In health policy analysis, we view access, quality, and cost (that which the consumer feels) as the three main elements of health care. These three key components are sometimes referred to as the iron triangle because they are in conflict with one another. Increasing quality of care usually means an increased cost, in turn decreasing … Continue reading
Yearly Archives: 2012
A Case for Racism, Misogyny and Homophobia: The Future of Gay Marriage and Rubio’s Misguidance Towards 2016
Not even a month after the election and Republicans are peering over the same slippery slope that led to their 2012 demise: Stances on social issues. In a now rather infamous interview with GQ magazine, Senator and 2016 Presidential hopeful Marco Rubio offered ambiguous responses on a range of topics, perpetuating his already questionable views … Continue reading
Debt / Economy / Fiscal Cliff / Tax
Why do Democrats Want to Raise Taxes?
Last Thursday, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner presented Congress with the Obama administration’s plan intended to avert the impending fiscal cliff. The plan was, quite literally, laughable. It called for $50 Billion in new stimulus spending, the end of Congressional authority to raise the debt limit, $1.6 Trillion in new revenues from higher taxes on the … Continue reading
The Rise of Neo-Nazism
Most common, national identity is created through a shared language and culture, but most recently, shared history has risen as the predominant factor in uniting people who share a passport. Among the former Soviet countries, shared history is the essence of national identity; citizens of Russia are united in referencing World War II as the … Continue reading
Mo’ Money Same Problems
What does 6 billion dollars buy you? Apparently in politics, it buys you an almost unchanged House, Senate, and President. In fairness, out of the 6 billion dollars spent, only – and I say only because in perspective it can be qualified as such – around 680 million was spent by super PACs on independent … Continue reading
Republicans- The Jury is definitely not still out on science
Rick Santorum was at one time a serious contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012. Now it looks like he may make a run for the nomination in 2016, a year when, according to Santorum, there will be a “real fight as to what the soul of the Republican party’s going to be.” One … Continue reading
Politics of Military Force in the 2nd Gaza War
After the initial phase of Pillar of Defense the situation in Gaza has escalated. Both sides appeared ready to “climb the mountain of conflict”. Looking back, it would be beneficial to understand the mechanics behind this altercation and what possible ramifications developed from the Second Gaza War. Following the assassination of Ahmed Jabari, the … Continue reading
A Democratic Conundrum
There exists an interesting dilemma in democratic society involving a citizenry’s ability to make intelligent decisions in how society should be governed. Kay Lehman Schlozman explores this at some length in her piece “Vox Populi: Public Opinion and the Democratic Dilemma,” namely how democratic societies find an appropriate balance between governance based on citizen preferences … Continue reading
The 52nd State
Now that Puerto Rico might break our 53-year streak of a 50-state Union, who should bear the torch as the proverbial 52nd state? I suggest the Mariana Islands. Most of you are asking, “But James, where is that?” This is an island chain in the Pacific currently made up of two political entities you may … Continue reading
Handicapping 2016: the Republicans
With the 2012 election mere weeks in the rear-view mirror, many would say it’s too soon to begin talking about 2016, and they’re right. But I’m going to do it anyway. Why? Well, because I’m bored and because 2016 looks like it may finally be some Republican light at the end of a long, long … Continue reading
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