h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I hope Rep Joe Wilson (R-SC) is censured for his beyond-boorish behavior last night. Did he think he was at a town hall meeting in South Succotash?

Apparently. It was definitely childish and inappropriate.

He needs more than censuring.

Although Wilson's behavior was closer to the kind of British Parliament free-for-all Americans see on C-SPAN that I love so. But imagine if a Democrat had yelled during one of Bush's speeches. People would be getting a rope right about now. Limbaugh's panties would be in a twist. A potential candidate in upcoming elections would emerge from the wings.

South Carolina is providing a lot of entertainment this summer, isn't it? First Sparky Sanford, now Joe Wilson.

Actually, the parliamentary rowdiness has always rather put me off. It seems so unbritish, somehow. It isn't a custom I want imported into Congress, especially not during a formal address from the President.

From Senator Patricia Wiggins:

Budget Cuts Force Potter Valley Community Health Clinic to Close

After 27 years of operation, the Potter Valley Health Clinic closed its doors, effective August 21, due to a loss of state funding.

Ninety percent of the clinic’s funding had come from the state, and while Potter Valley was prepared to handle some degree of cuts, it could not continue after Governor Schwarzenegger eliminated three grant programs and cut the Expanded Access to Primary Care program by 65 percent. This program provided the funding necessary to backfill the difference between what some patients could afford and what it actually cost clinics such as Potter Valley to provide care. Other changes reduced funding for rural health services and dental care, helping to push Potter Valley over the edge.

The Potter Valley Health Clinic does not receive federal funding. Several times in the past 10 years clinic officials had applied for Federally Qualified Health Center status, but they’ve always been denied because they are too close to other federally-qualified facilities. The majority of the clinics’ 3,000 patients are low-income, and without state funding will not have the resources to seek medical care. Many of them will now be forced to drive, or otherwise travel, significant distances to see a physician.

-----------------------

Potter Valley is in Mendocino County.

I found this analysis piece in one of Z's new scientists this morning - it may be old news to all of you, though.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20327166.100-california-no-longer-the-golden-state.html

Thanks for the link, Mrs Z.

Happy Nerd, that's appalling news! Most of the "stimulus" funds went to the biggest counties, with LA's "portion," a not-insignificant amount going to transportation. My feeling is that healthcare should get first crack, then schools, then whatever else. Small counties and less densely populated areas always get shorted!

In order to build a more fair and just economy, at home and abroad, we need to be aware of what we demand, what we buy. To that end, here is a report on goods produced by child and slave labor:

http://www.dol.gov/ilab/programs/ocft/PDF/2009TVPRA.pdf


HN

'As Sweden takes a battering in the US health care debate, Swedish Institute chief Olle Wästberg examines two of the insults most frequently flung: that Sweden is rampantly socialist, and that it's the poster child for neo-liberal market excesses.'

http://www.thelocal.se/22120/20090916/

Oh, and I think Jimmy Carter is absolutely right when he says that a lot of the criticism against Obama is based on racism. Sadly enough.

I really don't understand Republicans. The President wins the Nobel Peace Prize and they criticize him for it. Shouldn't they be glad an American won it? I know, I'm dreaming.

There needs to be a Nobel Sour Grapes Prize. These were the same people pushing for Ronald Reagan to win the Peace Prize for his (limited) role in the fall of the Berlin Wall. It was good enough then, not so much now. Losers.

From a Scandinavian point of view, I agree that the peace prize was awarded a bit too soon - we don't know yet how some of Obama's efforts are going to turn out.

On the other hand, there was a time when I was *really* worried that Dubya would invade Iran before his time was over...

I'm still feeling a little pleasure that our president - and by extension our nation - is perceived by some committee in a faraway land as moving in the right direction, toward a better tomorrow.

But yeah, the caterwauling is deafening.

His opponents will grasp anything -and it looks like *anything*- and turn it against him. If they weren't so vocal (and sore at losing, and racist etc. etc. etc.) then this wouldn't seem half as bad. Unexpected, perhaps, but just a pleasant diversion for five minutes before Mr President plunges himself back into exactly what he was doing before.

Personally I think it's been awarded out of sheer relief that he's at least attempting to be diplomatic and open up relationships with other countries - and he isn't Bush.

Rachel Maddow did an analysis of previous winners, who were awarded the Nobel for "work in progress" -- Al Gore, Desmond Tutu, Yasser Arafat and Anwar Sadat, Jimmy Carter.... the Indonesian woman who was imprisoned in her home for her defiance of the people in power (all details have completely fled my brain on that one)...

In every case, Rachel observed, the Nobel committee did not wait until the achievement was complete before awarding the prize.

" the Indonesian woman who was imprisoned in her home for her defiance of the people in power"

Lil, you might be thinking of Burma rather than Indonesia, and Aung San Suu Kyi, who won the 1991 Nobel prize and has spent many years under house arrest as follows:

(courtesy of wikipedia)

20 July 1989: Placed under house arrest in Rangoon under martial law that allows for detention without charge or trial for three years.
10 July 1995: Released from house arrest.
23 September 2000: Placed under house arrest.
6 May 2002: Released after 19 months.
30 May 2003: Arrested following the Depayin massacre she was held in secret detention for over 3 months before being returned to house arrest.
25 May 2007: House arrest extended by one year flouting a direct appeal from U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to General Than Shwe.
24 October 2007: Reached 12 years under house arrest, solidarity protests held at 12 cities around the world.
27 May 2008: House arrest extended for another year, illegal under both international law and Burma's own law.
11 August 2009: House arrest extended for further 18 months because of "violation" arising from the May 2009 trespass incident.

Thank you egon, that's just who I meant. The idea in all examples being that it's not the achievement itself but the courage shown in the attempt, as well as the example set for the rest of the world.

I'm not happy that Obama is continuing some of the Bush Administration's policies in Afghanistan and Iraq (though he is slowing bringing our troops out of the latter). I feel he could do a lot better on civil rights for gay and lesbian Americans. But this Nobel Peace Prize? I'm proud for both him and my country. I realize the vote was basically a repudiation of the last administration. I know it's more for what Obama *might* do, and thanks to his election the changing tone of international politics, rather than for what he's done the last nine months in office.

That said, I don't think giving him the prize was, as Marv said in the main Atelier, a joke. I see it as a vote of confidence on the part of the rest of the world. America's entering the 21st Century in terms of international diplomacy. With Obama at the helm, we're finally starting to treat our allies *and* our enemies as rational adults.

Okay, North Korea still needs a spanking. But you guys know what I mean. It's refreshing to have an intelligent person in charge who automatically treats everyone else like an intelligent person too.