States of Cruelty
Paul Krugman AUG. 29, 2016
Something terrible has happened to pregnant women in Texas: their mortality rate has doubled in recent years, and is now comparable to rates in places like Russia or Ukraine. Although researchers into this disaster are careful to say that it can’t be attributed to any one cause, the death surge does coincide with the state’s defunding of Planned Parenthood, which led to the closing of many clinics. And all of this should be seen against the general background of Texas policy, which is extremely hostile toward anything that helps low-income residents.
There’s an important civics lesson here. While many people are focused on national politics, with reason — one sociopath in the White House can ruin your whole day — many crucial decisions are taken at the state and local levels. If the people we elect to these offices are irresponsible, cruel, or both, they can do a lot of damage.
This is especially true when it comes to health care. Even before the Affordable Care Act went into effect, there was wide variation in state policies, especially toward the poor and near-poor. Medicaid has always been a joint federal-state program, in which states have considerable leeway about whom to cover. States with consistently conservative governments generally offered benefits to as few people as the law allowed, sometimes only to adults with children in truly dire poverty. States with more liberal governments extended benefits much more widely. These policy differences were one main reason for a huge divergence in the percentage of the population without insurance, with Texas consistently coming in first in that dismal ranking.
And the gaps have only grown wider since Obamacare went into effect, for two reasons. First, the Supreme Court made the federally-funded expansion of Medicaid, a crucial part of the reform, optional at the state level. This should be a no-brainer: If Washington is willing to provide health insurance to many of your state’s residents — and in so doing pump dollars into your state’s economy — why wouldn’t you say yes? But 19 states, Texas among them, are still refusing free money, denying health care to millions.
SNIP//
The problem is that too many of us don’t vote in state and local elections, or realize how much cruelty is being carried out in our name. The point is that America would become a better place if more of us started paying attention to politics beyond the presidential race.
Read More: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/29/opinion/states-of-cruelty.html?smid=tw-share&_r=1
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So instead of lamenting the fact that Hillary is not in front of the cameras 24/7, perhaps you should be looking into your own backyard. Look at what is happening in your neck of the woods and decide how you can make it better. You want to play the blame game? Then I think you should be honest and focus on the ones that are to blame, yourself included. Crying and moaning will not work, action will. At the end of an election you can't just take your ball home, that is what happened to Obama.
I keep hearing she needs to tell 'me' why I should vote for her. She needs to sell herself to 'me'! Open your eyes. As Obama once said WE Are THE ONES WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR. He never said I, he said we. Hillary is saying the same. WE.
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on what a "Democratic underground" is when you live in a Red State.
These rightwing policies are killing us - literally. 
And it's getting worse.
Our Medicaid program is short $85,000,000 October 1st. The Republicans offered "a state lottery" to find some funding (no new taxes on those who could afford it) - and then voted it down in a special session when it was pointed out a lot of Democrats would turn out in November if something that might help them was on the ballot - and might vote in some Democrats!
If they don't find funding, they are planning to discontinue adult Medicaid drug assistance. "Here's your prescriptions. Do the best you can at Walmart," they are saying.
if the mother tries to give up the child, via adoption the mother "shamed," ala Jeb! Bush. Those people are truly despicable, discussing & cruel!
I needed you, Cha. 
their sisters, or wives! The stupid in this country is simply mind boggling!
I love everything Krugman writes. He hits the nail on the head every time! Thanks for posting she!
Great article by Krugman. Thanks for posting it, she!