Displaying 19,441 To 19,470 Of 19,504 Comments The Many Ways to Fight for Real Universal Healthcare Reform KQ, thanks for all the links. We do need to have an organized push at these Congresspeople to drown out the wackos at the town halls. » Posted By AdLib On August 19, 2009 @ 7:59 pm Reports on the Death of the Public Option are Greatly Exaggerated I know but I could post a variety of quotes from Dems who throughout the year stated flatly that reconciliation could not be used for a health care bill. This should have been the strategy from the outset. After the stimulus vote, it was very obvious that the GOP lives only to sabotage the President and the nation, so nothing good happens with the Dems in charge. If Obama had worked with Congress to decouple the public option, it could have been passed this month. In any case, it would be nice to get back to a true democracy and have simple majorities be the winning votes they should be. » Posted By AdLib On August 21, 2009 @ 8:37 am That would be a huge relief. From the start, the Dems were saying that they couldn’t use reconciliation with the health care bill but breaking it into two parts seems to make that a great path. Don’t doubt that the Repubs will protest that it is illegal for them to use reconciliation for part of the bill. The Dems better borrow or rent a set of balls and a spine and get this done in this way with a public option. There is no alternative to that, the insurance co-ops just buy from the same private insurers and have proven to have no impact on cost in many cases. » Posted By AdLib On August 20, 2009 @ 11:05 am As Howard Dean and many others say, there can be no real health care reform without a public option. The polls out today show public support of health care reform plummets when there is no public plan. If a public plan is not a part of Health Care reform, this will be an immense failure for the Obama Admin and I and many progressives will step back at least a little from our support of President Obama. No, I would never support a Republican but my enthusiasm and support for this president will be diminished substantially. The majority of this nation wants a public plan. Pres. Obama’s strategy of sitting on the sidelines was a mistake and allowed the GOP nutjobs to paint health care reform as Armageddon. He blew it and is trying to play catch up. How about just being Obama the candidate and making a prime time address, using the bully pulpit and his oratory skills to tell the nation that their enemies in health care reform, the health insurance industry, are flat out lying and manipulating the public with the same fear tactics that have resulted in the deaths or financial ruin of many Americans due to poor or non-existent health care…all to profit billions and billions off of their suffering. Why not tell the country that there is no health care reform without a public option and if they don’t press their Congresspeople for it, they will be consigned to a likelihood of suffering when they most need insurance. I’m pissed off at Obama, enough of the “diplomat” and the “bipartisanship”, do what’s right for the people. In other words, LEAD! » Posted By AdLib On August 19, 2009 @ 7:49 pm Well done! The so-called Free Market economy that allows corporations to manipulate people into buying their products is generally annoying but when it comes to health, it should be a crime. Look at the past, the cigarette companies freely advertised smoking as refreshing and “cool” and generations of Americans died and continue to die horrible deaths. The food industry pushes fast food, sugary, salty and fatty foods on unsuspecting children in between cartoons and we now have one third of American children classified as obese. And of course, the pharmaceutical industry, in the business of worrying people that common things in the experience of being alive are terrible syndromes that need to be treated with drugs. The amount of kids under medication in this country is astounding…until you look at how much medication their parents are taking. Yes, I do get depressed, short of breath and suffer pain when I stare at a bright light…that’s why I turn off the fucking pharmaceutical commercials and I’m all better! » Posted By AdLib On August 19, 2009 @ 7:39 pm Sorry, I was bewildered by that too. Apparently, when I upgraded to the latest version of WordPress it automatically turned on the “moderate comments” function. I’ve turned that off now. But I may have accidentally turned on the “Eat All Leftovers” function so if you’re bringing back food from a restaurant, consider yourself forewarned. » Posted By AdLib On August 17, 2009 @ 10:11 am Agreed, it’s time to trash political correctness and openly and frequently identify the racist words and actions proliferating the GOP. Including those in the media like Lou Dobbs and Glenn Beck and most of Fox. We need to boycott their shows and advertisers and publicly condemn them. And I mean Dem politicians too! Hate speech and provocation of others to commit hate crimes are not protected by the 1st Amendment. Why are we letting these racists get away with it just because they’re on tv or attend town hall meetings? » Posted By AdLib On August 12, 2009 @ 12:03 pm The Fundamental Case for Universal Healthcare Reform: Part Two the Case for Healthcare Security What is so offensive about the Republican’s diminished political position is that they have become so helpless to promote themselves through a discussion of issues, they can only deal with ALL of Pres. Obama’s initiatives by demonizing them and screaming “Witch!”. I confess naivete, when I first heard all the absurd bullshit from the GOP to kill health care it seemed so obvious that this was only about trying to damage the Obama presidency. Then De Mint admitted it publicly. And still, a huge percentage of Americans are such morons that they bought into it anyway! You have enunciated a very cogent and logical presentation as to why health care security is a must. How does fear mongering about killing Granny dispute it? It doesn’t and it can’t. Politics in this nation has been reduced to The Jerry Springer Show and right about now, I’m ready to throw a chair. » Posted By AdLib On August 19, 2009 @ 7:29 pm Bad Medicine: Drumming up Faux Outrage Seems appropriate for me to repost and update an article I posted at another site: HuffPo Bought into for $25m by Hedge Fund Below is the press release from December 2008 announcing the major stake Oak Investment Partners bought in Huffington Post. Among its investments, Oak has stakes in health insurance companies, various media companies and other hedge funds. Interesting HuffPo, a self-described news site, buried this news in a multiple article post titled, » Posted By AdLib On August 10, 2009 @ 10:08 pm My policy is that any water running through my land that does not have “State of California” stamped on it is good drinking for me. How is it you don’t have water rights on your land? » Posted By AdLib On September 3, 2009 @ 2:15 pm In the documentary, The Corporation (which is fantastic!) they document how a global corporation contracted to own ALL the water in the country…EVEN RAINWATER! It was illegal for citizens to collect rainwater! The people eventually rose up and revolted against the government and the agreement was nixed but this kind of stranglehold on the global water supply is going on viciously every day. » Posted By AdLib On September 3, 2009 @ 10:31 am Meanwhile, Global Warming is a Civilization Killer. So the logic is, at least there will be jobs even if there’s no civilization? » Posted By AdLib On August 10, 2009 @ 9:58 pm Wow, that is very much ahead of the curve. I think I can pretty much guarantee that 99% if not all Americans, including me, don’t conserve water as thoughtfully. The Japanese are not only ahead technologically on this but more importantly, socially. Such technology would go unused and bankrupt in the U.S. because our society would not see it as necessary or desirable, much “easier” to just use more water. As with health care, oil, global warming, American society is reactive not strategic (thanks to corporate ownership of our government). We don’t look down the road and steer clear of hazards ahead of time, we blindly drive right at the hazard then panic and try to slam on the brakes and try to swerve to avoid it. Most of the time, we crash into disaster head on because of this. If the U.S. began educating citizens that we conserve our strength as a nation by conserving our resources, a very simple and patriotic concept, we could lessen the impact of a whole host of emergencies that are scattered on the road ahead. Unfortunately, based on the track record, I think we’re just going to hear a lot of screeching of brakes for some time to come. » Posted By AdLib On August 10, 2009 @ 9:44 am Profiting from the delivery of health care is immoral Indeed, the Health Care Industry is actually more of an obstacle to advancement of better health. They are a for-profit business, the less they can spend on innovative techniques and procedures which typically cost more than established methods which may not be as effective, the better for them. » Posted By AdLib On August 10, 2009 @ 9:57 pm There is a wild card here too, Congress can always override whatever deal Pres. Obama cut and he will have to sign it. Maybe that’s what he would like to happen, it would be very clever to get the “enemy” of Health Care Reform on board because they think they’ve successfully undercut it then when the bill’s ready to sign, the compromises aren’t in it. I don’t know if Obama is counting on that or not. Maybe he sees well down the road and is angling for what’s best for the people or maybe he’s willing to compromise what’s best for what’s easiest to pass. We’ll find out… » Posted By AdLib On August 10, 2009 @ 9:54 pm Well said and analyzed. The whole issue of self-determinism is raised as well when one considers that a majority of the population is less aware about how these buttons can be pressed on them to elicit the desired response while a minority is well schooled in how to strategically press these buttons in the majority to advance their selfish goals. As you began your piece, I do see a similar condition to religious belief. The same people who believe that a woman can be turned into salt, that all the animals and insects from every continent on Earth somehow gathered in the Middle East and all fit aboard the same boat, etc., ridicule and laugh at the “ridiculous beliefs of other religions (don’t we all smile at the Greeks believing that their Gods lived on Mount Olympus, throwing lightning bolts…when we all know there’s only one god who lives in space and throws lightning bolts?). And because of this oblivious type of conditioning, these people have wired a button in themselves (their parents and community may have done so) that allows them to be manipulated by their “leaders” and others. The same can be applied to racists, chauvinists, etc. The more one defines themselves or their lives by a specific group belief, the less free they are to make up their own mind and the easier they are to be controlled and manipulated. It is the rigidity of thought, the inability to flexibly change one’s perspective to view previously unrealized truth, the inability to accept one’s mistakes in belief and the inability to learn and seek out knowledge and answers for oneself that turn people into unaware pawns. It is the ability to do all the above that makes one truly free and in control of their own lives. » Posted By AdLib On August 7, 2009 @ 9:45 am Nattering GOP-bobs of Negativity It is a sad realization that far too many are far too ignorant in this country to use this democracy to make their lives better. People like this are pawns who think they’re queens, they think they are exercising their rights and political opinion when in fact they are just wind-up toys for corporate interests. As you say, it is now time for those who actually want health care as a right that they can afford to step up. I will say that the staged protests of angry, racist white people opposing health care seems to be backfiring a bit now, these people coming off as the oblivious tools of corporate greed and GOP lust for power. When looking at their demographic, most seem to be 50s, 60’s and even 70’s which, if you take a long view on these things has a silver lining…the majority of this mindless army of virulent haters and racists will be dying off each year. Especially if they lose their health care. » Posted By AdLib On August 8, 2009 @ 11:06 am What is John Bolton’s major malfunction? Anything good that happens while Obama is president is viewed as bad for the Republican Party. Don’t forget Dick Cheney rooting for another terrorist attack, I’m sure he’s not alone in the GOP. In fact, their sensibilities align them with the enemies of America around the world, they all want the same terrible things for the country and its people right now. And they have the nerve to attack Obama as a threat to the country? I don’t think the abortion doctor who was killed and the people shot in a church a little while back because they were “liberal” would agree…if they were alive to have the opportunity. When you see the racism, deceit and hatred coming from the right like this, one can’t help but see the worst in America as standing for the GOP. » Posted By AdLib On August 7, 2009 @ 9:20 am The Fundamental Case for Healthcare Reform: Part One the Moral Case I don’t know how much they’re paying you to write these terrific articles but it’s not enough. Wait, I do know…and it definitely ain’t enough! When you pare away all the rhetoric from the GOP…socialism, government bureaucrat between you and your doctor (that’s worse than a greedy insurance corporation?), etc., you find that there is nothing concrete for their position other than being able to use it as a wedge\fear issue on the public to benefit themselves, the wealthy and corporations. I’ve blogged a bit about the GOP lately. Though it’s no ground-shaking revelation, it’s so clear to see now. The GOP in general has no true political convictions. All their “positions” are ones taken purely to distract and manipulate the public to give them and those financing their campaigns more money and power. There are right wing ideologues such as populated the Bush Admin but they don’t run on their ideology, they hide that from the public. They run and campaign on issues they don’t believe in themselves. On health care, as many have noted, the party that used Congress and the Presidency to come between a patient and her doctor, Mary Schiavo case, is railing against such a thing ever happening…again? With their affairs and sexual misconduct, the Family Values party has admitted that is a sham. The nasty thing is, that the fate of the country and all Americans is toyed with by these greedy bastards simply for personal gain. Once Health Care Reform passes, and we’re not letting them stop it, it’s time for the Dems to hammer them into cult status for good and all. » Posted By AdLib On August 6, 2009 @ 1:28 pm Former President Clinton to the Rescue That was one thing I was excited about with Obama, the Dems have a deep bench on skilled and effective people as opposed to the Boltons, Rumsfelds and Heckuva-Job-Brownies the Repubs are left with. I just wish we could get this health reform passed so first of all we have it and second of all, there are no more political necessities to hold back his admin and people from moving policy forward on all fronts. This stall tactic to pass health care is very frustrating. » Posted By AdLib On August 6, 2009 @ 12:59 pm It’s been amusing watching the virtual traitors on Fox attacking the rescuing of Americans by Clinton and the Obama Admin. It’s not just a put down, the right wing really do want the worst for America and Americans. If Obama announced the cure to cancer, they’d howl about how awful that is and how terribly that will impact the nation’s future because Americans won’t be dying as young. As for Hillary’s comment about NK as teenagers, I do agree with her point but it’s way out of line for a SoS to publicly say that. Let’s face it, Hillary does not make a good diplomat, she hasn’t the temperament for it. Whereas, Bill Clinton is a pro at it. Really, when you think about this incident, doesn’t it underline that she’s not as capable to deal with issues as Bill is? She’s still in his shadow and snide insults about key nations we need to bring back to the table won’t help. If you know someone acts immaturely as Kim does, is it really very clever to insult them and make them upset? Unfortunately, you have to deal with this dick like he was an unruly child or pet, carrots and sticks, but done so strategically. Kim wants attention and does all kinds of bullshit until he gets it. It’s a weakness, a good strategist would use it against him surreptitiously. Not get into a slap fight. The SoS position was likely part of the deal for the Clintons to support Obama after he won the primary. In the end, with Bill as part of the package, it’s now proven so far to be a decent arrangement for all involved despite Hillary’s shortcomings. » Posted By AdLib On August 6, 2009 @ 10:14 am The Failed History of Conservatism in America The thing is, it’s all just manipulative words with the GOP, what have they done to make the country better? They only work to make the wealthy and their corporations wealthier. They’re so obvious to anyone who knows better than to believe everything anyone says. And that’s all they’ve got, words that never stand up to their deeds. They say Family Values then have affairs, airport bathroom sex and solicit underage Congressional pages. They say protect our troops then kill thousands of them in an unnecessary war they were sent to without even body armor. They say how bad it is to have deficits but run up the biggest deficit to date and destroy the economy which requires a greater deficit to turn around. Their words are obvious, cynical manipulation. Why are so many people so thick as to not recognize that? » Posted By AdLib On August 6, 2009 @ 10:46 am You’ve done it again KQ! This is a fantastic list which I have bookmarked to share with others for some time to come. The thought that comes to my mind is how ignorance about history is even more responsible for allowing or accommodating the worst events to happen. After reading that accurate list of sins, hatred and destructiveness of the GOP, one would assume that no group that needed public support would still exist if it had such a track record. And yet, combine Americans’ short term memories of history with the lies and deceit of the GOP and their eternally pushing the fear button and they continue to be in existence and a powerful force even if diminished. The disconnect is, we raise our children keeping well in mind history of events that could affect their safety and/or development. We just don’t do it with ourselves or our nation. » Posted By AdLib On August 6, 2009 @ 9:58 am What this is all really about is racism. Dumb, angry, white people who are prejudiced can’t accept that a black man is president. So they grasp for any straw that argues against the reality that tells them that just being white doesn’t make you special. This is the end of the Hate Train and it’s heading for a wreck right in the middle of the GOP. » Posted By AdLib On August 3, 2009 @ 2:32 pm EXCLUSIVE: Orly Taitz Kenyan Birth Certificate! Yep, saw that on MSNBC as the news was breaking. Kind of sad that proving something that was an obvious fraud was an obvious fraud is “news”. To make the point of how asinine it is for such stories to take up so much time in the MSM, CNN should have had the headline: “BREAKING NEWS: BIRTH WATCH 2009 – PRESIDENT OBAMA IS STILL AN AMERICAN!” » Posted By AdLib On August 6, 2009 @ 9:39 am The difference between Orly Taitz and Arianna Huffington is that one is a shallow, shamelessly self-promoting, unethical person who merely wants to build her own celebrity and importance by jumping on board high profile issues while the other believes President Obama was born in Kenya. » Posted By AdLib On August 6, 2009 @ 9:35 am KQ, even though it’s in unpleasant circumstances, nice to see your face. What a harrowing and incredible series of events you’ve had to endure and have done so bravely and purposefully. The scenario you’ve lived and are living is so fucking outrageous and I know you’re far from alone. I have to say that in the back of my mind is a worry that any day, like a bolt of lightning, something could happen to me or my family’s health and I will be in that same nightmare. And what is even more disgusting is the game the GOP and the insurance industry is playing to keep this deteriorating situation in place. It’s all about distracting the public from reality with intentional lies about the horrors reform will bring so they won’t think about or listen to realities such as yours and many others. Do the people buying into the bullshit believe they or their family could never have a serious medical condition? Do they think that if they tell their insurance company that they opposed health care reform, they’ll get payment for the treatment they need? There is a huge disconnect here between reality and the bullshit of politics. It’s like the public has been set on fire and they’re being told by the GOP and the Health Industry that what they really should be worried about is the horror that reforming arson laws would have on them. And many of them are buying into it! As I wrote in my recent post, one would have to be incredibly ignorant to accept someone else’s opinion that they are not on fire when they are engulfed in flames. It’s very upsetting to think about all you’ve had to endure with keeping yourself alive, simultaneously having to lose your retirement money and at the same time having to battle the greed of the medical industry. You are a tough customer to take all that on and your wife sounds like one remarkable woman. As always, all my best thoughts are with you. Your article and experience are powerful arguments for the cause and has made me even more determined to do what I can to press for the reform you and I and all of us so badly need. Cheers! » Posted By AdLib On August 2, 2009 @ 11:55 am Indeed, my point is not that Republican politicians are dumb but that Republican rank and file and many Americans don’t use reason to arrive at opinions, they just adopt the opinion that is manufactured for them. They don’t think, they hear Obama wants senior citizens to die so money can instead be spent on younger Americans and they just get scared and believe it. There is nothing intelligent about accepting statements from partisan politicians who are proven liars as the sum total of truth. To be a rank and file Republican today means to oppose rational thought. That’s what Palin followers celebrate, that’s what Birthers and Tea Baggers represent. Mindless, unreasoning, lemmings who can’t think for themselves or seek information on their own to discern what is or isn’t true. The “smart” people on both sides know that the GOP and Health insurance industry are trying to scare Americans out of supporting their own best interests. We all know it’s a cynical game, betting on the stupidity of Americans to be fooled again. Do the Repub politicians believe the bullshit they spew? Of course not, they’re too smart and they know much of their campaign against reform came from Frank Lutz, not their own assessment of the reform legislation. And Dems, as they too often do, shake their heads at the game-playing Repubs and say, “The public isn’t THAT stupid to believe your bullshit,” but they may once again be underestimating the declining intellect of a majority of Americans. There is a direct relationship between education and party affiliation, we’ve seen the stats. The uneducated, those without High School or College diplomas are far more likely to be Repubs. Those with college degrees are far more likely to be Dems. The Repubs appeal to stupidity and fear. The Dems appeal to reason. This is a battle for the hearts and minds of Americans and the minds that are in the crossfire are the ones that aren’t smart enough to realize it. » Posted By AdLib On August 2, 2009 @ 11:24 am I agree that many live in denial but as it applies to accomplishing the goals I gave as examples, I don’t see denial as the motive for the beliefs though I agree it is a necessary component. Fear makes people stupid. When people are scared, they do operate more emotional reptilian than reasoning human. They stop using their brain to make decisions and are in “fight or flight” or any of the handful of instinctive reactions. That is what I call dumb, allowing cynical others to falsely engage you into your fear mode to disconnect you from reasoning. The key stupidity is believing that political hacks are altruistically telling you the truth. Weighing extreme statements from politicians and remembering that when they have done so before it has been bullshit only intended to similarly manipulate you…is smart. Repeatedly pulling someone’s finger and being surprised that it only results in someone farting and laughing at you, is dumb. Or the highlight of a Saturday night, depending on whether or not you live in Idaho. » Posted By AdLib On August 1, 2009 @ 6:27 pm PlanetPOV Video – The Pharma Empire Strikes Back *blush* Thanks FL! » Posted By AdLib On August 2, 2009 @ 4:47 pmComments Posted By AdLib
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