James Ridgeway

In 1965, James Ridgeway helped launch the modern muckraking era by revealing that General Motors had hired private eyes to spy on an obscure consumer advocate named Ralph Nader. He worked for many years at the Village Voice, has written 16 books, and has codirected Blood in the Face, a film about the far right. In 2012, he was named a Soros Justice Media Fellow.

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The White House's Bad Drug Deal

—By James Ridgeway

| Fri Aug. 7, 2009 10:52 AM PDT

Obama’s sellout on health care is hardly any secret, but this week's news of an outright backroom deal guaranteeing drug makers control over pricing is one for the history books. Even the Republicans didn’t lay down for big business quite like this.

As it now stands, there is no control over drug pricing in the US (save for a gesture in that direction under the Medicare Part D prescription drug insurance plan for the elderly). The system allows drug firms to set prices for prescription drugs under Medicare, in what amount to sweetheart deals with private insurance companies. Because drug pricing and insurance costs are set—basically at will—by these two industries, critics have demanded the government step in and set prices. Those demands haven’t gone anywhere, but never has there been an explicit announcement from on high about the arrangement. It’s always been just another one of Washington’s dirty little secrets.

[Read more in the MoJo blog]

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The APA Nixes "Ex-Gay Therapy": A Win for the Religious Right?

—By James Ridgeway

| Fri Aug. 7, 2009 7:03 AM PDT

On Wednesday, the American Psychological Association made headlines by repudiating gay-to-straight therapy. In a report, the APA found that not only is there no evidence that the practice actually works, but it can also lead to depression and suicidal tendencies. Considering that so-called "reparative therapy" has been enthusiastically championed by the religious right, you might be surprised to learn that they're touting the report as a major victory.

Confused? Here's what happened. In addition to instructing members not to seek to change a patient's sexual orientation via therapy, the APA also issued additional guidelines advising therapists how to deal with a patient struggling with their sexual identity. And these guidelines explicitly state that it may sometimes be appropriate for a therapist to help a client deny his sexual orientation because of his faith.

[Read more in the MoJo blog]

Gov't Health Care Kills Granny Dead!

The conservative strategy to derail Obama’s reform plan sounds crazy—but it just might work.

—By James Ridgeway

| Thu Aug. 6, 2009 4:05 AM PDT

Republicans have come up with a counteroffensive to President Obama's health care plan, and it can be summed up in one handy code word: rationing. From the GOP establishment to the fringes of right-wing radio, the conservative movement hopes to derail reform with the notion that Obama secretly plans to deny treatment to your grandmother—in order to free up cash for a socialized health care system. It sounds ludicrous. But it could have a broader and more potent appeal than you might think.

[Read the full article]

Business As Usual

—By James Ridgeway

| Wed Aug. 5, 2009 5:53 AM PDT

Among the feverish press reports of imminent economic recovery, there are two telling signs that it’s business as usual on Wall Street.

First comes the Treasury’s report Tuesday that less than 10 percent of borrowers eligible for loan restructuring under Obama’s program to stave off foreclosure have received any help.

Why? According to the Washington Post, the big banks just won’t budge:

[Read more in the MoJo blog]

Health Care: The Key To A GOP Comeback?

—By James Ridgeway

| Tue Aug. 4, 2009 5:19 AM PDT

With polls showing the Republicans on the rebound, and with conservatives driving to win state governorships this fall and cut Democratic majorities in Congress in next year’s midterm elections, the stakes of the health care fight just got higher. If Obama can’t win a little something in the health insurance battle, he’ll be portrayed as a flop by the GOP in the midst of an election season. But if he wins even a token victory, right-wing attack dogs can pick apart the details of the final plan—or simply paint him as a socialist with a secret plan to "kill Granny” by rationing health care. Tuesday’s Washington Times lays out the opportunity for Republicans:

[Read more in the MoJo blog]