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The latest news on Unemployment, Education, U.S. Military, Afghanistan--U.S. Policy, Afghanistan--Civilian Workers, Iraq, Israel--Palestine, Korea, and Select op-eds.

by Duane Shank 10-08-2009 | 12:00pm
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Quote of the Day. "Culture and religion inform every decision about health, illness, disease and care, about true caring, about who can live, about the measure of quality in a life, about when suffering begins and how it ends. We bring our full selves to every bedside," Dawn Seery, head of the Methodist Healthcare System in San Antonio, on the role of hospital ethics committees in assisting families making end-of-life decisions. (USA Today)

FAITH IN THE NEWS

Supreme Court Takes Up Church and State, but Just Barely "A lone cross built to honor the dead of World War I, bolted to a desert rock on public land, raises a host of complicated issues about which religious displays violate the Constitution's ban on government establishment of religion and who may challenge them."

Blair Says Religion Should Fuel Peace, not Conflict "Former British prime minister Tony Blair said Wednesday that Muslims and Christians working to understand each other's cultural and religious beliefs could help build a global movement for peace."

Global Muslim population hits 1.57 billion "The global Muslim population stands at 1.57 billion, meaning that nearly 1 in 4 people in the world practice Islam, according to a report Wednesday billed as the most comprehensive of its kind."

NEWS AT HOME

Health Care. New Math Boosts Health Plan "The latest Senate health bill will cost $829 billion over a decade and slightly reduce the federal budget deficit, congressional budget crunchers said Wednesday." Health Care Bill Gets Green Light in Cost Analysis "The Senate Finance Committee legislation to revamp the health-care system would provide coverage to 29 million uninsured Americans but would still pare future federal deficits by slowing the growth of spending on medical care." Democrats face dilemma on taxes to pay for healthcare "As Democratic leaders prepare to bring healthcare legislation before the full House and Senate for votes this month, they soon must decide who will be taxed to pay for expanding coverage -- the wealthy or the insurance companies." Minority Groups Raise Voices on Reform "Missing from the noise so far: the voices of minorities, who are disproportionately represented among the poor and uninsured and could benefit the most from reform, and who are more likely than others to have chronic illnesses such as diabetes." Americans cutting back on health care to save money "Many Americans have been putting off doctors' visits, forgoing medical tests and taking expired medications to save money over the past year, according to a new poll by Consumers Union."

Unemployment. Obama seeks ways keep joblessness from sinking recovery "Under pressure to stop rising joblessness from sinking a fragile recovery, President Obama met Wednesday with top congressional Democratic leaders to fashion new strategies to bolster the U.S. economy." Jobless benefits run out for many Ohioans "The number of Ohioans who have exhausted their unemployment benefits has risen to levels not seen since the early 1980s."

Education. Obama Aims to Boost Pell Grant Funding by $40 Billion "After three years of major increases in federal Pell grants for needy college students, President Obama aims to boost the aid further with $40 billion in funding over the next decade. But even that influx might not ensure that the grants will recover and sustain the purchasing power they once held."

U.S. Military. US troops pay price of extended tours of duty "When soldiers talk about soaring rates of family breakdown, suicide and PTSD, there is no doubt that they describe a growing problem across the whole US military force."

Afghanistan -- U.S. Policy. Civilian, Military Officials at Odds Over Resources Needed for Afghan Counterinsurgency "In early March, after weeks of debate across a conference table in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the participants in President Obama's strategic review of the war in Afghanistan figured that the most contentious part of their discussions was behind them." Afghan War Debate Now Leans to Focus on Al Qaeda"President Obama's national security team is moving to reframe its war strategy by emphasizing the campaign against Al Qaeda in Pakistan while arguing that the Taliban in Afghanistan do not pose a direct threat to the United States." Obama looks at Pakistan while reassessing Afghanistan strategy "President Obama shifted his focus to Pakistan on Wednesday as he continued his reassessment of his strategy for Afghanistan and approached the question of whether to further increase troop strength there." Afghan ambassador for extra forces "Afghanistan's ambassador to the United States has said that more US troops are needed in his country to help promote stability and train the domestic security forces." Taliban claim they pose no threat to west "The Taliban have issued an English-language statement claiming they pose no international threat

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by: Thomas Faggard

10-09-2009 @ 1:15am

I Find it very Interesting that Christian who do not come from Anababtist Traditions and Us Native Indigenous Indians Restorative Justice Model.Prefer to Promote Punitive Justice and Support a Military War Machine.I am a Ghost Dancer Indigenous Indian Graduate from Vangaurd Universty,1976.By The Way Wovoka,Jack Wilson,Was a Christian and He developed a Red Theology and Promoted NonViolence and I have No Interest in your White European Theology or Critism.My Point is this you have raised the Question of Health Care Cost.Yet you Leave out one Major Money Monster called Military Budget.It seem quite a Few Right Wing Christian's Feel that the Gospel Of Bullets and Bombs is Better then The Gospel of Nonviolence and Peace.Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammo.Ghost Dancer Christian,St.Thomas SpreadingEagle,Shaman/Minster.

by: Thomas Faggard

10-09-2009 @ 1:15am

I Find it very Interesting that Christian who do not come from Anababtist Traditions and Us Native Indigenous Indians Restorative Justice Model.Prefer to Promote Punitive Justice and Support a Military War Machine.I am a Ghost Dancer Indigenous Indian Graduate from Vangaurd Universty,1976.By The Way Wovoka,Jack Wilson,Was a Christian and He developed a Red Theology and Promoted NonViolence and I have No Interest in your White European Theology or Critism.My Point is this you have raised the Question of Health Care Cost.Yet you Leave out one Major Money Monster called Military Budget.It seem quite a Few Right Wing Christian's Feel that the Gospel Of Bullets and Bombs is Better then The Gospel of Nonviolence and Peace.Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammo.Ghost Dancer Christian,St.Thomas SpreadingEagle,Shaman/Minster.

by: DrDianeEngland

10-08-2009 @ 7:14pm

With regard to the article about civilians going to Afghanistan to help out, I think it is commendable that so many people wish to try and make a difference there. But as someone who has written on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD, as well as worked overseas with the military as a contracted clinical social worker who sustained a significant injury on the base shortly before the end of my five-year stay, I fear for them--unless this country institutes health insurance reform. Perhaps they will not be covered under the Defense Base Act as contractors are. However, if this proves to be true for some, again, I worry about their well-being. After all, the primary two insurers for such cases are AIG and CNA. And despite the fact that the government bailed out AIG, you will read stories that wounded contractors from the two wars have posted on the internet regarding how difficult it has been to collect the monies for their bills to which they were entitled. There are similar complaints with regard to CNA--the company with which I had personal experience that essentially matched what I came to read posted by these war wounded. Also, now as a self-employed person, I get to pay a twenty-five percent surcharge each year because of that injury. Fortunately, I can still get health insurance. However, I fear that unless we have health insurance reform, some of these well-intentioned people may sustain injuries or develop a mental health issue such as PTSD from their time in Afghanistan, only to return and discover that he or she is uninsurable. Of course, they would be joining the ranks of contractors likely already facing this sad reality.

by: Thomas Faggard

10-08-2009 @ 11:15pm

I Find it very Interesting that Christian who do not come from Anababtist Traditions and Us Native Indigenous Indians Restorative Justice Model.Prefer to Promote Punitive Justice and Support a Military War Machine.I am a Ghost Dancer Indigenous Indian Graduate from Vangaurd Universty,1976.By The Way Wovoka,Jack Wilson,Was a Christian and He developed a Red Theology and Promoted NonViolence and I have No Interest in your White European Theology or Critism.My Point is this you have raised the Question of Health Care Cost.Yet you Leave out one Major Money Monster called Military Budget.It seem quite a Few Right Wing Christian's Feel that the Gospel Of Bullets and Bombs is Better then The Gospel of Nonviolence and Peace.Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammo.Ghost Dancer Christian,St.Thomas SpreadingEagle,Shaman/Minster.

by: DrDianeEngland

10-08-2009 @ 7:14pm

With regard to the article about civilians going to Afghanistan to help out, I think it is commendable that so many people wish to try and make a difference there. But as someone who has written on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD, as well as worked overseas with the military as a contracted clinical social worker who sustained a significant injury on the base shortly before the end of my five-year stay, I fear for them--unless this country institutes health insurance reform. Perhaps they will not be covered under the Defense Base Act as contractors are. However, if this proves to be true for some, again, I worry about their well-being. After all, the primary two insurers for such cases are AIG and CNA. And despite the fact that the government bailed out AIG, you will read stories that wounded contractors from the two wars have posted on the internet regarding how difficult it has been to collect the monies for their bills to which they were entitled. There are similar complaints with regard to CNA--the company with which I had personal experience that essentially matched what I came to read posted by these war wounded. Also, now as a self-employed person, I get to pay a twenty-five percent surcharge each year because of that injury. Fortunately, I can still get health insurance. However, I fear that unless we have health insurance reform, some of these well-intentioned people may sustain injuries or develop a mental health issue such as PTSD from their time in Afghanistan, only to return and discover that he or she is uninsurable. Of course, they would be joining the ranks of contractors likely already facing this sad reality.

by: Thomas Faggard

10-08-2009 @ 11:15pm

I Find it very Interesting that Christian who do not come from Anababtist Traditions and Us Native Indigenous Indians Restorative Justice Model.Prefer to Promote Punitive Justice and Support a Military War Machine.I am a Ghost Dancer Indigenous Indian Graduate from Vangaurd Universty,1976.By The Way Wovoka,Jack Wilson,Was a Christian and He developed a Red Theology and Promoted NonViolence and I have No Interest in your White European Theology or Critism.My Point is this you have raised the Question of Health Care Cost.Yet you Leave out one Major Money Monster called Military Budget.It seem quite a Few Right Wing Christian's Feel that the Gospel Of Bullets and Bombs is Better then The Gospel of Nonviolence and Peace.Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammo.Ghost Dancer Christian,St.Thomas SpreadingEagle,Shaman/Minster.

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by: DrDianeEngland

10-08-2009 @ 7:14pm

With regard to the article about civilians going to Afghanistan to help out, I think it is commendable that so many people wish to try and make a difference there. But as someone who has written on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD, as well as worked overseas with the military as a contracted clinical social worker who sustained a significant injury on the base shortly before the end of my five-year stay, I fear for them--unless this country institutes health insurance reform. Perhaps they will not be covered under the Defense Base Act as contractors are. However, if this proves to be true for some, again, I worry about their well-being. After all, the primary two insurers for such cases are AIG and CNA. And despite the fact that the government bailed out AIG, you will read stories that wounded contractors from the two wars have posted on the internet regarding how difficult it has been to collect the monies for their bills to which they were entitled. There are similar complaints with regard to CNA--the company with which I had personal experience that essentially matched what I came to read posted by these war wounded. Also, now as a self-employed person, I get to pay a twenty-five percent surcharge each year because of that injury. Fortunately, I can still get health insurance. However, I fear that unless we have health insurance reform, some of these well-intentioned people may sustain injuries or develop a mental health issue such as PTSD from their time in Afghanistan, only to return and discover that he or she is uninsurable. Of course, they would be joining the ranks of contractors likely already facing this sad reality.

by: DrDianeEngland

10-08-2009 @ 7:14pm

With regard to the article about civilians going to Afghanistan to help out, I think it is commendable that so many people wish to try and make a difference there. But as someone who has written on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD, as well as worked overseas with the military as a contracted clinical social worker who sustained a significant injury on the base shortly before the end of my five-year stay, I fear for them--unless this country institutes health insurance reform. Perhaps they will not be covered under the Defense Base Act as contractors are. However, if this proves to be true for some, again, I worry about their well-being. After all, the primary two insurers for such cases are AIG and CNA. And despite the fact that the government bailed out AIG, you will read stories that wounded contractors from the two wars have posted on the internet regarding how difficult it has been to collect the monies for their bills to which they were entitled. There are similar complaints with regard to CNA--the company with which I had personal experience that essentially matched what I came to read posted by these war wounded. Also, now as a self-employed person, I get to pay a twenty-five percent surcharge each year because of that injury. Fortunately, I can still get health insurance. However, I fear that unless we have health insurance reform, some of these well-intentioned people may sustain injuries or develop a mental health issue such as PTSD from their time in Afghanistan, only to return and discover that he or she is uninsurable. Of course, they would be joining the ranks of contractors likely already facing this sad reality.

by: Thomas Faggard

10-08-2009 @ 11:15pm

I Find it very Interesting that Christian who do not come from Anababtist Traditions and Us Native Indigenous Indians Restorative Justice Model.Prefer to Promote Punitive Justice and Support a Military War Machine.I am a Ghost Dancer Indigenous Indian Graduate from Vangaurd Universty,1976.By The Way Wovoka,Jack Wilson,Was a Christian and He developed a Red Theology and Promoted NonViolence and I have No Interest in your White European Theology or Critism.My Point is this you have raised the Question of Health Care Cost.Yet you Leave out one Major Money Monster called Military Budget.It seem quite a Few Right Wing Christian's Feel that the Gospel Of Bullets and Bombs is Better then The Gospel of Nonviolence and Peace.Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammo.Ghost Dancer Christian,St.Thomas SpreadingEagle,Shaman/Minster.

by: Thomas Faggard

10-08-2009 @ 11:15pm

I Find it very Interesting that Christian who do not come from Anababtist Traditions and Us Native Indigenous Indians Restorative Justice Model.Prefer to Promote Punitive Justice and Support a Military War Machine.I am a Ghost Dancer Indigenous Indian Graduate from Vangaurd Universty,1976.By The Way Wovoka,Jack Wilson,Was a Christian and He developed a Red Theology and Promoted NonViolence and I have No Interest in your White European Theology or Critism.My Point is this you have raised the Question of Health Care Cost.Yet you Leave out one Major Money Monster called Military Budget.It seem quite a Few Right Wing Christian's Feel that the Gospel Of Bullets and Bombs is Better then The Gospel of Nonviolence and Peace.Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammo.Ghost Dancer Christian,St.Thomas SpreadingEagle,Shaman/Minster.

by: Thomas Faggard

10-09-2009 @ 1:15am

I Find it very Interesting that Christian who do not come from Anababtist Traditions and Us Native Indigenous Indians Restorative Justice Model.Prefer to Promote Punitive Justice and Support a Military War Machine.I am a Ghost Dancer Indigenous Indian Graduate from Vangaurd Universty,1976.By The Way Wovoka,Jack Wilson,Was a Christian and He developed a Red Theology and Promoted NonViolence and I have No Interest in your White European Theology or Critism.My Point is this you have raised the Question of Health Care Cost.Yet you Leave out one Major Money Monster called Military Budget.It seem quite a Few Right Wing Christian's Feel that the Gospel Of Bullets and Bombs is Better then The Gospel of Nonviolence and Peace.Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammo.Ghost Dancer Christian,St.Thomas SpreadingEagle,Shaman/Minster.

by: Thomas Faggard

10-09-2009 @ 1:15am

I Find it very Interesting that Christian who do not come from Anababtist Traditions and Us Native Indigenous Indians Restorative Justice Model.Prefer to Promote Punitive Justice and Support a Military War Machine.I am a Ghost Dancer Indigenous Indian Graduate from Vangaurd Universty,1976.By The Way Wovoka,Jack Wilson,Was a Christian and He developed a Red Theology and Promoted NonViolence and I have No Interest in your White European Theology or Critism.My Point is this you have raised the Question of Health Care Cost.Yet you Leave out one Major Money Monster called Military Budget.It seem quite a Few Right Wing Christian's Feel that the Gospel Of Bullets and Bombs is Better then The Gospel of Nonviolence and Peace.Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammo.Ghost Dancer Christian,St.Thomas SpreadingEagle,Shaman/Minster.