The John Mackey health care editorial: FINALLY I get to rebut it!

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Thursday October 08, 2009 · 8:23 AM PDT

2009/10/08 · 08:23

Weeks ago (maybe months, the time is passing so quickly!) a Facebook friend approvingly linked to the notorious John Mackey editorial piece published in the Wall Street Journal. You will recall that Mr. Mackey is the virulently anti-union CEO of Whole Foods, Inc. His editorial piece was lauded by opponents of meaninful health care reform as an alternate way forward. Naturally, I had to write my FB friend and tell him that I strongly opposed most of the arguments in the editorial. I promised a detailed rebuttal.

Real life intervened in a big way, but I did finally finish my rebuttal, and while the Mackey ship has sailed in our part of the world (and has nearly completed its circumnaviation) I thought it might be useful if I posted my rebuttal here.

Poll

9 votes Show Results

Have you called your Congresscritter and Senators today?

9 votes Vote Now!

Have you called your Congresscritter and Senators today?

Yes!

3 votes

Not yet, but I will!

4 votes

No, not worth the time

2 votes

My Senators are Inhofe and Coburn--figure the odds!

0 votes

Hannibal, MO, townhall with Claire McCaskill

AAbshier

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday August 24, 2009 · 3:21 PM PDT

2009/08/24 · 15:21

Crossposted on Show Me Progress

Over the recess I have been following, along with all of you, the often alarming reports coming out of town hall meetings with our elected officials. Earlier this month Sen. Claire McCaskill had scheduled town hall events in the St. Louis area, but the one planned in University City was cancelled at the U.City School District's behest due to security concerns, so I never got to see a health care townhall in my immediate area.

When Sen. McCaskill's second round of townhalls was announced, I decided to go to the one in Hannibal, the closest location to me, to gauge how the health care debate was going in the more rural sections of the state.

That there is still interest in the health care issue is evident from this photo, showing a full gymnasium during the discussion. The Hannibal News-Courier estimated the crowd size at 475.

Poll

486 votes Show Results

Have you been to a townhall this recess?

486 votes Vote Now!

Have you been to a townhall this recess?

Yes, in my CD or state

113 votes

Yes, in a different CD in my state.

16 votes

Yes, in a different state than my state of residence.

7 votes

No--either none were offered, or I couldn't make the ones that were.

334 votes

I went to a fight, and a Congressional townhall meeting broke out!

16 votes

Cheers and Jeers MONDAY!

AAbshier

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday August 17, 2009 · 6:24 AM PDT

2009/08/17 · 06:24

From Mt. Vernon, Illinois, where the town slogan is, "We're not nearly as boring as Mt. Carmel, Illinois"........

I'm out here to do some relief work for one of my longtime clients, Lamczyk Veterinary Clinic. Kevin and JoLynn have been very good to me over the years, and I'm always happy to be out here. I'm also happy to be awake, and ready to work--unlike most of our attendees at Netroots Nation 09! We hope the hangovers aren't bad this morning (I had a near-humdinger last Friday night) and that this will bring a smile to your face.

Cheers and Jeers begins, with news from around the nation, around the world, and up your alley! ("Up my alley?" Up yours!)

Poll

173 votes Show Results

What is your favorite kind of Scotch?

173 votes Vote Now!

What is your favorite kind of Scotch?

single malt

55 votes

single grain

1 vote

blended malt

4 votes

blended grain

2 votes

tape

56 votes

guard

7 votes

pie

48 votes

Cheers and Jeers MONDAY!

AAbshier

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday June 29, 2009 · 6:59 AM PDT

2009/06/29 · 06:59

From the bluffs of Alton, in the true-blue state of Illinois.....

I have once again been asked by Michael to ~~subject~~ treat you to a Monday Cheers and Jeers; Bill and Michael took a nice weekend getaway as a reward for their hard work, and Bill didn't want to present a C&J today that was not up to his usual standard. For my part, I've been working pretty hard these past two weeks also, and my relief veterinary work has taken me to Mt. Carmel, Bloomington, Lincoln, and Springfield, all in the great state of Illinois. I've seen the inside of a number of hotel rooms and not much of home during this time, but now I have a week off coming up, so kicking it off with a C&J seems like a great way to start!

Doc's Cheers and Jeers begins below the fold, with news from around the nation, around the world, and up your alley! ("Up my alley?" Up yours!)

Sun sets over a cornfield: Mt. Carmel, Illinois.

AAbshier

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday May 25, 2009 · 7:05 AM PDT

2009/05/25 · 07:05

From the bluffs of Alton, in the true-blue state of Illinois.....

Bill has taken yet another Federal holiday off, so you get me filling in this morning. We hope you won't be upset! I've had the house to myself this weekend, but was out of town myself on Saturday, and was flat-out exhausted from my week yesterday. Thus, this C&J will not be up to my usual standard, but here it is anyway!

Doc's semi-last minute Cheers and Jeers begins below the fold, with news from around the nation, around the world, and up your alley! ("Up my alley?" Up yours!)

Poll

106 votes Show Results

Who?

106 votes Vote Now!

Who?

What?

6 votes

When?

1 vote

Where?

4 votes

Why?

26 votes

How?

8 votes

Pie?

61 votes

Cheers and Jeers MONDAY!

AAbshier

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday April 20, 2009 · 5:01 AM PDT

2009/04/20 · 05:01

From the bluffs of Alton, in the true-blue state of Illinois.....

This is kind of last-minute, so I'll just open with a Nancy and Daphne pic, from the 2008 Soulard Dog Parade:

Doc's semi-last minute Cheers and Jeers begins below the fold, with news from around the nation, around the world, and up your alley! ("Up my alley?" Up yours!)

Poll

294 votes Show Results

Tea?

294 votes Vote Now!

Tea?

Earl Grey, hot

83 votes

No thanks, I drink coffee

106 votes

I can't answer without my lawyer being present

43 votes

Pie

62 votes

Cheers and Jeers MONDAY!

AAbshier

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday March 09, 2009 · 6:52 AM PDT

2009/03/09 · 06:52

From around Alton, around the nation, around the world, and up your alley ("Up my alley?" Up yours!")......

Oh jeez, look at what's been done to the place:

I expect a full-court press in getting this place cleaned up before Bill and Michael get back! Make sure you recycle those bottles and cans!

Somebody needs to clean out the car, too:

Cheers and Jeers MONDAY begins presently. And awaaaaaaay we go.........

Poll

293 votes Show Results

Have you read anything written by Ayn Rand?

293 votes Vote Now!

Have you read anything written by Ayn Rand?

Yes, and I loved it!f

48 votes

Yes, and I hated it!

94 votes

No, but I would like to.

7 votes

No, but I probably should since the wingnuts keep bringing her up.

53 votes

I'd rather read a Danielle Steele novel.

91 votes

The Alton Weekly Inquirer! 01-16-09

AAbshier

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday January 16, 2009 · 7:04 AM PST

2009/01/16 · 07:04

From the top floor of the Alton Weekly Inquirer Action EyeWitness NewsCenter On Your Side--With More Local News!, in the true-blue state of Illinois....

Our Top Story Today--The Economic Slump Impacts Granite City Steel: The already hard-hit steel industries in this East Metro town, across the river from north St. Louis, recieved another blow when Amsted Steel Foundries announced layoffs of 350 workers by mid February. This is on top of the 1600 jobs already lost at U.S. Steel's Granite City plant:

"It has never gotten this bad, ever, in Granite City Steel's 130-year history," said Russ Saltsgaver, president of the United Steelworkers Local 1899.

Sorry to begin on a downer, but this is major news for our area. Let's go to press!

Poll

31 votes Show Results

What is your favorite Ricardo Montalban line?

31 votes Vote Now!

What is your favorite Ricardo Montalban line?

I shall leave you as you left me, as you left her; marooned for all eternity in the center of a dead planet... buried alive! Buried alive...!

8 votes

My friends, welcome to Fantasy Island!

8 votes

I request nothing beyond the thickly cushioned luxury of seats available in soft Corinthian leather.

11 votes

Tell me, Mr. Papshmir, in all the world, who is the most effective assassin?

2 votes

Hey Doc, you forgot.......

2 votes

The Alton Weekly Inquirer! 01-09-08

AAbshier

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday January 09, 2009 · 7:00 AM PST

2009/01/09 · 07:00

From the top floor of the Alton Weekly Inquirer Action EyeWitness NewsCenter On Your Side--With More Local News!, in the true-blue state of Illinois....

Our Top Story Today--Reportedly, The Pub Room in Alton Is Interested: Officials in Vassalboro, Maine, have approved a permit for a topless coffee shop to be placed in an old hotel in town. Cream in your coffee? Er, no thanks. (NOTE: the video report in the link is absolutely NSFW.) (I drink tea, anyway.)

Ahem....Let's go to press!

AAbshier

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday January 02, 2009 · 6:41 AM PST

2009/01/02 · 06:41

From the top floor of the Alton Weekly Inquirer Action EyeWitness NewsCenter On Your Side, in the true-blue state of Illinois....

The new year has turned. In Times Square, the new, improved ball has dropped; in Key West, the lusty pirate wench was lowered from the top of the mast; and in The Pub Room here in Alton, they marked the passing of 2008 with the ceremonial raising of the barmaids' skirts. (OK, I made that last part up, but it is a plausible scenario!)

Y2K+8 was quite a year, and we at the AEWNCOYS would be remiss in not doing a retrospective, (besides that, these pastiche diaries are less work--oops, I wasn't supposed to write that), so here it is!
Let's go to ~~press!~~ the archives!

AAbshier

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday December 25, 2008 · 8:06 AM PST

2008/12/25 · 08:06

From our house on Bluff Street, to our friends on Daily Kos around the world:

So here's my lifelong wish,
My grown-up Christmas list;
Not for myself,
But for a world in need:

No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
Everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end.
This is my grown-up Christmas list.

(music by David foster, lyrics by Linda Thompson-Jenner and Amy Grant; performed by Amy Grant) (Not performed by the Bluff Street Festival Singers, seen above)

Our (virtual) doors are open to all--so please come in and have some hot beverages with us!

AAbshier

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday December 19, 2008 · 7:26 AM PST

2008/12/19 · 07:26

From the top floor of the Alton Weekly Inquirer Action EyeWitness NewsCenter On Your Side, in the true-blue state of Illinois....

Our Top Story Today--Alton truly is a great place to raise a family:

The 50-year-old bartender, dressed like a Catholic high school girl in a tartan skirt and a tight T-shirt, tells us that the bar usually has a band, but tonight's act canceled last minute. When we cheekily ask how she plans to entertain us without live music, the woman lifts her shirt and responds: "Oh, I can think of a couple ways."

Eee-yup, and the bars this article mentions are literally a few blocks away from the AWIAEWNCOYS. If you've been wondering why there have been no AWIs these past few weeks....well, keep wondering! Let's go to press!

Poll

38 votes Show Results

Do you have your Christmas shopping done?

38 votes Vote Now!

Do you have your Christmas shopping done?

I've done none of it, for one reason or another

7 votes

25% done

4 votes

50% done

5 votes

75% done

12 votes

ALL done!

10 votes

We open present on Epiphany. There's plenty of time.

0 votes

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