"Thee" question for "town halls" held by the shills of the "Soul Eating Bastard Industry"... or as they are better known Health Insurance Companies. It is time we call the weak kneed fuckers out.
I have been trying to think of the one question that should be asked to EVERY member of Congress that is not supporting the public option as part of health care reform. I have written down scores of questions and none seemed to make the point until early this morning.
See, I get up every day at 2 or 3 am not because I want to but because I pretty much have to. I have not slept more than 3 hours at a stretch going on 14 years now. So in the wee dark hours of the morning I read a little, watch a few infomercials and try to write something that a few folks might consider interesting and perhaps even provoke a few thoughts.
In the last month or two I have been trying to dream up that killer question, a question that those elected officials we call Representatives and Senators couldn't just brush off. A question that would be easy to answer, but the answer would reveal everything a voter needed to know about the person they sent to represent them in the House or the Senate. A question that if that elected official answered in any way would pull back the covers that are hiding their true masters, those "entities" they feel they have to "keep happy". A question that when asked, everyone that heard it knew that the coming response would determine if the person answering the question would be getting their vote in the next election.
Here, I think, is that question:
What percentage of health care dollars do you think should go to actual health care and what percentage do you think should go to shareholders and CEOs as profit for insurance companies?
Seems simple enough, but an answer to this question will tell you more than all the speeches ever given by the person that answers it. There is really no way to not answer this question. The only way to dodge it is to just act like you didn't hear it. And the answer will tell you all you need to know about the person responding. Think about it, how would you answer?
At the very least it will give that Senator or Representative something to think about and if we can make them think about it, we can change their mind.
Now I realize that I may not have this exactly right and if anyone has a suggestion to make it better, please feel free to make any additions or subtractions you feel would improve this question, or better yet add your own "thee question".
The reason I put this post up, is so that all those that plan to attend a future town hall meeting will have a question that might be a "show" stopper, so to speak. I would urge everyone to think long and hard about A QUESTION that will back any elected official into a corner.
I think the question above brings into focus the fact that the only thing the health insurance industry contributes to health care is the function of a leech. They are the middleman that contributes NOTHING except the siphoning off of dollars that would otherwise be used to actually treat the sick.
A secondary question might also be: Should a Health Insurance Company's CEO first responsibility be to shareholders or policy holders? Right now, BY LAW, that responsibility is to the shareholder, at the expense of the policy holder.
Some other questions I would ask are; "Are you against the current form of socialized police and fire protection?"
PLEASE, think about the questions YOU would ask if you had the chance and list them below. I realize that I'm gonna get a few block headed questions that will add exactly nothing to the debate, BUT if we all put our minds to it we might just come up with a list that a few people will print out and take with them to a town hall meeting. And they might even make a few extra copies to hand out to other, like minded folks, at that town hall meeting. Then we might actually uncover the true motives of those elected officials that continue to turn their backs on the needs of the American Citizen.
So, go out to that next town hall in your area, get in line and ask "thee" question. Then enjoy watching them squirm as they try to not really answer.
First, I just got through with a nite like you describe. Once in awhile that aint bad. But I could not handle it day after day, night after night.
Second, the entire corporate model in this country has to change. period. Management is at odds with shareholders. That is the way it was supposed to be. Management through state and federal laws got rid of shareholder rights. The courthouse door is closed.
Third, the current corporate model cannot work for health care. period. One billion dollars in comp for one years work. no no no no no
Fourth, the government is responsible for getting us access to water. That is what a utility is supposed to take care of. Kind of a combination of government and corporate models...
Health insurance should be a utility.
Great post.
I will now try again to get some sleep.
August 29, 2009 10:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
The first question I would ask is the base question that seems to be the true motivator and/or detractor in this issue for politicos.
"How much have you received in contributions from healthcare entities?" Of course, I would have the answer (factual printout copies noting all contributions to the politico) copied and ready to hand out to all.
It just amazes me that this is not at the forefront of the so called 'discussions'.
August 29, 2009 10:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
That has to be preceded by calling into question the fallacy of 'corporate personhood'. A significant portion of the screwed up decisions of congress are because of this. No question.
August 29, 2009 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I firmly believe (know) the vast amounts of money 'contributed' by the healthcare monsters are indeed, what is the real reason for all the opposition. Oh, wait - that's right after the lack of humanity and prioritizing self serving egos and agendas by the recipients of these pieces of silver!
And still I ask, why has not the facts of each contributors and recipients accounts been front page and headline center by the MSM and more important by We, The People! ??????
August 29, 2009 12:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
The corruption of our government is a complete and done deal. Nothing could be more apparent and true than this. Nothing!!
August 29, 2009 12:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Aunt Sam:
You will find all you need to know at:
http://www.opensecrets.org/
August 29, 2009 7:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great questions.
Sleazebag politicians like John McCain who have had socialized government health care their whole lives would slither out of any answer. For instance on 8/26 McCain, confronted some angry constituents:
..one man angrily pointed at him and asked the senator why he deserves a better health care plan than him.
"I'm trying to get it for you," McCain told him. "We'll do it for you. We'll make it affordable and available to you."
Of course, after nearly 30 years in Wash. DC McCain has not only done nothing, but has actively fought against making health care "affordable and available' to anyone and everyone including poor children.
Guys like McCain and his Republican cohorts aren't going to answer questions they don't like, they aren't going to do a damn thing to improve the 'availability or affordability' of health care For McCain, he will continue to enjoy his seven houses, globetrotting to visit 'interesting' terrorists like Colonel Gadhafi in Libya as he did this month, and the perks of being Senator while living off his wife's millions.
August 29, 2009 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
August 29, 2009 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Face, I clicked on tmcpac.com/forum and it says the domain has expired. Is that the right address?
August 29, 2009 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
R,
I need to delete that site from my profile. I Had to give up on that site... unfortunately.
I didn't have the skills to create nor the money to pay someone to do it the way I wanted. I had big dreams for "The Middle Class PAC" and still do, but for the moment it is just not up to the level I would have liked.
By the way, IF ANYONE wants this site to work with just let me know and we will work something out.
August 29, 2009 6:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Excellent question, but...
Recently, Rep Weiner (D, NY) was on Morning Joe, when he asked Scarborough just exactly what value do the insurance companies bring to health care, seeing that they actually don't do surgery or apply bandages, etc. There was a long moment of silence, then Joe replied, "I'm shocked. I'm shocked" that Rep Weiner would ask such a question because as he went on to say, "we" in America value the "free market economy."
Many of the opponents of the health care reform would try to turn the question back by implying that it showed a hostility to the American way of life and capitalism. That their opposition to health care rests solely on their desire to see the American way of life (for which all those brave boys died on the beaches of Normandy) continue.
The insurance companies and their allies have been able to wrap the insurance industry in the flag of the free market just as so many politicans wrap themselve in the American flag.
So another question is (though not better than yours): Which is more worthy of our support and protection: the American citizen in need of health care or the profits for the insurance companies' stockholders and CEO?
I think real reform won't take place until we get a general consensus that health care, like police and fire protection, is not an arena in which the motive of profit is (no pun intended)healthy.
August 29, 2009 6:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
We need to rip the free market flag out of the hands of these idiots. Here's how.
There's no such thing as absolute free speech. You can't shout "fire" in a crowded theater. You can't wave a gun in the face of a cop and expect them to allow that. Every freedom has some limitations.
Now you say we have "free enterprise" - you're allowed to make money any way you can. But, there are limits. You may be able to make a mint by selling crack cocaine on the corner. But you're not allowed to do that and who would argue otherwise? Bernie Madoff made off with billions that were freely given to him, but he did it by breaking the rules of the game and he'll be in jail the rest of his life. Anyone want to argue he shouldn't have to?
Now, you tell me that the insurance companies deserve to make a buck any way they can. Like, you can pay them premiums for 30 years and then when you get sick they can go over your statements with a fine-toothed comb and find any misstatement, no matter how trivial, and use it to throw you off (and keep all those premiums you paid them over the years). And they spend your premiums paying people to look for such excuses. Well, you may be happy with that free-enterprise situation, but I say there ought to be a law against that.
And there is. That law is HR3200 and I say we need it today.
Try that in your Republican Town Halls (if they'll let you in).
August 29, 2009 7:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
What we are getting is Congress (on both sides of the aisle in this case) going after insurance companies for dropping people when they get sick, without addressing the issue of whether there should be a profit-driven entity making the decision in the first place. So while they leaning on putting limits on making that profit, they still believe it's okay to make a profit.
Getting people in this country to reflect on the limits and downsides of free-market capitalism is a long road. Even longer, is to get them to adjust their beliefs. There is just too much pro-capitalism propaganda out there, and the people have been so infused into it through the media.
But of course we must continue to do so. We just need to realize it is not just one logical argument we are attempting them to agree with, but rather that they alter how they see their world, and the various paradigms through which they come to understand it.
August 29, 2009 8:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well if they rescind your coverage then they should refund the full amount of premiums they collected for such coverage that they are not going to supply.
August 29, 2009 9:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly what I was going to say, DonDi. They've broken a contract and should be required to refund all premiums paid.
It's just too easy for them to get out of paying for anything. Where is the "insurance" for the customer?
August 29, 2009 9:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great Post O !
I worked in the property and casualty insurance industry a number of years and I understand how historically insurance overall has been a necessary and positive oil in the wheels of our economy. However, most modern industrialized societies have figured out that healthcare has to be a function of the government. That obviously makes the health insuramce industry obsolete.
The pyramid and carriage builders and telegraph folks adapted. The health insurance folks will too.
August 29, 2009 10:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good luck to you, O¿O. Trying to nail a politician with a question is like reaching into the water to catch a fish.
Your question merits serious debate. But if your intention is to put some Senator or Representative in the position of having to choose between blatant evasiveness vs. defending the indefensible, I think you'll need to find a more concrete way to ask it, something that will resonate with the wider audience. Instead of "how much profit is too much," (if I may paraphrase you slightly,) how about: "does the CEO of an insurance company that denies legitimate claims to sick people deserve to pull down eleven million a year and fly around in a private jet?"
Better yet, name names. Identify the poster children for greed and corruption in private health care and wave their mug shots at every news event, rally, and town hall meeting. Publish pictures of their homes, their toys, follow them around like paparazzi. Give America a good look at the lifestyles of the rich and infamous. Isn't it time we stopped fixating on scapegoats and "bogeymen" and refocused our attention on the real culprits?
---s
August 29, 2009 11:49 PM | Reply | Permalink