August 5 - Miscellania
"The power of accurate observation is often called cynicism by those who have not got it."
- George Bernard Shaw
Go Wyden Go!
What If They Passed Single-Payer and Didn't Tell Anyone? - WashingtonPost.com : The Wyden folks quietly slipped in an amendment giving states enormous flexibility to experiment upward. Essentially, states can ask the federal government for a waiver that allows them to keep the federal funds they're receiving and do pretty much anything they want with them, so long as the coverage they provide is "at least as comprehensive as required under the Chairman’s Mark" . . . . If we don't end up with a public option at the federal level, at least have the ability for states to broaden the public participation in the system. The states are often considered, and allowed to be, crucibles of experimentation for policies like this. It's got the potential to do some real good.
Ok, the crossfit analogy is a little forced -- especially the point at the end about both genders getting the same amount of cash. That's actually kind of the opposite of the genuine meritocracy that we're trying to build here. By comparing the equal prizes to work it's as if she's saying that women are worse, or at least should be judged entirely separately, and still given the same reward. Otherwise, though, very neat information. I hadn't seen quite that level of breakdown for that info.
ReplyDeleteThat video - sound thing is incredibly cool. I'm really impressed.
I agree that the CF thing was a bit forced. Like you, though, I found the discussion interesting.
ReplyDeleteOne point to consider, though, is what is "merit" in the context of the CrossFit Games? That is, are we really just trying to find who can lift the most, run the fastest, etc.? Why are we paying these people? It's not because of some inherent value in the task they are doing. It's because it's entertaining to watch. In that regard, I watched the final, and I found the women's contest to be at least as tense, thrilling and inspiring as the men's. Seems to me there's a good case for equality there.
I am quite sure I have read at least one sci fi book where that method was used to eavesdrop. Pretty cool.