vERY TRUE

No matter what premiums I would pay, what deductable, if a major illness, like Cancer happens, I'm screwed. The policy only covers 80% and a host of exclusions, so 80% of $1 million is I'm stuck with $200k...

that's the numbers game I see, so even with the best insurance one can find of the individual policies, you get sick, you're still screwed, or should I saw "I" in that story.

I don't see why the U.S. should pay attention to burial codes of Islam, after all, I don't think Osama Bin Laden paid much attention to honor while he was alive here.

Since 9/11, the two major terrorist acts were the shoe bomber and the underpants bomber. That was a weak rationale for trillions on the terror effort and the loss of constitutional liberties, never to be restored. Now CBS is quoting administration sources saying, they won't back off of the war on terror despite fears of retaliation.

Let's see the body, have it examined, and wrap this up in the fashion of criminal investigation.

2011 White House Correspondents Dinner

I too stay away from the propaganda machine.This is remarkable 18:54 of video.  I'm not a fan of Obama's.  However, the personal attacks on him have been simply outrageous. They put him at danger from the lunatics who actually believe the nonsense. This clip shows Obama totally demolish that fake stories and Trump in particular. This is the comedic equivalent of the moments that Joseph Welch put an end to Sen Joseph McCarthy's career. And it's extremely funny.

$800,000 salary for city manager - Bell, CA

If this was the crime and people didn't vote, that's a great illustration of what the cicizen beat down is all about.  They steal so much, so often, corruptoin becomes the norm and people don't get riled up any moro.

I agree entirely - the closer to home the politics are, the greater the chance of getting something done.  But people have to show up.   I guess the people couldn't unring that Bell.

In Iran, all candidates must pass a written test and interview with a special council. Then they're allowed to run.

In the United States, all candidates must pass another test - enough money to enter the campaign.

There's a difference in style but not substance. The ruling class in the United States determines every candidate, except those doomed to lose.

Thanks for noting HR 589.

Speaking for myself, I can only say that it's a tough question. However, what comes to mind are two ancient principle of conduct: honor and integrity.

I like Budddy Roemer's approach of refusing all corporate donations and no donations greater than $100 from any one person. But Roemer is studiously ignored both by corporate media and by RNC and company.

After admitting that we are dependent on non-tangibles, we really need to promote close auditing of elections, ballot reform, and, (in some areas more than others), reform of vote-counting technology (wherever there is no auditable paper trail and voting machines are in use).

Audits of random samples to check accuracy of machine counts need to be mandatory in all states. This has to be a state-by-state effort, because of the way the Constitution set up a federal system. Meanwhile, we should avoid the gimmick of "direct presidential elections" -- I don't want my vote in California to be offset by imaginary votes created by some hacker working on the Georgia results.

Finally, there are all the problems brought about by the 'Citizens United' case. In the long run, the only solution will be public funding of campaigns and, probably, some kind of return to the Fairness Doctrine of old for media subject to communications law.

We need to study the way other countries manage their elections -- especially Canada and Australia.

We have to work state by state, because any reforms by way of amendments to the Constitution are out of the question, considering the entrenched power of the duopoly and apparent polarization of voters and of the Congress.