Flux the Mullahs

[jonP]

Jon, I'd remind you that in 1994 a conscious decision on the GOP's part was made not to fix it, that scuttling any reform was of a greater political advantage to the party than participating in crafting any kind of solution to what was already a problem, but then became a greater problem following that 1994 debacle.

I agree that if the anti-trust exemption wasn't there, there would be fewer problems. But at that point litigation would be what reformed the system and you'd have the insurance industry howling about tort reform.

Part of the problem with the health care system is that no one thing is going to make a huge difference in fixing the problem of prices rising way faster than inflation and such. Twenty, maybe even a hundred things have to change to slow the increases.

And even then, you're left with a system grouped around employment. That worked 40 years ago. It does not work now. It is bad for business, bad for the general economy, bad for people who work for a living and bad for consumers. That is even if it works well. Since it doesn't, it is also bad for health care providers.

I'm the kind of liberal who would much rather see problems solved by the private sector, but if the private sector for some reason cannot, or is part of the problem, well, government can have a legitimate role in the solution.

Sorry to take so long to reply, Text...I enjoy discussing this, forgive me if I came across as rude...

I agree with your idea on a system based on employment not working very well. However there are avenues for which to remedy this situation through the private sector without BRIBING congress, hiding meetings and actual bills, and God knows what else.

Forgive me if I came across as being angry in my post, but this is now beyond frustrating. We have real simple solutions that should have been legislated years ago, and instead the situation is getting worse by the second. The left will never be happy until they get Socialized Medicine, PERIOD. Where can we turn when there is nowhere left to turn for those who do not want this? When America goes, well...

As far as being a conservative republican, I wish that my party was more liberal on certain social issues. When it comes to freedom and money I am sick of these crooks lying and stealing their way into power and into my private life. Can't we agree as American's that too much government is fundamentally a bad thing? There are very limited roles listed in the Constitution, no more and no less.

I really think that our populace is so distracted that the vast majority of them are not even aware of what and who is going on... all they here is the sound bite, "Health Care Reform...." Damn it is frustrating. Oh, but Avatar came out...

Reminds me of Roger Waters' album Amused to Death, although probably not in the same way as he meant it...but perhaps.

[BungalowBill7]

Jon , fear not , Text has put up with my harsh posts for over a decade , in comparison you come across like Mother Teresa .

[textus]

I know you're right that there are racial overtones in the coverage and some of the perceptions, but this - like the OJ verdict - is a classic case of the rich having a different set of rules.

And although in retrospect the delayed coverage of Edwards was truly bad, the situation now is that he is valified among those who were once his fans. Or if not fans, at least those whose politics lined up with his.

[BungalowBill7]

I hear you .   I was also talking about people in general , all over FB and the net going on and on , and tho' I don't necessarily see any of that as having 'racial overtines' , it's likely just not considering how Blacks may feel . I might be wrong and perhaps they don't like Woods or see him as hero ot role model , but I'd rather err on the side of caution .  When it was Imus , white fans of the guy thought Blacks were making too much of it , I thought so as well . Not the golf shoe's on the other foot and whites should remember how they felt when their Imus went down . Whether it's as laughing sticok ot in anger , when it was intentional adultery or unintententional bad taste on the radio , 'fans ' do hurt when the careers nosedive .
 
 How many whites laughing endlessly at Woods fate or relentlessly looking for OJ to hang would be so vocal so if they were sitting at dinner with a Black family ? Not many . Well , those families are still watching , still listening . 

[Bungalowbill]

Now , I can overlook the Christmas ornament hanging on the WH tree in the blue room with Obama's face superimposed over Lincoln's on Mount Rushmore -bad taste . I can even wince and bear that another has a drag queen on it - he/she's an American , too . But the one with Chairman Mao ?? Why does he keep 'showing up 'with WH officials ?  Now the WH explanation (as with the intruders who could've blown away India's leader) , "We didn't check " . "These come from communities everywhere " .  Well did they look for one possibly from Cave 101 , Pakistan , sent in by Ramsi al-Kaboom ?
 
 And they say the 'Socialist' charges are unwarranted and racist ?  Even if it's all just innocent incompetence , then do you really want them running YOUR healthcare ?

[BungalowBill7]

David Gergan ('impartial' moderator at Mass. Senate race debate)  "So you're going to be the one to seat at Teddy Kennedy's seat and block this HC bill ?"
 
Scott Brown (R) : "With all due respect , it's not Teddy Kennedy's or the Democrat's seat, it's the PEOPLE"s seat ...."
 
A quote that will live on in many campaign ads  all this years . Brilliant retort .

[Susan]

He's right.  As much as i trust my friend in MA that he is not the right candidate, that was an excellent response.

[jonP]

Senator Brown   

[BungalowBill7]

Indeed .   Congrats to Brown , the message couldn't be clearer .     In his usual demonstration of his Progressive values , right after the win Keith Doberman  called Brown " a racist , reactionary , homophobic , teabagging promoter of violence towards women !"  Also in promoting said Progressive values he issued the challenge , "If you disagree with that prove me wrong !".....knowing full well that he allows ZERO dissent/opposition on his show , thereby giving no one the chance to prove him wrong in the very forum in which he shat .  Even Limbaugh and Hannity allow some dissenters on their shows . Doberman is like that kid in school who only tough talked whenever he was standing behind his Mom .   

 Thank you , Independents !

[BungalowBill7]

Martha and the Muff-it's greatest hits :
 
"Something's telling me I must go home.
And the lights all went out in Massachusetts
The day I left her standing on her own."

"Hold your hand out you silly girl see what you've done
When you find yourself in the thick of it
Help yourself to a bit of what is all around you
Silly girl."

"Scott Brown's Chevy is a-moulderin' in the grave "

[BungalowBill7]

Jon Stewart takes on Keith Doberman . Never will you be able to watch a Doberman Special Comment rant again without thinking of Stewart !
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5l2Zy3FFmo

[harrisonjon]

Debra Medina has thrown her career on the bonfire.

[BungalowBill7]

I can smell it burning ......hopefully that's John Mayer's I smell burning with it . His RS interview showed he was an asshole . His Playboy interview was what comes out one . 

[jonP]

Say goodbye to true liberty in the once great nation known as America. With total faith in GOVERNMENT and not CHOICE, I feel we have forfeited our soul to poor mediocrity. I hope all of our liberal friends will someday understand, acknowledge, and regret their support for beuracracy and not reality. As it is, this is a sad day for freedom, for once America goes what is left, England? Hah! 

[Old School Swamp Pirate]

http://www.aolnews.com/healthcare/article/rep-jason-altmire-decides-to-vote-no-on-health-care-bill/19407311?icid=main|main|dl1|link4|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolnews.com%2Fhealthcare%2Farticle%2Frep-jason-altmire-decides-to-vote-no-on-health-care-bill%2F19407311

WASHINGTON (March 19) -- "Make that a "no."

Rep. Jason Altmire, one of the last remaining undecideds on the health care reform bill, made clear Friday afternoon that he will vote against the legislation championed by his Democratic Party leadership because constituents back home in western Pennsylvania oppose it.

Altmire has been the subject of intense scrutiny as one of 39 conservative Blue Dog Democrats who voted against the bill in November. Party leaders have been trying to persuade them to switch their votes on Sunday when the measure goes to the House floor.

Earlier this week, in an interview with AOL News, Altmire said it would be "a disservice" to his district not to hear from as many constituents about the bill as possible. "There's definitely a tilt in opposition to the bill," he said. "If that continues this week, that's going to play a major role in my decision."

But on Friday, he said it was clear that the "vast majority" of his district opposes the bill.

"I ran for Congress in large part because I believe we need to find a way to bring down the cost of health care. I also ran for Congress with a simple promise: I would do my best to represent my district and to give western Pennsylvania a voice in Washington, not the other way around," he said in a statement posted on his Web site.

Altmire said that after a year of debate on health care, lawmakers had produced a measure "that I cannot support."

"The cost of inaction on health care is great, but it would be an even bigger mistake to pass a bill that could compound the problem of skyrocketing health care costs," he said.

"Simply moving money around within the existing system, rather than enacting real delivery-system reform, might change who pays the bill, but it does not improve the quality of care or reduce costs for families, small businesses or the federal government. It creates a system of winners and losers, rather than reforming the system in a way that lets everyone win."

Altmire said he knew his decision would disappoint some, but "the vast majority" of his constituents were against the bill.

"The politically easy vote would have been to vote with my party," he said. "But I was not sent to Congress to take the easy way out or to vote the way they want me to vote in Washington. I was elected to represent my district and give western Pennsylvania a voice in Congress."

---------------------------

This guy gets it.  The goal here shouldn't be just to 'pass a bill.'  The goal here should be to fix the system.  The abomination of a bill that's in Congress right now doesn't cut it.  It's a half-assed measure built on pork and political favors.  The current health bill (I won't call it reform because it's not even close) represents everything that it wrong with our current political system.

The fact that the Democrats refuse to acknowledge that some measure of tort reform has to be a part of this process confirms that they are just as much of the problem as the Republicans are.