berensma's Comments (206)

“So, just curious, who are the investors in this place? The rich? Or were our pension funds somehow wrapped up here, too? (Nothing would surprise me at this point.)”

“Thank you for writing this. Among many of my progressive friends, the Bush II years were so stunning and numbing that it was all-but forgotten what a failure Clinton was as a progressive. One item you neglected to include in your excellent article was his "welfare reform," drafted primarily to reduce access to benefits for anyone who ever hits hard times, and largely supported by Republicans.

I count myself among the former, fierce Obama supporters who now feels completely confused and quite betrayed. It's not enough that we "personally like" our president, and it is not "betraying" him to question his policies fiercely and often. He, in fact, invited us to do this during his campaign.

In my disappointment, I find I'm kind of frozen and very fearful about what happens next. I've been contacting my representatives on key issues and even writing regular letters to the White House. But the most flummoxing problem, for me, in the current situation, is my open-mouthed astonishment that Obama appears to be backing off on almost every single promise, or even insinuation he made, in the name of supposed bipartisanship. And yet, at the same time, he is ignoring the situation with the most potential for true bipartisanship -- the economy and his team selected to manage it.”

“Umm...yes. He's done it before, and he's done it well.”

“Whether President Obama wants to hear it or not (and he clearly does not), his best bet for any sort of bipartisanship will come through true economic overhaul, which will include tanking his team.”

“It was on the news yesterday that a condition of his vote was that the anti-trust proceedings against the insurance industry would be removed from the existing senate bill. If this is true, why is it not covered (or debunked) in this article. Seems like pretty incomplete reporting to me of a VERY IMPORTANT amendment to the bill.”

“I think Warren Buffett's purchase of Great Northern RR is actually a long-term buy, with very little to do with current cycling (except a desired to avoid it). If anything, a conservative, long-term purchase such as this should make us *more* worried about shorter-term issues such as those raised by Roubini.”

“So....corr­ect me if I'm wrong, but what I'm hearing/seeing here is that if a large number of Americans continue to not spend money on unnecessary items, and spend as little as they can on necessary ones, and if we all continue to agree that have we have little faith in the economy, then Wall Street will continue to decline? This could be a no-brainer­....”

“I can't agree with you. An opt-in is acceptable because it would at least give state leadership a run for their money if the people really wanted access. But a trigger is just a smokescreen. Further, the bill(s) are loaded with huge flaws that have not even begun to be addressed.

It is not good enough to just pass *something,* calling itself reform, when that could make our burden heavier, or build a whole new bubble for the insurance industry.”

“It is such a weird and scary day when we are counting on Chuck Schumer to deliver us the good news.”

“Go, Ms. Snowe!”

“Blitz them with calls!

Grand Junction - Corporate Headquarters
2775 Crossroads Boulevard
PO Box 10600
Grand Junction, CO 81502-5600
970-244-7760
800-843-0719
Fax: 970-244-7880”

“Why? Because it will make the Southerners very angry and they will vote people in who will make sure that they do get the public option ASAP.

For all of their complaining about, Southern conservatives are as or more happy with social security and Medicare than the rest of us. They will come around, in a serious way, after watching what everyone else gets, assuming the public option works.”

“I've been running a home-based business for years, and only see more and more people doing it these days (whether out of desire or necessity). Deducting these things is an absolute right if they are truly being used for the said purpose -- it means you can't use your extra bedroom for your child, for example. Keep your taxes in order, keep your receipts, track your expenses and you wind up fine! The most important thing to know if you start a small biz is that your effective tax rate will be higher because you will owe much more on social security and medicare payments (known as FICA).”

“Boy, she looks uncomfortable. And what's with those bruised ankles?”

“And with the way the U.S. bond market is going, this may be our last chance to effect a stimulus. The cash is going, too, folks.”

“Even as a social science, economics lacks the required rigor.”

“Well, actually, I do not have a problem with this, per se, and am glad to hear the issue raised again. The Republicans may have actually hit on one this time that will hit a larger swath of people's nerves. I don't agree at all that having to buy health insurance is a matter of personal liberty, but rather one of avoiding complete corporate slavery. This issue was key in my preferring BO over HRC in the original campaign, as I do not believe that the Massachusetts mandate experiment has worked....”

“I hear you! Keep posting this! People do tend to get self-righteous about this issue and I'm tired of it. We have enough self-righteousness in the conservative camp....”

“If Obama is looking for an issue that we can work across the table/across political parties on, this is the one. Anyone with half a brain sees the problem here. The problem is -- does the obama administration think of this? -- that he's looking for cooperation among politicians and they are not willing to do this. We, the people, could learn. Don't screw up this opportunity.”

“I'm currently reading, and highly recommend, Thomas Frank's "The Wrecking Crew." it details how, back 30-40 years' ago, the Republicans began their assault on communism (who would have had an issue with that, back then?) and then effectively merged this fear/hatred into a fear/hatred of liberalism, which of course, is equivalent to communism. It was really eye-opening for me, and they're using the exact same trick again.”

“Until we all have equal access to the food, facilities, and information that will help us to prevent obesity on an individual level, no right exists to tax any of us.

It's always such an easy and distracting solution in this country, to develop a new group of "others" and demonize them. Helps you to feel smug and in control. But we're not in control of much, are we?”

“Yep. Currently, I think the main movement that's happening among average Americans (whether democrat, republican, or in-between) is towards a much more libertarian outlook. I've never identified as a libertarian, BTW, but in what other direction are you supposed to go when neither side will do a thing that's useful?”

“Bill Clinton was ABSOLUTELY part of the problem, as well.”

“I live in WA state where we have a "model" cooperative -- Group Health. It is not what anyone wants, I'm not saying it's bad, but you more or less are required to see their doctors, in their centers, and to follow their approved treatment algorithms. For some people, this works out well, for others, it really does not.

Most important, though, Group Health does not have the negotiating power to make it's rates competitive. They cost as much as the local private plans or more. And the cooperative is running in the red. Just a little vision of the future....”

“I hope they make the e-keyboard a lot better than it is in the ipod/iphone”