Poverty, static; Uninsured, climbing

The poor among us Americans–the wealthiest nation in the world–was 12.7 % in 2005, no change over the previous year. But it’s a pretty steady rise in the poverty rate since Bush took office in 2001. This is a fine contrast with the percent of the nation’s millionaires which gained 21 percent in 2004. And those making 5 million or more per year rose a whopping 38%.

Meanwhile, the number of people without health insurance continues to climb, up over a million in 2005 from the year before.

Walmart & the Single-Payer Health Plan

Walmart.  We know that the shopping warehouse has been getting bad press about the Medicaid enrollment of its workforce. What we don’t know–but what some are suspecting–is that the bargains behemoth might be moving (inching) towards supporting some kind of national health insurance–the single payer kind.  Maybe it’s wishful thinking on my part, but I would love to see the fight between Walmart and the insurance companies:  The Big Bad Wolf against Harry & Louise?

Connecticut down, New York to go?

The Ned Lamont primary victory over Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman, filled me with glee. Lamont, the anti-war mouse, bravely took on the pro-war lion and won, amazing all. Now dare I consider that another upstart, Jonathan Tasini–running against Sen. Hillary Clinton in the New York Democratic primary–has a chance? Aside from Hillary’s weasling on the war–she hasn’t repudiated it to date–a reason for me to love her opponent is his stance on health care. He’s for extending Medicare to all while she is increasingly in the pockets of a health care industry which is currently filling her campaign coffers.