Thursday, December 17, 2009

It's Time to Lead on Health Care, Mr. President

Well, the time has come, health care reform is hanging by a thread. After months of yelling and screaming, millions upon millions of dollars spent by the insurance industry and Big Pharma, barely any of the real reforms many of us hoped for is left in the current Senate version of health care reform. Joe Lieberman and a few other conservative "Democrats", Mary Landrieu and Ben Nelson have bowed to the pressure. Most Democrats, especially the liberals, worked extremely hard to make real health care reform happen, but corporate interests are on the verge of defeating real reform and handing over to the insurance companies 30 million new customers who will be forced to buy health insurance from private companies.

Where has the President been? Yes, he's had the Democrats over for coffee at the White House, but the real arm twisting, the no-more-Mr. Nice Guy attitude that was needed has been lacking, in other words, leadership. Insurance companies won't give up their cash cows without a fight.

The only way to get health care reform is to fight hard and have a take no prisoners approach to your opponents. Getting legislation like real health care reform is like war. You have to figuratively "kill the enemy." And the insurance industry and Big Pharma are the enemy of the people of the United States. Their goal is to make money, no matter what and as much as possible. In their minds, greed is good.

Keith Olbermann hit the nail head last night with his special comment. Forcing people to pay for health care and not offering a public option or a buy-in to Medicare is not the answer.

Wendell Potter, former CIGNA Communications Director Explains Why Corks are Popping at America's Health Insurance Comapnies

17 comments:

vomamike said...

I feel so betrayed. I was expecting FDR and I got Jimmy Carter light!!!

DJ said...

I'm really impressed at how hard the progressive "establishment" has come swinging at both Obama and Lieberman. If we can close ranks we might win this fight yet.

DJ said...

I spoke too soon. Krugman's article today says to pass the bill.

Roy Ramus said...

When is the next protest? Because all I see is a bunch of bloggers sitting around doing nothing. The conservative movement will only get bigger and stronger if we don't act now with large scale protests. Great job giving it to those bloggers on Chris' blog. If you start a protest give me some time to promote it for you.

Bruce Fealk said...

Roy, there aren't any protests scheduled as of now. However, if you send me a comment with your contact information, I promise not to post it publicly and I will keep you in the loop on future plans and protests.

vomamike said...

ROY, ET EL - I and Bruce have been in movement after movement - protest after protest - demonstration after demonstration - for what - years now. We have been a small contingency of people trying hard to raise the consciousness of the public. To fight for progressive ideas, we have stood in the rain, the snow, the cold and heat. Yet, our turnouts have been pathetic. In our heart we know we are on the right side of the majority of people. Yet the tea baggers can mount 50 times the turn out - why? We know it is mostly do to massive misinformation by big business and Right Wing media and pundits that have convinced so many to demonstrate against their own best interests. But even with that I think we were turning the public around. What we didn't realize was just how bought off Congress is. Well, we knew that the Republicans were in bed with the chamber of Commerce - but it has come somewhat of a shock to realize that a significant minority of Democrats have been also. I have pored my time and money into furthering progressive ideas - and it sometimes seems all for naught. I'm not sure I have any fight left in me. Maybe next year!!!

Anonymous said...

OR COULD IT BE THAT YOU ARE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ISSUES? I THINK IT'S FUNNY THAT YOU EVEN PLACE BLAME ON YOUR "PATHETIC TURNOUTS" AT THE PROTESTS. COULD IT ALSO BE THAT THE LEFT IS "PATHETIC" WITHOUT THE HELP OF ANYONE? IF YOU WERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF AN ISSUE YOU WOULD HAVE PROTESTERS. IT IS LAUGHABLE IF YOU ASK ME. IT LOOKS LIKE THE LIBERALS ARE ON THEIR WAY OUT.

Bruce Fealk said...

That's not true. It's always easier to get a big crowd to protest against something than for something.

I didn't see ANY right wing protests for George W. Bush and his policies. At least we can rally people, even without the help of Fox Noise.

vomamike said...

ANONOMOUS - It is comments like yours that eventually brings me back and renews my cause. I ran accross this item some time back and saved it. I thought it crystalized our two sides very aptly. "lIBERALISM IS THE TRUST OF THE PEOPLE TEMPERED BY PRUDENCE. CONSERVATISM IS THE DISTRUST OF THE PEOPLE TEMPERED BY FEAR. - WM GLADSTONE (1729-1797)" I don't fear government - only the ability of special interests like big business to negate the efforts we put into it.

There is much that the Tea Party people are protesting that we progressive should embrace - so says Thom Hartman. The problem is they are protesting the wrong entity. It should be big business - not government.

Anonymous said...

BRUCE SAID,"That's not true. It's always easier to get a big crowd to protest against something than for something."

"I didn't see ANY right wing protests for George W. Bush and his policies. At least we can rally people, even without the help of Fox Noise."

AREN'T YOU PROTESTING AGAINST THE WAR? THINK FIRST WOULD YOU? YOU LEFT WING ONLY BLAME OTHERS FOR EVERYTHING LIKE LITTLE KIDS DO. VOMAMIKE IF NO ONE SHOWS UP NO ONE CARES. YOU ARE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ISSUE AND YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT. THE NEWS DOESN'T EVEN GIOVE A SHIT ABOUT YOUR STORY THATS HOW DUMB IT IS. THEY WERE ALL OVER YOU ANTI WARMONGERS WHEN IT WAS BUSH. YOU HAVE CHANGED AND SO HAS YOUR MISSION.

Bruce Fealk said...

Anonymous, at least have some courage and use your real name, so we all know who you are.

Second, I have protested the war. I was at a demonstration in downtown Detroit at the Federal building right after President Obama announced the troop increase. It was covered by the media, so stick that up your ass.

No one's mission has changed one iota.

Bruce Fealk said...

One more thing, Anonymous, please DO NOT use capital letters unless you mean to be yelling. It's bad manners to scream ALL the time.

Jeff said...

Does it bother you that in just 3 short months Chris' blog has eclipsed yours? Maybe you should take some marketing leasons from him. No one can deal with you Bruce unless you are towing the liberal line. You liberal assholes are done for and we conservatives will make your lives a living hell when we are done ruling over you. P.S. obama sucks and you know it.

Bruce Fealk said...

Jeff, no, it doesn't bother me at all.

The Democrats have done some good for the middle class. Republicans only want to serve their corporate masters.

They are playing politics with the American people and they will be recognized for the fools they are come next November. The Party of No has no morals, no ethics, no ideas, no leadership, unless you count Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, and Glenn Beck.

DJ said...

Well at least Chris (aka Jeff) admits that it's the priority of right-wingers to make the lives of Americans a living hell. Particularly the one's that have political disagreements with them.

And they accuse us of being commies. They're taking pages right out of Stalin's playbook!

Jeff said...

djtyg are you goofy? My real name is Jeff not Chris. That is the second time you've called me by the wrong name. I've noticed that you get paranoid a lot in your posts. Is it a condition or a symptom?

DJ said...

Relax, "Jeff". We all know you're Chris.

Enjoy your sockpuppeting.