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Hard times for Hillary Clinton, proud noble in the Aristocracy of Intent

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In response to Hillary Clinton: Bill and I Aren't 'Truly Well Off':

It's kind of fascinating that she won't shut up about this, as though determined to win some kind of argument with the Middle Class about whether she's had it rough or not.  I would imagine some of this is due to her understanding of how important the empathy metric is for modern candidates - she's pretty much panicked at the thought of getting dumped into the Mitt Romney political dungeon as a disconnected wealthy elitist.  I get the impression it's not so much that she wants to posture as a populist, so much as she wants to avoid getting pigeonholed as an aristocrat.  

I suspect her handlers are also worried about a populist backlash against people who amass huge fortunes after a lifetime of nothing but government "service," and trading on political connections to get rich... which is particularly annoying to people stuck in a stagnant high-unemployment economy, as they are bombarded with daily stories of Big Government waste and incompetence.  Unfortunately for her, she's Hillary Clinton, which means everything she says on the subject is tone-deaf and provides instant fodder for mockery.

Another factor is the liberal belief that our Ruling Class anointed deserve fabulous riches and a posh lifestyle.  At heart, the modern Left is essentially feudal.  They're in love with the concept of monarchy - look at how they swoon over dynastic politics, one Kennedy inheriting the seat left by another, oh how wonderful it would be if Michele Obama was given a Senate seat by the political barons who run Chicago.  They just want the monarchy to cling to left-wing ideology, because more than blood relationships, that's what elevates you to royalty.  And it's not your actual, demonstrated effectiveness that keeps you on the top shelf - it's your wonderful, compassionate, collectivist intentions.  No amount of damage inflicted upon the American government or private sector by Barack Obama will keep him from wearing a crown and holding a royal scepter in the eyes of liberals, for the rest of his life.

I wrote a piece back in 2009 called "The Aristocracy of Intent" that explored the way liberals secure regal status by posing as ideological heroes, and I think it holds up well today.  I was extremely prescient about what would happen when Ted Kennedy died, an event which had not yet occurred at the time of writing:



The radiant aura of their good intentions insulates liberals from even the most basic criticisms they level at others. Lots of those “greedy” health care professionals are female, but I doubt many of them are rocking $6000.00 handbags like Michele Obama. You’d have to steal a lot of tonsils to afford the kind of million-dollar night on Broadway the Obamas are known to enjoy. The moral superiority of leftist politics transcends any personal transgressions he might have committed. When Ted Kennedy finally passes away, you can expect the media to float the idea that Mary Jo Kopechne’s life was a small price to pay for decades of having this magnificent liberal lion stalk the halls of the Senate.

The Left is also very selective in who it chooses to criticize for greed and selfishness. We obviously aren’t meant to hate hard-working schoolteachers or auto workers for striving to provide the best for their families, but we’re supposed to hate hard-working dentists so much that we’ll turn their entire industry into a penitentiary. By the way, the median income for those evil tonsil-grabbing pediatricians is about $150k per year. How much is Henry Gates pulling down per year? The President seemed a lot more concerned about inconveniencing Gates than he did about disrupting the lives of the millions who are happy with their current health insurance.



Sure enough, we did indeed get encomiums from left-wing writers about how Ted Kennedy's brilliant political career more than made up for that unfortunate bit of Chappaquiddick business, including some opinion pieces that explicitly stated Mary Jo Kopechne's life was not too high of a price for having Ted on Capitol Hill.  

And now you can see Hillary Clinton groping through the other aspect of the "Aristocracy of Intent" psychology: she really does think she's had it rough, because she deserves so very much more.  (She's always been far more outspokenly obsessed with her personal income, and that of her opponents, than most liberals are comfortable with.)  Daniel Drezner makes this point very nicely today at the Washington Post, in a discussion of "Status-Income Disequilibrium" - in other words, Hillary hobnobs with some very rich people, and burns with not merely jealousy, but rage at the utter injustice of how they live even more extravagant lifestyles than Madame Clinton can afford:



To paint a sympathetic narrative: This is a woman who grew up in a middle-class family but attended Wellesley and Yale Law School.  This is someone who clearly worked much harder than her husband in law school.  She worked even harder in Little Rock to support her husband both emotionally and financially even though he didn’t care all that much about money or … other aspects of their marriage.  She had to suffer the indignities of trying to have an influence on policy as first lady, even though that’s a fantastically awkward position from which to exercise the levers of power.  Her opponents drowned her and her husband in legal fees throughout their eight years in the White House. Humiliated by her husband’s scandals, she struck out on her own, first as a senator, then as a presidential candidate, then as Secretary of State.  

And despite all of that effort, despite the $200,000 Goldman Sachs speeches she delivers, she’s still not as well off as the run-of-the-mill hedge fund manager.  At the same time, she likely does face a higher income tax rate, because her income does not come via carried interest or capital gains.  If she runs for president in 2016, she’s going to have to cadge enormous sums of money from these people to fund her campaign.  Does this burn her sense of how the world should work? I bet it does.



Who can be surprised that people who rise to power by weaponizing envy, twisting it into a crusade for "social justice" against the dragons of "income inequality," imbibe deeply of their ideology and reach the conclusion that they deserve wealth?  That's a standard feature of every single left-wing government on the planet, across all of history.  The "Champions of the People" always live in mansions and build up fat bank accounts, even when The People are starving to death.  And they deserve those riches, so it's either an ideological or literal crime to criticize them for it.  Somehow the battle against "income equality" is invariably accompanied by the insistence that the Aristocracy of Intent is allowed to have extremely unequal income.  Forcing them to live the way they insist everyone else should live becomes the worst "injustice." Hillary Clinton is having a very difficult time pretending that she doesn't subscribe to those theories. Reported by Breitbart 21 hours ago.

CDPHP and the University at Albany School of Public Health Host Forum on the Future of Health Care

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Health policy expert Don Berwick brings more than 400 to Albany, NY to discuss the future of health care in the Capital Region.

Albany, NY (PRWEB) June 23, 2014

A lively debate in Albany as business, policy, and health care professionals gathered to discuss the future of health care in the Capital Region. The event, which was co-sponsored by CDPHP and the University at Albany School of Public Health, featured a keynote address by leading health policy expert Dr. Donald Berwick.

“Never before has there been a better time for health care professionals to lead change,” said Berwick, adding that local leaders need to stop looking to Washington for answers.

Berwick, who spent 17 months as the acting administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), also spoke of waste in the American health care system, noting that overtreatment, failure to coordinate care, and excessive pricing account for 34 percent of all health care spending.

The keynote address was followed by a spirited panel discussion led by leading health and business professionals, including:·     Donna Frescatore, executive director, NY State of Health
·     David H. Shippee, president and CEO, Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Services
·     Sarah Schoof, director of medical services at the Capital City Rescue Mission
·     Mark Eagan, president and CEO, Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber

The panel discussion was moderated by CDPHP president and CEO, Dr. John D. Bennett, who addressed the crowd saying, “I cannot think of a more appropriate time for this discussion. Just seven months following the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, we all want to know, is this law working?”

The event was the third in a series of forums hosted by CDPHP and the School of Public Health addressing the issues of quality, cost, and access to health care.

Philip C. Nasca, PhD, dean of the School of Public Health, thanked the audience for its interest in and commitment to the series, noting that many of the participants attended all three events. “We are pleased to have convened this series and to have featured not only international experts, but also leaders from our region representing hospitals, health plans, physicians, community organizations, business leaders, and government institutions.”

The evening ended with a call to action by Bennett, who urged participants to come together to create meaningful community health planning. He will work with the administration and faculty of the School of Public Health to convene a working group of community representatives to discuss ideas and formulate a plan for the future of health care delivery in our region.

About CDPHP®
Established in 1984, CDPHP is a physician-founded, member-focused and community-based not-for-profit health plan that offers high-quality affordable health insurance plans to members in 24 counties throughout New York. CDPHP is also on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

About The University at Albany School of Public Health
The School of Public Health is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health and offers a research-oriented opportunity for faculty, and a valuable professional experience for students. The school is a partnership between the NYS Department of Health and the University at Albany. The school is also affiliated with Albany Medical Center and Bassett Healthcare.

### Reported by PRWeb 22 hours ago.

Inmar’s Wellness Program Again Named “Best in Class”

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Inmar today announced that its Wellness Program for employees has again been named Best in Class (companies with 1,500 to 1,999 employees) by the Triad Business Journal. Inmar was also named Best in Class in 2012 and was a finalist in 2013.

Winston-Salem, NC (PRWEB) June 23, 2014

Inmar today announced that its Wellness Program for employees has again been named Best in Class (companies with 1,500 to 1,999 employees) by the Triad Business Journal. Inmar was also named Best in Class in 2012 and was a finalist in 2013.

The award honors companies that promote wellness and a healthy environment for its employees. Winners are determined through a scoring methodology managed by Healthiest Employer LLC.

Douglas W. Copeland Jr., publisher of the Triad Business Journal says, “Our fourth annual edition of the Triad Healthiest Employers features progressive-minded employers across the region that have developed wellness initiatives aimed at improving workers’ health and reducing health care costs.”

Inmar’s wellness offerings have grown steadily since beginning its formal program in 2009. In addition to continuing to offer health insurance premium incentives for employees who maintain healthy weight and make healthy lifestyle choices, the company also sponsored its first 5K in 2013 and provided sit/stand desks for all employees in its new Team Support Center and headquarters in downtown Winston-Salem.

“We are very pleased with the results our Wellness Program continues to deliver,” says David Mounts, Inmar’s Chairman and CEO. “Associates are making changes that improve their quality of life and that of their families. Together, we have been able to hold steady the cost of healthcare – that’s important for our associates’ families and for our company.”

# # #

ABOUT INMAR
Inmar is a technology company that operates intelligent commerce networks. Our platforms connect offline and online transactions in real time for leading retailers, manufacturers and trading partners across multiple industries who rely on Inmar to securely manage billions of dollars in transactions. Our Promotions, Supply Chain and Healthcare platforms enable commerce, generate meaningful data and offer growth-minded leaders actionable analytics and execution with real-time visibility. Founded in 1980, Inmar is headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina with locations throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada.

For more information about Inmar’s products and services, please call 866.440.6917 or visit http://www.inmar.com. Reported by PRWeb 22 hours ago.

USW International Announces Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield as its Health Insurance Provider

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PITTSBURGH, June 23, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the United Steelworkers (USW) announced that Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield will remain the health insurance provider for its staff personnel and for those Steelworkers who are covered by Highmark through various USW- sponsored... Reported by PR Newswire 21 hours ago.

Better Jobs for Direct-Care Workers Help All Working Families

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This week the White House convenes its Summit on Working Families -- shining light on the needs of America's working women and the challenges they face managing jobs, raising children and caring for aging parents.Regional events leading up to the summit have primarily focused on professional, middle-class women. But changes are needed for the millions of American women who work in low-wage jobs that provide little financial security for themselves or their families. One example is providers of direct care: nurse aides, home health aides and personal care aides who provide hands-on care to our nation's growing population of elders and people with disabilities.These are among the nation's fastest-growing jobs with direct-care workers expected to number nearly 5 million by 2022 -- more than nurses, school teachers and all public safety workers. Nearly 90 percent of direct-care workers are women.Unfortunately, while plentiful, these jobs are not the quality jobs that American workers need. With median wages near $10 per hour, many direct-care workers struggle to support their families. About half the workforce lives in households that rely on public benefits such as housing support, food stamps and Medicaid to make ends meet.Moreover, these jobs have all the qualities that make low-wage work problematic: hours tend to be uncertain, the work is physically challenging with high occupational injury rates, the jobs rarely offer benefits like health insurance or paid time off and workers often lack adequate training or on-the-job support. We can do better. And we should do better.Direct-care workers are indispensable. A skilled and compassionate caregiver can be a lifeline -- not just for the person she assists, but for the entire family. These workers provide the paid services that enable other women to continue to work with the peace of mind of knowing their family member is well cared for day in and day out.Improving the jobs of direct-care workers can improve the lives of millions of women across America. Let's add direct-care workers to the White House Summit on Working Families agenda. We can start with the following:*Better wages*: Direct-care workers need better wages and benefits. Raising the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour would certainly help many of the women in these occupations. But the White House also needs to make sure it follows through on the new regulation that extends to home care aides minimum wage and overtime protections through the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). There should be no delay in the January 1, 2015 implementation date for this important change.*Paid Leave*: Many direct-care workers have no paid sick leave or family leave. The Healthy Families Act, which would guarantee paid leave for all of America's workers, is essential to quality jobs and to good care. No one wants a caregiver to put herself and her client at risk by coming to work sick or injured.*Advancement*: Rapid changes in our health care system are creating opportunities to rethink the roles of direct-care workers. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and Congressman Matt Cartwright (D-PA) have introduced legislation to fund federal demonstrations that would test different "advance aide" models -- for example, incorporating "senior aides" into interdisciplinary care coordination teams or using advanced training of aides to improve care for clients with specific chronic conditions such as diabetes or dementia.These models could give workers opportunities for career advancement while improving the health of individuals receiving care and reducing unnecessary hospitalizations. Providing real opportunities for career advancement will help to move this workforce out of poverty and help to build and sustain the workforce we will need to meet the coming demand for direct care.The Working Families Summit can address the needs of all working women by addressing the dual challenge of improving direct-care jobs and providing quality supports and services for our nation's elders and people living with disabilities. Doing so will also bring relief to millions of working American women who need a stable, skilled and compassionate direct-care workforce to help them balance full-time work responsibilities with caring for their families and communities. Reported by Huffington Post 20 hours ago.

Curly Fries and Big Data: An Appetizing Path Forward for Responsible Data Use

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*Click here to watch the TEDTalk that inspired this post.*

In a TEDx MidAtlantic talk, computer scientist Jennifer Golbeck explains how companies use the digital information they obtain about us to make inferences that can be highly predictive.

Sometimes, these inferences are logical but rather creepy, as in the now infamous example of Target - which has a prediction algorithm that analyzes subtle shopping clues to determine which of its customers is pregnant. Target was pilloried in the media after sending pregnancy-related coupons to a pregnant girl, exposing the pregnancy to her father...who had yet to learn this news from his daughter.

Others examples may be less creepy - but less intuitive - such as the discovery that smart people are highly likely to have "liked" curly fries on Facebook.

Before heading off to gorge on fries, readers should understand that this odd correlation is likely due to some smarty pants with a big network of Facebook friends "Liking" a page about fries. Her friends, likely to also be smart, saw the "Like" and were influenced to take the same action, and that influenced their friends and so on.

The Curly Fries case study shows very effectively how Big Data can be incredibly accurate in a descriptive manner, but completely off-base if interpreted to always indicate causation. For example, if MENSA - the national organization for geniuses - wanted a quick way to quickly reach the smart people with an ad to join its club of smart people, targeting an ad to those who have liked curly fries on social media would probably be far more effective than a generic ad to all Facebook members. But feeding your kids curly fries will do nothing to improve their chances of getting into Harvard.

Ms. Golbeck shares a concern that a company could assemble Facebook likes and other web surfing data and sell it to companies for use in making employment decisions. Luckily, we do have laws that strictly regulate the kind of information that can be used for such background checks on employees, as well as the use of data for health insurance, credit, housing, employment, and many others areas. But indeed there are gaps in protection that have policymakers and privacy advocates scrambling for legal solutions that can better protect civil rights in this age of Big Data.

In the wake of their Big Data report, issued in early May, the Administration is collecting formal public comments this month and next for ways that a proposed new Consumer Bill of Rights can protect online users while continuing to ensure beneficial innovative uses of data.

But legislation and public laws are likely to only be a small part of the solution, as Ms. Golbeck makes clear.

At the Future of Privacy Forum, we have been strong advocates for a range of solutions [PDF] that can advance the transparency and control that could help put users back in charge of their digital data.

By urging companies to give users more access to their own data, and by providing greater transparency to the purposes of algorithms that are being used, more scrutiny can be brought to bear on what companies are up to behind the scenes.

Furthermore, by allowing social media 'posts' to be expunged over time, companies can ensure that data we put up on social media sites isn't around forever to be used against us. My blog posts are intended to be permanent, but other digital footprints - such as logfiles indicating my web surfing history, or my tweets - might be more ephemeral and should fade over time. The rise of ephemeral messaging tools - like SnapChat, Frankly and many others - shows that an increasing number of us want the ability, even if imperfect, to indicate that some of our actions are trivial and shouldn't be left for posterity.

The timely and relevant question is, should companies and scientists even be studying this 'leave-behind' data in the first place?

Let's return to the curly fries example, where an odd correlation turned out to be due to "homophily" - the phenomenon of people being more likely to associate with similar people. Other correlations could point researchers to clues that are incredibly meaningful. Do the people who develop a certain disease all have some history in common that could actually be scientifically meaningful? Can we predict famines, earthquakes or other disasters by finding some early seemingly meaningless clues in bytes of data that yield actionable meaning when scrutinized? Can we ferret out hidden discrimination that is preventing qualified people from advancing? These are just some examples of the positivity and benefits of responsible Big Data use.

Big Data could lead to the greatest advances society has seen in generations. Or, it could take us down a path of poor decisions and increased discrimination. Eating curly fries (unfortunately!) wont make us smart enough to guide the right decisions, but collaboration between technologists, policymakers, and businesses could. Finding that nexus of the right stakeholders guided by the right principles is the foundation for the next steps in the Big Data arena.

We want to know what you think. Join the discussion by posting a comment below or tweeting #TEDWeekends. Interested in blogging for a future edition of TED Weekends? Email us at tedweekends@huffingtonpost.com. Reported by Huffington Post 19 hours ago.

President Obama Just Ate Lunch At Chipotle

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President Obama Just Ate Lunch At Chipotle President Barack Obama celebrated the White House's Working Families summit Monday by treating himself to some Mexican food at Chipotle.

According to a pool report, Obama dined with several working-class Americans in the center of the restaurant, surrounded by a "surprised lunchtime crowd."

Obama's lunchtime companions included Roger Trombley, a 37-year-old safety engineer at Ford Motor Co. in Michigan; Shelby Ramirez, a 50-year-old single mom from Colorado; and Shirley Young, who emigrated from Trinidad to the Bronx in 1969.

Lisa Rumain of Johnson & Johnson, who will introduce Obama at the Working Families event, also joined him for lunch.

Over the years, Chipotle has earned a good reputation for allowing entry-level employees to move into the ranks of management and earn relatively high salaries. The restaurant provides health insurance and paid vacations to employees.

The pool reporter was only briefly allowed to view Obama's Chipotle lunch and did not report on what he ate. However, the report did note Obama was overheard saying that when companies treat employees right "businesses benefit and the economy benefits."

Join the conversation about this story » Reported by Business Insider 19 hours ago.

For Economic Prosperity, Advance an Equity-Driven Working Families Agenda

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Supports at work and at home aren't just good for working parents. Helping them to succeed at work and at home is better for companies' bottom lines and for the nation's economic competitiveness. That's the theme of Monday's White House Summit for Working Families. It's an important issue to take up, and it's important to do it with an equity lens to craft an agenda that supports all working families, including the working families of color who are quickly becoming the majority of workers.

More and more women are becoming the primary breadwinners of their families and the country's changing demographics means that today's working families are increasingly diverse, and that trend will continue for the foreseeable future. By the end of this decade, according to the Census, more than half of all Americans under age 19 will be youth of color, and they are more than twice as likely as their white counterparts to grow up poor.

The widening gulf between the rich and everyone else threatens our nation's economic vitality. Research shows that inequality hinders growth while greater inclusion accelerates it. As the discussion on how to support working families advances, equity needs to be at the forefront -- and not only as a moral imperative but also an economic one.

In many ways, what needs to be done to help working families succeed is already known. The first step is to begin to reduce wealth inequality by transforming low-wage jobs into good jobs that pay a living wage and provide basic benefits, such as paid sick leave, paid family leave, and health insurance. All workers benefit when low-wage jobs are transformed into good jobs, but women and parents of color, in particular, benefit. Women and people of color are overrepresented in low-wage jobs and Latino and African American parents are significantly more likely than white working parents to work for wages that don't provide basic economic security. Sixty-one percent of Latino working parents have no employer-based health insurance and 72 percent have no pension plan at work. Transforming these jobs into good jobs that pay a living wage and provide basic benefits would mean more economic security for working families.

Across the country, cities and localities are taking the lead on creating good jobs. In Oakland, California, a large-scale project to redevelop a closed Army base will create thousands of new jobs and career opportunities for local residents. Under an agreement jointly crafted by the city, the community, unions, and private developers, the project will pay a living wage for every worker and half of the jobs in the first phase of the project will go to Oakland residents. The agreement also establishes a city-run jobs resource center in West Oakland that will connect residents to training, pre-apprenticeship programs, and jobs. West Oakland is a low-income community of color where unemployment rates run as high as 45 percent.

Creating economic opportunities for local residents in Oakland benefits the overall economy. When low-wage workers get a raise, they are more likely to spend it on previously unaffordable basic services or necessities. This creates a ripple effect that creates demand for goods and services and benefits business owners. Community development projects done right can enhance opportunities for residents, provide economic security for families, and still create profit for developers.

There are examples across the country of states and localities leading the way towards an inclusive economy that helps working families thrive by leveraging their permitting and contracting to ensure quality jobs and onramps, higher minimum wages, and adopting work supports like paid sick days and health benefits. Last year, in collaboration with the Center for American Progress, PolicyLink lifted up several of these examples in All-in-Nation, a comprehensive agenda to build a strong and equitable economy.

The White House Summit is elevating the issue and doing all it can to raise the federal minimum wage and ensure equal pay, but this is an issue that employers, states, localities, and philanthropy must take on. Now is the time to invest in the future; we can't afford to wait any longer. Reported by Huffington Post 18 hours ago.

Oracle says Oregon governor spiked Obamacare site for political reasons

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The battle between Oracle and Oregon officials over the state’s Cover Oregon health insurance exchange site is raging on, with the vendor now claiming the exchange was functional in February, but Governor John Kitzhaber decided to dump it for political reasons.

Portland television station KATU-2 unearthed a PowerPoint presentation Oracle officials used to brief members of the U.S. House and Energy Committee last week. In the document, Oracle states the site was fixed and ready for rollout in February, but that officials “would not permit it.”

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here Reported by PC World 17 hours ago.

Ahead Of Hobby Lobby Decision, Americans Split On Contraception Mandate For Religious Employers

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Just days before the expected announcement of the Supreme Court's ruling in Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, a new HuffPost/YouGov poll finds Americans are divided over whether to require owners of private businesses to pay for their employees' contraceptives.

At issue in the Hobby Lobby case is the so-called "contraception mandate" in the Affordable Care Act, which requires for-profit companies' health insurance plans to cover all forms of contraception approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Attorneys for the owners of Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., a crafts supply chain, argue that the contraception mandate violates the company's First Amendment right to religious freedom by forcing it to cover all forms of birth control or pay large fines. Hobby Lobby's owners say they are morally opposed to the use of intrauterine devices and emergency contraception, both of which they believe cause abortions.

The HuffPost/YouGov poll finds that 44 percent of Americans side with Hobby Lobby, saying that private businesses whose owners object to birth control on religious grounds should not have to provide health care plans that cover the costs of birth control, while 40 percent feel that religious owners of for-profit businesses should have to cover the costs of contraceptives for employees.
Americans are almost evenly split over whether hospitals and colleges with religious affiliations should have to provide health care plans that cover the cost of contraceptives for their employees, with 43 percent believing they should be required to and 42 percent saying they should not be.
Early last year, the Obama administration announced that religiously affiliated non-profits, including schools and hospitals, that insure themselves would be exempt from the contraception mandate. In cases where the employer is exempt, the costs of employees' contraceptives shifts to third-party insurers.

Asked about the contraception mandate more broadly, 46 percent of respondents said they support requiring employers to provide health care plans that cover the costs of contraceptives for their employees. Thirty-six percent of respondents opposed the mandate. Men were significantly more likely than women to oppose the contraception mandate.
The poll also found uncertainty about whether it is possible for some forms of contraception to cause abortions when used as prescribed by doctors, as the owners of Hobby Lobby contend -- a claim that's been disproved by medical studies. One-third of respondents were unsure if there are forms of contraception that cause abortions, while 46 percent said there are and 21 percent said there are not.
The HuffPost/YouGov poll was conducted June 20-23 among 1,000 U.S. adults using a sample selected from YouGov's opt-in online panel to match the demographics and other characteristics of the adult U.S. population. Factors considered include age, race, gender, education, employment, income, marital status, number of children, voter registration, time and location of Internet access, interest in politics, religion and church attendance.

The Huffington Post has teamed up with YouGov to conduct daily opinion polls. You can learn more about this project and take part in YouGov's nationally representative opinion polling. Data from all HuffPost/YouGov polls can be found here. Reported by Huffington Post 16 hours ago.

Orlando supports overturning gay marriage ban

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Orlando's city council has voted to support overturning Florida's ban on same-sex marriage.

City council members approved Mayor Buddy Dyer's proposal to file a friend of the court brief in a lawsuit set for a hearing early next month in Miami.

The lawsuit is challenging the state's ban on same-sex marriage, claiming it violates the U.S. Constitution.

Orlando is joining with the City of Miami Beach in filing the friend of the court brief.

Orlando has a domestic partnership registry, and the same-sex partners of city workers are eligible for health insurance from the city. Reported by Click Orlando 16 hours ago.

Peninsula group promotes 'Coverage to Care'

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Outreach events teach newly insured how to access health care

More than 8 million Americans bought private health insurance for 2014 through the state marketplaces set up by the Affordable Care Act at the urging of the Department of Health and Human Services. Now the federal agency is pushing to translate that coverage into appropriate care for the newly insured. Reported by dailypress.com 14 hours ago.

HUFFPOLLSTER: Reviewing The Oklahoma Senate Primary Polls

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A leader emerges in Oklahoma's upcoming Republican primary for U.S. Senate. Gallup finds five percent of Americans bought insurance through the ACA exchanges. And the American public has some suggestions for Dan Snyder.This is HuffPollster for Monday, June 23, 2014

*POLL FINDS LANKFORD GAINING* - Nathan Elliott: "James Lankford now has a lead over T.W. Shannon in a heated race to replace Sen. Tom Coburn, according to a News 9/News On 6 poll. The poll, taken June 19-21, shows Lankford with 43.4 percent and Shannon with 34.9 percent, with 13.3 percent of likely Republican voters still undecided. *The latest poll indicates Lankford has gained an eight point lead over Shannon* since a May 5-10 News 9/News On 6 poll showed the two front-runners nearly tied….A candidate needs to get more than 50 percent of the votes cast in the June 24 primary to avoid a runoff." [News9]

*Slightly earlier survey from the same pollster finds a smaller margin* - Randy Krehbiel: "Fifth District Congressman James Lankford held a narrow lead over former Oklahoma Speaker of the House T.W. Shannon heading into the final week of their U.S. Senate primary campaign, according to the latest Oklahoma Poll. *Lankford led Shannon 41 percent to 38 percent* in a survey of 415 likely voters in Tuesday’s election. The survey was conducted June 14-18 by SoonerPoll.com and has a 4.81 percent margin of error." [Tulsa World]

*Pollster average shows a close race* - HuffPollster's tracking chart incorporates 10 polls: four from groups backing Lankford, three from a group backing Shannon, and three from SoonerPoll. Just one -- an April poll for Shannon -- shows Shannon ahead. The margins, however, vary significantly, with surveys in the last month showing Lankford anywhere from 2 to 22 points ahead.

*Sooner Poll calls landline and cell phones* - The Sooner poll methodology combines automated (IVR) calls to landlines and live interviewer calls to mobile phones. The poll overhauled its methodology in 2012 to include samples of cell phones in all polls. [Sooner Poll release, methodology]

*Past OK primary polls not so accurate* - Harry Enten: "The SoonerPoll is the only non-campaign or group-affiliated poll released in the race. Its record is not very good in Republican primaries; it missed the final margin by 18 points in the 2008 Republican presidential primary and by 22 points in the 2010 Republican gubernatorial primary. So even though most polls have Lankford up (including the SoonerPoll by 8 points), a win for his campaign on Tuesday is far from a lock." [538]

*MORE ON TOMORROW'S PRIMARIES* - Amanda Terkel and Samantha Lachman: "The tea party is getting its best chance to knock off a sitting senator on Tuesday [in *Mississippi*], when Chris McDaniel faces Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) in the state's GOP primary runoff contest. Voters are heading to the polls in *Colorado, Maryland, New York, Oklahoma and Utah*, with primary runoff elections happening in Mississippi and South Carolina. The tea party could also pull off an upset in New York's 22nd congressional district, where activists are hoping to unseat Rep. Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.), who is known as one of the more moderate members of the GOP caucus. On the Democratic side, one of the biggest races will be in the blue state of Maryland, where candidates are trotting out their progressive credentials and putting forward policy proposals to create universal prekindergarten classes and legalize marijuana. Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) is also facing a challenge from the left, fending off attacks that he's been too friendly to Wall Street." [HuffPost]

*FIVE PERCENT OF AMERICANS NEWLY INSURED THROUGH EXCHANGES* - Steve Ander and Frank Newport: "Five percent of Americans report being newly insured in 2014. More than half of that group, or 2.8% of the total U.S. population, say they got their new insurance through the health exchanges that were open through mid-April….One catalyst for the individual healthcare mandate was to bring healthy people who otherwise chose not to have health insurance into the healthcare system using the exchanges. However, as was the case in the previous sample, the newly insured using exchanges in the April-June reporting period are less likely than those in the general population to report being in 'very good' or 'excellent' health….*The 5% of the adult population who report getting health insurance this year and who did not have it last year is roughly commensurate with the overall drop in the uninsured percentage* of the overall population between the third quarter of 2013 and April-May of this year. Still, even after meeting established goals of 8 million enrollees through healthcare.gov and with probable spillover effects into non-exchange-based new enrollments, millions of Americans still are without health insurance: the total percentage of the adult population who are uninsured remains above 13%." [Gallup]

*Consistent with Kaiser findings* - Flashback to Kaiser Family Foundation findings released on June 19: "The Kaiser Family Foundation Survey of Non-Group Health Insurance Enrollees...reports the views and experience of all non-group enrollees, including those with coverage obtained both inside and outside the Exchanges, and those who were uninsured prior to the ACA as well as those who had a previous source of coverage (non-group or otherwise)...About half of all non-group enrollees now have coverage purchased from a Health Insurance Exchange, and *nearly six in ten (57 percent) of those with Exchange coverage were uninsured prior to purchasing their current plan*. Most of this previously uninsured group reports having gone without coverage for two years or more, and for many the ACA was a motivator in seeking coverage; seven in ten of those who were uninsured prior to purchasing a Marketplace plan say they decided to buy insurance because of the law, while just over a quarter say they would have gotten it anyway." [KFF]

*LITTLE SUPPORT FOR SENDING TROOPS TO IRAQ* - HuffPollster: "Americans overwhelmingly oppose sending U.S. troops back into combat in Iraq, but would consider other forms of intervention, a new HuffPost/YouGov poll finds. *Americans weighed in against sending U.S. ground troops to fight in Iraq by a nearly 7 to 1 margin, with 69 percent opposed and 11 percent in favor.* Most also are against sending U.S. troops to assist Iraqi army units....A CBS/New York Times poll released Wednesday found that 41 percent of Americans said Obama's response to the violence in Iraq, including the deployment of several hundred military advisers, has been about right. The remainder of those polled were split on whether the president should be doing more or less. Just over half of Republicans thought Obama should intervene further, while 13 percent of Democrats said the same." [HuffPost]

*AMERICANS SPLIT ON HOBBY LOBBY CONTRACEPTION CASE* - Rachel Lienesch: "Just days before the expected announcement of the Supreme Court's ruling in Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, a new HuffPost/YouGov poll finds Americans are divided over whether to require owners of private businesses to pay for their employees' contraceptives....*The HuffPost/YouGov poll finds that 44 percent of Americans side with Hobby Lobby*, saying that private businesses whose owners object to birth control on religious grounds should not have to provide health care plans that cover the costs of birth control, while 40 percent feel that religious owners of for-profit businesses should have to cover the costs of contraceptives for employees." [HuffPost]

*WE'RE STILL ROOTING FOR 'WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FOOTBALL* - Emily Swanson and Arthur Delaney: "Most people don't think the Washington Redskins should change the team's name, but if the team ever decides to do the decent thing, Americans favor one alternate name over all others. HuffPost, in partnership with YouGov, surveyed Americans about changing the Washington football team's moniker. *A majority said that if they had to pick a new name, they liked 'Washington Warriors' best.* But only 21 percent of those polled said that the Redskins should change their name, while 62 percent said they should not." [HuffPost]

*HUFFPOLLSTER VIA EMAIL!* - You can receive this daily update every weekday via email! Just click here, enter your email address, and and click "sign up." That's all there is to it (and you can unsubscribe anytime).

*MONDAY'S 'OUTLIERS'* - Links to the best of news at the intersection of polling, politics and political data:

-Chris Christie is gaining on Hillary Clinton in the Iowa presidential race. [Quinnipiac]

-Rand Paul and Ben Carson are Hillary Clinton's closest challengers. [Rasmussen]

-A refresher on helpful polling shorthand -- *Ñ:* “No, [name of candidate] is not running/can’t run/won’t run, but what if [name of candidate] did/could/would run? Huh?! What then!?” *ß:* "Hillary Clinton has a 15-point lead against every GOP candidate who isn't Chris Christie." [HuffPost]

-A UNH poll finds the Maine governor's race looking like a dead heat. [Portland Press Herald]

-A final Chism (D) poll on the Mississippi runoff gives Chris McDaniel the lead. [Chism]

-Nate Cohn explains why turnout for the Mississippi runoff may remain high, countering the historical pattern. [NYTimes]

-Morris Fiorina argues, contra the recent Pew Research report, that the United States "as a whole is no more polarized than it was a generation ago." [WashPost]

-Matthew Dickinson says that increased polarization has occurred mostly among "the relatively small world of the politically active." [Politico]

-Glen Bolger (R) notes that a series of government screw-ups has pushed the percentage who want "government to do more" to solve problems below 50 percent. [POS]

-Female voters are more likely to pay attention to the records of female politicians than to those of male politicians. [WashPost] Reported by Huffington Post 15 hours ago.

Buy State Auto Insurance Online: Insurer Website Now Allows Internet Policy Purchases at State Level

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Consumers can now buy state auto insurance online using the Quotes Pros website. This insurer portal now makes it easier to review actual costs at http://quotespros.com/auto-insurance.html.

Sandusky, OH (PRWEB) June 23, 2014

The national costs for vehicle insurance can vary between providers and the Quotes Pros company has now updated its resources for motorists to access online. It will now be simpler to buy state auto insurance to take advantage of regional price markdowns at http://quotespros.com/auto-insurance.html.

The changes to the insurance system enacted this year have made the new quotations possible for American vehicle owners. The direct costs from statewide companies that are entered into the national system are double checked for accuracy prior to final distribution to consumers.

"It can be challenging to motorists when evaluating insurers using offline tools and our tool brings companies from 50 states together into one resource," said a rep at the QuotesPros.com website.

The dedicated research platform that has been installed for public use this year includes more than state agencies for consumers to evaluate during a simple search. There are also nationwide and direct insurers that compete for policy pricing of liability, non owner, full coverage and SR22 plans.

"What consumers find while accessing our helpful website is national or state pricing that is easy to review and policies are simple to purchase from leading insurers," said the rep.

The Quotes Pros website has been enabled to accept the input of a zip code to further explore localized price markdowns for coverage plans. Drivers can review auto policies and repair warranty coverage using the same tool at http://quotespros.com/car-insurance.html.

About QuotesPros.com

The QuotesPros.com company is helping any person to review state level vehicle insurance plans and pricing using its Internet tools. The company launched in 2013 and has provided easy solutions for comparing one or more insurance agencies in a simple search. The QuotesPros.com company has changed the way that prices are revealed using its private pool requiring zero VIN numbers or other vehicle data. Special rates information for life, homeowners, renters, and health insurance are now available. Reported by PRWeb 14 hours ago.

Division of Insurance: Colorado health premiums are both increasing and decreasing next year

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Colorado residents and small businesses could face anywhere from a 10 percent increase in their health insurance premiums next year to a 10 percent drop in prices, according to a preliminary study of rate filings issued Monday by the Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI). Insurers were required to submit their proposed rates for 2015 individual- and small-market plans by June 6, and state officials have spent the past two weeks looking over them. What they found was a slight increase in the number… Reported by bizjournals 12 hours ago.

RISARC CEO Richard Stephenson and Blue Shield of California Host Third Seminar for Healthcare Executives; Discuss Changes to Patient Care Requirements and Revenue Cycle

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RISARC collaborated with Blue Shield of California on this seminar to share their in-depth understanding of what will be required to build a sustainable revenue infrastructure for healthcare providers and review ways to improve payer/provider relations.

Burbank, CA (PRWEB) June 24, 2014

Richard Stephenson, Founder and CEO of RISARC, a leading national high-technology and revenue recovery consulting firm to the health care industry, announced that and Blue Shield of California successfully hosted their third seminar for senior executives in the health care industry.

RISARC CEO, Richard Stephenson and Blue Shield of California’s representative, reviewed the principal elements of the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Stephenson then led an in-depth discussion of both companies participation with Covered California, the state run Health Insurance Exchange, which enrolled over 3 million of the state’s residents in its marketplace of private insurance programs and Medi-Cal in the first six months of Exchange operations.

Covered California is California's new health insurance exchange, where individuals, families and small businesses can find affordable health insurance.

Latest changes

For healthcare executives in attendance the seminars detail how the latest changes from Covered California, Hospital Presumptive Eligibility (HPE) rules, and the ACA are impacting the new patient care requirements and revenue cycle protocols for healthcare stakeholders in California.

RISARC collaborated with Blue Shield of California on this seminar to share their in-depth understanding of what will be required to build a sustainable revenue infrastructure and improve payer/provider relations.

Departmental Collaboration

Now more than ever each department within a provider’s structure has to have a clearer working understanding of how each conduct their operations, particularly where it applies to dealing with payers and patients alike. They must also understand the intricacies of the health plans under Covered California and the coverage’s provided by participating payers such as Blue Shield of California.

In attendance are stakeholders in the Revenue Cycle process including: Directors of the Business Office, Admitting, VP of Revenue Cycle, Medical Records, Governmental Compliance and Patient Access.

Open exchange of ideas

Said Stephenson: “Health coverage is now accessible and affordable for millions of Americans thanks to the Affordable Care Act. But the overwhelming successes of the ACA and other supportive legislation have created huge burdens on the administrative and financial protocols for most health care providers. We have created a popular forum for healthcare executives to discuss the latest healthcare benefits and protections that Americans are now entitled to by law.”

Hospital Presumptive Eligibility

For years, states have had the option to use presumptive eligibility to connect pregnant women and children to Medi-Cal. Hospitals now have a unique new opportunity to connect patients to Medi-Cal, as long as they meet the state’s income guidelines for Hospital Presumptive Eligibility.

Hospitals in California can elect to make these determinations—regardless of whether the state expands Medi-Cal eligibility or exercises the existing ability to allow presumptive eligibility for other populations or settings. Hospitals must agree to abide by state policies and procedures. The choice to make HPE determinations rests with each individual hospital, not with the state.

About RISARC

RISARC is a leading national high-technology and revenue recovery consulting firm to the health care industry. RISARC, founded in 1990, has recovered over $1 billion for its clients. The company offers the RMSe-bubble™ for secure electronic document exchange and the signature RISARC 360° single-source solution that combines health care revenue cycle expertise with innovative cloud-based, cost-saving technology to help clients optimize existing resources, meet business objectives and reach financial goals. RISARC is a pioneer in health care technology solutions and is a certified Health Information Handler for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, esMD project. The RMSe-bubble provides the industry’s best secure, HIPAA-compliant environment for electronic record and document exchange and has been endorsed and accepted by providers, commercial insurance carriers and government agencies across the United States.

Please visit us at http://www.risarc.com for additional information. Reported by PRWeb 6 hours ago.

More Americans have health insurance under Affordable Care Act, new surveys show

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About 5 percent of the U.S. population is newly insured in terms of health care in 2014, a Gallup report shows. That figure is important because it's a key part of the Affordable Care Act. The 2010 federal health law is seeking to become the largest expansion of health insurance since Medicare and Medicaid, the federal programs covering the elderly and low-income, respectively. For businesses, the issue is tied to reducing health care costs and creating jobs. Gallup released the new report Monday. Data… Reported by bizjournals 3 hours ago.

She The People: Older women bear the brunt of higher insurance costs under Obamacare

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It’s hard for an ordinary person to figure out whether health insurance will be more expensive under the Affordable Care Act. First of all, figures that look good “on average,” often mask extremely wide differences across age groups. Secondly, it’s hard to find pre-ACA policies that are comparable to the policies available post-ACA. Reported by Washington Post 2 hours ago.

SquareTwo Financial Honored As One Of Computerworld's 100 Best Places To Work In Information Technology

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Company is only Colorado-based employer on national list of organizations excelling in benefits, diversity, training, retention and career development for IT professionals

Denver, CO. (PRWEB) June 24, 2014

SquareTwo Financial, a leader in the $100 billion asset management and recovery industry, today announced it has earned national recognition as one of the best workplaces nationally for information technology professionals. The company is being honored with a Computerworld 2014 “Best Places to Work in Information Technology” award, which identifies the top 100 companies nationally that challenge their IT staffs while providing great benefits and compensation.

“The Computerworld Best Places to Work in IT distinction is recognition that SquareTwo Financial is an employer of choice in Colorado and nationally for IT professionals,” said Paul A. Larkins, president and CEO, SquareTwo Financial. “This prestigious award speaks volumes about the programs and benefits we have in place to attract the best possible technology talent, which is paramount for our business to thrive.”

As a winner of this rigorously vetted award, SquareTwo Financial is being recognized for its employee benefits, training, diversity and retention. It will be among organizations included in Computerworld coverage along with results from the 21st annual Best Places to Work in IT survey.

SquareTwo Financial attracts top national IT talent with competitive pay, a generous benefits package, an exciting work environment and innovative technology programs. Employee benefits include:· Personal time off
· Health insurance with 100% coverage by the company
· Flexible hours
· 401k plan
· Corporate/employee wellness program including onsite fitness center or fitness membership reimbursement
· On-site health screenings
· Weight Watchers at Work
· Wellness education
· Employee Assistance Programs
· Reimbursement for technology certifications with no set maximum
· Continuing education/executive education programs
· Telecommuting options for employees
· Domestic partner/spousal equivalent benefits
· Same-sex partner benefits and a nondiscrimination policy regarding sexual orientation
· Elder care and/or services
· Both paid sabbaticals and unpaid sabbaticals

SquareTwo Financial’s use of technology is a cornerstone of its dynamic growth and performance over the last four years, including in 2013 when it was named the Fastest-Growing Private Company in Denver by the Denver Business Journal and saw its CIO, Bill Weeks, named CIO of the Year by the same publication.

"Hiring the best and the brightest IT pros, offering them competitive pay and providing top-notch benefits is just the beginning for the outstanding employers on this year's Best Places to Work in IT list," said Scot Finnie, editor in chief of Computerworld. "Both newcomers to the list and rock-steady stalwarts nurture their talent with challenging business-critical projects, extensive training opportunities and ongoing career development programs. They invest in their own futures by investing in their employees."

About SquareTwo Financial:
SquareTwo Financial is a leader in the $100 billion asset recovery and management industry. Through its award-winning technology, industry-leading security and compliance practices, SquareTwo Financial creates a more effective way for companies and consumers to resolve their debt commitments. Lenders in the Fortune 1000 trust SquareTwo Financial to manage their debt portfolios. In all of its recovery efforts, SquareTwo Financial is committed to delivering the FAIR SQUARE PROMISE, the company’s pledge to treat each Customer with fairness and respect. SquareTwo Financial is based in Denver, Colo. Visit http://www.squaretwofinancial.com for more information.

About Computerworld
Computerworld is the leading IT media brand helping Sr. IT, business decision-makers and key influencers navigate change with effective business strategy. Computerworld enables the IT value chain with unique editorial coverage from setting strategies to deriving value from core to edge technologies. Computerworld’s award-winning website (http://www.computerworld.com), publication, focused conference series, custom solutions and research forms the hub of the world’s largest (40+ edition) global IT media network and provides opportunities for IT vendors to engage this audience. Computerworld leads the industry with an online audience of over 7.1 million monthly page views (Omniture, February 2013) and was recognized in BtoB’s 2013 Media Power 50 list; recognition Computerworld has received for more than 5 consecutive years. Computerworld is published by IDG Enterprise, a subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world’s leading media, events and research company. Company information is available at http://www.idgenterprise.com.

About the Best Places to Work in IT list
The Best Places to Work in Information Technology (IT) list is an annual ranking of the top 100 work environments for technology professionals by IDG’s Computerworld. The list is compiled based on a comprehensive questionnaire regarding company offerings in categories such as benefits, career development, training and retention. In addition, Computerworld conducts extensive surveys of IT workers, and their responses factor heavily in determining the rankings. Reported by PRWeb 1 hour ago.

Which Side Are You On? Inequality and the Case for Unions

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Across the country, Republican legislatures -- encouraged and financed, as usual, by corporate money and right wing think tanks -- have undertaken a stunning array of initiatives designed to weaken unions and otherwise undermine American workers. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, along with several other Republican governors, has moved aggressively and conspicuously to disempower public sector unions. Nikki Haley, the Republican Governor of South Carolina, recently declared that unionized businesses are not welcome in South Carolina.

Republicans tell a tired, cynical story about all of this, insisting that union busting is, somehow, good for the economy and good for workers. It's the same old trickle down nonsense.

Democrats, on the other hand, have done too little to defend unions and worker rights.

This systematic attack on unions is, of course, bad for working Americans. Unionized workers in the U.S. earn more money than non-union workers with similar skills (14 percent more, according to the Economic Policy Institute). Unionized workers are 28 percent more likely to have employer provided health insurance and 54 percent more likely to have employer provided pensions. Unionized workers enjoy more vacation time, and they are more productive than non-union workers. Countries with high rates of union coverage enjoy lower rates of inequality and lower rates of poverty, and their workers enjoy greater economic security. And, further, a robust union movement raises pay and working conditions for non-union workers as well.

What's not to like?

In 1973, 27 percent of U.S. workers were unionized. Now, it's just 13 percent -- the lowest rate among the world's rich ("industrialized") countries. It is no coincidence that the U.S. is, by every reasonable measure, the most unequal of the world's rich countries.

Since 1979, the share of income going to the top 1 percent in the U.S. has grown by more than 300 percent. Meanwhile, wages have stagnated -- and, for many millions, declined -- even as labor productivity (the value of a worker's output in an hour) has more than doubled! In 1978, CEOs earned 26 times more than a typical worker. In 2013, CEOs at the largest 350 U.S. corporations earned 296 times more than a typical worker! This stunning and appalling redistribution of income -- economy-wide, and within corporations -- is in part the result of massive tax cuts for the rich and the erosion of corporate accountability (aka "deregulation"). It is also the result of a systematic effort to undermine the bargaining power of U.S. workers. Union busting has enriched capitalists at the expense of workers.

The Right insists that working class Americans are falling behind because of overly-generous "entitlements" and overpaid public sector employees. In reality, the lost income of workers of all sorts -- union and non-union, black and white, male and female, public sector and private sector -- can be found in the pockets of the 1 percent.

A hundred years ago, U.S. workers -- including millions of children -- worked long hours for low wages in unsafe workplaces. Because of organized labor, the prospects for working Americans improved dramatically over the course of the 20th Century. Because of unions, millions of U.S. workers were able to achieve a middle class life -- economic security, home ownership, health insurance, vacation time and, perhaps, a college education for their children. From 1948-1973, the incomes of working class families in the U.S. nearly doubled!

In addition to higher wages, the struggles of organized labor have delivered virtually every protection and benefit enjoyed by U.S. workers. Unions have brought working Americans the 40 hour week, paid vacation, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, overtime pay, child labor laws, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, whistleblower protection laws, sexual harassment laws, lunch breaks and coffee breaks, wrongful termination protection, sick leave, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the weekend and much more. These rights, benefits and norms were not gifts from employers. They are the result of relentless organized struggle by working Americans. And with each struggle, big business and its apologists have insisted that this change would fatally undermine their competitiveness.

As unionization rates have fallen over the past several decades, wages have stagnated and the "American Dream" has drifted out of reach for millions. The Economic Policy Institute estimates that plummeting rates of unionization account for one third of rising inequality in the U.S. since 1980.

Raising the pay of working Americans has to be at the top of a progressive agenda. And this means we have to prioritize the empowerment of the labor movement.

Are high rates of unionization possible in a global economy? Yes! Union coverage remains high in most European countries -- over 90 percent in some cases -- and union coverage has grown steadily over the past few decades in several countries. In a marvelous study of 21 rich countries, John Schmitt and Alexandra Mitukiewicz show that changes in unionization rates since 1960 have had little to do with globalization or changes in technology. They depend, rather, on a country's "broad political environment." Social Democratic countries have seen unionization rates rise. "Liberal market economies" (the U.S., UK and others) have seen unionization rates drop. De-unionization is not an imperative of the global market. It is a political choice.

But aren't unions prone to corruption? Sometimes (although way less often than right wingers would have us believe). And some parents are abusive. Some doctors commit fraud. And some bankers are greedy and mendacious. It does not follow that we'd be better off without families, doctors, or a financial sector. Nor does it follow that workers are better off without unions.

The U.S. has long been a hostile environment for unions, and this has been especially true since 1980, when the Reagan administration declared war on organized labor. Cornell's Kate Bronfenbrenner has chronicled the increasingly aggressive (and often illegal) tactics used by employers to block organizing efforts, and the meager protections available to organizers and workers.

The Republican Party's economic policy agenda has not changed for decades. Cut taxes for the 1%. Deregulate - so that banks can run wild and corporations can pollute with impunity. And undermine the bargaining power of workers. Union busting is central to the Republican brand.

Working class Americans have been losing ground for 35 years. To reverse this, we need a re-empowered and a re-legitimized labor movement. We need to tell the truth about unions and union busters. We need to actively support our allies in the labor movement, and we need to demand that our representatives work to create a political and legal environment that facilitates the growth of unions and union representation.

And, relentlessly, we need to ask our representatives - especially fearful, cautious, and misguided Democrats: Which side are you on?

Unions are good for workers. It's that simple. Reported by Huffington Post 23 hours ago.
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