Health Care Reform - Strategic Flub by Dems

I have a number of problems with the current health care system and they could be fixed without universal or national health care, but politicians are in bed with industry. So what are the chances of meaningful action and discussion by Republicans. I'd love Universal Health Care, National Health Care, Single Payer, Public Option, and...I think the time is ripe. We should fight for passage.

1) Tort reform to lower liability for doctors...so that good doctors don't get buried by one mistake...lowering mal practice insurance payments.
2) Stop kicking out sick people or disallowing treatment when the policy is one year or more old. Just cause someone gets sick. Insurance companies have become bandits that take money and then run by preventing payments.
3) Make 5 years the limit for copy rights on medication before going Generic...The phamacy companies make all their money off Americans and sometimes only change superficially to keep the price high on the next drug. The USDA and FDA should not be in bed with pharma industry or Chinese products.
4) Control Costs and Wastes....and monopolies. since the private insurance corp is approving our medical tests, procedures, surguries, specialist doctor visits and the fees charged and who is provider of them, and how much the patient must pay...they are in the business of setting prices and rationing health care...and seemingly without competion eventhough it is private...because all businesses must grow equity and pay big bonuses...they must merge and buyout other prividers...or they must be able to control and increase fees and lower costs...to build profits...and to build equity.
5) Lower Admin Costs by Using Standard Goverment Forms for all insurance companies. I understand that 31% of doctors costs are admin because of the 13000 different insruance companys using different procedures and forms.
6) Medicare providers can be analysed to find high expense regions or high expense rework by certain providers. Therefore, more control over the process by brow beating and followup to those providers could reduce wasteful costs.


The President of the MAYO Clinic was on CSPAN last year and ...seemed to say that a national Health Care system based on Medicare would be as good as any. He pointed out that there were areas, regions, and providers that could be focused on and by use of Leadership at the National Level could be corrected to reduce wasted funds and costs. I agree it is often leadership that makes or breaks a programs success.

I'm just wondering why Senator Kennedy's Plug-N-Play Health Care Plan...or an expansion of the Medicare for all Americans under age 65 could not have be chosen and promoted by President Obama Et Al....???????????????

Why didn't Democrats try to promote a real Program?

Social Programs and Republican Agenda

After what I've seen in the last few years and this years crop of republicans:

1) I believe that Republican do want to take a way rights to education (thru fundamentalist protests, and turning backs by using private schools), and...
2) I believe Republican do want to take away Medicare
3) I do not believe Republicans will support any funding for Health Reform...or... Health Care Program that will pay for the un-insured or the poor.
4) I think it is obvious that the Republicans took the Executive Office with a surplus to pay for the US Budget that Democrats had created under President Clinton. The republicans spent money like drunken sailors on a war in Iraq that they thought would stimulate the Defense Industry and the American Economy. But the Effect of Defense Spending without control and oversight was mostly to enrich Defense CEOs and Executives...along with create Fraud, Waste, and Bribes in Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other places...in some cases leading US Servicemen to break the law.
5) It is clear that funds for Social Security and Medicare were absconded by either congress or the Senate.
6) Yes, I'm pretty sure (70%) that Republican would like to do away with Social Security.


----Below is a letter that Republicans are sending around-----

Okay Guys;

I need help with this one sent by a Republican Friend. It has a Republican slant and tone...BUT How much of this can be true???
-----------------------------------------------------------
Dark and best kept secrets about Our Social Security.

Many years ago in Seattle, two wonderful neighbors,
Elliott and Patty Roosevelt came to my home to swim on
a regular basis. They were a great couple full of
laughter and stories that today I continue to marvel
at. Both are now deceased, but their stories remain.
During the years of our friendship we had many, many
discussions about Elliott's parents (President Franklin D.
and Eleanor Roosevelt) and how his father and mother
never intended for the Social Security and Welfare
programs to turn out the way they are today. Elliott
used to say that if his parents returned to earth and
saw what the politicians had done to their programs
they would have burned all of them in hell.

Here is a story I received today regarding the Social
Security Program and I immediately thought of
Elliott's comments. I Hope you will read
this and think about it.
_____________________________________________

Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, introduced the Social
Security (FICA) Program. He promised:

1.) That participation in the Program would be
completely voluntary,

2.) That the participants would only have to pay
1% of the first $1,400 of their annual
incomes into the Program,

3.) That the money the participants elected to put
into the Program would be deductible from
their income for tax purposes each year,

4.) That the money the participants put into the
independent 'Trust Fund' rather than into the
General operating fund, and therefore, would
only be used to fund the Social Security
Retirement Program, and no other
Government program, and,

5.) That the annuity payments to the retirees
would never be taxed as income.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are
now receiving a Social Security check every month --
and then finding that we are getting taxed on 85% of
the money we paid to the Federal government to 'put
away' -- you may be interested in the following:
-------------------------------------------------------------

Q: Which Political Party took Social Security from the
independent 'Trust Fund' and put it into the
General fund so that Congress could spend it?

A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the democratically
controlled House and Senate.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Which Political Party eliminated the income tax
deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?

A: The Democratic Party.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Which Political Party started taxing Social
Security annuities????

A: The Democratic Party, with Al Gore casting the
'tie-breaking' deciding vote, as President of the
Senate, while he was Vice President of the USA .

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Q: Which Political Party decided to start giving
annuity payments to immigrants?

This is MY FAVORITE:

A: That's right! Jimmy Carter! And the Democratic Party of course!
Immigrants moved into this country, and at age 65,
began to receive Social Security payments! The
Democratic Party gave these payments to them,
even though they never paid a dime into it!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Then, after doing all this lying and thieving and violating
of the original contract (FICA), the Democrats
turn around and tell you that the Republicans
want to take your Social Security away!

And the worst part about it is uninformed
citizens believe it!

==============================================

If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of
awareness will be planted and maybe changes will
evolve. Maybe not!.. many Democrats are awfully
sure of what isn't so!!

But it's worth a try. How many people can
YOU send this to?

Actions speak louder than bumper stickers.
Forward this E-mail to others so that they can
be informed of the truth.

Dems Blink when they should Censure Republicans

update: BILL MAHER agrees with me "where are the President or King makers that Obama has in the wings (on Rachel Maddow)
UPDATE: Keith Olberman agrees with me...
UPDATE: Arianna Huffington agrees with me...

President Obama!


Stop being Bipartisan and just be partisan!
Dems Blink when faced with negative Polls


And Okay Progressives pass the word to your democratic Network...We saw the Clinton's do this to Health Care back 12-14 years ago (lose the momentum for his Bill/her Bill). When the republicans get rough and refuse to give...and then the Polls change.

1) This is time for hidden strategies and strategic plans.
2) It is also time for Obama to stop being the appeaser to the Lobbies or just to the Republicans. (Even tv news reports and political commentators can see this - the Republicans will not vote for any Health Reform bill)
3) I believe I observed this truth years ago...that the Dems don't stand firm to the military style conservative stance. The Dems' Blink.
4) Don't Blink, Plan to Win, Strategize, Find Out who the real players are that want to win Health Care Reform with Public Option and or even Single Payer. The network is full of advice and now Obama seems to have lost his Mass of Progressive Backers and Players.

USE ...The Art of War by Sun Zsu. Bait the REPUBs into a trap. And by the way "Lets demand Truth and Integrity in advertising". Threaten Censure of Senators and Congressmen!

Wendell Potter of CIGNA spills the beans on insurance misinformation program, resigns in discust at cancelled policies...
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Weekend/story?id=8337500&page=1

Wendell Potter on Moyers
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07102009/watch2.html

Hedge Fund Influence Huffington Post Interview
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rob-kall/interview-with-health-ins_b_227270.html

Wendell Potter: It's already happening. Yeah, the for-profit companies are very entrenched into the government programs and have been for several years...

Transform the Dis-enfranchisement, ...I am the Bridge (you)

Summary: The way that government work is different from the original concept of legislators (congress and Senate). I sort of remember that law makers pass new regulations in the form of law and decide where the money goes. One solution is to add congressional representatives for the poor/gangs/minorities and for Big Business while at the same time enforcing strict "no gift" and no "giving" restrictions on Congress and the Senate.

Background: Lobbying is a non-transparent, true, force behind government. lobbyist find all kinds of ways to pass gifts to government representatives. Government representatives are not strictly regulated on what their expenses are, and where funds come from. Minorities feel disenfranchised. The education system does not match the national security recommendations. Americans and foreigners know that lobbyist sway government and write laws for America, but the system doesn't expressly show this relationship. The US Government is expressly a limited representative government or limited republic instead of a 100% Democracy. However the US Senate and Congress spend most of their efforts on winning funds for home precincts and...listening to Interest Groups or Lobbyists. Also besides the obvious pull from Big Business, there are actually strong feelings from criminal gangs who feel disenfranchised and the neighborhoods that they represent.

My Solution late this evening is to create seats in both the senate and house of representatives for both the Gang/projects and for the Big Business Lobbies, while enforcing strict "No Gifts" and "No Lobbies" laws. We will end the conflict of interest that Lobbies and Congressmen have. There will be no lobbying. An End to all Lobbies while there are Senate and Congressional Representatives. The whole world knows of the old conflict of interest and will welcome the change. Congressmen and Congresswomen will perhaps fear the change in the number or make up of representatives. But the future income for congressmen and senators will come from their books that will express their ideas, their ability to analyze policy, and their ability to show planning to change policy. In addition people at the lowest economic level will find recognition from Congressional and senate Representatives. The frequent elections of congress and the senate for gangs, minorities, and the poor will finally, and truly create a fair government.

Letters and Essays to President Obama

Mr President, Sir;

Let us take the power back and gain control of our budget now. We can see the terrible human cost as well as the Billions wastefully spent in war. Let us learn from the efforts to colonize the world by the Dutch, French, Spanish, British, Portuguese, Germans and Russians. Reduce the US Military Footprint overseas so that we can realize government control of our budget. The same waste can be seen in our bloated prison industry and War on Drugs. There is no success in having the highest percent of people in prison of all other nations. There is no success in the War on Drugs when our money is driving drug gangs to organized crime in our country (like prohibition).

1) Reduce battlefield contracts in Iraq
2) Reduce Iraq to a Small Police Action of 20,000 troops
3) Remain steady in Afghanistan and look for force multipliers, and State Department solutions 4) Legalize Marijuana to stop US Dollars that enrich and drive the drug gangs
5) Free prisoners that can possibly be seen as users and not traffickers
6) Find ways to help young males have pride and hope for the future instead of being convicted felons
7) Let us realize that making war and sustaining war is far more harmful than smoking pot or so other consensual crime where no one is hurt
8) Let us take taxes from legal drug sales like alcohol, marijuana and tobacco and do good things with health care and education
9) Let's assess the true cost of war in a very public way

Sincerely

It's War in Mexico, Mr. President

Sir, Mr President;


It is a new day. Mexico is at WAR! And we must reassess our National Security Objectives and Operational Plans. We need to Reassess our Defense Plans and where we are spending our Homeland Resources.

I have to add this to my National Security Objectives below to the #4 Priority. If you saw the New york Times today, then you are also reflecting that we haven't had a War on our border for like 80 years (Mexican Civil War 1910-1928?). Clearly our country is now at an increased DEFCON (Defense Condition) as a Result of the War in Mexico with itself. Likely we would call it an insurgent war by drug gangs, rather than a Civil War. But why doesn't the media realize this is an immanent threat?

Mexico is tearing it self apart because government institution are afraid of the "Drug Gang Violence".

Of course some Americans have been waiting for a reason to pull US Troops back to our borders. And some will be thinking that Tom Clancy anticipated that Islamic Terrorists befriending Drug Dealers to draw the war back from Iraq to Mexico or the USA.

Clearly if we can strengthen our borders, it will meet National Security Goals by repelling "Foreign" drug gangs and drug trafficking. "Let us not spend a fortune overseas on foreign adventures" against stateless insurgents. We NOW have insurgents on our border!

Dear President Obama

President Obama;


The Budget being a central piece to the US Economic and National Security Strategy, I wanted to present a Template for viewing some of our possible Expenses:

1) Scratch any Action for Occupying Force Overseas of 200,000 or more Troops (It is not part of the Quadrennial Defense Review or any Military Plan anyway.
2) Scratch any Planning for Large Police Action overseas involving 100,000 troops or more. In the Long Term is not sustainable and we know the Logistics Tail with Civilians and Contractors is a Trillion Dollar Enterprise (an unthinkable Expense at this time when we need budget dollars in infrastructure).
3) Scratch any Planning for Medium Sized Police Action overseas involving 50,000 to 100,000 troops. We know that in the Long Term this is not sustainable past a few years, since this also involves huge Expense of half a Trillion Dollars and a long Logistics Tail with Civilians and Contractors.
4) Small Sized Police Actions Overseas are sustainable over the Long Term, because we are looking at 20,000 Troops with some support from the Navy and a modest Logistic System which repairs equipment in the USA where US Wages are paid. The army LOGCAP contracts for Base Support would be affordable in the Millions of Dollars. A clear objective would be mandatory to any Small Police Action and would be key to any exit strategy. Also these small military actions can be run simultaneously.
5) Clearly the world expects us to use the State Department and Embassy Resources in the next decade to avoid new conflicts. State Department budget is pretty much a sunk overhead cost of running a government. So there is no real Additional Expense.

National Security Agenda:

1) Economic Stability for the USA and for the World. Clear threats are Financial Transactions and Instruments as well as popular unrest from loss of livelihood and savings.
2) Energy Stability
3) The presence of Freedom and Individual Rights in North America and Central America. Freedom is derived from Social Education, Social Medicine, and a healthy Economy.
4) Global Drug Lords will grow in power as they are able to hold on to distribution networks and make retail sales in the USA and Europe. We need a new approach here as we can not measure any real or lasting success. Perhaps if we can not seal the borders (drug shipments) then we must consider legalizing Marijuana to cut off some of the funds of the Drug lords/Gangs.
5) Big Business and Lobbyist pull on Washington DC does not seem to produce any measurable "Good". Clearly we agree that money is a persuader and a corrupter, but it doesn't write good laws. And how can we tolerate lobbies from foreign countries - When the common man doesn't have access to a like minded Representative in DC.
6) The SEC Staffing is very low. I remember a few years back hearing that the SEC had only 200 working manyears (active employee).
7) Credit Card Interest Rates above 18%.

------Pasted----from my first Essay-----Clearly President Obama should distance himself from Republicans and move away from Bipartisanship. The present system is very confused by the old status quo.

1) you have the wasteful meetings and speeches from the Republican side who just want to push back, fight, and make the democrats lose the next election. Well also I think they want to continue all of the old policies of free markets with no Regulation by the FED, they want to enjoy the fruits of lobbying, they want to continue to be in bed with big business (no matter the cost in taxes or civil rights), just so that they can be part of the big deals and feel like they have power. (okay the Dems must be feeling this too at times- power corrupts!).
2) Lobbyists from all over the globe want to right the next set of rules and sway both the President and Congress/Senate.
3) When was the last time you saw change in the Republican Party? Some guy was on CNN again saying that the Republican Party was re-crafting it image or "Core Values" If you are like me what comes to mind is the McCarthy Doctrine (McCarthy Purges?), or the Bush Doctrine, or the Paul Wolfowics Doctrine.
4) It is the Budget Stupid! We have created a Prison Industry and Defense Industry that are both making people millionaires and Billionaires at a cost of Trillions of US Tax Payer Dollars.
5) The Defense Department is the gift that keeps "Taking". After a Trillion dollars in Iraq and Afghanistan there is no end in sight. And by a strange convenience no one is talking about the Trillion of Dollars it will take to bring back the Armed Forces and over the next 7 Years bring all the equipment back to Peacetime state of readiness.
6) Now lets go back to the "War on Drugs" which can not show any success measured by our American Youths or by our Prison Enrollment. We have spent at least a Trillion Dollars in the war on drugs...we should include US State Department freebies in terms of Grants, and Loans to Mexico and South America.

Summary: We should have the right metrics in mind when we look at Government Program SUCCESS. We can't continue American Status Quo...in politics...in Lobbying, in Body Count, in having the best Military force deployed to far a way lands...and in terms of Arrests and Imprisonments. We have to measure success in terms of moving from the status quo of interference with Federal Government (Lobby & Political Quagmire).

President Obama - Implement - Implement - Implement

Obama must "Restore Trust" in the FED Gov: Word On The Street

Word On The Street maybe very bad news: Obama must "Restore Trust" in the FED Gov.

People are not happy to see TRAP/Bail-Out money go to banks to pay debts and create new mergers. Many people were feeling disenfranchised through the Bush years and especially with all the corruption and scandals both in politics and in the Financial Industry. So, the "Talking Heads" on TV have made a good point that the first order of the Obama Administration will be to establish trust, so that the first 100 Days agenda can get passed in both the House and Senate.

Without trust reflected in National Polls and with constituents of congressmen, the next bailout bill will suffer and languish. Pork and Earmarks are ways we will suffer for the passage.

Diaglog Universal Healthcare: forget partisanship, Let's talk

Dialog on Universal Health care, let's talk: forget partisanship.

Jim;

You are a business administrator for the US DOD and have 25 plus years in service. How is it you never learned to debate or use logic. And how could you send those emails that make you look like a nitwit schmuck.

Hey you are a nice guy and I know your values make you the nice guy that you are. So maybe this is something we can learn together - about how to lay out convincing logic instead of Slander, innuendo, and mystical fabrications.

Now back to Health care. I really want to know how Americans are supposed to have Thrived when HMOs and Health Insurance Agencies have incentives in place to deny payments to enrol lees. I'm not even talking about denials of policies to people with previous diabetes, heart attacks, strokes that constitute a risk and Loss payments to Insurance companies. You probably know someone denied treatment. Remember when Cataract Surgery came out, but no one could get approval? I remember bone marrow transplant as being not authorized and considered experimental.

You can't deny that people die and are refused service when they have an HMO or health insurance. But you family could be at risk of losing all you savings. It is a case where you are the person we are talking about in Universal Health care.

Jim, what you heard about the reality or cost of Universal Coverage is just not true. Paulson has thrown around more money than it would take to start this program (as I remember stated by the Medicare President).

Jim; Foreigners are afraid to visit the US without a health policy because the costs in our hospitals are through the roof. A series of simple operations can bankrupt any of us without adequate coverage. You might find yourself on early retirement planning to assault someone with a gun at the HMO or Hospital for refusal of service. You could therefore go to jail by a stretch of the imagination.

We have Socialized Police, Fire, DHS, DOD, schooling K-12, roadwork, Social Security, Medicare for retirement, ...there are tons of current government functions we could name.

There are many reasonable and successful systems overseas ...the same ones that politicians continually lie about.

Jim, The number one reason that we don't have Universal Health care is that insurance companies don't want to lose the profit margins. Insurance Companies have the highest profits of any industry and we would be lucky to work for them. Dedicated individuals and universities would carry on advancements and discoveries more efficiently that behemoth industrial giants. American scientist want to succeed and want to make a name for themselves and we must have one of the biggest workforces in the world to continue after universal health care.

Correct me here; Hillary failed to create new health care reform because insurance companies spent $100 Million or Billion lobbying. Then we have to throw on the Pharmacies Lobbying.

Lobbying is the tip of the "Follow the Money Iceberg"

There is a lot of money at stake for industry. Don't listen to any politicians on this issue, Jim. It is a war for the Money of the Middle Class.

Please respond with your logical comments.