I saw that Michael Moore is doing a live chat on Daily Kos today at 11AM EST. You've probably heard about the controversy surrounding his trip to Cuba with 9/11 rescue workers to film parts of his new film Sicko. I applaud Moore's efforts to give the health care industry and policy makers the kick in the pants they need to get their act together.  It is mind boggling that we spend significantly more on health care than any other country but we get back a lot less.

The Commonwealth Fund just released a report on this very topic:

Americans get the poorest health care and yet pay the most compared to five other rich countries, according to a report released on Tuesday. Germany, Britain, Australia and Canada all provide better care for less money, the Commonwealth Fund report found...

The current system leaves about 45 million people with no insurance at all, according to U.S. government estimates from 2005, and many studies have shown most of these people do not receive preventive services that not only keep them healthier, but reduce long-term costs.

Not to mention we have nine million kids in this country who don't have health coverage. There is something to be said when the richest country in the world does not take care of its kids.
I look forward to seeing Moore's film when it comes out in the states on June 29th.

I was thrilled when I read the Hate Crimes Bill passed the House today but then I was immediately disappointed when I learned the White House issued a veto threat just hours before the bill's passage.

On what grounds?

The White House, in a statement warning of a veto, said state and local criminal laws already cover the new crimes defined under the bill, and there was ''no persuasive demonstration of any need to federalize such a potentially large range of violent crime enforcement.''

On the cusp of victims rights week last month, our attorney general appeared and spoke sympathetically for increased protections and support for victims of rape, physical abuse and homicide but now, it is apparent gay and transgendered Americans are a lower class citizen who don't deserve this type of assistance.

The Judiciary Committee cited FBI figures that there have been more than 113,000 hate crimes since 1991, including 7,163 in 1995. It said that racially motivated bias accounted for 55 percent of those incidents, religious bias for 17 percent, sexual orientation bias for 14 percent and ethnicity bias for 14 percent.

Fourteen percent is a lot if you think about it. We cannot rest until there are ZERO hate crimes committed. Ronald Reagan would be ashamed of Bush's veto threat.

This week on the Diane Rehm show, PBS's Robert MacNeil was on discussing his week-long America at a Crossroads special series of documentaries that begins Sunday, April 15th. It looks like a pretty provocative special that deals with many issues we face as a country post 9-11.

I was intrigued to learn that one of the documentaries, The Case for War, features the one and only Richard Perle. Initially I was a little concerned that this film would be severely biased. Who wants to relive the days and years leading up the war? However, my heart and mind was put at ease when I watched this clip from the documentary. According to MacNeil, PBS and WETA made a conscious effort to work with the producers of the films to ensure all views are represented.

MacNeil was also promoting a screening and discussion event at George Washington University next week.

Join the national conversation by attending a free special event on April 12 at George Washington University to discuss the challenges confronting the U.S. in the post-9/11 world. The lively discussion will be moderated by Robert MacNeil and will include:

Richard Perle, former Assistant Secretary of Defense, featured in the film The Case for War: In Defense of Freedom

Michael Isikoff, Newsweek, featured in the film The Brotherhood

Calvin Sims, The New York Times, producer for the film Struggle for the Soul of Islam: Inside Indonesia

An RSVP is required as "seating is limited."

I'm impressed with PBS's efforts to engage the public. The DC event isn't the only one PBS has sponsored. They have hosted a number of screenings/discussions around the country with upcoming events in Massachusetts and Tennessee. I'm glad they are going outside the beltway on this. The Crossroads website is extremely interactive complete with a video diary section where users can upload video reactions and general thoughts about the issues and there are comprehensive timelines of The War on Terrorism, The War in Iraq, The War in Afghanistan and The Middle East Modern History. Impressive!

No doubt the series will be rock solid.

The Washington Post today recommends stricter regulations for the tobacoo industry. Good first step but what lawmakers really need to do is ban tobacco altogether.

If it really is the killer that health officials say, why not take it out and save millions of lives in the process?

Marijuanna is considered a Schedule I drug by the federal government. Requirements for Schedule I:

(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
    (B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
    (C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.

Tobacco fits into these requirements. The industry is getting a free ride while the companies continue to pump up the nicotine levels.

If the lawmakers and regulators are really, I mean REALLY committed to public health, someone should actually go out on a limb and ban the product altogether.  

The AP reported via The Washington Post that members of the National Guard were sent fleeing from armed somebodies who ended up getting away by running to Mexico.

After all is said and done everyone is okay. However, something has boggled my mind since I first read the story. It stems from this statement:

The troops, who are not allowed to apprehend illegal border crossers, withdrew safely and no one was injured, said National Guard Sgt. Edward Balaban.

They aren't allowed to apprehend? It seems counterintuitive. Why can't the National Guard apprehend illegals or legals for that matter and then hold them until The Border Patrol gets their hands on them? I understand, from what the story said, that Bush sent thousands of Guard members to the border to "assist" the Border Patrol but they were the ones standing on the observation post in Arizona. They were the ones who saw the armed individuals.

So I guess the next time an illegal comes over the border with a bushel of weed and a gun, we can count on the Guard to run away from the action.

PS - It's the policy that I have a problem with not the National Guard.  

A good friend sent me this clip and it took me back! I think it's from her Keynote address at the 1988 convention. Number 10.  She was one sassy trailblazer! I will always remember her riding on that bike she loved.

Peace!

It looks like Governor Granholm, herself, will be writing on Kos and taking questions tomorrow (Wed.) morning. How exciting! Maybe she will make an appearance at MyDD?

The post also includes a new ad just released by the Michigan Democratic Party.

Who: Gov. Jennifer Granholm
What: Diary on Daily Kos
When: Wednesday, September 13, 11:15am - 12:15pm EST

I came across this link earlier today at Democratic Underground and had to crosspost it here. View Snakes on a Senate when you need an afternoon break.

It's a good illustrative resource to spread around. It looks like it was produced by the DSCC. Not too shabby but I think each of the snakes has a stronger bite. We need a few more details.