The federal government has shown that they have no qualms about collecting and tracking tons of electronic/internet information on American citizens here and abroad. So in this article in the NYT the paper reports that up to 10 states’ legislatures (from OK to CA) are passing laws that protect user privacy.
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After watching HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius testify before congress today I realized that the whole Affordable Care Act is hurting both Republicans and Democrats, and this is why.
First and foremost, the GOP is so against an “Obamacare” success that they will do anything to attack and derail the plan even though it is already law. They grilled Sebelius today over and over again with mostly anecdotal evidence in an attempt to frighten American’s with myths of “Big Government.” And these scare tactics turn-off the political independents even though it appeals to the blood-thirsty GOP faithful.
Secondly, the Democrats and Obama need to admit what a “debacle” this whole enrollment process and plan cancellation has been. They need to tell what they knew, when they knew, and who knew it. And, especially, Obama, Carney, and Sebelius need to ask for political forgiveness for stating that anyone who wanted to keep their current insurance coverage plan could.
And lastly, watching this hearing today showed me how dysfunctional the Capitol is at the moment. The two sides are far to involved with sniping and playing a win/lose game. The hearing was inconsequential at times because the same issues were covered over and over again by congress members, from both sides of the aisle, in an effort to score points on the record. Hardly anything was accomplished. Also, after watching the news coverage afterwards, on CNN. the supposedly-great-and-impartial Wolf Blitzer was just replaying soundbite after soundbite of emotional exchanges instead of reporting the real meat of the subject.
Just make sure you watch the PBS News Hour tonight for some decent media coverage of the hearing
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A smashing article in the L.A. Times reports that sources tell the newspaper that the White House was aware and signed-off on eavesdropping on friendly leaders of the world including Germany, Mexico, and Brazil.
The real scandal here is that the White House has claimed they had no knowledge of these eavesdroppings-on-close- allies policies, but now unnamed officials say that the White House signed off on the collections performed by the NSA.
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A very good article in The Guardian on Al Shabaab, the Al Quaida affiliated group who has claimed to have been behind to recent attack on civilians in a Kenyan mall.
The article provides a good bio for the group and points to the fact that once thought to be in it’s last days, the terrorist organization seems to be alive not just in Somalia but across the Eastern African region.
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A good article in The Guardian regarding a protest against the ban on women driving alone in Saudi Arabia. Being required by law to be accompanied by a male relative when driving, protesting women made videos of themselves driving alone on the streets of Riyadh and other cities to be posted on social media sites.
Also, these videos of women driving are included in the piece.
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A good article in The Post on how “techies,” and not off-the-grid wackos, are showing up to lobby congress against the extensive NSA spying. It’s not just the ACLU and similar groups against the data collection, it’s postgrad tech engineers who will be creating the next wave of technologies that are getting involved.
Also, there is a good mention and analysis of this weekend’s Stop Watching Us march in DC advocating for less privacy violations by the NSA and other government institutions.
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A frightening article at Salon on how some charter schools in mostly Texas (but expanding) are being controlled by far-right Christian groups that heavily influence the curriculum there.
Creationism vs. evolution, Noah’s “Great Flood,” the Ten Commandments, and blaming Darwin for the Holocaust are all issues that find themselves in these schools.
This is unbelievable for charter schools are still publicly funded.
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The NYT has a great running series entitled “Room for Debate” that features four experts who give differing opinions on recent and prolific news issues that must be read. It is a worthwhile read every time.
This time it’s about the recent Snowden-released revelation that the U.S. is spying on European and U.S.-allied leaders through the N.S.A.
Read this piece for four great perspectives on this issue and “like” the series on Facebook.
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A good piece in The Atlantic on the history of Hezbollah in Lebanon. It begins with the attacks on international peace-keepers (including the U.S. and French troops) trying to slow civil war violence there and ends with the prosecution of, or lack thereof, leaders who are seen as behind those attacks. Also, it goes in-depth with a discussion regarding those who support and fund the Shiite terrorist group.
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A great piece in The Atlantic on all of the reasons why we should fear the mass collection of data by the NSA and other government agencies.
It’s the best critique of the NSA spying programs, and their so-called “defense” of it, I’ve read yet. A lot of in-depth thought and reasoning.
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Sparking The Left 