Wednesday, September 30, 2009

5 National Stories to Read

Round-ups

This is our regular feature where every day I do a post with the top 5 Florida political stories that people are talking about. Each story will include a link to a summary of the story, my brief comment and links to other blogs talking about the story.

1. Attacks continue on ACORN, are traceable back to Karl Rove: Obviously Republicans would hate any organization that helps poor people vote.

Additional reading:

Broward's Blog: A Brief History of ACORN

Smooth Like Remy: More ACORN Bullshit

2. Income gap in U.S. at an all-time high: Sooner or later a Democrat is going to come along and make this kind of thing a big issue and she or he will win big.

3. The public option is in trouble in the Senate: Although there is a long way to go.

Additional reading:

FLA Politics: Nelson's Public Option Votes

Chris Bowers: Bill Nelson, Tom Carper Support Schumer "Level Playing Field" Public Option

Broward's Blog: Nelson votes against public option amendment in Finance Committee

Seminole County Democrats: Bill Nelson, you're a wimp.

Miami-Dade Dems: Thank you, Bill Nelson! A vote for the public option

Discourse.net: Florida's Senator Nelson Votes Against the Full Public Option

Pushing Rope: Why the Public Option Failed in the Senate

Pushing Rope: Max Baucus's Faulty 60 Vote Logical

Reid Report: Bill Nelson votes against the Rockefeller public option, will support Schumer’s version

Smooth Like Remy: My List-Updated

4. Some people are defending convicted rapist Roman Polanski: Just plain wrong on every level.

Additional reading:

Sunshine Statements: Polanski, Supporters and L.A. Justice System Are All Guilty

litbrit: Today in Things that make me feel sick

Melissa McEwan: Winner: Stupid Things Said About Polanski Today Contest

Melissa McEwan: More Free Roman Signatories

Atrios: I Did Not Mean To Become A Polanski Blogger

Deeky: Taking Her Side

Rook: Help Me Understand The Benefit

Melissa McEwan: Hollywood "Liberals" Sign Free Polanski Petition

5. Alan Grayson says the Republican health care plan is 'don't sick and if you do, die quickly.': I wonder how much of this is attributable to Matt Stoller.

Additional reading:

Smooth Like Remy: Alan Grayson FTMFW!!! (Again)

Bark Bark Woof Woof: Death Count

Blast Off!: Grayson apologizes

Discourse.net: Rep. Grayson Attacks GOP "Health Plan"

Radio or Not: A Democrat With A Spine!

Blast Off!: Good for Grayson

Smooth Like Remy: Eff Your Apology!

South Florida Daily Blog: The Republican Health Care Plan In 3 Minutes

Why Now?: Another Spine On Display

BarbinMD: Grayson: "I would like to apologize to the dead"

Adam Bink: Alan Grayson's Refusal

Joe Sudbay: Rep. Grayson's excellent speech on GOP health care plan upset the Republicans and George Stephanopoulos

Faiz Shakir: Grayson stands by criticism of Republican plan: ‘I would like to apologize to the dead.’

Howie Klein: Alan Grayson's Candor & Honesty Irks GOP Obstructionists... Again

Jon Ponder: Dem Rep. Under Attack for Describing GOP Health ‘Plan’: Don’t Get Sick, Or Die Quickly’

Chris Bowers: Defend Alan Grayson

BarbinMD: Suddenly, The Republicans Have Time

Amanda Terkel: VIDEO FLASHBACK: GOP Lawmakers Repeatedly Said Americans Would ‘Die’ Under Democratic Health Plans

SusanG: An overview of mean-spirited, partisan statements

Autumn Sandeen: Congressman Alan Grayson: Republicans Want "You To Die"

Jerome Armstrong: Grayson on Republicans Healthcare plan

Igor: Grayson’s Right: Under The Republican Plan, ‘Don’t Get Sick’ (Or You Might Have To ‘Die Quickly’)

Joe Sudbay: Rep. Grayson (D-FL) unveils the GOP health care plan

Adam Green: Grayson kicks ass on CNN's Situation Room

Joe Sudbay: Grayson's blockbuster appearance on CNN: "Democrats have to have guts"

Catalog of Hate for 9.30

9.30.09: John Derbyshire: "Among the hopes that I do not realistically nurse is the hope that female suffrage will be repealed. But I’ll say this – if it were to be, I wouldn’t lose a minute’s sleep."

9.30.09: Michael Steele: Says Thomas Friedman is a "nut job" for his concerns over psychotic rhetoric from the right

9.30.09: Newsmax: Said the Newsmax blogger who advocated a coup against Obama wasn't really advocating a coup against Obama. And he used to be a Democrat.

9.30.09: John Perry: "Military intervention is what Obama’s exponentially accelerating agenda for 'fundamental change' toward a Marxist state is inviting upon America. A coup is not an ideal option, but Obama’s radical ideal is not acceptable or reversible."

9.30.09: Michael Steele: Dismisses threats against Obama

9.30.09: All kinds of crazy people: Obama has received more than 400 percent more threats than George W. Bush

9.30.09: ConservativeHQ.com Readers: 95% voted to say that Obama was a socialist

9.30.09: Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, RedState.com: Said that Obama calling for kids to spend more time in school was a grab for more indoctrination of kids

9.30.09: 11th Grader from Haines City: Says Obama is a socialist

9.30.09: W. Cleon Skousen: Said slave owners were the worst victims of the system and that slaves couldn't work fast.

9.30.09: Dick Armey: Says Democrats will use an "outbreak" of swine flu to push through health care reform.

9.30.09: Jim Quinn: Told armed service members to "run for your life, get out," because Obama "is gonna get you killed."

Conniving and Sinister

From Shakesville:

Conniving and Sinister cartoon

Daily Humor

Today's reason to laugh...

(202) 224-4623 Call David Vitter With Your Questions About Prostitution

Jon Kyl Lies About Health Care



(via Smooth Like Remy)

Grayson on the Attack

Alan Grayson on the GOP Health Care Plan: "Don't Get Sick! And if You Do Get Sick, Die Quickly!"':



Rep. Alan Grayson: "I apologize to the dead and their families":



Rep. Alan Grayson on the Situation Room:



Hilarious "response" website from the Republicans

REPUBLICAN HEALTH CARE SOLUTIONS!!!

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Ammunition

Round-ups

The latest links to the information you need to counter right-wing spin...

The IPCC did not reverse themselves on global warming, they still say the evidence shows it is happening and humans caused it

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are not suppressing the free speech rights of Humana

The Arctic ecology provides strong evidence for global warming

Some of the right-wing "protests" are stage-managed by Fox

Cap and trade won't cost the average American family 15% more in taxes

Mark Lloyd is not working on the Fairness Doctrine

Teen birth rates higher in religious conservative states

George W. Bush had more czars than Barack Obama did

Conservative states are more likely to take more federal money than they contribute in taxes

Important Reading

Round-ups

Good stuff you all should read from bloggers around the country...

Mike Lux: Pragmatic Choices for a Democratic Party

Lucky White Girl: You can't support a just cause through an unjust war: Why the U.S. should get out of Afghanistan

Adam Bink: An Interconnected Movement

Paul Rosenberg: Why The Congrssional Dems' Attack On ACORN Is An Attack On Us All

John Emerson: How the Democratic Party Works, and Doesn't Work

Adam Bink: State vs. Federal Approaches to LGBT Equality

Democratic Strategist: TDS Strategy Memo – Part III -- Dems must develop local activities that can evolve into enduring local community social and cultural institutions.

Democratic Strategist: TDS Strategy Memo – Part II -- Dems must develop a deeply committed and highly organized group of volunteers specifically dedicated to representing and advocating a core message.

Paul Rosenberg: Why Obama Lies About Race

Paul Rosenberg: The One Percent Economy--Part Two: The Why

Daily Humor

Billionaires for Wealthcare:

The Obama Plan in 4 Minutes

Rep. Rick Kriseman's speech to the Agency on Bay Management regarding drilling in the Gulf of Mexico

Hard to top this Kriseman takedown of the 'drill, baby, drill' propaganda:

President's Weekly Address

Progress with the G-20 in Pittsburgh:

Friday, September 25, 2009

Good Castor

Kathy Castor (D-FL) Fights to Extend Ryan White Program:

Important Reading

Round-ups

Good stuff you all should read from bloggers around the country...

Democratic Strategist: WATCH OUT DEMOCRATS: the success of the conservative undercover “sting” operation against ACORN is going to unleash a wave of copycat attacks. Common sense can prevent them from succeeding.

AMERICAblog: Stimulus forever?

Open Left: The Great Man Theory of Political Operatives

The Campaign Manager: Your most important investment

Ammunition

Round-ups

The latest links to the information you need to counter right-wing spin...

The U.S. made a profit on the Citigroup bailout

George H.W. Bush announced his education plan to students in the classrooms, too

The stimulus is demonstrably boosting the economy

The stronger the public option, the more money saved

The NEA didn't break the law

"Socialism" saved Wall Street

Study links 45,000 U.S. deaths to lack of insurance

Having your state run by Democrats leads to higher income

Bill Ayers didn't help Obama write his book

Iowans say gay marriage hasn't had a negative effect on their lives

ACORN, the organization, didn't actually do anything wrong

Resources

Round-ups

Links you can use...

Maplight Launches "Money Near Votes"

The Consumerist

Analyze the U.S.

SmearBuster

Conniving and Sinister

From Shakesville:

cartoon

5 National Stories to Read

Round-ups

This is our regular feature where every day I do a post with the top 5 Florida political stories that people are talking about. Each story will include a link to a summary of the story, my brief comment and links to other blogs talking about the story.

1. Bill Nelson starting to warm to the public option.

2. Strategic Vision might be engaging in fraud: Not really surprised, but I don't remember them being all that accurate anyway.

3. Iran has been cheating on its nuke program: Glad we have a Democrat in the White House so we can deal with this in a realistic fashion.

4. Lynn Westmoreland of Ga. says that Alan Grayson and Suzanne Kosmas are going to be taken out by the GOP: Westmoreland is most well-known for being batshit crazy.

5. Only a few more days to vote in the Netroots Awards: They close on 9/29.

Additional reading:

Miami-Dade Dems: Vote for the Netroots awards

Blast Off!: Reminder: Florida Netroots Awards voting continues

Ybor City Stogie: Vote: 2009 Florida Netroots Awards

Daily Humor

Today's reason to laugh...

Update Thursday: President Obam and Governor Patterson

Quote of the Day

From Shakesville:


I had a dream the other night that I met Hillary Clinton. I asked her, "What can I do?" And she told me, "Everything you can."

National Winner/Loser of the Day for 9/25

Loser: Alan Grayson -- Going on crazyman Alex Jones's radio show? What is he thinking?

Winner: Alan Grayson -- Other than the Alex Jones thing, I still really love Grayson

50 Helpful Facts to Use When Talking to Opponents of Health Insurance Reform

The Rapidly Rising Number of Uninsured and Underinsured

46.3 Million Americans Have No Health Insurance. “Nationwide, the number of uninsured has increased from 39.8 million in 2001 to 46.3 million in 2008.” [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Press Release, 9/16/09]

25 Million Americans Are 'Underinsured.’ “The number of underinsured U.S. adults -- people who have health coverage but are not adequately protected from high medical expenses -- has risen dramatically. A Commonwealth Fund study published by the journal Health Affairs in June finds that as of 2007, there were an estimated 25 million underinsured adults in the U.S., 60 percent more than the 16 million who were underinsured in 2003.” [CommonwealthFund.org, 7/28/08; Accessed, 9/16/09]

14,000 Americans are Losing Their Coverage Each Day. “Even when the economy was growing, 46 million people in America did not have any health insurance. Since the recession began, an estimated 4 million additional Americans have lost their health insurance and 2 million have become uninsured. The recent turmoil in the job market is likely increasing the number of uninsured at the rate of 14,000 a day.” [Center for American Progress, February 19, 2009]

A full one in six Americans with employer-sponsored insurance in 2006 lost that coverage by 2008. If this trend continues, one in six Americans with employer coverage today will lose their job-based health insurance over the next two years. [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report, “Insurance Insecurity: Families Are Losing Employer-Sponsored Insurance Coverage,” accessed, 9/16/09]

Half of all Americans Will Lose Their Health Coverage Sometime in the Next 10 Years. “A new report from the Treasury Department shows that about half of all Americans under age 65 will lose their health coverage at some point over the next ten years. The report also found that more than one-third of Americans will go without coverage for longer than one year.” [Treasury Department, 9/20/09]

More than half of the uninsured—26 million Americans—are small-business owners, employees, or their dependents. Small businesses pay higher premiums than their larger counterparts, and many cannot afford to offer coverage as a result. Among firms with 3 to 9 workers, fewer than half are able to offer health benefits to their workers. [Families USA, July 2009]
Fewer Small Businesses Are Offering Insurance: “From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of non-elderly Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66% to 61%. Much of this decline stems from small business. The percentage of small businesses offering coverage dropped from 68% to 59%, while large firms held stable at 99%.” [U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, “Helping the Bottom Line: Health Reform and Small Business,” accessed 9/17/09]

About 10% of small businesses are considering eliminating coverage over the next year, up from 3% in 2005, according to a recent survey by National Small Business Association. [Wall Street Journal, May 26, 2009]

A full 32 percent of working age adults and their families had a gap in health insurance coverage for at least one month in 2006 and 2007. [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report, “Insurance Insecurity: Families Are Losing Employer-Sponsored Insurance Coverage,” Accessed, 9/16/09]

And an estimated 87 million people were uninsured at some point during 2007 and 2008. [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report, “Insurance Insecurity: Families Are Losing Employer-Sponsored Insurance Coverage,” Accessed, 9/16/09]

Exploding Health Care Costs

The Average Family Premium Is $13,375, Up 131% Since 1999. “In 2009, the average annual premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance are $4,824 for single coverage and $13,375 for family coverage. Premiums for family coverage are 5% higher than last year ($12,680)…Since 1999, average premiums for family coverage have increased 131%.” [Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 2009, 9/15/09]

Health Care Premiums Cost $1,100 More for the Insured Because of Cost Shifting from the Uninsured. “The Center for American Progress has updated a 2005 analysis by Kenneth Thorpe for Families USA and found that, on average, 8 percent of families’ 2009 health care premiums—approximately $1,100 a year—is due to our broken system that fails to cover the uninsured…The uninsured pay more for care—and get less—than those with insurance. But when the uninsured cannot pay, health care providers shift those costs to those who can pay—those who have insurance coverage. This leads to higher premiums for those who buy their insurance on the individual market, as well as workers who get insurance for themselves and their families through their job.” [Center for American Progress Action Fund report, “The Cost Shift from the Uninsured,” 3/24/09]

Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have nearly doubled since 2000, a rate three times faster than wages. [Kaiser Family Foundation; Employer Health Benefits Survey 2008.]

Average family deductible increased 30 percent in just two years. “A deductible is the amount of money a person must pay out of his or her own pocket before health insurance begins to cover the cost of medical expenses. Deductibles have risen substantially over time. For preferred provider organization (PPO) plans purchased through an employer, the average family deductible increased 30 percent in just two years, from $1,034 to $1,344. This effect is more pronounced for small firms, where PPO deductibles increased from $1,439 to $2,367 — a rise of 64 percent.” [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Hidden Costs of Health Care Report: Why Americans Are Paying More But Getting Less,” accessed 9/24/09]

Families Will Be Paying 1/3 of their Income on Health Care Without Reform. “A new report from the Center for American Progress shows that without reform, health care costs will eat up fully one-third of the average family’s income by 2019 – equivalent to a second rent or mortgage payment every month for many families.” [“Family Health Spending to Rise Rapidly,” Center for American Progress, 9/15/09]

Without significant marketplace reforms, if current trends continue, annual health care costs for employers will rise 166 percent over the next decade, from $10,743 per employee today to $28,530 by 2019. [Health Care Reform: The Perils of Inaction and the Promise of Effective Action; A Report to Business Roundtable by Hewitt Associates LLC; September 2009]

If nothing changes, by 2019, total health care spending will reach $4.4 trillion, consuming more than 20 percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product. [Health Care Reform: The Perils of Inaction and the Promise of Effective Action; A Report to Business Roundtable by Hewitt Associates LLC; September 2009]

72 million, or 41 percent, of nonelderly adults have accumulated medical debt or had difficulty paying medical bills in the past year. “In fact, one recent survey estimated that 72 million, or 41 percent, of nonelderly adults have accumulated medical debt or had difficulty paying medical bills in the past year. A full 61 percent of those with difficulty had insurance.” [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report, “Insurance Insecurity: Families Are Losing Employer-Sponsored Insurance Coverage,” accessed, 9/16/09]

Nearly three-quarters of Americans who tried to buy health coverage in this market never actually purchased a plan. “Over the last three years, nearly three-quarters of people who tried to buy coverage in this market never actually purchased a plan, either because they could not find one that fit their needs or that they could afford, or because they were turned down due to a preexisting condition.” [The Commonwealth Fund; “Failure to Protect: Why the Individual Insurance Market Is Not a Viable Option for Most U.S. Families,” July 2009]

The Average American Spends About $7500 a year on Health Care. “Health spending in the United States averaged $7,421 per person in 2007, totaling $2.2 trillion, or 16.2% of our nation's economy, up from 7.2% of GDP in 1970 and 12.3% of GDP in 1990.” [Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Office of the Actuary]

Employers Are Spending 131% More On Health Insurance To Cover Their Employees. “Since 1999, family premiums for employer-sponsored insurance have increased 131 percent, while wages have gone up 38 percent and inflation has gone up 28 percent.” [Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 1999-2009]

Per Capita Health Spending Has Increased Faster Than The Consumer Price Index. “Over the past 25 years, annual increases in national health spending per capita have exceeded increases in the Consumer Price Index, most recently 5.1% vs. 2.8% in 2007.” [Kaiser Family Foundation calculations using NHE data from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Office of the Actuary, National Health Statistics Group]

The United States Spend Much More on Health Care Coverage Per Person Than Any Other Country. “The U.S. spends substantially more per capita on health care than other developed countries. ($6,567 in the U.S. in 2006 compared to, for example, $4,311 in Switzerland, $4,223 in Luxembourg, $3,505 in Canada, $3,353 in France, $3,247 in Germany, in current health expenditures).” [Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development]

One-Third of all Young Adults Report Problems with Paying Medical Bills. “A lack of adequate coverage also can have devastating consequences for people just starting their financial independence. In a recent survey, more than one-third of all young adults (with or without health insurance) reported problems with paying medical bills, including having trouble making payments, being contacted by a collection agency, or significantly changing their way of life in order to make payments. One in four young adults reported medical debt. This problem is significantly worse for those without insurance. Nearly half of uninsured young adults (49 percent) reported problems with medical bills, and nearly 40 percent carried medical debt. [Young Americans and Health Insurance Reform: Giving Young Americans the Security and Stability They Need; U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, accessed 9/22/09]

A 2008 survey found that one in four adults responded that they had passed up another job opportunity, stayed at a job they would have quit, or declined to retire early in order to retain employer-provided health insurance. [Health Care Reform: The Perils of Inaction and the Promise of Effective Action; A Report to Business Roundtable by Hewitt Associates LLC; September 2009]

Between 2000 and 2008, the percentage of firms offering health insurance coverage to their employees declined from 69 to 63; for firms employing less than 10 workers, the decline was even greater – from 57 to 49 percent. [“Insurance Insecurity: Families Are Losing Employer-Sponsored Insurance Coverage;” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, accessed 9/22/09]
Between 2001 and 2005, employers dropping dependent coverage accounted for 11 percent of the decline in employer-sponsored insurance overall. [Insurance Insecurity: Families Are Losing Employer-Sponsored Insurance Coverage; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, accessed 9/22/09]

A family that buys insurance on the individual market pays nearly 60 percent more in out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles and co-payments than a family that gets insurance through work. [Insurance Insecurity: Families Are Losing Employer-Sponsored Insurance Coverage; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, accessed 9/22/09

The Consequences of Doing Nothing: Tens of Thousands Die Each Year Due to Lack of Health Insurance

137,000 Americans Died From 2000 through 2006 Because They Did Not Have Health Insurance. “In 2002, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) estimated that 18,000 Americans died in 2000 because they were uninsured. Since then, the number of uninsured has grown. Based on the IOM’s methodology and subsequent Census Bureau estimates of insurance coverage, 137,000 people died from 2000 through 2006 because they lacked health insurance, including 22,000 people in 2006,” according to a January 2008 report from The Urban Institute, “Uninsured and Dying Because of It: Updating the Institute of Medicine Analysis on the Impact of Uninsurance on Mortality.” [The Urban Institute, January 2008]

The Consequences of Doing Nothing: Bankrupt Families

Almost two-thirds of all U.S. bankruptcies are from medical bills. “In 2007, medical problems and expenses contributed to nearly two-thirds of all bankruptcies in the United States, a jump of nearly 50 percent from 2001…Most of those bankrupted by medical problems were "solidly middle class" before they suffered financial disaster -- two-thirds were homeowners and three-fifths had gone to college.” Even those with health insurance had to declare bankruptcy after racking up $17,749 in bills. [American Journal of Medicine, 6/4/09]

Every 90 seconds another family files for bankruptcy due to medical bills. “In 2007, before the current economic downturn, an American family filed for bankruptcy in the aftermath of illness every 90 seconds.” [American Journal of Medicine, 6/4/09]

The Consequences of Doing Nothing: Millions of Americans Avoiding the Care They Need

The results of a recent study showed that two-thirds of the uninsured (68 percent) go without needed care – including seeing a doctor when sick, filling prescriptions, and following up on recommended tests or treatment – and 51 percent of the uninsured report difficulty paying bills, being contacted by collection agencies for unpaid bills, or changing their way of life to pay medical bills. [“Insurance Insecurity: Families Are Losing Employer-Sponsored Insurance Coverage;” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, accessed 9/22/09]

U.S. Health System Ranked # 37 in the World Despite Spending a Higher Portion of GDP Than Any Other Country

"The U. S. health system spends a higher portion of its gross domestic product than any other country but ranks 37 out of 191 countries according to its performance,” according to the June 21, 2000 report “The World Health Report 2000 – Health systems: Improving performance” by the World Health Organization. The same report ranked Costa Rica’s health system #36 and Slovenia’s health system #38. France’s health system was ranked #1. As geographic.org notes, “The World Health Organization's ranking of the world's health systems was last produced in 2000, and the WHO no longer produces such a ranking table, because of the complexity of the task.” [World Health Organization press release, June 21, 2000]

Health Care Costs Doubled From 1996 to 2006, and are Projected to Rise to 25 percent of GDP in 2025. [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report, “Insurance Insecurity: Families Are Losing Employer-Sponsored Insurance Coverage;” HealthReform.gov, accessed 9/16/09]

Health spending in the United States averaged $7,421 per person in 2007, totaling $2.2 trillion, or 16.2% of our nation's economy, up from 7.2% of GDP in 1970 and 12.3% of GDP in 1990. [Kaiser Family Foundation, accessed 9/16/09]

Over the past 25 years, annual increases in national health spending per capita have exceeded increases in the Consumer Price Index, most recently 5.1% vs. 2.8% in 2007. [Kaiser Family Foundation, accessed 9/16/09]

Astronomical Insurance Industry Profits and What They’re Spending to Protect Them

For the five top-earning insurance companies in 2008, average profits were $1.56 Billion; That year, CEO compensation for these companies ranged from $3 million to $24 million. [Families USA, July 2009]

Health Insurance Company CEOs Total Compensation in 2008:
Aetna, Ronald A. Williams: $24,300,112
Cigna, H. Edward Hanway: $12,236,740
Coventry, Dale Wolf: $9,047,469
Health Net, Jay Gellert: $4,425,355
Humana, Michael McCallister: $4,764,309
U. Health Group, Stephen J. Hemsley: $3,241,042
Wellpoint, Angela Braly: $9,844,212


Is It Any Wonder Insurance and HMO Industries Spend Nearly $700,000 Per Day to Kill Health Care Reform Measures; Industries have spent $585.7 million since 2007 on lobbying and campaign contributions. An analysis of insurance and HMO political contributions and lobbying expenses by campaign finance watchdog Public Campaign Action Fund “found the industries spent $126,430,438 over the first half of 2009 and $585,725,712 over the past two and a half years to influence public policy and elected officials. The analysis also “found that in the first part of 2009, the industries were spending money at nearly a $700,000 a day clip to influence the political process and that the monthly pace of political spending this year has increased by nearly $400,000 over the average spent per month in the previous two years.” [Public Campaign Action Fund, press release, 9/15/09]

Negligible Competition in the Private Insurance Market = Higher and Premiums

94% of All Markets Have A Near Monopoly When It Comes to Individual Insurers. “The American Medical Association reports that 94 percent of insurance markets in the United States are now highly concentrated. Shrinking competition among health insurance companies is a major cause of these spiraling costs. In the past 13 years more than 400 corporate mergers have involved health insurers, and a small number of companies now dominate local markets…Contrary to industry assertions, these mergers have undermined market efficiency; premiums have skyrocketed, increasing more than 87 percent, on average, over the past six years.” [American Medical Association, 2008]

Outrageous Insurance Industry Practices

In 45 states, insurance companies can discriminate against people based on their pre-existing conditions when they try to purchase health insurance directly from insurance companies in the individual insurance market. [Insurance Insecurity: Families Are Losing Employer-Sponsored Insurance Coverage; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, accessed 9/22/09]
12.6 Million Americans Seeking Insurance Were Discriminated Against In Last Three Years Because of a ‘Pre-existing Condition. “A recent national survey estimated that 12.6 million non-elderly adults24 – 36 percent of those who tried to purchase health insurance directly from an insurance company in the individual insurance market – were in fact discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition in the previous three years. Another study found that among those with a health problem trying to purchase insurance in the individual market, 70 percent found it difficult or impossible to find affordable coverage, and roughly half were turned down or discriminated against. [Insurance Insecurity: Families Are Losing Employer-Sponsored Insurance Coverage; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, accessed 9/22/09]

In eight states and D.C., it is still legal for insurers to reject a woman’s health insurance application if she is a victim of domestic violence. “The eight states that still allow it are Idaho, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota and Wyoming, according to a report by the National Women's Law Center.” [National Women’s Law Center, accessed 9/16/09; Huffington Post, 9/14/09]

20,000 Americans lost their health insurance in the last five years through a shady insurance industry practice called “rescission.” “When a person is diagnosed with an expensive condition such as cancer, some insurance companies review his/her initial health status questionnaire. In most states’ individual insurance market, insurance companies can retroactively cancel the entire policy if any condition was missed – even if the medical condition is unrelated, and even if the person was not aware of the condition at the time. Coverage can also be revoked for all members of a family, even if only one family member failed to disclose a medical condition. A recent Congressional investigation into this practice found nearly 20,000 rescissions from three large insurers over five years, saving them $300 million in medical claims – $300 million that instead had to come out of the pockets of people who thought they were insured, or became bad debt for health care providers.” [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report, “Coverage Denied: How the Current Health Insurance System Leaves Millions Behind; “Pre-Existing Conditions” Affect Millions of Americans,” HealthReform.gov, accessed 9/16/09]

During a 2007 investigation, California regulators uncovered more than 1,200 violations of the law by Anthem Blue Cross in regard to unfair rescission and claims processing practices. “In March 2007, the California Department of Managed Health Care fined Anthem Blue Cross $1 million after an investigation revealed that the insurer routinely canceled individual health policies of pregnant women and chronically ill patients. In order to drop individual policies, the insurer must show that the policyholder lied about their medical history or preexisting conditions on the application. As part of the state’s investigation, regulators randomly selected 90 cases where the insurer had dropped the policyholder. In every single one, investigators found the insurer had violated state law. During the investigation, California regulators uncovered more than 1,200 violations of the law by Anthem Blue Cross in regard to unfair rescission and claims processing practices.” [Americans Association for Justice, “Tricks of the Trade: How Insurance Companies Deny, Delay, Confuse and Refuse,” accessed 9/17/09]

In the past 18 months, California's five largest insurers paid almost $19 million in fines for marooning policyholders who had fallen ill. That includes a $1 million fine against Health Net, which admitted offering bonuses to employees for finding reasons to cancel policies. [Washington Post, September 8, 2009]

One in 10 People with Cancer Unable to Obtain Health Coverage; Six Percent Said They Lost Their Coverage. “In another survey, one in 10 people with cancer said they could not obtain health coverage, and six percent said they lost their coverage, because of being diagnosed with the disease.” [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report, “Coverage Denied: How the Current Health Insurance System Leaves Millions Behind; “Pre-Existing Conditions” Affect Millions of Americans,” HealthReform.gov, accessed 9/16/09]

California Insurers Deny 1-in-5 Medical Claims for Insured Patients, Even When Recommended by a Patient's Doctor: “More than one of every five requests for medical claims for insured patients, even when recommended by a patient's physician, are rejected by California's largest private insurers, amounting to very real death panels in practice daily in the nation's biggest state, according to data released Wednesday by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee.” [Press release, California Nurses Association, 9/2/2009]

In most states, insurers can reject women for coverage simply for having previously had a Cesarean section (C-section). “In most states, insurers are free to reject individuals applying for coverage in the individual market. Many women face such rejection at this underwriting stage of purchasing insurance for a wide range of reasons. For example, women have greater health needs than men and are more likely than men to suffer from a chronic condition requiring ongoing treatment, like asthma or arthritis. These conditions can lead to rejection of coverage. In addition, if during the medical underwriting process the insurer discovers that an applicant underwent a past C-section, the company may charge her a higher premium, impose an exclusionary period during which it refuses to cover another C-section or pregnancy, or even reject her for coverage altogether unless she has been sterilized or is no longer of childbearing age.” [National Women’s Law Center; Nowhere to Turn: How the Individual Health Insurance Market Fails Women, accessed, 9/17/09]

About 805,000 Californians have insurance policies that specifically exclude maternity coverage. “The number of individual health insurance policies that do not include maternity coverage has risen dramatically in recent years, prompting concern among consumers and a legislative effort to require California insurers to include the benefit. About 805,000 Californians have insurance policies that specifically exclude maternity coverage - a number that has more than quadrupled from 192,000 in 2004, according to the California Health Benefits Review Program, which provides independent analysis of proposed health insurance benefits mandates. Ben Singer, a spokesman for Anthem Blue Cross explained to the San Francisco Chronicle: "Having a child is a matter of choice.” [San Francisco Chronicle, March 24, 2009]

In 33 states, insurance companies are permitted to charge higher premiums based on age, gender, and health status. “In 33 states, insurance companies are permitted to charge higher premiums based on age, gender, and health status without any restrictions whatsoever. Younger women are often charged higher premiums than men during their reproductive years. Holding other factors constant, a 22-year-old woman can be charged one and a half times the premium of a 22-year-old man.” [Young Americans and Health Insurance Reform: Giving Young Americans the Security and Stability They Need; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, accessed 9/22/09]

Ø Women Pay Up to 48 Percent Higher Premiums Than Men. “NWLC found that among the plans examined, at age 25, women were charged between 6% and 45% more than men for individual market health plans; at 40-years-old, women’s monthly premiums ranged between 4% and 48% higher than men’s monthly premiums. [National Women’s Law Center; Nowhere to Turn: How the Individual Health Insurance Market Fails Women, accessed, 9/17/09]

Ø Premiums can vary as much as 11:1 based on a customer's age. “In some markets today, premiums can vary as much as 11:1 based on a customer's age. That means the oldest customer could pay as much as 11 times more than the youngest customer simply because of his or her age. [New America Foundation; The New Health Dialogue Blog, 9/2/09]

Support for Health Insurance Reform That Includes a Public Option

Three out of four physicians nationwide support inclusion of a public option as part of health insurance reform. “A Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) study published in Monday's New England Journal of Medicine shows that 63 percent of physicians support a health reform proposal that includes both a public option and traditional private insurance. If the additional 10 percent of doctors who support an entirely public health system are included, then approximately three out of four physicians nationwide support inclusion of a public option.” [Huffington Post, 9/14/09]

By a 62% to 28% margin, voters support a public option regardless of whether they watched the President Obama’s September 9th address to Congress. [Anzalone Liszt Research memo, 9/12/09]

By a 10-point margin, voters are more likely to re-elect a Member of Congress who votes for healthcare reform [Anzalone Liszt Research memo, 9/12/09]

Majority Of Business Leaders Support a Public Option. A survey, conducted by Anzalone Liszt Research in advance of President Obama's address to Congress, showed that 57% of business leaders believe health care reform should be an important government policy. They support key elements of a reform plan, including…requiring insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions (79%) and a public health option (51%). [CNBC.com, 9/11/09]

Additional Resources:

“Myths vs. Facts,” AARP: http://aarp.convio.net/site/PageNavigator/Myths_vs_Facts

“ HEALTH CARE MYTHS VS. REALITY,” ThinkProgress.org:
http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/hc-myth-vs-reality-v3.pdf

For more health insurance reform myth busting, please click here.

For more information on America’s Affordable Health Choices Act, please click here.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

LeMieux Betrays American Workers

Senator George LeMieux actively secured Mexican workers for mass construction projects, neglecting the many capable unemployed Americans, a slowed economy and H2-B guidelines.

Gunster Yoakley, a firm in which LeMieux is chairman, procured foreign workers to build the elaborate St. Regis hotel and condominiums in the Bal Harbour village, via the H2-B program. In accordance to H2-B, it is illegal to hire foreign workers when there are already Americans who are available in the field.

For Gunster Yoakely to take part in the program, they were required to apply to the State Department and the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI.) This is an Agency that directly reports to the Cabinet under governor Crist.

The AWI, before moving forward, must open a 10 day span to test the job market for potential American employees. This span was initiated on October 1st of 2008. The AWI didn't advertise for these new jobs until the 6th day, in the Miami Herald. On the tenth day at 9:16 am the 10-day bracket was closed, which permitted only a three day window for people to inquire.

The AWI also must contact any relevant local unions. And they did... on day 7. Still after 9:16 am on the 10th day, no more applications were accepted, leaving the union with a mere 2 days to send in applications. Under certified letter, applications from the union arrived to the AWI on the 10th day. On the 10th of October they were received after 9:16 am and therefore they were rejected as "too late."

The State Department approved the AWI's declaration that there weren't American workers for the job. In most cases The State Department puts forth minimal effort when addressing state agencies. The AWI was headed at the time by Monesia Brown who resigned during a scandal where 250,000 social security numbers were posted on the AWI website. Publicly, Moni Brown announced her resignation to focus on family.

Some of the visas that were approved by the State Department were meant for people either working in some type of management or who have special skills that were not found elsewhere. Reportedly, the workers that were brought to the site did not have any unique skills and their tools and techniques were described as outdated.

In January of 2009, foreign workers were hired from CYVSA International, a Mexican sheet metal firm. I would like to think that we didn't have about 2,000 unemployed sheet metal workers in Florida as it is. On the "upside" you could take advantage of these workers in ways Americans wouldn't put up with; it was also reported by CBS4 News they were underpaid and worked overtime without compensation.

Officials of Gunster Yoakely, George LeMieux and a spokeswoman for Governor Crist refused to comment or did not respond when questioned about their involvement in pressing for the approval of these visas. Gunster Yoakely's officials did not respond to questions highlighting other clients it might have represented on visa issues, nor the amount of visas they gained for foreign workers to be employed in the U.S.

LeMieux chaired a firm that may have illegally secured foreign sheet metal workers during an economic crisis, where unemployment in Florida is the highest it has been since the seventies. The situation should be investigated, that way we can prevent this type of corruption from harming people who could have been rescued from unemployment.

from Leaflet Descending

Video:

Part1


Part2

About Time

Charlie Crist is taking a well-deserved day off tomorrow:


GOVERNOR’S SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2009

NO SCHEDULED EVENTS


It's about time.

Daily Humor

You've probably seen this by now, but if you haven't...

Will Ferrell stands up for the real health care victims:

Nataline's Story

National Winner/Loser of the Day for 9/24

Winner: Public Option -- Looks like it'll definitely be in the House bill because of Rockefeller and Schumer.

Loser: Olympia Snowe -- Looks liker her "trigger" plan won't be going forward.

Florida Ed Boards Unimpressed With Crist Senate pick

Tampa Tribune Editorial: Crist sends friend to Washington

“In choosing his longtime political confidante and former chief of staff George LeMieux to fill Mel Martinez' seat in the U.S. Senate, Gov. Charlie Crist did what he usually does: what's best for Charlie.”

Orlando Sentinel Editorial: It's all about Mr. Crist

“It's also not hard to imagine Mr. LeMieux lending his ear to some interests more than others. An attorney, Mr. LeMieux's firm represents U.S. Sugar and Florida Power & Light, among other corporate clients. We hope he'll show better sense than extending them carte blanche… Floridians can thank Mr. Martinez for this state of affairs. For no good reason he quit on them. And they can thank Mr. Crist, who in his choice of Mr. LeMieux again placed his interests above theirs.”

Palm Beach Post Editorial: Charlie's cardboard cutout

“The honest thing would have been for Gov. Crist to appoint himself to Mel Martinez's former Senate seat. The governor's choice of his stunt double should fool no one…With Florida at its most fragile since World War II, it is infuriating to have a governor who so clearly places his future above the state's. His mind is in Washington, and his body should have followed.”

Florida Today Editorial: Crist’s alter ego

“He named his former campaign manager, chief of staff and best buddy George LeMieux to the job in a display of cronyism that put his own political ambition ahead of the best interests of Florida residents. LeMieux will arrive in the Senate as it debates issues with huge implications for our nation and state, with health care reform topping the list. But he’s never held elected office, is not versed on the issues and knows nothing about Capitol Hill. There is, however, one area where he’s an expert: Displaying absolute loyalty to Crist to the point of being his alter ego. Someone whose every Senate move will likely be orchestrated with Crist for the benefit of his own 2010 Senate campaign.”

St. Petersburg Times Editorial: Self-serving choice

“Crist's selection of George LeMieux, his former campaign manager and chief of staff, should come as no surprise. It's just one more disappointing decision by Crist in recent months that puts his self-interest in going to Washington above the best interests of Floridians…Like Martinez, who resigned after concluding his homesickness trumped his duty to the people of Florida, Crist has let his own personal ambition guide his judgment. How utterly disappointing for a man who likes to call himself the "People's Governor.”

Daily Humor

Troy Conrad of the Flamer Movement

Monday, September 21, 2009

FOX: Obama Called It Right

When President Obama appeared on five sunday talk shows, without an appearance with the Fox News Channel, a few critics decided that it was a display of weakness or that Obama was avoiding Americans. One was Fox Sunday host Chris Wallace, who stated on his show:

"Every president is thin-skinned but I wonder whether this administration, this White House has a particular problem with criticism. … Not talking about just us but just the attitude of this White House. Whatever happened to reaching out to all Americans?"

ThinkProgress reminds us that his own network made the decision not to broadcast Obama's Speech to Congress on Health Care last week. In light of that many are led to think it is the Fox Network that doesn't hold the interest of reaching out to all Americans.

Within the video Obama is criticized for his many appearances, citing how many interviews he has been doing and that they exceeded interviews compared to Clinton and Bush. Yet, in the same video he is condemned for not making an appearance on the Sunday show. Maybe Obama would have considered an interview with Chris Wallace if his show didn't have dead last ratings of all other Sunday News Shows.

These are the released comments from the white house in regards to the decision:
We figured Fox would rather show "So You Think You Can Dance"
than broadcast an honest discussion about health insurance reform.

Fox is an ideological outlet where the president has been interviewed before and will likely be interviewed again;
not that their whining particularly strengthens their case for participation any time soon.

Although Wallace describes Obama's decline to appear as petty and childish, he does not account the plethora of insignificant accusations made by the network's own hosts and anchors. The White house has ample reason behind their comment. Jon Scott, Anchor on Fox, spins into his interviews that Obama is to blame for the Bush-induced recession, explaining:

"I mean, you know, it’s been pretty obvious since about September that he was going to win this presidency. It’s not like he hasn’t had some amount of time to gear up and get ready for the job he’s got."


The President has also been labeled as a racist and compared to Hitler on the network from people like Hannity and Beck. With Beck's dipping loss of sponsors, that wasn't the only reaction to his consequential remarks and the significance of the channel's entirety.

From Leaflet Descending

Thursday, September 17, 2009

5 National Stories to Read

Round-ups

This is our regular feature where every day I do a post with the top 5 Florida political stories that people are talking about. Each story will include a link to a summary of the story, my brief comment and links to other blogs talking about the story.

1. Michael Steele, "Voicing opposition to the president’s policy proposals is not being a racist. It is being an American.... As an African American, I know what racism is and that is not racism.": Good straw man, Michael. No one said that opposing the president's policies was racist. We said that the ridiculous words and actions engaged in by many of those who oppose his policies are racist. Because many of them are.

2. Apparently the enforcement of immigration laws led to racial profiling: What a shocker. Race-based laws leading to racial discrimination.

3. The racist white man who beat up a black woman in front of her daughter? Out on bail: I guess we really are in a post-racial America.

4. LeMieux puts a hold on federal drilling bill: One of what, 2-3 good things the placeholder will do while in Washington?

Additional reading:

Pushing Rope: Lemieux Hold On Offshore Drilling

5. 2009 FDP Netroots Coalition Awards: Go vote. Now. Seriously.

National Winner/Loser of the Day for 9/17

Winner: Barack Obama -- scaling back the ludicrous missile defense program is awesome.

Loser: Rush Limbaugh -- calling for a return to segregated buses. He's not even trying to hide his racism any more.

A Healthcare Run Around


More from Leaflet at Leaflet Descending

Sexual Assault Prevention Tips Guaranteed to Work!

Original:


1. Don’t put drugs in people’s drinks in order to control their behavior.

2. When you see someone walking by themselves, leave them alone!

3. If you pull over to help someone with car problems, remember not to assault them!

4. NEVER open an unlocked door or window uninvited.

5. If you are in an elevator and someone else gets in, DON’T ASSAULT THEM!

6. Remember, people go to laundry to do their laundry, do not attempt to molest someone who is alone in a laundry room.

7. USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM! If you are not able to stop yourself from assaulting people, ask a friend to stay with you while you are in public.

8. Always be honest with people! Don’t pretend to be a caring friend in order to gain the trust of someone you want to assault. Consider telling them you plan to assault them. If you don’t communicate your intentions, the other person may take that as a sign that you do not plan to rape them.

9. Don’t forget: you can’t have sex with someone unless they are awake!

10. Carry a whistle! If you are worried you might assault someone “on accident” you can hand it to the person you are with, so they can blow it if you do.

And, ALWAYS REMEMBER: if you didn’t ask permission and then respect the answer the first time, you are commiting a crime- no matter how “into it” others appear to be.



(h/t Shakesville)

Glenn Beck: Dancing With The Czars

Virginia Organizing Project Executive Director Arrested at Anthem for Asking About Insurance Rates

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

5 National Stories to Read

Round-ups

This is our regular feature where every day I do a post with the top 5 Florida political stories that people are talking about. Each story will include a link to a summary of the story, my brief comment and links to other blogs talking about the story.

1. Insurance costs have increased 131% since 1999, but my premiums have gone up 300%: That about sums up the root of the problem, doesn't it? Insurance companies ARE the problem.

2. 35% of New Jersey conservatives think Obama is the anti-Christ and are willing to proclaim it: How many more keep it secret? And who thought to ask that particular question in a phone survey? And why are at least 35% of New Jersey conservatives fucking nuts?

3. Max Baucus releases his health care plan: What a joke. Now can we move on with a real plan?

Additional reading:

Nelson backs Baucus bill

4. Senate approves guns on trains: Bill Nelson votes yes. Why are so many politicians so cowed by the gun lobby that they vote in stupid shit like this so they don't run afoul of the NRA and its clones.

5. FDP Netroots Caucus Awards for 2009: If you haven't voted yet, you need to get to it.

Additional reading:

Ybor City Stogie: Vote: 2009 Florida Netroots Awards

Ybor City Stogie: Recognizing Florida Netroots: An Interview with Kenneth Quinnell

Blast Off!: Blast Off! garners seven nominations for Florida Netroots Awards

Why Now: 2009 Florida Netroots Awards

Leaflet Descending: Recognizing Florida Netroots: An Interview with Kenneth Quinnell

National Winner/Loser of the Day for 9/16

Winners: Alcee Hastings, Robert Wexler, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Kathy Castor and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen for co-sponsoring the Respect For Marriage Act.

Loser: Johnny Isakson -- calling for government funding to help rich people buy new homes.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

5 National Stories to Read

Round-ups

This is our regular feature where every day I do a post with the top 5 Florida political stories that people are talking about. Each story will include a link to a summary of the story, my brief comment and links to other blogs talking about the story.

1. David Vitter wants to privatize Medicaid: Privatization has a long history of failure and is one of the key conservative methods of killing government. Hopefully Vitter will be ignored, like he always should be.

2. Banks that recieved TARP funding engaged in racially discriminatory behavior: One day, when we get a black president, things like this will be done away with.

3. Bill Nelson votes to deny funding to ACORN: There is no reason Nelson should be caving to conservative fear-mongers. A vote like this wins him no votes and it is morally the wrong thing to do.

4. American health insurance kills real life Norma Rae: We need health care reform, including a public option. Now.

5. 2009 Netroots Awards Voting Open: In our efforts to obliterate the number of people who voted last year, lets break 150 votes tonight. Last count? 110.

Additional reading:

Smashed Frog: 2009 Netroots Activist of the Year

Re/Creating Tampa: Florida Netroots Awards

Ybor City Stogie: Vote: 2009 Florida Netroots Awards

The Spencerian: We're Not Giving the Microphone to Kanye

Reid Report: Support the Report! 2009 Florida Netroots Awards voting is now open!

Saturday, September 12, 2009

The Difference

For eight years, some liberals got a bit paranoid, thinking that Bush and the Republicans were going to do all kinds of bad things -- like invade countries based on false evidence, torture people, create secret prisons, deny habeus corpus, gut environmental protections, weaken workers' and consumers' rights, let entire American cities be destroyed, etc. Some liberals were paranoid that the president was going to do things like invade Iran or other things that never happened. But their paranoia was based on mountains of legitimate evidence. It was easy to believe that Bush would invade Iran, because he did invade Iraq -- on even weaker evidence than was available for Iraq. So while there was some paranoia, there were many reasons to be paranoid.

For eight months, many conservatives are just as paranoid, if not worse, thinking that Obama and the Democrats are going to do all kinds of bad things -- turn the country over to Muslims, turn the country into a simultaneous totalitarian Socialist/Communist/Nazi stronghold, take away all guns, put all conservatives in prison, ban conservatives from the airwaves, force everyone in America to have an abortion and to marry a gay person. All of this is based on...nothing. There is no evidence to back up any of the conservative claims about Obama and his agenda. In fact in ALL of these cases, there is evidence to the contrary of the conservative claims, yet they believe them like they were foretold in the Bible. There is more paranoia than we've seen in America in a long time, and there are no reasons for that paranoia.

The worst part about this for me, is that I'm seeing people that I used to respect, people that I may have disagreed with politically but they were always within the realm of legitimate debate, now I'm seeing these people defending things that no sane human being should defend. I can't figure it out, either. I doubt that these people were always crazy and just hiding it, only to reveal it now. What are the other explanations? Racism? Blind partisanship? I don't know. But it is certainly sad.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Obama's Indoctrination Speech to Schoolchildren

Jim Greer is a moron.

We Can't Afford To Wait

This one brought a tear to my eye, particularly in the wake of my father's passing because he couldn't get health care in the U.S.

This Makes Me Feel A Bit Better

Saturday, September 5, 2009

President's Weekly Address: Labor Day and Fair Rewards for Hard Work

Daily Humor

No politics, just funny...

A Brief Healthcare Interview with Leaflet

A savvy friend of mine asked me these questions for a student article. Given the subject I think it is fitting to share them with you:

1 What are your opinions on the Obama administration wanting to create a system where every citizen of U.S. has guaranteed health care?

Reforming healthcare is long overdue but there shouldn’t be compromise for something mediocre to appease Republicans in the senate. Right now Obama has an ambiguous stance as to whether or not he will stand strong behind a public option and veto anything “lukewarm." To implement, say a CO-OP system, would be waste of a bill when Republicans are inevitably going to vote against it, regardless.

2 In your opinion, do you think the government is trying to control the health insurance of citizens?

The government will regulate insurance, not control it. The people who are spoon feeding that government has an ambition to limit care unnecessarily want to extract words from their meaning and attach negative connotations to them. Words like “socialism." Those who are truly against socialist ideology should be protesting their fire department, not the new bill.

3 Do you think this will have a positive or negative effect on citizens in the future?

Put it into perspective on how Medicare was attacked at first. The opposition swore up and down that these programs like Medicare or Social Security were going to fail. My Dad just had quadruple bypass heart surgery. After the surgery he had an in-house nurse come check on him twice a week. His Medicare covered the entirety of his costs.

4 What do you think that Obama's true motives are behind this is?

To ask how I feel about Obama’s “true” motives is to suggest that I suspect some sort of underlying conspiracy. That’s the kind of paranoia that’s fueling the secessionists, the tea parties and birthers in this country.

5 In your opinion, do you like the way health insurance is provided now?

Some representatives are trying to use loopholes to insist our system is fine. For instance, Florida Senator Mel Martinez says that the U.S. has the best access to care in his response letter on the issue. What he means is we have the best emergency care. Many others who are using this as a talking point oppose preventative healthcare. Prevention is the key to hindering complications that would lead to last minute procedures in the emergency room.

6 Has health insurance been an inconvenience to you, or your family before?

I recently went to a free clinic for an infection because, as a student and part time employee, I do not have coverage. I called them and the phone rang for twenty minutes. Their email, which I attempted after hanging up, does not really exist despite being posted on their site. I wrote the address down and drove to their building to find a sign that said they had been moved to another location. When I got there, one hour after they opened, in the waiting room were already over a dozen people. Not exactly a nominal experience. Imagine if I didn’t have a car or a phone.

7 The AARP campaign busted the "myths" of guaranteed health care, such as medicare being taken away, rationed care, government takeover, government making life or death decisions, having an economic crisis, etc... What are your views on these issues? Do you think these are just myths, or do you think it can and will be a problem?

Myths like the death panels, for example, can't be found in the written bill. Private insurance companies profit in bonuses from their investors by denying care. Those who recall Linda Peeno’s confession know that the real death panels exist within the private insurance companies.


* More articles from Leaflet at Leaflet Descending

Exactly Right

The Vanity Press:


When Obama gives his speech to school kids and it turns out to be completely innocuous, American right wingers will claim that they forced him to back off from the commislamonazi propaganda speech they were sure he was going to give before their freakout.

Just watch.

Friday, September 4, 2009

An open letter to Congressman Wexler regarding his support for Blue Dog Lori Edwards


Congressman Wexler,

It disturbs me greatly to hear that you have endorsed Lori Edwards, a Blue Dog DINO, for Florida CD12. I am a Progressive Democrat who looked to you for leadership in this most dysfunctional of States, and to see that you have gone against your own beliefs to support someone who has gone on record as opposing the Healthcare overhaul and the public option confounds me to no end. It calls into questions whether you really believe in the Progressive value you say that you do. I am a resident of CD12, in an area (Hillsborough County) that Ms. Edwards has said does not matter to her. She is a Blue dog who has gotten contributions from Healthcare companies and big business. I walked miles for Obama, I walked miles for our openly Gay County Commissioner whom we got elected, because I stand up for what I believe in, Progressive Values, and I stand up for what is right. Clearly, by supporting Edwards, you do not. I, my 3 kids and wife, have donated to every progressive candidate who asks for money, and am an elected committeeman. I cannot and will not support Lori Edwards, and now cannot and will not support ANY so called progressive who goes against his own beliefs because it is politically easy, now I question the thousands of hours I have put in for people like you who can so easily turn away from your beliefs because it is convenient, or a congressional buddy told you to. Shame on you Congressman. I bought your book . . . maybe the title should be Fire Breathing (when it is convenient) not-so-liberal. If she does get elected, she will make it harder for Progressives on the I4 corridor, in the same vain as Senator Nelson has made things harder. I do not want to hear anything from you about how the Blue Dogs are standing in the way . . . you helped put them there.

Disappointed Democratic Leader,

Don Moffett