What They Are Saying: 12.04.09
 Jobless still need health care: With more than 15.7 million people jobless in the country there is an urgent need for Congress to extend federal health insurance subsidy for families of the unemployed. [Boston Globe]
Reform or Else: Those concerned with fiscal responsibility should be worried about what will happen if proposed health care legislation doesn’t pass. [New York Times] With reforms pending, recent drug-industry price hikes raise suspicions [Houston Chronicle] Good News on Premiums: The Congressional Budget Office’s analysis shows that tens of millions of uninsured Americans can be covered without driving up costs for everyone else. [New York Times] If a war’s worth fighting, isn’t it worth paying for? Congress has raised taxes to fund most of our fighting, but since 9/11 the war bills have been piling up. The Share the Sacrifice Act would change that. [LA Times] The Analytic Mode: We should embrace the analytical governing style of President Obama, and learn to live without the passion and clarity of his presidential campaign. [New York Times] GOP folds its big tent: The focus of the Republican “unity” movement seems less ideological than personal: a blind animus toward Obama and all who would cooperate with him. [Boston Globe] The NFL’s head case [Chicago Tribune] Dangerous Work: Congress should fix holes in legislation intended to protect whistle-blowers at public companies from being penalized for reporting wrongdoing. [New York Times] A bad omen in Dubai: The lack of alarm is alarming. [Washington Post] Xenophobia: Switzerland vs. minarets – An odd ban in Switzerland on an expression of Islamic architecture shows the need for enlightened politicians around the world to defend the principle of pluralism. [Boston Globe] Needed for Mideast peace: a sense of urgency: Arab and Israeli leaders are convinced that President Obama is in more of a hurry than they are, so they are content to have him do the heavy lifting. [LA Times] A new momentum for Afghanistan: This is an alliance effort, and the strategy is clear, says the secretary general of NATO. [Washington Post] Veterans and gun safety: Legislation to loosen restrictions on buying guns by mentally unstable veterans is misguided. [LA Times] Hispanic farmers deserve justice, too [USA Today] Facts and figures, myths and mantras: “Truthiness” has exploded alongside a new media that is decidedly not mainstream. It’s now possible to find a group somewhere in Googleland that will agree with anything. [Boston Globe] Celebrity affairs: Whose marital transgressions would really surprise you? [Chicago Tribune] Can Comcast connect? In buying NBC Universal, it must find new ways to court consumers who have many media choices. [LA Times] Why? Because it’s up there: Missions to the moon and beyond cost little compared with often- intangible benefits. [Philadelphia Inquirer] ————————– Editorial Note: This feature, “What They Are Saying” will be discontinued on Monday, December 7, 2009 so that we can bring you more annotated opinions. |
