Citizens NOT Represented in Health Care Contest
Democrats are expressing concern that they don't have the votes to pass the Obama health care plan.
Polling indicates a solid majority of citizens are in favor of the WH plan which contains the contentious single payer alternative. The latest NYT polling indicated 72% of citizens favored a bill which contained a single payer option. Conversely it was also indicated that there was uncertainty of how to pay for it.
Why then is congress unable to muster the needed votes? This would appear as another instance of congress being unresponsive to their primary constituents, citizens, instead bending to pressure from lobbyists who, coincidentally (not), control the flow of dollars from political action committees to campaign coffers.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31467718/ns/politics-capitol_hill/
In the end it would seem that any and all statements from our elected officials who have condemned runaway health care costs are at best disingenuous. A vote not to change this says so.
Or, as is all too often the case, is congress going to sell the country down the river in support of their private agenda and keep the gravy train of the health care industry chugging along?
The Democrats have to step up. There must be a public option. You have pointed out how the will of the people is going to be thwarted by the real power in DC, the big moneyed corporate oligarchy.
June 22, 2009 9:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's a shame we don't have someone who can just go to Capital Hill and give those Senators who insist on acting like complete ass holes a good swift kick in the gonads. And force them to listen to their constituents for a change.
C
June 22, 2009 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
I was just perusing the early news and Krugman has a piece up about this very same thing.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/22/opinion/22krugman.html?_r=1&ref=opinion
He names some names as well. He also states, to paraphrase, how this is almost entirely in the hands of democrats. I suppose thats a fair assessment but I tend to see this more from a nationalistic view where we have senators and congresspersons who supposedly represent us apart from their political affiliation. Equality and objectivity of representation should be politically agnostic. But what we have is no equaltiy, no objectivity and in your face political bias. Is it any wonder congress and government have run us aground?
June 22, 2009 10:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
That there would have to be a showdown between the people and those who have been profiting and abusing their profit making from health care should not be a shock to us.
The idea that this congress will move the mountain is NOT realistic. WE must move it for them. WE must demand and insist no matter how many times they refuse or reject it.
Let the Iranian people be an example to us. We can have the healthcare system we need and deserve if we are willing to fight for it. Is it worth fighting for? I say 'absolutely' not just for myself but for everyone of you.
There is a demonstration in WA on June 25th per this blog by Oleeb:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/oleeb/2009/06/some-easy-effective-things-you.php?ref=reccafe
WE are responsible for this fight and WE must not let it be 'defined' by the congress or the white house.
I think we should ignore whatever steps they take to try to appease and make a committment to see this through until we have a truly 'healthy' healthcare system that serves all americans.
June 22, 2009 1:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Amen!
June 22, 2009 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
This past Tuesday (I watched the re-broadcast) the House Sub-Committee on Health under the Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by D-Bart Stupak, MI held hearings on the Health industries practice of recission. Recissio sounds like if the first cut didn't obtain the objective than the second try will snip it off. I sat and could not believe my ears.
One of the gentleman who identified himself as the CEO of Assurant Health said he didn't know the specifics of his company's claim form. He is the CEO for goodness sake. This clip shows the CEO of Blue Shield/Cross in California and he is speaking about recission practices in the state of California.
There were also a few claimants who explained to this sub-committee what happened or what was likely to happen to them post claim. If this testimony from the officials of health companies and claimants doesn't convince Congress something is terribly wrong with the Health Care system in this country than I don't know what will?
June 22, 2009 4:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
I recall reading about the practice of recission and how companies reward claims handlers when they successfully accomplish a recission in instances where insurers have exposure to covered ailments and where claims for those ailments exceed an internally established threshold.
There is no indication whatsoever that congress, over the span of the last three decades, has done one thing to protect consumers. Companies have adopted a take it or leave it attitude that allows them to void any agreemnet at any time for any reason.
Commonly though, the reason for doing so is when it comes time to deliver on the agreed upon service. Where it costs them money is when they decide to cancel the agreement.
Very broken. In spite of the obviousnes of this being wrong, not being codified as prohibited by law makes it perfectly legal.
June 22, 2009 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink