City Invincible

“Eds and meds” are the two biggest sectors touted as urban revitalizers. It seems to make sense because both schools and hospitals provide well paying jobs. Yet while hospitals are providing decent jobs for some, they’re leaving most people with high bills and sub-standard care. What we truly need to revitalize our cities is universal healthcare.

We’ll have to wait in line, care will be worse, or it’ll cost too much are common arguments against universal healthcare. However, according to a recent Reuters article, “Americans get the poorest health care and yet pay the most compared to five other rich countries.”

For example, Americans spend twice what Germans do–$6,102 per capita vs. $3,005 per capita–and receive poorer service. Additionally, we leave 45 million Americans uninsured, which means they don’t receive preventative care thus raising long-term costs.

All the money we’re spending for healthcare isn’t going towards the latest technology to keep us safe. Our doctors are, “the least wired, with the lowest percentage using electronic medical records or receiving electronic updates on recommended treatments.”

Maryland governor, Martin O’Malley, signed a bill yesterday mandating a living wage for all workers of companies with government contracts valued over $100,000. The bill requires that workers in urban areas to be paid at least $11.30 and hour and workers in rural areas be paid at least $8.50 per hour. Both wage rates will be adjusted annually for inflation.

This is a boost for the living wage movement’s goal to create equitable communities. Let’s hope more states follow Maryland’s example.

Source: Relentlessly Progressive Economics

Despite growing evidence that questions the validity of “normal” lie detectors, the UK is considering using lie detecting software to catch welfare cheats over the phone.

Luckily, there’s sharp criticism coming from welfare advocates. “If people know that their voices are to be analyzed for every blip and tremor, the danger is that genuine claimants will be intimidated into withdrawing their claims, or will have to wait ages for their money while they provide extra evidence.”

Source: IT Week