#caturday #christmas

#RFKjr

The billionaire takeover of America

Yes, he's #smol

#covid

Now Elon wants to hide how often Teslas are involved in crashes.

When you buy an election...

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/trump-transition-recommends-scrapping-car-crash-reporting-requirement-opposed-by-2024-12-13/

#climatechange

Interesting conversation with Montana yesterday. We picked her up from college and it is about a 45 minute drive home. Montana is 21 and she is my youngest. I asked her if there was much discussion on campus about healthcare in the light to murder of UHC CEO Brian Thompson. Answer: Not much. Montana mentioned the high percentage of claim denials. I asked, do you think UHC should never deny a claim? Montana is very bright and is often careful when she sees my question as leading, so she couched her answer, but basically said yes. "No one should make money by actively harming another" she proclaimed. The assumption in that statement is Thompson would be aware that some UHC profit was tied to claim denial that in turn led to harm. But... I added... UHC is not some magical entity. All claims it pays comes from those paying premiums. Would not paying all claims require premiums to be raised?

I don't believe simple answers to these issues exist[1], but I must say I want my daughters to resist meme-based-thinking on these issues.

[1] I favor Medicare for All and a rights-based system wherein access is based on need not ability to pay. Wherein funding comes from a progressive tax system. That said, transforming the US system to any new would would be difficult.

#doggo