Things That Make Me Go Huh at 7:00 AM On a Sunday

 Should Nazi References Be Removed From a 6th Grade Production of The Sound of Music? 

The writer over at OnStage Blog makes good points about the Nazi and censorship issues

Where do we stand? This is a tricky issue, mainly because of the year we are in and how Nazi imagery and salutes are being popularized again, thanks to the rise of white nationalists and their increasing presence in today’s politics.

First, let’s note a few important things:

1)      The Sound of Music does not glorify Nazis; the Nazis are clearly the bad guys in the movie and stage production.

2)      This is a 6th-grade production, and we do, and should, treat productions by 6th graders differently than, say a high school, college, or Broadway production.

3)      The Sound of Music is based on a true story but takes many liberties with what happened to portray events in an entertaining way intended for general audiences.

What I am having trouble wrapping my head around is: what kind of elementary school has the talent and budget and facility  to put on The Sound of Music? All the more power to them. I cannot imagine any school around here doing the same.

Biden, McCarthy reach ‘agreement in principle’ to raise debt ceiling as default looms leaves me wondering why Congress - and I mean the institution regardless of which party has the majority - cannot pass a budget. It is their job. I think Congress as a legislative body is broken, it does not know how to put together legislation, which requires persuasion rather than terroristic tactic.

I keep hearing the phrase "performative politics." Sounds something a sociologist or a bright political scientist came up with. Here my conservatism shows through, I think it is an anodyne phrase that hides a real problem. I prefer the old-fashioned "grandstanding."

Grandstanding means behaving in a way that makes people pay attention to you instead of thinking about more important matters.

But Americans eat it up nowadays. I suppose it has to do with our wanting to be entertained more than doing. Which may explain why Biden is getting such a low polling numbers - he is not grandstanding for the thumbsuckers.

 First month of Medicaid ‘unwinding’ boots nearly 53K Hoosiers from coverage 

That is like wiping Muncie or Anderson off of the map. 

A fraction of those removed were determined to be ineligible – 6,089 Hoosiers – while the vast majority, 46,896, were removed for procedural reasons. The redetermination process – known as the “unwinding” – will repeat every month until April 2024. 

A previous estimate was that between 300,000-400,000 Hoosiers could lose their coverage over the entire period.

The Hoosiers who lost coverage due to procedural reasons can complete their renewal application within the next 90 days and receive retroactive coverage – unless they were members of the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) 2.0, which doesn’t allow for retroactive coverage.

FSSA leaders indicated that they believed some Hoosiers would ultimately regain their coverage, but didn’t have any estimates.

I better keep an eye on my mail. Most of my life has been without medical insurance, now I need it. 

But what does this say about the prosperity of Indiana? 

Speaking of grandstanding and grandstanders, Hoosiers have a prime example in Todd Rokita. He flopped this week, Indiana Medical Licensing Board rules Bernard violated patient privacy laws. 

The licensing board deemed Bernard did not improperly report child abuse, however, and is fit to practice medicine. 

Ultimately she was given a reprimand and fined $3,000 — the maximum of $1,000 per count.

“It’s somebody’s job, and somebody didn’t do it, but I’m not blaming Dr. Bernard,” said Dr. John Strobel, board president, of how the child was allowed to return home to the perpetrator.

Bernard appeared in front of board members for more than 14 hours before they decided the doctor did violate some professional standards. In contention was a complaint against the doctor filed by Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, who tweeted along with the hearing throughout the day but didn’t attend.

The case garnered nationwide attention and has drawn fear from health care practitioners and advocates who say it could have a chilling effect for abortion care providers.

The state sought a suspension of Bernard’s medical license. The board declined to take action affecting Bernard’s ability to practice, though. She had never been disciplined by the board before Thursday.

 We always had a few loose cannons running around, I am thinking of you Dan Burton, but Rokita seems a special case. His ambitions seem larger than Burton's.

Well, it is 8:35 and I need to do laundry.

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