ICT - Opinion

Russell: Hate speech without hate

I’ve been accused of making odd connections between events and maybe this is one. When a Republican congressman shouted “You lie!” at President Barack Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress on health care last year, most people just thought he was rude. I was reminded of the motto reporters privately attribute to the Texas Legislature, “vote conservative – party liberal.” The motto represents rank hypocrisy. The Legislature meets once every two years, when the street price of cocaine and the services of professional ladies go up, demand suddenly overtaking supply. Or so it used to be.

Trahant: Growing the budget during tough times

President Barack Obama answered an important philosophical question last week: How will the federal government fully fund a starved Indian health system?

Roberts: Tax filers beware: Rapid refunds are costly

Tax season is once again upon us and predatory lenders are looking to take your hard-earned tax refund. Refund anticipation loans (RALs) or “rapid refund” tax loans are widely advertised by predatory tax preparers as a quick and easy way to access tax refunds.

Wennersten: There’s something in the water

Scientists now tell us there is something in our waters that we least expected.

Trahant: Transparency as a tool for reform

Paul Levy’s Running A Hospital “is a blog started by a CEO of a large Boston hospital to share thoughts about hospitals, medicine and health care issues.” The postings started as a lark. But when the president and CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center writes openly, it sends a message that filters down throughout the system. Other hospital professionals started blogs and more hospital data was posted in real time making transparency a core value.

Promoting assertive communication in the Native workplace

One of the most notable characteristics identified in Native Americans is a passive communication style. We are often seen as quiet, shy and reserved when it comes to making our thoughts, feelings and interests known and although it may not apply to all Native Americans, we all experience times of insecurity or self-consciousness about speaking our mind. As employees in general (Native or not) we can all benefit by learning to improve our communication skills and practice more effective ways to speak and communicate on our own behalf.

If I only had a brain

I have been researching chemo brain and I came across this in the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing (Vol. 9, No. 6): “ADHD share many similarities with chemo brain.” Chemo brain, is a side-effect known as cognitive dysfunction caused by chemotherapy treatments, “… include(s) frequent failure to pay close attention to details; repeated careless mistakes; difficulty sustaining attention and listening; failure to follow through on instructions; failure to complete school work, chores, or duties; problems organizing tasks; distractibility; and forgetfulness.” This all makes perfect sense to a problem that makes no sense.

Martin: Congress should study Cobell settlement before approving it

If you are anything like me, you breathed a sigh of relief when the news broke last month that the Cobell case had been settled.

Trahant: The new currency: Transparency

Perhaps one reason why the massive health care reform legislation is in so much trouble is that few people understand the details. The bill is massive, complicated, packed with official government jargon and so many specifics were kicked forward to regulators at some future point (such as figuring out the real Medicare cost reductions or definitions of basic terms such as “quality”). On top of that, there was confusion about the nuts and bolts of what program was in, and what was out. Essentially it was a secret process, except when there were leaks over specific proposals.

Trimble: Cobell offers lessons for Black Hills settlement

Lakota activist Bill Means got it right on when he wrote: “Only in America if you steal something and hold onto it long enough does it become yours.” He was referring to the Indian trust funds settlement, or as it is often called, the Cobell settlement.