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Thom's blog
Rebuild the Social Safety Net
There are two important reasons to have a strong social safety net, one based in sound economic policy and the other in our common humanity. So it’s no surprise that the countries that have strong social safety nets tend to have resilient economies and a higher quality of life.
Ultimately, social safety nets are about managing risk and unforeseen contingencies. On the one hand, there are the risks that we want people to take, such as starting a new business. On the other hand, there are unforeseen events that are so severe – like becoming paralyzed in an accident – that no one person (unless incredibly wealthy) could handle the expenses associated with them. In both cases, by setting up a social safety net which distributes the costs of responding to them across the wide spectrum of society, we minimize both the societal cost and the individual suffering.
The United States is the only one of the 33 acknowledged “developed” nations in the world not to have universal health care. The United States is being hammered in the area of innovation by countries that have stronger social safety nets.
Learn more about how the US ranks in the world and how lack of a safety net causes entrepreneurs major worries and how we can fix it in chapter five, "Medicare “Part E” – For Everybody" of " Rebooting the American Dream".
-Thom
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Thom and Louise Hartmann founded the New England Salem Children's Village in New Hampshire in 1979. With states delaying payment for the children they entrust to the village, they need help with cash flow urgently. Please help if you can. |
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 "If you're looking for something that connects the dots between the BP oil disaster, the harm it's done to the Gulf of Mexico and the people paying the price, this book is it. In a clear and compelling voice, it explains the worst environmental catastrophe of our time, then shows the way forward to protect this national treasure, safeguard our future and break our destructive addiction to oil." |
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The Daily Stack 
Quote: "When asked by an anthropologist what the Indians called America before the white man came, an Indian said simply, 'Ours'." -- Vine Deloria, Jr. (American Indian author/activist).
Today is Columbus Day.
Grass roots activism...how to have fun and make a difference OR State Rep Jefferson Smith, founder of the Oregon Bus Project for hands on democracy, will be here.
Hour Two: "The Roots of Obama's Rage" Thom confronts conservative author Dinesh D'Souza, new President of The King's College in New York City; former White House policy analyst (Reagan Administration), about his controversial new book.
Hour Three: A Columbus Day Meditation - As Nobel Laureate Obama Decides Whether to 'Conquer' Afghanistan....
What you need to know about Sharon Angle and why she's the "Wrong Angle" for America Thom talks with Angel Kennedy, R.N. & Donna Smith, members of the Nurse's Union.
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Coming up Tuesday on The Thom Hartmann Program
Hour Two: You've heard about the Obion, TN home that burned killing 4 family pets while firefighters watched... over an unpaid $75 service fee... Should the "private" fire department be sued for allowing the pets to die? Thom confronts Don Watkins of the Ayn Rand Institute.
Are we on the brink of a global food crisis? Thom speaks with Australian Science Journalist Julian Cribb about his new book and the reality of global food shortages.
And, the best of the rest of the news and your calls right here on...
The Thom Hartmann Program... your media support group for we the people.
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Watch & Listen to Thom
Melanie Sloan - Why would tea party followers embrace a criminal?
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Show Info
Call Thom on the show at 1-866-987-THOM (8466) (0870 974 9686 from the UK, +1 503 796 2324 from outside the US or UK).
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