American Healthcare

[Uji]

This is how the system works -- good or bad, like it or not: The voters of Massachusetts are upset enough about the state of Congress that they vote in their first GOP senator in almost 40 years. That kills any last hope of meaningful healthcare and any last fantasies about a filibuster-proof majority for the Democrats.

I, for one, find this a real tragedy, a last chance lost. But... "We the people" have spoken. We will get, as always, what we deserve.

And face it folks: what we got up there in DC is exactly what we-the-people deserve. Sad, sad, sad ...

I'm outta here.

[Sam]

If I remember correctly it is We the People" Not them the politician.

Repectfully, Sam, I disagree: We are not a democracy, but a representative republic:

Ok Uji, you take what I write and define it in your terms. I fully understand that we live in a republic and not a democracy. Yeah, I may not be as good with words as some, but I have lived long enough to gain some working knowledge of our country and government. My take on this is that we the people elect those to represent us in Washington. But, I gotta say that there some of those who are supposed to represent us the people, don’t always do that.

As for Mass. I would rather wait for a good health care bill than one that is rushed and pushed through. People who have good health care are afraid of losing what they have, especially the older population. This man is getting older and I have to admit I want to keep what I have. It's that simple

[coondog]

I'm going to reserve my horror and indignation over what just happened in in the Mass. Senate election.

While I don't agree with a lot this guy Brown says, I can respect some of the things he's been saying. And some of the things he seems to imply. Maybe this IS a good thing for the Democrats. Maybe it's not as good for the Republicans as they may think.

With the previously supposed staunch political system now turning itself upside down (well ahead of the 12/12 projection), possibly the opportunists in DC will come to the realization that it is the country, and not their own personal interests, that they are there to legislate to.

The Mass. vote does not represent a retreat from basic fundamental principles by the usually dependable liberal voters, but the percieved retreat of elected officials from the semblence of any principles at all.

The eminent Sen. Brown's induction may or may not be the end all of the hopes and dreams of either party, or maybe it signifies the end of civilization as we know it. Could he possibly be worse than that self indulgent, back stabbing...Droopy Liebermann?

Oops, a bit of personal bias there, eh?

Coondog - Look for MY centerfold in Gentlemanly Canine Weekly Magazine

[Amy Probenski]

Look for MY centerfold in Gentlemanly Canine Weekly Magazine

I think I found it - not at all what I expected.

[coondog]

Ugh! That's just.............wrong!

[Wise One]

Uji, Fangz, Coondog et al., I've quite enjoyed our to-and-fro over incrementalism vs. full reform of health insurance. There are strong arguments for both approaches.

This excellent last minute plea notwithstanding, I think the Obama/Congress-axis flavor of incrementalism has been disastrous to both any possibility of achieving an incremental step forward and to the durability of a Democratic "majority" for achieving future increments. (Democrats are too dumb to stop acting as though they are a minority.)

Unless something very bold and very smart happens right now, I think this whole thing is going down in flames for at least another decade.

The big corporations won. Ordinary citizens are and will be defenseless against insurance companies. A few fat cats will gloat as tens of millions suffer poor health care, financial ruin, and death.

The last nail in the coffin is yesterday's Supreme Court ruling, essentially granting corporations the rights of individual persons (they already had enormous advantages over persons, like limited liability, tax preferences & exemptions, etc. ad nauseum). Hundreds of $ millions of additional money will start flowing toward senators & congressman to vote the financial interest of the executives in a few corporations, stockholders be damned. The individual American voter will be neutralized, perhaps forever. Republicans rail against "activist judges legislating from the bench" even as they insist on judges who will do precisely that, first trampling Florida law to foist their crony "W" on us, and now trampling 100 years of established legislated and case law.

We'd be scouting our personal alternatives in Europe more vigorously if these jerks hadn't first taken half our dollars from us, and then devalued the dollar another half with respect to the Euro. Basically, crony government has already obliterated 75% of our ability to vote with our feet and they're on a roll to take a lot more. I'm feeling like an indentured servant, serving a life sentence to pay off the "company store."

[coondog]

Surprise!

What have I been barking about for the past decade?

This is merely an acceleration of where we have been headed, anyway! It can no longer be denied...or hidden away in slush funds. Corporate ownership of America is, at last, a reality.

So....listen up, Tea Baggers! Slight of hand is ever present in the world of subliminal messages and push button politics. While you've been out there yammering because you've been convinced that a socialistic government is taking over America's Business, America's Business has been subtly buying the government and running it like a stolen Porsche.

Of course.....I already knew that! The Supreme Court just sanctified it! Now we can suck it up! Yep! It's Rollerball!

Coondog

[Anonymoose]

So....listen up, Tea Baggers! Slight of hand is ever present in the world of subliminal messages and push button politics.

Nobody's serious until they're willing to throw something, or somebody, into the harbor.

[Wise One]

So what's next? Now that corporations, with all their advantages, immunities and preferences, also now have the rights of individual citizens.

Will Exxon run for the House, Goldman Sachs for the Senate, and Haliburton for President? And will they be able, themselves, to vote as well as to buy votes?

If so, they'll win. No doubt.

It's an offer we can't refuse

[fangz1956]

Hmmmm......seeing as how they obviously bought the Supreme Court, I'd have to answer YES to your question, WO.

Perhaps we should all become Amish......under the First Amendment, they are exempt from Medicare and Social Security taxes AND they will be exempt from the present state of coercion to buy insurance or else that exists for the rest of us.

Rollerball?????? It's more like Thunderdome!

[Anonymoose]

Will Exxon run for the House, Goldman Sachs for the Senate, and Haliburton for President? And will they be able, themselves, to vote as well as to buy votes?

Theoretically, as one entity, they (each company) would have only 1 vote. But, as you point out, with the money to buy influence, their "vote" won't matter.

On health care, I agree with Sam

I would rather wait for a good health care bill than one that is rushed and pushed through

. I have never quite understood why they didn't appoint a commission to thoroughly study the issue rather than jumping right in with legislation. Part of me understands that they were trying to seize the enthusiasm and the momentum of the election, but the other part thinks this is way too big an issue to rush through. BUT, I also believe that any legislation passed, now or later, is not a permanent mandate, but rather a starting point. It would be subject to change, and I think this is the part that we have a hard time grasping. We have been made to think that any change will be etched in stone and permanent. That is simply not true, but we would have to have faith in our government to adapt as the need arises, and according to the best interests of the people. There is the disconnect. And now that corporate interests have officially gained priority, there is no faith.

[Wise One]

I still think the Obama health insurance bill should have been a 1-liner that reads:

All Medicare laws are amended by the deletion of any minimum age as a condition of eligibility for benefits.

Don't need 2,000 pages for that!

[Sam]

Medicare needs a whole lot of revamping and a good look see. When I got the hospital bill after my poor old Mother died there was a visit from a dr. listed two days after her death. Now that causes one to wonder and scratch their heads.

I don't think I have seen a government run program yet that has run good.

[Wise One]

This is a most powerful special comment by Keith Olbermann on his father, now at his end of life.

Watch it. Please.

[Juggler]

[Amy Probenski]

My hopes soared when I saw this but then I remembered that he lies about nearly everything.

[coondog]

Well, thats typical of the PERNICIOUS PORKER!

Apparently, Costa Rica HAS universal health care. What a dumb ass!

Coondog

[fangz1956]

Nice perspective on Virginia's legislation.......and from one of W&L's law professors to boot!

Jost on Healthcare and Massive Resistance

[Wise One]

This is fascinating, Fangz. The provision nullifying potential penalties for failure to comply is unusual and may emasculate it as a practical step forward.

On the other hand, Paul Krugman today has an excellent refutation of the three big lies that Republicans and the health insurers sling around, assuming that a lie uttered often enough will be believed.

[Quiet_Knight]

Like most of you, I too believe we need health care reform. However, what we have witnessed and read over the past year looks nothing like what I am most Americans invision as positive health care reform. In my humble opinion the politicians are trying to overhaul a good system, rather than fix the broken parts. First we need tort reform. Several of my friends who are physicians have retired early because of the cost of malpractice insurance. Second, we have heard a great deal about the corrupt insurance industry, but many hospitals and physicians are as much to blame. Remember those $100 asprin tablets. Three specific industries need to have price regulations like utilities, Healthcare, Insurance, and Pharmaseudicals.

When healthcare insurers are posting extremely large profits, and still raise premiums, it is apparent they cannot regulate themselves. When pharmaseudical companies can sell their drugs in Canada and other countries outside the US for 90%+ less than they sell them to us, there is a problem. And when healthcare providers work deals to discount, and discourage treatments paid for by the government and insurance companies, by as much as 90% there is a problem. I recently had an x-ray taken. When the bill came in the charges was $96, but when I received my statement after my insurance paid, the price was reduced to $8, because that is what the insurance company had negotiated. Thus, if I hadn't had insurance the hospital would have gouged me for the other$82 dollars. And lastly, tort reform - if only ligitimate claims were allowed to be processed through the legal system most of the high malpractice policies could be reduced.


On the backs of Working Americans the fat cats in the insurace, pharmaseudical, and healthcare industries are making a killing.

Our elected officials need to get the special interests out of Washington, and work for the people again.