Spiro Agnew must be laughing from his grave.

Nov 15, 2009 - Agnew speeches sparked move toward soft news Michael Socolow (Bangor Daily News) It remains the most influential indictment of American journalism ever made. Forty years ago today, this famous figure began railing against the corporate media. “A broader spectrum of national opinion should be represented among the commentators of the network news,” he argued, explaining that “men who can articulate other points of view should be brought forward, and the American people should be made aware of the trend toward the monopolization of the great public information vehicles and the concentration of more and more power over public opinion in fewer and fewer hands.” American democracy's perilous dependence on the corporate, capitalist media had previously been detailed. - 1 Comment

Dishonesty, Intimidation, Hypocrisy and Medicare Advantage

Sep 30, 2009 - by Newt Gingrich Posted 09/30/2009 ET   The editorial writers at the New York Times thought they were getting the White House’s back when they defended cuts to Medicare Advantage last week.  In fact, they were validating the blatant dishonesty of administration and congressional officials pushing for the cuts.   In their editorial last Sunday, the Times writers revealed in stunning fashion the lies that have been used to convince increasingly skeptical seniors that their Medicare Advantage benefits won’t be sacrificed to pay for government-run health care.   Dishonesty:  Cuts Won’t Affect Medicare Advantage Participants   In one breath, the Times claimed the effect of Medicare Advantage cuts will be “modest”:     “Although Republican rhetoric has triggered fears that Medicare Advantage enrollees might lose their coverage entirely if private plans drop out of the system, the real effect of the bill would likely be modest on average.”     Then, literally on the next line, the Times contradicts itself, and stumbles inadvertently on to the truth:   “The value of an enrollee’s added benefits would shrink by more than half from current levels but would not disappear; they would still be worth about $500 a year in 2019 (emphasis added).”     Intimidation:  Free Speech Rights of Insurance Companies Denied   Medicare Advantage was created to do what the Center for Health Transformation (CHT) has long fought for:  To give all seniors more private choices of higher quality health care.  It currently provides almost 11 million Americans coverage through private insurance plans.  Recent data shows that these seniors have better health outcomes than those in traditional Medicare. - 1 Comment

Biden ignores problems with stimulus

Sep 04, 2009 - Biden ignores problems with stimulus Money slow to trickle out and some spending priorities are questionable By BRETT J. BLACKLEDGE Associated Press Writer updated 12:56 p.m. PT, Thurs., Sept . - 12 Comments

FDA probes liver damage with weight loss pill alli

Aug 24, 2009 - WASHINGTON – The Food and Drug Administration is investigating reports of liver damage in patients taking alli, the only nonprescription weight loss drug approved by the agency.   Regulators said Monday they have received more than 30 reports of liver damage in patients taking alli and Xenical, the prescription version of the drug. The reports, submitted between 1999 and October 2008, included 27 hospitalized patients, and six who suffered liver failure. - 46 Comments

"Tax me", Some Rich Americans Tell Obama

Aug 15, 2009 - Raise my taxes, says millionaire Chuck Collins. The scion of the Oscar Mayer family supports a House panel’s healthcare plan that would boost taxes for families earning more than $350,000 a year. He also advocates ending the Bush tax cuts for the rich right away, rather than when they expire at the start of 2011, and closing foreign tax havens to Americans. - 106 Comments

Aussies try to fix Socialized medicine

Jul 26, 2009 - pubic post +++++++++++++++ http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25838628-3102,00.html Health reforms aim to mend ailing system Steve Lewis and Emma Chalmers July 27, 2009 12:00am FOUR out of five people would be tied to a single doctor and all patients guaranteed a GP appointment within two days under $16 billion in health reforms. The reforms are set to be unveiled today by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Elderly people could be forced to sell their homes to secure a nursing home bed and a subsidised dental care scheme introduced, as part of the biggest shake-up to health in decades. - 9 Comments

Apparently Obama has learned to grow money on trees

Feb 26, 2009 - http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSTRE51O6JA20090226?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews&rpc=23&sp=true MARKET NEWS Analysts see U.S. government's move as a net positive for banks Oil rises 5 percent on OPEC, U.S. demand Dollar falls vs euro; losses capped by weak U.S. - 23 Comments