First we have to say, "what healthcare system?" Do we even have one at the moment, other than the hodgepodge of patchworks made up of various insurance and pharmaceutical companies?
Now I'm not sure this is the MOST pressing issue of the day, unless of course you are sick and have to maneuver through the web of goo. As for me, me and mine we are healthy and have no immediate concerns, but I'm not so fool hearty to think that this will always be the case. And, with the current discussions regarding HR676 being all the buzz, I figure I'd better figure out where I stand.The first stop on my journey was actually the bill in California SB840. The following video shows how thoroughly the bill has been thought through, and consequences of not having a good health care policy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAWZrfYXs-c I found this bill very exciting, well, except for the fact that I don't live in California, nor do millions of other Americans. However, the federal government also has a health care bill currently in discussion--HR676 co-authored by Dennis Kucinich. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZbAwrycIc0Now this gets me thinking, which would be better, a state by state single payer system, or a national single payer system. Either way, profit HAS got to be taken out of health care. Now profits, in general, are not necessarily a bad thing, but they have no place when it comes to dealing with health. I love the line in one of these videos where they equate it to ones house burning. We don't expect individual homeowners to pay the fire department to put out a house fire. We all pay so if we should be victim to a fire, we can receive the fire fighting services. Why has it been that health care has not been viewed in the same way?So I decide to see where my state stands in this area. It appears we are going to have a general vote on whether or not to modify our constitution to include "Health care is an essential safeguard of human life and dignity, and there is an obligation for the State to ensure that every resident is able to realize this fundamental right." Okay, that's a start. I suppose this would lay the groundwork for future legislation.
John Edwards had a healthcare plan, but I could not stand behind his plan. It seems to have brought the libertarian out in me. The inclusion of mandetory preventative care was offensive to me. While I totally think preventative care should have always been part of the health care package, I certainly don't want it to be mandated. I think most people would enlist preventative care if it were available to them, so it is unnecessary to put it into a law.
President Obama doesn't appear to support HR676, at the moment, and his reasons are valid. It would cost jobs, but these jobs are part of the problem that bloats the health care industry. And the creation of a single payer system will create jobs, most likely many will be filled by those formerly in the private sector. Granted, CEO's will be out of work, as will many of the former health insurance employees, but they will at least have healthcare. along with the rest of America.
For more information: http://www.healthcare-now.org/
As I watch all the political heevin' and hawin', bitin' and snippin' I got to thinking. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. As our economic situation is not occurring in a vacuum and because of the exceedingly high level of dysfunction in the government, a new method might be in order. Yes, the stimulus package needed to be passed yesteryear, but what if, instead, we just take it one step at a time.
Benefits: It would allow the republican descent to have a chance to digest a new way of seeing, doing, being. It allows for simpler arguments that can not be hijacked by political maneuvers. It limits extraneous add ons that may serve a few, but not the whole.
One of the complications of dealing with intelligent and visionary people is that often their sight can be too far reaching and overly complicated. So let's just take a step back and move throw this mess a little more deliberately and cautiously.
What if today we only tackled mortgages. Get that portion passed, and next week work on a specific job package, and the week after that another job package.
Yesterday I read someones blog with some really detailed solid ideas on rescuing mortgage holders and the banks that finance them. It had great appeal because it offered a solution, but also consequences. Even greater than my vague approach, which I think her (or him, not even sure if the author was a he or she, after spending 2 hrs trying to find that entry, I gave up, so maybe we'll get lucky and the author will read this entry?) her figures were more appropriate. I only recall 1 at the moment. In my last entry I said buying the paper at 80% of the current market value, and their post said 50%. Perhaps somewhere between the two would be appropriate. Either way, the details can be worked out by the cracker jack economic team and/or any senator or representative. Just as long as it is something that will be passed.
Bottom line...that is what needs to happen. We can tackle green jobs next week; healthcare, the week after; education, after that.
Not to mention dealing with singular actions leads to much smaller figures. This will be much more palatable to the general public, as well as, deflating the steam of the windbags who are only content to be obstacles.
Well I have to say a few words on the fiasco we call our economy. Sorry Mr. President, I don't fully agree with the assessment that poor lending is what put us into the current predicament. I think it was a final straw, but it was a thin straw at best.
So, what did get us where we are now? Out of control, unregulated oil prices. That is what the majority of the heap is upon this pile. As gas prices escalated at an astonishing rate, and oil companies reaped record profits, the economy began a spiral that has left the entire country reeling. With the higher prices came higher expenses in the transportation of goods. This leads to higher costs, and in effect higher prices. The higher costs a business has to incur, the more they need to charge for their product or service to stay in the black. If goods are higher and one needs to cut back, where do these cut backs come from? Jobs, either the hours, or the position.
The second layer of this is the drop in spendable income when fuel costs more than triple. The less spendable income a family has plays a direct role in the amount of sales a small business makes. Less sales, equals less profits, equals layoffs. With the family's budget stretched by exorbitant fuel costs it may lead to the inability to make mortgage payments, especially when the mortgage payments increase in time because of the assumption of higher income is expected. THIS is where the lending practices start to contribute to the fiscal downfall.
I am not an economist, nor a banker, but I am a big picture kind of person and can see all these pieces falling into their prospective slots. Anyway, adjusted mortgages are not a product of the past 8 years. They started in the 1980's (note, this also was when many regulations dissolved either by law, or by inaction) For many, this banking practice allowed them to afford a home they may not have otherwise afforded, but with this also came extreme home ownership inflation.
The home I grew up in cost my family 35K in 1966. In 1989 it sold for 316K. And after doing a websearch I find a house across the street that is currently listed for 777K. WOW. Now that is some serious inflation. Is this the banker's fault? I don't think so. They merely facilitated the transaction. However, where the banking industry is culpable, in my opinion, is that as home sales began to struggle (became quite noticeable to this layperson several years ago), they did not modify their practices, and with the increase in fuel costs being a major red flag they needed to make immediate modifications, and they didn't. Now they want to be bailed out.
I have a few ideas how bail outs could happen. Reinstate or create regulations that ensure ethical business conduct. For the more urgent bailing out of banks and homeowners I had this idea. Both parties need to be accountable for their personal roles in the current state of things. What can the government do to assist? I would offer this solution, that would be completely voluntary from the banks and/or homeowners. The federal government would put the funding in HUD. HUD would offer to buy the paper on homes that have occupants that are in the foreclosure process (homes valued at 700K or lower). The purchase amount would be 80% of the current market value of that home. The homeowner, would then have 2 choices. They could either repay the loan (recalculated for the amount the government paid with a 4-5% interest rate) or, they could become rent to own tenants if they can't afford the mortgage payment recreated by the new loan. The rent to own tenancy would be rent in the amount of 35% of their income with 25% of the amount they actually pay, going towards the loan amount should they decide to repurchase their home at a later date. This will assist banks from having to sell properties that they most likely won't recoup their losses on anyway. They should accept the profit losses as a price for making bad business decisions.
This kind of bailout will not burden the economy in the long run, because the money will either be paid back as the loan is paid (with interest), or there would be rental income until the house could be sold in the future and the loan would be repaid at that time.
I haven't yet figured out a means that would make the profiteers of the oil industry accountable, just yet, but I'm working on it...my little brain is a ticking. Tic Toc.
De-flation is the answer to our countries problems. It's just my opion but we spent the last twenty years just inflateing our economy like a spare tire. We put so much air in that tire that it finally blew up. Geoge Bush and his fellow million air friends were so busy making money with there war and there ponzi schemes on wall street thet they took there eye off the air pressure gauge that that bubble had to burst and alot of people got hurt and lost all there money. Well us poor folks down here at the bottom don't really care because we don't have nothing to lose. Were already one push from the street. The other day I heard a news caster say something funny she said what good would green collar jobs and other manu. jobs do for us we on wall street don't know how to do that kind of work. Well I wish someone would tell these news casters that it's not the white collars i'm worried about it's us blue collar people the people at the bottom. When Barack Obama was talking about starting at the bottom he wasn't talking about the people that work on wall street at least I hope he wasn't. If you've been working on wall street for the last few years you should have enough money put it away to make it through this recession.
I was talking to my son today Christmas Eve I didn't have a present for him and he didn't have the money to get me one neither, but thats alright he's older now and understands. We sat here and talked, we talked about how hard things are now because 25 years ago I was 25 years old and I had know problem takeing care of my family. It seemed like there was a job on every corner and prices were LOW enough that we could afford a christmas tree and presents. Our wages were compatible with the prices of food and clothes. I rent a small apartment now and 25 years ago with the money i am paying for this apartment I rented a three bedroom house on a coner lot in a very nice suburb of Detroit. And the answer is simply inflation prices keep going up while our wages and jobs either get cut or get sent to mexico or india. I believe if you take away a mans wages or his only means to take care of his family then you must help that individual. And the only way thats going to happen is if we de-flate that bubble the prices of food and mortgages must go down there is no way a man can pay his house payment working at Burger King. If you notice the only ones crying are the rich but at the end of the day they will still eating steak. Simple if want to lower the wages lower the prices lower every thing all the way around. Banks have to change the way they do loans go back to the way it was before Bush got his big idea about giving everyone a house well thats fine but not everyone can afford a house. You have to make people save there money so that that they can put a down payment on the house. I just heard a commercial on t.v. it was a furniture store saying no payments for 18 months what people don't understand is that it is all a scam they don't want you to pay off that loan they just want to use it for a write OFF. Come on people get smart pay cash or don't but it.
MERRY CHRISTMAS RANDY!!!
Well to all my friends who worked so hard to get Barack Obama elected President of the United states of America. Lets throw the politics aside for a minute or at least long enough to give me a chance to wish you and all of your families a very Merry Christmas or depending on your religion I would like to at least wish you all a Happy New Year!!!!! And I would like to also say thanks and Happy Holidays to everyone and may God Bless You ALL!!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE AND TO EVERYONE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
RANDY M.
to all of you, for all that you have done for Barack and Joe. This is it...the day we have been working and waiting for. It all comes down to this...my heart is racing, my stomach is doing cartwheels, and i have been on the phone today with family and friends and fellow supporters to make sure everyone has a ride to the polls. i talked with my neighbors and people in my neighborhood, to make sure everyone could get to their polling place.
i have never been so proud to be an American....this country is coming together and unifying in the name of change and it fills me with such hope, i can hardly speak the words.
tonight, i will be attending an Election Night party with my Brother and Sister. we have been on the phone today, filled with excitement and, i have to admit, my nerves are all over the place. i waited up to see the results that came in last night from NH and i saw that as a sign of things to come.
this country and this world will be a better place when Barack and Joe win tonight. i know that nothing is final until all the votes are counted, but i have HOPE! i have so much hope, that my cup is running over!
what a glorious and historic day this is...and we are all a part of it.
Blessings to you all, today and everyday.
Yes We Can!!!!!!!!!
I shook his hand in Portsmouth!!
He was right there, near the end of his speech, I squeezed up to the front of the line and met him!!!
Watch this and think if this man could talk to foreign leaders or make rational cool headed decisions. This is so scary. He could blow up and not work with anyone he did not like. OMG he even shoved a woman in the hallway and has called his wife the c word in public!
You have watched how hateful and condescending he has been towards Barack and even the media now. He is out and out lying and will do anything to win.We need this out there viral and let people see the REAL McCain.......not the kind of PRESIDENT we need in this time of crisis!
Watch the video and send it to friends: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAyK-enrF1g
LuAnn
These are facts about McCain, his family, his life and all the mistruths that he likes to brag about. Please take the time to watch these and you may be shocked.People everywhere have the right to know these things about John McCain.He is no maverick. He would be a disaster as President. He is strictly out for John McCain and has proven he will say or do anything to get elected.Please help Barack and share these facts. McCain’s campaign is getting nastier.
Thanks, LuAnn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06zsn5BuL3Y
http://www.politicalbase.com/profile/jnail/blog/&blogId=4588
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain/page/1
The local NBC affiliate in Huntington, WV has a headline : VP Candidate Biden Says No to Coal Plants in U.S. The people here were starting to get used to the idea of voting for Obama, the local union UMWA staged a walk out to protest the NRA false claims about his gun stance! So I was hopeful that Obama would at least get a few votes. THIS ONE HEADLINE will give everyone of those on the fence or grudgingly going Obama the excuse they needed to vote McCain. With all the "I heart coal" bumper stickers, etc. this will be the end. UNLESS there is swift action, not just from spokespeople, but from the candidate, to ease their minds about the #$% coal industry. The article is complete with response from the Republican representative from the area.
This off-the-cuff one line is a game changer here in the coal fields. It is time to stand up and actually try to win WV or let those working so hard to do it FOR them give it up.
http://www.wsaz.com/political/headlines/29627029.html
I am not sure if you got to see Barack on the Letterman show last night but he was fantastic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hf6qd8b65s
I just posted this video on the DIGG site and really would appreciate you going there and digging it.
I took a swipe at McCain and how his VP pick was strictly a political move and how Barack vetted Joe and made "HIS OWN DECISION".
If we can get enough Diggs on it it will possibly be in the top 10 of the day and everyone will see it.
It would be super exposure for Barack as he commented on the stupid "lipstick on a pig" controversy and made some other great comments on several things. He showed both Humor and also made some great POLITICAL points!
Please take a minute, watch the video and PLEASE go to DIGG.com and digg it. The Republicans have been burrying some of our good stories on the DIGG site so PLEASE help!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=955Y3NJTRIE
The Republicans are going to try and destroy Barack the next 60 days! WE can not let them do it!
PLEASE everyone HELP SHARE THIS AND PROMOTE BARACK!
Join STOP THR SMEARS on this BARACK site on the HOME page. It gives US things to COUNTER the attacks that are coming!
It gives us the TRUTH!
Please go there today and join!
http://mybarackobama.com/page/communityblog/luanninindiana
From: rauldominguez@msn.comReply-to: SouthDakotansforObama@groups.barackobama.comTo: SouthDakotansforObama@groups.barackobama.comSent: 9/4/2008 8:13:06 A.M. Eastern Daylight TimeSubj: [SouthDakotansforObama] Re: ACTION: Joe Klein: "We will tell the truth about Palin, despite bullying by McCain."Thanks for sending this! I think the messages are getting through!!!His comments are now being shown on Real Clear Politics as well.Raul----- Original Message ----- From: Lisa Owen To: South Dakotans for Obama Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2008 11:43 PMSubject: [SouthDakotansforObama] ACTION: Joe Klein: "We will tell the truth about Palin, despite bullying by McCain."Please I am begging you to digg this! Joe Klein says that McCain camp has been “bullying the press” all year and don’t give in to him! Please read it too.JOE KLEIN: TIME MAGAZINE:“There is a tendency in the media to kick ourselves, cringe and withdraw, when we are criticized. But I hope my colleagues stand strong in this case: it is important for the public to know that Palin raised taxes as governor, supported the Bridge to Nowhere before she opposed it, pursued pork-barrel projects as mayor, tried to ban books at the local library and thinks the war in Iraq is "a task from God." The attempts by the McCain campaign to bully us into not reporting such things are not only stupidly aggressive, but unprofessional in the extreme.”http://digg.com/political_opinion/Angry_Amateurs_Swampland_TIME Spread the truth. TIME MAGAZINE:Angry AmateursPosted by Joe Klein | Comments (383) | Permalink | Trackbacks (0) | Email This The story of the day out here in Minneapolis is the McCain campaign's war against the press. This has been building for some time. Those of us who have criticized the candidate--and especially those of us who enjoyed good relations with McCain in the past--have been subject to off-the-record browbeating and attempted bullying all year. But things have gotten much worse in recent days: there was McCain's rude, bizarre interview with Time Magazine last week. Yesterday, McCain refused to an interview with Larry King, for God's sake, because Campbell Brown had been caught in the commission of journalism on CNN the night before, asking McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds what decisions Sarah Palin had made as commander-in-chief of the Alaska national guard. (There was an answer that the unprepared Bounds didn't have: she had deployed them to fight fires.)So what's going on here? Two things. McCain is just plain angry at us. By the evidence presented in the utterly revealing Time interview, he's ballistic. This is a politician who needs to see himself as the man on the white horse, boldly traversing a muddy field...any intimations that he's gotten muddied in the process, or has decided to throw mud, are intolerable. The second thing is more insidious: Steve Schmidt has decided, for tactical reasons, to slime the press. He wants the public to believe that there is an unfair--sexist (you gotta love it)--personal assault going on against Palin and her family. This is a smokescreen, intended to divert attention from the very real and responsible vetting that is taking place in the media--about the substance of Palin's record as mayor and governor. Sure, there are a few outliers--and the tabloid press--who have fixed on baby stories. That was inevitable....the flip side of the personal stories that the McCain team thought would work to their advantage--Palin's moose-hunting and wolf-shooting, and her admirable decision to have a Down Syndrome baby. And yes, when we all fix on the same story, whether it's a hurricane or a little-known politician, a zoo ensues. But the media coverage of the Palin story has been well within the bounds of responsibility. Schmidt is trying to make it seem otherwise, a desperate tactic. There is a tendency in the media to kick ourselves, cringe and withdraw, when we are criticized. But I hope my colleagues stand strong in this case: it is important for the public to know that Palin raised taxes as governor, supported the Bridge to Nowhere before she opposed it, pursued pork-barrel projects as mayor, tried to ban books at the local library and thinks the war in Iraq is "a task from God." The attempts by the McCain campaign to bully us into not reporting such things are not only stupidly aggressive, but unprofessional in the extreme. http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/09/angry_amateurs.html
----- Original Message ----- From: Lisa Owen To: South Dakotans for Obama Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2008 11:43 PMSubject: [SouthDakotansforObama] ACTION: Joe Klein: "We will tell the truth about Palin, despite bullying by McCain."Please I am begging you to digg this! Joe Klein says that McCain camp has been “bullying the press” all year and don’t give in to him! Please read it too.JOE KLEIN: TIME MAGAZINE:“There is a tendency in the media to kick ourselves, cringe and withdraw, when we are criticized. But I hope my colleagues stand strong in this case: it is important for the public to know that Palin raised taxes as governor, supported the Bridge to Nowhere before she opposed it, pursued pork-barrel projects as mayor, tried to ban books at the local library and thinks the war in Iraq is "a task from God." The attempts by the McCain campaign to bully us into not reporting such things are not only stupidly aggressive, but unprofessional in the extreme.”http://digg.com/political_opinion/Angry_Amateurs_Swampland_TIME Spread the truth. TIME MAGAZINE:Angry AmateursPosted by Joe Klein | Comments (383) | Permalink | Trackbacks (0) | Email This The story of the day out here in Minneapolis is the McCain campaign's war against the press. This has been building for some time. Those of us who have criticized the candidate--and especially those of us who enjoyed good relations with McCain in the past--have been subject to off-the-record browbeating and attempted bullying all year. But things have gotten much worse in recent days: there was McCain's rude, bizarre interview with Time Magazine last week. Yesterday, McCain refused to an interview with Larry King, for God's sake, because Campbell Brown had been caught in the commission of journalism on CNN the night before, asking McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds what decisions Sarah Palin had made as commander-in-chief of the Alaska national guard. (There was an answer that the unprepared Bounds didn't have: she had deployed them to fight fires.)So what's going on here? Two things. McCain is just plain angry at us. By the evidence presented in the utterly revealing Time interview, he's ballistic. This is a politician who needs to see himself as the man on the white horse, boldly traversing a muddy field...any intimations that he's gotten muddied in the process, or has decided to throw mud, are intolerable. The second thing is more insidious: Steve Schmidt has decided, for tactical reasons, to slime the press. He wants the public to believe that there is an unfair--sexist (you gotta love it)--personal assault going on against Palin and her family. This is a smokescreen, intended to divert attention from the very real and responsible vetting that is taking place in the media--about the substance of Palin's record as mayor and governor. Sure, there are a few outliers--and the tabloid press--who have fixed on baby stories. That was inevitable....the flip side of the personal stories that the McCain team thought would work to their advantage--Palin's moose-hunting and wolf-shooting, and her admirable decision to have a Down Syndrome baby. And yes, when we all fix on the same story, whether it's a hurricane or a little-known politician, a zoo ensues. But the media coverage of the Palin story has been well within the bounds of responsibility. Schmidt is trying to make it seem otherwise, a desperate tactic. There is a tendency in the media to kick ourselves, cringe and withdraw, when we are criticized. But I hope my colleagues stand strong in this case: it is important for the public to know that Palin raised taxes as governor, supported the Bridge to Nowhere before she opposed it, pursued pork-barrel projects as mayor, tried to ban books at the local library and thinks the war in Iraq is "a task from God." The attempts by the McCain campaign to bully us into not reporting such things are not only stupidly aggressive, but unprofessional in the extreme. http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/09/angry_amateurs.html
Read About it Here
http://newsone.com/elections/article/you-down-with-gop-not-black-people
I Spent Years as a POW with John McCain, and His Finger Should Not Be Near the Red Button | Election 2008 | AlterNet
I sent this to several medias. Don't know if it will do anything. Please share. Barack is getting put down so wrongly!
Michele was great last night!
Please read this and use it in any way you legally can. I am so tired of hearing Barack being called a Muslim and Michelle being accused of hating this country.Now these NEW ads that McCain is running using his POW experience to win "hearts and minds" is too much.I fear all his negative campaigning is winning and the polls are showing that.
Is there anyone out there who can bring things like this article to daylight?Why does the media protect McCain from the terrible way he cheated on and dumped his first wife for Cindy?If it was Barack who had done that the world would know.I talk to people daily who had no idea of his infidelity, his wife's bringing drugs in for her personal use through her out of country programs and I hear and also receive daily emails saying that Barack is a Muslim and worse. Why do more people not hear about how low in his class McCain graduated? I would think intelligence is a priority in a President of our country.
I also feel as this fellow POW does that a man with a "hair trigger" temper should not have his finger on the "button".There is freedom of speech in our country. Sean Hannity , Rush Limbaugh,Ann Coulter and others spew lies about Barack constantly.Can the MAIN STREAM media such as MSNBC please say or do more?McCain is "swift boating" Barack and WE all know that was all not true. John Kerry should have been President.Bush stole the election from Gore. Please can someone with some power help out people like me in the true EVER DIMINISHING MIDDLE Class?
I know I live in one home.
I know what a gallon of gas costs and I now people on minimum wage are hurting badly. John McCain does not care, nor does he have any way of identifying with the TRUE middle class people.His family has always had money, he is John S. McCain III and he married an heiress. How can he possibly feel for people who make $6.00 an hour?He wants to privatize Social Security and could care less if we have health care. Is it true he collects his Social Security? I happen to have Federal Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance through my X husband. Each year I am given the chance to choose which type of insurance I want. If I want to pay a lot less, I can even choose an HMO.
I believe that is the same insurance the Congressmen and Senators have and I also believe they do not have to pay for their's. If everyone in the country paid into this they should be able to get the same benefits.I pay $600.00 a month for myself but I have very good insurance. If I could not afford that I could choose a lesser plan each year.
after winning the nomination tonight, i sat and realized that Barack has the biggest fight ahead....the fight against the mccain machine and that will take all of us to get out and keep working for him and do whatever we can to get him the win in november. i cried watching his victory speech tonight, because i was filled with such hope and happiness and after breathing a quick sigh of relief, i called my sister and said that we need to get back out there and canvass more than ever.
we all know the outcome of the primary here in WV, and i know that it will be hard to get votes for him in november, but i hope and pray that we can get supporters here revved up again and get out there and keep canvassing and calling people and continuing to show our support and let people know why they should vote for Obama. i talked to alot of people before the primary and the majority of them said that if HRC was not on the ticket, that they would vote for mccain.
we have so much work ahead to get this party united and i hope that when HRC finally concedes (hopefully this week) that she will rally her supporters to back Obama and help us with the fight against mccain.
