America's Two Camps

Corporations have set up the playing field: if you side with the bullies, there is the Republican camp; if you side with the wimps, there is the Democratic camp. They both do the corporations' bidding, so in the corporations' eyes, Rs and Ds are two sides of the same coin.

Not surprisingly, there is no "anti-corporation" side on this playing field.

Now the corporations run things in America

The only real way to get elected to a state-wide or national office in America is to put your ads on TV or on the radio. But that costs money. If you are a promising candidate, then corporations will come forward and give you money so you can put ads on TV. Presto-changeo you are now going to do what the corporations want, or they will take away that money. Funding the politician generates a "kickback" to the corporation.

Now what about an independent candidate who doesn't need corporate money? Well they still have to put their ads on TV. So the corporations go to their bought-out candidate and orders them to threaten the TV people - that if they air the ads of the non-corporate candidate then the corporate candidate will not re-up the ad buy. This is "extortion".

In addition, these self-same corporations buy ad time from the TV stations. They can then threaten to not re-up if the news division is critical of the corporations' industries. This is "hush money".

Of course, now the media will not report on their own corruption, nor will the government impose regulations on itself. So I guess it's up to the judiciary to set things right.

Right.

A gentle reminder to my Representative, Senator and President

Dear President Obama, Senator Sherrod Brown, and Representative Mary Jo Kilroy,

The Baucus bill amounts to giant subsidies to the private insurance industry, while saddling middle-class taxpayers with a mandate to buy over-priced, under-covering policies, or to pay a hefty fine for the right to not be fined again that year.

This does not help Americans already struggling under the cost of health care. This does not reduce health insurance premiums. The private health insurance industry needs to be (1) regulated, to keep Executive compensation under 5%, and (2) frightened, by a Public Option which does not play by the unwritten rules of the Private companies.

Private insurance companies will not compete with each other, just as gasoline retailers don't really compete: gas prices do not vary a great deal, across all retailers, because a retailer which undercuts the rest of the industry is "not playing along", and gets frozen out or bought out. Same goes for private health insurance: prices are kept as high as the market can bear, maxing out the cost/benefit ratio. All insurance retailers keep their prices/customers the same across the board, so they cannot be accused - by their "competitors" - of hogging too much of the market.

A government-run insurance option would - hopefully - not be looking to maintain the status quo of the Private Insurance Club. Rather, it would - hopefully - determine REAL market prices, and would show compassion and cover everyone in America.

Signed,

The problem with America's public discourse

When the Press reports manufactured Republican outrage, not facts, the public gets easily confused. Last night, President Obama's Health Insurance Reform speech was interrupted by a Republican who yelled "You lie!" when the President said his plan would not cover illegal immigrants. This is reminiscent of the Town Hall screamers orchestrated by Glenn Beck and Private Insurance this summer.

From MediaMatters

The [R]ight long ago figured out that most people go for "the truth is in the middle" as an idea of deciding what to believe. By pushing the debate as far to the right as possible they can create a fake middle close to their real ideas. [It's] the same reason they floated the death panel stuff.

And here:

On some level, it's almost irrelevant whether the bill includes language covering or denying coverage to illegal immigrants.

If an illegal immigrant shows up at an emergency room with appendicitis, hospital staff are not going to shove that person to the sidewalk and watch him/her writhe in pain. They're going to treat the illness.

And if that illegal immigrant can't pay for it, you and I are going to pay, just like we pay for true US citizens who don't have insurance.

I'm a huge bleeding heart Obama fan and I want his initiatives to pass, but I think concentrating on the bill's language on this issue is a moot point. The fact is, we as compassionate humans must care for others, and that's going to cost us.

A request of Senator Sherrod Brown

Dear Senator Brown,

Americans see Health Insurance Reform as the primary issue essential for the betterment of us all. An overwhelming majority of Americans (77%) prefer a Public Health Insurance Option, which will not drop you if you lose your job, which is affordable, and which will not drop you if you file lots of claims. (I would prefer Single-Payer, but am willing to wait for that.)

President Obama is showing a great deal of weakness in fighting for the Public Option. It is within his grasp, but he seems more interested in maintaining the Washington status quo. People are suffering and need insurance. People are dying, denied coverage.

The thing is, if Congress sends the President a bill with a Public Insurance Option, I doubt the President would veto it. However, I doubt he would veto a bill because it *does not* have the Public Option: he owes too much to Private Insurance CEOs and lobbyists, I fear, and would "buckle".

Therefore, Sherrod, I am asking you to filibuster a bill if it does not include a Public Health Insurance Option. Since the President is not saying he *must* have a Public Option, then I say that *you* must give him a bill with a Public Option included; a robust option which is neither a front for Private Insurance, nor one which triggers after years pass (maybe).

I hate to make this a "litmus test", or a "last straw", or a "deal breaker" for the President, but it looks like the country has been played by yet another bait-and-switch artist. The President won with promises to bring to pass red-meat issues like the Public Option, but all along - it seems - was thinking he would be just as content with the status quo.

Please don't prove yourself to be a member of the Washington elite, Senator Brown. Stand up to the special interests and insist on basic decency and kindness and dignity for people and their health. Filibuster a bill if it does not include a robust Public Insurance Option.

The Constitution was written, in part, "to promote the General Welfare". This is what I feel the President and Senator Reid and Congressman Hoyer are missing - that more than 3/4 of America wants real change in health insurance, and do not want lobbyists to transform that dream into a payoff to Private Insurance CEOs.

Thank you,

Our Corporate President

Dear President Obama,

I am saddened to find out that you are ignoring the demands of over 70% of the American people and are not going to give them real Health Insurance Reform and are going to drop the Public Option. Apparently, even though real reform is within the Democrats' grasp, they are backing down. The only conclusion I can draw is that you are bowing to the pressure from Private Insurance companies - those who funnel millions to Democratic campaign coffers. I pray that I am wrong, but I fear I am not.

Don't think I didn't notice the giveaway you gave to Private Automobile Insurers with Cash for Clunkers - clunkers need "liability"; new cars need "comprehensive" coverage, which is much more costly to the consumer. Don't think I didn't notice the giveaway you gave to the Homeowners and Mortgage Insurance Companies: all those first-time home buyers getting their $8000 tax rebate generated lots of business for Private Insurance.

Now Liberals like me see a long, difficult road ahead, where we promote (1) real campaign finance reform, to get corporate interests/lobbyists out of funding politics, and (2) real media reform, where the Fairness Doctrine is reinstated.

Look, if you were interested in serving the People and not Corporations, you wouldn't put yourself in a position to be beholden to the Corporations. If you were interested in quelling the shrill lies and innuendo heard and seen on the airwaves and cable, then you would have the FCC reinstate the Fairness Doctrine.

But no, it looks like you know who your boss is: the Corporations pay you, so you have to please them. Now we Liberals know that, so when you say "re-elect me and you will have real Health Insurance Reform", Liberals like me will say, "Yeah whatever. Promises promises."

America can't have politicians whose first obligation is to corporate fat-cats, and who allow dangerous lies to be propagated as fact in the media. We are very disappointed that you lied about bringing Change to America.

Fool me once, shame on you, Mr. President. Fool me twice, shame on me.

I will make one last plea for real health insurance reform: people are dying right now because they are being denied coverage, but Private Insurance will not change unless there is real reform, like the Public Option.

Oh screw it, I want Medicare-for-all. Next election, I will vote for someone who I believe is sincere in bringing REAL change to America.

Enjoy your money.

Signed,

Preventive healthcare is oh-so French, thus undesirable

Atrios writes:

And Why Is That?

Yglesias:

A robust public option saves money so, naturally, deficit-averse “centrist” Democrats don’t like the idea. And, naturally, the press never seems to point that out.

I've hit this point before, and even though it's the sort of thing the press does all the time (or in this case doesn't), I'm still a bit curious why. Are they just so enamored with any self-described centrist deficit hawk, too stupid to understand the policy, or what?

Here's what their problem is:

You save money by implementing *preventive* measures in healthcare.

The Republicans and the Press only understand how to be *re*active, not *pro*active. Being proactive with respect to healthcare encourages a scientific, rational analysis of your current medical condition. Of course all that book-learnin' science-stuff is too French for Republicans (and hence the Press will also poo-poo it).

Plus, if poor people get preventive healthcare, then they won't be languishing in the streets, which is where Republicans need them (to feel superior to them). The Press also needs poor people on the streets, in order to point out that Republicans "have a point".