Another Run for the Health Care Public Option — 40 Senators Have Already Signed On to Support It
With 40 or more US Senators agreeing that they will support a Public Option in reconciliation, there is one last PUSH to get it on the list. Color me a skeptic but I doubt if they will be successful, because with 8 health insurance lobbyists for each member of Congress, there is lots of MONEY being pushed around. But — I will be happy to eat my words if they are. It might be the first REAL victory for the people in 40 years — it might just be the beginning of taking back the country. Again, I doubt it will be included. And Obama is one ass for not having come out in support of it a long time ago.
A Public Option is the ONLY thing that makes any sense — giving people the option of getting away from the for-profit insurance companies. Nobody will have to join the public option — that is why is the an OPTION.
Here is the problem for a Democrat who votes AGAINST the Public Option and the REASON that an up or down vote is so important. Senators who vote AGAINST IT will be punished in the next election — thanks to the practices of for-profit insurance companies, there is a gigantic Public Option advocacy groups. They will continue no matter what happens. Even if the Public Option passes, these groups will make it better. Eventually, it will run the for-profit companies out of business. Everybody knows this — the insurance companies have already stated they cannot compete with a government non-profit program. Ironic, that the CAPITALISTS talk how great capitalism is but can’t complete with a government run program. As you know, capitalism doesn’t work and America just hasn’t figure that out yet.
Both of my Senators have already signed to support the Public Option — they have no choice if they want to be elected. Make it clear to your Senator you won’t vote for them if they vote against a Public Option. Here that Lincoln of Arkansas?
Stay Tune to see what happens.
If Capitalism is so Great, Where are the Jobs?
I laugh when I heard CAPITALISTS talk about a government spending program to promote jobs. CAPITALISM — is suppose to be the great economic system where GREED trumps EVERYTHING ELSE and MOTIVATES people to start and expand BUSINESS.
However … this is NOT how it works …
CAPITALISM regularly gets all MESSED UP and requires the GOVERNMENT to spend LOTS OF MONEY to get it going again. Of course, this DOESN’T ALWAYS WORK and there might have to be MANY such STIMULUS programs to get the world of CAPITALISM going. Capitalism is one fucked up system — a religious mythology — and like other religions you just have to keep believing because getting off the treadmill is very painful — there’s reality out there.
Early in 2009, nearly $1 TRILLION was spent to get the economy moving again — about the best you can say is it SLOWED the rate of decline, a little. Overall, it cost nearly $300,000 for each job created and many of the jobs were just short term. For example, some 200,000 jobs are going to expire in September.
When will America get rid of the stupid idea that CAPITALISM creates jobs? If it did create jobs then we could just wait around and let Capitalism do its magic and everything would be great. But wait as long as you want, Capitalism doesn’t create jobs — even though there is a GIGANTIC capital market where companies can go and raise gobs of capital — there is no great job creation going on.
The truth is government is the only thing that creates jobs. Unfortunately, the history is that government loves to incentivize for-profit companies to create jobs. Usually, these for-profit companies are given direct subsidies, literally corporate welfare, to create jobs. These jobs are not necessarily in the US — they might be in China or Thailand. Or some other place that pays worked below living-wages with dismal working conditions. Makes no difference to a greedy capitalist who is ONLY thinking about their PROFITS. Plus, the definition of recovery doesn’t include putting people to work in America.
Meanwhile, Republicans criticize the government to giving money to the UNEMPLOYED. Many Republicans have come right out and said that the only people who are unemployed want to be. Of course this is in direct conflict with the job that was available in my area where 200 people showed up for it. I guess the one person who got the job wanted it and the other 199 just wanted to piss away their day. Could it be that all 200 people wanted to work? I would say, “Yes” — but that doesn’t computer in the Republican world.
In Depression I, Roosevelt had the government just create jobs, like the Tennessee Valley Authority. I knew a man who relocated from New York City to Tennessee to wok on this project. Eventually, he returned to New York City. He told me this job got him and his family through the Depression. Eventually, the work ended and eventually the government turned it all over to for-profit companies — they always do in America. Because for-profit companies love socializing the risk and privatizing the profits. And our government is always just one small step away from giving money away to for-profit companies.
Right now, the government needs to create jobs — there are literally millions of people who need them. There is large amonts of work that needs to be done in America. For example, you could put back millions just working on the infrastructure and getting the country off of fossil fuel. No matter how one feels about climate change — one thing is irrefutable: the world is running out of oil and alternatives will be required. Of course, climate change is true and the urgency is exceedingly important. It is much cheaper for the government to just create non-profit jobs than try to get greedy for-profit companies to do it.
The banking crisis has taught America (again) that when private for-profit companies get into trouble they just knock on the door of government for a bailout. There are bailouts at regular intervals in this country because capitalism doesn’t work.
But since the country has already embraced the corporatlist political system where people have little influence over corporatist interest, there is little chance that government will create jobs as they did in Depression I. In Depression II, America judges recovery not when people are put back to work but when the stock market rallies. And, of course, a new financial crisis is just around the corner because NOTHING has been done since the last one.
Well, eventually the unemployment rate will decline — not because people go back to work — rather, the way the rate is politically calculated. Few will actually notice that the number of employed continues to decline even though the population increases.
America is Doomed.
Chris Hedges — Well Said — America is Doomed
I enjoy reading most of what Chris Hedges writes, like this:
There are no constraints left to halt America’s slide into a totalitarian capitalism. Electoral politics are a sham. The media have been debased and defanged by corporate owners. The working class has been impoverished and is now being plunged into profound despair. The legal system has been corrupted to serve corporate interests. Popular institutions, from labor unions to political parties, have been destroyed or emasculated by corporate power. And any form of protest, no matter how tepid, is blocked by an internal security apparatus that is starting to rival that of the East German secret police. The mounting anger and hatred, coursing through the bloodstream of the body politic, make violence and counter-violence inevitable. Brace yourself. The American empire is over. And the descent is going to be horrifying.
And this:
Obama lies as cravenly, if not as crudely, as George W. Bush. He promised us that the transfer of $12.8 trillion in taxpayer money to Wall Street would open up credit and lending to the average consumer. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC), however, admitted last week that banks have reduced lending at the sharpest pace since 1942. As a senator, Obama promised he would filibuster amendments to the FISA Reform Act that retroactively made legal the wiretapping and monitoring of millions of American citizens without warrant; instead he supported passage of the loathsome legislation. He told us he would withdraw American troops from Iraq, close the detention facility at Guantánamo, end torture, restore civil liberties such as habeas corpus and create new jobs. None of this has happened.
America Doomed could not have said it better.
Ole’ Harry Reid is Upset — It’s About Time — But Meaningless
Harry Reid is the poster boy for the lack of action among Democrats — no wonder he is in trouble with his reelection. Today — out of the blue — he is out saying that he wants to change the filibuster at the beginning on the next Congress (assuming he is reelected, of course). Of course, he has defended the filibuster many times in the past.
Reid has been a TOOL for getting nothing done for years and years. He is an excuse a minute — he placates the Republicans — and has no courage or guts. But like Lincoln of Arkansas they change their tune (at least briefly) when they are facing reelection problems. However, the ONLY thing the voters can do is to throw them out — there should be NO second changes. Even if they change their strips, they will resort to their old ways once they get ANOTHER SIX YEARS. Seriously! Is that STUPID or what? Six years — act like a jerk for 5 1/2 years and then promise to change — of course they don’t.
There are many things wrong with the US Constitution but one of the biggest is the US Senate. In the first place they disproportionately represent rural America. Two Senators from each state including those states with no people in them. On a map, it is the center red strip that goes through the country. I guess the founding fathers were trying to be all clever but they screwed up pretty badly with this one. No wonder the Senate is always the impediment to getting things done. So, the Senate already has an artificial bias to represent rural people and then you throw in the filibuster rule of 60 votes — minority rule on steroids. So, discount where ALL the people are — big states like Florida, California, Pennsylvania and New York get two Senators each. Meanwhile, empty states like Wyoming, Montana, Iowa, Utah, Nevada, etc. also gets two Senators. Meanwhile, NEARLY 300 bills which have passed the House will never EVER be voted on in the US Senate — it is the America’s House of Lords — where seats are handed down to children. What a stupid system.
People talk about the US Constitution with such reverence and how it has last for over 200 years — bullshit — the US Constitution is the tool of the corporatist and, like the bible, can be made to mean ANYTHING you want — my favorite: corporations are people. Install 5 crazy fucks in the Supreme Court and who knows what these assholes will come up next. That is one great piece of shit document.
America is Doomed.
Republicans Concerned About Democrats Being Reelected — It’s Laughable
Have you heard the Republican refrain — If health care passes then Democrats are going to get beat in November. Since Republicans CONSTANTLY LIE, let’s consider just how sincere this claim is. Don’t Republicans want Democrats to lose in November? Of course, they do. Why would they warn the Democrats? Wouldn’t you want to keep this ‘knowledge’ to yourself and get an advantage? Clearly, the OPPOSITE is true — if Democrats fail to pass Health Care Reform, they are going to get beat badly. Obama understands this.
If Democrats pass even piss-poor health reform, they will do much better in November. The health care system is so utterly and completely BROKEN that even piss-poor health reform will help. For example, if nothing more was done than to make it illegal to reject people with pre-existing conditions, this would be a significant improvement. It would not come close to fixing the system — but an improvement nonetheless. Secondly, if insurance companies could not longer drop coverage when people get sick — a common practice today — it would, again, be a significant improvement. Make health insurance more affordable and limit insurance companies profits would continue to improve the system.
Don’t you think that people are noticing how Republicans have behaved? You have Republicans telling the unemployed they are lazy because they can’t find a job — meanwhile, Republicans make it easy for companies to export jobs. You have Republicans telling America that we can’t afford health insurance but can afford executive bonuses, bank bailouts, and wars. America spends $800B – $1T on the Department of Defense PER YEAR. I would cut it by 90% and pull all the troops back from all over the world. It is just nonsense that America is the military of the world — we can’t afford it!
Also, does ANYBODY think this is the last health care reform bill there will be? Republicans constantly vow that they will repeal it all when they get their chance but this is a silly threat. First, Republicans have to win back the White House, Senate, and the House. This is unlikely for some time and, just as with Medicare and Social Security, there is no turning once health care reform, like this, are in place. Will it be Republicans that repeal pre-existing conditions and/or allow insurance companies to drop sick people. If they do, there to power will be short lived. The more likely scenario is that Democrats will get strength from this passage, and there will be cries to go further and further.
People are pissed at the Democrats — but election time is not until November — Democrats have WASTED the last year trying to appease Republicans. There is a little evidence that this appeasement is ending. Obama has acted more forcefully in the last week than he has acted in his entire presidency. He FINALLY realizes that he needs to ignore political consequences and DO THE RIGHT THING. Ironically, if he does the right thing, there will be NO POLITICAL consequences and Republicans are confirming this with their ‘warnings’. Of course, Obama is not yet doing the RIGHT THING — mostly doing just SOMETHING — but that is better than a few weeks ago.
Unfortunately, Republicans act in one accord because they are the party of MONEY — it is very easy for them to figure out their position. Democrats have a much harder time because it is more diverse. In fact, Democrats represent what America use to be — lots of different opinions. if you are gun-crazed, or an anti-abortion nut, there are Democrats that represent that. But since Republicans have only ONE opinion, the number of diverse opinions in America is concentrated within the Democrats. Pretty much whatever your point of view is — there is a Democrat that represents it — this is clearly not the case if you are a Republican. Republicans are white, religious, and only worried about money. Diverge from time — even a little — and you will be run out of the Republican party.
America is Doomed.
Destruction of America Continues
Today seemed like a banner day with so many different things to write out. So I decided to list a few
- Lots of activists and protesters are getting right in the face of the EVIL health insurance company with their supreme leader — the face of EVIL — AHIP CEO Karen Ignagni. She helps load the trains to the death camps via the policies she endorses. Ignagni KILLS PEOPLE.
- Democratic Representative Massa under investigation — Recall this buffoon resigned supposedly because his lymphoma cancer returned. Just days later it was revealed he is being investigated for groping male staff members. He also told a bizarre story about an encountered with Rahm Emmanuel, WH chief of staff, in the Congressional showers — both nude — and Rahm was trying to get him to vote for Obama’s budget. Well — the crazy Republicans have embraced scumbag Massa and have featured him on talk shows like Limbaugh and tonight on Beck for a full hour. This crazed Democrat is now the poster boy for the Republicans who claimed he was pushed out because of health care. Oh Republicans — they never can pass on up a good, juicy distortion and lie.
- Remember Republican ex-HP CEO Fiorina and her nonsense during the presidential election? Well, she is running for the Senate in California and getting beat badly according to the polls. Meg Whitman is running as Republican governor as well. Both of these people think that being a CEO/dictator at a corporation makes them suitable to run government — maybe in a totalitarian state but not in a democratic one. Clearly, being a CEO and being a Senator or Governor have nothing to do with one another — but reality has never been a part of the Republican platform.
- Then we come to Democratic Senator Lincoln of Arkansas who apparently is having second thoughts about voting for health care — just days after putting out an ad bragging she was opposed to it. I guess she forget to read the polls and how she is likely not even to win the Democratic primary since 80% in Arkansas are for a public option. Ooooops. A few hours later she recants — probably after a call from one of her CORPORATE overlords.
- Then, crazy Karl Rove is out with a new work of FICTION — his view of the Bush Presidency. The fact that Rove is lying his ass off is no real surprise but the fact that he thinks people will not fact check the book is. And the red-necks that love the Republicans clearly can’t even read anyway.
- The leader of British Conservative Party, David Cameron, is out commenting on Sister Sarah Palin with “It’s hard for us to understand, if I can put it that way.” The kind of sums it all up for Palin.
- Democrat Representative Dennis Kucinch is my hero for being opposed to the health care reform bill for the right reasons — it just doesn’t go far enough — there is no public option. In the end he will be shown to be correct.
There are so many other things to say, but many things are clear: little is being accomplished in America, America is more polarized every day, and Republicans and Democrats live in different universes.
America is Doomed.
Arkansas Democrat Senator Blanche Lincoln — Lying Piece of Shit
Republicans are bad enough but there are plenty of Democrats that need to go as well. There is no better example than Democrat Senator Blanche Lincoln. Below is her first campaign spot with some truth interjected. Lincoln is on the payroll of big corporations — lies her ass off — in a word — she acts like a Republican. If Democrats can beat her in the primary, it will send a message to other democrats who are CORPORATISTS and want to be elected as Democrats. She has collected $5 million in corporate contributions. She needs to go.
America is Doomed.
Another Lying Gay Republican — Roy Ashburn
Another admission today — Roy Ashburn declares he’s GAY. Generally, that would be a so what in my book. I could care less if he is gay but what makes this interesting is good old Roy was a fierce opponent of gay rights. Yep. Leave it to a Republican to hide in the closet and fight against something that he clearly believes in. Some say he shouldn’t be a Republican, but I disagree. This is EXACTLY what Republicans are all about. They deceive. They lie. They can’t be trusted. They are for policies of HATE.
One thing is certain — he has no place in the Democratic Party because he is opposed to equal opportunity and access for gay people. Granted. There are plenty of Democrats that don’t belong either. Senator Dodd who gave away financial reform to the Fed this weekend — he makes me sick.
With politicians like Roy, there is clearly no hope for America. Clearly, Roy was not even capable of having an honest discussion about anything. What a phony!
America is Doomed.
Rasmussen — Lying Pollsters
There is an excellent article on KOS today about how Rasmussen is the polling arm of the Republican Party. Check out the article for a more complete analysis. For example, in the graph below the Rasmussen polls are in red and everybody else is in green. Rasmussen polls pro-Republican. They are interviewed on Fox News and Hannity constantly. Rush Limbaugh quotes them all the time. They are NOTHING more than shields for the Republican Party — the party of NO — the party of LIE, LIE, LIE.
George Orwell’s 1984 has turned out to be just brilliant with its prophetic predictions — how TRUTH and LIE get all messed up. The war department was known as the Dept of Peace. History was revised based on what the state wanted — not any different than what is happening in Texas with textbooks.
People will have disagreements but when there is NO TRUTH — in today’s America people are willing to LIE for their point of view. America has passed from a place that might solve problems to one of certain destruction.
America is Doomed.
Us Versus Them — Until Everybody Believes in the Same Goal
It hasn’t EVER been ALL in America or probably any other place on earth. It is always Us Versus Them for the simple fact that without two sides there would be no controversy. And CLEARLY there is plenty of controversy in today’s America.
I will ALWAYS take exception to people who act irrationally — who want to deny the fact that EVERYBODY is equal — EVERYBODY deserves a job, living wage, health care, housing, transportation, etc. It is the ONLY reasonable GOAL. Republicans want it to be about MONEY — they are clearly ONLY about MONEY. Democrats have plenty of MONEY crazed people as well but at least there are some who want the GOAL — I want the GOAL.
I know plenty of people who don’t think America can AFFORD (their actual word) health care — these people are Republicans. These people have health care and they think they are ok. The fact that they are not is irrelevant — they think they are ok. As more and more people realize they are not OK, they will become part of the Us — until then, they are the Them.
Paul Krugman explained similar issues this weekend in the Times with
Today, Democrats and Republicans live in different universes, both intellectually and morally.
There is no doubt about this. Democrats and Republicans live in completely different universes — both morally and intellectually. Consider this example from Beck opposed to social justice. The Republicans will lose because their strategy is an ever diminishing class of privilege. This approach ALWAYS loses — it is just a matter of time. Usually, it ends in bloody revolutions and will probably happen that way again.
I don’t want a race to the BOTTOM — I want equality with minimums. I don’t want EVERYBODY living in poverty. I want everybody with enough income and means to living a comfortable life so they can pursue their likes and desires. I don’t want a few with all the comforts and the vast majority left with crumbs. Once EVERYBODY has minimums there is plenty left over for ones who want to sacrifice to gain more.
Capitalists claim that only with MONEY people excel. This is clearly just MYTH. There are lots of people who pursue careers of great accomplishment with little monetary gain. They are researchers and intellectuals — they are artists and musicians — they are ordinary people who write software for other people to use without monetary compensation. They aren’t Republicans because Republicans are ONLY about MONEY and privileging themselves at the expense of the vast majority.
So, as long as there are people who are opposed to the GOAL of everybody being equal with basic minimums, it will always be Us Versus Them. It will take a long time to get to the GOAL and there will be lots of pain and suffering along the way. There is no saving America — it is headed for certain destruction. Destruction is always necessary to rally around a goal.
America is Doomed.