Frank Rich writes in the NYT about the tea-party and the Glenn Beck inspired rage sweeping town-halls and the president’s address to congress.
Month: September 2009
Competing views on racism
David Brooks and Bob Herbert both have articles in the NYT about the role race is playing in the health-care debate. Each of them reaches a completely different conclusion.
On this occasion I find myself leaning towards Herbert. I don’t think every person who opposes Obama’s health care proposal, or Obama himself is racist, but I do think the fringe has been allowed to move closer to the center of power and the Republican party platform. Ever since Nixon’s Southern strategy, the republican party has consciously exploited and encouraged racial anxiety amongst white Americans (of course, Southern democrats did the same thing quite well prior to LBJ).
Protests in Iran
Despite intimidation, opposition protesters used the cover of an annual rally in support of the Palestinian cause to march through major cities in Iran. The NYT has a report on it.
Solar Power in the USA
Thomas Friedman has an article in the NYT today about how the absence of a cohesive policy towards solar power in the US has impacted the pace of adoption and investment.
Iranian goverment goes after opposition’s kids.
Reports today that the Iranian authorities are arresting the children of opposition politicians in a naked attempt at intimidation.
Health Care across the pond.
Joe Wilson and the yell.
I normally find Maureen Dowd too shrill to read all the way through, but her article in the NYT today on Joe Wilson is revealing.
Big Food vs. Big Insurance
Michael Pollan wrote an article on a potential confrontation between the processed food industry and the health insurance industry in the NYT today. Pollan has carved a niche for himself shining a light on our relationship with food and what that porens for our bodies, environment and culture.