Friday, April 4, 2014

Something to Know - 4 April

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1.  Paul Krugman takes to the front stage to stand up and point out that the ACA (Obamacare) has survived all the naysayers and it's okay to say that it is a moment of triumph.  That is a good thing:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/04/opinion/krugman-rube-goldberg-survives.html?emc=eta1

2.  This article from today's LA Times is revealing, to me at least, that the "Latino" late surge in signing up for the ACA opens up a door.    Many Hispanics are very slow to attach themselves to many things that require them to identify their place of residence, family size, relatives, etc.  Suspicion about anything that requires them to come out of the shadows is difficult to overcome.  Due to the diligence by many, this has thawed out in recent outreach efforts to explain and work to sign up.  The ACA is one way of getting more people to realize that the government is there to help them, not just the "others".   Perhaps this event will encourage more to get involved in being citizens and informed voters, ready to register, and participate:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-latino-obamacare-enrollment-20140404,0,1536311,print.story

3.  David Brooks pours out his view that the recent Supreme Court decision (McCutcheson vs. the FEC), is not all the doom and gloom we think it is.   I fail to see it that way.  I am particularly suspicious of outside money coming in to a local district (congressional or senate) to influence an election where the money spent on advertising trumps everything else.   Maybe time will tell, and maybe it is the upcoming mid-term battles that will decide for us:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/04/opinion/brooks-party-all-the-time.html?emc=eta1

4.  Following up on the above (#3) subject, the Koch influence ($$$$$) on the political landscape is being spotlighted by Harry Reid.  This is an excellent way to fight back, and yes, it is a classic case of "class warfare", but it is time to call it out for what it is:
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-democrats-koch-20140404,0,7153917,print.story

5. It is movie time.   This new release (today) is one that I want to see.  I've seen bits of clips and reviews.   Donald Rumsfeld is an enigma.  He has no conscience.  You decide, either from this article, or from the movie:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/02/movies/deciphering-donald-h-rumsfeld-in-the-unknown-known.html?emc=eta1

--
****
Juan
 
Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods.
-- H. L. Mencken

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