Unfortunately, all of the hands are giving the finger.
According to this article from CNN, the Tea Party protesters are going on tour! Apparently, the name "Tea Party" not only refers to a protest against taxes, but also against health care reform and so-called "big government." I fully believe that when the original Tea Party happened in Boston back in 1773, the demonstrators involved wanted their movement's name to be used to protest things that are completely unrelated to the original purpose.
(Note: I didn't know this before, but this article taught me that the TEA in TEA Party stands for Taxed Enough Already. I'm sure they'll clue us in on how taxes have anything to do with the health care crisis.)
Anyway, the TEA Party protesters are taking a two week bus tour from Sacramento to Washington, D.C., culminating in a march to announce their views and protest the President's agenda.
Even putting aside the public option as an issue, people still find problems with reforming a system that is inherently broken and flawed. I love those Libertarians!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
McCain, That Dirty Liberal Scoundrel
At a recent town hall, John McCain was taunted, berated, and yelled at by residents of Phoenix, Arizona. Just to be clear, McCain is for health care reform, but is against the public option.
One woman at this meeting was kicked out for continuously yelling at the Senator before he had even started speaking:
"The Arizona senator hadn't yet opened up the meeting at McCain's central Phoenix church to questions when one audience member continuously yelled over him.
"You're going to have to stop or you're going to have to leave," McCain told the woman. When security guards approached to escort her out, he told her "Goodbye, see ya" to a round of applause."
Which is actually pretty funny on McCain's part. The point is, if people are shouting at Republican members of Congress who aren't even in favor of the Obama plan, do they know what's going on and actually oppose health care reform or are they simply yelling for the sake of yelling?
Source
One woman at this meeting was kicked out for continuously yelling at the Senator before he had even started speaking:
"The Arizona senator hadn't yet opened up the meeting at McCain's central Phoenix church to questions when one audience member continuously yelled over him.
"You're going to have to stop or you're going to have to leave," McCain told the woman. When security guards approached to escort her out, he told her "Goodbye, see ya" to a round of applause."
Which is actually pretty funny on McCain's part. The point is, if people are shouting at Republican members of Congress who aren't even in favor of the Obama plan, do they know what's going on and actually oppose health care reform or are they simply yelling for the sake of yelling?
Source
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Has the Extra Heat on Senate Democrats Started to Pay Off?
It's starting to look that way! Late last week Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), one of the so-called "Gang of Six" in the Senate Finance Committee started that he now supports a public option as part of health care reform.
Just today, another member of the Gang of Six, Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, stated that he would support using reconciliation as a way to get heath care reform through the Senate.
It seems like the progressive groups whom Max Baucus warned of created a centrist backlash against health care reform have started to turn the tables! Keep fighting the good fight!
Just today, another member of the Gang of Six, Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, stated that he would support using reconciliation as a way to get heath care reform through the Senate.
It seems like the progressive groups whom Max Baucus warned of created a centrist backlash against health care reform have started to turn the tables! Keep fighting the good fight!
Why Do These Insane Rumors About Health Reform Fly?
I just saw something rather frightening. According the Livescience.com, more than HALF of Americans believe in the health care 'myths'.
Part of the problem here is the fact that they're referred to as 'myths'. No, there aren't 'myths', they're total myths. There are no death panel in any of the bills. This is not a government takeover of health care. This will not gut Medicare. Illegal immigrants will not be covered.
How many times do you have to beat middle America over the head with the logic stick before they actually get it?
Part of the problem here is the fact that they're referred to as 'myths'. No, there aren't 'myths', they're total myths. There are no death panel in any of the bills. This is not a government takeover of health care. This will not gut Medicare. Illegal immigrants will not be covered.
How many times do you have to beat middle America over the head with the logic stick before they actually get it?
Friday, August 21, 2009
Senator Kyl: No Republicans Will Support Reform
Thanks for the heads up. We look forward to unseating you next year.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Rob Andrews Responds to Email
When the announcement to go soft on the public option was announced, my colleague Dave posted on this blog, encouraging everyone to write their congressperson and express how important they believe this bill to be. To reiterate, there is no progress or change when what I personally consider to be the most important part of the reform bill -- providing a health care option to the ~50 million uninsured Americans -- is softened due to false rumors and fear of revolt.
I took the initiative and wrote my own Congressman, Rob Andrews of New Jersey's 1st District. While he didn't actually read my letter (as evidenced by the fact that while I wrote him in support of his opinion, the response seems to believe I was against it), it exposes some of the truths about the bill itself. I'd like to post my response from Congressman Andrews here in the hopes that it may be used as an education tool to any readers of this blog, as well as to any friends of readers who believe the rumors and hearsay about the bill. Unfortunately, Andrews does not confirm or deny the existence of death panels in this letter.
Thank you for contacting me with your concerns about our health care system. I appreciate the fact that you took the time to contact me and I apologize for the delay in my response.
I want to make changes to our health care system because health care costs are spiraling out of control. Health insurance premiums have doubled over the last decade. Your premiums are projected to double again over the next decade. Last year, more than half of all Americans postponed medical care or skipped their medication because they could not afford it. American families deserve more. I have read H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, and I am dedicated to ensuring that our families receive better, more affordable health insurance. As a result, I support President Obama’s initiative to improve the health insurance system.
The bill will lower your health care costs by giving you more choices for your health insurance. Plus, if you have a pre-existing condition like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer, insurance companies will no longer be able to deny you coverage or charge you a very high premium. There will be a limit of how much you and your family have to spend for health care out of your own pocket. Let me clarify some of the bill’s other provisions:
1. No one will be forced into a public plan. This is not about putting the government in charge of your health insurance. Absolutely no one will be forced to give up their private insurance or enroll in a government health plan. The proposal will simply give Americans more options for health insurance coverage.
2. If you like your health insurance, you can keep your insurance. If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. If you like your current plan, you keep your current plan.
3. Taxes will not be raised for middle-class families. A couple making less than $325,000 a year will pay no new taxes under H.R. 3200. Today, middle-class families pay an enormous “hidden tax” of nearly $1,100 per year to provide care for the uninsured and underinsured. Under the proposed bill, these hidden costs will be eliminated. In fact, reducing health care costs will help grow the middle class for the first time since the 1990s.
4. Most small businesses will not be affected. Only 2.1% of all small business owners would be affected by health insurance reform. The remaining 97.9% of small business owners would be completely unaffected by the changes but would benefit from the American-style market competition created by the bill.
Because there are so many misconceptions about the bill, you need to understand what H.R. 3200 does not do. It does not deny any person on Medicare (or any other plan) coverage for any care that their doctor thinks is appropriate. It does not spend any taxpayer money on abortions. It does not provide coverage for illegal immigrants. Most importantly, it doesn’t let people with modest incomes go without health insurance.
As health care legislation continues to move forward, your thoughts and suggestions are welcome. Thank you again for contacting me and if I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me again.
Sincerely,
Robert Andrews
Member of Congress
I took the initiative and wrote my own Congressman, Rob Andrews of New Jersey's 1st District. While he didn't actually read my letter (as evidenced by the fact that while I wrote him in support of his opinion, the response seems to believe I was against it), it exposes some of the truths about the bill itself. I'd like to post my response from Congressman Andrews here in the hopes that it may be used as an education tool to any readers of this blog, as well as to any friends of readers who believe the rumors and hearsay about the bill. Unfortunately, Andrews does not confirm or deny the existence of death panels in this letter.
Thank you for contacting me with your concerns about our health care system. I appreciate the fact that you took the time to contact me and I apologize for the delay in my response.
I want to make changes to our health care system because health care costs are spiraling out of control. Health insurance premiums have doubled over the last decade. Your premiums are projected to double again over the next decade. Last year, more than half of all Americans postponed medical care or skipped their medication because they could not afford it. American families deserve more. I have read H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, and I am dedicated to ensuring that our families receive better, more affordable health insurance. As a result, I support President Obama’s initiative to improve the health insurance system.
The bill will lower your health care costs by giving you more choices for your health insurance. Plus, if you have a pre-existing condition like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer, insurance companies will no longer be able to deny you coverage or charge you a very high premium. There will be a limit of how much you and your family have to spend for health care out of your own pocket. Let me clarify some of the bill’s other provisions:
1. No one will be forced into a public plan. This is not about putting the government in charge of your health insurance. Absolutely no one will be forced to give up their private insurance or enroll in a government health plan. The proposal will simply give Americans more options for health insurance coverage.
2. If you like your health insurance, you can keep your insurance. If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. If you like your current plan, you keep your current plan.
3. Taxes will not be raised for middle-class families. A couple making less than $325,000 a year will pay no new taxes under H.R. 3200. Today, middle-class families pay an enormous “hidden tax” of nearly $1,100 per year to provide care for the uninsured and underinsured. Under the proposed bill, these hidden costs will be eliminated. In fact, reducing health care costs will help grow the middle class for the first time since the 1990s.
4. Most small businesses will not be affected. Only 2.1% of all small business owners would be affected by health insurance reform. The remaining 97.9% of small business owners would be completely unaffected by the changes but would benefit from the American-style market competition created by the bill.
Because there are so many misconceptions about the bill, you need to understand what H.R. 3200 does not do. It does not deny any person on Medicare (or any other plan) coverage for any care that their doctor thinks is appropriate. It does not spend any taxpayer money on abortions. It does not provide coverage for illegal immigrants. Most importantly, it doesn’t let people with modest incomes go without health insurance.
As health care legislation continues to move forward, your thoughts and suggestions are welcome. Thank you again for contacting me and if I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me again.
Sincerely,
Robert Andrews
Member of Congress
If You Can't Win, Make Things Up
When did the town hall health care meetings have to become exercises in fact-checking? Take this article, for instance. As I've mentioned in a previous article, private health care companies are intentionally spreading false rumors about the health care bill in order to exacerbate its passage and cause the mayhem and chaos in the town halls that have been exhibited on the news. These Congressmen and Senators are reduced to arguing against these irrational rumors, despite various sources debunking the myths many people are so angry about.
If members of Congress can't convince their constituencies of the health care bill's benefits, then who can we get to do it instead?
If members of Congress can't convince their constituencies of the health care bill's benefits, then who can we get to do it instead?
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Glenn Beck is a Hypocrite
Which honestly goes without saying, but I'll let the video speak for itself.
Watch the video from The Daily Show here.
Watch the video from The Daily Show here.
Health Care Town Hall Meeting in Bridgewater, NJ TOMORROW!!!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
The Bridgewater Library
1 Vogt Drive
Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807
This will be held by Representative Leonard Lance (R-NJ 7), a moderate Republican (whom I know personally, so I can vouch for this). Help keep the meeting from being hijacked by the right-wing rent-a-mobs and tell him that we want reform and we want it now!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Pelosi Says House Democrats Won't Back Down from Public Option
I don't always have nice things to say about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but at least she's sticking behind us in demanding the public option.
"The Swiss Menace"
An excellent editorial by the New York Times' Paul Krugman, detailing how the Swiss health care system is actually the closest to the proposed health care changes in Congress right now.
Insurance Companies and the Lies That Run Them
First, read This article, written by Wendell Potter.
Potter was Head of Communications at CIGNA, one of the largest health insurance companies in the United States. In his two-decade career, he assisted the effort to promote private health insurers and kill President Clinton's health care plans in 1993. Potter resigned last year and is now working at the nonprofit Center for Media and Democracy. His new position works to expose the lies that corporations and governments spin for the media. He is now directly opposing the health insurance industry, including the CIGNA Corporation that once employed him.
The health care industry is going to extraordinary measures to prevent or castrate President Obama's health care initiative, and guess what -- right now, it's working. One specific part of the article stood out:
The most vocal folks at the town hall meetings seem to share the same ideology as my kinfolks in East Tennessee and my former CIGNA buddy: the less government involvement in our lives, the better.
This alone is enough to infuriate me. Those who stand to gain the most from a public health care system are the ones screaming to destroy it. Absolutely ridiculous.
Here is Wendell Potter's organization, the Center for Media and Democracy.
Potter was Head of Communications at CIGNA, one of the largest health insurance companies in the United States. In his two-decade career, he assisted the effort to promote private health insurers and kill President Clinton's health care plans in 1993. Potter resigned last year and is now working at the nonprofit Center for Media and Democracy. His new position works to expose the lies that corporations and governments spin for the media. He is now directly opposing the health insurance industry, including the CIGNA Corporation that once employed him.
The health care industry is going to extraordinary measures to prevent or castrate President Obama's health care initiative, and guess what -- right now, it's working. One specific part of the article stood out:
The most vocal folks at the town hall meetings seem to share the same ideology as my kinfolks in East Tennessee and my former CIGNA buddy: the less government involvement in our lives, the better.
That point couldn't have been made clearer than by the man standing in line to get free care at Remote Area Medical's recent health care "expedition" at the Wise County, Virginia, fairgrounds, who told a reporter he was dead set against President Obama's reform proposal.
Even though he didn't have health insurance, and could see the desperation in the faces of thousands of others all around him who were in similar straits, he was more worried about the possibility of having to pay more taxes than he was eager to make sure he and his neighbors wouldn't have to wait in line to get care provided by volunteer doctors in animal stalls.This alone is enough to infuriate me. Those who stand to gain the most from a public health care system are the ones screaming to destroy it. Absolutely ridiculous.
Here is Wendell Potter's organization, the Center for Media and Democracy.
What the Hell is Going On?
Secretary of Health/Human Services Kathleen Sebalius: Public option "not essential"
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs: White House supports the public option
White House Health Care Spokesperson Linda Douglass: "He [The President] believes that a strong public option is the best way to achieve those goals [lowering costs, universal coverage, etc.]"
Secretary Sebalius (again): White House staffer quoted above "misspoke"
Can someone PLEASE cut through all the crap and tell me what's going on at the White House?
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs: White House supports the public option
White House Health Care Spokesperson Linda Douglass: "He [The President] believes that a strong public option is the best way to achieve those goals [lowering costs, universal coverage, etc.]"
Secretary Sebalius (again): White House staffer quoted above "misspoke"
Can someone PLEASE cut through all the crap and tell me what's going on at the White House?
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Obama Sold Us Out...
Seems like I've missed quite a bit this weekend. Specifically, that the White House is ready to abandon the public option as a part of heath care reform.
This is it. We've been double-crossed. We've been betrayed. This isn't the change I, or anyone else voted for.
President Obama, how dare you sell us out to the Republicans. How dare you let a party of dangerous obstructionists who are completely out of touch with reality dictate what you do. You let 1993 happen all over again because you were too cowardly to tackle all the lies and misinformation about the public option.
In addition, how dare you let conservative Democrats who represent a disproportionately small part of the population (Max Baucus is from Montana, for example) dictate to the rest of us what our party is capable of getting done. The party platform supports comprehensive reform with a public option. These people have betrayed the party and America.
How dare you become part of the problem with getting health care reform done. Reform hasn't happened because no one has had the cojones to show any kind of real leadership on the issue. Instead of using the mandate for change that we gave you, you let a bunch of kicking and screaming children hijack the issue of reform, spin it and give us "death panels", "rationing" (which we already have, might I add) and rent-a-mobs at what are supposed to be constructive town hall meetings about health care.
I'm sure in personally and in private, you know that a public health care option is what we need. Unfortunately, you don't have the guile to turn a really damn good idea into reality. All I have left to say is, President Obama, fuck you for fucking me and the rest of my generation.
On the other hand, all is not lost! Get on the phone right now and call your Senators and Congressman and tell them that despite what cowardice the White House shows, we're still demanding a strong public option in whatever bill comes out of the House and Senate. Even if Obama abandons us, we will not give up! Give me health care or give me death!
This is it. We've been double-crossed. We've been betrayed. This isn't the change I, or anyone else voted for.
President Obama, how dare you sell us out to the Republicans. How dare you let a party of dangerous obstructionists who are completely out of touch with reality dictate what you do. You let 1993 happen all over again because you were too cowardly to tackle all the lies and misinformation about the public option.
In addition, how dare you let conservative Democrats who represent a disproportionately small part of the population (Max Baucus is from Montana, for example) dictate to the rest of us what our party is capable of getting done. The party platform supports comprehensive reform with a public option. These people have betrayed the party and America.
How dare you become part of the problem with getting health care reform done. Reform hasn't happened because no one has had the cojones to show any kind of real leadership on the issue. Instead of using the mandate for change that we gave you, you let a bunch of kicking and screaming children hijack the issue of reform, spin it and give us "death panels", "rationing" (which we already have, might I add) and rent-a-mobs at what are supposed to be constructive town hall meetings about health care.
I'm sure in personally and in private, you know that a public health care option is what we need. Unfortunately, you don't have the guile to turn a really damn good idea into reality. All I have left to say is, President Obama, fuck you for fucking me and the rest of my generation.
On the other hand, all is not lost! Get on the phone right now and call your Senators and Congressman and tell them that despite what cowardice the White House shows, we're still demanding a strong public option in whatever bill comes out of the House and Senate. Even if Obama abandons us, we will not give up! Give me health care or give me death!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Chuck Grassley the Hypocrite. Surprised, Anyone?
Turns out Senator Chuck Grassley supported the so-called 'death panels' that he now speaks so vocally against.
Is anyone surprised in the slightest bit? And why isn't the media all over this? Fourth estate my ass.
Is anyone surprised in the slightest bit? And why isn't the media all over this? Fourth estate my ass.
Is Obama Selling Us Out?
The title is a take on my colleague's previous entry, but the content is a bit different. The Huffington Post reported yesterday that the White House and the lobbying group PhRMA (short for Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers Association) have made a deal allowing $80 billion in cuts from the pharmaceutical companies in exchange for opposing efforts to import drugs from Canada or lower costs on prescriptions.
This is exactly the kind of behind-the-door dealing that the RNC used against Candidate Obama last year, and what he had vowed not to do. If transparency really is a concern for the Obama administration, it would be in his best interest to acknowledge this memo for what it is: a display of quid pro quo for the pharmaceutical industry, allowing lobbyists to once again control Washington politics and secure huge financial profits. It's quite despicable and something I had hoped the Obama administration would not become involved in.
Don't worry, private health insurers, you'll still be making billions of dollars even after the health care bill passes. As for the private citizens of this country, well, we still seem to be getting screwed somehow.
This is exactly the kind of behind-the-door dealing that the RNC used against Candidate Obama last year, and what he had vowed not to do. If transparency really is a concern for the Obama administration, it would be in his best interest to acknowledge this memo for what it is: a display of quid pro quo for the pharmaceutical industry, allowing lobbyists to once again control Washington politics and secure huge financial profits. It's quite despicable and something I had hoped the Obama administration would not become involved in.
Don't worry, private health insurers, you'll still be making billions of dollars even after the health care bill passes. As for the private citizens of this country, well, we still seem to be getting screwed somehow.
Democratic Congressman: "I've got facts on my side, you've got Glenn Beck"
Awesome, awesome, awesome.
Is Obama Selling Us Out on Health Care Reform in the Name of Bipartisanship?
I never thought that President Obama himself would become part of the problem.
The other day, the President said how he was committed to working with people who have no apparent interest in reforming health care. I'm thinking specifically of how Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) recently endorsed the odious 'death panel' rumors, and how despite the sickness of these lies, Obama says he is still committed to working in a bipartisan matter with people like Grassley on reform.
Sorry Mr. President, but this is a lost cause and will damn your reform efforts.
When will the President realize that some people simply cannot be reasoned with? And why is Former President Bill Clinton more direct than the current President on fighting the lies and smears about reform?
A few weeks ago, Bill Maher observed how Barack Obama "needed a little George Bush in him." He meant it in the sense that Bush didn't care about bipartisanship when he rammed massive tax cuts for the richest Americas, a bill that gutted clean air standards, two wars, the Patriot Act, repealing Glass-Stegal, and other acts that screwed everything up in this country so royally. If only President Obama showed that kind of guile when he originally brought up health care reform.
So what is my solution? Simple: Screw Bipartisanship. The Republican Party is hell-bent on destroying the Obama Presidency by any means necessary, and that includes killing live-saving health care reform. We know all their tricks too: lies, spin, misinformation, Fox News, you get the idea. As mentioned previously, these people simply cannot be reasoned with, and change is going to have to be forced upon them. They don't realize the country is headed in a different direction now. When they say "The America I grew up in is changing" they're absoultely right. Change is inevitable, especially when something so incredibly broken as our health care system needs to be fixed. Their reactionary clinging to an America that doesn't exist anymore (I'll leave all the race-baiting out of this one) is dangerous and will damn us all if it isn't countered.
Mr. President, don't sell us out.
The other day, the President said how he was committed to working with people who have no apparent interest in reforming health care. I'm thinking specifically of how Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) recently endorsed the odious 'death panel' rumors, and how despite the sickness of these lies, Obama says he is still committed to working in a bipartisan matter with people like Grassley on reform.
Sorry Mr. President, but this is a lost cause and will damn your reform efforts.
When will the President realize that some people simply cannot be reasoned with? And why is Former President Bill Clinton more direct than the current President on fighting the lies and smears about reform?
A few weeks ago, Bill Maher observed how Barack Obama "needed a little George Bush in him." He meant it in the sense that Bush didn't care about bipartisanship when he rammed massive tax cuts for the richest Americas, a bill that gutted clean air standards, two wars, the Patriot Act, repealing Glass-Stegal, and other acts that screwed everything up in this country so royally. If only President Obama showed that kind of guile when he originally brought up health care reform.
So what is my solution? Simple: Screw Bipartisanship. The Republican Party is hell-bent on destroying the Obama Presidency by any means necessary, and that includes killing live-saving health care reform. We know all their tricks too: lies, spin, misinformation, Fox News, you get the idea. As mentioned previously, these people simply cannot be reasoned with, and change is going to have to be forced upon them. They don't realize the country is headed in a different direction now. When they say "The America I grew up in is changing" they're absoultely right. Change is inevitable, especially when something so incredibly broken as our health care system needs to be fixed. Their reactionary clinging to an America that doesn't exist anymore (I'll leave all the race-baiting out of this one) is dangerous and will damn us all if it isn't countered.
Mr. President, don't sell us out.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Rob Andrews on Health Care Debates, Blue Dogs
Rob Andrews isn't my favorite Congressman. In fact, as a constituent of his, I was delighted when he announced that he was abandoning his seat in order to challenge Senator Lautenberg in the 2008 election, only to see him come crawling back to the First District after being defeated in the primary and win reelection to the House by a landslide. So even though I'm stuck with him at least until January 2011, that doesn't mean I have to systematically disagree with everything he says.
In an interview with DC Air America host and MSNBC commentator Jack Rice, Andrews points out that the most important thing that the Democratic Party can do right now is to get their own Blue Dog members under control and convince them to vote along party lines on the health care bills floating around in the House. Despite being a moderate and fiscal conservative, Andrews backs President Obama on the public option and a national health care plan. If he keeps up this work I might have to swallow my pride and vote him back to the House next year.
Listen to the interview here.
In an interview with DC Air America host and MSNBC commentator Jack Rice, Andrews points out that the most important thing that the Democratic Party can do right now is to get their own Blue Dog members under control and convince them to vote along party lines on the health care bills floating around in the House. Despite being a moderate and fiscal conservative, Andrews backs President Obama on the public option and a national health care plan. If he keeps up this work I might have to swallow my pride and vote him back to the House next year.
Listen to the interview here.
Rothman: "I don't want socialized medicine"
Continuing debate in town halls everywhere: CNN.com
though this is happening everywhere, I'd like to highlight a quote by Steve Rothman, a Democratic Representative from New Jersey's 9th District:
"Rep. Steve Rothman, D-New Jersey, said at a meeting in Secaucus that the aim of health care reform is not to make America's system mimic Great Britain's or Canada's.
'I, for one, don't want a system like Great Britain's. I don't want a system like Canada's. I don't want national health care, and I don't want socialized medicine,' he said.
Rothman said that any health care bill coming out of Congress has to 'fix what needs to be fixed' but not 'destroy what's good about the existing private health insurance system.'"
The Congressman acknowledges that any American health care system has to be tailored to fit the United States, rather than copy off of a Canadian or British system. However, with emotions running wild within these town hall meetings, it seems as if any sort of rational thought would be ignored in favor of soundbites and further raging.
though this is happening everywhere, I'd like to highlight a quote by Steve Rothman, a Democratic Representative from New Jersey's 9th District:
"Rep. Steve Rothman, D-New Jersey, said at a meeting in Secaucus that the aim of health care reform is not to make America's system mimic Great Britain's or Canada's.
'I, for one, don't want a system like Great Britain's. I don't want a system like Canada's. I don't want national health care, and I don't want socialized medicine,' he said.
Rothman said that any health care bill coming out of Congress has to 'fix what needs to be fixed' but not 'destroy what's good about the existing private health insurance system.'"
The Congressman acknowledges that any American health care system has to be tailored to fit the United States, rather than copy off of a Canadian or British system. However, with emotions running wild within these town hall meetings, it seems as if any sort of rational thought would be ignored in favor of soundbites and further raging.
How the Other Side Lives
Hi. My name is Lael and I'll be doing some posts on this blog along with Dave and the rest of the crew. I'm a recent graduate from Rutgers and, like Dave, worried about the state of my own health insurance now that I'm no longer a dependent. I thought what I'd do for my first post is highlight some of the arguments against what its opponents pejoratively refer to as "ObamaCare."
Clever.
Well, with all of the debate about death panels, it comes as no surprise that dying is a concern for the opposition!
Because when your choices are to stop production on the most expensive fighter jet that the military builds, despite the fact that even our Republican Defense Secretary admits that there is a more advanced model being created and not having any standards on the integrity of our environment, clearly the best option is to cut the program that ensures everyone is healthy in order to preserve the other two.
I feel like there should be a disclaimer a la South Park while I'm posting these photos.
Clever.
Well, with all of the debate about death panels, it comes as no surprise that dying is a concern for the opposition!
Because when your choices are to stop production on the most expensive fighter jet that the military builds, despite the fact that even our Republican Defense Secretary admits that there is a more advanced model being created and not having any standards on the integrity of our environment, clearly the best option is to cut the program that ensures everyone is healthy in order to preserve the other two.
I feel like there should be a disclaimer a la South Park while I'm posting these photos.
Is the Democratic Leadership Growing a Pair on Health Care Reform?
I know it sounds crazy, but it sounds like the progressive leadership in the Democratic Party might actually be walking the walk on progressive issues and will challenge Democrats who don't support health care reform in next year's primaries. Specifically, party chairman Howard Dean mentioned he will target Democrats who vote against the public option. Sounds like Dr. Dean is finally in the house.
Let's hope he makes good on the threat.
Let's hope he makes good on the threat.
Town Hall Meetings with Rep. Lenoard Lance (R-NJ District 7)!
Just got an email with dates of town hall meetings that will be hosted by Republican Senator Lenoard Lance (NJ-7). The radical right will most definitely be there trying to shout down any and all sane people. Will you help fight back? I will!
Monday, August 17, 2009
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Montgomery Senior Center
356 Skillman Road
Montgomery, New Jersey 08558
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Summit Library
75 Maple Street
Summit, New Jersey 07901
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
The Bridgewater Library
1 Vogt Drive
Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Edison Public Library
777 Grove Avenue
Edison, New Jersey 08820
Jon Stewart Talks Obama's PR and The Media's Coverage of the Town Hall Meetings
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| PR | ||||
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He raises a very good point here, and I'm not talking about how Fox News blatantly adjusts their coverage of events to fit their ongoing narrative, as Mr. Stewart points out. The fact that the mainstream media is even giving these lunatics a mouthpiece to spew their crap gives them credibility, whether they even attempt to debunk these people or not. The cowardice of the media over being labeled liberal or whatnot is astounding. If health care reform fails, the media will take a large share of the blame for simply refusing to do its job and sort out the facts from the lies. And the facts and lies in this case are surprisingly clear-cut.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Stephen Colbert and Author Jonathan Cohn Talk Health Care Reform
The provided embedding code isn't working for some reason so I can only provide a link
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Jon Stewart Takes on Health Care Wingnuts
Expect to see a lot from Mr. Stewart over the coming weeks, I'm anxiously looking forward to it.
Props to the Republican Congressman who told his constituents to turn off Glenn Beck. That took serious balls (sad that I have to commend that, isn't it?).
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Healther Skelter | ||||
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Props to the Republican Congressman who told his constituents to turn off Glenn Beck. That took serious balls (sad that I have to commend that, isn't it?).
Dick Durbin Sells Us Out on the Public Option, and James Carville Seconds It
True health care reform has potentially been killed before it had the chance to live:
Contact Dick Durbin's Illinois office and tell him that as long as we have a say, the public option STAYS IN THE BILL! Democrats should not be the ones killing the public option!
http://durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm
(312) 353-4952 - Phone
(312) 353-0150 - Fax
Contact Dick Durbin's Illinois office and tell him that as long as we have a say, the public option STAYS IN THE BILL! Democrats should not be the ones killing the public option!
http://durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm
(312) 353-4952 - Phone
(312) 353-0150 - Fax
Thank You, Mr. Olbermann
Keith Olbermann takes on Sarah Palin's death panel claims in a Special Comment.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Really, Newt? Really?: The Issue of the "Death Panels"
I always knew Newt Gingrich and I disagreed on a lot of things, but after his many appearances on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, I felt I could take comfort in the fact that while we disagreed, he was still an intelligent, reasonable man. This weekend my image of Mr. Gingrich was shattered.
Last week, on 9 August, Newt defended Sarah Palin's outrageous claim that President Obama's health care plan included a certain "death panel" where "government bureaucrats" would decide whether a very ill person was worth saving. Just for the record, there is no "death panel" in ANY of the proposed health care plans currently in Congress. The only thing remotely close to that outrageous claim is on page 425 of the House Democrats bill, which is about "Advanced Care Planning", which "includes living wills and durable powers of attorney that allow individuals to make clear their wishes for end-of-life care, whatever they may be." This is no death panel, it's the options I'd like to have if I was terminally ill with cancer or whatnot. These are the protections that would allow people to die with dignity and hopefully in less agony, and the Republicans are twisting it around for political advantage.
Actually, a similar program was actually proposed by a PRO-LIFE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN, Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA). Two years ago Senator Isakson co-sponsored two bills - The Medicare End-of-Life Planning Act and the Advanced Planning and Compassionate Care Act - that championed the case of advanced planning. To date, Isakson has remained conspicuously silent on the issue. On the other hand, at least someone in the Republcian Party understands the merits of advanced care.
I should also mention that we already have death panels that decide whether you're worth saving or not. They're called private insurance companies, and they do it every day. Perhaps if Sarah Palin's health insurance company was slightly less generous (aka, treated her like the rest of us) about her disabled son, Trig, maybe she'd be singing a different tune.
Last week, on 9 August, Newt defended Sarah Palin's outrageous claim that President Obama's health care plan included a certain "death panel" where "government bureaucrats" would decide whether a very ill person was worth saving. Just for the record, there is no "death panel" in ANY of the proposed health care plans currently in Congress. The only thing remotely close to that outrageous claim is on page 425 of the House Democrats bill, which is about "Advanced Care Planning", which "includes living wills and durable powers of attorney that allow individuals to make clear their wishes for end-of-life care, whatever they may be." This is no death panel, it's the options I'd like to have if I was terminally ill with cancer or whatnot. These are the protections that would allow people to die with dignity and hopefully in less agony, and the Republicans are twisting it around for political advantage.
Actually, a similar program was actually proposed by a PRO-LIFE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN, Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA). Two years ago Senator Isakson co-sponsored two bills - The Medicare End-of-Life Planning Act and the Advanced Planning and Compassionate Care Act - that championed the case of advanced planning. To date, Isakson has remained conspicuously silent on the issue. On the other hand, at least someone in the Republcian Party understands the merits of advanced care.
I should also mention that we already have death panels that decide whether you're worth saving or not. They're called private insurance companies, and they do it every day. Perhaps if Sarah Palin's health insurance company was slightly less generous (aka, treated her like the rest of us) about her disabled son, Trig, maybe she'd be singing a different tune.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Anti-Reformist Asks for Money to Pay His Health Bills
Oh, the irony! An anti-reformist zealot who got into an altercation at a St. Louis health care event is now begging his friends on the right for money to help pay his medical bills, since he lost his coverage after he lost his job.
The obvious thought here is painful. Why is this man fighting AGAINST a system that would have guaranteed that he would've had health insurance after he was sacked from his job? Perhaps he was canned for his own stupidity and/or hypocrisy?
Sadly, this is just like how the far right hijacked the American heartland: play to their fears about "big government"/gays/abortion/terrorism and they'll vote against their own interests in a second. It's utterly mind-boggling how these people have been essentially duped into supporting something that does not help them even the slightest bit. People like this guy should feel played, and I pity them.
The obvious thought here is painful. Why is this man fighting AGAINST a system that would have guaranteed that he would've had health insurance after he was sacked from his job? Perhaps he was canned for his own stupidity and/or hypocrisy?
Sadly, this is just like how the far right hijacked the American heartland: play to their fears about "big government"/gays/abortion/terrorism and they'll vote against their own interests in a second. It's utterly mind-boggling how these people have been essentially duped into supporting something that does not help them even the slightest bit. People like this guy should feel played, and I pity them.
Welcome!
This is for anyone who is interesting in following the ongoing health care debate and feels they have a literal life-or-death stake in this, just like we do. This is written primarily by Rutgers University students who are scared of joining the ranks of the uninsured once we graduate and if we can't find jobs with benefits or afford Graduate School to continue our coverage.
We feel that the only solution to this is a complete and total overhaul of the American health care system that puts the American people first, not the profits of private insurance companies. Ideally, this would have included a true single-payer health care system, but seeing as we've been sold out on that, a "strong, government-run option" is the best chance we have right now.
We also believe that our age group, young people between 18 and 35, are completely ignored in this debate. This should be alarming to anyone in this group since whatever comes out (or not) of this debate will be the system that we inherit and have to live with. Therefore, we loudly demand a say in how this system is made, since most of the people who are current devising it will be dead in 20 years and not have to worry about it.
To do our part, we will be closely watching Congress, the President, and the media coverage of the health care debate, especially in this vital August. Expect to see blunt and frank commentary, analysis, and personal stories about this vital issue and why it really is a life-or-death situation.
We feel that the only solution to this is a complete and total overhaul of the American health care system that puts the American people first, not the profits of private insurance companies. Ideally, this would have included a true single-payer health care system, but seeing as we've been sold out on that, a "strong, government-run option" is the best chance we have right now.
We also believe that our age group, young people between 18 and 35, are completely ignored in this debate. This should be alarming to anyone in this group since whatever comes out (or not) of this debate will be the system that we inherit and have to live with. Therefore, we loudly demand a say in how this system is made, since most of the people who are current devising it will be dead in 20 years and not have to worry about it.
To do our part, we will be closely watching Congress, the President, and the media coverage of the health care debate, especially in this vital August. Expect to see blunt and frank commentary, analysis, and personal stories about this vital issue and why it really is a life-or-death situation.
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