Larry talks with philosopher and activist Cornel West. Later, Karen Armstrong joins him to discuss her new book, "The Case for God". Plus the latest news.
Funding health reform: tax the rich or what?
Should high-end insurance plans be taxed to pay for health care overhaul? That's the question the Senate Finance committee debates as they prepare to bring a bill to the Senate floor. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the 40% 'Cadillac tax' and other measures in the draft legislation would more than make up for the plan's $829 billion cost. Has deadlock finally been broken?
Guests:
Eamon Javers, Financial Correspondent for POLITICO
Brother West is in the house
Author Cornel West is one of America’s most provocative and admired public intellectuals. In his new memoir, the philosopher, activist and self-described bluesman explores “the inner dynamics” of his own soul. West joins Larry in studio to talk about "Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud."
Guest:
Cornel West, author of "Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud" and Professor of Religion and African American studies at Princeton University
Tropical deforestation report
A report by the Commission on Climate and Tropical Forests says that U.S. companies would be more effective to stop deforestation in developing countries instead of reducing domestic carbon dioxide emissions. Tropical deforestation accounts for 17% of global greenhouse gas emissions. According to the report, if American businesses invest $9 billion by 2020 to preserve tropical forests, they would save $50 billion that would have gone towards equal reductions domestically. Is this a more effective approach? Larry discusses the details of the report.
Guests:
Margot Roosevelt, Los Angeles Times reporter
Louis Blumberg, Director of California Forest and Climate Policy for The Nature Conservancy
Elizabeth Bast, International Programs Director, Friends of the Earth
The case for God
Believing in God may be difficult, but thinking and talking about Him/Her/It? - should be easy, right? Think again, writes Karen Armstrong in "The Case for God." Battling both hardcore atheism and fundamentalist believers' literal interpretation of scripture, Armstrong sets out in search of Augustine's elusive God, not the personified "He" who comes to bless our nations and picnics.
Guest:
Karen Armstrong, author of "The Case for God" and "A History of God"