Not only is the US healthcare system an international embarrassment, the World Health Organization ranks the U.S as just 54th in healthcare “fairness” behind Bangladesh, writes Rose Ann DeMoro, executive director of National Nurses Organizing Committee/California Nurses Association.
August, 2009
Down, down, down as the sharemarket shakedown looms
Australian markets are lower for a second day, American markets are down, Europe is lower and Asia is off the boil, putting a lie to claims of a “rebound”.
Westpoint paper trail snares KPMG
Major accounting firm KPMG has received a rare rebuke from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, with three partners agreeing to be banned from auditing companies.
Political snippets: Obama in black and white
Richard Farmer explains why there are still two Americas, and looks at anti-war sentiment in Australia and across the pond.
Media briefs: White House shuts down e-tip box … ‘Sorry’ Kyle and Jackie O back on air
‘Sorry’ Kyle and Jackie O back on air. But Reader’s Digest to file for bankruptcy and White House shuts down e-tip box. Also, website targets problem gamblers and Fox news on a roll.
Clearing roadsides may not be the answer for fire safety
The call for the burning and clearing of roadside vegetation from entry and exit roads to towns in bushfire areas may in fact be a counter productive approach that will put people at risk, writes Lionel Elmore.
Reader’s Digest goes downs the tubes
The death touch of private equity in the media has claimed another victim, with the publisher of Reader’s Digest magazine filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy overnight.
Frozen out, Newnham prepares to meet his maker
Victorian Premier John Brumby has increased pressure on ALP State Secretary Stephen Newnham to resign immediately by banning him from preparations for the 2010 State Election campaign.
The black dog: sometimes it’s impossible to get out of bed
It’s almost impossible to get out of bed when the Black Dog, as Winston Churchill called depression, visits. It’s when nights become about paranoia and obsessing, writes Greg Barns.
Tips and rumours: Truth: the four, er, five-letter word
Is Tom Cruise >em>actually cruising off the Australian Coast? NT parliament doesn’t know how many letters in ‘truth’ and are Ticketek staff rorting the system?
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: NT politics, Cubbie Station and ETS
Northern Territory News responds to NT politics, and Crikey readers weigh in on Cubbie station, when the ETS should start and national security.
Fairfax’s strategic future: Crikey readers weigh in
We asked, and a handful of you cared enough to answer. Here are some Crikey reader’s thoughts on the strategic direction of Fairfax.
Emirates for court in ACCC robber airlines push
The great global air freight price fixing scandal caught up with another airline in Australia today when the ACCC said it was taking Emirates to court over alleged cartel like behaviour.
The PM v Chris Mitchell: the feud hots up
The personal feud between PM Kevin Rudd and The Oz editor-in-chief, Chris Mitchell is getting messy. It’s clear that The Oz’s campaign against the Government isn’t slowing.
Barry O’Farrell sticks his neck out on donations reform
Barry O’Farrell has stuck his neck out on political donations reform, lobbyist activities and election expenditure in an attempt to make ground on Premier Rees. But his own political fundraising is under question, writes Lee Rhiannon.
Guy Rundle: Those crazy ole Republicans aren’t funny anymore
The US is heading towards a health care bill of 20% of GDP, at which point the country has, economically, become one huge hospital. If Obama is not allowed to fix it, it will crash and burn.
Morning Market Report: Wall St has worst fall in six weeks
Wall St has experienced its worst fall in six weeks, with the Dow closing down 186. The Australian market is down 13.
Twitter “40% pointless babble”? What twaddle!
40% of the messages on Twitter are “pointless babble”, claims a story doing the rounds of the media this morning. Except, the ‘research’ is just rubbish pseudo-science pimping a product.
A news revolution in the palm of your hand
The iPhone has meant I no longer need to buy a newspaper for anything at all, says Alan Kohler, and the launch of Apple’s much-hyped new tablet computer — the iPad — may put Steve Jobs’ name alongside Johannes Gutenberg, John Walter and Giambattista Bodoni as a news revolutionary.
Too much democracy, too soon?
Hamid Karzai may be corrupt and incompetent, says Joe Klein, but in a country still so politically volatile due to intimidation from the Taliban, his ability to unite Tajiks and Pashtuns may provide some much needed stability.
Farmers and Nats don’t see eye-to-eye on climate change
The ABS has surveyed the views of farm managers on climate change and its effects on their business, finding the impacts from climate change are overwhelmingly seen to be negative — a far cry from the National Party line on climate change, says Possum Comitatus.
