Manfred reviewed this story - Nov 20, 2009
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New York Times,
Climatewire
by
Joel Kirkland
|
Nov. 17, 2009
(News Report)
I learned a lot about the U:S. situation and the current discussion in reading this serious and readable article.
Although the article does not delve too much into the details of planned environmental measures and their forseeable impact, one gets a quite clear picture of the main problems.
.. the group is working with Republicans and Democrats to expand research and development for clean energy technologies, increase funding for carbon capture and ...
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Manfred reviewed this story - Nov 19, 2009
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New York Times
by
John Broder, Jad Mouawad
|
Oct. 19, 2009
(News Report)
The article offers an informative and revealing sketch
of the current energy policy debate, the ongoing legislation efforts, and the efforts of energy providers which one finds lobbying for their interests. The NYT presents a readable account of the forces trying to influence U.S. energy policy.
Some supporters of global warming legislation believe that the division in the once-monolithic oil and gas industry, as well as other splits among energy producers, could ...
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Manfred reviewed this story - Nov 18, 2009
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Der Spiegel
by
Christian Schwägerl
|
Nov. 17, 2009
(Opinion)
The article openly attacks president Obama on his
policy regarding climate change. It puts the blame
for failure to address climate change bluntly on the
U.S. political situation and the U.S. president. It praises "Europe" as a whole and fails to mention the efforts of U.S. environmental groups. Quite a bitter piece of opinion.
..in Europe, many are willing to question their own lifestyle..
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Manfred reviewed this story - Nov 17, 2009
The article offers a sketch of the discussions among American environmental groups. Where should the focus be put in order to "win over people"? The disagreement seems to be basically one concerning
strategy, not one of ultimate environmental goals.
Even after years of apocalyptic warnings about climate change, how much will Americans really sacrifice to fight it?
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Manfred reviewed this story - Nov 13, 2009
Lisa Belkin presents her point of view concerning children raised by same sex couples. She offers data that seem to imply being educated by a lesbian or gay couple is just "good for the kids", with the children
becoming more liberal, progressive, and nonconformist.
These children do just fine..
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Manfred reviewed this story - Nov 12, 2009
The NYT offers a serious and important account of the
observed effects of war and violence on human beings.
It is admitted that it can hardly be predicted which amount of stress any member of the military can bear.
All these people have been under a tremendous amount of stress.. They are holding the stress for everybody.
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Manfred reviewed this story - Nov 11, 2009
Adam Corner seeks an "input of psychologists" aimed at changing personal behaviour in order to stop climate change. Psychological research should - in his opinion
- show ways to change human behaviour so that climate would become a major concern in the lives of
all people. How the impact of psychology on human
life should be achieved, and how an ordinary life influenced or even ruled by psychologists should work
in detail - is largely left to the imagination of the reader.
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Manfred reviewed this story - Nov 10, 2009
Piercarlo Valdesolo offers us a readable and convincing account of recent insights into human disposition regarding selfish temptation. He hints at the
social advantages of resisting temptation or bluntly selfish behaviour.
The authors suggest that these findings demonstrate the human capacity to .. achieve a state of “moral grace” – a state devoid of selfish temptation.
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Manfred reviewed this story - Nov 6, 2009
Lori Montgomery wrote a balanced and informative account of the current state of health care legislation
and the attempt to expand the health-care system.
There is also a sketch of the current main problem, handling of abortion.
Our members have worked very hard on this legislation,
and I believe that as a result, we have a strong product that will lower costs and provide greater health care ...
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Manfred reviewed this story - Nov 5, 2009
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CNN
by
Dave Goldman
|
Nov. 4, 2009
(News Report)
I consider this a serious and important contribution to the issue of "stimulus" jobs. It does not offer some good reason for optimism, just tells about the problems. Maybe
it gets people thinking, so an open discussion will start in U.S. society.
Of the nearly $500 billion in stimulus funds allocated to
stimulus projects, $100 billion is set to go towards long-term programs, .. the vast majority of that ...
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Manfred reviewed this story - Nov 4, 2009
This brief statement of LA Times opinion offers the basic facts of recent events concerning Afghanistan in a straightforward way, then it gives a point of view of what now should be U.S. policy towards the Afghans and their government. The proposal seems to be very sincere and sounds quite convincing, still one would have wished for more detail.
Decentralization would allow the West to spread its resources to regional leaders rather than concentrating them in the hands of Karzai and his clique.
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Manfred reviewed this story - Nov 3, 2009
The article describes the attitudes and thoughts of the U.S. government and U.S. officials concerning the new situation in Afghanistan in some detail. Important issues of Afghan politics like local governance and corruption
are mentioned briefly. Some indepth analysis should follow.
.. the decision by Afghanistan’s Independent Election
Commission .. potentially undermines the Obama administration’s goal of building a legitimate ...
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Manfred reviewed this story - Nov 2, 2009
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New York Times
by
CARLOTTA GALL, Alissa J. Rubin
|
Nov. 1, 2009
(News)
The article offers the information necessary to gain a
picture of the current situation in Afghanistan. We learn that Mr. Abdullah has been under intense pressure from Western officials to avoid confrontation, so his decision becomes understandable, since all he had to expect was new fraud and lack of fairness.
.. Mr. Abdullah’s withdrawal immediately called into question how the Afghan democratic process could proceed at all.
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Manfred posted and reviewed this story - Oct 30, 2009
Manfred reviewed this story - Oct 30, 2009
The article offers quite interesting new information about ethics inquiry. Not much of what is mentioned
reaches the public normally, and we are assured that
this also will not be the case in the future.
Because of the secretive nature of the ethics committee,
it was difficult to assess the current status of the investigations cited in the July document.
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(8 answers)
Manfred posted and reviewed this story - Oct 29, 2009
Manfred reviewed this story - Oct 29, 2009
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New York Times
by
Dexter Filkins, Mark Mazzetti, James Risen
|
Oct. 28, 2009
(News Report)
This frank and quite disturbing article about Ahmed Wali Karzai reveals some of the current problems the U.S.
are facing in Afghanistan. It tries to offer a balanced view while many questions remain open.
If we are going to conduct a population-centric strategy in Afghanistan, and we are perceived as backing thugs, then we are just undermining ourselves.
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Manfred reviewed this story - Oct 28, 2009
This thoughtful and revealing article tells the story of U.S. official Matt Hoh, and it presents his assessment of the war in Afghanistan. As an insider's account, the
article offers a sincere and quite important contribution
to the current debate about Afghanistan.
.. the war has violently and savagely pitted the urban,
secular, educated and modern of Afghanistan against the rural, religious, illiterate and traditional. It is ...
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Manfred reviewed this story - Oct 22, 2009
This informative and quite balanced article updates us
briefly on the issue of Iran's uranium enrichment program. The account implies that president Obama
might accept Iran's right to enrichment, which seems
to be understandable, if enrichment should prove to be for peaceful purposes.
I very much hope that people see the big picture, see that this agreement could open the way for a complete normalization of relations between Iran and the international ...
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Manfred reviewed this story - Oct 21, 2009
This readable and interesting story reveals knowledgeably different aspects of the Taliban
thinking and behaviour, some very unusual for Western readers, some allowing a certain degree of coming closer.
When I asked him why he wanted to die, he replied that living in this world was a burden for any true Muslim. Heaven was his goal ..
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Manfred reviewed this story - Oct 20, 2009
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CNN
by
Ed Henry
|
Oct. 19, 2009
(News Report)
Brief account of what is currently discussed in Washington concerning the war in Afghanistan.
This intelligent and informed article gives some hints
that there will still be serious problems to "secure"
Afghanistan even if the U.S. will send 40,000 more troops.
Afghanistan is not Iraq.. there are unique challenges in Afghanistan.
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Manfred reviewed this story - Oct 20, 2009
I fully recommend this article, although it makes only a single point. I find it is very encouraging that Ms. Ebadi
gives her sincere and frank opinion even if she will face persecution in her country for speaking that openly.
.. paying so much more attention to Iran’s nuclear ambitions than to its trampling of democracy and freedom is a mistake both tactical and moral.
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Manfred reviewed this story - Oct 20, 2009
This rather short article gives basic and valuable information concerning Pakistan and the conflict
in South Waziristan. The issue is seen in the context
of relations between U.S. politicians and the Pakistani
government, and Issam Ahmed does not delve into the fate and opinions of ordinary Pakistani people.
..the construction of refugee camps .. now seems likely.
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Manfred reviewed this story - Oct 16, 2009
The article describes the current violence in Pakistan and supposes the attacks might strengthen public support for the Pakistani government. The account is rather brief, but it cites the opinions of people from Lahore, so one gets a good glimpse of the situation.
Right now, they are targeting security forces, but the next target might be public places.
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Manfred reviewed this story - Oct 15, 2009
Dexter Filkins provides us with an unusually detailed and well-founded account of the situation in Afghanistan, General McChristal's profile, and what needs to be done to prevent the return of the Taliban to power. His analysis of General McChrystal's strategy for Afghanistan and his assessment of the current situation as well as of U.S. options both offer an intriguing and moving picture that will impress readers,
independent of their political opinions.
The Taliban, measured by the number of their attacks, are stronger than at any time since the Americans toppled their government at the end of 2001. ..
You can kill ...
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Manfred reviewed this story - Oct 14, 2009
James Oliphant wrote a very readable and balanced report that will prove helpful for readers who wish to follow the debate about health care and think about the issue in depth.
Is this bill all that I would want? Far from it.
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Manfred reviewed this story - Oct 13, 2009
Ezra Klein offers a committed and frank contribution to the current health care debate. His article probably requires some forehand knowledge regarding the issues discussed and has to be seen in the context of the earlier Washington Post articles about health care reform.
Insurers will no longer have the freedom to offer products that let an individual think his family is protected when the policy will do nothing of the sort. That may raise ...
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Manfred reviewed this story - Oct 12, 2009
Good article which gives the arguments in a balanced and easily understood way. The focus on the insurance group adds new information to past contributions.
Market reform enacted in the absence of universal coverage will increase costs dramatically for many who are currently insured by creating a powerful incentive for people ...
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Manfred reviewed and liked this story - Oct 12, 2009
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New York Times
by
By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK
|
Oct. 11, 2009
(News Analysis)
Good sketch of the current debate and the impact of lobbyists. The article lowers expectations that health care costs might drop.
How the measures fare in the final weeks of debate could determine how well the bill lives up to its original promise of curbing health care costs..
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(8 answers)
Manfred reviewed and liked this story - Oct 12, 2009
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New York Times
by
By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK
|
Oct. 11, 2009
(News Analysis)
Manfred reviewed this story - Oct 9, 2009
The article delves into the financial aspect of the proposed health-care reform without giving all the facts necessary for readers to form their own opinion. It might arouse fears of substantially higher taxes and so strengthen opposition to reform proposals. I suppose the article's bias may be connected with CSM's Republican leaning; I found no convincing arguments against some health-care reform, just a hidden appeal to readers' putative self-interest.
..the tax subsidy means that somebody is paying for it and everybody’s income taxes are higher.
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Manfred posted and reviewed this story - Oct 9, 2009
Amy Goldstein's article describes the case of patients
stuck in the middle of a serious conflict between health insurers and hospitals. Her investigative report points to an important problem in today's U.S. health-care system which has not yet been properly addressed in current proposals for health-care reform.
Amid the attacks and counterattacks .. is dysfunction in the medical marketplace that Congress’s proposals would not fix.
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Manfred posted and reviewed this story - Oct 8, 2009
Manfred reviewed this story - Oct 8, 2009
This instructive and readable article conveys the report of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office which evaluates a Senate panel's health-care proposal. The report confirms the health-care reform in terms proposed here makes sense financially, while many
uninsured citizens would receive health insurance.
The bill demonstrates that we can expand coverage and improve quality while being fiscally responsible.
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(7 answers)
Manfred reviewed this story - Oct 8, 2009
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MSNBC
by
Keith Olbermann, Lawrence O'Donnell
|
Oct. 7, 2009
(News Report)
Lively and intriguing report. It rightly poses the question of what happens to poorer people. What about people with low incomes? The MSNBC report convincingly suggests that health care reform needs to address the needs of people who cannot afford expensive health insurance.
None of these bills are universal coverage bills..
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Manfred reviewed this story - Oct 7, 2009
Art Levine wrote a committed and moving article about
the health-care debate and Republican trains of thought.
His progressive critique may encourage Democrats to
put public health and the needs of the poor on the table,
so the hesitating public will get convinced of the social importance of extending health coverage.
The upshot is that the odds have increased that only reform-lite may pass..
44,000 people die each year because they lack health insurance.
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Manfred posted and reviewed this story - Oct 6, 2009
Ceci Connolly delivers an important and informative contribution to Washington Post readers on the topic of preventable deaths. The article is intended to make clear that there are serious deficiencies in the current U.S. health-care system and that there is urgent need for reform. The point for political action is convincingly made.
But as many as 80 million Americans are uninsured or underinsured, which means they have little access to a regular physician, checkups, preventive services, affordable ...
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Manfred reviewed this story - Oct 6, 2009
Robert Pear tries to present a somewhat balanced account of the ongoing health-care debate. His alternatives, "coverage" vs. "cost", may strike a nerve and might make sense superficially, but one feels like the debate should go about "social responsibility" vs.
"profit", alternatives which seem to underlie the conflicting approaches.
The chairman of the Finance Committee, Senator Max Baucus, Democrat of Montana, said he was trying to “strike a balance between affordability and proper ...
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Manfred reviewed this story - Oct 6, 2009
The article offers valuable information about the point of view of different Democrats in the current health-care
debate. One gets a good glimpse of the ongoing discussion, even if the sketch is rather brief.
More needs to be done to hold insurance companies accountable..
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Manfred posted and reviewed this story - Oct 5, 2009
I hope there will be substantial investments in clean energy, and I am quite optimistic the obstacles can be removed. I agree with NAM that a ... More »