I didn’t receive a “liberal arts” degree (mine was engineering related), but i can certainly see the value in one. Most of the people I know that take part in the creative side of product development have a liberal arts degree. At the UW-Madison, the Computer Science, Physics, Biology and Mathematics departments are all under the School of Letters & Science. And I thought everyone getting a degree within L&S was getting a “liberal arts” degree. Here’s an argument for the benefits of a liberal arts education (I’m sure you can find thousands more):

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-roth/whats-a-liberal-arts-educ_b_147584.html

As far as the $76.8 million athletic shindig – “we” didn’t pay for it, unless we purchased a ticket to an athletic event or provided a donation directly to the athletic department. The UW-Madison Athletic Dept. does not receive any financial support from the State of Wisconsin or the UW System. It is financed entirely from ticket sales and donations from supporters. That includes the building of Athletic Dept. facilities. As for all the other schools in the UW System, their athletics are all funded by the UW System and the State of Wis.

Other than that… I agree with much of what you said .

And incidentally, it is reprehensible that you and the liberals are using the classroom for political gain.

In addition to fixing healthcare the right way we need a NewDeal. We need a permanent and updated FDR WPA (Works Progress Administration). A Full employment act requiring the government to provide a job for everyone able to work that wants to work at a living wage or better. At safe, meaningful work where they live. Guaranteed by the US government. With free or very affordable excellent healthcare and free or very affordable education and training for advancement or just personal enrichment.

( http://my.firedoglake.com/iflizwerequeen/2011/05/16/how-about-a-little-truth-about-what-the-majority-want-for-health-care/ )

( Gov. Peter Shumlin: Real Healthcare reform — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yFUbkVCsZ4 )

( Health Care Budget Deficit Calculator — http://www.cepr.net/calculators/hc/hc-calculator.html )

( Briefing: Dean Baker on Boosting the Economy by Saving Healthcare http://t.co/fmVz8nM )

START NOW!

As you all know. Had congress passed a single-payer or government-run robust Public Option CHOICE! available to everyone on day one, our economy and jobs would have taken off like a rocket. And still will. Single-payer would be best. But a government-run robust Public Option CHOICE! that can lead to a single-payer system is the least you can accept. It’s not about competing with for-profit healthcare and for-profit health insurance. It’s about replacing it with Universal Healthcare Assurance. Everyone knows this now.

The message from the midterm elections was clear. The American people want real healthcare reform. They want that individual mandate requiring them to buy private health insurance abolished. And they want a government-run robust public option CHOICE! available to everyone on day one. And they want it now.

They want Drug re-importation, and abolishment, or strong restrictions on patents for biologic and prescription drugs. And government controlled and negotiated drug and medical cost. They want back control of their healthcare system from the Medical Industrial Complex. And they want it NOW!

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL NOT, AND MUST NOT, ALLOW AN INDIVIDUAL MANDATE TO STAND WITHOUT A STRONG GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION CHOICE! AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.

For-profit health insurance is extremely unethical, and morally repugnant. It’s as morally repugnant as slavery was. And few if any decent Americans are going to allow them-self to be compelled to support such an unethical and immoral crime against humanity.

This is a matter of National and Global security. There can be NO MORE EXCUSES.

Further, we want that corrupt, undemocratic filibuster abolished. Whats the point of an election if one corrupt member of congress can block the will of the people, and any legislation the majority wants. And do it in secret. Give me a break people.

Also, unemployment healthcare benefits are critically needed. But they should be provided through the Medicare program at cost, less the 65% government premium subsidy provided now to private for profit health insurance.

Congress should stop wasting hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer money on private for profit health insurance subsidies. Subsidies that cost the taxpayer 10x as much or more than Medicare does. Private for profit health insurance plans cost more. But provide dangerous and poorer quality patient care.

Republicans: GET RID OF THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE.

Democrats: ADD A ROBUST GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION TO HEALTHCARE REFORM.

This is what the American people are shouting at you. Both parties have just enough power now to do what the American people want. GET! IT! DONE! NOW!

If congress does not abolish the individual mandate. And establish a government-run public option CHOICE! before the end of 2011. EVERY! member of congress up for reelection in 2012 will face strong progressive pro public option, and anti-individual mandate replacement candidates.

Strong progressive pro “PUBLIC OPTION” CHOICE! and anti-individual mandate volunteer candidates should begin now. And start the process of replacing any and all members of congress that obstruct, or fail to add a government-run robust PUBLIC OPTION CHOICE! before the end of 2011.

We need two or three very strong progressive volunteer candidates for every member of congress that will be up for reelection in 2012. You should be fully prepared to politically EVISCERATE EVERY INCUMBENT that fails or obstructs “THE PUBLIC OPTION”. And you should be willing to step aside and support the strongest pro “PUBLIC OPTION” candidate if the need arises.

ASSUME CONGRESS WILL FAIL and SELLOUT again. So start preparing now to CUT THEIR POLITICAL THROATS. You can always step aside if they succeed. But only if they succeed. We didn’t have much time to prepare before these past midterm elections. So the American people had to use a political shotgun approach. But by 2012 you will have a scalpel.

Congress could have passed a robust government-run public option during it’s lame duck session. They knew what the American people wanted. They already had several bills on record. And the house had already passed a public option. Departing members could have left with a truly great accomplishment. And the rest of you could have solidified your job before the 2012 elections.

President Obama, you promised the American people a strong public option available to everyone. And the American people overwhelmingly supported you for it. Maybe it just wasn’t possible before. But it is now.

Knock heads. Threaten people. Or do whatever you have to. We will support you. But get us that robust public option CHOICE! available to everyone on day one before the end of 2011. Or We The People Of The United States will make the past midterm election look like a cake walk in 2012. And it will include you.

We still have a healthcare crisis in America. With hundreds of thousands dieing needlessly every year in America. And a for profit medical industrial complex that threatens the security and health of the entire world. They have already attacked the world with H1N1 killing thousands, and injuring millions. And more attacks are planned for profit, and to feed their greed.

Spread the word people.

Progressives, prepare the American peoples scalpels. It’s time to remove some politically diseased tissues.

God Bless You my fellow human beings. I’m proud to be one of you. You did good.

See you on the battle field.

Sincerely

jacksmith – WorkingClass

The Affordable Care Act is not terrible, it’s a baby step in the right direction, and is currently reforming the private sector as we speak. I’ve blogged about the massive changes, and possible removal of the insurance industry completely.

Think about what Sensenbrenner is saying, that the single payer system worldwide, that comes in at half the cost, will not come in at half the cost and even be more expensive. His proof is where?

Sorry Jack, on this one, a swing and a miss.

This might even help with our current partisan gridlock. Maybe a member of a political party would support legislation proposed by someone in another party if the policy was something they agreed with, instead of immediately going against the opponent for political reasons. We’ve all heard many examples of Republicans rejected policies proposed by Obama or other democrats, even ones that originated with republicans, simple to beat them politically. Didn’t the repubs say their #1 priority was to make sure Obama didn’t serve a 2nd term?

However, if a 2 year term becomes a 4 year term, and a 4 year term becomes 8 years. What happens if we have another politician who, with the help of his corporate donors, gets elected and pushes through policies that weren’t mentioned during his campaign, but these policies anger a large segment of the voters? Can he still be recalled?

And regarding the corporate donors, how would this discourage them from supporting a candidate from the beginning? They still retain the same corrupt system we have today with the revolving door between politician and lobbiest still intact. I think we would still want campaign spending limits or public funding.

As for the 80% rule. I doubt any politician (even Proxmire or Nelson) would be popular enough to win 80% of the votes. The staunch Republicans would never vote for a Democrat, no matter how good they are…