Put a face on it

The primary problem with partisan politics is that it is often ideologically driven. Rather than play silly games, president Bill Clinton had a secret to break log-jams. He didn't hide it. Here it is.

Politics is about people.

So, for instance, when it comes to the healthcare debate, which is more of a bottom-feeding-frenzy of lobbyist largess than an honest handling of the issues facing the nation, it might help to put a face on the trouble with the healthcare system we have.

Before Deamonte Driver died of a toothache I never knew such a thing was possible. Apparently the young man, he was only 12, could have been saved by a tooth extraction.

Here are the full details

Here are more details

I expect conservatives would argue that Deamonte died because he had irresponsible parents. For the purposes of debate let us accept the charge as true and address it. If it is true that Deamonte had irresponsible parents is it fair that he should bear the burden of that when his place of birth was an accident of nature? Since Deamonte was a human being, wasn't he entitled to the right to life which conservatives are so willing to protect in the womb? Since his $80 problem became a $250,000 problem which society paid, isn't there an economic argument to be made in Deamonte's favor in this case?

Deamonte is one child. 18,000 Americans die of preventable causes every year. You could also say they they die of preventable congressional inaction every year.

What is wrong when the welfare of a child is less important than the perks of a health-insurance executive?

Why has shame lost it's ability to cut in Washington?