...or at the top of the list of murders by handgun. I can tell you that Chicago doesn't lose its mind over this because white people aren't dying and the shootings aren't occurring in white, middle, upper-middle, and upper class neighborhoods. Despite its dubious claim to fame, Chicago doesn't lose its mind over handgun violence because blacks and Hispanics and gang members are doing all the shooting and the dying.

Chicago is just a microcosm of America.

LEFT: if you begin means testing, it's a slippery slope to the end of SS and Medicare

RIGHT: if you ban assault rifles, it's a slippery slope to taking all of our guns away

Overreactions? Both seemed to be saying, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." I guess Americans on both sides feel betrayed by their government and don't trust it to do the reasonable thing.

Me either. That is, until last week, when I heard him on the Tavis Smiley Show.

Today marks the first day of public school in the newly-inspired Innovation Concept Academy. The St. Louis community, and America-at-large, owes a lot to the courage of one man – Judge Jimmie Edwards. In less than six months, he has embarked on what others might say would be nearly impossible: 1) to assume ownership of a new community school that exists outside the lines of a public school, 2) to unite a diverse coalition of public and private interests together to enrich the learning environment, and 3) to lobby for real, no excuse community change for youth who need it the most.

From a political perspective, the Innovation Concept Academy hits on all five of the recommended steps on which now Governor Jay Nixon campaigned last year. His five points were: to invest in public school options using public-private partnerships, to recruit talented teachers to challenged districts, to reduce class size, to re-establish local community support, and to make sure that alternative schools are available and effective. The Academy seeks to challenge all of the obstacles facing those children who often get lost in the public school system without effective mentors, dedicated instructors, and guardian engagement.

This Tuesday, we accompanied Rex Sinquefield with Judge Jimmie Edwards on a walk-through of the Blewett school facility. We are excited to report that the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis will be partnering with the Academy to build a dedicated room to teach chess with its curriculum. It is our hope that students can improve their math, science, reading, and critical thinking skills using a life sport like chess in a variety of environments (for classroom instruction, after-school partnerships, supplemental learning, and as a means to connect to our greater community). If successful, such a model might provide a road map for urban progressives, mayors, governors, and civic patrons to do the same around the country.

In the coming months, Room 103 will transform itself with the opening fall classes into a dynamic place to learn the game of chess. Public school teachers, including educators as part of the AFT Local 420 Teacher’s Union have agreed to fill the classroom with ambitious goals of instruction (and smaller class size). The Metropolitan Police Department of the City of St. Louis are moving in a sub-station to assist the facility with mentoring and community needs. The community arms have even opened to accept other instructors from a wide variety of parish school environments. The manner by which so many organizations, from MERS Goodwill to local celebrities, have come together, can help pave the future of new school design.

http://www.pelopidas.com/philanthropy/brave-education-st-louis-public

Too bad Tavis Smiley doesn't have a larger platform so that more stories like these come to light. Maybe someday.

...in a cumulative span of 30 sound bites, while dozens of Democratic leaders and labor groups have been railing against Obama for weeks, pleading that he not to do this! and proliferating petitions stating "I'm against Obama," and making that message heard in the media.

This strategy strikes me as losing the war to win an imaginary battle.

Has your point of view won yet? Please let us know when to celebrate Obama's victory.

Since I told my boss to bite me and turned down the insurance (Oh, believe me, he was NOT happy about that!), the terror of losing my job should I get fired is mitigated by the fact that at least I'm not losing health insurance!!

Wooo hooo!!!! USA!!!

Employee contribution where I work is 16.8% of Gross Income. And for shits-and-giggles, 21.2% of what really matters: Take home pay!

I have no idea why I now feel good about that.

USA! USA! 21% of Take Home Pay!!!

The BEST!!!!

If you make between $11,505 to $46,021 you can buy subsidized private insurance in the state-based online marketplaces. If you make less than $15,302 you may qualify for Medicaid.

You may qualify for discounts to help pay for premiums if your income is from $15,302 to $46,021 for an individual and $31,155 to $93,700 for a family of four.

You can also find out if you qualify for extra subsidies to help with out-of-pocket costs or for government programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Plan.

http://obamacarefacts.com/obamacare-health-insurance-exchange.php

Woo hoo!! That's me! I'm employed but don't make $30K and can't afford my employer's health care. Had it last year when it was $76 per pay period. In 2013 my contribution went to $176 per pay period. I couldn't even work there if I signed up. Fortunately, nothing bad is going to happen to me this year and I can get my meds from Costco for cheap!

Woo hoo, living the American Dream!! USA, simply the BESTEST!!!!!

I just wonder...is it really gonna happen for me? I mean, it's going to be there, right? It won't be taken from me now, will it?

I guess I will support my president 100% if I get subsidized health insurance in 2014.

Most, if not all of us, like the man Barack Obama. How some react to his policy choices, however, is upsetting others and turning this place a cuckoo's nest at the moment.

Belief: I believe Barack Obama is a great man
Action: I'm angrily protesting Obama's disappointing policy

Within this group, some will neither change its belief nor its action as both can co-exist.

On the other hand, there are those, it appears, that simply find this an impossible stance (for it's never happened to them!) and are resorting to demonizing the others -- "You all just hate the man! You're all disgusting!"

Y'all must hope he'd just shut his mouth and go away by now. You've probably Nader'd him at this point.

Go Bernie!!!!!!!!!!