In England in Charles Dickens's day, people who could not pay their bills went to prison. They stayed until they raised the money to get out, either by selling property, inheritance or through the efforts of friends and relatives. Prison furnished very little and prisoners were required to pay for any extras like clothing, more food or a better cell location.
Now we don't use debtors prisons; our debtors are allowed to roam the country so that they can work to repay their debt. As an experiment, I suggest that you add up all the interest that you pay per month including mortgage interest. You'll be surprised at the total; I was. Mortgage interest is deductible on your income tax, a subsidy to the home buyer, but also to the lender who can thus charge more, Lenders don't really provide much of a service for the exorbitant amounts they charge, If too big to fail, the risk is minimal. And it is our money they are lending, not theirs. For more on this I suggest a nearly century old classic, Other People's Money by Louis Brandeis. A slender book as true now as it was when it was written.
In Dickens's day before TV, people used to visit debtors prisons and insane asylums for entertainment. Now we can be entertained without leaving home by watching home videos of people falling down. A small improvement. Instead of finding other's problems entertaining, we should be doing all that we can to help solve their problems. With the debt problem, that means insisting on lower bank fees and interest rates.
With criticism from the leftAnd criticism from the rightBarack steers a middle course ofModeration you say.The critics charge extremism.The moderate label they decry.Barack a moderate?Both sides would disagree.To the impartial,Few may they numberSteering between two perilsIs a skill they value.Like Scylla and CharybdisLeft and Right in America Imperil the ship of state.
You might want to sit down to read this one .......
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-dorlester/guaranteed-health-care-in_b_280528.html
Some small, random things:
As Medicaid, Medicare, VA health care, and CHIP are already in place, why are Republicans opposing a type of government program that has already been otherwise implemented in multiple areas? What are they achieving by opposing the public option? They achieve nothing. They are spinning their wheels. Not news, but I'm still mystified by it. Also still waiting for conservatives to produce some viable alternatives. >:-/
I still think it would really help forge bipartisan support to include medical malpractice reform, let alone the cost-reduction benefits.
Also, I see no reason not to split up the bill into more politically managable/palatable chunks to ensure meaningful reform actually occurs.
Last, I'm a fan of progressive consumption tax. They also have 401(k) funds that adjust themselves as one ages and comes closer to retirement age. Can this concept be applied to health care coverage??
Thoughts??
AMERICANS UNITED FOR HEALTH CARE AND INSURANCE REFORM
http://www.americansunitedhcr.wordpress.com
Phone/Fax (712) 239-0992
Direct Questions to:
americansunitedhcr@cableone.net
Press Release
9 A.M. CDT, August 31, 2009
AMERICANS UNITED FOR HEALTH CARE & INSURANCE REFORM RALLY & March in Washington, D.C. Sept. 13, 2009
Sioux City, August 31, 2009: A rally/march will be held in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 13, 2009 between 12N – 5pm in support of the administrations health care and health insurance reform goals. It is the goal of Americans United for Health Care and Insurance Reform to let congress know that all Americans need health care and insurance. Over 47 million Americans are uninsured and millions more are underinsured or at risk of losing their health insurance
The rally/march will begin at the Lincoln Memorial and march to the steps of the Capitol Building via the National Mall. This rally/march will be peaceful.
Robert Reich has given his support to this rally and march, “….I just want Congress to know how many Americans want universal health care and will settle for no less than complete coverage and no less than a public insurance option, to keep private insurers honest. So I’m happy to lend my support to whatever you are doing.”
Americans have enjoyed the freedom of movement, speech and employment. It is time that American citizens have the freedom that comes from knowing they have affordable health care for themselves and their families. Health care is not just for the privileged but it is a fundamental right.
Other groups marching on September 13, 2009 for health care reform are Congressman Fattah’s “March for Healthcare”, “Medicare for All”, and “March on Washington for Health Care.”
We invite all those who wish to participate visit our web blog at http://www.americansunitedhcr.wordpress.com and register to rally.
For more information please see our web blog (address above)Please direct all questions to our committee at americansunitedhcr@cableone.net.
Americans United for Health Care and Insurance Reform is not affiliated with Organizing for America or the Democratic National Committee or affiliated with any other groups, special interests or lobbying forums.
During the campaign President Obama described concessions to the drug industry in Medicare Part D, decrying the lack of negotiating power for seniors and Medicare. He said this kind of business as usual would end in his administration.
He's accepted a "deal" to lower costs by giving up rights to buy from foreign distributors. He did some selling out to pharmaceutical companies in much the same way he decried duringthe campaign.
More of the same. We deserve better. President Obama please walk the walk, stop the BS. We see through it and it causes your strongest supporters to stop supporting you. Govern and lead with transparency that you promised. Politics as usual won't allow this country to thrive and may imperil our survival as a nation.
As we approach the 8th anniversary of 9-11, Dick Cheney is out and about telling us what a great job Bush-Cheney did in protecting the country. If that is so, why is bin Laden still at large?
Bin Laden thought outside the box to use commercial airplanes as weapons. He probably intends to attack us again when he is ready using another method outside the box. What has been our reaction so far? We screen passengers above the cabin floor, but we do a poor job of screening cargo which flies in the same planes below the aircraft cabin floor. We must protect the US from other methods of attack that bin Laden might use. Trucks crossing the border from the north or the south are possibilities. Small aircraft are other possibilities. I worry about ships carrying WMDs in the containers that arrive at our ports.
Wouldn't it be ironic if ships loaded by Dubai Ports contained WMDs courtesy of Osama bin Laden. George W. Bush wanted to sell control of 6 US ports to Dubai Ports, and the deal was stopped only by Congress supported by a public outcry.
No, I am not referring to sewage; I am referring to the contractor for military mercenaries formerly known as Blackwater, now known as Xe. Xe(Blackwater) should be abolished for a number of reasons, most importantly it is a private army that could be used by the unscrupulous to stage a coup here in the US. By assuming some of the duties of the armed forces at tremendous cost, it allows us to field more fighting troops with a smaller army. If we want more fighting troops, let's expand the armed forces by law, not by subterfuge.
Another strike against Xe(Blackwater) is that its employees in the field are governed by neither civilian nor military law. They become a lawless force of their own. Additionally, Xe funnels lots of money to its top people who already have more than they need. This only increases their power and influence.
My thoughts below are not the official position of the Obama administration.
I favor a living wage, not a minimum wage, a living wage for all workers in the US. A living wage will push up everyone's standard of living just as employers currently use undocumented aliens as a way to hold wages down. All of us can have a better life. They know how to spread the wealth around in Sweden, Finland and Denmark. We can learn from them.
Shades of socialism. They will use that argument against it. Our business owners require incentives to produce jobs and hire workers. The question is how much incentive is enough? For a hedge fund owner, isn't $100 million per year enough and he/she could forgo another $900 million which could be used to better so many lives.
Money is power and this isn't so much about money and incentives as it is about power. This is supposed to be a democracy. Do we really want to accept rule by a few super wealthy individuals. That is not democracy.
I've been underwhelmed by President Obama's description of "Exchanges".
He likens an exchange to what members of Congress have, a menu of different plans. This is alien to many people, and carries some implication that it is paid for by taxpayers (after all we pay for Congress' salaries and benefits).
Open Enrollment is something millions of Americans know through their workplace. It makes sense to describe an Exchange as Open Enrollment for all Americans. Instead of being something new and maybe frightening it is something you do every October, choose your insurance from the few expensive policies offered by your company - except now there will be more options and you don't have to work for a big company.
OFA
President Obama needs more supporters on Facebook. The republicans there have started using the polling function and have made a significant number of anti-Obama polls and voted overwhemingly against President Obama making him trying to make him look unpopular there. OFA needs to try and get more Obama people on Facebook to vote in the polling functions there or create better poll's themselves. Maybe Facebook needs 1 million new Democrats to join it, so we can all vote in the polls there and change them. I think the press does look at the social networking sites when considering all the "popularity" articles they write, and the GOP has become "hip" enough to understand this. So Facebook is being bombarded by the GOP with propaganda and new users.
Thanks
John
I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED BY THE SIGNALS FROM THE PRESIDENT THAT HE IS WILLING TO DROP THE PUBLIC OPTION IN HEALTH CARE. LET'S FACE, SOME SCREAMING NUTS AND BIGOTS YELLED AT THE TOWN HALLS AND WE RAN FOR COVER.
WE SHOULD KEEP UP THE FIGHT BECAUSE WE MAY NOT GET THIS OPPORTUNITY AGAIN, FORGET BIPARTISANSHIP, THE REPUBLICANS JUST WANT TO HURT THE PRESIDENT POLITICALLY.
ARE OUR LEADERS AFRAID OR THEY FORGOT WE WON THE ELECTIONS? BUSH KNEW WHO WAS IN CHARGE, WHY DON'T WE?
IF THE PRESIDENT CAVES IN TO THE REPUBLICANS THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE WILL BE THE DISAFFECTION OF DEMOCRATIC VOTERS AND A LOSS FAITH IN THE ADMINISTRATION. THEN WE WILL CERTAINLY WILL LOSE IN 2010
GRYPHUS
There is no doubt that we got cought flat footed by the Republican Campaign of lies! During Congress recess the Democrat need to push back and address the whole of United States about the lies spread by the Republicans. I think the Town Hall forums are not quite effective as a global cable tv, internet and radio campaigns would be. The few nuts that disrupts the Town Hall meetings get media attention and even if they are few their actions get magnified and looks like they are in the najority, (FOX NEWS).
Are activists need to pay back the Republicans at their Town Halls just to give them a dose of their own medicine!
The Blue Dogs need to step up to the plate or become Republicans, they should be voted out as they are the reason that this thing is dragging, they might be the reason this health care reform could tank!
We still have immigration reform coming, don't forget the Republicans opposed Sotomayor!!
Let's face, the very core reason of some Republican oposition to President Obama's health care and anything else he might propose is racism!
The immigration reform is going to be interesting!
Gryphus
1) patient/consumer protections
2) cost reduction
3) public option
4) minimal red tape for small business owners and allowing them to pool
5) addressing egregious malpractice suits in some manner
6) [this may fall under cost reduction] bulk-buying of drugs and medical supplies for all current programs/entities as well as competitive bidding for said provisions
7) this done before it can be turned into a 2010 campaign wedge issue
Seems simple enough to me, but I have a feeling that's asking a lot. That being said, 1, 2, 4, 6, and possibly 5 should ostensibly be things everyone can agree on, but I'm not holding my breath.
What do you want to see in health care reform?
That town hall where they had people raise their hands if they opposed government-run health care and then next had them raise their hands if they were on Medicaid or Medicare--brilliant idea. Brilliant way to counter the opposition's "socialized medicine" cries by driving the point home right to the individual while not being snarky or accusatory about those who are trying to play on people's residual Cold War fears and fear of death.
"Our children are going to pay for this!" Then cover all children first. This can be rolled out in phases.
"The government is trying to force your hand regarding your health care choices!" I personally would like to see my choices EXPANDED by creation of a public option. I'd like to consider my health care provided by an entity that is not based on profit. Furthermore, I really feel the need to have a balance between public and private so they can babysit one another as well as compete and drive improvements in care and coverage. (As far as the government making health care choices for people, I have this to say: 1) Terry Schiavo, and 2) the abortion debate.)
I am glad to see Obama stepping it up. Yes, it is the role of Congress to make law. Unfortunately, they're screwing it up. Completely diluting the potency of any meaningful reform. They need some serious guidance/leadership. A flashlight, a compass, what have you. The Democratic majority should make every effort to be cooperative. They should also use their power to best serve the people; specifically, this is one of the few times they should use it to make sure a feasible and beneficial bill is passed, not a big fat piece of convoluted junk.
If you haven't seen this or are not aware, please watch/read this piece. I've found it very helpful in pulling people over to our side.
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07312009/profile.html
To all of you who are standing up with us. I salute you and honor you. Let's not get discouraged, the right wing insurance and drug companies are throwing everything at us but the kitchen sink. They are not going to give up without a fight and they are betting that there are many who will just turn and run.
We will not go quitely into the night!!
So I finally have my website up and running...its been a long road, but I am finally done with the hard part. I am most proud of the Women in politics page. This page is dedicated to the women in politics...past and present. Right now there are some posts about both. Starting next week, there will be one interview per week that highlights a different woman that is involved in politics right now, and highlights there achievements, and struggles. If you would like to see a particular woman highlighted, feel free to go to the site and email me, or respond to me here.
There is also information about current political events, video blogs, and the 2010 races...as they are right now...more content will be coming as the days go on. Looking to make this a fun and interactive website...so stop by and tell me what you think...and make sure to check back often for the new content
