Pundits have focused recently on President Obama’s declining public opinion polls.  As the President drops to fifty percent approval ratings, the talk speculates on whether the poor economy will sink Democratic prospects in the 2010 mid...]]> The U.S. Government's top flu monitoring agency, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has provided new estimates for the deaths, hospitalizations and total infections in the United States from the H1N1 flu (Swine flu).  The CDC estimates that 22...]]> This week Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. announced that five alleged terrorists linked to the 9/11 attacks would be put on trial in New York’s federal district court.  The decision to give these Guantanamo detainees U.S. criminal tria...]]> What does a master politician learn from defeat?  Republicans are claiming the November election shows a renunciation of Barack Obama’s nine months of leadership.  Democrats are reassured by the Owens victory in New York: The Con...]]> Several recent podcasts provide enlightening alternate approaches to learning about health insurance issues and Swine Flu (H1N1). Health care The clever construction and creative presentation of two audio pieces on This American Life provide ...]]> Have your say. The passage of five health care legislative proposals out of committee and into the hands of the Congressional leadership is a big step forward.  Now, Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid and a hand picked team (Sens. Baucus, Sn...]]> Maine Republican Senator Olympia Snowe today backed the Democratic health care legislation in the Senate Finance Committee.  The vote today will pass the legislation out of the committee to the full Senate.  Four other proposals have passed ...]]> When is a tax a good idea?NEVER!  (Say it cause it feels good.  Then get real and move on.)One important proposal for lowering costs in health care is taxing higher-value health insurance plans.  The principle here is that currently the...]]> The comedian Bill Maher sent a Tweet to his 59,001 Twitter followers, “If u get a swine flu shot ur an idiot” (Sept 26).  140 characters wasn’t enough to explain his logic, but the message is clear enough and echoes public s...]]> President Obama's winning of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize recognizes his multilateral emphasis in resolving international conflicts.  Critics, who wonder what he has done, are overlooking the importance of this cooperative approach to the rest of t...]]>