We definitely need health care reform with a public option but there are some items that need to be part of a final bill including (1) common sense tort reform (2) freedom to offer higher deductible options (3) privacy protection in smart cards, computerization, etc. (4) maximum competition across state lines, (5) real built-in incentives for cost savings, etc. We are well aware of extreme right wing lunatics shouting people down and spouting lies at town hall meetings but we do need to listen to common sense ideas from all sides in the debate.
Health care reform needs a true single-payer public health care option. This is the only way we will reduce health care costs and achieve universal coverage. Huge savings can be achieved through prevention, computerization, standardization of records, smart cards, full access to generics, etc. A single-payer public health care option should not have to be subsidized by taxpayers. The United States spends far more per capita on health care than any other country in the world but we are lagging far behind in the health of our people. Doing nothing about health care reform is inexcusable since doing nothing will further decrease our competitive advantage in the world and health care cost increases will continue to far exceed our ability to pay. We must get health care reform done now!
Insurance companies make enormous profits from health problems of the American people by charging more, cherrypicking and denying claims. They have devastated the American people with bankruptcy in record numbers. Special interests such as insurance companies, hospitals, drug companies have made obscenely large contributions to corrupt Republicans (and even a few influential Democrats) to maintain the current dysfunctional system that will soon destroy our country. We cannot trust the insurance industry to cut costs without a public health care option providing some honest competition.
See http://Democracy-Now.us
Health care reform needs a true single-payer public health care option. This is the only way we will reduce health care costs and achieve universal coverage. Huge savings can be achieved through prevention, computerization, standardization of records, smart cards, full access to generics, etc. A single-payer public health care option should not necessarily have to be subsidized by taxpayers.
Insurance companies make money by charging more and denying claims. They have devastated the American people with bankruptcy in record numbers. Special interests such as insurance companies, hospitals, drug companies have made huge contributions to corrupt Republicans to maintain the current dysfunctional system. We cannot trust the insurance industry to cut costs without an optional single-payer health care plan providing some honest competition.
Can you imagine if, instead of bailing out corporate America, we just divided the bail out money among the tax payers of America. We could give everyone (about 300 million people) 1 or 2 million dollars each. That would make most of the Country debt free! Then imagine how much stimulating all the spending would do to our failing economy! So, rather than give $800 billion to greedy Corporations, bail out the tax payers and let us fix what's ailing this economy! Imagine all the stress relief that would come. Imagine that people could do jobs they loved! Imagine a happy, healthy America. Not to mention everyone could then afford to get their own medical! We could eliminate Social Security, Welfare, Food stamps, Unemployment Insurance. Think of the red tape...now gone. Now that's CHANGE you can take to the bank!
Hey Obama/Biden Supporters,
I was fortunate enough to get the day off so I could help with the local Obama campaign here in Gig Harbor, Washington. We started the day calling voters in Ohio, followed by calling voters here in our home State.
Although talking on the phone is one of my least favorite pastimes, I had a wonderful time. I've left more messages and spoken with more people today than I have in several months combined.
The folks at the Gig Harbor field office were wonderful and I'd like to say thanks to all of the volunteers who brought food, coffee, cheers, smiles, and friends to help in the fight.
Thanks to the organization of this site, I was even able to come home and continue making calls using my.barackobama.com. I'm lucky to be able to participate in such an important and historic election.
One of the highlights of my day was reaching voters in their 70's, 80's and even one lady who was 101 years old that thanked me for supporting and working for Obama. I don't need thanks, but it meant so much that people of all ages realize the need for change and made sure they voted.
I'm feeling good about the election as numbers are beginning to roll in, but no matter what, I'm thankful that we all made our voice heard.
I tear up when I think of all of the inspirational things I've seen this season and I hope and pray that we're not dissapointed.
Thank you all for supporting Obama and Biden and for insisting on, and working for, real change.
Eric
We call ourselves a democracy but still have shameful voter suppression by corrupt Republicans. If voters have to stand in ridiculously long lines, especially in battleground states, many citizens can't wait that long and will be disenfranchised from voting.
Oregon has 100% mail-in voting and Washington State will soon have 100% mail-in voting too. This is much better than the current mess we see in other states. First you can complete your ballot at your leisure with all the information in front of you. Second there is a paper backup which can be independently scanned in close elections to verify the winner. This proved very valuable in Washington State's 2004 governors race where less than 200 votes separated the winner from the loser.
We desperately need voting reform in the United States so citizens are not disenfranchised from voting.
I loved the Obamercial; it was so well-produced and narrated. Of course, it's propaganda, but I think it perfectly addressed the objections of undecided voters and people that have been distracted by the spiteful blubbering of the GOP candidates.
I was very happy that there was absolutely no mudslinging directed at McCain and Palin. I consistently hear creative ideas and solutions from Obama and Biden, where it seems McPalin have nothing left but lies, finger-pointing and exaggeration.
Last week, I signed up to take Nov. 4th off to help the effort in my home state of Washington. I've never done that before and was dreading it a bit, to be truthful, as I dislike when people call or knock on my door.
There's so much at stake, though, so I've donated again and am now looking forward to getting out and talking to people.
Obama, Biden & Change!
This has got to be the dirtiest, most dishonest Republican campaign yet. John McCain and other corrupt Republicans caused the savings and loan crash in the early 1990's and now McCain is part of the Republican Culture of Corruption responsible for the current crash. They are now running a disgustingly negative campaign throwing all the mud they can. This is dangerous for our country because it brings out the crazy people seen at recent McCain-Palin rallies.
John McCain is confused, erratic, showing signs of dementia, is not looking healthy, likely to have his melanoma cancer return and is mindlessly spouting lies from his sleazy, dishonest campaign. John McCain has been in lockstep with George W Bush over 90% of the time. Another four years of Bush policies would totally destroy our country and that is what we would get with John McCain. If you believe John McCain's recent campaign lies that suddenly he would be different, then I have a Bridge to Nowhere to sell you.
Sarah Palin is clearly unqualified to be President, is a religious fundamentalist extremist who would take away a women's right to choose and would create an American Taliban reversing all the gains in civil rights. For the sake of our country, we must make sure that Barack Obama is elected President.
Having said that, Obama as President would be smart to have some moderate Republicans on his team because we are all Americans and need to work together in bipartisan fashion to solve our problems.
Republicans, including John McCain and Dino Rossi running for governor in Washington State keep saying that Barack Obama and Christine Gregoire will raise your taxes and they won't. These are absolute lies that must be clearly corrected in the minds of the voters. Barack and Christine must clearly and repeatedly point out these lies and set the record straight. Barack would lower taxes on those making less than $250,000 and the rich would just have their tax cuts rolled back to what they were in the Clinton years. For the truth on Barack Obama, see http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/fightthesmearshome
Chris Gregoire has done an excellent job as governor, created excellent prospects for Washington State despite the current Republican created downturn and set up a rainy day fund for economic downturns. For the truth on Chris Gregoire, see http://www.chrisgregoire.com/FightTheAttacks
Most import, we must educate people that voting for John McCain means four more years of Bush and Republican corruption that we have suffered through the last eight years. Whether this education be from the Obama campaign or some supporting group, the voters are not getting this and John McCain is pulling ahead in the polls.
This description of Southern attitudes, to the degree it is true, expresses the kind of feeling which supports Republican candidates in the South. I think ordinary Republicans, elsewhere and anywhere in the country, ought to decide they have had enough of that Southern influence in their party and vote differently this year. It is way past time for this to end. If you are a Republican in the South and have made efforts to change your party, thank you. The rest of the country needs good folks in the South to stand up and change the politics that has been so dominant there and hurtful to us all, black and white. (This is also available at www.pubtheo.com)
John McCain is swiftboating Barack Obama including his attacks on Obama's opinion of the surge and his visiting wounded troops in the European hospitals. This extremely dishonest and sleazy attack by John McCain is shameful. Corrupt Republicans in the background are also responsible since McCain is confused, showing signs of dementia and not in complete control. All he is doing is reading dirty politics talking points provided by other corrupt Republicans.
The strongest defense of Obama was from Chuck Hagel, a Republican. Where are the Democrats? Where are the Clintons? Where is the swift response? If Progressives don't quickly respond and quickly set the record straight, we will lose just like in 2000 and 2004. People who are not paying much attention will believe the Republican lies if they are not challenged and corrected. Progressives other than Obama must do the fighting back so Obama can stay above this garbage. The United States will be destroyed if we have a third term of Bush which is what we would get if Obama loses to McCain.
See http://www.Democracy-Now.us
The problem with the current same sex marriage controversy is that marriage is a religious concept and we should keep a strict separation between church and state. Like in other countries, everyone in the US, including heterosexual and homosexual couples, should go to the government to be declared a civil union with its equal rights guarantees. If they want to also be declared a marriage, they would go to their church.
