Silence Isn't Golden: Keep Demanding Healthcare. Loudly.
I spent a lot of time thinking about the metrics behind the article last week that Obama was upset at Democratic activists fighting for the public option. And there were two things that occurred to me: 1) first and foremost, any lede generated via Ceci Connolly should be taken with a grain of salt; and 2) we're getting under the skin of the congresscritters and making them very uncomfortable.
Think about it.
Here's the scenario as I see it: some moderate Democratic congressperson who has been trying to placate the special interests in their district--be it health insurance companies or lobbyists--complains to Obama that the calls they've been fielding are just not nice--after all, a huge majority of Americans want minimally a public option and are getting pretty testy at the corporatist response of the Dems. Obama pats the congressperson on the shoulder and commiserates, "Yes, I wish you didn't have to deal with those calls," without really addressing the substance of the calls. Constituents being nasty on the phone are a pain to deal with, even if their complaints are completely valid. That congressperson (or his/her aides) go running to the very eager Ceci Connolly to spin it that Obama wishes that these activists would leave the Beltway Bubble residents alone and voila! We have an article that claims Obama is irked by those pushing for Universal Health Care.
So what should our response be? I know what MoveOn, SEIU and Change Congress/PCCC have no intentions of cutting their ad buys pushing for a vibrant public option. Nor does Blue America. And you shouldn't stop demanding it either.
Courtesy of Lee Stranahan:
As inspiring as it was to watch Iranian citizens risk their lives and use new media like Twitter and YouTube to fight for better lives for themselves, it was also impossible not to have a sense that of self-consciousness about how lax and lazy we are in America about our own lives and political system. We’re not afraid of getting shot for expressing our opinions - we just have other stuff to do.
That’s exactly how the corporate owned media and lobbyist funded politicians want it, of course. They don’t actually want us too involved in the political system on issues. If we all have a general sense of helplessness and cynicism, we won’t bother to make phone calls to politicians…even on an issue as vital as health care.[..]
All of this hit me last week and I decided to do something about it. In the course of about seven days, I made 10 short videos about health care reform. I wasn’t hired to do it, I wasn’t asked to do it. I just did it because the issue is important to me personally, to my family and to my country. And I did it because I could.
More videos here.
Don't stop demanding that Washington listen to us. We ARE having an impact, even if they don't want us to know we are. We will not get what we want by remaining silent.
350 new lobbyists hired, all former aides and congressmen, $1.4M a day being spent to fight the American people. We must be doing something right.
spent by HMOs, Ins Co, and Big Pharma to keep the 'public option' out. Call Congress...1.800.828.0498---tell them to do their job...and not the lobbyists bidding!
include the bribes, errr, donations?
The sphere of influence here....(newsflash...we aren't in it):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/...
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
the sqeaky wheel until we get real healthcare reform.
I think it was Grassly who said if you want health insurance get elected into the government. How's that for burning your candle at both ends?
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
...is for good people to do nothing about it. That applies here.
We should be literally in the streets over this shit.
Where the fuck is everyone?
oh yeah...glued to the goddamn teevee.
stepped up their campaign against it as well.
It's not about need to them. It's about greed.
We're nothing more that a checking account to them.
Just remember, denied claims.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
makes me ponder the moral fiber of the 350 hired to basically make life miserable for their fellow American.How do they look in the mirror and even like themselves? I couldn't do it.
I think about that too. Could they walk by a sick person on the street and tell them they could help them, but they won't.
Someone said on one show over the weekend, should we provide everyone with a car and a home too? The comparison showed just how cold their heart was. Money before health for our fellow man should be an embarrassment for this country.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Today I went to apply for a new, electronic passport (now required in EU just like in USA).
First stop Police Station, where I waited in a long line until the Passport section opened. When I get to the window, the gov. worker (behind a plexiglass window) gives me the instructions.
1. Go to Tobacco shop a buy a Marco di Bollo (stamp for the passport - 50 Euros).
2. Walk five blocks to the Central Post Office. Take a number. Wait one hour until it's called. Tell that lady you want to pay the passport tax to the Finance Dept -- 44 Euros. She gives me a form to fill out. I have trouble with the form. I ask for help. She tells another lady to help me. Then they argue about who should be helping me -- and I'm stuck in the middle.
3. Next walk back to police station, wait in another line and give all documents to lady behind plexiglass window. She tells me to come back next week and pick up passport.
In Europe we do a lot of waiting and waiting and waiting for gov. services. But we DO have free healthcare. Which is worse? Being inconvenienced when you need a new passport, ID Card, Marriage License, etc., or not being able to see a doctor and get treatment when you're sick? Personally, I will take the petty inconveniences any day as long as the healthcare is good and my doctor bills are paid!
.
Exactly!
a problem for a whore or the morally bankrupt or ambiguous.
It must be a rather interesting life for those that think they might not ever be touched by any of this.
We are all just a breath away from complete and utter financial ruin due to a medical condition.
Nicolle,
Please stop the Public Option bullshit. If you truly want change, begin pushing HARD for Single Payer, Not-for-profit healthcare for all.
Period.
Anything less is playing into the hands that have been screwing us for decades and it is time to stop it.
STOP the kowtowing to Obama and the Dems, for God's sake. It is sickening to watch and will devastate America. The damned Public Option is NOT good enough and you need to use this vehicle (C&L) to SCREAM it at America and those corporately controlled idols of Amato's.
Just once, C&L should use its might to fight for the only viable option and stop this bullshit of playing to the POTUS and the Elitists who are screwing us.
Please? Just once?
forced insurance, are really not interested in healthcare reform. Because at the end of the day, that is the Dem plan. Everyone (almost) will be insured because we'll force you to buy it. That isn't universal healthcare, that's universal insurance. You HAVE to have car insurance or we'll throw you in jail. Is that what the new healthcare will be too?
I don't want Government forcing things down my throat.
That is not progressive.
aggressive, and vocal about our dislike for this corporate health care plan.
We need to let these politicians and lobbyists know, in no uncertain terms, that we want single payer and we want it now.
Our politicians have single payer, don't they?
Why can't we have it as well?
and that is what they'll get. Dem. or GOP. Doesn't matter. Mandatory insurance for everyone--health and drug coverage.
I could not agree more. But you won't get any traction fucking with Belle and Amato. They are Democrats first. Now take a deep breath and keep posting. You can say the same things without getting pissy.
You will get deleted, and that is no fun.
I am not now, nor have I ever been, a Democrat.
You know what they say about people who assume.
Bravo ma'am!!! The OP cussed and ranted and got no response. I use the D word and I got a message from on high!!! YES!!!
Unfortunately, we're having trouble even getting a public option through Congress.
Barack Obama has NEVER--not once on the campaign trail or since entering the WH--acknowledged a single payer system in his pledges. How are you going to get him to advocate something to Congress that he's never been behind?
Rather than accept a do-or-die scenario in which we stamp our feet and say "Single payer or else!", we've decided that this is a battle that we'll win incrementally. Let's get a vibrant public option first. After we've gained that position, let's push further and further until we do see a single payer plan.
You may not agree with our tactical choices, but we're not interested in a repeat of Hillarycare.
You think you're going to win anything? Go here: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/arti... Can you afford to outspend these people? I don't think so. The only thing we are going to get is punished for trying to correct the system. Big Pharma wants in on this: They want mandatory drug coverage. Like Medicare D, which is one of the biggest rip-offs in history. Search "coverage gap" or "donut hole" with respect to Medicare D. Look at this list of lobbyists, then tell us what you think. I don't mean to criticize, because I think your heart is in the right place. But, we all need to face the truth. No one in DC is on our side, with a very few exceptions.
Which is why we think it will be won only incrementally.
It's not about outspending them. It's about making it politically untenable for the congresscritters to do anything other than support a public option.
I do believe that in the end, we'll have a public option. The vibrancy of it will depend on us. Once we have that public option, we'll push for more and more.
"politically untenable" mean practically? Are you, perhaps, thinking that they care what we think? Not voting for them does not matter to them in the least. So I cannot think of anything we could do or say to make them care. I am open to suggestions.
That's the point of my post.
That article by Ceci Connolly was an attempt to shut us up, because we're making Congress very uncomfortable.
We just need to ratchet that up to 11.
MUCH more aggressive.
Not advocating violence, but we need to put the fear of THE PEOPLE into these fascists.
They'll never openly admit to it, because that wouldn't serve their interests.
You have to become practiced at reading between the lines of these kind of articles.
Also, see this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/06/schu...
almost encouraging Nicole...
But I find it hard to be anything but cynical lately, lol!
Besides, if not voting for them is the threat then what does that mean? A democrat isn't getting you any public health care, does that mean you'll vote republican?? So what? Then you are assured that you'll never have public health care. You're screwed either way.
The US needs a significant overhaul of its election finances, big time. No entity, other than an individual person, should be allowed to contribute to any campaign, and there should be limitations. That's essentially the way it's done federally in Canada. The maximum contribution you can make to a single federal candidate is $1,100
in the u.s., corporations (corpus) are given person hood status. really.
yes, it seems like money influences are killing u.s.
Wouldn't Congressthieves or Congretionalbribees be more accurate?
which makes congresscritters so apropos.
Are lemmings rodents?
I apologize to the animals, though.
"Congressionalbribees" is the correct spelling.
Barack Obama has NEVER--not once on the campaign trail or since entering the WH--acknowledged a single payer system in his pledges.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpAyan1fXCE
That is from his State Senate run. Listen to what he says. He says we need the House the Senate and the White House to get single payer. We have them. He doesn't have the will. Our congress doesn't have the will. WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM THE WILL!
So my statement is correct.
Look, ALL of the politicians know about single payer. In truth, I don't think any of them really believe that the Canadian system is worst than ours.
But I also think that politicos--craven and greedy as they are--don't want to be the focus of ads that the insurance cos. are SURE to put out accusing them of hurting seniors (like the Harry and Louise ads) or putting all those poor insurance employees out of business. Nor do they want to lose a pretty guaranteed donation stream.
That's (again) why we need to fight this battle incrementally. Think of it as a land war. Once we've gained ground, we will not let it go, and we'll keep seeking more and more.
The point of posting the video is that Obama, prior to national office was a supporter. So what happened between then and now? Big money got him.
You are convincing me! It's nice to be able to interact with a poster for a change.
By the way, I'm a lifelong Green Party member.
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been since 2003. I'm a 99% vegetarian now too. Two more years of school and I graduate and hope to be a green lobbyist/activist.
putting single-payer on the table, and they knew it. Negotiating 101: Open with more than you really want, because compromise will gut your first demand. "Our" side opened with the public option. That was just plain stupid. Or dishonest, as they want us to think they are fighting for us. Not true. This is all smoke and mirrors, and they are not putting on a very good show. John Dean on MSNBC said the majority of Dems do NOT believe that we are turning against them. That was about 10 days ago. Just how far up their asses are their heads? This is going to be outright rebellion, if we don't win this one, because obviously, they will take our money, and take even more from lobbyists, and give us nothing in return except grief. Why do we have to pay any taxes when we get nothing for them? Why do we even participate in elections when we get nothing out of them, either? Why? Huh?
Obama certainly DID say he was for Single Payer back in 2003!
He may not have been campaigning for POTUS (although I believe that he has been doing exactly that since leaving his position as a Constitutional Law Professor) while giving this speech, but he made it clear that he supported a Medicare for All type system:
http://buelahman.wordpress.com/2009/06/15/oba...
That's the way it goes in politics. At the beginning you are a man/woman for "the people" and once you've been ushered into the big leagues you become a man/woman for "the corporations".
I believe he needs to be confronted with this video clip by everyone at every opportunity we have.
What a shame the media won't allow the subject of "Single Payer", as Mike Finnigan pointed out in today's Blog Roundup:
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3834
I agree with other posters here that we need to fight for what we WANT, not merely fight for what we DON'T want.
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
Single payer--as much as it should be in a fair and just world--is not on the table.
We can scream for it all we want, but then we miss what's on the table.
Our feeling is that you grab what you can get, have it in your pocket safely, and then push for more.
We're not going to stop advocating for universal health care if we get a public option. But we're taking this one step at a time. This is too important to too many Americans to throw a big fit and say, "No, I don't care what you're offering. I want what I want and only that!"
we will not get anything other than mandated insurance, and will be at the total "mercy" of the insurance industry. Thus, we should demand that they stop this completely right now. The insurance industry has invested much money in this matter, and they will not go away empty handed, like we will. This will end badly for us. BTW, what is the punishment for NOT buying insurance? Jail time? Prison time? Garnishment? What if you don't have a job? Who will regulate premiums? I could go on, but I'll start with waiting for answers to those questions. I'll be reading "War and Peace."
I agree with you on that. But for the very reasons that you elucidate, it will be shown to be unworkable as that alone. Fixes will have to come in at that point.
Maybe expansion of Medicare/S-CHIP to cover low-to-no income people.
So we grab that...and we push for more. And more.
We won't get a perfect system from day 1. It's important that we keep our expectations reasonable.
It's better than nothing or the status quo.
Then we build on that. Gotta start somewhere.
As you probably know, I'm for single payer.
This next election is So important.
We need to get rid of the blue dogs and Dino's so we can build on this.
Am I happy about the way this is playing out?
No.
But I'm willing to fight for more.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
We are not getting anything but screwed. There will not be a "next time," and we will be stuck with whatever insurance industry scam that arises out of this. We will not get anything. Nothing, Zippo. Nada. Except screwed. Blinders off, everyone. The politicians are bought and paid for, the elections are fixed, and there is nothing we can do about it. We should have tried to put a stop to this when Bush stole the first election, because that is when it became clear that even the Supreme Court was crooked. People who complained about it then were deemed wing nuts and sore losers. People refused to even consider the possibility that Bush and Cheney and company were crooks. Now look. Too little, too late.
if we're prepared to give up the fight.
No one is going to hand us a perfect system. We'll have to fight for it.
Sorry, can't go all nihilistic on you. This is a fight I'm prepared to wage.
I have been bitching since 2000. I am going to my garden.
I have several thousand posts on record to verify it.
This is worth keeping up the fight.
Can I join you in your garden?
Here in The Berkshires we got news yesterday that due to a month of rain we may have NO SUMMER this year!
I'll help you do some weedin' and pickin'.
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
it could go the other way. the insurance reform, weak from the start, poorly implemented and later eroded after a political power shift corrects what it will depict as a misguided policy error. correction: dismantling public health or letting die on vine.
the weak start resembles obama's other weak and tepid responses: banksters, stimulus, (and let's not even go to terrorism, torture, dadt, doma). meanwhile, there are real victims suffering mightily in each of these scenarios.
this is not our best effort.
single payer.
Again, you can choose to keep screaming "single payer" but if it's not on the table, I'm not sure how you make that happen.
It's possible that weak reform will die on the vine. It's incumbent upon us to see that doesn't happen.
I choose to remain optimistic.
This so called public option does take hold.
And if this does prove to be a better option.
Then this will show the politicians that the public wants single payer.
The worst thing we could do is nothing.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
we disagree. (i do not scream, btw) but remain focused and, hopefully respectful of hardworking reformists and others. good luck with compromise. i hope you are right if compromise comes to pass.
Single Payer to be "on the table" of discussions the equivalent of "throwing a big fit".
As Obama himself suggested in the video linked above from 2003, the stars HAVE aligned for us now. We have a Democratic Senate, House and a Democrat in The White House.
Even if we do manage to get a watered down version of "The Public Option", I fear, as a health care professional, that that option may end up with the sickest of the sick. All the Americans who have been turned away from the "for-profit" insurance corporations due to "pre-existing conditions" will likely end up using "The Public Option". All the Americans who have exhausted their coverage due to cancer or some chronic medical condition will run to "The Public Option".
Those who don't quite qualify for Medi-cal and are not yet old enough for Medicare and who cannot even afford "The Public Option" will likely be FINED $1000/year if they cannot supply proof of insurance?!
Will physicians, nurses and private hospitals be FORCED to take "The Public Plan" patients when they are ill or need emergency care/surgery? If there is competition from private insurance patients and "The Public Option" patients (at a far reduced payment plan), who will get the bed/care? Too many questions, not enough answers.
If the American People truly support a plan BETTER than "The Public Plan", why should we not be fighting for what it is we want Nicole?
"Political pragmatism" is nothing more than a method of control to take the wind out of the sails of true Progressives like me and many others.
The political stars are aligned for Single Payer NOW....if enough Americans choose to exert their lobbying powers on their individual Congresspersons at the local level and in a very sophisticated way.
If Obama ends up being a one-term president and the Republicans take back control we will look back and realize we lost our one shot at Conyers H.R. 676, "Medicare for All" simply because it was easier to cave to corporate America than to be good citizens who were DEMANDING something of substance in return for our stolen tax dollars....not just more money for the Pentagon, illegal wars and torture.
Now is the time to fight for a plan that covers EVERY American with the same standard of care. It is a human right in a civilized country....
Oops, I forgot. We're not civilized.
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
If they were, you'd hear politicians talking about it.
Obama--for all his talk in 2003--isn't saying it in 2009.
Yes, I want him to. Yes, I think we should fight for it. But no, I don't think that drawing a line in the sand and saying "It's either single payer or I'm not supporting it" is going to be conducive to getting single payer.
It's a tactical choice. You may disagree with it, but I think that ultimately, it's the only way we're going to see anything resembling universal health care (and that is the ultimate goal).
And don't listen to the bullshit about Big Brother Government interfering with your health care decisions. I'm a 50-year-old Canadian gal and I've never had any government bureaucrat interfere with any of my health care. Decisions are made by the patients and doctors.
Also, government-run health care will not mean the government getting greater access to your health care information.
When Saskatchewan had its Medicare Crisis in the early 1960s (I think it was 1963), the opponents spread all kinds of misinformation. Medicare would mean you wouldn't be able to choose your own doctor anymore. Medicare would mean no more privacy; the government would have cameras in the examination rooms. Once the dust settled, the doctors found it wasn't so bad. For one thing, they didn't have to worried about getting paid.
The Repugs will argue that single-payer will mean big tax increases. That's bullshit too. And what's with this mentality that it's okay to pay sky-high prices for unreliable private insurance, but it's a disaster if your income tax goes up a bit to pay for health care insurance that will cover you when you need it?
Everybody in blogland go out and raise some hell!
how US politicians brag continuously about how great their nation is, and lead the choir in waving the flag and singing Gawd Bless (just) America, but the masses have to fight tooth and nail for every little scrap tossed at them, while constantly reciting constitutional rights. Never has any nation on the globe, had their citizens constantly screaming about rights through constitution, and being ignored by the millionaire oligarchy that they vote in. It's really quite fascinating, and amazing all in one. Two things are constant in every skirmish between elected reps and their citizens...guns and constitutional rights. It's pretty sad when those chosen to represent the public, have to be reminded of the public's rights 24/7. Almost like they really don't give a sh*t about the public at all.
I was embarrassed on the 4th, because of all the lying going on about what a "great" nation this is. It has become a joke, and the joke is on us. Please go here and take the 60 seconds to get a feel for this. You will not regret it.
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/arti...
protesting for real healthcare for the people as there are attending the myriad MJ vigils, we might get somethin done.
Unbelievable...
http://imgur.com/mTPIA.jpg
I am saddened that the Democratic Party, with it's majority in the Senate and the House can't work with the president to get a healthcare package passed. Instead it clearly shows that many politicians are in bed with Big Pharma and the insurers. It's shameful the way this is being spun, but I am not surprised. I think they have forgotten that they answer to their constituents, many of whom are weighed down by medical costs or no insurance. We have the power, let your voice be heard!
http://blackpoliticalthought.blogspot.com
They are bought and paid for, and must kow-tow to the corporate donors who pay for their reelections or those of their successors in their parties if they do not, themselves, run again. Never-ending bribery.
So "they" can live like this.
http://www.dreamhomedesignusa.com/jpegs/Mansi...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkRIbUT6u7Q
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
Silence Isn't Golden: Keep Demanding Healthcare.
_______________________________________________
How about urology?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Have you seen this
http://www.codexsinaiticus.org/en/ the oldest bible in existance
I've heard of it, but the Codex Sinaiticus, the Codex Vaticanus, the Codex Alexadrinus and the Chester Beatty Papyrus supposedly do not match each other in key places.
Chester Beatty also had a version of the Magical Papyrus, the earliest known medical text from Egypt.
The key significance is that it's from the begining of the Byzantine Bible writing days between the 4th and 8th centuries, and may show how it's changed and not changed during that period, and how different it may may from the Vulgate of St Jerome.
But then I'm no Bible expert to make these calls.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
books as opposed to our modern bible. Some of the transcripts I have read in the Nag hammadi and and a compilation called the forgotten books of The Bible of Eden, which is similar to other Coptic texts.It is veeerrry intresting Dah?
Sometimes I suspect the Gnostics were closer in spirit to the original Christian movement than the Paulists.
Before resurrecting God-men of the nature of solar cults, was Matthew 18:20, Luke 17: 20-21, and Matthew 7:7
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Universal healthcare works beautifully in Canada and you deserve to have it in America. I think Obama is making sure that this decision is truly the will of the people, and not a top-down decision. Think of all the lawyers and HMO middlemen who would lose their jobs if single payer healthcare becomes established. My guess is that Obama doesn't want to take the blame for forcing it on Americans, so the people must stand up and demand it! Under his term of office it is possible.
Obama strategy is to hide the truth until it cannot be hidden any longer, and then it will be every man for himself.
I hope I'm wrong.
in the insurance industry that would lose their jobs.
IMHO, they are a big part of the problems we have in this country.
I think that may be Obama's game plan, but he needs to start being a little more aggressive, and a little less accommodating on this issue.
This is one issue where compromise is overrated.
spinning this lie that indefinite economic growth (as we once knew it) is possible. Talking of "green shoots" while simultaneously displaying monthly job less numbers well north of 400,000 as example.
I am still happy he's our president, and I'm proud to have voted for him, but damn, he's not livin up to expectations as far as I'm concerned...he's needs to get on the ball, and get some shit done.
.
I just went to Rick Sanchez' facebook page, and it doesn't appear there is a link to send him a message there. I was only able to "Become a Fan."
Last week I wrote Sen Kay Hagan twice and called both her Washington and Raleigh offices, and I want to think that's what made her change her mind about the public option to let it out of committee. I just wrote to Sen Richard Burr, but I don't have much hope that he'll vote for constituents over corporations. Blue Cross is huge in NC.
we know what to do. FDR said it best when addressing partisans for reforms: "I want to do it, now, make me do it!"
We'll make them do it by being very vocal and INSISTENT.
Don't fall for the bullshit talking points designed to confuse the issue.
It's not "health care reform" that we need - it's HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM. The care is there, we just need to remove the obstacles (other wise known as insurance companies) that prevent 50 million Americans from getting any care (and preventing the vast majority of the rest of them from getting adequate care).
We need to get control of the hight cost of prescription drugs and the rising costs of hospital care and remove the unnecessary costs of testing.
Drugs are without a doubt an unregulated morass of profiteering.
But hospital and health care costs in general are driven by insurance, which radically underpays providers who are forced to raise their rates in order to stand a chance of collecting reasonable payment for services provided. This in turns "justifies" further health insurance payment reductions and premium increases.
The insurance companies are both driving and rigging the market. Hospitals are failing across the country not due to high costs but due to the failure of insurance companies to adequately cover their costs.
health insurancereform is key.
and under the aegis of incremental 'reform' --the strategic inputs of the insurance company lobby & related corporates will certainly undermine real reform and health care delivery. a plane crash in the making...
single payer please.
We es muy simpatico on this.
Keep those Reps on their toes on this. Write, call, and e-mail your weak-kneed Congresspersons. If you have one of the few standing up for a public option, give them an atta-boy/girl.
It's working!
for sure.
But we need to force the issue on single payer.
As I said before, (if I'm not mistaken) the politicians have single payer, the WE are all paying for.
Why can't we have it too?
You think you're going to win anything? Go here: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/arti... Can you afford to outspend these people? I don't think so. The only thing we are going to get is punished for trying to correct the system. Big Pharma wants in on this: They want mandatory drug coverage. Like Medicare D, which is one of the biggest rip-offs in history. Search "coverage gap" or "donut hole" with respect to Medicare D. Look at this list of lobbyists, then tell us what you think. I don't mean to criticize, Nicole, because I think your heart is in the right place. But, we all need to face the truth. No one in DC is on our side, with a very few exceptions.
According to MSNBC, the health-care industry has hired 350 former government staff members, more than 50 of whom are former employees of the committee that is writing the health-care bill. The report also states that the health-care industry is spending more than 1.4 million a day to lobby for their interests. Why am I not suprised by that? People are tired of paying outrageous premiums that keep rising and the only thing that will control costs is a public option which, of course, the health insurance industry is opposed to. Either congress answers to the people or they answer to the health insurance industry. I'm afraid the so-called moderate Democrats ( Max Baucus, Blanche Lincoln et al.) will go the the way of the insurance industry. And theres nothing moderate about that.
when dems ask for money, response could be-' get it from baucus, lincoln, landrieu, etc.' --we're tapped out paying premiums.
about a Canadian woman who was put on a list to wait for a brain scan, when she was known to have tumours. She went to the Mayo and paid out of pocket over 100k US.
This is the same load of shit I got from my winger bro, who was among those claiming B Clinton would have had to wait 3 months for EMERGENCY heart surgery. It's a fucking lie.
AT LEAST the woman could GO to an MD and find c=something out about her condition. I had to wait until I was destitute, passing blood and had a BP reading of 197/154 to SEE a doctor. and ER consult.
I've no doubt the doc could have, had it been deemed necessary, gotten her moved up. I had to wait well over a month for my treatment to start, and I was on the hairy edge of metastases.
me-oww!
They can find complainers in Canada, but the majority of us love our medical system. Health care costs are spread out among the population, so that those hit by disease are not thrown into bankruptcy. I am a Canadian who had a brain tumour removed in the year 2000. Brain scans were done with a minimum of waiting time. After the biopsy showed it was a type that was benign and had been growing for 20 years, it was clear that I could wait for a little while to have it removed. My doctor was going on a month's vacation, so they offered me the choice of waiting for him to do the surgery after his vacation or having his assistant do it right away. I chose to wait because he has the highest success rate in British Columbia. Remember that not ONCE was I billed for service and yet I got the best treatment available. The most urgent cases are done first, and it doesn't matter if you're rich or poor.
"Health care" is what you get from a doctor, if you are lucky. Whoever applied the term "care" to what insurance companies provide was a master framer and creator of Orwellian euphemisms. We should not assist them in their linguistic con job.
It's BULLSHIT to believe that it's only LEFT-WING ACTIVISTS who want UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE!!!!!
My grandmother wants it. My mother wants it. I haven't met a single person who DOESN'T want it.
So why the hell are the politicians digging in their heels? And why is Obama crapping on his base?
Because they've been bought and paid for. This is the ONLY reason.
What do you mean entitlement, we just want to pay for something that works. The crime is that with 72% wanting it we are reduced to blogging\bitching just to get our mad out. WE want health care. I was recently crippled and went from $80,000 a yr and great health care to S.S. disability and NO health care. It seems that it takes 2 years to get medicare if your health cripples you so that you can't work. Makes sense don't it?
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