Happy friggin’ new year

I’d like to say “Happy New Year,” but it’s not looking very good for so many people. “Hope and change” seems to have dissolved into despair and more of the same.

I’ve developed a pretty thick skin, politically speaking, over the years. Idealistic in my youth, as the youth tends to be, I thought our generation (I’m 55) could turn things around. When politician after politician dashed my hopes, I decided it was the system, and things would never change until fundamental changes were made there.

I still believe that. Most of all, we must somehow, as a nation, get the big money out of politics. It is corrupting everything, especially Congress, as the recent health care fiasco so obviously shows. (When over 70% of the nation says it wants a robust public option, for example, you’d think it’d be a slam dunk. But no, the insurance companies that pile on the cash for Lieberman and his ilk get their way, yet again!)

I allowed myself to believe Barack Obama was really going to be different. After all, he wasn’t part of the privileged class, like so many of our presidents have been. He worked hard to make something of himself, then eschewed high-paying lawyer jobs to work for the downtrodden on the streets of Chicago. Surely, I thought, this man could not be so easily corrupted.

But there’s something about holding high office, apparently. Now, he does the bidding of his generals and wages war, as is the American custom. He sits on the sidelines and twiddles his thumbs as the very issue that got him elected gets debated in Congress, seemingly oblivious to the fact that botching it would piss off the majority of people who voted for him. He didn’t even defend the things he campaigned for, like the public option.

He and the super-majority of Democrats we elected compromise before the debate even starts, then compromise some more. Any real bargainer knows you start with something way beyond what you expect to get (in this example, Single Payer), giving you a bargaining tool, in order to end up with something acceptable (like a robust public option). You don’t start with what you really want. Not when you’re negotiating with such a powerful force as Big Money, which is, in the final analysis, the actual opponent.

So, surprise, surprise, we end up with something Big Money (and Big Insurance) is very happy with, but which helps the public very little, if at all. And now we’re set to do it all over again, with bank “reform.” Yeah, right! I can save everyone a lot of time: just ask the banks what they want. They’ll get it anyway.

As I see it, every group fighting for change on any issue ought to all come together and fight for campaign reform. Because until we get the big money out of politics, we’ll keep witnessing the same charade, over and over again.

So, happy friggin’ new year.

Corporate chokehold

Once again, the corporate interests that have a chokehold on our elected representative bodies have succeeded in derailing any real change for the better.

The health care bill is now a bloated corpse – a rotted, stinking shell of what was once originally envisioned. All this thing will succeed in doing is reward the soulless insurance corporations for their intransigence by making them even richer.

The Democrats promised that if we would just give them a 60 seat majority in the Senate, a majority in the House and a Democratic president, they would be able to finally deliver. Instead, the spineless bunch has caved, again, even on abortion rights.

What could have been their greatest moment, when they finally stood up for the people against the big-moneyed interests, has instead disintegrated into the predictable mind-numbing process we helplessly witnessed this summer and fall: Just another giveaway to the mega-corps running the country.

The big mistake, of course, was compromising right off the bat, then compromising some more, then some more, ad nauseam... all in a futile attempt to come up with some kind of “bipartisan” bill, so that the Dems could say they are “mainstream.”

Rather than take Single Payer off the table at the start, they should have used it as their bargaining position. Then, perhaps, we might have been able to at least get a real, robust public option.

Personally, I think Single Payer is the way to go. The rest of the democratic industrialized world runs its variations of it quite successfully, and we even run one already ourselves – in the form of Medicare for seniors. It’s true that when this process started, it didn’t seem could pass such a bill, being that our legislature is what it is. Still, as any negotiator knows, you don’t start out giving away the store.

But there is still a Single Payer bill alive, HR 676; and a California bill, SB 810. Now that the public option plan has become a Frankensteinian monstrosity, it’s what we ought to fight for. Thousands of doctors and nurses nationwide back it. Let’s dump the bloated giveaway bill, and go for the gold.


P.S. It’s that time again! This holiday season, give a unique, thoughtful gift, one that keeps giving all year long – the Humor Times!

What are we, idiots?

From Robert Creamer, HuffingtonPost.com:

We spend $7,290 per person and end up in 37th place. They spend only $3,601 and they are number one. That's just not right.

On the average, Frenchmen live almost three years longer than the average American. That's infuriating.

What's more, every legal resident of France is covered by health insurance, and in the U.S. 46 million people are uninsured. When someone in France goes to the hospital, everything except a small co-payment is covered - it's that simple.

The government doesn't deliver health care in France. Private doctors and hospitals do most of that. It just provides health insurance for everyone.

If you walk into one store and a suit you like costs $600 - and next door the very same suit is $300 - most people would call you a chump for spending $600. In this case the French are paying $300 and getting a better suit. What are we, idiots?

Read more.

Hilarious! Will Ferrell stands up for the real health care victims.

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

New York Times shirks journalistic responsibility

The New York Times devoted some rare space on September 20 to discussing single-payer (or Medicare-for-all) health reform.

NYT public editor Clark Hoyt ran a piece devoted to undermining the case for single-payer health care without allowing advocates to make the case in support of Medicare for all. Seems awfully one-sided. And as is predictable in such a one-sided article, they got it all wrong.

Single payer is the way to go, and enjoys huge support among those that matter - the citizens of this country. If the media reported that support as it should, maybe our representatives would feel the pressure to buck the corporate interests that are holding US health policy hostage. But, no, the media continue to enable the insurance behemoths that put profits over people's health.

You can write to Mr. Hoyt, as I did, at public@nytimes.com or call him at (212) 556-7652, and let him know the media needs to take responsibility for presenting all sides in this critical debate.

Bush Tax Cuts Cost 2.5X as Much as the Democrats' Health Care Plan

From Citizens for Tax Justice:

Newly revised estimates show that the Bush tax cuts cost almost $2.5 trillion over the decade after they were first enacted (2001-2010). Preliminary estimates from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office show that the House Democrats' health care reform legislation is projected to cost $1 trillion over a decade after it would be enacted (2010-2019).

And yet, many of the lawmakers who argue that the health care reform legislation is "too costly" are the same lawmakers who supported the Bush tax cuts. Their own voting record demonstrates that health care reform is not a matter of costs, but a matter of priorities.

Read the new report from Citizens for Tax Justice. (PDF)

These figures make clear that costs cannot be the real concern of lawmakers who oppose the House health care legislation and yet supported the Bush tax cuts. Their position seems to be that showering benefits on the wealthiest five percent of taxpayers and leaving the bill for future generations is preferable to making health care available for all at a much lower cost and paying that cost up front. That demonstrates a different set of priorities than most Americans have, but it doesn't demonstrate much concern about costs.

Spineless Dems ready to fold again - after all, Public Option only has 76% support

I consider myself an independent, even though I wind up voting Democratic most of the time. But they usually disappoint me. Like now.

Why do I vote Democratic then? Because our unfortunate 'winner take all' system means votes for minority candidates are pretty much wasted, other than for 'sending a message,' which never gets heard anyway. And Republicans seem to be against anything that might help regular citizens - especially if there's even a remote chance a bill might affect rich folks' bottom lines. Heaven forbid! After all, don't Americans worship at the feet of the rich, hoping one day to win the lottery and be just like them?

In any case, the system is rotten to the core. As I've said many times, we the people will not be served by our so-called 'representatives' until and unless the big money is taken out of politics. Because that is what our 'representatives' are representing now. They work for the people that give them the money to get re-elected. Thus, the system is rotten to the core.

The current health care debate is a perfect example. 76% of voters have consistently said in polls that they want a strong public option in any health care bill. 76 percent! Holy cow, do Democrats need more of a mandate than THAT??? Apparently so.

Because, after all, a few hysterically vocal right-wingers were whipped up by lies told them by the insurance industry, and made some noise at town halls this summer. Therefore, Dems have taken this as their cue to fold! Like they always do. Nothing new here.

We expected some results this time, what with 60 senate seats and a huge majority in the house, and, oh yeah, that 76% public support. But no-o-o-o. A few corporate sponsored 'blue-dog' Dems can take down the whole thing for their insurance company supporters.

If we lived in a just society, those 'blue dogs' would pay dearly for their obstinance in the next election, regardless of how much tainted insurance company money they will have amassed to throw at smarmy TV ads. They have failed their real constituents, and deserve to be replaced. Will voters in those states have the intelligence to see through the lies? I doubt it, but if they did, it would go a long way to restoring my faith in democracy.

No thanks to forced vaccinations

Why must our society over-react so much? Whether it's marching off to war for a pack of lies, being paranoid about health care reform, or tazing grandmas, something about our culture just loves to jump to conclusions and act impulsively. Of course, a lot of this behaviour is encouraged by those who stand to make a profit off of it.

Take for example a new law passed by the state Senate in Massachusetts, which calls for mandatory vaccinations of all citizens and a $1,000/day fine for those who refuse to cooperate. It also legalizes health care "interrogations" of Mass. citizens, forced entry into homes without a warrant, the on-site destruction of buildings or objects suspected of harboring the virus, the government kidnapping of family pets, "involuntary transportation" of people into quarantine camps and much more.

Of course, the drug companies making the vaccines love this stuff.

Read the analysis of this disturbing police state assault on freedom that's about to be signed into law in Massachusetts (and could be followed by other states across the country):

http://www.naturalnews.com/026934_health_public_health_quarantine.html

Vaccines are notoriously ineffective anyway, and often worse than the disease. Not to mention a clear link between vaccines and Downs Syndrome. From VaccinationDebate.com:
Historical facts exposing the dangers and ineffectiveness of vaccines.

Best health care solution yet!

Thom Hartmann has the best idea for health care reform, laid out in an open letter to the prez entitled
A Modest Medicare Proposal.

In it, he proposes the simplest solution yet, which is completely revenue neutral and has no complicated provisions that give the right-wing corporate health care deniers (not providers -- let's be honest here) nothing to sink their teeth into.

The idea is to let citizens buy into Medicare if they so choose. Brilliant! Medicare is so cost-effective that allowing people to buy into it should be way cheaper than paying for health insurance from these profit-crazy crooks that are fleecing us now.

Please read Thom's article and send a letter to Obama and your reps today!

Opposed to Socialized Medicine? Now's your chance to pledge to deny yourself Medicare for life!

Finally! All who are opposed to "socialized" health care can now sign a petition created to let you pledge to refuse to use the Medicare you already have, or to promise to never sign up for it. That's right, Medicare is a government run insurance program, much like that evil public option!

If you choose not to sign it, I'm sorry, but you're a hypocrite!

Next up: We hope to create "Thanks but no thanks" yard signs you can put up in your yard, telling those socialistic police and fire departments that you're against all socialist institutions like theirs! After all, our taxes pay for their services! And we all know the government can't do ANYTHING right! So, buy one of these signs (yes, they're for sale -- what'd you think? This is capitalism), and tell those commies where to go! Next time your house is on fire, you can hire help to put it out -- that's the American way!

We were promised real reform if we could just get the Dems 60 seats...

Well, now's the time, Democrats. If you blow this one, don't be surprised when you find you lose your majority after just two short years.

We need health care, not warfare. Yet Dems continue to authorize funds for war, but are looking pretty sheepish on health care reform.

Face it, we need single-payer health care. Every other proposal out there is hogwash. As Dr. Dean says, we are 60 years behind the times on this issue. But even if the "public option" goes through, you can be sure the lobbyists, who have congress by the balls, will make sure it is completely neutered of any real power.

We were told as voters that when the Democrats got 60 seats in the Senate, we would finally get the important things this country so desperately needs. Health care reform is at the top of the list.

So, the question is, are you going to follow through, Democrats, or once again prove that you have no spine? Even with total control in Washington, and the entire country behind real health care reform? If that's the case, you will have not only blown an historic opportunity for the real "change we need," you will lose your majority in 2010.

Insurance industry suddenly finds ways to cut health care costs! Wow, aren't we impressed!

So, NOW the insurance industry finally comes around, saying it can reduce costs! Gosh, what were they waiting for? The threat of a public health care option, that's what.

Don't let them fool you, and keep the heat on your elected representatives for real reform.

All the industry's proposal will do is cut a mere 1.5% from the price INCREASES they were hoping to leach our economy further with.

Private insurance is the whole reason our health care is in such a mess in this country. The huge amounts wasted on overhead and unnecessary bureaucracy caused by these greedy companies is bloating our system. They sit in their cubicles, in between you and your doctor, and tell your doctor what he can and can not do for you.

This proposal is nothing more than a desperate attempt to avoid their worst nightmare -- a public health option. They know that if Americans have that option, they'll end up gravitating to it, because it makes so much sense.

Private insurance advocates always talk about preserving choice. So why are they against this choice? Make sure your representatives know you want a public health care option.

Tell your reps: Support the public health care option!

To my mind, it is critical to do all we can right now to pressure Congress to support the public health care option.

MoveOn.org says:

Exciting news on health care: The New York Times editorial page joined Paul Krugman, Dr. Howard Dean, and 77 progressives in Congress in support of President Obama's public health insurance option. This option is the key to finally covering everyone and lowering premiums by as much as 30 percent.

All this momentum means the right-wing fear mongering about "socialized medicine," is only going to get louder. And the insurance industry is ramping up its campaign to stop this critical reform as we speak. That means we'll need to work hard to make sure others in Congress are demanding a public health insurance option too.

I agree. This is the first real opportunity we've had in decades to get real health care reform, and the public health care option in particular will give people the option of bypassing the greedy insurance industry.
Please take a few minutes to call your representatives and sign this petition.

It's a small effort to make for a healthier future for our country. Thanks.

Dean campaigning for public health insurance option (Medicare-type option for all)

Good news!

Gov. Howard Dean (an M.D., remember), has declared he's hitting the road to campaign for a health care plan that will give people the right to choose a Medicare-type option.

In his announcement, he said:

During the election, President Obama proposed a health care plan that would give every American the freedom to choose between keeping their private insurance—if they have any—and choosing a universally available public health insurance option like Medicare.

But for-profit insurance companies and HMOs are already working hard to strip this public health insurance option from any upcoming health care bill. They don't want us to have a choice, and they'll stop at nothing to kill real reform. Trouble is, some in Congress are siding with the insurance companies—and against what's best for the rest of us.

Today, we draw a line in the sand. A public health insurance option is the only way to guarantee health care for all Americans. And to show that we mean business, we all need to tell Congress we won't settle for less.

We need a single-payer system for the most efficient, humane system overall, but at the minimum, people should be able to choose a medicare-for-all type option. Gov. Dean's rhetoric suggests Obama would sign such a health care bill, which surprised me, as I thought he was not open to that when he said single-payer was off the table.

I believe providing this sort of choice is the way to real, needed change in the way we provide health care coverage in this country. I think it will end up proving that most people already want single-payer, and many more will figure out it's the best way to go when they see the choice.

Please go here to sign Dean's petition, and please agitate as strongly as you can for a public health insurance option!

Demonstrations at offices of major banks Thursday nationwide!

Tomorrow, Thursday, March 19, 2009, Americans in cities nationwide will hold demonstrations at the offices of major banks and other corporations to demand more responsible corporate behavior and call on Congress to enact the change that will make it happen. Employee free choice and health care reform will also be issues that are emphasized. Click here for info on some cities where demonstrations are planned.

A populist sentiment is rising once again in America, and that's a good thing. For various reasons, we've been far too complacent for far too long. Now's the time to take advantage of the popular anger over the economic shenanigans of corporate thieves on Wall Street and all over the world -- we need real, systemic changes, NOW -- and this is the best opportunity in years to make it happen.

Let's get out on the street for some good ol' fashioned protests. Get your poster boards, magic markers and paint out, meet your neighbors and raise some hell!

Help make Guaranteed Health Care for All a reality in three easy steps

I (and the majority of Americans, according to numerous polls) feel that Guaranteed Health Care for All is a basic human right.

I like this idea from the Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), which has launched a nationwide effort to bring this core issue to the heart of the 2008 Democratic National Convention. The platform process is underway, and this is a great way to bring the issue to the forefront of the convention -- if we act as citizens, and contact the delegates. Here's how PDA wants to do it. I invite all to join in.

How you can help change history in three easy steps:

1) Click here and find the names of your area’s delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

2) Contact those delegates and urge them to join three visionary progressive members of Congress--convention delegates John Conyers, Jim McGovern and Lynn Woolsey--who are initial signers of the “Statement in Support of Guaranteed Health Care for All as a Plank in the Democratic Party Platform of 2008.” Any delegate can go online and become a signer at:
http://pdamerica.e-actionmax.com/takeaction.asp?aaid=3410

3) Pass this letter onto websites, listservs and other outlets to spread the word. Post it wherever you can. Think of this as a grassroots chain letter for Guaranteed Health Care for All.

If you contact delegates now, hundreds of them could soon add their names to this new statement. It urges the convention to adopt a plank in the 2008 party platform to “guarantee accessible health care for all” in the United States, to “create a single standard of high quality, comprehensive, and preventive health care for all”--and to “eliminate financial barriers that prevent families and individuals from obtaining the medically necessary care they need.”