Comments on: Rating Agencies: Privilege Without Responsibility http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2009/07/rating-agencies-privilege-without-responsibility.html The Law, the Universe, and Everything Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:44:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Tamara Piety http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2009/07/rating-agencies-privilege-without-responsibility.html/comment-page-1#comment-64682 Tamara Piety Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:03:26 +0000 http://www.concurringopinions.com/?p=18288#comment-64682 Hear, Hear Frank! I have been arguing against the claim for First Amendment protection for this and other types of commercial speech for some time. But I think the case is particularly strong where there is, as here with the CRAs, governmental subsidies and such a profound impact on the economy as a whole. The irony of the analogy to editorials is that in the last few years, because of the economic pressure on new papers and media, we are more often finding "sponsored content" in the editorial pages that is not identified as such, that is, materials that have been prepared by a public relations firm and "placed" in the newspaper. This is a terrible breakdown of journalism ethics and imperils (or could imperil) the First Amendment protection for the newspaper. But it seems to me exactly the wrong approach to say that because the newspapers are more like advertising every day we should extend the First Amendment protection afforded to newspapers to real advertising (or other commercial speech, in the case the CRA). Hear, Hear Frank! I have been arguing against the claim for First Amendment protection for this and other types of commercial speech for some time. But I think the case is particularly strong where there is, as here with the CRAs, governmental subsidies and such a profound impact on the economy as a whole. The irony of the analogy to editorials is that in the last few years, because of the economic pressure on new papers and media, we are more often finding “sponsored content” in the editorial pages that is not identified as such, that is, materials that have been prepared by a public relations firm and “placed” in the newspaper. This is a terrible breakdown of journalism ethics and imperils (or could imperil) the First Amendment protection for the newspaper. But it seems to me exactly the wrong approach to say that because the newspapers are more like advertising every day we should extend the First Amendment protection afforded to newspapers to real advertising (or other commercial speech, in the case the CRA).

]]> By: Daniel S. Goldberg http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2009/07/rating-agencies-privilege-without-responsibility.html/comment-page-1#comment-64636 Daniel S. Goldberg Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:37:53 +0000 http://www.concurringopinions.com/?p=18288#comment-64636 IMO, the ratings agencies are far and away the most embarrassing thread of the entire financial brouhaha, and one that has to-date received far less critical attention than they have received. Outrageous bonuses make for great copy, but the outrage factor with the ratings agencies beats it by a fair margin, IMO. IMO, the ratings agencies are far and away the most embarrassing thread of the entire financial brouhaha, and one that has to-date received far less critical attention than they have received. Outrageous bonuses make for great copy, but the outrage factor with the ratings agencies beats it by a fair margin, IMO.

]]> By: jacksmith http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2009/07/rating-agencies-privilege-without-responsibility.html/comment-page-1#comment-64631 jacksmith Mon, 20 Jul 2009 01:12:03 +0000 http://www.concurringopinions.com/?p=18288#comment-64631 AMERICA’S NATIONAL HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY! It’s official. America and the World are now in a GLOBAL PANDEMIC. A World EPIDEMIC with potential catastrophic consequences for ALL of the American people. The first PANDEMIC in 41 years. And WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES will have to face this PANDEMIC with the 37th worst quality of healthcare in the developed World. STAND READY AMERICA TO SEIZE CONTROL OF YOUR NATIONAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. We spend over twice as much of our GDP on healthcare as any other country in the World. And Individual American spend about ten times as much out of pocket on healthcare as any other people in the World. All because of GREED! And the PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare system in America. And while all this is going on, some members of congress seem mostly concern about how to protect the corporate PROFITS! of our GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT NATIONAL DISGRACE. A PRIVATE FOR PROFIT DISGRACE that is in fact, totally valueless to the public health. And a detriment to national security, public safety, and the public health. Progressive democrats the Tri-Caucus and others should stand firm in their demand for a robust government-run public option for all Americans, with all of the minimum requirements progressive democrats demanded. If congress can not pass a robust public option with at least 51 votes and all robust minimum requirements, congress should immediately move to scrap healthcare reform and request that President Obama declare a state of NATIONAL HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY! Seizing and replacing all PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance plans with the immediate implementation of National Healthcare for all Americans under the provisions of HR676 (A Single-payer National Healthcare Plan For All). Coverage can begin immediately through our current medicare system. With immediate expansion through recruitment of displaced workers from the canceled private sector insurance industry. Funding can also begin immediately by substitution of payroll deductions for private insurance plans with payroll deductions for the national healthcare plan. This is what the vast majority of the American people want. And this is what all objective experts unanimously agree would be the best, and most cost effective for the American people and our economy. In Mexico on average people who received medical care for A-H1N1 (Swine Flu) with in 3 days survived. People who did not receive medical care until 7 days or more died. This has been the same results in the US. But 50 million Americans don’t even have any healthcare coverage. And at least 200 million of you with insurance could not get in to see your private insurance plans doctors in 2 or 3 days, even if your life depended on it. WHICH IT DOES! If President Obama has to declare a NATIONAL STATE OF EMERGENCY to rescue the American people from our healthcare crisis, he will need all the sustained support you can give him. STICK WITH HIM! He’s doing a brilliant job. THIS IS THE BIG ONE! THE BATTLE OF GOOD Vs EVIL! Join the fight. Contact congress and your representatives NOW! AND SPREAD THE WORD! (http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/publicoption) (http://www.actblue.com/page/healthcareheroes) God Bless You Jacksmith – WORKING CLASS AMERICA’S NATIONAL HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY!

It’s official. America and the World are now in a GLOBAL PANDEMIC. A World EPIDEMIC with potential catastrophic consequences for ALL of the American people. The first PANDEMIC in 41 years. And WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES will have to face this PANDEMIC with the 37th worst quality of healthcare in the developed World.

STAND READY AMERICA TO SEIZE CONTROL OF YOUR NATIONAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

We spend over twice as much of our GDP on healthcare as any other country in the World. And Individual American spend about ten times as much out of pocket on healthcare as any other people in the World. All because of GREED! And the PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare system in America.

And while all this is going on, some members of congress seem mostly concern about how to protect the corporate PROFITS! of our GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT NATIONAL DISGRACE. A PRIVATE FOR PROFIT DISGRACE that is in fact, totally valueless to the public health. And a detriment to national security, public safety, and the public health.

Progressive democrats the Tri-Caucus and others should stand firm in their demand for a robust government-run public option for all Americans, with all of the minimum requirements progressive democrats demanded. If congress can not pass a robust public option with at least 51 votes and all robust minimum requirements, congress should immediately move to scrap healthcare reform and request that President Obama declare a state of NATIONAL HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY! Seizing and replacing all PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance plans with the immediate implementation of National Healthcare for all Americans under the provisions of HR676 (A Single-payer National Healthcare Plan For All).

Coverage can begin immediately through our current medicare system. With immediate expansion through recruitment of displaced workers from the canceled private sector insurance industry. Funding can also begin immediately by substitution of payroll deductions for private insurance plans with payroll deductions for the national healthcare plan. This is what the vast majority of the American people want. And this is what all objective experts unanimously agree would be the best, and most cost effective for the American people and our economy.

In Mexico on average people who received medical care for A-H1N1 (Swine Flu) with in 3 days survived. People who did not receive medical care until 7 days or more died. This has been the same results in the US. But 50 million Americans don’t even have any healthcare coverage. And at least 200 million of you with insurance could not get in to see your private insurance plans doctors in 2 or 3 days, even if your life depended on it. WHICH IT DOES!

If President Obama has to declare a NATIONAL STATE OF EMERGENCY to rescue the American people from our healthcare crisis, he will need all the sustained support you can give him. STICK WITH HIM! He’s doing a brilliant job.

THIS IS THE BIG ONE!

THE BATTLE OF GOOD Vs EVIL!

Join the fight.

Contact congress and your representatives NOW! AND SPREAD THE WORD!

(http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/publicoption) (http://www.actblue.com/page/healthcareheroes)

God Bless You

Jacksmith – WORKING CLASS

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