What I Did Over Summer Vacation…

The  House is gone, the Senate sets out for the hinterlands the end of this week, and and now the great unwashed get to put their two cents in about the great health care debate.  One problem, though.  The process has been hijacked by gangs- literally, gangs, of marauding fringe right wing thugs funded primarily by lobbying groups in D.C. to disrupt the town hall process and make it appear that America is really upset about “Government hijacking my health care.”  I’m reminded of the thugs hired by big industry back in the thirties and forties to bust the heads of the union organizers and workers picketing for a fair wage and a safe workplace. Yes, there really was a time when unions weren’t as corrupt as the companies they were originally designed to watch over. And, yes, big business really did bust their skulls wide open to clear a path for the scab workers they brought in to replace the regular joes who only wanted to work for a living. 

Well, they’re back.  Only this time, they’re not quite as violent, but they’re still being funded by American big business to bamboozle the workers- this time, it’s to swindle them out of their last chance for meaningful change to the severely broken health “care” system.  They show up at town halls, shout down meaningful discourse, and misrepresent the public mood. 

We’d better put our collective heads together and figure this out before it gets out of control. I’m tired of the right always controlling the message.

Cuckoo Bananas Time

It seems the arguments that really drive the health care debate are the ones way out on the periphary.  Witness one Betsy McCaughey, former Lt. Governor of New York (which proves the state of New York is comprised of more than just New York City), and one of the primary opponents of Hillary Care in 1993. 

As stated by ThinkProgress.org,  “Ideology may not be the only factor driving Betsy McCaughey’s propaganda campaign against two health care provisions in the stimulus bill.  As Health Care Renewal points out, ‘not noted in Betsy McCaughey’s op-ed article was that she is currently on the board of directors of Cantel Medical, a device company, and formerly on the board of Genta, a biotechnology company.’ In fact, according to a Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership Securities from the Securities and Exchange Commission, McCaughey received 750 Shares of stock options just days before writing the Bloomberg op-ed. Then, the total worth of the shares was approximately $11,250.”

Now, she’s dreamt up a story so crazy that it’s difficult to believe any sane person would take it seriously, which is why it’s spreading like wildfire among Dittoheads, Hannityites and O’Reilly drones:  hidden in the health care reform bill is a mandate for euthanasia for our seniors!  That’s right- support for the bill means you support putting Granny to death!  Never mind that the bill’s misinterpreted section only provides for funding for end of life counseling- that means your counseling session to determine whether you would like your DNR altered, cancelled or extended is paid for- it’s really all about the right wing noise machine and dirty little corporate whores like McCaughey, John Boehner, and the rest of the Republican Party and their uncanny ability to spin the message.  Yay Fear!

Remember- facts have a well known progressive bias.

A Glimmer of Hope…

Word from the bizarro world inside the beltway is the progressives in the Democratic Party finally took their balls out of their collective pockets and figured out what they’re for.  After a completely watered down compromise on the health care bill was agreed to yesterday,  the progressives are today drawing a line in the sand.  Forget that 72-78% of the nation wants a strong public option- forget that the reason support for the President’s health care plans is slipping is really because the plan is getting weaker- forget the Republicans’ cries of a secret euthanasia provision hidden in the folds of the bill- the most important news coming out of Washington yesterday is the pulse- weak, maybe- but the promising hint of a pulse from the progressive wing of the Dems.  

For those who ever thought this fight would be short, or easy, I encourage you to go back in time to your elementary school days, and watch Schoolhouse Rock’s “I’m Just a Bill.”    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dVo3nbLYC0

Truly an informative piece of work.

Are you kidding?

Is this how it’s really going to play out? After the campaign to kick off the 2009 health care battle began with a blustery fire and brimstone burst of high-minded rhetoric, we’re going to fold up the tents and retreat from the battlefield claiming victory,  waving a white flag at half mast as we dash toward our home districts for the August break ?

And are you really going to try to pin the blame on the Republicans? Yes, I know they are a bunch of obstructionist pricks, and yes, they more often behave like a group of extras from a D.W. Griffith movie than elected officials entrusted with representing ALL their constituents, but you have to admire the way they don’t form a circular firing squad when they pick a fight.

I am so fucking sick of Blue Dog  Elephant Democrats, and I am so sick of trying not to get sick until we get a decent health care plan, and now I have come to the conclusion that the only way I’ll be able to obtain health care is to go on Arizona’s public program.  My family actually brings home about 50k a year, and that still isn’t enough to afford health insurance. 

I don’t know if Barry Crimmins was the first one to say it, but he sure said it eloquently:  “Whoever introduced the  profit motive to health care is an evil, evil man.”  Even in a capitalist system, some things are off limits.  Health care is one of them.