Columnist Thomas Frank noted the “curious reversal” by Republicans who argue that private insurance companies wouldn’t be able to compete with a “predatory” public option insurance plan that covers all comers, including those private companies won’t insure. Thomas wrote: “Just think of the conservative caricatures that must be inverted for this argument to work: All those soft liberal bureaucrats? Ferocious man-eaters. The welfare state? Law of the jungle. And the actuarial-minded hardliners of the insurance biz, the ones who deny your claim or cancel your policy? A gentle but endangered species that needs our nurturing, sort of like panda bears.”
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92 Comments
Thomas Frank is an absolute idiot.
A public option doesnt have to make a profit. The .gov will just keep covering the deficit the program runs.
Historical note- “They also said Medicare would cost $12 billion by 1990. It ended up being $107 billion – eight times the government estimate.
If you are a Lib who can actually learn from history……
Heckler
Posted October 8, 2009 at 6:43 am | Permalink
Thomas Frank is an absolute idiot.
==================================================
Well, maybe not: Division fizzes up within GOP over resistance to health plan.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-10-07-gop-healthcare_N.htm
Apparently, some Republicans are starting to see the light.
If you are a con, you can actually learn from facts.
I think some Republicans see that health-care reform will happen and if it is meaningful reform all Americans will benefit. They also recognize they would be better served to be part of the solution than to continue only pointing out what they oppose.
Anybody ever MET a health insurance company they care to defend?? Not me. Loose the public option on them!
Aiming Higher: Results from a State Scorecard on Health System Performance, 2009.
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Publications/Fund-Reports/2009/Oct/2009-State-Scorecard.aspx
This is what Galbraith wrote: “When consumer protection, worker protection, environmental protection, and policing against fraud are handed over to lobbyists.
O’BAMA uses all sorts of lobbyists, hard and soft money to influence policy.
Just the other day, O’BAMA used Doctors of America, formely known as Doctors for O’BAMA, to put up a false press image of physician support to the public.
This is extremely dishonest and influences policy by soft lobbying efforts and deceipt.
Stolen from a favorite Family Guy bit:
Damn public option, you scary.
JMWalker
Posted October 8, 2009 at 8:06 am | Permalink
Apparently, some Republicans are starting to see the light.
If you are a con, you can actually learn from facts.
_____________________________
Walker, do you suppose that some Republicans are starting to realize how mean-spirited their party is starting to look?
Many on the right seem to think that health care is optional. They don’t seem to realize that maintaining the statis quo isn’t going to cut it. With the way premiums are rising, we’re all going to be in a spot in just a few more years.
I just found out that my premiums are going up 30%.
The Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday that the latest version of the Senate Finance Committee proposal would expand coverage to 94 percent of all eligible Americans at a 10-year cost of $829 billion.
The budget umpires added that the legislation would reduce federal deficits by $81 billion over a decade and could lead to continued reductions in federal red ink in the years beyond.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jlMpJGn28kqCcgU-aGcYE_ZHW-ywD9B6SRSO0
____________________________
Let’s see, it extends coverage to 94% of Americans and reduces the deficit.
The Republicans will really hate that.
You left out the good part XXX. It will not cover 25 million people and won’t take full effect until 2019.
Also, it will cut Medicare Prime, the main insurance for the elderly in rural areas. So you will see an increase in Senior’s death in Kansas from lack of medical care.
Hope you made plans to attend a lot of funerals in Kansas.
XXX
Posted October 8, 2009 at 8:36 am | Permalink
The Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday that the latest version of the Senate Finance Committee proposal would expand coverage to 94 percent of all eligible Americans at a 10-year cost of $829 billion.
———–
Anyone have a clue what it includes? If not, how can you argue for it or against?
Walker, do you suppose that some Republicans are starting to realize how mean-spirited their party is starting to look?
================================================
I sure hope so. The republicans voted against a bill calling for the government to refuse to fund any company that doesn’t allow a raped woman to sue a company employee:
Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) introduced an amendment to a defense appropriations bill that would prevent the federal government from funding contractors whose employee contracts prevent workers from pursuing allegations of rape against co-workers. The Republicans are getting hammered over it.
http://rawstory.com/2009/10/gop-votes-against-prevent-rape/
That will sure get them some votes . . . from rapists.
Mines going up 65% in December. I may not be able to afford it. Hello emergency room, taxpayer subsidized.
Walker writes: I sure hope so. The republicans voted against a bill calling for the government to refuse to fund any company that doesn’t allow a raped woman to sue a company employee.
And the company is guilty of rape along with the one who committed the rape?
What was the company that BTK used to work for, ADT security?
Should the government refuse to allow ADT security any contracts because of the murderous, stalking actions of one employee?
What kind of precident would this set? What are the limits?
Duh Libs howled like banshees when ACORN was cut off from funding when a few of their employees when they were cut off from funding because of some employees. I think the action was wrong and should have been investigated first to see if it was endemic.
I call hypocrisy on this Walker.
http://blogs.kansas.com/weblog/2009/10/open-thread-107-2/#comment-677486
The yelling and screaming and protesting of the summer town-hall meetings has shed light on the need of health-care reform. Where too many weren’t paying any attention, now more Americans are aware, and they see who has plans, what the lies and exaggerations are, and which party is working toward all Americans benefiting from improved and less expensive health care.
The end result may not have been the goal of the teabaggers, but it’s working out to the advantage of health-care reform!
This idea of a huge deficit being expanded because of heath care makes me ask the question. How is it that other countries offer excellent more readily available care for 2/3rd the unit cost devoted to Americans? The main purpose in all these programs was to contain costs as the first step in qualifying expenses. You can’t manage unless you can measure a problem and right now there are no independant ways to pinpoint just what needs to be done. Wait times, evaluation of surgery vs. therapy vs. medication and life style changes can only be addressed if you have records, there is no such central depository in the US similar to other countries. Our system is all too ready to make a buck by cutting or exposing the client to very high doses of radiation through questionabe but profitable practices. 2 nasty points just noted in the UK press. If you are a victim of domestic in 41 States, your insurance does not cover you for having a pre-eixsting condition with only 8 States and the DC having specific laws forbidding the practice. If you donate an organ, same thing, for therafter you have a pre-existing condition so won’t be covered. As to sustaining “exploding” costs as noted by other posters, the % of the pie in Canada and Australia for health costs IS greater than ever before…but the actual costs have remained steady for about 5-7 years. The pie got smaller. Amongst other things, they’ve been paying down their national debts hence lower servicing costs, revised laws of imprisonment time vs. counselling and implemented educational process that more readily manages and identifies waste and costs. All the while saying at the top for standard of living, education and longevity. The Ozzies have just raised their bankrates to adjust for the growth in their economy and both places did not need to bail out their financial systems! Addressing health means addressing more than just coughs and colds….it’s all connected.
Regular
Posted October 8, 2009 at 8:56 am | Permalink
*****************
_______________________________
Sillyness knows no bounds this morning.
How is it that other countries offer excellent more readily available care for 2/3rd the unit cost devoted to Americans?
=========================
Because we hold the cost of their military protection on OUR shoulders.
Right now, your company could have a life insurance policy on you that you know nothing about. When you die — perhaps years after you leave your employer — the tax-free proceeds from this policy wouldn’t go to your family. The money would go to the company.
Whats more, the company might use this policy to pay for retirement benefits and other perks not for you or your fellow workers, but for your company’s top executives.
Sound outrageous? Such corporate-owned life insurance is also big business:
* Companies pay a whopping $8 billion in premiums each year for such coverage, according to the American Council of Life Insurers, a trade group.
* The policies make up more than 20% of the all the life insurance sold each year.
* Companies expect to reap more than $9 billion in tax breaks from these policies over the next five years. The policies are treated as whole life policies. So, companies can borrow against the policies (though the IRS won’t let them write off the interest). And the death benefits are tax-free.
Hundreds of companies — including Dow Chemical, Procter & Gamble, Wal-Mart, Walt Disney and Winn-Dixie — have purchased this insurance on more than 6 million rank-and-file workers.
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Insurance/P64954.asp
XXX
Posted October 8, 2009 at 9:08 am | Permalink
Regular
Posted October 8, 2009 at 8:56 am | Permalink
*****************
_______________________________
Sillyness knows no bounds this morning.
——————
Prove me wrong.
What if Regular’s sister was Jamie Leigh Jones?
http://blogs.kansas.com/weblog/2009/10/open-thread-107-2/#comment-677486
When you see something that seems crazy, you have to look beneath the surface. For example our representatives voting against the Franken amendment. Portrayed as allowing victims of s*xual assualt to get their day in court. Just a reminder for the folks here. Things are not always as portrayed. Please see below. The Franken amendment did not just address arbitration provisions in employment contracts dealing with s*xual assaults. Nope it goes far beyond that. What it did do was to allow the Dems to demonize reasonable votes against an intrusive law that will clog up the court system even further. It was all wrapped in an s*xual assault package. If Franken was truly just interested in s*xual assault matters, he would have limited his amendment to that and he probably would have gotten 100% of the senators to vote for it. Nope, it is lying politics as usual.
—————-
Specifically, the amendment would bar federal funds from going to defense contractors that continue to apply mandatory arbitration clauses to claims of s*xual assault, assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent hiring, retention and supervision. The amendment also covers civil rights claims of workplace discrimination, according to Franken’s office.
The amendment does not require contractors to change or modify existing employment contracts.
http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2009/10/06/12247/senate_passes_franken_amendment_aimed_at_defense_contractors
CBO says more meaningful reform and savings with a ‘public option’ the cooperatives will be toothles and meaningless.
Cons missed the boat on this one, bet they’re wishing they hadn’t demanded more time for the cbo report.
If it’s going to take a few years, best get the ball rolling immediately. America’s tired of waiting.
#
Regular
Posted October 8, 2009 at 8:56 am | Permalink
And the company is guilty of rape along with the one who committed the rape?
What was the company that BTK used to work for, ADT security?
Should the government refuse to allow ADT security any contracts because of the murderous, stalking actions of one employee?
What kind of precident would this set? What are the limits?
Duh Libs howled like banshees when ACORN was cut off from funding when a few of their employees when they were cut off from funding because of some employees. I think the action was wrong and should have been investigated first to see if it was endemic.
I call hypocrisy on this Walker.
===================================
Perhaps regular could use his computer to actually find and read the bill. He might then learn the following: “Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) introduced an amendment to a defense appropriations bill that would prevent the federal government from funding contractors whose employee contracts prevent workers from pursuing allegations of rape against co-workers.”
Why would a company put in place a policy of refusing to allow a victim to go after a co-worker? No where does it say the company is guilty of anything. All it does is prevent a company from getting in the way of a victim seeking justice done.
Me hypocrisy? Condoning rape, as proved by their vote, is just plain sick. Get your facts straight, reg, or do the facts mean nothing to you. We’re discussing rape, not ACORN, troll-monkey.
“We can report exclusively tonight, that two major power brokers on the left have told MSNBC that they are encouraging a Senate strategy now, in which the leadership would revoke chairmanships and other leadership positions from any Democrat who sides with a Republican filibuster to block a vote on health reform,” Maddow said.
————–
Taken from JMs page – so if you don’t go along in the democrat party you get demoted. Forget thinking for yourself or looking out for your constituents. If the dems say it do it.
We need healthcare reform. We don’t need to rush through a complete overhaul of a system that is working for over 85% of us and replace it with a system that is untried.
It will be interesting to see what the rest of the world does when corporations in our country stop spending the money to develop new drugs because of the cap on reimbursing them for their efforts. This will then force other countries to develop their own or pay the high dollars to purchase ours.
Of course big pharma has been lobbying Obama and he appears to be in bed with them to get their support so maybe researchers like Lindas son won’t be unemployed just yet.
Tort reform is never mentioned by most dems but is key to making any reform work. I just heard a democrat representative from Minn. say that malpractice rates in Minn are a fraction of what they are in other states. They have a regulation that all malpractice suits have to pass a medical review before they are filed. Seems this has done a great deal to help healthcare cost there.
Why arent we looking at controls like this. Can’t make those lawyers mad can we.
Beside, reg, anyone who posts such cr*p as the following deserves to nothing. You’re a real credit to your party:
Regular Posted October 6, 2009 at 10:37 am:
Actually MonkeyHock, death is too good for you.
You should be taken to an empty field and beaten until your brain no longer functions and you spend the rest of your life in an institution drooling and sucking food through a straw.
================================================
Do you kiss your mother with that mouth? Nice Christian attitude there, troll-monkey.
Taken from JMs page – so if you don’t go along in the democrat party you get demoted. Forget thinking for yourself or looking out for your constituents. If the dems say it do it.
==============================================
About time the Democrats showed some huevos, and b-slapped the Republicans.
“Why arent we looking at controls like this. Can’t make those lawyers mad can we.” [Okie]
Did you not listen to Obama’s speech before Congress?? Ya know, the one where he SPECIFICALLY stated that he was embarking on a TORT REFORM package to STOP frivolous law suits??? Open your little ears, Grnny!!
Side with the enemy be treated as the traitor you are. Sounds good.
The lemming repubs would march in lock step, dems need a little ‘tough love’.
JMWalker
Posted October 8, 2009 at 9:28 am | Permalink
Beside, reg, anyone who posts such cr*p as the following deserves to nothing.
———————–
Really weak Walker, bring something from another post, directed at another poster to do exactly what?
You’re the one who is weak and I might add a puzzy if you can’t back your own argument.
Really weak Walker, bring something from another post, directed at another poster to do exactly what?
==================================================
No, it was directed at you, because you posted it; I doubt anybody else here is stupid enough to post the garbage you do. You seem to be the only one who posts here that posts cr*p like that. You’ve done it too MH and XXX. My thinking is you really do need anger management. Take your meds.
Walker writes: “Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) introduced an amendment to a defense appropriations bill that would prevent the federal government from funding contractors whose employee contracts prevent workers from pursuing allegations of rape against co-workers.” All it does is prevent a company from getting in the way of a victim seeking justice done.”
It does more than that, it re-writes the laws of the Constitiution and many cases of legal precident.
Franken is not an attorney, he should leave the writing of Constitutionally important interpretations to the courts.
If the courts found that companies cannot be prohibited from government contracts because of an action of one employee, then Franken has no business writing a law to skirt the Constitution.
Walker weeps: You’ve done it too MH and XXX. My thinking is you really do need anger management.
It appears to me you’re the one that needs anger management. You keep bringing up judgmental cr@pola that has nothing to do with the topic.
Quit being a puzzy, start being a man.
Troll-monkey posts:
whathuhwhohowhuh . . . . .
==============================================
who freakin cares what you think?
Brownback & Robert voted against the Franken amendment.. they were on the losing side and THIS NAY vote will haunt them….
By the way, troll-monkey. The vote passed it and Obama’s signing it. But you can always call someone who gives a sh*t.
The Courts cant make a pre-emptive ruling, until the legislation passes, IF it passes…
Quit being a puzzy, start being a man.
=================================================
I am: I can stand when I p**s.
No… the Franken amendment will essentially force these companies to re-write their policies to allow the victims access to the courts – OR just not do business with the government.. their choice.
“”The story came to my attention of Jamie Leigh Jones who, when she was 19, went to Iraq to work for [defense contractor] KBR and she was put in the barracks with 400 men and was sexually harassed,” Franken told the Huffington Post in a brief interview shortly after the vote. “She complained. But they didn’t do anything about it. She was drugged and gang raped and they locked her up in a shipping container. She tried to sue KBR and they said you have a mandatory arbitration clause in your contract. She tried to fight back and said this is ridiculous. She took it to court and they have been fighting her for three years.”
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Leigh_Jones
Shame on Franken for trying to protect vulnerable Americans, eh, Regular?
The insurance companies are the predator, and the repub politicians are the vultures wanting to keep their share.
In Septemember 2009, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Jones’s rape and false imprisonment were not, in fact, job-related — meaning the mandatory arbitration clause in her employment contract with KBR is unenforceable where those charges are concerned.
Reg provides us with more background noise. More static.
If the courts found that companies cannot be prohibited from government contracts because of an action of one employee, then Franken has no business writing a law to skirt the Constitution.
Looks like you entirely miss the point, since it would turn on the corporate policy and not on the action of a rogue employee.
What is it XXX and Walker? You can’t stick to the issues today?
Who pizzled in your cornflakes this morning?
Justice delayed is justice denied.. it took five years for this to wind its way though the courts… so far…
Phantom, giving facts to troll-monkey is like giving an x-ray machine to a chimp. Their reactions would be the same.
What’s with the personal attacks Walker?
I even agreed with your points in another topic today.
Did that just pizz you off to start an unprovoked attack on me today?
” Prime, the main insurance for the elderly in rural areas” — Fibulus
Horsepucky. Most of the retired in rural areas can barely afford groceries.
Re: Government competing with the private sector. A little musical interlude.
I am the eye in the sky, looking at you
I can read your mind
I am the maker of rules, dealing with fools
I can cheat you blind.
Anti: Your logic escapes me. How does the cost of making a nuclear missile or stationing troops in Europe directly affect the cost of our healthcare? I can see where the money is allocated leaves a shortfall, but the actual cost of a procedure surely isn’t affected by the USN cruising the seas. Besides if you look at the 2 places I noted who is gonna invade them anyway…unless you have access to the Pentagon planning I don’t know about. We do not defend others’ interests only our own, which sometimes coincides with that of others. A new chopper is Afganistan does not rise the cost of an appendectomy nor prove and justify the cost of angioplasty vs a good workout and proper diet being part of your daily regimen. Sorry, but the umbrella thing just dosen’t wash.
The public option wouldn’t even be discussed if the insurance industry had actually provided the security they advertize at an affordable price. As it is, they make obscene profits by doing everything they can to deny claims and delay payments.
When you’re sick as a dog and have to sue the company you’ve paid a fortune to cover the healthcare needs they promised to, while the company execs have taken the company Gulfstar to Aruba for a week off in the sun and surf while you’re dying in a hosital bed you don’t even know is paid for, waiting for treatment that you don’t know will be approved, the argument that the poor company can’t compete against a public option rings a bit hollow. Hell, bank robbers couldn’t compete against these guys! They’ve got you over a barrel and thy’re spending your money to see to it that you’re going to stay over their barrel!
“They’ve got you over a barrel”
and they have a wicked glint in their eyes.
Jed – facts, not ranting.
And the fact is, the public option is designed to drive out private insurance, at least except for the truly rich. It was designed to get to the ultimate goal – a single payer system, by flying under the radar as ‘option’ until the “public option” was, in effect, the single payer for most people.
Calling it “public option” to “compete” with private insurance (as if there was no competition in the private sector) was, and is, just tactics; a way to get where the administration always wanted to go.
DorisKing
Posted October 8, 2009 at 10:21 am | Permalink
” Prime, the main insurance for the elderly in rural areas” — Fibulus
Horsepucky. Most of the retired in rural areas can barely afford groceries.
—————-
DorisKing is one of the many nics of Beber, Phantom, DoorKing, etc. etc.
The putative Christian outlander opposes bitterly any federal funds going for abortion.
But federal funds going to companies who literally rape their employees like Blackwater did?
Just more court-clogging harassment of big business.
the public option is designed to drive out private insurance
This prediction brought to you by the same inDUHvidual who predicted that Obama would promote his political agenda in his speech to school kids.
Stay in school, kids. And work hard.
By golly, it does sound kind of liberal. RepubliCONs get rich by making other people work hard for them.
GMC,
As far as I’m concerned, the public option shoud drive these ripoff artists out of business, and everyone, including rich people and congressmen and presidents would all have exactly the same coverage. And maybe you’ll have to wait for your new tits or botox or hair plugs while they take care of those who really need it, but those who really need it will have the best care in the world. How do I know that? Because it’s the same treatment as rich people, congressmen and presidents receive. Socialism? Doesn’t matter! The only thing that matters is what works!
“Jed” –
WE Blog CONs are people who aren’t satisfied with winning; others must lose.
Hence, their constant frustration.
Franken is not an attorney
Correct. He’s a professional comedian.
A perfect match to deal with the clowns in the RepubliCON party.
Shame on you GMC! You’re supposed to love the “free” market. If the private insurers are failing the public, and the are, they SHOULD have competition from the Government. This will compel them to do a better job or go extinct.
Jed
Posted October 8, 2009 at 12:15 pm | Permalink
GMC,
As far as I’m concerned, the public option shoud drive these ripoff artists out of business, and everyone, including rich people and congressmen and presidents would all have exactly the same coverage. And maybe you’ll have to wait for your new tits or botox or hair plugs while they take care of those who really need it, but those who really need it will have the best care in the world. How do I know that? Because it’s the same treatment as rich people, congressmen and presidents receive. Socialism? Doesn’t matter! The only thing that matters is what works!
_________________________
Great post, Jed.
Jed,
We the people will never get the health care that congressmen and presidents receive.
Sad, but true.
And if you’ll notice our “representatives” are not proposing anything near the gold plated health care packages they get, for the people.
Until they do, they can GFTS’s.
Jed – facts, not ranting. You’ve relied on none.
. . . .everyone, including rich people and congressmen and presidents would all have exactly the same coverage.
Will never, ever, ever, ever happen. Not in this world, not under socialism, capitalism, or any other ‘ism.’ That’s simply not the way the world works. Never has, never will. Not this side of heaven.
Actually, the Congress has the same plans as Civil Servants do. Some cost more than others obviously, but let’s say a Postal Worker or a Department of Defense civilian employee could get the same plan as Congress.
Ant,
That’s why I want an absolute single-payer single-policy healthcare plan for every citizen of the US. Medical ethics would require every patient be treated equally. If you want something different, you’ll have to wade to Mexico.
Medical ethics would require every patient be treated equally.
Yes, I’m sure the Queen of England gets the identical medical plan as the Street Cleaner.
IRS Made Errors in Stimulus Payments to 400,000 Taxpayers
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration yesterday released Evaluation of the Planning, Computation, and Issuance of the Recovery Rebate Credit (2009-40-129), reporting that:
The IRS issued more than $96 billion in advanced economic stimulus payments (up to $1,2000 for married couples filing jointly) to more than 119 million taxpayers in Calendar Year 2008 and approximately $8.5 billion in payments to almost 21 million taxpayers as of April 17, 2009.
259,000 taxpayers did not receive $84.6 million in payments due to various IRS errors.
141,000 taxpayers received $60.6 million in payments for which they were ineligible due to various IRS errors.
http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2009/10/irs-.html
—–
Hmmmm. More evidence the federal gov’t can’t find it’s a** with both hands and a flashlight.
But don’t worry. It’ll be all better when it’s about your colon.
I never got a stimulus payment GMC. Think I should take it to the Supreme Court? :D
just walk on by… nothing to see here…
have a great day, y’all!!
“Regular!” You posted –
“…Congress has the same plans as Civil Servants do. Some cost more than others obviously, but let’s say a Postal Worker or a Department of Defense civilian employee could get the same plan as Congress.”
I mean… you slapped “ANTI” in the eye with the truth!
I’m stunned.
My mind is officially boggled!
(Tell me again the symptoms of a stroke because I fear I may be having one.)
I was getting ready to respond to “ANTI’s” little bit of word salad, off-base on the facts but high on inflammatory rhetoric (e.g. “…gold-plated coverage….”). Then you came along and smote him with a dispatch from a territory I always figured was foreign to you: Reality.
We lock horns a lot, “Regular,” but I generally consider you a worthy (albeit inferior) adversary. But sometimes ya gotta call a spade a spade. And this time you had the spine to reveal “ANTI” as a f-in’ shovel.
reggie,
“Yes, I’m sure the Queen of England gets the identical medical plan as the Street Cleaner.”
That makes sure that the street cleaner gets as good care as the queen. Isn’t that the object of a national heathcare plan? That street cleaner puts in just as rough a day as the queen does, and if the queen wants clean streets…..!
Thank you for my badge of inferiority.
I’ll keep it in the box of my other ‘atta-boy’ awards.
” That’s simply not the way the world works. ”
Well we will just change the way the world works. Rough though that may be for the comfortable few.
Monkeyhawk,
Perhaps you can demonstrate where in any of the proposed bills where ‘the people’ will be receiving equal gold-plated health care benefits as the congress.
GM,
“Hmmmm. More evidence the federal gov’t can’t find it’s a** with both hands and a flashlight.
Of couse we don’t often hear about it when our giant corporations that are too big to fail accidentally misplace millions in corporate funds into the CEO’s personal golden parachute account.
I think Jed has indicated that greedy corporations are no different than the Gov’t.
“Regular” graciously posts –
“Thank you for my badge of inferiority.”
And thank you for accepting it in the spirit in which it was given.
Get your sister to sew it on that sash with the other merit badges. As soon as you earn your Geology award you’ll have enough to be promoted to 2nd Class Scout.
Ant,
All of the proposed bills were written by corporate lobbyists. They all need to be scrapped and congress should start all over again sans lobbyists and sans campaign contributions, and consider for once the voters who have the power to unelect them if they refuse to follow the public’s interest.
Jed
Posted October 8, 2009 at 2:01 pm | Permalink
Ant,
All of the proposed bills were written by corporate lobbyists. They all need to be scrapped and congress should start all over again sans lobbyists and sans campaign contributions, and consider for once the voters who have the power to unelect them if they refuse to follow the public’s interest.
==================================
I agree.
(I am going to go throw up now…)
Ant,
“I think Jed has indicated that greedy corporations are no different than the Gov’t.”
Maybe, maybe not, but I’ll keep government over greedy corporations any day.
“ANTI” tries to weasel –
“…demonstrate where in any of the proposed bills where ‘the people’ will be receiving equal gold-plated health care benefits as the congress.”
As I’d say to any puppy that just pooped on the carpet: “NO!
And (sorry to rub your nose in it here), you wrote:
“…people will never get the health care that congressmen and presidents receive.”
And “Regular” (of all people!) called you on it.
I’ll admit, Presidents of the United States might get dibs when they show up in the nearest trauma center after getting shot. Y’know, like Reagan.”
But the issue at hand isn’t that the government might also subsidize the presence of a doctor on-board Air Force One next time you travel to Egypt. The issue at hand is how the hospital bills were paid. And, as “Regular” (!) pointed out, Reagan’s trauma center bills were paid via the same program all civil servants have access to.
People are coming around to realizing we haven’t been talking about health care reform; we’re talking about health insurance reform.
But keep trying, “ANTI.”
You’ve already lost credibility with “Regular.” (”Regular!”)
That’s gotta be stinky, even to you.
Sad, but true.
“ANTI” reaches the closest thing to productivity he probably ever will –
“(I am going to go throw up now…)”
Poor ol’ “ANTI.”
Never learned:
“Beer on whiskey,
Pretty risky.
Whiskey on beer,
Never fear.”
(Worshiping the Porcelain God doesn’t work unless you baptize yourself afterward, when you flush.)
Actually MonkeyHock,
No
Congress can also see the House Physician, kind of like the Queen of England’s private physician or they can go to Bethesda Naval Hospital and get free care there.
So yes, in addition to the Civil Servant style health care plans, the Congress does have gold-plated health care.
Once again Monkeyhawk desperately makes a slightly taller mole hill out of a mole hill.
Keep trying.
Maybe use the word tencel mixed with an amphibian in your next rant.
Ant,
We’ve all by now seen reggie’s tencil, and it’s covered in ugly warts. We don’t need to see it again to know what he keeps it on.
reggie,
I’m not especially worried that congress keeps a doctor on premises. Given the number of people that work there, I’d imagine it would qualify as a small-to-medium town in most districts anyway.
What worries me are all those millions of Americans who can’t get insured at all for one reason or another. And many if not most of those already have greater health issues and needs than their congressmen. And getting more people the healthcare they need to become more productive might actually improve the economy, ya think?
“Regular” take time off from his mastery of geology and how mountaintop-removal coal mining is “impossible” to share with us –
“Actually MonkeyHock,
No
Congress can also see the House Physician, kind of like the Queen of England’s private physician or they can go to Bethesda Navel Hospital and get free care there.”
Perhaps missed the concept of how this issue isn’t about health care; it’s about how it’s paid for.
And congresscritters don’t go to Bathesda “for free;” their coverage is paid for — as you informed “ANTI” — the same way any other civil servant has access to.
(And what’s the government doing, anyway, dedicating a huge hospital in Bathesda dedicated to diseases of the belly-button?”)
Munkeyboy – comes with…
Reagan’s trauma center bills were paid via the same program all civil servants have access to.
—————————-
Regans claim was workmans comp.
idiot.
I think it’s time the democrats face the fact we are going to have healthcare reform and without a public government run program.
Get used to it.
Dion (and the Belmonts too),
If we get a reform bill that doesn’t reform anything, most Americans will see that as a betrayal by congress, and even if we have to elect several new congressmen in a row, we’ll get those reforms. This is just to important an issue to too many voters to just go away, or be bought off with meaningless legislation. Get used to it!