Do you Hate Obama?

“Rebooting the right” provides a summary of alternative theories about why Republicans lost and how to rebound. The best proposals come from Gov. Pawlenty of Minnesota – tax reform aimed at the middle-class, not hedge-fund operators; solutions, not denial, on global warming; making health care more affordable, not slashing pork. Alas, however, there’s no mention of revisiting the Free Trade plague that is decimating our economy – perhaps that will come later.

“America’s Health Checkup” is a bland, largely useless article. It begins by reminding us that 67% of americans are overweight or obese, 27% have hypertension, 40% get no exercise, and millions don’t eat right. At the same time, we spend a world-leading 16% of GNP on health, vs. 8-11% for Japan, France, Canada, Sweden, and others.

Unfortunately, the article implicitly blames the health care system for important individual failings that especially obvious when examined by ethnic group. Recommendations are almost non-existent, except to increase preventive care. Even that lacks compelling data on potential benefits. Finally, the article is oblivious to major opportunities associated with a single-payer system (reducing overheads), computerized records (allow computerized monitoring for adherence to best practices for care and prevention, more research to establish credible best practices.

Other Topics: The issue lacks meaningful coverage of the economic crisis other than repeating that retail sales are down (everyone already knows), a non-quantitative reference to alternatives facing G.M. (also “old news”), and nothing on bailout efforts.
Rating: 1 / 5