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US Republicans and Their “Female Troubles”

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By Ruth Rosen / Common Dreams

Now that it’s 2014, American political analysts, strategists, and operatives are revving up for the November midterm elections.  High on the Republican agenda is the goal of convincing women to counter President Obama and vote for their congressional and gubernatorial candidates.

Usually, the opposition party has the advantage in the non-presidential midterm elections. But in this instance Democrats may in fact have greater appeal, especially among young, minority and low-income women voters.  In 2012, President Obama enjoyed an 18 point gender gap, according to exit polls.

Now, Democratic Party operatives are trying to mobilize even more women voters, especially the minority women who have so strongly supported their platform. They are casting women in starring roles and hoping that by running high-profile female candidates, they will take back important governor’s mansions and keep their fragile majority in the Senate.   [Read more…]

What Does the End of Chronic Veteran Homelessness Mean For Cities?

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By Elisha Harig-Blaine/CitiesSpeak.org

Last month, Phoenix made the historic announcement that all of their chronically homeless veterans were off the streets. This amazing milestone is the result of collaboration between all parts of the community and the use of data to drive decisions and allocate resources. The accomplishment has sparked a national conversation about whether or not a city can end homelessness.

The success Phoenix has seen around chronically homeless veterans can serve as an example for other segments of the homeless population. As Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said while making his announcement last month, “The strategies that we’re using to end chronic homelessness among veterans are the exact same strategies that we’re going to use to end chronic homelessness among the broader population. This model – doing right by our veterans – is exactly how we’re going to do right by the larger population.”   [Read more…]

Why I’m Breathing Easier in 2014

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I know firsthand that the Affordable Care Act can help people.

By  / Other Words

For the first time in years, I’ve got health insurance. Before now, my “insurance” was nothing more than exercise, a healthy diet, and medicinal herbs.

I’ve gotten insured through the Affordable Care Act without dealing with a buggy website because I live in California. Our state made its own website because our politicians are more concerned about their citizens’ health than making President Barack Obama look bad.   [Read more…]

UT-San Diego Shafts its Employees, Blames Obamacare

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By Doug Porter

Employees of the UT-San Diego are the latest casualties in the sordid saga of the right wing’s assault on the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare.

UT Publisher Doug Manchester has made opposition and denigration of the President’s health insurance reform agenda a top priority since the day he bought the paper. His editorial pages have been (figuratively) screaming about the impending end of Western Civilization for months on end.  The ACA’s primary pillar—the individual mandate—was actually a conservative counter-proposal to President Clinton’s attempt to implement universal health care nearly two decades ago.   [Read more…]

Challenge to San Diego: End Homelessness in 2014

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Phoenix and Salt Lake City have ended chronic homelessness among veterans. Why can’t San Diego follow their example?

By John Lawrence

Phoenix has become the first city to end homelessness among veterans. The Obama administration had set a goal of ending homelessness among veterans by 2015, but Phoenix reached that mark a year early. After housing the last 56 veterans a week before Christmas, Phoenix announced that it had eradicated chronic homelessness among veterans in that city. Phoenix and Salt Lake City had been involved in a frierndly competition to see which city could end chronic homelessness among veterans first. Phoenix won, but Salt Lake was not far behind.

The fact that Phoenix and Salt Lake City Mayors had gotten involved in the homeless issue was a significant reason why this problem has been solved in those cities. In an effort to raise awareness about veteran homelessness, Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker proclaimed November “Housing Veterans Month.” In response, roughly 40 landlords contacted the city to say they had units available for veterans. Becker had also engaged Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton in a friendly competition to see whose city could end chronic veteran homelessness first.   [Read more…]

New Year, New Health Insurance

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By Lauree Benton

Editor’s Note:  This is a follow up to a previous contribution, “One Woman’s Story:  Why I Will Be Enrolling in the ACA (Obamacare) Marketplace.”

My baby boy has insurance!

I came to that realization just after the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve, ringing in 2014 and all the possibility it brings.

I let out a huge sigh of relief—one so large that it may have improved my posture. I stood up straighter than I had in seven long months. I may have even let out a tear or two. Happy tears. Relieved tears. Tears of a mother who no longer has to worry that little kid’s tendencies toward hurting themselves could send my family into financial chaos.   [Read more…]

The Repackaging of Kevin Faulconer, Wherein Barney Fife Gets Transformed into John Wayne: Looking Back at September 2013

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For the twelve days of Christmas I give you: The madness of 2013, one month at a time-A month by month recap of stories that appeared in the Starting Line last year.

By Doug Porter

#1 Carl DeMaio Obeys Orders

It was a day to remember in San Diego’s political history.  Three high-profile politicians opted to decline the opportunity to enter the contest for the top spot in the eighth largest city in the United States.  That’s like three customers going into a Starbucks paying for a latte with a hundred dollar bill and saying “keep the change”…or a camel passing through the eye of a needle.

…DeMaio deferred to his Congressional ambitions, Todd Gloria said that the job of being interim mayor demanded his full attention and County Supervisor Ron Roberts opted out of the race.   [Read more…]

USS Ronald Reagan Sailors to Refile Suit For Fukushima Radiation Poisoning

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At least 71 sailors from San Diego-based carrier have reported radiation sickness and will file a lawsuit against Tokyo Electric Power Co.

By Brandon Baker / EcoNews

After U.S. Navy sailors on the USS Ronald Reagan responded to the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan for four days, many returned to the U.S. with thyroid cancer, Leukemia, brain tumors and more.

At least 71 sailors—many in their 20s—reported radiation sickness and will file a lawsuit against Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), which operates the Fukushima Daiichi energy plant.   [Read more…]

The Media Should Stop Pretending Marijuana’s Risks Are a Mystery — The Science Is Clear

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We now know as much about cannabis as we know about alcohol, tobacco and many prescription drugs.

By Paul Armentano / AlterNet

Speaking recently with the Los Angeles Times, UCLA professor and former Washington state “pot czar” Mark Kleiman implied that we as a society are largely ignorant when it comes to the subject of weed. Speaking with Times columnist Patt Morrison, Kleiman stated, “I keep saying we don’t know nearly as much about cannabis as Pillsbury knows about brownie mix.”

Kleiman’s allegation—that the marijuana plant and its effects on society still remains largely a mystery—is a fairly common refrain. But it is far from accurate.   [Read more…]

My Grandma’s High on Weed

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By Judi Curry

My grandma has a case of shingles,
She hurts terribly bad,
I wish I could do something for her,
It makes me extremely sad.
Grandma went to her doctor,
Who gave her a strong pain pill,
But all that it managed to do for her,
Was to make her feel more ill.
Grandma went back to the doctor,
Begging for some relief,
The doctor said to get a weed card
And then go buy some leaf.
So Grandma looked on Google’s list
To find the closest place,
Drove herself to the parking lot –
Of course it was owned by ACE.
……   [Read more…]

Should Employers Be Able to Exclude Birth Control From Health Insurance Coverage?

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By Joel A. Harrison, PhD, MPH/East County Magazine

The Obama administration has asked the Supreme Court to decide whether for-profit companies can be forced to provide full contraceptive coverage for their employees despite religious objections from their owners. Many people believe that health insurance is something offered by employers, a sort of bonus.  In fact, it is part of what I have known as one’s “wage package.”

Wikipedia calls it “salary packaging: a term used to refer to the inclusion of employee benefits (also called fringe benefits) in an employee remuneration package in exchange for giving up part of monetary salary. Such arrangements are entered into most commonly if there are tax or other benefits to be derived by the employer or employee from the arrangement.”  Employers calculate the total cost per employee, including salary, benefits, Workers’ Comp, unemployment insurance, employer’s share of FICA and Medicare, etc.   [Read more…]

Losing Money and Gaining Weight: The Online Diet Gimmicks of Today

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By Judi Curry

“Weight loss” has been the buzz phrase for years. Seldom are people happy with what they weigh; what they look like; how tall or short they are; their cup size; etc. And, thanks to Dr. Oz and his programs, many women – and men, too – have tried a variety of weight loss remedies that are “guaranteed” – well, sort of – to take the weight off whether you exercise or not. He has touted Raspberry Keytones, Green Coffee, and the latest – a Pure Garcinia Cambogia.

As an overweight, older woman who wants to look better to attract a younger man, I have tried all three of the above. After all, if it worked for Oprah, it should work for me.   [Read more…]

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