AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION IS ... ??

I've been really trying to keep my distance and my mouth shut as we wind-up health insurance reform or whatever the hell it is. The president is really selling it. He even came here … to Strongsville … and oh my God, he even had our (say no, unless it’s single payer) Congressman Dennis Kucinich with him.
-

Well, I’m confused … and I need answers. Congress, will you or will you not cover every American? Are you really going to force Americans to pay into a “for profit” health care system? … and, Is there strong competition to keep health insurance companies honest? The first answer should be yes, the second answer should be no, and the third answer should be yes.

-

Unfortunately, that’s not what this health insurance legislation is about. As it stands right now, [regarding that last question] even though we need strong competition [to keep health insurance companies honest], … even though a majority of Americans want that competition … want a strong public health insurance option … looks like we’re not going to get it … Or am I mistaken?

-
See, these political parties rely on campaign contributions [money] from the financial services industry [and yes, that means the financial services industry helps finance (by running ads for, and giving "lobbying" money to) Democratic candidates, as well as Republican candidates].

-
Health insurance companies fall within the financial services industry. So we absolutely, without a doubt, know why Republicans are against health care reform or health insurance reform [Republicans are in the pockets of the health insurance industry]; however, with the Democrats it’s tricky business; they are, after all, the party of the poor, the working class and the middle class.

-
If health care is a right and not a privilege [as Democrats believe, and we believe], then every American has a right to quality, affordable, comprehensive health care. Right?
-

So how do Democrats appease their benefactors ["for profit" health insurance companies], while berating their bad behavior at the same time? How do Democrats convince average Americans that they are on their side? How do they "have their cake and eat it too"?

-

Well, you have to look like you’re beating up on the health insurance industry. Listen to the rhetoric … you get the feeling … hey, these Dems are really giving it to the health insurance companies. Wait, wait … but aren’t the “for profit” costly health insurance companies getting more customers? Yeah, … but a Dem will say, “We’re not allowing them to deny enrollment based on pre-existing conditions. Wait, wait … but with the exception of children, this regulation won’t kick-in for adults until around 2014; and, by the way, … if these health insurance companies do deny, who’s policing them and what exactly are the penalties? Wait, wait, ... and can't the health insurance companies continue to charge older adults and women more in premium? *****

-
Let’s listen to Michael Moore being interviewed by Lawrence O’Donnell sitting in for Keith Olbermann (Keith’s father just passed … Keith we love ya and you are in our prayers).

-

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

LISTEN to Natoma at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/ns/msnbc_tv-countdown_with_keith_olbermann#35884301
-

*****PLEASE READ THIS and call, email, write your representative to stop gender based rating, etc (the bill that passed 3/21/2010 does not ... does not address this adequately): For gender-equal health care, enact Medicare for all /By Plain Dealer guest columnist, March 21, 2010, 6:00AM By Sheila Leavitt
-

-
Obama's Final Health Care Rally: Time For Courage

-
Pelosi: 'Get The Bill. Go For It.'

-

Obama Brings Dennis Kucinich On Air Force One For Health Care Speech

Closing Pro-Reform Ad Has Private Insurers On Corporate Jets, High-Fiving (VIDEO)

-

Health Care Summit: Republicans Prepare, Hoping For Political Gain

-

Update: March 26, 2010 - Bill Moyers Journal

After Health Insurance Reform, What Now?

-

Sicko

Fight Bad Faith Insurance Companies

SENATE REPUBLICANS AND LIEBERMAN VOW TO KILL REAL HEALTHCARE REFORM WHILE MORE THAN 40,000 AMERICANS WILL DIE FROM LACK OF HEALTH INSURANCE

219 Democrats and 1 brave Republican (Congressman Joseph Cao) did what no previous president’s administration or Congress has sought to accomplish in 40 years.

Saturday evening the historic Affordable Healthcare for America Act [H.R.3962] passed in the House Chamber. While the legislation is far from what needs to be done to give all Americans quality, low cost, universal comprehensive healthcare coverage; and does not really revamp our healthcare system and truly lower healthcare costs*, we do congratulate all who voted for H.R.3962; and give a special thanks to Congressman Steny Hoyer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for their tireless efforts.

Republicans did everything they possibly could to stop this legislation that will:**

1. Prevent private health insurance companies from discriminating against men, women and children who have a preexisting condition.
2. Prevent private health insurance companies from making women pay more for insurance.
3. Reinstate antitrust laws.
4. Expand health care coverage to the approximately 40 million Americans who are currently uninsured by lowering the cost of health care.
5. Prohibit rescission of health insurance coverage without clear and convincing evidence of fraud.
6. Require the option of extending coverage for children under 27 years of age.
7. Prohibit aggregate dollar lifetime limits on benefits.
8. Require guaranteed availability and renewability of health insurance coverage.
9. Prohibit discrimination based on health status factors.
10. Require parity for mental health benefits
11. Prohibits an essential benefits package from imposing any annual or lifetime limits on coverage.


While last week, approximately 100 [+] Americans died from lack of health insurance (or between 22, 000 and 44,000 annually), and approximately another 98,000 [+] Americans may lose their health insurance in the next two weeks, Senate Republicans and Senator Joe Lieberman were smug, telling news organizations that the historic Healthcare House Bill would never see the light of day in the Senate. Republicans continue to offer no real solutions to our broken healthcare system and no solutions to providing universal health care.

Senator Lieberman promised to filibuster with Senate Republicans to make sure Americans would never enjoy quality, affordable, comprehensive universal health care.

Senate Republicans and Senator Lieberman also vowed to make sure that private health insurance CEOs continue to receive outlandish compensation (while 1 out of 6 Americans live in poverty); and they vowed to make sure that private health insurance companies continue to make great profits while Americans struggle to survive. How? By making sure there is no public option in a Senate Healthcare bill (if there ever will be one).***

Also read: Corporate Cartels, High Paid Madams/Pimps and Political Prostitutes.



Note: Those who are proponents of women’s rights, please make sure you do everything possible to unseat Congressman Stupak when he comes up for re-election. We are sick of men trying to interfere with women's rights. [62 male Democrats and all but 1 male Republican]

-
We applaud Congressman Dennis Kucinich for opposing H.R.3962. He is a strong proponent of a single payer system (what many of us wanted); and he refused to compromise.

-

-

*CED Releases Quality, Affordable Health Care For All: Moving Beyond The Employer-based Health-insurance System 2007

-
House Passes Historic Health Care Bill

**Affordable Healthcare for America Act Summary

Watch as legislation passes

-

Healthcare Reform - PBS

Health Care Reform: Historic Legislation**

-

Health Care in Crisis: 14,000 Losing Coverage Each Day

-

***Graham: House Health Care Bill Would Die In Senate (VIDEO)

-
Rep. Gingrey Laughs Off 14,000 Americans Losing Their Health Insurance Every Day
-
Is the House Health Care Bill Better than Nothing?

Wendell Potter

-
Memory Lane On Joe Lieberman

-

HEALTH CARE: SPREAD THE WORD - SICK FOR PROFIT

We're spreading the word to make sure the strong robust public option is part of health insurance reform. The public option is a way to keep insurance companies honest; and the means to get to true health care reform.

Hear the stories about how health insurance companies have horrendously abused their customers. Watch the video here and at Sick for Profit. Then energize and spread the word to friends and family so you and they can contact your representatives [see end of this post] and demand a strong robust public option to keep health insurance companies honest!!! Make sure you also say you don't want co-ops or triggers.

Entire PBS interview on Bill Moyers Journal -37 minutes

-

-

Robert Reich on the Need for a Strong Public Option

-

Wendell Potter

Sick for Profit

Contact Your Representatives

-

ROBERT REICH CALLS FOR ACTION

It appears now, that Max Baucus' Senate Finance Committee will be siding with Big Pharma and the private health insurance companies. [The companies that Wendell Potter talked about in Senate Hearings.]

It would also appear that our beloved Speaker of the House is ready to throw us and a “strong, robust public option” under the bus. Only the Democratic progressives are standing up for the American people and demanding a "strong public option".

The White House is playing politics and kissing everyone’s a….

Everyone knew that single payer health insurance was the best way to dramatically cut costs, cover everyone and get to health care reform. The Democratic caucus and progressive Senators know it. The White House knows it; however, big business owns Washington and so progressives in the House (under pressure) settled for a "public option".

Now, the strong, robust public option is in jeopardy; and unless our representatives are pressured and/or get some big cajones and are willing to stand up 100% for the American people, we will lose the strong public option. You can count all but 2 or 3 Republican Senators out of any discussion to do what's right for the American people. That just leaves the Democrats.

Friday, September 11, 2009, Robert Reich wrote in his blog, the following:

[This is a small except from his post – please read the entire post at http://robertreich.blogspot.com/2009/09/final-sprint-for-health-care-has-now.html ]

The Final Sprint for Health Care Has Now Begun, and Where the White House is Placing Its Bets

The real political race for health care has just begun. The significance of the President's speech to Washington insiders was its signal about where the White House is placing its bets and its support. More on this in a moment. First, let's be clear about who's racing and why. Think of the speech as the starting gate of a two-month sprint between two competitors -- and they're not Democrats and Republicans.

On one side are America's biggest private insurers and Big Pharma. They're drooling over the prospect of tens of millions more Americans buying insurance and drugs because the pending legislation will require them to, or require employers to cover them. The pending expansion of Medicaid will also be a bonanza. Amerigroup Corp., UnitedHealth Group Inc. and other companies that administer Medicaid are looking at 10 million more customers. Healthcare Inc.’s Medicaid enrollment is expected to jump by 43 percent, according to its CEO. WellPoint Inc., the largest U.S. insurer, is also looking at big gains.But the big insurers hate the idea of a public option because it will squeeze their profits. A true public option will force private insurers to compete in markets where there's now very little competition, and also have the bargaining power to force drug companies to offer lower prices. Big Pharma also wants to prevent Medicare and Medicaid from having the power to negotiate lower prices, for the same reason. Private insurers and Big Pharma would rather fudge the question of where the savings will come from or how all this will be paid for. They certainly don't want to pay for wider coverage with a surtax on the rich, because, hey, their executives and shareholders are mainly rich.” ...

“Private insurers and Big Pharma are being represented in this race by Max Baucus and his Senate Finance Committee. Senate Finance is on the verge of reporting out a bill that requires that just about every American have health insurance and just about every business provide it (or else pay a fee). But the bill will not include a public option. Nor will it change current law to allow Medicare to negotiate low drug prices. Nor will it include a surtax on the wealthy. The Committee's only real nod to cost containment is a small tax on expensive insurance policies, which doesn't worry the private insurers because its cost is so easily passed on to the beneficiaries. The Democratic base is being represented by Nancy Pelosi and House Dems, who have reported out a bill that includes a public option, want Medicare and Medicaid to have negotiating power, and will pay for universal coverage with a surcharge on the rich. The Senate's Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committee, formerly chaired by Ted Kennedy, also represents the Democratic base, and reported a strong bill that parallels the House.” ....

"Where's the White House? For months now, it's been straddling the fence -- reassuring the Dem base that the President is with them (he did it as recently as Monday with a rousing speech to organized labor), while at the same time nodding and winking in the direction of the private insurers and Big Pharma. Last spring the White House agreed to Big Pharma's demand that Medicare not be permitted to negotiate low drug prices in return for Pharma's agreement to support the health care bill emerging from the Senate Finance Committee. Since then it has quietly told private insurers that it will work with Senate Finance to find less potent alternatives to the public option, such as Kent Conrad's "cooperatives" or Olympia Snowe's "trigger" mechanism, in return for the private insurers' support of the compromise. And it has told the private insurers and Big Pharma that it will not support a surtax on the wealthy."

Please read Robert Reich’s entire post on his blog at:
http://robertreich.blogspot.com/2009/09/final-sprint-for-health-care-has-now.html

Now is the time for decent people to call the “snakes” out.
Demand a “strong robust public option” and not co-ops or triggers.

Wendell Potter

Wendell Potter’s entire 32 minute interview with Bill Moyer

Robert Reich

Sicko

Fight Bad Faith Insurance Companies

-
-
Find how to contact your representatives:
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Petition you can sign:
http://www.petitiononline.com/PubOp676/petition.html

ROBERT REICH EXPLAINS THE PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION - LISTEN UP

Finally someone can explain the public health insurance option in easy and understandable language.
-
Robert Reich Robert Bernard Reich (pronounced /ˈraɪʃ/; born June 24, 1946) is an American politician, academic, writer, and political commentator. He served as the twenty-second United States Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton, from 1993 to 1997. [Wikipedia]

-

Robert explains the public health insurance option in about a minute and a half. Listen up and follow his suggestions.

-

Last, so you understand what is going on with Republicans and their efforts to kill health care reform and health insurance reform, and to destroy everything that the president campaigned on and was elected on, read HERE.

-

-

ROBERT PARRY

-

-

ROBERT REICH HUFFINGTON POST ARTICLE

-

HEALTH CARE REFORM DEBATE: WORD OF WARNING TO THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND ALL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THE SENATE

Word of warning to the Obama administration and all members of Congress and the Senate [Democrat, Independent, and Republican]. If you don’t put the health, welfare and safety of the American people above money and corporate profits, you will totally lose the respect and trust of the American people.

People believe in conspiracy theories because there is evidence of governments experimenting and putting its citizens at bodily risk.

So it is natural that people like Michele Bachmann, Van Jones (an honorable, good man) and others (from the political right and left) have or had trepidation and distrust regarding their government. Some questions and assertions, however, are absolutely ludicrous as Bill Moyers said Friday, in his PBS segment [September 4, 2009].

That said, questions will always arise whenever government gets involved.

That is why government officials and members of Congress/Senate and the President should never lie to the American people. Once you lie, everything you say is suspect.

I always remember Eisenhower’s warning of a military industrial complex. Whenever government gets in bed with private industry in war [or health care], they bear watching and investigation.

In the health care debate, Americans [in their gut] still want a strong public option. They’ve got evidence that government works pretty well in the health insurance arena. Seniors are happy with the care they’ve received with Medicare paying the bills; though it doesn’t mean that there be no need for improvements, especially in controlling costs.

There are numerous examples, however, of government and private industry wrong doing. Government has often engaged private industry in production of weapons and execution of policy. Our government needs to acknowledge that it is not perfect and has regrets; but it also needs to reassure its citizens that they are committed to the health and welfare of its people.

Past Sins:
Experiments on non-consenting individuals by United States [From Wikipedia]

-
In August of 1949 a U.S. Army Special Operations Division, operating out of Fort Detrick in Maryland, set up its first test at The Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Operatives sprayed harmless bacteria into the building's air conditioning system and observed as the microbes spread throughout the Pentagon.[51]

-
There were massive medical experiments that involved civilians who had not consented to participate. Often, these experiments took place in urban areas in order to test dispersion methods. Questions were raised about detrimental health effects after experiments in San Francisco, California, were followed by a spike in hospital visits; however, in 1977 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined that there was no association between the testing and the occurrence of pneumonia or influenza.[52] The San Francisco test involved a U.S. Navy ship that sprayed Serratia marcescens from the bay; it traveled more than 30 miles.[52] One dispersion test involved laboratory personnel disguised as passengers spraying harmless bacteria in Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.[52]
-

Scientists tested biological pathogens, including Bacillus globigii, which were thought to be harmless, at public places such as subways. A light bulb containing Bacillus globigii was dropped on New York City's subway system; the result was strong enough to affect people prone to illness (also known as Subway Experiment).[53] Based on the circulation measurements, thousands of people would have been killed if a dangerous microbe was released in the same manner.[52]
A jet aircraft released material over Victoria, Texas, that was monitored in the Florida Keys.[52]

-
GAO Report
In February, 2008, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released report GAO-08-366 titled, "Chemical and Biological Defense, DOD and VA Need to Improve Efforts to Identify and Notify Individuals Potentially Exposed during Chemical and Biological Tests." The report stated that tens of thousands of military personnel and civilians may have been exposed to biological and chemical substances through DOD tests. In 2003, the DOD reported it had identified 5,842 military personnel and estimated 350 civilians as being potentially exposed during the testing, known as Project 112.[54]

-
The GAO asserts that the U.S. Department of Defense's (DOD) 2003 decision to stop searching for people affected by the tests was premature. They also claimed that the DOD made no effort to inform civilians of exposure; furthermore, they assert that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is not using available resources to inform veterans of possible exposure or to determine if they were deceased. After the DOD halted efforts to find those who may have been affected by the tests, non-DOD sources identified approximately 600 additional individuals who were potentially exposed during Project 112.[54] Some of the individuals were identified after the GAO reviewed records stored at the Dugway Proving Ground, others were identified by the Institute of Medicine.[55] Many of the newly identified suffer from long term illnesses that may have been caused by the biological or chemical testing.[56]


United States involvement in atrocities and aggression in other countries.

-
1. Vietnam War

-
[Sources: The History Channel, "History Undercover: Air America: The CIA's Secret Airline" The History Channel, "20th Century with Mike Wallace: The CIA: Fifty Years of Spying" "The Politics of Heroin in Southeast Asia", Alfred W. McCoy, Harper-Colophon Books, 1973]

2. CIA involvement and atrocities in Chile.
3. CIA involvement in Iran
4. CIA involvement in Guatemala
5. CIA involvement in the Congo
6. Iraq

-
Sources: The History Channel, "Spy Web: The CIA" The History Channel, "History Undercover: Anatomy of a Coup: The CIA in Iran"

-

United States Experiments on its own people:

-
1. Plutonium Experiments

-
Sources: "The Plutonium Files: America's Secret Medical Experiments in the Cold War" by Eileen Welcome, The Dial Press, 1999 The History Channel, "History Undercover: Declassified: Human Experimentation" Secretary of Energy Hazel O'Leary Press Conference, July 12, 1993 Presidential Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments 1994-1995


2. Tuskegee Syphilis Study

-
Sources: Congressional Hearings, 1973, Senator Kennedy "Bad Blood", James H. Jones, Free Press, New York, 1981, 1993

3. Atomic Bomb Testing on Soldiers

-
Sources: The Atomic Veteran's Research Institute, Robert Campbell The History Channel, "History Undercover: Declassified: Human Experimentation" "Undue Risk: Secret State Experiments on Humans", Jonathan Moreno, Routledge, W. H. Freeman & Co., 2000

4. Chemical Weapons and Bacteria Experiments

-
Sources: News Night Minnesota 5/25/95 KTCA TV, Minneapolis 1977 The History Channel, "History Undercover: Declassified: Human Experimentation" "Clouds of Secrecy: The Army's Germ-Warfare Tests over Populated Areas", Leonard A. Cole, Rowman & Littlefield, 1988, 1990 "The Eleventh Plague: The Politics of Biological and Chemical Warfare", Leonard A. Cole, W. H. Freeman & Co., 1996, 1998 "Undue Risk: Secret State Experiments on Humans", Jonathan Moreno, Routledge, W. H. Freeman & Co., 2000

5. Human Drug Testing

-
Sources: Congressional Hearings, Human Drug Testing by The CIA, 1975-1977 The History Channel, "History's Mysteries: Getting High: A History of LSD" "Acid Dreams: The Complete Social History of LSD: The CIA, The Sixties and Beyond", Martin Lee, Bruce Shlain, Grove Press, 1986

6. Experimentation with Microwave and EM Weapons

-
The History Channel, "History's Mysteries: Mind Control: America's Secret War" "Undue Risk: Secret State Experiments on Humans", Jonathan Moreno, Routledge, W. H. Freeman & Co., 2000 "Acid Dreams: The Complete Social History of LSD: The CIA, The Sixties and Beyond", Martin Lee, Bruce Shlain, Grove Press, 1986


The United States is not alone in its wrong doing, as we well know.

The knowledge of these atrocities and experiments are the reason why Americans and others sometimes feel powerless, fearful and distrusting of their government.

Members of Congress/Senate, and Mr. President, put the American people first. Tell the truth. You know universal health care and universal health insurance is morally right. You also know that the private “for profit” health insurance and health care industries we currently have, are unsustainable; and there are major problems with those industries that don’t jive with achieving true health care and health insurance reform. [Do you get that Mr. President?].

Put the safety measures in place, make the necessary reforms in our health care system, and show the rest of the world that we can be strong, compassionate leaders with effective, efficient and innovative health care and health care delivery systems.

Sources:
-
"Undue Risk: Secret State Experiments on Humans", Jonathan Moreno, Routledge, W. H. Freeman & Co., 2000

Congressional Hearings, Abuse of Psychiatry for Political Repression in the Soviet Union, 1972-1974

A & E Investigative Reports: Return to the Killing Fields The History Channel, "History's Crimes and Trials: Pol Pot and the Killing Fields"

The Bush Administration’s Secret Biowarfare Agenda

Operation Whitecoat

War Crimes

Iraq and Weapons of Mass Destruction

HAARP [critics and supporters]

Health Care

-

National Health Insurance

-

Publicly Funded Health Care

-

Mind Control Forum

HAVE CAPITALISM AND HEALTH CARE REFORM GONE WILD?

Michael Moore’s “Capitalism: a Love Story” will premier at the Venice Film Festival tonight. I can’t wait till it gets to the theaters. [See trailer below]

Is the Capitalism that we’re soaked (or should I say drowning) in today have anything to do with the concept of capitalism of yesteryear, or is it simply “Capitalism 201” gone wild?

I love “mom and pop” stores. I even like franchises and international trade; but Citigroup, Bank of America, and huge “too big to fail”, suck the life out of you; swamp and kill everything in their path behemoths … I think not.

And so we arrive on health care reform’s door steps with several behemoths sucking the life literally out of every American in the US of A. We are at the mercy of behemoth health insurance and pharmaceutical companies; and they play a huge role in whether we live or die while they get richer and richer and richer and richer.

-

-

Money Driven Medicine - produced by Alex Gibney, and based on Maggie Mahar's acclaimed book, "Money Driven Medicine: The Real Reason Health Care Costs So Much" GET, BUY, SCREEN AT http://moneydrivenmedicine.org/

-

Trailer:

-

-

-

-

Watch September 4, 2009, Bill Moyers Journal HERE or below:

--

-

-

-

TRAILER: "CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY"

-
WENDELL POTTER
-
WENDELL POTTER PR WATCH
-
Money-Driven Medicine provides the essential introduction Americans need to become knowledgeable participants in healthcare reform, now and in the years ahead. Produced by Academy Award winner Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side; Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room)
-
MAGGIE MAHAR
-

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SEEMINGLY INDIFFERENT TO SUFFERING

An estimated up to 346 people die every week or between 22,000 and 40,000 die annually (depending on which study you access) from lack of health insurance. Thousands of people are losing their health insurance every day because they lost their job, couldn’t (or can't afford to) pay their premiums, or were kicked out by their health insurance company.

These events/occurrences are happening every day while our federal workers and members of Congress enjoy excellent health care benefits and other benefits at tax payer expense. We're entering flu season, and how many uninsured people will die from the H1N1 virus and other viruses.

It is shameful, morally reprehensible, and outrageous; but the tax payer (especially ignorant town hall protesters) seems not to care. They rail at government, but have not the guts to stand up and ask for equal treatment.

On the other hand, members of Congress seem unaware that they have government sponsored health insurance.

We pay about 72% of federal employees (and that includes members of Congress) health insurance premium. I'll say it again, ... the tax payer subsidizes 72% or slightly less of federal employees health insurance premium; and if you think about it, we really pay the entire premium because we pay federal employee’s wages and salary (from which, they pay their share of the balance of that premium).

You can see what I'm talking about, by going to the Federal Employees Health and Benefit website.

Are you looking? Great!... Also look at our federal employees (includes members of Congress) choice of health insurers (tax payer subsidized, of course). Sort of like a health insurance exchange … don’t you think?

What really irks me and is the most reprehensible, is that we (the tax payer) are making the health insurance companies richer and richer while they turn around and deny you and me (the tax payer) treatment, or insurance, or they kick us out after they’ve paid an expensive claim or series of claims (which by the way, they’ve reported to the medical information bureau [MIB] for other health insurance and life insurance company members to see … so those other companies can deny you insurance if they so choose).

So again, hundreds of people are dying every week and thousands losing their health insurance [every day] while health insurance companies (that Wendell Potter talks about) get richer and richer; all the while the tax payer pays members of Congress' health insurance premiums, wages, salary and other benefits.

Do you want this to continue? … Or are you going to tell your Congressman/woman or Senator that you want equal treatment (quality, affordable, comprehensive single payer or public option [in a regulated health insurance exchange]), or you’ll simply not support or vote for them ever again? It’s up to you. Make your choice.

Death by Lack of Health Insurance (2008)

Health Insurance Coverage National Coalition on Health Care (2009)

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program

Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance
Trends in Cost and Access (2004)

Wendell Potter (also see the entire 32 minute Bill Moyers Journal interview at CSC Blog)

Fact Sheet: April 14, 2009 Fact Sheet: Using a Health-Insurance Exchange to Pool Risk and Protect Enrollees

DISPELLING THE MYTHS IN HEALTH CARE REFORM

I was watching CSPAN yesterday and saw a town hall meeting conducted by (D-VA) Rep. James Moran. His guest speaker was Dr. Howard Dean. That meeting was very enlightening because up until yesterday, I hadn't really understood the "health insurance exchange" that the president keeps talking about. Well, after watching that meeting, I understood it. I also understood why it is absolutely necessary to have the public option as part of the "health insurance exchange". Watch Representative Moran's town hall meeting and judge for yourself. Click HERE

-

C-SPAN also had a doctor from Canada speak about the Canadian Health Care system. Many of the callers had they themselves or loved ones used the Canadian Health Care system. Most were extremely pleased and couldn't understand why Americans don't have universal health care. The doctor said that Canadians were looking to improve their ER wait times and were looking at other European health systems to see where they could make improvements in their system.

-

There were also callers from other European countries who spoke about their universal health care. None could understand why Americans do not have universal health care. It was interesting that Canadians and other Europeans preferred their system over the American Health Care system.

-

What Americans value is so far out of sync with European values (in terms of basic human rights). Europeans see health care as being moral and a basic human right. Americans are shamefully "me" oriented vs "we" oriented.

-

Europeans understand that good health is necessary in order to work and be a productive human being. Universal health care makes sense morally and financially.

-

-

-

Sweden - Comparing US and Scandinavian Economic Policies

-

-

-

-

Universal Health Care Message to Americans From Canadian Doctors & Health Care Experts

-

-

-

-

COMPARISONS BETWEEN U.S. AND CANADA HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS

-

HEALTH CARE IN OTHER COUNTRIES

-

ROBERT KUTTNER

-

NATIONAL HEALTH CARE

-

UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE

-

C-SPAN

ARE REPUBLICANS BECOMING INCREASINGLY EMOTIONALLY UNSTABLE?

According to Wikipedia, in 2004, there were roughly 72 million Democrats, 55 million Republicans and 42 million Independents. “Polls over the last year have found that twenty-one to twenty-six percent of Americans self-identify as Republicans.” [Wikipedia]

That said, the Republican party is still exerting some influence in media and in politics. Particularly disturbing is the number of Republicans who watch the flawed, largely conservative biased, dangerously opinionated and irresponsible news (?) network called FOX News.

What is sad:

I believe, that the Republican party, the minority party, has become a party of conspiracy theorists who reject the truth; whose members are fearful and becoming emotionally unstable.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

BILL MAHER

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON

RACHEL MADDOW

KEITH OLBERMANN

REPUBLICAN PARTY

MSNBC

FOX NEWS

CNN

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

KEITH OLBERMANN FIRED UP - GOOD TO SEE YOU BACK!

I was about to write-off MSNBC talk show hosts (with 2 exceptions) for being weak-kneed, kowtow to corporate, don't do your homework, mealy mouthed, "talk about nothing" hacks ... and then I would walk away, never to look back. Keith Olbermann was on vacation for what seemed like forever, and all MSNBC really had to offer was Rachel Maddow.

-

Morning Joe was getting on my nerves; because they hardly ever do their homework.

-

And Joe and Mika and guests (especially Mika)? ... well, they act like stage actors. They have a script, and they just read from corporate script. Occasionally, there will be a fresh unscripted guest or two, but for the most part ... Morning Joe is not much to look forward to.

-

Anyway, after yesterday's "Morning Joe" dribble, I was through with MSNBC ... through, through, through ... that is until I tuned into Keith Olbermann last night. Oh my God, .... Keith was back ... and I mean back ... yep, ... corporate wasn't controlling Keith last night. He let loose.

-

Let's take a peak at what went on. ....

-

The paid and/ or scripted whack jobs are coming out of their home state asylums (like Texas), and the friends of lobbyists and big industry special interest groups are reaping huge rewards for trying to derail or hi-jack health care reform.

-

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

-

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

-
What troubles me is that the far-right of the Republican Party has never stopped their lying and scheming ways. They will do whatever, no matter how under-handed, to win. I don't think they have any other ideas; and I don't get it, because they are "cutting off their nose to spite their face" and they are getting dupes (the people who they're hurting) to help them.

Remember Robert Parry's (Feb. 25, 2009) article? The GOP's Anti-Obama Propaganda"

-

-

We brought in some back up for Keith ... though he definitely doesn't need it.

-

WATCH

-

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

The Republican Party, the party of "no" and "no ideas (unless it involves lying and scheming)", has been operating behind closed doors for a long time, seeking to derail any legislation or policy or election that will be in the interest of the Middle Class. How do they get away with this crap?
-
My mother last year told me about receiving an absentee ballot with Barack Obama's name spelled Barack Osama. She resides in an area that was controlled by Republicans.

Remember the GOP’s Voter Suppression scheme in swing states?

And the race card? Give me a break; ... the far-right plays "the race card" better than anyone or any group I know. For heaven sakes, Glenn Beck called President Obama a racist, and it looks like he got away with it!
-

-

MORE REPUBLICAN NONSENSE:

-
The popular "cash for clunkers" is helping the auto industry, auto dealers, the environment, and the American people, and Republicans don't like it. We don't GET IT!!!

Well, actually we do get it. The GOP hates government, even though they work for government (uh?). The American tax-payer pays their salary, much of their benefits, etc., and they hate the government? Hey people, these shysters are double dipping. They get money from tax-payers, who they screw over, so they can get paid by big business (lobbyists) to do big business bidding.

Oh you, the tax-payer, might end up with a crumb or two; however, these representatives rake in millions.

-

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

More backup:

-

yeah Rachel ...

-

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

-

-

Friday night, our group wrote our Senators the following:

"The American tax-payer pays your salary, for your trips out of state and around the world (on government business of course), a large portion of your employee benefits which includes a wonderful Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan. It's marvelous.

We pay for all the active military and veterans benefits and defense employees’ wages and salaries.

We also pay the president's salary and a large portion of his benefits and trips around the world (on government business, of course).

I know there are many, many other perks as a Senator.

So let me refresh, - the tax payer is making your life very safe, very healthy and very comfortable and pleasurable, while you may have a problem (can't be sure -if I'm wrong please forgive) with providing each and every American (who pays for the above), quality, affordable, comprehensive health care much like your own or similar to what our veterans or seniors receive.

You might want to think about that just a little while on break.

Have a nice recess."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

KEITH'S SPECIAL COMMENT: LEGISLATORS FOR SALE


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'll grant you that Democrats have their problems and their issues; but they are the party for the Middle Class and the small business owner.

The GOP claims they're on the side of the small business owner; but you can't be for big business and the small business owner; because big business on many occasions discourages competition.

-

How can it do that? ... Cause it’s too big, people.

-

Big business can under-cut most small businesses. These big companies do high volume sales; and when the go to market to buy supplies or items for resale, they get better discounts. They also have a lot of advertising dollars to throw around; as well as lobbying monies to give to Congressman and Senators to create, influence or derail legislation that has to do with their interests.

---

Most small business owners have a hard time competing, given those obstacles. Unless you've got a unique product or service, or dedicated audience, you're usually out-matched. And if you're really, really, really good, ... big ole corporate will try anything to bring you down; they might even buy you out (if nothing else works).

-

Yep, folks, big ole corporates friend is the GOP; because the GOP, the Republican Party, will not stand in the way of them doing whatever it takes to be king of the land. If a Republican hears the words, "regulation" ... oh my God, ... they will call in the "commie" police.

-
Remember those businesses that are still "too big to fail"? The legislation that created this economic mess was sponsored by Republicans. [Gramm-Leach-Bliley]

-

How's the Democrats faring so far? ...
-

Legislation:

-
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act
Signed: Monday, June 22, 2009
Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009
Signed: Friday, May 22, 2009
Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act
Signed: Friday, May 22, 2009
Helping Families Save Their Homes Act
Signed: Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act
Signed: Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act
Signed: Wednesday, April 21, 2009
Omnibus Public Lands Management Act
Signed: Monday, March 30, 2009
Small Business Act Temporary Extension
Signed: Friday, March 20, 2009
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Signed: Tuesday, February 17, 2009
DTV Delay Act
Signed: Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act
Signed: Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
Signed: Thursday, January 29, 2009

-

Oh, ..... and then there's that new post 9/11 G.I. bill.

-

Democrats, keep up the good work.

-

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GOP STRATEGIES TO DERAIL HEALTH CARE REFORM:

Right-Wing Harassment Strategy Against Dems Detailed In Memo: ‘Yell,’ ‘Stand Up And Shout Out,’ ‘Rattle Him’

The GOP town hall script:http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/townhallactionmemo.pdf

OUTRAGED OVER BLUG DOG ARROGANCE

We've been watching Congress and the Senate to see how things are progressing with health care reform. The more liberal members of the Democratic party are getting frustrated with the more conservative members of the party, called Blue Dogs.

Last evening, the Health bill from the Energy and Commerce Committee inched slowly through the House; eventually leading to a number of concessions made with the Blue Dogs. Read more-

What angers us, and we're not sure if you are aware of this; federal employees (that includes, we believe, members of Congress and the Senate) are under a health care program called the "Federal Employees Health Benefits Program"; and guess what, the American tax-payer pays for more than half of these employees health insurance premium.

While the congressional committees and senate committees are haggling over quality, affordable, (not even comprehensive) health care for Americans, Congress and the Senate are getting access to a comprehensive health and benefits plan that would make anyone salivate. And, once again, the American tax-payer foots more than half of their premiums.

Click HERE and see what portion the government (us) pays towards their premiums, and what the federal employee pays.

-

You will get madder than hell when you see the entire federal employees benefits program.

-

So, ... Blue Dogs and Republicans are haggling over whether to give us single-payer or a strong public health care option, while we pay much of their health insurance premiums, and even more towards all the benefits federal employees receive. And don't forget, we pay all their salaries and even veterans benefits.

-

Call your representatives and tell them you want single-payer (like what the seniors get - Medicare; or what the veteran's get - VA), or what members of Congress receive.

-

Click HERE to find out who your representatives are, and how to contact them (look to the top, left hand corner of the page and enter your zip).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Health Care Realities

By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: July 30, 2009

At a recent town hall meeting, a man stood up and told Representative Bob Inglis to “keep your government hands off my Medicare.” The congressman, a Republican from South Carolina, tried to explain that Medicare is already a government program — but the voter, Mr. Inglis said, “wasn’t having any of it.”

It’s a funny story — but it illustrates the extent to which health reform must climb a wall of misinformation. It’s not just that many Americans don’t understand what President Obama is proposing; many people don’t understand the way American health care works right now. They don’t understand, in particular, that getting the government involved in health care wouldn’t be a radical step: the government is already deeply involved, even in private insurance.

And that government involvement is the only reason our system works at all.

Read more
-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PROGRESSIVES TARGET BEN NELSON (D-NEB)
-
“As Congress approaches the August recess with health care legislation still in flux, progressive groups are making an early push to target wavering Senate Democrats.

On Friday morning, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, in alliance with Democracy for America., unveiled a new television ad attacking Sen. Ben Nelson, (D-Neb.) for slowing down the reform process. Narrated by a local Nebraska businessman, the spot relies on the same type of highly personalized testimony of health care struggle that has become a dominant theme for reform proponents”
-
Read more.

-