I think Mr. Krugman won the prize in economics this year, not the peace prize. Interesting idea about Clinton and Bush, though I personally think the prize should be used more to highlight the work less prominent people.

I was moved that Clinton and Bush are working together, to help resolve the health crisis we live today. However, In view of our issues I wish the focus was in our country first. As on the airplanes when we need oxygen you are told to make sure you have your mask on first and then help anyone else who may require your attention. It’s our money, our research and our country..please someone focus on our children and families and then as we become strong again, we can help others. Right now we are so wounded our bodies, minds, and souls…need all the nourishment we can obtain for ourselves first. Then our mission as usual the rest of the world… Dorothy from grammology http://grammology.com

Liz, you are spot on! I agree 100% What these two men have done to change the face of health care for our most needy of sisters and brothers all over the globe should be applauded.

I agree that presidents Clinton & Bush 1 deserve credit for their unflagging efforts to turn the tables on the health crises. But I’d reserve such distinguished honors for those who get down into the trenches. Some of the biotechnology researchers at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital who are seeking life-saving & life-advancing cures for children, and those who are working to turn back the tide of AIDS and other diseases/plagues. And others who are trying to bring peace rather than make war. Jimmy Carter’s fine work for Habitat for Humanity was just as noble (or Nobel). He got down and dirty, helping to build the homes himself! I wasn’t fond of some of his supposedly anti-Semitic remarks, but that’s a different subject area.

Serendipity! My thirty-one-year-old daughter called this week to tell me I would win a Nobel Prize. My piece on Chopin had brought her to tears and she was just sobbing…”you taught me so much…” !! Praise from the progeny is better than any prize, as far as I’m concerned. I’m embarassed to confess, however, that the name Paul Krugman doesn’t ring a bell. So obviously, I’m not quite as bright as my daughter would have me believe. Good thing I’m not dead yet. Time to start reading the Times, I guess.

Paul Krugman pointed out that if you make lots of loans to people who you know can’t pay them back, pass laws that let banks both make loans AND invest (take risk) at the same time & pass laws that separate risk from the responsibility for the risk, all the while not prosecuting any of these players for fraud—it will eventually cause a financial crisis that goes around the world (except it doesn’t affect Islamic banks who use common sense when they invest & don’t buy the bad investments). This is hardly genius. They gave him the Nobel Prize to make a point about the US single-handedly causing this world wide crisis. It’s a very good point which is lost on most here in the US. As far as Clinton & Bush working together—rather than travel around the world together on a vacation—if this new unholy alliance were really serious about doing something to help people’s health they’d get big biz to cough up some money (perhaps oil companies & their record breaking billions in profit) (or wall street with THEIR record breaking billion in profit)—or donate some of their own. Little kids sell lemonade to raise money for good causes because they don’t have any money of their own to give. Not so with richie rich Clinton & Bush.