boils down the debate nicely:
Liberals really do craft health care policy with the intent of broadly sharing costs. The idea is that everyone should be able to afford care and coverage. Conservatives are trying to move towards a system where we pay basically what we [...]

As I’ve mentioned, health care has been on my mind a lot lately, and not just because I saw Sicko.
My mom and I had a long conversation last night, and it’s got me pretty worried.
Here’s some full disclosure for you (with apologies to those of you who will think this is oversharing) — I’m going [...]

I saw Sicko recently, and I’ve also had a couple of minor health problems (a bum ankle, a bad leg) which have led to my spending more time than I’d like in the doctor’s office.  So — as you know if you’ve been listening to our show — health care’s been on my mind quite [...]

Saw Sicko last night. The verdict? Michael Moore cements his place as the most important social commentator of this generation.
Sure, he’s preaching to the choir. And, sure, Moore takes certain liberties with narrative structure to paint a somewhat disingenuous portrait, contrasting, for example, the French middle class with American homeless — never [...]