I've been so disappointed in both NPR and C-Span. I don't know where they're coming from these days, but most of their political discussions revolve around the people who want to keep essential services to the minimum so that the money can keep flowing to the private interests.

Thanks for the link, aMike. Your comment was right on, too.

WellPoint was one of the insurers being grilled at the House committee hearing. They're scum, just like the rest of them.

http://ramonasvoices.blogspot.com/2009/07/fight-for-health-care-part-2-my-man.html

I listened to this asshole this morning. Snake oil salesman was right on the mark. If the con men in health care currently were going to make these "improvements" why haven't the done it in competition with each other?

This asshole went on about how the public plan would have an "advantage" and would set lower payments to the health care providers and have an unfair advantage; the insurance companies already have this deal with the doctors and hospitals and labs that they pay now. Who pays so that they can the lower rates, the uninsured.

I had a hip replaced 2 years ago. The receipt came and showed that the insurance company was to pay $24,000, I was to pay $1,000 and that the bill would have been $50,000 if I was uninsured. Now, who do you think pays the most for services, and who has a discount with your health care providers? Hint: It's the insurance companies!.

I heard it too, and was screaming at the radio. I even did a web search when I got home trying to find out what this VP's salary was from WellPoint. I'm guessing it's considerably more than the $197k/yr maximum salary that a Cabinet "Secretary of Health Care" would receive. And there would be only one Secretary. How many execs like Nussbaum are there who are so fearful of competition from a gov't program? This is only one way in which his preferred system introduces expensive inefficiencies that he simply cannot justify no matter how much spin he gives.

Gawd, he was insufferable... and incoherent. So much so that he inspired me to write and post my own blog on the topic.

This is typical of NPR these days. They have time after time interviewed gop politicians about the issues-of-the-day without a word about Dems' views. or presenting a Dem defense. The lead in is always something like "republicans are concerned about the size of the [fill in the blank] on [you name it]... Senator blowhard, tell us...."

I have heard TONS of discussion on NPR regarding single payer vs. public option vs. 'leave it alone'. Granted there's not much 'discussion' on Morning Edition and All Things Considered, but those are more new-oriented shows with interviews. You have to listen to some of the other programming to get a broader picture.

I will say that on ATC on Monday, Robert Siegel really let Chuck Grassley have it regarding Sotomayor and the Republican's silly argument about empathy. The TLDR version is this:

Siegel: Why are Republicans such hypocrites?
Grassley: Uh, is that Elvis? *ducks*

To The Point from KCRW and PRI is carried on the AM station broadcast by my local NPR affiliate. That is the best current-events program on the radio right now in my opinion. They seem to do their best to get 2 or more people on various sides of an issue and have them go at it. You get arguments and counter-arguments, and all parties have time to express their viewpoints. Also, Warren Olney is a badass and he won't let people sling BS on his show without calling them on it.

That show really highlights just how full of shit the health insurance industry is, because when they have a frank discussion with educated opponents their FUD becomes frighteningly obvious.

Thanks to the internet, you can check out some of the clowns that NPR has on, Stephen Moore of the Wall Street Journal editorial department is a frequent favorite of the otherwise excellent Diane Rehm

Diane always neglects to mention that one of Mr. Moore's signature works was a book from 2004: Bullish on Bush: How George Bush's Ownership Society Will Make America Stronger Yes, this guy is still a pundit, and still employed by The Wall Street Journal!!!

A background on Moore and other NPR guests is mandatory to educate the listener as to guest bias! Thanks for pointing this out.

UPDATE I just (9:29 p.m. e.s.t.) went back for a check at the comments on this segment. 117 comments have been posted, of which 94 are critical of the interview, Dr. Nussbaum, and the private health care industry. A couple of others were indecipherable.

The most interesting were from physicians, one of whom said that dealing with private insurers was "hell". Go take a look. Interesting reading.

Thursday is the day they read from listeners comments. I wonder if they'll choose one of the critical ones. Any bets?

Hey, hey, NPR how many babies died today because of lack of health care?

NPR will not talk about death and dying of those who do not have health care.
Gorilla Theater and shades of the 60’s, Dian Rehm only has conservative guests on the show when there are social discussions. It is time to take the dying to them or at least
the signs and the chants. Remind them that this is not about them and their organization. It is about us, our friends and those who have already died for lack of help.

Hey, hey, NPR what if you did not have health care?

Congress and the President need to reinstate pre-Gingrich funding of public radio and television.