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Thom's blog
Does the Economy Serve Us or Them?
Let’s talk about the destruction of the American economy – mergers and acquisitions style. As The New York Times points out, back in 1994, Massachusetts allowed its two most prestigious hospitals – Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women’s Hospital – to merge. The two hospitals came together to form Partners HealthCare, and according to investigations by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office, that merger meant healthcare started to get really expensive for the people of Massachusetts. The merger gave the two hospitals incredible market power, allowing them to drive up healthcare costs in the Boston area.
Today, Partners HealthCare is the largest healthcare provider system in Massachusetts, with over 6,000 doctors and 2,800 beds across its various medical centers and hospitals. And it’s looking to get bigger and more powerful. An investigation by the Massachusetts state legislature found that Partners HealthCare’s plan to acquire South Shore Hospital outside of Boston would drive up total healthcare spending in the region even higher, by up to $26 million per year and maybe more.
Because when you own a market, when you're close to having a monopoly, you can charge whatever you want. People have very limited choices about anyplace else to go. The situation that the people of Massachusetts are facing with Partners HealthCare is the perfect example of how destructive market-dominating corporations can be to our economy and the marketplace.
Basically, in order for an economy and marketplace to work for everyone, there have to be rules in place that facilitate competition, because competition is essential in a free market economy. You can’t have virtual monopolies in commerce. It’s that simple. But ever since Reagan came to Washington and stopped enforcing the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, it’s been the same old story: Big companies buying out little companies, merging with other big companies, and forming giant corporate powers.
-Thom
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Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 7pm and 10pm... Where's the Outrage About Big Money? (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT or Free Speech TV, and catch past shows on Youtube)
Have a question or comment for Thom? Grab your phone, hit record and send your video to YourTakeMyTake@gmail.com and we may air it on "The Big Picture."
Need to Know: Where's the Outrage About Big Money?- America's Lawyer, Mike Papantonio 
The Best of the Rest... Anti-Pot Group Funded by Oxycontin?
Daily Take: Does the Economy Serve Us or Them?
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Tuesday's Daily Stack 
Hour One: Are Mitt Romney and Ted Cruz both Messiahs?
Hour Two: Where's the Public Outrage about Big Money in Politics?- America's Lawyer, Mike Papantonio
Article: " Hops" by Wikipedia.
Hour Three: Nixon's darkest crime- Robert Parry, Consortium News
Quote: "I am not a member of any organized party — I am a Democrat" - Will Rogers".
Labor News:
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Wednesday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 12-3pm ET
The Rev. Bill Keller joins Thom to talk about his challenge to terror leader al-Baghdadi to a modern day 'Mt. Carmel' showdown
Plus, Lee Fang tells us the real reason pot is still illegal
And, the best of the rest of the news along with your calls right here on...
The Thom Hartmann Program, Occupying The Media 3 hours a day 5 days a week" for "we the people"
And don't forget...Democracy is NOT a spectator sport...it begins with you...
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Thom's Poll
Will it take more public outrage to get money out of politics?
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Watch & Listen to Thom
Watch the Full "Big Picture" Show...
Full Show 7/7/14: If It's Sunday, It's Meet the Republicans
Thom discusses how the mainstream media is dropping the ball on the current immigration crisis with Conservative Commentator David Laska, Maine Tea Party Governor Paul LePage's connections with far-right militia groups with Journalist and Author Mike Tipping and the effect the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision is having on Latina women with Kimberly Inez McGuire of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. In tonight's "Daily Take" Thom discusses how to save West Virginia.
Nixon Criminalized Pot to Kill the SDS
Nixon's Darkest Crime...
The Thom Hartmann Program - July 8, 2014
Are Mitt Romney and Ted Cruz both Messiahs?
Thom Hartmann on Economic & Labor News: July 7, 2014
Making Cigarettes More Addictive
What is a Sweat Lodge Ceremony?
Caller: Companies Wouldn't Really Pay for Birth Control
Caller: Immigrants Have no Respect for our Borders
Caller: Corporations Have Become Super Creatures
What West Virginia can learn from Sarah Palin
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Show Info
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Thom and Louise Hartmann founded the New England Salem Children's Village (NESCV) in New Hampshire in 1979. With states delaying payment for the children they entrust to the village, they need help with cash flow. Can you help? Now on Facebook. |
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