Had It in Holland Park

What's the GOP ever done for us?   Old Lange's rant of the day
Blogger Sarge Freedom asked: What major piece of legislation has the GOP championed and passed in the past 50-years that actually HELPED make life better for the MAJORITY of the people of the United States?  And Richard Kolber responds: I just can't think of a single thing the GOP has done for the non-rich in the last 50 years 
 
Diana's family lead backlash against Channel 4 revealing intimate sex life with Prince Charles

You are absolutlely right, Richard, the question WHY THE HELL SHOULD I PAY FOR YOUR PRE-EXISTING CONDITION? shows that Russell does not understand insurance. It is like asking WHY THE HELL SHOULD I PAY FOR YOUR hospitalization when you fell down the stairs drunk? If Russel understood insurance, I don’t think even he would suggest that the first is an illegitimate expense because a pre-existing condition is not your fault, but the second is a legitimate expense because falling-down drunk is your fault.

In another exchange, you ask Russell What's more important to you, your wallet or remaining ideologically pure? The answer for many is: ideological purity. They would rather cling to a for-profit system than get better healthcare, for everyone, at a lower cost. Oddly, this is exactly what President Trump promised America when he started on his Repeal Obamacare drive: he promised that Trumpcare would deliver better healthcare, for everyone, at a lower cost. The difference is that single-payer systems (as used in every 1st-world nation bar the USA) would deliver this promise, while Trumpcare never had any intention of doing so – it was a pure con.

Michael Master has argued elsewhere that Senator McCain helped Republicans by keeping Obamacare alive. (He may be right, though it seems odd for Michael to crow about serving party before country.) Obamacare is a very flawed system and hence easy to campaign against. Still, most Republicans and quite a few Democrats would prefer to keep Obamacare rather than accept a single-payer system, because a single-payer system bears the label “socialism,” and “socialism” is a word that sends them quaking in their boots. They do not mind the “socialism” of our military, who defend ALL Americans, regardless of whether they can afford to pay for that defence. They don’t mind the “socialism” of a police force, who will protect all citizens, regardless of their ability to pay. They are happy with the “socialism” of a fire department that protects all property, regardless of income. It is only healthcare that drives them to say "Healthcare is a human right? That is a pantload of socialist shit."

Like Russel, they will argue that “my boyfriend’s cousin had to wait for a year for a hang-nail operation under socialized medicine,” deliberately ignoring the fact that every single-payer system in the western world (i.e. most developed countries bar the USA) allows queue-jumping by those who can afford to pay for it. It is like the “socialism” of schools that will educate all children, regardless of ability to pay – though anyone may insist on their right to pay more for a better education.

Single-payer would deliver good basic healthcare for everyone at a lower cost and allow the more affluent free choice: the ability to purchase even better healthcare if they so desired. The end result would be that the affluent would get the same excellent healthcare that they get now at the same price they now pay and the poor would get better healthcare at the same price they pay now (little or nothing). Everyone in America would win.

But that would be “socialism” and all good Americans hate “socialists,” except for our socialist military, police, firefighters, and teachers, who we love. (Okay, maybe not teachers.)

PS: Cui bono: What happens to the health insurance industry under single-payer and does that explain their billions in political donations? Opposition to single-payer is funded by insurance companies and healthcare providers who grow very, very fat on for-profit medical care that is inferior to, and more costly than, medical care in the rest of the developed world. Those who do not understand what insurance is and those who are terrified of the word “socialism” are their dupes and pawns

EU accused of 'wilfully letting refugees drown'

Lange's rant of the day
America is not as great as it was for working white middle class Christian Americans.   they heard Trump.   so they voted for him.   it was a revolt against the divisions in America caused by Obama.   
Japan Slaps 50% Tariff on Some U.S. Beef

Trump Administration to Bar Transgender Individuals From Serving in U.S. Military BBC Presenter Apologises After Tory Donor Calls Jeremy Corbyn A ‘Twat’ Live On Air Grenfell Inquiry Judge Told To Resign By Angry Residents

Charlie Gard: we should ask why his case became the media circus it did
Because journalists, this paper included, thrive on conflict and getting people to dislike each other.  Illegal immigrant in upstate NY allegedly raped young girl
Sadly, legal residents rape far more women than illegals do, whether per capita or in raw numbers.

Tory activist suggests minister's sexuality could be behind decision to change trans policy
Jeremy Corbyn Insists Labour Never Promised To Write Off Historic Student Debt

There are more important things than Donald Trump’s Twitter feed

Boots apologises for morning-after pill response
The campaigners said that more women would use the pill if it was cheaper, Boots said more women would use the pill if it was cheaper and the campaigners said "what a horrible thing to say."   Boots apologised.

Muslim woman detained for reading Syrian art book on plane takes court action
PS: There is something odd about this story: who said that she was detained for reading a book? The airline? The authorities? The woman? Her lawyer?

California judge refuses to bring back Trump's sanctuary cities ban
Good! ICE agents should do their job and stop asking city cops to do it for them.   City cops will detain anyone who ICE has a warrant for, so ICE should get up off their butts and get the warrants.

Reporter hailed as hero after broadcasting  press briefing in defiance of White House rules

GOP urges 'civil disobedience' over new Seattle tax

Corbyn Tells May How To Avoid 'Disrespecting' Grenfell Victims

Iranian Press Publishes Tributes Without HijabWhat head coverings must male Iranians wear?
Are there any items of clothing required for male Iranians?

Baker Street Hijab Incident Suspect's Girlfriend Was Set Upon First

Some GOP Lawmakers Really Want To Carry Guns In The Capitol
No way they should be allowed to have guns in the House and Senate unless I am too. 
If these nutcases are going heeled, I want to be able to protect myself.
Remember the second amendment exists so we can defend ourselves against these people.

'Catastrophic collapse' of  ice sheet could raise global sea levels by three metres, warns scientist

‘Classless’ Attack On Gender Creative Kid
Child abuse takes bizarre forms these days.
If the kid was "age non-conforming" and wanted to drink alcohol and drive a car, I suppose they would encourage him (albeit not at the same time).

Wall Street Journal Announces Restructure, Hints At Diversity Push Among Leadership
Nothing wrong with quotas, I suppose. I trust there will also be diversity goals for ethnicity (so many Hispanics, so many Germanics, so many Asians, etc.)

English Language Test For Nurses May Be ‘Too Rigorous’, Says David Davis
Grenfell Tower Fire: Ministers Still Clueless Over Unsafe High-Rises

Donald Trump Jr's message to Russian operatives? I'm open for business
All this story does is confirm the modern shift in politics: it is all about winning.
Are they an enemy of my country? If they can help me win, who cares?
Why do they want to help me win? Who cares?
What will they want if I do win? Who cares?

Theresa May Asks For Jeremy Corbyn’s Help To Deliver Brexit And More

Muslim activist's reference to 'jihad' draws conservative wrath
This is difficult.  Like "organic" or "racist" the word "jihad" has changed meaning, at least in English.   It no longer carries associations of struggling with oneself against temptation or sin, nor struggling to protect the faith.   

Sheriff In Heart Of Ohio’s Opioid Epidemic Doesn't Carry Overdose Reversal Drug
That is outrageous. When people overdose and die from illegally obtained drugs, it is clearly the fault of the police. Our police have an absolute obligation to keep us alive, no matter what we try to do to ourselves.   Indeed, leaving the police out of it, it is a moral obligation for EVERYONE to carry Naxalone on their person at all times. If anyone overdoes and dies, it is the fault of anyone who is in the vicinity.
Note: the article says Sheriff "refuses" to carry. Refuses who? Did someone tell him to carry these drugs with him. Could we please have a list of drugs that police should carry with them? (I assume every officer must have Alteplase, Diazepam, Dopamine, Epinepherine, Inspra, Insulin, Naxalone, Nikenamide, Nitroglycerine and Simbiacort turbo inhalers, but are there others?)
For comparison, could someone please provide a list of a list of drugs that paramedics should carry with them?

    Rubber fetishists are not.

Fixing the wealth gap                    Old Lange's rant of the day

How science got women wrong

     It is hardly surprising that "A striking pattern emerges: almost all of the prominent scientists behind these studies are men, whereas much of the growing, more recent research that disputes them is done by women." It is what one has come to expect in science, whether from conscious or unconscious bias, when the researchers have an interest in the outcome.

      It is, however, surprising that the reviewer in this piece has a bizarre idea of evolution: "humans’ patriarchal order may have evolved by accident rather than out of evolutionary necessity." The patriarchal order evolved rather than evolved?

Britain looks set to miss key renewable target

Well of course we will miss the targets. They were purely for PR purposes , to make us feel holier than thou. No one had any intention of trying to actually meet them.