Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Gay marriage referendums


Four states--Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington--are voting on legalizing marriage for same sex couples.  In Washington some heavyweights like Amazon, Microsoft, and Starbucks are supporting gay marriage.  The Roman Catholic Church is opposed.  In all four states the vote is expected to be close.

Opponents continue to argue that gay marriage undermines heterosexual marriage.  Interestingly, blue states that permit gay marriage, like New York and Massachusetts, have much lower divorce rates than the anti-gay red states like Alabama and Mississippi.

Same sex couple marriage is not legal in Pennsylvania, of course.  I expect Mississippi and Alabama to legalize it before the Pennsylvania legislature acts.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Thank God for Pennsylvania


It was said that people in Arkansas frequently say “Thank God for Mississippi.”  Arkansas usually ranks very low on almost any indicator of social progress.  It fares poorly on measures of infant mortality, smoking rates, obesity, and other ills.  On the other hand, it is seldom at the very bottom.  That honor often goes to Mississippi.

Voters across the nation, beset by all kinds of voter suppression laws and electoral shenanigans, can look to Pennsylvania and say, “Well, at least we aren’t the worst.  That would be Pennsylvania.”  

October 30 (that’s today) is the deadline for applying for an absentee ballots.  Today, however, because of Hurricane Sandy, many election offices were closed, including those in Carbon and Schuylkill counties.  Governor Corbett announced that the deadline for absentee ballot applications would be extended, but he didn’t say if that was for the state or for certain counties.  It is also unclear whether the county Election Boards must rule on the extension.

What wasn’t extended was the deadline for getting the absentee ballot to the Registrar.  It remains 5 p.m. on Friday, November 2.  You drop off your application tomorrow at 4:30 p.m.  The office mails out the ballot on November 1.  You get it Friday, November 2.  The deadline to return it is THAT DAY.  

This is the same state in which a judge ruled you didn’t need picture ID, but the state continued to advertise that you did.  The judge then ruled in response to a suit by ACLU that the state had to change its advertising.  His deadline was FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION.

This state is way at the bottom.

Monday, October 29, 2012

"Carbon Sink"


Last year, on our drive home from California, we stopped at the University of Wyoming in Laramie to see the art museum.  The architecture of the building was amazing, and we liked the exhibits, but the museum store was closed and the woman at the desk told us the funding had been cut.

They seem to have some problems with art out there in Wyoming.  Chris Drury, an artist from England, installed a sculpture of dead pine trunks and lumps of coal   The installation, entitled “Carbon Sink,” was supposed to illustrate how global warming has led to an increase in the number of pine beetles, which are killing western forests.  You can see some photos of the sculpture at <http://www.eco-question.com/th/carbon-sink-art-installation-by-chris-drury>.  

I think it was a thought-provoking sculpture.  Others disagree.  Energy company executives and state legislators threatened to cut funds to the University if the sculpture remained, and as a consequence it was removed a year ahead of schedule by the museum director.  They might not know much about art in Wyoming, but they know what they don’t like.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Vote This Way


The “Citizens United” decision of the U.S. Supreme Court has all kinds of unanticipated consequences.  Before 2010 companies were forbidden from using corporate money to campaign for political candidates.  Now companies are free to do that.  

According to an article by Steven Greenhouse in the Oct. 27 issue of the New York Times, companies are now sending letters to their employees telling them how to vote.  Cintas and Georgia Pacific are just two of many corporations doing this, and almost all of them are telling their employees to vote for Romney.

Is this intimidation?  What do you think?

Saturday, October 27, 2012

No Soliciting


Today we were canvassing on Lehigh Avenue in Palmerton when we came to a house on our list that had a “No Soliciting” sign on the door.  Sandra pointed it out, but I told her that political activity wasn’t considered soliciting--we weren’t asking for money.

The man who answered the door evidently had not gotten the word.  He immediately began yelling,”Can’t you read?  No soliciting.”  I mean, he was really mad.  

I made the mistake of saying, “We’re not soliciting--this is a political call.”  That made him even more angry.  He started screaming about calling the cops. 

I have two thoughts about this:  First, under Pennsylvania’s “Castle Doctrine,” supported by Representative Heffley, I think the guy could have shot me and then say he felt threatened.  I believe he would have not been charged.

Secondly, I wish I had had the presence of mind to say, “And don’t forget to vote for Romney.”  Darn.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Fred Reinhard and the Times News


Today I heard a rumor that Fred Reinhard, local businessman, sometimes dictates what stories the Times News must run.  Mr. Reinhard does not do that.  Over a year ago he assured me personally that he has a completely hands-off policy with regard to the Times News, and that he never dictated that paper’s policy.  I do believe him, because Mr. Reinhard is an honorable man.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Richard Trumka on Tom Smith



Richard Trumka is the AFL-CIO President.  Tom Smith is the extreme reactionary running against Sen. Casey,  attacking Casey for his record regarding the coal industry.  Mr. Trumka recently issued a statement on Tom Smith's campaign ads.  Here is Trumka's complete statement.

The claims by Republicans like Tom Smith that Senator Bob Casey has conducted a war on coal are insulting to those who do one of the toughest jobs in the world. Tom Smith doesn’t tell you that last year employment in the coal mining industry reached a 15-year high.

As a third generation coal miner, I know who does and who does not stand up for the interests of these hard working men and women – Bob Casey has been a champion of working people in western Pennsylvania.  
When we fought to protect miners’ safety and health on the job, Tom Smith was on the other side. Smith knows full well how important a safe mine is, yet the mines he owned were cited hundreds of times for safety issues. Coal mining is a dangerous job.  The threat of physical injury and black lung disease is a constant in this line of work.  Instead of making workplace safety a top priority, Republicans in Washington have failed workers by pushing to eliminate basic protections for miners, putting them at risk every day – and Tom Smith will play right along if he is elected.

Romney's Tax Return

Donald Trump has inspired me.  I hereby make the public offer to donate $25.00 to Gov. Romney's favorite charity if he will release his tax returns for the last ten years.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

George McGovern


In 1972 I worked on the McGovern campaign.  I registered so many Democrats in Alameda, California, that the Registrar added a third precinct to the existing two.  Unfortunately, in November all three precincts went for Nixon.  McGovern only won Massachusetts and the District of Columbia.

I was already a McGovern supporter in the spring of ’72.  The front runners were Hubert Humphrey, Ed Muskie, and “Scoop” Jackson.  I was just amazed at how well McGovern did, winning the Democratic nomination while the other candidates floundered.  I realized later that he knew the rules and used them to his advantage, much like Obama did years later against Hillary Clinton.  Perhaps more importantly, Nixon’s campaign committee carried out “dirty tricks” against the three front runners, correctly judging McGovern, the most radical candidate, to also be the weakest.

When someone like Nixon fiddles with the process, the legitimacy of the government is called into question.  Nixon and his henchmen manipulated the whole election.  Luckily the Watergate investigation and subsequent resignation removed that cancer from the American system.

I am proud that I worked so hard for McGovern.  I am sorry that he was denied his place in American history because of a dirty campaign and misrepresentation of his positions.  One effect of his loss was the unnecessary deaths of thousands of young Americans in Vietnam because of Nixon administration policies.

Even so, I don’t think Nixon ever tried to suppress the vote.  The amounts spent by Nixon’s committee pale in comparison to the billions spent by the Superpacs.  The “dirty tricks” were almost silly compared to the distortions in the current crop of political ads.  If Obama loses this election, the whole legitimacy of this political system will be called into question, just like it was in 1972.  I hope the country can survive the travesty of this election, and I am hoping Obama can win in spite of an electoral system stacked against his candidacy.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Dick and Judy's Excellent Campaign Adventure, Part IV

We are lucky to have correspondents (Dick and Judy) in place reporting on one of the hottest House races in the country--the battle between Iraq War vet Tammy Duckworth and Tea Party clown Joe Walsh.  Here is the latest report from Illinois:


Picking up where we left off . . . 
On July 9th, we attended one of Tammy Duckworth’s “American Dream Tour” events.  It was held at a local sports bar.   Because of all the activity in both the local and national news regarding this election, there was a fear that Tea Party hecklers might show up.   I am happy to say that, if they did, they opted to keep quiet.  The place was loaded with Tammy supporters.
Tammy has been on virtually every show on MSNBC, as well as one or two on CNN.  As I understand it, Joe Walsh makes regular appearances on Fox (Faux) News – a station we never watch, so I cannot confirm that.   
Dick and I both volunteered with the campaign through the summer.  Dick walked with the Democratic group in the Labor Day parade in Schaumburg, and he has been canvassing the District every Saturday.  My involvement continues to be in the campaign office making calls, assisting with mailings, and doing data entry.
There have now been four debates, the 3rd one taking place on October 9th in a large ballroom in nearby Rolling Meadows.   This was the first and only debate where they allowed District residents to attend, and, of course, we did!   It was a large crowd (1,000+) and things got pretty rowdy.   The moderator gave instructions not to applaud, boo, etc. – a request that was soundly ignored (but, hey, the Walsh supporters started it).   The debate was carried on two Chicago radio stations, but all the local TV stations had crews there as well.  Consequently, the story of the debate was all over the local and national media.   It was a great experience – we feel Tammy was the clear winner, but the Walsh people would probably tell you otherwise.  
One notable moment (which has been shown on numerous television stations) was when Joe Walsh held up a picture of Tammy picking out a dress to wear at the Democratic Convention (where she was a speaker).   His comment was that this was the biggest decision she had to make.   Talk about sexist!  He was soundly booed.
The final debate took place on PBS this past week.  Tammy did a good job of holding her own against Joe’s outrageous statements.   The one that has been getting a great deal of publicity ever since the debate has been that Joe said, in a question about abortion, that an abortion is never medically necessary to save the life of the mother.  He is now trying to back track that remark.  Too late, Joe!
As of this writing, Tammy is still ahead in most polls, but Joe is leading in one by 1.5%.   I can’t believe this may end up being a close race – it should be no contest.  I admit this type of news disheartens me and causes me to struggle as to whether I should continue on.  Dick is much more positive about the outcome at the moment, however, so he is my cheerleader. 
My next installment will be regarding the election night party – which I sincerely hope will be a celebration of a Democratic victory across the country.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

The Palmerton Halloween Parade


“President Obama” made another appearance in the Palmerton Halloween Parade today.  We were cheered along the route, two women wanted their pictures taken with Obama, and the announcer gave us a very nice introduction.  

For each catcall and boo along the way, there were probably twenty cheers and smiles and waves, yet I tend to remember the negatives.  One guy made his hand into a gun and went “Pow Pow.”  I walked over to him and said, “That is a bad example to set for children.”  He said nothing to me, but I think he made some crack when I walked away.  

We do tend to remember the bad things.  I thought about a poem by Countee Cullen entitled “Incident in Baltimore.”  

Once riding in old Baltimore,
Heart-filled, head-filled with glee;
I saw a Baltimorean
Keep looking straight at me.

Now I was eight and very small,
And he was no whit bigger,
And so I smiled, but he poked out
His tongue, and called me, "Nigger."

I saw the whole of Baltimore
From May until December;
Of all the things that happened there
That's all that I remember.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

President Obama Visits Lehighton


Well, it wasn’t the real Obama, but a Palmerton High student named Andrew wearing an Obama mask and riding in a classic Thunderbird owned and driven by Richard Beers.  The fake Obama was guarded by Kyle, Robert, Ron, and me pretending to be Secret Service operatives.  We all wore dark suits and ties, had sun glasses, and had ear buds in our ears.

We got a very good response.  Little kids thought Andrew was really Obama, and adults waved and laughed.  In the whole parade route we received only two or three negative comments, outweighed by the cheers, the smiles, and the thumbs up.

Tomorrow it is back in uniform for the Palmerton Halloween Parade.

Friday, October 19, 2012

"Denied"


Some of you may have seen the video on YouTube entitled “Tea Party Chickens” directed by Rene Calvo, award-winning videographer from New York.  Take a look at his latest film entitled “Denied” and starring Carbon County residents Edie Lukasevich, Nancy Mason, Marge Lux, and Jesse Walck.  You can find it at <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvlRL9twFNE&feature=plcp>.

I know the Voter I.D. law in Pennsylvania has been put on hold for this election, but it will come back.  This video is a look at what might have happened had the law remained in place for the November election.  Please forward it to all of your friends.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Gov. Corbett strikes again


Pennsylvania suffers under this governor.  His policies hurt education, good government, and the environment.  Recently he fired the head of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.  

My friend George, and a regular reader of this blog, shared a letter he wrote to Representative Doyle Heffley about the firing.  I thought the letter was worth sharing with our readers.  With some slight changes for space requirements, here is what George wrote:

Subject: Ouster of John Norbeck from DCNR
I am troubled by the recent action of Governor Corbett.  Clearly, the park system has flourished under the leadership of John Norbeck, the director of state parks since 2006.
The departure of Norbeck is alarming, with the prospect of mining and timbering in our state park lands.  Jeff Schmidt, executive director of the Sierra Club in Pennsylvania, has called Norbeck “one of Pennsylvania’s top professional conservationists.”
You, being  a member of Pennsylvania’s “House Tourism and Recreational Development Commission,” should be concerned as well.
It’s also worth noting that state parks generate hundreds of millions of dollars in tourism revenue each year. Tourism is one of state’s and Carbon County’s leading employers.
Thanks George.  Excellent letter.  

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

The Absentee Voter Program


We have a list of some 700 Democratic voters in Carbon County who voted absentee at least once n the last three general elections.  We are in the process of calling or visiting each of those voters to determine if they want to vote by absentee again.  If they do, we provide them with the applications.  

Today Sandra and I visited absentee voters in Palmerton’s middle ward.  We found that in some cases people had applied in the past because they were on vacation.  Other voters, however, couldn’t get to the polls and did need applications.  The applications, by the way, must be received by the County Registrar by October 30.

Absentee voters are like money in the bank--for both parties.  Obviously we are not contacting Republicans, but I’m sure they are out doing the same thing we are.  I have a feeling that this year the number of absentee voters will jump.  For some people, especially older voters who suffer from COPD, are using walkers, or no longer have a driver’s license, absentee voting is the smart alternative.

Note:  I think I’ll have to reevaluate my atheism, since my prayer that Obama would do well in the debate was answered.  I’m not sure which God did it, but it was probably the Angel Moroni.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Do Atheists Pray?


I don’t know the answer to that, but I can tell you I know one who is praying that the President does well in his debate tonight.  I’m sending out a prayer to Vishnu, Allah, Jehovah, Buddha, the Virgin Mary, and the Angel Moroni.  Go Obama. Win this one.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Benghazi and Republican cutbacks


Two years ago the Republican House of Representatives cut almost half a billion dollars from an Obama Administration request to beef up State Department security.  The cuts included funds for security staffing and security technology.  Other cuts were proposed.  In 2008 Darrel Issa, Chair of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, voted for an amendment that would have cut almost 300 diplomatic security positions.

Last week this same Representative Issa said his committee should be “...examining security failures that led to the Benghazi tragedy.”  All he has to do is look in the mirror.

You can read the sordid story in the New York Times editorial entitled “No Shame” at <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/15/opinion/republicans-have-no-shame.html?ref=opinion&_r=0>.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Argo


When the American embassy in Iran was seized in 1979, six of the embassy staff escaped and ended up in the Canadian ambassador’s house.  “Argo,” a movie directed by and starring Ben Affleck, shows how the C.I.A. managed to bring those Americans out of Iran by pretending to make a science fiction film with Iran as the supposed location.

I recommend you see this film, now playing at the Mahoning Cinema.  It is exciting, basically accurate, occasionally laugh-out-loud funny, and at times, nail-bitingly tense.  Usually the C.I.A. is portrayed as a bumbling and ineffectual agency (which is often an accurate portrayal), but in this film it acts with intelligence and cleverness and wins a wonderful victory in the end.  The Canadian ambassador and his wife also are true heroes.  See the film.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Penn Forest Canvass


At Democratic Headquarters this morning Ron, Lois, and I were handed a turf located in Penn Forest Township.  My first thought was oh no!  Penn Forest is up in the Poconos, the houses are far apart, and two weeks ago in a nearby turf we met some very nasty Romney supporters.

My fears were misplaced.  We hit only two Romney supporters (one nasty), and neither of those was on our list.  We ran into people with friendly dogs, big dogs, and mean dogs, but everybody we talked to was either pro-Obama and willing to commit or leaning to Obama.  

The best result was when an 89-year-old explained to Lois and me that he never told people how he was voting, but when we turned to go, he said, “I will let you in on a little secret.  I can’t stand Romney.”  Then he asked, “Don’t you kids have anything better to do?”  It is the first time in this campaign season I’ve been called a kid.

All in all, a good day.

Friday, October 12, 2012

The Vice Presidential Debate


No, I didn’t watch it, but I did see the picture of the two candidates side by side in the Allentown Morning Call.  From the photo, I’m assuming Biden won.  He looks more presidential.

In 1960 I was a freshman living in a dorm at Ursinus College when Kennedy and Nixon held their first debate.  Nobody on our floor had a TV, so I listened to the debate on the radio.  I thought Nixon won hands down.  The next morning I learned that almost everyone who watched the debate believed that Kennedy had won.  Television is a visual medium; what you way matters far less than how you look.

Fortunately for Democrats, Paul Ryan looks like the secretary of a college fraternity, not a U.S. President.


Another example of what is wrong with America


On Wednesday the right-hand column of the New York Times Business Section was entitled “Cutbacks And the Fate Of the Young.”  The article discussed some of the problems faced by our children, including the fact that the U.S. has the highest rate of child poverty in the developed world.

On the left-hand column was an article by Susanne Craig and Ben Protess entitled “A Bigger Paycheck On Wall St.”  The article noted that the average pay package of Wall Street firms is a near-record $362,950, up 16.6% over the last two years.

 I don’t have to spell out the connection, do I?

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Malala Yousafzai


Joan Acocella, in a review essay entitled “Turning the Page” in the latest New Yorker (Oct. 15 issue), discusses the long struggle of women to become literate.  Literacy for men and women didn’t become widespread until the printing press, but for centuries reading by women was considered potentially dangerous to their health or their religious well-being.  

Which brings me to today’s front page headline in the New York Times:  “Taliban Gun Down a Girl Who Spoke Up for Rights.” On Tuesday in Pakistan masked gunmen entered the school bus on which 14-year-old Malala Yousafzai was riding and shot her in the head and neck.  She survived, but her condition is critical. See <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/10/world/asia/teen-school-activist-malala-yousafzai-survives-hit-by-pakistani-taliban.html?_r=0>.

A Taliban spokesman said that Ms. Yousafzai had been targeted because of her fight for education.  He called her struggle “obscene.”  She had hoped to become a doctor.

I have been critical of the administration’s drone policy, but if we can locate the men who boarded that bus or the spokesman who tried to justify their actions, drone the bastards.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Affirmative Action


Tomorrow the Supreme Court hears another “affirmative action” case.  Can race be used as a factor in college admissions?  I’m hoping the Supreme Court rules that it can’t.

I first spoke out against affirmative action when I was a professor at Hartnell College in Salinas, California, in the early Seventies. I took some heat for that, but I thought it was wrong to base any decision on hiring or college admissions to be based on a person’s parentage.  You judge the individual, not the race or gender.  I have not changed my mind.

I do believe there are times when a racial or gender quota can be justified.  It can be used, for example, to remedy deliberate past discrimination.  I am also aware that groups that have been discriminated against in the past have a harder road to travel.  As a former college professor, I realize that a diverse classroom is far better for teaching purposes than an all-white classroom.  

Nevertheless, the bottom line is that you can’t discriminate for someone without at the same time discriminating against someone else.  

Affirmative action programs focus on gender or race, never on class.  The group that is left out in higher education enrollment is not African-Americans or Latinos or women, it is all genders and races in the bottom third of the American class system.  If we had an affirmative action program based on income, I’d be for it.  If it is based on race or gender, I’m opposed.

Registration deadline


Tomorrow is the deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania.  In an election campaign interest usually peaks on election day.  Unfortunately, our state puts the registration date 30 days before the peak interest.  If we had election day registration, turnout would jump.  

If the Democrats ever again win both houses of the state legislature and the office of Governor, the first item on the agenda should be election reform.  Election day registration, easy absentee ballot requirements, a paper trail for the voting machines, a strong disclosure law for financial contributions, a fair and impartial reapportionment process, and easy ballot access for third parties would all help to make this state an actual democracy.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Bullous myringitis


Here’s my excuse for not posting last night.  I was bleeding out of my right ear and had a temperature of 103 degrees.  Naturally, I thought I was dying--I always think I’m dying when I have anything go wrong, and one of these days I’ll be right.

This morning we went to the emergency room, where I found out that what I have is not some exotic disease, but a routine infection of the middle ear known as bullous myringitis.  I’m getting drops in my ear four times a day and have a five-day regimen of antibiotics.  I still feel lousy, but I promise I’ll write something more political tomorrow night.

Friday, October 5, 2012

David Brooks and Romney


Today David Brooks, an op-ed columnist for the New York Times, praised Governor Romney for moving to the moderate center in the debate.  Brooks said Mitt had the courage to take on the Tea Party wing of the Republican Party.

Here’s my problem with Brooks’ analysis.  How do we know Romney really believes what he said in the debate?  How do we know he just wasn’t taking the position de jour?  How can we trust this guy to have any principles at all when he switches back and forth depending on how the political winds are blowing?  Our Carbon County Obama coordinator noted that if Romney were a computer program, this would be Romney version 6.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Woodrats


One of my self-imposed responsibilities as a blogger is to bring you news from sources you might ordinarily miss, such as the Pennsylvania Game News.  

The October issue contains an article about a Delaware Valley College program to help woodrats, a species on the “threatened” list since 1983.  The College has received 11 woodrats  for breeding and reintroduction purposes.  Incidentally, woodrats are like mice with a furred tail--nothing like the more familiar Norway rats.

Carl G. Roe, the Game Commission executive director, said about woodrats: They are a species of greatest conservation concern that the Game Commission’s Wildlife Action Plan has designated as in immediate need of assistance.  Because they are specialists at surviving in remote, rocky forested landscapes, woodrats provide a mechanism of monitoring the health of these unique and fragile ecosystems.  The woodrat’s decline is a red flag, and we are seeking to reverse the trend.

One of the problems is that the habitat is being cut into small pieces by development, roads, and Marcellus shale activities.  I personally have not seen one, but I hope we are able to save them.  I would hate to see another Pennsylvania mammal become extinct.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

I refuse to watch the debates


Romney’s policy proposals favor the rich, destroy the environment, make health care worse, put American foreign interests in danger, harm basic rights, favor torture, hurt unions, are cruel to immigrants, and fail to provide the minimal respect for women’s rights.

Obama is the opposite.

It is difficult to believe that people actually base their votes on how candidates perform on a short debate in an artificial setting.  I don’t care how brilliant they are or how many mistakes either candidate makes.  We know their proposals, past statements, and behavior.  Winning or losing debates does not qualify or disqualify a candidate running for president of the United States, although it might qualify you for a prize in the college debate club.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Injunction against Pennsylvania's Photo I.D. law


It seemed clear that the injunction on the Photo I.D. law issued by Judge Simpson today was inevitable.  The Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision that kicked the case back to Judge Simpson almost mandated today’s outcome.  

While election officials can still ask for photo I.D. under Simpson’s ruling, the voter does not have to produce it.  I know I won’t.  What the Democrats need to do now is to make sure that voters understand the law.  At our Democratic Party Executive Board meeting on Thursday, I will be proposing that we have people in each of the 51 county precincts holding posters explaining the requirements for voting and acting as a resource for people who have questions.

The Photo I.D. law has been a disaster from the day it was passed.  The intent was partisan and the implementation was inconsistent.  The Pennsylvania Supreme Court should have simply declared the whole thing unconstitutional, as two of the judges noted.  In any case, the decision today was a victory for democracy and fairness.  

Monday, October 1, 2012

Medicaid extends lives


The Sacramento Bee published an article recently about a study in the New England Journal of Medicine that indicates that people who live in “...states that expand coverage will likely live longer, be healthier and have better access to medical care.”

While this seems self-evident to me, it is good to see a real-world comparison.  The study compared New York to Pennsylvania, Arizona to New Mexico, and Maine to New Hampshire.  In each of those pairs, the first state opened its Medicaid programs to poor adults without children.  Residents of the states that opened the Medicaid programs were also less likely to delay care because of cost and more likely to report that they were in good health.

I’m sorry to say that Pennsylvania was the in the control group.  I often think that I live in the equivalent of a Third World country.