Tag Archives: (in)humanity

Top Ten Videos of 2009: 6. Funny or Die, “A Gaythering Storm”

by Derek Posted on December 17, 2009

In the early part of 2009, American TV airwaves were polluted by a particular commercial that became known as the “Gathering Storm” ad. Made by a group calling itself the National Organization for Marriage, it was a clumsy, mendacious message … Continue reading →

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Life, Liberty, and the Denial of Benefits

by Derek Posted on October 16, 2009

Over at Scholars & Rogues, Rick Herschlag has spun out a post so good it gave me one of those moments of “damn, I wish I’d written that!” What’s the word for that — writeolization? Pen envy?

I want to keep the health insurance I have—which is no health insurance. I was dropped when I had a heart attack. My insurance company called it a preexisting condition, and they were right. Heart attacks have been around a very long time. The important thing is that I treasure my insurance company’s free market right to maximize profits at all moral and ethical costs. I would willingly die defending that right. And now, finally, I may get that chance.

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Obama: Run the Goddamned Option!

by Derek Posted on August 18, 2009

The following is text I composed for the “Additional message to President Obama” field, after I had signed my name to CredoAction.com’s petition “Tell Obama: The public option is not optional.” I urge all of you who read this while the health care reform issue is still current to do the same. Unless you don’t agree with me. No, fuck that — if you don’t agree I still want you to sign it.

If you punt on the public option, this whole initiative will have been in vain. All that would be left in the bill would be the window dressing. Window dressing, without a bloody *window*! …

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Iran: Real Winners Don’t Blame

by Derek Posted on June 18, 2009

Even the mild pronouncements thus far by President Obama regarding the Iranian election turmoil were immediately seized upon by the beleaguered incumbents, who accused the U.S. of fomenting the massive unrest they now face. This can’t come as a surprise to the Obama administration. The White House is aware of America’s status in Iran as a convenient boogeyman, earned by our history of meddling in matters of Iran’s leadership. Nevertheless, the Ahmadinejad/Khamanei junta’s tone-deaf attempt to start a “Death to America” stadium wave betrays its own panic. Defensive finger-pointing is not the kind of behavior one expects from a party that supposedly just received a nearly two-thirds mandate. Continue reading →

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