Tuesday, November 10, 2009
In our democracy, money talks.
It's gonna be interesting to see if the Republicans filibuster efforts to bring about meaningful health care reform. That's the only way they can stop it. Block an up or down vote. Because a majority of the Senate favors reform. But to close off debate for a final vote, it takes a super majority. Sixty votes from the 100 senators. If that can't be achieved, legislation can be talked to death. It's a gambit played off and on by politicians from both sides of the aisle to stymie the majority. Usually, the American people are the losers. For instance, polls show that a majority of Americans favor health care reform, including a public option. But the private insurance industry doesn't want public competition. It'll cut into their profits. And hey, they have such huge profits that they have cash to spare. They put it to good use. Buying votes. Yes, in our democracy, money talks. --Jim Broede
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6 comments:
Have you actually read the current health care bill? We can only have our private insurance, if it is in effect before day one of year one, of the new plan. You can no longer get private insurance, after that. Within 5 years, your private insurance has to meet the rules in the plan. I don't know about yours, but my deductible would be higher, under the "plan", and my out of pocket expenses would be higher.
Insurance companies cannot enroll new members, after day 1 of year 1. Eventually, they will wipe aout all private insurance, including employer provided. Everyone will eventually be forced into the "plan". There is no competition, unless citizens flock to the private insurers, before day 1. After that, it is down hill, all the way.
Another gem: if the "plan" is showing a shortage of funds, the government is free to reduce benefits, increase premiums, and ESTABLISH WAITING LISTS. Again, I don't know about you, but I would rather be able to go to my doctor, without asking permission.
Following this path, Democracy will be a memory.
If we end up with a single-payer public system, that will be all right with me. I'd rather have it government run rather than private run. I don't trust the private sector. I want a no-profit system. I have Medicare now. That's a good system. Let's have Medicare for everyone. I like Medicare. I like social security. I'm really a socialist at heart. Yes, maybe I should move to Sweden, Norway or Denmark. But I'd just as soon stay here and work for democratic socialism. We're starting to move in the right (left) direction. --Jim Broede
I hope American-style capitalism becomes a distant memory. --Jim
And you'll be able to choose your own doctor on the public system. Don't believe everything the private insurers try to tell you. They're full of bullshit. --Jim
No, I haven't come close to reading the bill in its entirety. What are we talking? Something like 2,000 pages. But I believe my liberal sources. I don't believe the crap dished out by the Republicans. Especially the far right lunatics. --Jim
I'm not saying you can't choose doctors-I have to read further-but, you may not always get to choose WHEN you see them. They are setting the "plan" in motion.
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