ORLY-EP0121 - DNC Platform Recap, And back to a “normal” show.
Welcome to ORLYRADIO #121 recorded Friday August 5th, 2016 - where we dismantle the current events for your edutainment through mostly rational conversations that make you go ‘Oh Really’! I’m your host Andy Cowen, with my usual suspects, Stephen Griffith, and David O’Connor.
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Potpourri: Guests/Rants/Etc:
Democratic Wrap up, takeaways...
No real gotchas - if you are liberally and socially progressive, in fact there are some great things on that front. Policing the police, Reforming mandatory sentencing, closing private prisons, and generally being science minded about many things. There was copious pandering, or swaying if if comes to pass, to the Berni-crats. Most of his campaign stump speeches was seen throughout the document. Each section reiterated at least something towards that camp.
Race relations, gender disparity, civil rights, voters protections, Native/Indigenous Americans and Tribal law, LGBT (sorry no QIA), fixing the broken immigration system, climate change - all had their paragraphs and positive notes of encouragement.
There was a little bit of privatization pandering to religious institutions rather than corporate america, calling on support for AmeriCorps. But on the bright side, strengthening our education systems, including student debt.
And while on Education, the platform adds the A to STEM, So Democrats believe in Science,. Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics.
The Agriculture industry was mentioned in continuing financial aid, while also backhanding them with increased EPA worker protections. Unions and collective bargaining are heavily supported and eluded to by the platform
Families who depend on programs like SNAP and WIC would not have to worry about those social programs being pulled.
Generally towing the Obama line and continuing his legacy in every avenue and likely advancing it where he was unable to, like the ACA, the party states on page 34, that they are in favor of universal healthcare, not the stop gap that the Obamacare was. IN this section, both mental health and autism care received recognition as a commitment bullet point. Even planned parenthood was supported. This is a pro-choice platform.
The national motto actually made an appearance, E Pluribus Unum, rather than just the Christian Nation crowd that we saw on the GOP side.
Gun violence is also a platform line items.
They want to audit the Pentagon in an effort to reduce defense spending in a smart manner rather than an arbitrary figure.
Though as to the middle east, we will continue to pour dollars and blood into the region to combat isis and reign in Iran’s attempts to eliminate Israel.
One thing to really note, in rough numbers, about a third of the document pandered or said very little or repeated itself. Another third was comparisons and what they believe in. The last third, plans on how to accomplish goals. Not set in stone and codified into law, but just like Bernie's platform, there was a way to do it all listed in the platform.
Science Bitches!
http://www.thedrive.com/news/3208/uc-irvine-accidentally-invents-a-battery-that-lasts-forever
http://nber.org/papers/w22170 The Effect of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansions on Financial Well-Being
We find that the Medicaid expansions significantly reduced the number of unpaid bills and the amount of debt sent to third-party collection agencies among those residing in zip codes with the highest share of low income, uninsured individuals. Our estimates imply a reduction in collection balances of around $600 to $1,000 among those who gain Medicaid coverage due to the ACA. Our findings suggest that the ACA Medicaid expansions had important financial impacts beyond health care use.http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-36855705 - Adamantium is now a thing.
Law & Order:
http://www.scotusblog.com/2016/08/court-enters-at-least-temporarily-the-fray-over-transgender-rights/ The U.S. Supreme Court stepped into the dispute between a Virginia school board and a transgender student who identifies as a boy. In June, a federal district court in Virginia ordered the Gloucester County School Board to allow “G.G.” to use the boys’ bathroom at Gloucester High School until the case can be fully litigated. A federal appeals court turned down the school board’s request to halt the district court’s order, so the school board went to the Supreme Court, where it found more success: today the Court blocked the district court’s order while the school board seeks Supreme Court review of the dispute. Today’s action means that “G.G.” will not be able to use the boys’ bathroom when school resumes on September 6; it also suggests that four Justices – the number needed to review a case on the merits – could be willing to take the case on, possibly as soon as this fall.
Transgender woman robs bank, hands out cash, so she can return to jail http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2016/08/transgender-woman-robs-bank-hands-cash-can-return-jail/
Good Ideas:
A Unitarian Universalist church is suing the town of Bedford, Massachusetts for denying a request to install solar panels on its property, arguing that authorities are infringing on the congregation’s right to express their religious belief in clean energy solutions. http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/08/03/3804896/unitarian-universalist-solar-panels-religious-liberty/
A Tesla Semi. Here's Musk at the Tesla Blog, "In addition to consumer vehicles, there are two other types of electric vehicle needed: heavy-duty trucks and high passenger-density urban transport. Both are in the early stages of development at Tesla and should be ready for unveiling next year. We believe the Tesla Semi will deliver a substantial reduction in the cost of cargo transport, while increasing safety and making it really fun to operate."
Bad Ideas:
Giving Trump the football. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O13kaQAg5KE http://www.vox.com/2016/8/3/12367996/donald-trump-nuclear-codes
Nuke Map! http://nuclearsecrecy.com/nukemap/
Personal Picks:
Andy’s: Soylent 2.0https://www.soylent.com/
Stephen’s: Sades A60 headset: http://amzn.to/2axdUDw
David’s: MSA Sordin Supreme BASIC with AUX Input and grey Leather-Band SOR75301 - Electronic Earmuff Defenders Hearing Protection http://amzn.to/2b5MQ0y
Acknowledgements:
Music: "Rocket and Pamgaea” by Kevin MacLeod (www.incompetech.com)