http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/23/cps-school-closing-protes_n_2940021.html

every system has its drawbacks, but most places who do have single-payer consider the trade-off to be worth it.

canada, UK, taiwan and australia all have single-payer, and overall people in those places find the system to be effective and low-stress. the systems do need to be tweaked sometimes so they don't run at a loss, and people tend to need supplemental insurance for things that the government system classifies as non-essential. also, the newest and best procedures tend not to be easily available, there are wait times for non-emergency procedures, and medical professionals have somewhat lower incomes.

but contrast those drawbacks against half the country having to mortgage their house whenever they are hospitalized, or dying because they can't afford the proper care, and it's really no contest.

as to my original point, public schools are government run, and they have historically done an outstanding job. notwithstanding the corporate media campaign about the nation's "failing" public schools, most schools in the US do an excellent job. i suppose one difference there is that the schools are run by LOCAL government, which is much more responsive to people's needs than the federal or state government.

this is changing too, however. billionaires like michael bloomberg, bill gates, eli broad, the waltons and numerous hedge funds are putting millions of dollars into local school board elections, effectively negating the influence of communities and parents. that is a very real threat to a government-run system that (contrary to the corporate media narrative) has up until now been wildly successful.

~joshua

Are you sure this is real "abuse" or trumped up abuse by the corporations wanting to privatize the industry?

Compare 2 examples.

1. The U.S. military. The push is not yet there to privatize it (at least completely). So private PR firms are not out there running campaigns against the military. Most of the news coverage is therefore supportive of the military even though it is a public institution. And this is despite some pretty big instances of abuse such as rebuilding Iraq.

Basically, the system works for military contractors so they're not waging PR campaigns against the military.

2. Public education. Public education used to be one of the things that made our country the best in the world- we offered everyone a free public education. Then private PR firms started demonizing it because they smelled the opportunity for profit. In a government run education system, there's no opportunity to take a cut off the top. But if we could get the government to pay a middle man, then there's all kinds of profit which could be made.

In this instance, corporations want to change the funding structure so they are running PR campaigns against public education.

Don't believe the hype.

Why anyone would think that "Government Run" health care would be the exception to all the screwed up government run businesses is beyond me.

Why would anyone think the previous private health care system worked?

- 30+ million uninsured
- People denied coverage
- Emergency rooms being used for things like the flu
- The most costly health care in the world

Yet that's what conservatives want. A return to this disaster. Now, don't get me wrong, it might be good for the health care industry. All that cost = lots of profit. But was it a system that served people well?

-David

One way for GOP to help themselves is to take one of the autopsy's recommendations further. Primaries are better than caucuses for them. Primaries that allow independents to vote would be even better.

The RNC should push (hard) on all 50 state parties to do this. It's the opposite approach of Virginia's (which switched to a caucus to ensure a Cuccinelli nomination).

There are dangers and pitfalls, but overall, I'd say the benefits outweigh the negatives for both the GOP and the country.

Yea.. Because THAT always turns out so well..

Can you name me on "business" that Government has run well???

When I think of "Government Run" I think of the US Post Office that hasn't seen a black year in decades.. I think of FEMA and the Veterans Administration and the list goes on and on...

I think of so much incompetence and so much fraud and so much abuse...

Why anyone would think that "Government Run" health care would be the exception to all the screwed up government run businesses is beyond me.

Michale

Michale

Can you give me an example of a "single payer" system??

Michale

ah, like single payer. well, as miyagi says:

Walk on road, hm? Walk left side, safe. Walk right side, safe. Walk middle, sooner or later... kwk! get squish just like grape.

-the karate kid

How about replacing it with something that borders on common sense and doesn't prompt employers to go out of business or cut workers pay or hours???

What a concept, eh??

Something that doesn't HURT the economy and the middle class...

Michale

See!!

Republicans AND Democrats can work together to repeal a moronic ObamaCare tax...

Michale

That's the part ya'all just don't see...

If you repealed Obamacare and replaced it with, say, a public option I'm right on board.

But the idea that stripping people of healthcare somehow helps then is completely laughable. That's before we even tough on the financial implications...

Repealing ObamaCare WOULD help the economy... It sure as hell would help the Middle Class, a group ya'all CLAIM to care about...

That's the part ya'all just don't see...

Michale

They should pass a law that when politicians behave this stupidly and waste tax payers money that they should have a months salary stripped. It would reduce the deficit and increase the probability of politicians actually DOING THEIR DAMN JOBS AND HELPING A STRUGGLING ECONOMY.

Meanwhile I'm going to go and tell my boss that I am going to spend the day reissuing the budget revision I proposed and was rejected by her. See how that goes down...

Sure. Call it a campaign then.

The fact is, however, that there are many companies like White Hat Management who are working to privatize the school system and stand to make a lot of money if this happens.

The plan is quite simple really. Gin up anti-government sentiment against the schools and teacher unions. Talk about the failures of the public school system. Pay a consulting company to write a white paper about the benefits of charter schools. Fund politicians who are willing to make this happen. Cut funding for public schools. When they fail ... talk about the failure of public schools. And repeat.

We've been watching this play out in Oho over the past couple years. Here's an example of legislation just enacted to put an additional burden on public school teachers:

http://www.plunderbund.com/2012/10/28/third-grade-reading-guarantee-will-cost-teachers-over-17000-out-of-pocket/

One which doesn't apply to charter school teachers.

It has nothing to do with bettering the education of students and everything to do with making money. Just like "No Child Left Behind".

-David

Hahahahah. "Tax cuts for the rich and attacks on popular programs"

It makes perfect sense..

The guy won a convincing victory by pandering to minorities...

No other explanation fits. Especially when you consider it is well documented that minorities have suffered more than white people under the Obama Administration...

So, Obama feeds them some shiny beads and shallow flattery and viola... Convincing victory...

Michale

Bull...

Disregard that.. I read it to mean the so-called GOP "wars" in general.

I have no evidence to dispute your claim, just as you have no evidence to support your claim.

What you call "war" might simply be sincere efforts on people who believe in their "faith" as you much as you believe in yours..

It's a possibility that you must consider..

Michale

So, what you are saying is that if Republicans go against their branding, they will suffer.

But if Democrats go against their branding, they will be rewarded..

How does that work, exactly??

The "war" is actually being waged by private, for-profit education corporations.

Bull...

The way to stop it is if public opinion stays solidly behind our public school system and teachers. So much so that politicians won't risk supporting privatization.

Agreed.. But, as we have learned with ObamaCare, Obama and the Democrats don't necessarily follow the dictates of public opinion..

Michale

This doesn't even make sense. You mean the guy who just won a convincing victory in the last election?

As with many "wars" that Republicans are accused of, the evidence is nothing but spin and twisting of facts.

The "war" is actually being waged by private, for-profit education corporations.

Republicans were just the original flag bearers for privatization (and still the most vocal). Though Obama and Democrats like Rahm are picking it up and running with it.

The way to stop it is if public opinion stays solidly behind our public school system and teachers. So much so that politicians won't risk supporting privatization.

-David

As with many "wars" that Republicans are accused of, the evidence is nothing but spin and twisting of facts.

For example, the GOP wants to make women pay for their own contraceptives so as not to burden American taxpayers..

The Democrats spin that to mean that the Republicans don't like women and are engaged in a "war on women"..

In essence the Left takes one very unlikely and very remote possibility, the one most damaging to the GOP and, all of the sudden, THAT becomes the ONLY reason that the GOP does this or does that.

It's pure, unadulterated spin.. Nothing more...

To be fair, the Right does it to Democrats as well. Probably even better...

And so it goes and so it goes....

Michale

And, STILL under the IWBW category...

I'm not sure if they realize how much becoming the anti-Obama party has damaged their brand.

Just as I am not sure if DEMOCRATS realize how much becoming so PRO-Obama has damaged THEIR brand..

Wouldn't you agree??

And no amount of minority voter pandering is going to fix this.

And yet, even though minorities have suffered worst under Obama and the Democrats, such such pandering works for Democrats..

Go figger...

Michale

I am sure you are.

Just like many on the Right are thankful for the likes of Reid, Rangel, Feinstein, Menendez and all other on the Left who have shown how corrupt, perverse and incompetent the Democratic Party is...

IWBW :D

Michale

Don't get me wrong, Michale ... I'm thankful for Reince

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DOhKs2mngDM

-David

~joshua

CW,

did you SERIOUSLY just write that? in what way do closing schools and neutering teacher unions help minorities? chicago is planning to close 54 schools, relocate 11 and have 6 taken over by private companies, their principals and half their teachers laid off. philadelphia too. there is zero credible evidence that any of these strategies will do anything whatsoever to help minority students. most likely the strategy is in retaliation for union activity. if the plans go through, class sizes will skyrocket. children will have to travel farther from home, through dangerous neighborhoods, usually on foot. the new schools will inherit the same problems from the old schools, with fewer teachers per student. this and other anti-union measures do NOT help minorities in any way, shape or form. how in the hell can anyone say that this is somehow for the benefit of the students? let's hear it, what evidence supports this assertion?

~joshua

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/johnvilvens/rnc-pr-bs_b_2919334_238750057.html

You have GOT to get this guy over here!!!

He is definitely a kindred spirit.. :D

Michale

I can't help calling him Prince Reibus

It's a common problem.

It's why people on the Right can't help saying "O-bozo" or "Obummer"....

:D

Michale

I can't help calling him Prince Reibus

Here's the link if anyone's interested:

http://images.dailykos.com/i/user/191280/130960510-Growth-Opportunity-Project.pdf

The interesting thing to me is that the most important thing to both parties seems to be their brand.

Not, as both you and Michale have mentioned, their core beliefs. It's a battle of branding. Or is there any difference?

The trick is that a good brand has consistency between what the brand says and what the company does. Google believes in doing good, for example, and backs this up by giving employees time to work on projects they believe in.

This is where both parties could use some work in my opinion.

For example, if more Democrats were to come out against drone warfare this would be more consistent with their brand.

Similarly, if more Republicans were to support growing the economy, it would be more consistent with their brand. Keep in mind, they used to be the party of growth. I'm not sure if they realize how much becoming the anti-Obama party has damaged their brand. And no amount of minority voter pandering is going to fix this.

-David

The only way Republicans make any progress on any issue is when it is shoved down their throat by wave after wave of public opinion. Gay marriage and immigration are the perfect examples of this.

Why they don't just listen to what people want and offer a Conservative agenda geared towards this (like every other Conservative party in every other Western democracy) I'll never know. It's like 'well preaching bigoted hateful propaganda brought us SOME success in the least informed parts of the country, so why abandon a semi-successful strategy!'

The fact that the most successful, prominent, popular and reasonable Conservative Governor in the country just now wasn't even invited to CPAC - yet complete morons like Palin, Bachman and Trump get the podium to spew their vile moronic nonsense - says all you need to know about how stuck in the past and unwilling to modernise they are.

Wish some of those commenters over at HuffPo could find their way over here, where opinions are TRULY diversified rather than just being a moderator imposed echo chamber..

One comment was REALLY hilarious..

Mr. Weigant, why are you telling them how to help themselves? These are the people who brought us Iraq, Katrina and the economic crash of 2008.

Really!!???

The Republicans made Katrina???

Democrats had NOTHING to do with Iraq or the Economic Crash???

I think the IQ of HuffPo commenters are in the single digits...

Present company excepted, of course.. :D

Michale

Which is EXACTLY the way it went for Democrats after the Great Democrat Shellacking Of 2010.

"Our policies are great! It's just that we're failing to explain them properly!"

Iddn't that funny... :D

The biggest test on how bad things REALLY are for the Republican Party will come in 2014...

If Republicans get shellacked again, I am willing to concede the point that the GOP is in trouble.

On the flip side, if 2014 is a redux of 2010, I wonder how many Weigantians will be able to concede that it's the Democratic Party that is in trouble... :D

Michale...

Due to technical problems in the past, the link at the bottom of new articles to the cross-posting at the Huffington Post site has only pointed to my "author's page" there. But we're pleased to say that the problem has been fixed, and from now on this link will work the way it used to -- by taking you directly to the article itself on Huffington Post, where you can see the comments from HuffPosters. I've gotten complaints in the past that it wasn't working the way originally designed, so I wanted to point out that it has now been fixed and should from now on take you to the article itself.

-CW