Posts Made By: David Cotterell

April 17, 2011 11:53 AM Forum: Politics

I met Herb at NEAF

Posted By David Cotterell

He's taller than he appears in his Avatar......

Had a brief chat - very pleasant.

Dave

April 24, 2011 02:10 PM Forum: Politics

Rebub. amendment: 9/11 responders to be screened f

Posted By David Cotterell

"
WASHINGTON -- A provision in the new 9/11 health bill may be adding insult to injury for people who fell sick after their service in the aftermath of the 2001 Al Qaeda attacks, (this newspaper) has learned.

The tens of thousands of cops, firefighters, construction workers and others who survived the worst terrorist assault in U.S. history and risked their lives in its wake will soon be informed that their names must be run through the FBI’s terrorism watch list, according to a letter obtained by (this newspaper).

Any of the responders who are not compared to the database of suspected terrorists would be barred from getting treatment for the numerous, worsening ailments that the James Zadroga 9/11 Health And Compensation Law was passed to address.

It’s a requirement that was tacked onto the law during the bitter debates over it last year.

The letter from Dr. John Howard, director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, informs medical providers and administrators that they should begin letting patients know before the new program kicks in this July.

“This is absurd,� said Glen Kline, a former NYPD emergency services officer. “It’s silly. It’s stupid. It’s asinine.�

“It’s comical at best, and I think it’s an insult to everyone who worked on The Pile and is sick and suffering from 9/11,� said John Feal, a former construction worker who lost half a foot at Ground Zero and runs the advocacy group Fealgood Foundation.
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The provision was added in an amendment by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) during the heated debate over the bill in the House Energy and Commerce Committee last May.

Sept. 11 responders in the committee room at the time mostly shook their heads at the move, which Democrats accepted on a voice vote after battling to bar other amendments on abortion and immigration that might have killed the bill.

But suddenly the point is no longer just a strategic concession to get a law passed.

As doctors and administrators begin acting on the federal instructions, participants in the 9/11 treatment and monitoring programs will soon be told that their names, places of birth, addresses, government ID numbers and other personal data will be provided to the FBI to ensure they are not terrorists.

Howard's instructions include a sample letter to responders designed to minimize alarm.

“Although neither we nor [the Centers for Disease Control]/NIOSH anticipate the name of any individual in the current Programs will be on the list, CDC/NIOSH is expressly required by law to implement this particular requirement of the Act,� it says.

“Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to working with you and ensuring that you continue to receive uninterrupted services under the new WTC Health Program,� it concludes.

Feal, who counts hundreds of first responders in his foundation's membership, predicted the letters would not go over well.

“When cops and firefighters get this at home, they’re going to hit the roof,� he said.

Kline, who sits on the Fealgood Foundation’s board, said he personally wasn’t offended, but couldn’t think of a good reason for cops and firefighters to be screened by the FBI in order to keep getting treatment.

“I mean, who are we even talking about -- the undocumented workers who cleaned the office buildings?� wondered Kline Thursday. “We know who all the cops, firefighters and construction workers were. They’re all documented.

“Is the idea that a terrorist stayed to help clean up? And then stayed all these years to try and get benefits?� he asked. “In all the things I’ve seen out of Washington, this probably takes the cake.�

Some are more understanding.

“Do we want terrorists getting money? No,� said Anthony Flammia, a former NYPD Highway Patrol officer and Sept. 11 responder. “How do you know if there were any terrorists there? Were they there as observers, watching? Probably.�

But he noted that his perspective likely would not be shared, especially if people whose names are similar to actual terror suspects get flagged, as happens with air travelers.

“I’ve got nothing to hide, so it’s no big deal for me, but there’s got to be safeguards in place to protect the people who are innocent,� Flammia said. “It’s going to be controversial,� he added. “It’s probably going to create an uproar, but I think it will dissipate. I hope they're ready to answer people's questions.�

Congressman Stearns said in a statement that his intent was to answer exactly the questions raised by Flammia.

“This amendment was adopted in the full Energy and Commerce Committee without opposition and it merely requires that the names of those receiving health benefits be cross-checked with the terrorist watch list to ensure that no terrorists get these benefits,� Stearns said.

“These benefits are not just for our first responders; nearly anyone who was in the vicinity or worked on a cleanup crew afterward is eligible,� he noted.

The prohibition is included in two parts of the bill. One specifically covers responders, while the other deals with all survivors, including office workers, bystanders and residents.

Feal acknowledged that the terrorist screening has to be done because it is the law, and that the letters have to go out.

But he holds Stearns responsible, as well as several other Republicans who were hostile to the 9/11 bill, and tried to tack all manner of amendments onto it.

“I think Congressman Stearns is stabbing at pettiness. He’s a buffoon,� Feal said. “We get sicker and die, and they’re going to disseminate a letter wondering whether we’re terrorists or not. ... I think everybody needs to start showing a little more compassion.�


May 3, 2011 03:26 AM Forum: Politics

Canadian election results.

Posted By David Cotterell

Not something that gets much air time here but we have had a federal election today and the results are historic, to say the least.

As of a few minutes ago the conservatives have 168 seats, the New Democratic Party 102, the Liberals 34, the Bloc Quebecois 3and the Greens 1. That's a conservative majority (more seats than the rest put together) so the government will last at least four years and as much as 5. Our Conservative party is not as conservative as yours - more like between your Dems and Repubs....

Notable is the shocking, utter collapse of the Liberals (rather like your Dems but a bit more left than them) - a party that has either been in power or been second (the official opposition party) since the 1800's.

Even more notable is the rise of the NDP from its 50 year run in either 3rd or 4th place to become the official opposition for the first time in their history. Americans should note that this is Canada's most left party, being quite a few notches more 'socialist' than Nader was......

We have had also the almost complete disappearance of the Bloc Quebecois (mostly in favour of the NDP). This is a party whose avowed purpose is to effect the separation of Quebec and which fields no candidates outside of that province. They are quite European in their political outlook so the switch to NDP in Quebec is an easy one. They have become irrelevant.

And, woooooo! Looks like we have one Green Party MP - Elizabeth May, their party leader......

Overall it seems as if we have moved away from the center (Liberals) but both to the left and to the right. I wonder if we will become more polarized as a result.

American friends, do you have any observations?

Dave. (voted Green - my candidate got smoked......)

May 20, 2011 03:20 PM Forum: Politics

Defecit: 2% Obama, 98% other factors.

Posted By David Cotterell

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/the-past-present-and-future-of-the-deficit/2011/05/19/AF2GsB7G_blog.html

Of course, there will be those who say the article is biased. But the shown graphs/charts are from three independent sources. But, of course, there will be those who say the graphs' authors are biased.

Dave

May 21, 2011 01:31 PM Forum: Politics

What nation has no debt?

Posted By David Cotterell

I got to thinking about the debt that countries owe to other countries - external debt. It is said that the USA owes a significant chunk of its debt to China. My elementary mind figured that China must be 'sitting pretty' in the debt department with all that cash rolling in, but no - China has a fair-sized external debt of its own. Owed to whom I have no idea.

Then, thought my elementary mind, a country rich in oil must be in good shape - Saudi Arabia. But I would be wrong again. They have a debt about 20% of their GDP.

So off to Wiki I go, seeking enlightenment. Here's the list of external debts of every country in the world. And all but four of them have debt. The entire planet is deficit financing. How does this happen? If every nation just said "As of July 1, 2011 we absolve ourselves of debt- cancel it - ignore it - shun it." would anything at all happen?

Type of government seems not to be a factor in external debt as republics, monarchies, communist dictatorships, parliamentary democracies, nasty dictatorships, family hegemonies, social democracies, theocracies and so on and so forth are all on the list and at no particular level according to government type...

And, finally, how does Japan, which I thought was one of the world's stronger economies, have such a stupefying debt load and survive even five minutes?

Here's the list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_external_debt

Discuss.

Dave

June 5, 2011 01:22 AM Forum: Politics

Just another Pinko Commie Lefty Liberal rant

Posted By David Cotterell

"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities. It is two electric power plants, each serving a town of 60,000 population. It is two fine, fully equipped hospitals. It is some fifty miles of concrete pavement. We pay for a single fighter plane with a half million bushels of wheat. We pay for a single destroyer with new homes that could have housed more than 8,000 people."

What famous left winger said this?

June 22, 2011 01:41 PM Forum: Politics

Privacy Gone Like the Dinosaurs.

Posted By David Cotterell

Excellent, non-partisan piece on the erosion of personal privacy:
http://www.thedaily.com/page/2011/06/22/062211-opinions-oped-privacy-kozinski-grace-1-2/

Discuss.

Dave

August 21, 2011 05:36 PM Forum: Politics

2013 President Poll

Posted By David Cotterell



Let's hear everyone's best prediction at this juncture as to who will be President when the next term begins in January of 2013. NO hoping, wishing or partisan punditry here. Just a simple prediction, without value judgements of any sort. You don't even have to give a reason. Just a prediction based on what you know now.

Bonus Poll: if you predict a Republican President who will be the running mate?

Dave.

October 14, 2011 02:21 PM Forum: Politics

Why "Occupy"? Why Indeed!

Posted By David Cotterell

The various graphs (see link below) clearly show what the core of the 'Occupy' movement have in their sights. Of course numerous fringe loonie/anarchists attach themselves to any street event and drag the protest awry (G20 Toronto, Vancouver Stanlry Cup Riot etc.,). This should not completely disguise the real situation. The graphs show a painful and shameful progression towards the financial separation of American society - a small financial oligarchy* at the top, isolated and insulated from the rest of the population who only exist as labor and middle management for the benefit of the folks at the top of the heap.

I continually find it very strange that middle class Republicans, Tea Partiers and other Conservatives continue to support a party that shows such utter disdain for their core support group in favor of the uber-rich, CEO's and those nice 'people' - the corporations. You're voting for a Party that is turning America into a giant 'gated community' and the vast majority of your Party's supporters are locked outside the gate forever, and they know it and they still vote Republican. Amazing!

http://www.businessinsider.com/what-wall-street-protesters-are-so-angry-about-2011-10?op=1

Dave

* I know there's a better term for this concept. Is it hegemony? or some other ______-archy?

October 22, 2011 08:35 PM Forum: Politics

Herman Cain is Pro Choice. Video evidence.

Posted By David Cotterell

http://wonkette.com/455026/raging-feminist-herman-cain-is-your-new-pro-choice-gop-candidate

From his own mouth Cain insists the government has no place in the social decisions of families. Cain, although anti-abortion personally, makes it very clear that his personal opinions should not be translated into public policy.

Dave