I've been a little astounded at the progressive attacks on Bernie Sanders. Read what Katrina vanden Heuvel in The Nation writes about his healthcare deal: (h/t Heather)
Without fanfare, the good Senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders, has continued to work behind the scenes to champion community health centers--something he has done for years (also here). These non-profit, community-based facilities provide primary healthcare, dental care, mental health services, and low-cost prescription drugs on a sliding scale. As amendments were added in recent days to win over the Liebermans and Nelsons of the "greatest [undemocratic] deliberative body" in the world, Sanders made sure that a $10 billion increase in funding for the health centers was included.
"This is not gonna solve all the problems of the world," Senator Sanders told me yesterday. "But expanding access to high quality primary health care, and low-cost prescription drugs, and mental health counseling, and dental care--which is a big issue--this is a very significant step forward. If you walk into a health clinic and you have no insurance at all they will treat you on a sliding scale basis. So, that's affordable healthcare."
There has also been little news coverage of Sanders' fight to allow states waivers so they can move forward with their own "health insurance concepts, including single-payer." Such language is now in the Senate bill and Sanders is still working with Senator Ron Wyden to strengthen it. That is exactly how Canada developed its healthcare system, with a successful program incubated in Saskatchewan. This provision is actually stronger in the Senate bill--it didn't make it into the House version.
"It's still in play," Sanders says.
As for the community health centers--officially named federally qualified health centers--they were spearheaded in the 1960s through legislation authored by Senator Edward Kennedy. There are now 1200 of them across the country with over 7500 satellites. 20 million Americans utilize these facilities, including 1 out of 6 Vermonters, giving the state the highest rate of participation in the nation.
Also critical, the funding would expand the National Health Service Corps which provides loan repayments and scholarships for primary care doctors, dentists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and mental health professionals. Sanders points out that currently there is a "primary healthcare crisis" with "tens of millions of people"--even people who have insurance--unable to find a primary healthcare doctor or dentist.
The House bill provides $14 billion in funding for the federal health centers and service corps. Sanders says that indications from the White House and Democratic leadership are that there is a "good chance" the final bill will do the same. That would translate to health centers in 10,000 more communities throughout America within 5 years, and increase the number of people served by over 100 percent, to 45 million. It would also create 20,000 new primary care practitioners, dentists, nurses and other healthcare professionals. Sanders emphasizes a George Washington University study that shows the $14 billion expenditure would save money--$23 billion in Medicaid alone--"because you're keeping people out of the hospital and out of the emergency room. Now if this is not a win-win-win situation, I don't know what is," he says.
Sanders notes some other positive elements of the Senate bill.
"We can talk about the politics, and all of our disappointments," he says, "but at the end of the day you're gonna have 31 million more people who have health insurance--taking us up to some 94 percent [covered]. That's not an insignificant achievement and we shouldn't become too cynical about it."
Sanders also says the insurance reforms--banning denials based on preexisting conditions, lifetime benefit caps, and dumping people because they ran up a high healthcare bill--are significant.
[...] Sanders urges progressives to continue fighting for House provisions--including the $14 billion for community health centers, progressive taxation as opposed to taxing healthcare benefits, and a strong public option.
But can we get a better bill and still get 60 votes?
"Well, that remains to be seen," Sanders says. "What is being increasingly discussed all over the country is this is extremely undemocratic. You've got a strong majority in the House who want to do something, and all of that effort is nullified by one or two people in the Senate. Does that make sense to you? I don't think it's fair. So I think we want to take a look at how we deal with a dysfunctional situation like we've seen on the Senate healthcare bill, and you know, maybe some good will come out of that."
Olbermann Dissects Colbert vs. O'Reilly
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National Republican Trust PAC Running 25 Minute Long Anti-Obama Screed in Swing States
Beck compares America to the Titanic. A better analogy: His fast-sinking show
Grover Norquist Pushes for Social Security Privatization, Pretends Bush Didn't
Sick o'politics?
http://www.anglotopia.net/british-entertainme...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
historic Christmas day crap on the American people? Or was he a nay?
Gee thanks Congress, now I get shittier insurance for more money.
Go, Fuck. Yourselves.
the power to force you to buy a horrible product you do not want from a disreputable monopolistic corporation that pays regular bribes to your elected representatives in the form of campaign "contributions".
Nothing major right?
the legislature, and laws were being passed requiring people to purchase products, and you owed it to your shareholders to maximize profits, what would you feel compelled to do?
Now only time will tell.
If we don't get our progressive act together and elect more progressives none of this will matter much.
I really hope voters are better informed and show up to help change the country.
We have to make our politicians serve us - it just isn't automatic. We have to make them fear losing their seats if they serve anybody or anything except us.
It is a neverending fight. There will be wins and losses. We have to be better and stronger than we have ever been before. We all have to give our time and our money to fight for progressives in other states.
The fact that it is so hard to get anything done in any part of the government is something we can effect by participating in the process - no matter how bad it PO's us at times.
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
at this point. Consider Martin Luther King, during the civil rights battles in which he marched at the front of the pack. I don't recall people being excluded from the effort because they were liberals, wing nuts, church goers, atheists, progressives, whites, etc, etc.
How do we assemble a show of force of that magnitude in this day and age?
how to organize one? I think our populace has become way to complacent and perhaps used to being screwed - and now there's a whole bunch of democrats who think this bill is the bee's knees. Go figure.
They are busy watching Dancing with the Stars. America deserves what it gets. To quote Carlin, "Selish and ignorant citizens elect self and ignorant politicians. This is the best we can do. Garbage in-garbage out."
Don't call it National Health Care, it is National For-Profit Health Insurance, guaranteed to the Insurance Parasites.
What else can I say that I haven't said.
It is a piece of Crony Capitalist crap.
An interesting statement and it alone makes me very worried.
Salon here
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
Just like the Nader nutcases, I do not consider people who threaten Sanders to be "progressive;" they are simply crazy.
Then the people are getting fucked.
Simple...
SASKATCHEWAN
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Saska...
You states need to learn to step up.
Tommy Douglas, socialist, the greatest Canadian.
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
That is what the United States really needs , more Socialism,
capitalism sucks, it is really UnAmerican garbage,
capitalism is for the greed driven pigs in the republi"CON' party
Here is a perfect example of why Americans (Fox viewers in particular) are so misinformed about health care.
http://progressnotcongress.org/?p=3461
it will take public funds and turn them over to corporations . Being private ,these entities are not required to account to the taxpayers-only to their investors ,for the decisions they make about OUR health . Their failures and misdeeds will be hidden behind their corporate doors . Their formulas will be trade secrets , just as Diebolds software was.
Because they are for profit , these decisions will be based on profit returns, not healthcare excellence. Because they will receive billons in taxpayers monies they will have limitless funds to fight reform, as we have seen Wall St do, with the bail out..
Investors will demand less hospital staffing and determine doctors decisions , yet insurance companies cannot be sued for malpractice .
Since there is nothing that ensures competition in he healthcare insurance industry. they will soon become our next too- big -to-fail business whose CEOs will reap bonuses while they hand out death and disability and the government hands over more of our money for less and less actual coverage.
If I'm wrong I'm all ears and willing to listen.
The republicans try to equate Community health centers to ACORN. I expect Hannity to trump up this latest "controversy" within the next week. "Sick people showing up at the community health centers, stealing taxpayer money..."
You know the drill perfectly.
It'll happen for sure...
The Obamas are on the way to Hawaii, where they're expected to remain through Jan. 3.
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Politics-Photos...
Gee thanks. He could have gone to Camp David, or even spent the Holidays at the White House. "Like most Americans we've decided to stay home this Christmas, and share in these hard times by watching our budget, having gratitude, and being thankful we have a roof over our head".
for profit private insurers, it's what happens when that money is taken out of the rest of our economy? I haven't heard this addressed anywhere and this is more worrisome than anything. Small businesses could fail all across our country. Will employers argue an incentive to prospecitve employess that it's better to take a lower salary so you can qualify for "vouchers." I've got to say vouchers is a word that makes my bones turn cold.
What happens to me when I have a very small income (which is another story) and I use whatever I can to keep my son in college? Will I be forced to make the choice to support my family or purchase healthcare?
I foresee the economic results of this as being disasterous.
I just haven't heard anyone addressing this from one of our talking heads.
George Bush Sr. quoted . . is "the continuous consolidation of money and power into higher, tighter and righter hands."
Whether we agree with it or not. I still haven't heard where the shortfall of money as it pertains to Every Other Business Aspect in our nation is addressed?
It's like the healthcare industry is the only one left in the U.S. Well, now I guess we have to be as wary of them as we are the military industrial complex. Which we've totally managed to get under controll all these years.
Yes, the bill sucks in many ways. Yes (Nate Silver,) there are some provisions which can help some people.
This "state waiver" is the best thing I've seen yet. I think Sanders is giving us a road map. We need to get to work on the state level. I think we can do it in Oregon.
Some of you act like electing Obama was supposed to be the coup de grace in all of our progressive challenges. We need to maintain the fight. Maybe Obama sold us out, but that's not the end of it for me.
Evet, you've been kvetching on every thread. You're easily the most prolific commenter on these health care posts. I'm sure that 98% of us understand where you are coming from - you have gotten your point across. You have the opportunity to use that energy more constructively.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone. I hope y'all enjoy some time with loved ones.
"Maybe Obama sold us out." But that's o.k. because your sure if you redouble your efforts all will come to fuition. I for one have mailed, e-mailed and called our representatives and Only recieved in response canned replys.
And if I'm any indication, millions of us did the same and now we see the result.
Did Obama sell us out? Well, this sure isn't what he campaigned on and it's one of the reasons he was elected.
I think the bitching is perfectly warranted, though I am likewise shocked by the instantaneous vilification of Sen. Sanders. Did he ultimately feel he had to vote YES on this piece of shit? Yeah. But I doubt he's just a sell out. I can easily imagine that they told him, "Look, you can vote no, but if you do, we'll make a deal with Snowe or Collins or the like, and they'll get their amendments in to make it even worse. We'll call it bipartisan, and you'll be the one who tried to derail it. Or, you can have your amendments get in at the last minute, and make it better. Your choice."
It's politics. It sucks.
In any case, yes, the state waiver, and the option to proceed with local single-payer is encouraging.
I'm in Oregon too now. I like the political climate here from what I've seen so far, and, now that I might have the time, I would like to get more locally politically active.
Any fellow Oregonians, please feel free to find me: liveliest DOT crib AT gmail DOT com
Let's start a local party, a local movement. ;)
Everyone is equally entitled to the pursuit of happiness. Wasn't that once self evident?
He implied over and over that he wouldn't support a bill without a public option:
http://crooksandliars.com/logan-murphy/senato...
He even says it on his own website:
http://sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=b...
He can call himself a socialist if he likes, but this is the sleazy behavior of a Democrat. I would expect a slimeball like Obama or Tom Daschle to pull this sort of bait-and-switch, but a person who calls himself a *socialist*? He clearly deserves to be thrown out of office.
but they work in Firefox....
Wouldn't it be nice if the progressive Senators (use of plural might not be necessary) would threaten to hold out a la Lieberman, particularly on the "mandate"? Why don't they have the same leverage right now as the Blue Gods or Lieberman?
$10 billion out of, what, $800 billion is cause for just the tiniest of elation. Not to come down on Bernie, but imho he sold himself too cheap. And what do you want to bet this will be the first thing to come out during consolidation?
Ever notice how a single Republican or conservative Democrat can veto a bill, but not the entire progressive caucus? Ever notice how Harry Reid honors all holds put on bills by Republicans, but won't honor holds put on bills by members of his own party? It's obvious the Democratic Party has become nothing but a subsidiary of the GOP, but what's worse it that self-described *progressives* are now playing along with this charade.
After nearly a decade, it was finally expanded to universal coverage because it had become so popular.
But this is not 1961 in Canada, Medicare for all is already popular in the United States and has been for some time. Moreover, Medicare already provides "the groundwork" for national health care and covers far more people than this program would if fully implemented tomorrow. In other words, we've already accomplished the intermediate goals that the piece argues Sen. Sanders legislation would accomplish.
The problem isn't (as it was in Canada in 1961) that we don't have the framework or the popular support for universal health care. We already have both.
"I'm a little astounded" that Susie is so willing to slap us on the nose with a rolled up newspaper for maintaining loyalty to principle instead of yelling "Go Team!". But hey, maybe the Senator will do a blogger conference call. Just like the MSM, access cures all ills.
Corruption favors the wealthy.
Don't call him "the good Senator from Vermont."
He's "the Great Senator from Vermont."
"Trust no one, Mr. Mulder." - Well-Manicured Man
blame your mothers for this mess.
Merry Christmas or Pleasant Pasta to the rest of you miserable
long suffering American victims.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
...the expansion of community health centers is without doubt the best thing in the bill. (The fact that it's something I've supported and been arguing for since, oh, about 1980 might have something to do with that, I suppose.)
I am rather disappointed that Sanders voted for the final bill; I was expecting that a couple of people would vote for cloture and against the bill, but none did. That's what I would have done, saying as I did that I am opposed to the bill as it stands but I am willing for it to get to conference committee - but if what comes out of conference is like this bill, I will actively oppose it and it that means joining the GOPpers in blocking cloture, I'll do it.
Title says: "Sanders' Deal Lays The Groundwork For National Health Care"
but video is "POPE KNOCKED DOWN"
What's up with that..??
We need to stop this 'REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH'
Whatever the government is not giving to these financial corporations, the taxpayers are doing it via inflated insurance premiums, usury interest rates to credit card companies, high fees to banks, who are distributing it to corporate executives, m(b)illionaire investors and politicians.
Wait, wait......
Hannity is complaining not about this, he is complaining about taking the money back from them and returning it to the people.
My bad
If you need funds to pay for essentials, you have a revenue problem
If you need funds to pay for frivolity, you have a spending problem
We should have all realized at the outset of the Obama administration that all was not well, and that Obama had deceived us. Look who he took in his administration ... Rahm Emmanuel, Hilary Clinton, Gates, hell he even wanted Gregg just to name a few! These people are all CONSERVATIVES!
What should we have expected out of this crowd? Politicians all will say ANYTHING to get elected with no intention whatsoever of ever following through on their promises. This is where Obama showed us his hand, and I knew last February that we progressives and true liberals were screwed. It didn't take a rocket scientist to take a look at the House, Senate, and Obama administration and see that the fix was in. When you factor in the corporatist makeup of the Senate and the total lack of democracy in that body, there simply was no way we were going to prevail.
I wish Bernie Sanders represented my state ... Vermont has the most honest and capable senator of the whole damn bunch in my opinion, while my state has given the country Kent Conrad. Now there is a senator that needs his corrupt, fascist ass run out of DC on a rail in my opinion!
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