Jim Hightower's daily 1 minute commentaries:

[AP]

Does everyone know about these? They're pretty good. Yesterday's about the Dep't of Homeland Security using its letterhead to sell flood insurance for Bush's second most favorite industry is really interesting:

http://www.jimhightower.com/air/archive.asp

Isn't it good to know that the humongous department of homeland security is so wisely spending our tax dollars to defend us from terrorists?

Take, for example, the slick mass mailing recently put out by DHS urging America's homeowners to buy flood insurance. Yes, flood insurance. In the midst of various color-coded warnings about imminent terrorist attacks on America, our homeland security authorities are spending their time and our money to hawk flood policies on behalf of giant insurance corporations!

In a breathless and alarmist letter mailed to thousands of people, including my friend Susan, Mr. Michael Brown, purporting to be the Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response, warns in bold type that "Floods can happen anywhere." In a scary, red-tag warning on the envelope, Under Secretary Brown direly informs us that "Homeowners insurance doesn't cover you for America's #1 natural disaster." So, in his letter, this homeland czarist shrieks in blood-red type: "Don't Delay! Get Flood Insurance Today." Ever so helpfully, he even provides the name and number of "selected agents" in your area who sell these insurance policies, urging you to "Call your agent."

http://www.jimhightower.com/air/read.asp?id=11483

[muchacho]

1. Texas hero

Always good to hear from Jim.

[OneTwentyoNine]

2. My dad gets his newsletter,which I read later....

There all good,he used to do that minute on Malloy's old show.

David

[AP]

3. Call your local NPR affiliates and ask them to carry this if they don't

already. Tell them to put it in during Morning Edition.

[OneTwentyoNine]

4. Hmmm,AFAIK flood insurance can only be bought through FEMA

Thats the way it is around here,you only get flood insurance through the Federal Government. Most people idiotically think it covers everything when a flood occurs,couches,TV,Stereo etc...

Wrong,it basically only covers structural stuff,probably wet sheetrock,wet outlets etc...

David

[AP]

5. Here's where privatizers come in (or, "everything that's wrong with gov"):

6. What is the NFIP's Write Your Own (WYO) program?
The Write Your Own (WYO) Program, begun in 1983, is a cooperative undertaking of the insurance industry and FEMA. The WYO Program allows participating property and casualty insurance companies to write and service the Standard Flood Insurance Policy in their own names. The companies receive an expense allowance for policies written and claims processed while the Federal Government retains responsibility for underwriting losses. The WYO Program operates within the context of the NFIP, and is subject to its rules and regulations.

The goals of the WYO Program are:

Increase the NFIP policy base and the geographic distribution of policies;
Improve service to NFIP policyholders through the infusion of insurance industry knowledge; and

Provide the insurance industry with direct operating experience with flood insurance.

Currently, about about 100 insurance companies write flood insurance with FEMA.

http://www.fema.gov/nfip/intnfip.shtm

I'm reading throught this quickly, but it looks like you buy the policy from a private insurer and you have to hope that your community is following FEMA guidlines (reducing the risk of flooding). If they don't, then you have to pay $50 more for your policy. So, basically, you're hoping that the Republicans running your town are taking steps so that private insurance companies don't make more money. Yeah. Good luck with that one.

[dumpster_baby]

6. Pacifica Radio has him a minute daily--they need to give him 4 hours daily

THat is the fucking problem with pacifica radio--all FUCKING MUSIC and Lame ass artsy fartsy stuff, when they should be going to talk radio all day with Hightower and Malloy.

[AP]

7. And rather than the "War & Peace Report" I wish they'd give me an hour of

the "Anti-Fascist Report" or "Fight the Corporatocracy" or "Why FDR was Right about Building up the Middle Class."

I get Iraq 24-7 from everyone else. I know they feel like they have to counterspin it, but when you're spinning and counterspinning war all day, you sort of help the Repubicans keep the focus on Iraq, and you're missing the real stories, which are in, for example, these Hightower Reports (if you ask me).

[randr]

8. Interesting Hightower anecdote

Several years ago I stepped in as interim manager our local community radio station. I contracted with Mr. Hightower and started airing the commentaries immediately. After the first day we received several angry letters--from liberal leftist leaning listeners. They had responded negatively, in a knee jerk manner, to Jim's' accent. They had judged the content merely on the fact the Mr. Hightower sounds like a Texan.
I offer this as an example of how all of us, left and right , may at times react before all the facts are in the open.
It took a few days before these objectors to Hightower came forward and ate their crow.
To this day Jim Hightower can be heard at 8am and 7pm every day at KVNF/KVMT throughout Western Colorado.

[AP]

10. I like that anecdote.

An aside: listeners to my NPR affiliate did the same thing with Tavis Smiley. Withhout listening to what he was saying, they complained that they didn't like the sound of his voice.

Assholes.

[lostnfound]

9. Kick for Jim nt