Diatribune - universal healthcare - Comments

It seems that if you have

myshelasia — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 22:29:12 -0700

It seems that if you have medi cal you are better off.

I like the idea of Attila

Jacob Freeze — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 01:48:52 -0700

I like the idea of Attila the Scourge of God riding through Washington, New York, and LA... if we can somehow get him to focus on Big Media, corporate CEO's, and sold-out politicians. Otherwise we might wind up with a wasteland like Idaho, or even Texas. (Kerry, are you listening?)

Look carefully at the picture. I think those hats are coming back in style!

I have no respect for either

alexwierbinski — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 20:35:03 -0700

I have no respect for either candidate's plan to enrich the corporate health industry. Single payer or nothing.

Let's do this: let's strip hillery of all of her corporate bribery, and then let's see what kind of a plan she comes up with.

After she wins the election for dog catcher. No, she'll go back to her seat on the board of wal-mart, and screw the poor from there.

And if we remove the big oil bribes to the dems, maybe we will get an energy bill that reflects the needs of the country, rather than big oil.

And if we remove industrial agriculture's bribes to the dems, maybe we will get a farm bill that represents the need of the country, rather than starving people for the profits of ADM.

If wishes were horses, I'd be attilla the hun.

No, i'd have a democracy that served the needs of the people, rather than people serving the profits of the health care industry through billery and obama.

Thanks for jumping on

Jacob Freeze — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:02:00 -0700

Thanks for jumping on Krugman's column so quickly. I hadn't seen it until I saw your blog, and then I used it in my own diatribe for a crashing finale.

Here's what we know: both

alexwierbinski — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 16:43:42 -0700

Here's what we know: both parties plan on seriously enriching the industrial health industry and the pharm industry.

The recent energy and ag bills passed by our dems are sugar-coated treats to their big bribers. Expect their health care "system" proposals to fulfill the same function.

check out these links on recent democrapic bribery

Until the voters are the main source of ALL contributions to all of the politicians, all of our political, medical, social, and economic policy is going the reflect the demands of those who bribe, rather than those who vote.

Committeefordemocracy.org

I may appear to be hard on the dems, but i am much angrier when a friend betrays me than when an enemy attacks me. The dems have turned on democracy, and that hurts much more than the repugnants expected attacks on democracy.

Thank you. Maybe you can

Dr A — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 09:42:11 -0600

Thank you. Maybe you can tell me what you think of an idea that was proposed on my Daily Kos site. One of my readers suggested that I put the bill on Wikipedia and allow free editing to come up with a better bill and more public involvement. What do you think?

I just wanted to make a

Catzoned — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:14:49 -0600

I just wanted to make a "shout out" to you, Dr. A. Catzoned was a nurse and watching your blogs with great interest.

Mine too - I'm caring for a

Justanothercoverup — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 17:20:53 -0600

Mine too - I'm caring for a mother with colon cancer and a colostomy which she refuses to touch, so respecting an elder's wish to have the dignity to die at home rather than in the company of strangers is valid and if possible, carried out. I'll admit the early-onset Alzheimer's Disease is an enexpected variable, but that's just part of the way things work.

You have my most sincere hope that you are one of the many who have had a full recovery, and this will turn-out to be nothing more than another bump, or in this case, a log fallen across the road which can be a real pain, but just a bad memory when it's over.

Medical science has come a long way if you have proper insurance, Medicare or Medicaid - and I hope you do have adequate coverage so stress isn't another factor you have to worry about.

Take car and the best of luck,

JAC

You certainly have my

epppie — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 20:46:48 -0600

You certainly have my prayers.

I hope no one will be offended if I post my favorite devotional image (I'm a Catholic):

Saint Mary of Cobre

Good post on the blog. I

Catzoned — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 20:14:03 -0600

Good post on the blog. I wonder if it has occurred to the politicians that the fine folks dropping dead from cancers are VOTERS? Hummm.... As a person who is wondering if the cancer in their colon is going to be fatal or not, I do question the ACS decision to suspend ads for routine screening. I have it and may die anyway. All kind thoughts and or prayers are appreciated.

I think when it's looked at

Justanothercoverup — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 17:39:51 -0600

I think when it's looked at from a different perspective, it demonstrates that once again, there's another important defection and opponent of the Bush administration. His absurd cuts to social programs is plunging the country into despair and hopelessness, and large corporations are now seeing what supporting the Bush administration has brought them, balance sheets that are now proving to be a trend that is impacting several extremely high-profile corporations. I'm hoping it's a trend.

Remember, the definition of fascism - loosely stated is the marriage of the state and corporatism. The state is essentially a dominant figure in government leadership and policy, usually with one "strong-,arm "Puppet" who carries out their orders."

American corporations other the the Industrial War Machine, are suffering and they know if we attack Iran, and this President isn't stopped in his proverbial tracks, their sales will continue to fall. The people are beginning to wake-up, but we all need to remember that it always about the money and power, and those who make the money are now discovering an entirely different reality faces them, which most likely wasn't in the "original deal." I'd say we have a "puppet" that has become too arrogant and self-assured, with instructions and guidance from Cheney, and now America's true power, the corporations, are going to have to deal with the treat to their very businesses and FAST!

Just an opinion and theory, but it makes sense, and we're seeing members of the GOP fleeing as if the White House itself was on fire; that has to figure into the overall equation.

I hope they're aren't abandoning ship because they know something terrible looms on the future, and are really spending as much time with their families while they still can. By the way, with all of these high-profile resignations and those who have been relieved because of criminal indictment, who in the hell is running our everyday run-of-the mill government functions. How much will the country suffer from being run by people that in many cases, are totally unqualified to perform their respective jobs.

It's a lot to think about.

William Cormier

Some darn good news, it

epppie — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:33:25 -0600

Some darn good news, it sounds like.

Populists can win in this

epppie — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 13:42:44 -0600

Populists can win in this country. We DO NOT need to settle for corporatist sellouts and faux Dem Blue Dogs anymore!!

Or so I believe.

And yet I continue to see the argument that in an "ownership

epppie — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 02:25:10 -0600

society", if your finances don't rock, it's all about personal responsiblity.

Even if the mortgage counselor misled you, the pension plan went 'poof', no job you can get offers insurance or decent wages, education is not affordable, credit card companies have taken advantage or your relative lack of monetary and legal inside knowledge or even common sense (predatory capitalism = good capitalism)

Talk about Timing!

Justanothercoverup — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 21:54:41 -0600

I'll tell you about my experience - which is ongoing(?), but understand my comments reflect a lot of frustration and stress right now, but I promised at the beginning of "My Mom's Medicaid Nightmare: Updated - A turn for the Worse." , I would post much of the relevant information for whatever social value it might have; there were times when I'm sure I didn't say enough, and other times when I said too much. When you're attempting to remain unbiased when writing about your own family - it's a struggle, one I probably didn't win...

I had already decided I was going to let the above thread lie dormant - as it made me feel uneasy, especially when I reached a point I requested financial help, donations, or however you care to phrase it. It was embarrassing to ask in the first place, even more so on a forum where I was virtually unknown. I have been Blogging for almost three years - there's never been a donate button on my site, and I've been proud to save enough to handle all of the costs myself. It was a matter of integrity - and attempting to establish myself as a voice that wasn't "Blogging for Cash."

This nightmare started over two months ago, and admittedly, I made some bad decisions; pawning the title of my vehicle was one of the stupidest things I've ever done - and today I received a call reminding me that my payment was due Monday. I don't have a clue what I'll do yet, but will probably try and get a quick sale for my PowerEdge Server - which will at least solve the problem for this month.

I look back in retrospect and sincerely believe that if I hadn't moved my Mom to Georgia - where she has received excellent medical care, I would already have been attending her funeral. It sounds blunt and cold to state it in such harsh terms, but I believe it to be true. I live on a fixed income of $860.00 (Approx),almost exactly that of my Mom. I'd estimate the past two months have put me in the hole close to $4,000 - and while this may seem trivial to some, it's a mountain I see little hope of climbing.

When I posted the plea for donations, it was a measure made in desperation I wouldn't do again if facing the same circumstances. When hard times are present, it's counter-productive to place hope in wishes rather than reality. I risked my credibility as a Blogger, and in the process, felt guilty even posting something like that.

I received one personal email that was kind and supportive (who I replied to and thanked), and a slew of relatives popped-up in Ethiopia, London, and everywhere else that were holding millions of dollars for one of my relatives, or my deceased grandfather - if only I would allow them to keep 10% of the proceeds. Of course, I needed to start a new bank account, pass bogus checks I'm sure, and fall into the same trap that many people have who succumb to scams of this nature. It was good for a dour laugh, but other than that, all I did was embarrass myself and probably detract from the real issues at hand.

It did make me think, and after hearing stories much worse than my own, it was easy to understand why my plea fell on deaf ears. Actually, I believe there are two reasons:

One: I had first imagined our plight was somehow unique, but it isn't; it's played-out countless millions of times throughout the United States - and it's is a story you can hear anywhere, especially if you know where to look and listen. I'll admit I'm bitter for having to lose my car and laptop because I chose to be at my Mom's side, but the decision was mine, and I could have chosen another course of action. I initially believed that people put their parents in "rest homes" because of indifference and cruelty - easy to say when you aren't the one carrying the load. After this experience, I'm guessing some people do it purely for financial reasons. If I would have pressed the issue rather than bringing my Mom home from that rest home in Florida - I wouldn't be in this mess right now. There are consequences that arise when you decide to provide care for your parents, which is why I decided to begin the above thread. I truly believed I could help someone else evade the pitfalls which unexpectedly arrive - but now that I'm becoming battle-hardened and somewhat used to all of the baloney, I understand that each set of circumstances are different, and the only moral to this story is to save and prepare for the worst. If you don't, a health care crisis can easily cause financial trouble you may never overcome, especially if you're on a fixed-income.

Two: I think we all remember Katrina, and I doubt there are few Americans that didn't contribute to the cause. I did, twice, and I'd like to know where in the heck all of that money went!The city still lies in ruins, people who were displaced seem to have received little of what was actually donated - and still, we hear pleas for more money.

Remember the Tsunami in Indonesia, Tornadoes in our heartland, and flooding in New England - not to mention the earthquake in Pakistan, and the starvation in Darfur. America has always been a generous country, and we give until it's expected, even when we're trillions of dollars in debt, and I specifically remember the President of the United States himself asking Americans to give more to charity(s).

Frankly, I think Americans are "give out," exhausted by the many disasters we have faced, as well as higher gas and food prices. The majority of Americans are making less, paying more - and still, one commercial in ten seems to be pleading for money. If Katrina were to happen tomorrow, my heart would be heavy, but I can't fathom how I'd be able to donate a dime. I have to wonder how many other Americans are in that same boat, working harder to slow the rate of disaster.

When the Doctor called to tell me Mom was being discharged, he offered to have her discharged to a nursing home, at least for short-term treatment. I asked Mom, she said she wanted to go home - and here she is.

JAC