Important media headlines for September 25th:
Bottom Line: The advent of the Trump administration and mainstream media's decision to stop any pretense of objectivity in covering this administration brought about the daily feature (that's become a fan favorite) hysterical media headlines. I use it to illustrate the absurdity and lack of objectivity in media on a daily basis as well as it being a source of levity. I've toyed with the idea of having one focused on important, must read material as well. The debut on Friday was met positively so we'll keep it for now. Here are today's important headlines:
Excerpt: Consider another statement issued by McCain, this time after the Senate voted in December of 2015 to repeal and not replace much of Obamacare.
"The legislation we passed today would unburden Americans from the harmful effects of this failed law and build a bridge to health care solutions that work for families in Arizona and across the country," said McCain. "It is clear that any serious attempt to improve our health care system must begin with a full repeal and replacement of Obamacare, and I will continue fighting on behalf of the people of Arizona to achieve it."
It's ironic that someone as impressive, inspiring and heroic as John McCain - will potentially have a legacy that is built in his final term as senator that's based on obstruction rather than accomplishment protecting the law he opposed in the first place. That's unfortunate for him but mostly for us.
Excerpt: Under Obamacare, insurance premiums in the individual market have more than doubled nationally, and without billions of additional taxpayer dollars, many of those markets are at risk of collapse. Obamacare was never designed to be patient-friendly. In fact, one of the key tenets of Obamacare is taking power away from patients and local officials. Obamacare gives this decision-making power to the federal government, allowing bureaucrats to call the shots.
The Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson bill would change that by block-granting Obamacare spending to states, empowering those closest to their communities to provide effective solutions.
This is exactly right and it's exactly why so many are so afraid of it. Healthcare is a 6th of the US economy and growing. Big government politicians and media types tried for decades to get their hands on it. They did with the Affordable Care Act. The predictable happened. Costs spiraled higher creating an even larger piece of the pie in their hands. The last thing these types want to do is willfully give that money and power over you back to those at the state and local level. It's rather unfortunate that something as important as your healthcare has little to do with your actual health.
School Choice Is Crucial for Black Students' Success Willard Fair, USA Today
Excerpt: ...to the people of this nation, to people of color — I am involved in the school choice movement because the future of my life and your life depends upon it. Starting the state’s first charter school was one of the most significant accomplishments of my life. Because of our willingness to look beyond traditional divisions and leave beyond our tendency to only work with those with whom we are comfortable, our children of color are closing the achievement gap. African-American students in charter schools are scoring 4% higher on reading tests than those in traditional public schools and Florida charter school students are more likely to attend college. Hispanic students do 12% better than their peers at traditional public schools. These are but two of the many indicators that point to increased success for students of color because their families were empowered to find schools that better met the needs of their children.
Far too many people and organizations, like the NAACP, refuse to acknowledge this. Their recent recommendations to curb charter schools, reduce their numbers and their independence, are wrong, and they expect falsely that all people of color should follow their lead because the color of your skin should dictate who you believe. I have worked a lifetime to change this misperception, to help people see that good policies for our kids do not have a color.
Too many of our African-American leaders simply defer their beliefs to organizations like the NAACP which once represented our people well. What they must do however is recognize times have changed and we have to have the honest discussions about what we were going to do about our children who continue to be failed by traditional institutions and bureaucracy.
It can't be stated any better. Like healthcare, power and politics over people and outcomes Any questions?