What is your state's best "alternative" paper/blog?

[dixiegrrrrl]

fer instance, The Stranger in Seattle is a very good local paper.
And some of us know Juanita Jean from ..is it Dallas????
During Palin's dog and pony show, we learned about the Mudflats.

So, who do ya like?

[KansDem]

1. "Tallgrass Activist"

About This Blog

This blog is mostly about health care reform in the United States. I say mostly because meaningful health care reform necessitates government action and, consequently, public funding. For that reason, overhauling a palpably shameful U.S. health care system cannot be separated from the folly of unnecessary wars, bank bailouts, interest payment on the Federal debt, and myriad other fiscally-related policies that deplete the national treasury. Furthermore, achieving fairness in governance requires a legislative mentality oriented toward meeting basic human needs of constituents as opposed to a mentality of service to the well-heeled and powerful interests represented by K-Street.

Every part of the U.S. system of government depends on the treasury, which of late has been severely depleted – in fact seriously placed in the red – by the growth of irresponsible financial activities and the inability of government to regulate on citizens’ behalf due to dismantling of mechanisms for protecting investors and the public in general. In addition, health and well-being is dependent on more than medical services. The ecology of poor citizens in deteriorating inner city neighborhoods and economically depressed rural areas is associated with poor health – even for those residents with access to health care. Life amongst deteriorating and abandoned housing in jobless, crime-ridden, neighborhoods lacking even the most basic services and a minimal quality of education, in itself harms mental and physical health. Although I don’t expect any compassion from the Republican Party in this regard, the silence of the Democratic Party is deafening.

As a Democrat of the traditional, FDR, New Deal, Great Society mold, I am far more concerned about representatives of my own party who, under the influence of K-Street and a misguided submission to invalid polling data, become stingy with our tax monies when it involves programs for the people, e.g., health care, but become magnanimous when the interests of defense, pharmaceutical, insurance, and finance corporations are at stake.

It is hypocritical and shameful to legislate on behalf of the rich and powerful while ignoring the needs of the poor and working classes. As I indicated, I expect that behavior from the Republican Party, but I am appalled and ashamed when Democrats engage in it. Given the extent of attention by legislators of both parties to the interests of the wealthy class at the expense of the rest of society, there is no doubt that a “Gilded Age” is still in full bloom. How else can an infant mortality rate of 6.6 per thousand, the worst amongst industrialized nations (with double that rate in the African American community), be explained?

As a Democrat, I believe that the Democratic rank and file must demand a change in behavior by many of the representatives of our party. As of the date of this writing, a feeble attempt at health care reform in the form of passage of HR 3962, The Affordable Health Care for Americans Act, is a week old. A health care system based on this legislation will drive tens of millions of the currently uninsured into the arms of the for-profit insurance industry, which as shown little inclination to control costs. A very weak, underfunded, disadvantaged, public entity will compete with insurance conglomerates in a so called “Health Insurance Exchange.”

--more--
http://tallgrassactivist.wordpress.com/

[HopeHoops]

2. We don't have one. We've got "music scene" rags, but no "Village Voice" type stuff.