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Global Voices: The World is Talking, Are You Listening?
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    In an Outsider Views Newsflash, I wrote about the finality of the U.S. State of Minnesota's Senate race. Now, the people of Minnesota will finally have the full slate of representation that they are due to have. Mr. Franken will be sworn in on Tuesday.

    There are some who have dreaded this day and felt that Mr Coleman was short-changed. The same crowd who pushed this fight also dreaded this day because they view the Democrats as a unisome bunch that will march lockstep with whatever the White House says. Well, that's not the case. I also think that Al Franken is not the kind of guy who is going to simply roll over. For someone who took on Bill O'Reilly and win, that's something in my view. He also basically gave up his career after Paul Wellstone's Death to carry on his legacy. He finally succeeded. For those who think he is a lightweight, they should think twice.


    There are some who may say that Mr. Franken may get a cool reception in the Senate. Maybe the time has come for some straight talk to undescore what is necessary. Senatorial courtesy is one thing, but America deserves a vibrant engaging debate as it gears up for the midterms and the 2012 Presidential Election. Anything else would mean a sense of disservice that bodes ill for Americans and the world.

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    Healthcare: Personal Stories

    July 2nd 2009 05:34
    As the debate over healthcare rages on, the central question that politicans in Washington have not answered is whether healthcare is a right or a privilege. The Republicans and their proxies seem to want to insure that any healthcare reform is derailed. under the guise of "choice". I wonder what would those who oppose healthcare reform will respond to this lady's predicament:




    She has no choice now. I wonder what would Senator McConnel's answer will be if he got the same question?

    In visiting Rick Scott's site, I saw his write-up on how he complained about the White Houre "preselecting" questions. Where was Rick and his friends in the conservative community when the Bush Adminstration did the same thing? Such rhetoric does not address the central question of whether healthcare is a right or a privilege. Once the conservatives make their position clear, then a lot of the questions will be answered.

    What was telling was Bernie Sanders' admission that Single Payer is off the table. However, the need to push for some sort of a medicare for all may be in the offing. It seems as if an element of competition may well compel insurance companies to move. Such stories as this lady's or Gina's Story that I wrote about in Outsider Views should not be allowed to happen in America.

    One of the latest personal stories was the story of my friend and colleague Tim. I was saddened to find out that my friend lost his healthcare coverage recently after he lost his job. Now, as someone who is diabetic, he can't healthcare anywhere. What is he to do? Who can he talk to? Is it fair? Shouldn't he be allowed to not worry about going bankrupt or die? What about the other 45,999,998 people who are in the same boat? Conservatives for Patient Rights, Rick Scott's Group, has a full-court press to build upon this notion of "choice" and "responsbility". I am sure that both Tim and the lady featured in The President's Town Hall did do everything right. Yet, they're faced with this predicament. What would Mr. Scott tell these people?

    When visiting Rick Scott's site, I found it quite interesting that they're not too keen on the plan that Mitt Romney is touting as his greatest achievement, citing a poll about dissatisfaction among Massachuttes residents . Mitt is the same guy that is being talked about as the guy that can save the Republicans in 2012.

    What is clear is this: America is truly on the road to nowhere if it does not come to grips with managing its' healthcare. There seems to be some consesus on that front. Who will have the courage to step up and do the right thing?


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    Jenny Sanford is the wife of the Governor of South Carolina. Her husband, Governor Mark . Sanford has been the subject of immense media scrutiny after he dropped off the face of the earth to rush to Buenos Aires to see his mistress.

    I hereby send out a Virtual High Five to Mrs. Sanford. She is to be admired for doing the right honorable thing. She still, out of respect, kept quiet. This shows courage and true grit. The fact that the man apparently asked for permission to see his mistress shows the total disdain he has for everything that he supposedly espoused to. Mrs. Sanford basically told the world that she did not care what happened to him. She still had the courage to still keep the door open. She, in my view, is a true "tiger lady". I was almost driven to tears when I read the story of Mrs. Sanford showing off her son's latest achievement in school.

    What is it about such men that makes them forget to do the right thing? I continue to wonder about someone who probably owes his success to his wife, is the mother of his children and has been a true "soulmate" to have betrayed her in such a manner. She was too gracious to him to have just asked him to leave. I can't even imagine crossing such a redline, ever.

    Mr. Sanford has a lot of soul searching to do. America is a land of second chances. Richard Nixon was forgiven, Dick Morris came back and Marv Albert too. If Mr. Sanford had the guts, he would resign, rebuild his life and go on for the sake of his boys. Someone once said to me that once you are a parent, it is not about you anymore. It is all about them. Mr. Sanford forgot that in his search for a "soulmate". Of all the hysteria in the press, I view it to be the greatest tragedy of all.

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    There is an unconfirmed report that the leading challenger in Iran''s Presidential election is under house arrest. Facebook reports say that as he was leaving his home to reach a demonstration at the Quba Mosque, he was detained by security forces. But, Karoubi did make it there


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    The Illusion of "Green Shots"

    June 28th 2009 00:50


    This has been a week whereby the world has been reminded that the economic winter we've been faced with is at an end. Yet, there are still many worries that continue to be out there. There were two particular developments that bodes ill to the long-term economic health of the country. The first one is a study done whereby it was reported that Corporate Executives have been cashing out of their options at a faster pace. The second one was a report by Hagel & Seely Brown of the Deloitte Center for the Edge noting that the return on assets at Us Corporations has fallen from 4 percent to 1 percent. There is of course the upward pressure on Oil and commodities. The average per gallon of gas has risen by about 45%. All of these are elements of the true "perfect" storm. The world continues to act in unisom. But, there fundemental structural challenges still remain.
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    This week's Economist Magazine has a rather pointed verdict so far on Mr. Obama's quest to reform healthcare. There seems to be general agreement that the time to lead is now. The time to be bold is now. The time to get America off the edge of a cliff in healthcare is now. Yet, it appears that the proposals that are circling around being pushed by various factions within the Congress are going to have a piecemeal effect at best. There is some talk about how Massachuttes did it. Yet, there has also been arguments by organizations that it is yet to be as effective as one hopes it is going to be


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    Solar Impluse debuted its' first prototype Aircraft: HB-SIA. The structure of it is such that it will derive its' power from Solar Power. This is Huge and will present Airbus and Boeing with problems they could not even imagine. With all the problems Airbus and Boeing have, Solar Impluse will sure present quite an alternative. It is only a one passenger plane. But"?

    Check them out: Really Long Link More to come!!!!
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    Pakistan: Is Imran Khan Right?

    June 26th 2009 06:49
    Asif Ali Zardari has told the world that he would defeat the Taliban. Yet, Imran Khan tells a very different and chilling story:


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    Zimbabwe: What Now?

    June 26th 2009 06:28
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    California has been known as the "Golden State". It is the 8th largest economy in the world. It has been at the forefront of change for over 100 years. Yet, that image has been shattered. The struggle for California's future has now reached a climax as the State struggles to fix a 24 Billion Dollar budget shortfall.

    Every City in California is facing a budget shortfall. The City of Laguna Beach went through cutbacks by elminiating four vacant positions, eliminating a police officer and dipping into the reserves. The Orange County Sheriff's Department's budget by approximately 28 Million Dollars. Other cities continue to struggle with either bankrupcy or simply to go through a de-incorporation process whereby they stop having to worry about paying salaries, retirement benefits and other services


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