You know how the President and others say that Americans deserve the same healthcare coverage that they have? Do they mean it ? If they are serious why don't they put THEIR care on the line?

It would be a simple law. It would be independent from any healthcare "reform." It would take only a few in the Senate and Congress to offer it. That law would state:

One year from the signing of this bill, it shall be ILLEGAL for the President, members of Congress and the Federal Judiciary to be enrolled in any health insurance plan that is not open to all Americans at the same out-of-pocket cost as it for the government employee, and with the same lifetime benefits.

Which of these people would (1) not make health care happen for the rest of us in one year, or (2) have the nerve to vote against it. This would not be an amendment to any other bill. That's the path that is allowing the insurance companies to defeat healthcare. Such a bill would would be straight forward and simple. All Americans would understand it. There would be no confusion. People are angry. They would support a bill that would make it a federal crime for the government to continue enjoying their own benefits on the backs of the rest of us.

You say that the government should stay out of medicine. You say that capitalism provides what people need. Right? Then keep your f***** hands off this vaccine. OK?

Formerly it was 18,000. I always considered that number too small. New numbers from Harvard Medical School. That works out to almost 30,000 deaths due to no health insurance since Obama and the Democrats took office.
We should consider what these numbers will be in the aftermath of any bill. Compromises translate into deaths. Just to be clear.

What is the one thing Republicans give Obama high marks for? Afghanistan. Does anyone here believe in this war? Polls show that Americans don't.
Funding health care is a legitimate problem. Afghanistan is an illegitimate war. These problems are linked. 

Labor is standing up for the public option. The sheet metal workers three weeks ago. The AFL-CIO most recently. So, are unions and working people the extreme left of the party that this president wants to talk down? How absurd. If this president doesn't stand up for the public option, he goes down in history as just another politician. Change we thought we could believe in.

Here's the memo obtained by Huffington Post describing the White House deal with the drug companies.
White House Memo
Can anyone explain to me what happens to a family with a serious illness now paying $5,000 PER MONTH for drugs, which are mostly covered by private insurance. The patient loses the private insurance because the illness forces the person to leave the job.
The insurance companies will reduce the drug fees by half. Leaving for this family, $2,500 per  month for drugs to stay alive. Add new premium through public option or co-op or something, plus hospital bills, doctors bills, tests, etc.
The family loses everything, and still can't get the drugs. Right? Am I missing something, or has Obama sold out thousands of seriously sick people with this deal.

The other day I heard President Obama complain that people on the Right and Left were forgetting about what's important in the Healthcare legislation coming out of Congress.

News flash for our president. We, on the left, elected you with our energy, feet, phone calls and money. How dare you dismiss us like that ! There is a difference between the Right and Left.
 
Let's bypass this president. Let's support those Democrats who want to push through legislation with a public option with 51 votes. Let Baucus take his Republican friends out to an expensive meal with all that money he gets from the insurance companies.

This is a fight. You're either with us or against us. No matter who you are.

White House Caves To Lobbyists

Comments? Or will we be passing again on any criticism of Obama.

If Obama can't deliver a public option for health insurance with this Democratic Congress, I will be supporting a third party candidate in 2012. I suggest that those who feel the way I do should make their intentions known now. Come on Mr. President. Do the right thing. 

The Urban Institute has published a study about the importance of a Public Plan Option. I think the single payer plan has absolutely no chance. However, it does help establish a negotiating position for a public option.

Public option is the last stand. Without it, Obama shouldn't sign the bill. He should be making that clear right now.

You voted for Obama. So far:
(1) Another war at 10 billion a month
(2) Bailouts for bankers and stockbrokers
(3) No help for people losing their houses
(4) No public option
(5) No single payer

(6) Drug companies and insurance companies still in control

How fulfilled do you feel?

How are drug companies different from other corporations? The problem is that they are not. They are part of a global economic structure that considers drug profits as wealth. Cutting "better deals" with drug companies is nonsense. Their existence as private entities should be challenged by government organizations that produce drugs for the public good. 


 

They are going home for August.

The uninsured should be camping in front of Congress as they leave. Build a tent city of the sick and those who have lost insurance. People with stories of how they couldn't afford tests that would have given them a chance to survive a serious illness.

Dare the police tear down that camp. Make the Republicans deal with Americans of all situations. Let all these cowards stand up or sit down. Put bodies, faces, and souls on the line. Bring the children.

What are we waiting for? The internet has distracted us from the real moves that would accomplish the goal. Part of the reason is that sick people don't fight back. Who can blame them? But someone needs to organize this. Now. As the congress with their golden insurance plans head out. Dare these bastards to not vote for a decent plan that works immediately. Dare them. Dare yourself to do more than blogging.

Energy and immigration are important issues that deserve attention. But not while healthcare is on the table. What is going on at the White House? Is this purposeful? An excuse for not getting healthcare done?

Even Steve Forbes said this morning that, although he didn't want it to happen, considering Obama's agenda, he should put everything aside except healthcare. There you have it. The right advice from a Republican.

Really, people. What's going on?  We look at two possibilities. Smoke and mirrors on healthcare, or just stupidity. Which is worse? I didn't vote for this.

As Paul Krugman points out, with the majority of Americans supporting a public option for health insurance, it's clear that those who support it are NOT THE LEFT BUT THE CENTER of public opinion.

How can Obama cave in to pressure from the right wing of the party? We don't need any bipartisan result after an election that we won. We don't need any compromise or bipartisan plan when we have the support of the majority of Americans for what was promised.

WE ARE NOT THE LEFT. Don't let any of these clowns portray us as such.