Oh contraire – the health care debate, like the global warming debate, and many others, is just beginning. These things have now been acknowledged as a problem by the market, by liberals, by progressives, and by radicals – i.e. everyone except the very small segments that had short-term benefits from postponing solutions to these problems. But now the real games can begin – what will be the ideology and institutional makeup of the health care program? What will be it’s overall aim (universal coverage or rationalization of heatlh care financing). Will it disconnect health care from employment or not (which would be a significant advance for labor right and which emplyoers would go along with as well)?

Similarly, do you get a global warming initiative that focuses on energy independence but continues to pump out noxious gases (hold the comentary about my writing people – your clever joke is hereby anticipated) and promote food crises, or does it focus on mass transportation, moving away from tyhe car, stronger urban planning practices (see jane jacobs), and reducing consumption above all, with a fair sense of internationalism to boot. And of course there are many other options.

All of these problems – which have both pro-market and pro-people and everywhere in between and outside solutions will now be the subject of a REAL debate – if we want one.

That might be, but we’ve reached the French ideal here in America in our delightful non-recession.

Note also that the length of the typical workweek dropped to 33.5 hours. That’s the shortest number of hours since the Department of Labor began keeping records on hours worked, back in 1964. A significant number of people are working part-time who’d rather be working full time. Coupled with those who are too discouraged even to look for work, I’d estimate that the percentage of Americans who need work right now is approaching 11 percent of the workforce. And that percent is likely to raise.

What do you do when visiting family?

so, nayagan, how was that particular congress?

Certainly the shortest and sweetest exposition of Singer’s work I’ve seen lately.

I read recently that Heifer International is helping a Roma community in Slovakia. I hope to donate a goat.

good on you! a thoughtful holiday season gesture i will be donating to the human fund as usual, and being inventive with that festivus pole.

I read recently that Heifer International is helping a Roma community in Slovakia. I hope to donate a goat.

As for the Gypsy situ, it isn’t positive and it isn’t generous. It’s created trouble. Here’s what I understand. (From what I’ve been told by relatives in central France.) Gypsies can set up camp on your property, tap into your electrical lines, create a mound of trash and you, the property owner, will be the one to pay the electricity they use and be responsible for the clean up when the gypsies have moved on. Needless to say this fact or perception has caused severe resentment against the Gypsies.
The view that South Asians are the Mexicans of France is new to me.

We were trying out old-women’s clothing in a shop called Damart and the white french lady attending just refused to measure my mother, stating that she could ‘eye-ball it’ and not backing down even when told that we were from overseas. When a black employee came to the rescue she was promptly scolded by the white employee for ‘leaving her post’ and then another old french lady waddled by the black employee and exclaimed, “Vive le Obama!” It was all quite bizarre.

Gasp…you said old women’s clothing. ha. Old waddling French ladies are a crusty bunch. I think she’d have acted that way if your mother were a WASPy American.

i’ve read it but I can’t follow you around that particular mulberry bush. just not my bag.