Imagine, a bunch of clueless, out-of-touch, gutless and cowardly politicians, are in the final throes of condemning the healthcare of the American people to the criminal Mafia insurance industry. And this is our government, folks!
Certainly, most of us know single payer is the only healthcare delivery system which is sustainable over the long term, but barring that, the Mafia insurers must be forced to compete with a public option.
But NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! All of A sudden "competition" has become a dirty word--like socialism.
Isn't competition a central premise of a free market economy?
Mr. Baucus, how about informing Mr. Grassley there was an election in November, we won. The American people voted for healthcare reform, the American people voted for President Obama's healthcare plan which includes a roubust public option.
I urge you to read the interview Ezra Klein conducted with Senator Kent Conrad. Kent is the father of the newly hatched co-op idea, he wants you to know that there aren't the votes in the Senate for a public option. So let's just compromise with this creation called a co-op. Some Politicians don't want to give you and me the right to rid ourselves of for-profit health insurance.
At the end of the day, this entire exercise is all about protection for the industry which funnels huge amounts of money to the senators debating the legislation--and our future.
This will undoubtedly steam you enough to spend the day on the phone. Take home message from Kent:
And why do you think that reconciliation won't work for health reform.
Reconciliation was never designed to write substantive legislation. It was designed solely for deficit reduction. The whole idea was you would change numbers, not policy. You would change numbers on the revenue side of the equation and the spending side of the equation.
And so, the way it works, under current rules, if your in reconciliation, you have to be deficit neutral over five years. Under the budget resolution, health care can be deficit neutral under 10 years. That's a big difference.
Two, under reconciliation, you're subjected to the Byrd rule. The Byrd rule says that anything that doesn't cost money or save money, or that only costs money or saves money in a way that's incidental to the policy, are subject to strike. The result, for instance, is that all the insurance market provisions are subject to strike. All the wellness and prevention provisions are subject to strike. The Senate parliamentarian said to us that if you try to write substantive health reform in reconciliation, you'll end up with Swiss cheese.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/...
Public option does not mean private co-op.
A private co-op is a big fat non-starter and here's why courtesy of HCAN.
Consumer co-ops have their place, but fixing the health care system is a big task. It's only common sense that we need the clout of the government if we are going to keep those insurance companies honest and reign in health care costs.
Will you call your Senators today and tell them you want a strong public option available everywhere in America and ready on day one?
Of course, the insurance industry would love to see a health co-op, because the one thing they are scared of is competing with a public health insurance option which really will keep them honest. They're for anything but that!
TODAY, WOULD YOU START BY CALLING THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AND ASK THEM WHY THEY ARE REFUSING TO SUPPORT THE PUBLIC OPTION?
American Medical Association
(800) 621-8335
Media:
Media inquiries about the AMA should be directed to the Chicago media department either by e-mail or by calling (312) 464-4430.
If you are calling in regard to legislation, or you are in the Washington area, please call: (202) 789-7447.
THEN KOSSACKS, KEEP UP THE PRESSURE ON THE POLITICIANS. BE RELENTLESS. SHOW THESE POLITICIANS NO MERCY.
For decades, the political class looked the other way as Americans form every socioeconomic level faced down on their own the murderous health insurance industry. Show politicians mercy? Not on your life.
If you don't believe me that the political class has ignored the healthcare reality you and I face, take a look at this from Senator Dodd, he's saying they may need more time to do their work. More time! This bunch has had fifty years, to think about their fellow citizens going without healthcare.
Call Senator Dodd and tell him, no more delays.
U.S. Senator Chris Dodd
448 Russell Building | Washington D.C., 20510
Tel: (202) 224-2823 | Fax: (202) 224-1083
30 Lewis St Suite 101 | Hartford, CT 06103
Tel: (860) 258-6940/(800) 334-5341 —CT only
Fax: (860) 258-6958
HERE ARE TALKING POINTS, OR MAKE UP YOUR OWN.
* A public health insurance option is a critical element of real health care reform.
* A public health insurance option is the only way to lower health care costs for me and my family.
* A public health insurance option would give me the choice I need, and increase competition to keep the insurance industry honest.
* I support a strong public health insurance option that would be available everywhere, not split up into smaller, regional pieces, and that would be available on day one.
* I oppose any proposal designed to undermine a strong public health insurance option.
* I urge Senator _____ to oppose anything but a strong public health insurance option.
CALL the White House at: 202-456-1111 and E-MAIL them as well!
Please CALL Senator Max Baucus at (202) 224-2651
Please CALL Senator Olympia Snowe at (202) 224-5344
Please CALL Senator Charles Schumer at 202-224-6542
Please CALL Senator Edward Kennedy at (202) 224-4543
Please CALL Senator John Rockefeller at (202) 224-6472
Please CALL Senator Ron Wyden at (202) 224-5244
Please CALL Senator Kent Conrad at (202) 224-2043
Please CALL Senator Jeff Bingaman at (202) 224-5521
Please CALL Senator John Kerry at (202) 224-2742
Please CALL Senator Blanche Lincoln at 202-224-4843
Please CALL Senator Debbie Stabenow at (202) 224-4822
Please CALL Senator Maria Cantwell at 202-224-3441
Please CALL Senator Bill Nelson at 202-224-5274
Please CALL Senator Robert Menendez at 202-224-4744
Please CALL Senator Thomas Carper at (202) 224-2441
[Thanks to slinkerwink]
Slinkerwink has another great action diary today (Friday), which I urge you to read and rec.
If anyone wonders why we fight, it's because the insurance industry reign of terror against the American people must stop.
We fight for Kitsap River.
Here's another reason. This is an email I received the other day. It breaks my heart. What dignity. What courage. I imagine many of us are having similar emotions as we watch the healthcare spectacle unfold in Washington.
nyceve,
The day has arrived, maybe finally I'll be able to go to a doctor without handing over my credit card. Well, truthfully giving credit cards is out of the question, because I'm at my limit on about four cards.
I don't think the people in Washington understand what it means to be an American these days. For most of us, it means, everyday you wake up, you start deciding how you're going to spend your precious few dollars. So, let's say, you're not feeling well, you just learn to live with it.
I don't know what to hope for any longer. I need healthcare so damn badly, but like you write, the people in Washington have never walked in my shoes, so they don't know what it's like to feel the tightness in my chest which thankfully, I'm able to accept as routine, though I know, if I get to a doctor, he'll tell me something like, how long have you been walking around with this. I'll tell, "a long time, doc".
And another reason.
We are now, finally engaged again in a great national debate about how, whether or
if, (yes, that's correct, if), as a nation, healthcare becomes an inviolate right not a privilege.
We are being told that a system of privately delivered, publically paid for healthcare (single payer) isn't feasible.
Imagine in our America, doctors and nurses arrested simply for daring to utter the words single payer.
What are the politicians afraid of? Doctors? Nurses? Competition?