Current Events

1. The Oregonian yesterday led with the shocking story that an organization has found that cutting Medicaid will make health care even worse for the poor. Really? Taking away money from the healthcare program for the poor results in less coverage for the poor? Weird. I thought the prescription drug benefit was supposed to solve that. Also about health care, be prepared for a market-based solution to our health care ills in Dubya's State of The Union Address.

2. In Nepal, a king who's in charge by a coup, is trying to have elections but the people are refusing. Which seems alogical, but I guess the vote is mostly for show since half the country is controlled by Maoist rebels. A situation I can't really relate to.

3. In Vietnam workers went on strike in Ho Chi Minh City. The end result was the government increasing the minimum wage in all foreign- owned factories. Maybe my inner socialist is getting the better of me, but this seems like a huge deal to me. International laborers unite!!! I find it interesting that the European Chamber of Commerce reminded the Vietnamese Prime Minister that they put up shop there because, "the workforce is not prone to action." Wasn't prone to action will hopefully be the more accurate statement soon...