When any White House knows they are a losing a public debate, they turn to sympathetic journalists to try and reframe the debate in a way that is more advantageous to their policy goals. So after consulting with his best White House sources, The Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder wrote under the headline How Conservatives Are Blowing Their Chance, Sunday:
“Democrats are beginning to notice that opponents of health care reform have discredited themselves. … The media, being a collection of different megaphones, reported on the town hall meetings in one of two ways, both damaging to Republicans. Either they credulously reported the louder, angrier voices (inherently damaging to Republicans in this case) or they reported on the political architecture of the town hall meetings, which plays down the substance of the protests. … The White House’s goal was to prevent the Blue Dogs from panicking. The swing constituents in these congressional districts aren’t angry Republicans, and the Blue Dogs know this. They’re political independents for whom the sanctity of the process is important.”
So that is the official White House spin. But what is the reality? Two new polls came out yesterday from Gallup and Pew, and both of them show that in direct contradiction to Ambinder’s “analysis”, the townhall protests are, in fact, making political independents more sympathetic to opponents of Obamacare. Pew found that of those Americans following the townhalls, 61%, including 64% of independents, said they think the way people have been protesting is appropriate. And according to Gallup, 34% of independents say the townhalls have made them more sympathetic to opponents of Obamacare, compared to only 23% of independents who say the townhalls have made them less sympathetic. Equally important, Gallup found that more Americans believe the townhall protesters are motivated by their internal beliefs and not stirred up by “political activists” crating “organized opposition.”
In fact, it is the supporters of Obamacare who are resorting to multi-million dollar Astroturf campaigns. Earlier this week Billionaire speculator George Soros pledged $5 million for the cause and any perusal of online bulletin board Craigslist will find hundreds of ads promising $11-16 an hour for “grassroots” campaign jobs supporting Obamacare. And just yesterday Americans for Stable Quality Care (a group largely funded by the pharmaceutical industry but also including the AMA, Families USA, the Federation of American Hospitals, and the SEIU) launched a $12 million television ad campaign in support of the White House plan. This $12 million ad buy is just a small fraction of the $150 million that PhRMA has pledged for advertising and “grassroots activity” to help pass Obama’s plan.
Turning back to the White House spin, Ambinder wrote about the townhalls: “Lawmakers, Republicans and Democrats, were being asked to respond to non-sequiturs (would you support a health care reform plan that grows the deficit? Health care grows the deficit right now, so it’s a nonsense question, one that is easy for politicians to answer).” This just shows how out of touch the White House is with the American people. As Gallup‘s Frank Newport reported last week: “The push for healthcare reform is occurring in an environment characterized by high levels of concern about fiscal responsibility, government spending, and the growing federal deficit. … The economy outweighs health care as the most pressing problem facing the country and in Americans’ personal lives.”
At his Portsmouth, New Hampshire pep rally yesterday, President Obama pleaded: “Where we do disagree, let’s disagree over things that are real, not these wild misrepresentations that bear no resemblance to anything that’s actually been proposed.” Well here is the reality of what has actually been passed by three separate House committees: Obamacare will be spending $245 billion a year by 2019, increases the budget deficit by $239 billion over that same time frame, and in the out years, according to CBO director Doug Elmendorf “the proposal would probably generate substantial increases in federal budget deficits during the decade beyond the current 10-year budget window.”
Quick Hits:
- The economists who originally thought up the system believe cap and trade will be ineffective in stopping global warming.
- The upper house of Australia’s parliament defeated the government’s proposed cap and trade plan yesterday.
- The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the American Council for Capital Formation (ACCF) released a study Wednesday that found cap and trade will reduce economic growth by 2.4 percent and cost 2 million jobs.
- Some of the nation’s biggest food and agriculture companies are planning to release a flurry of studies warning cap and trade will lead to higher food prices.
- Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) told CNN last night that it was “irresponsible” for Democratic Rep. David Scott (D-GA) to blame racism for some of the town hall anger across the nation.
WHY I AM A LIBERAL
The way I look at it is -
WE are ALL Part of a society
and it is the RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SOCIETY
TO TAKE CARE ALL OF ITS MEMBERS.
It is EASIER for US to CARE for ALL Members
that TRY to decided
WHO deserves help and support
and who doesn't.
LVKen7@Gmail.com
Okay, so when will you begin to report on which Conservatives and how much THEY are spending on their smear campaign of Obama and anything he is trying to accomplish? Is there some balance you can achieve here?
The debates over the Obama Socialist Health Bill is akin to inhabitants of a home that burglars have invaded, debating how much and what they should be allowed to steal! There is no justification for either.
While the rhetoric/debate/arguments abound regarding health care reform, the people who really frighten me are the so-called bio-ethicists. Ezekial Emmanuel, Peter Singer and others of their ilk need to be exposed. These are the last people I want to have any influence over anything in this country, especially health care. I guess that my thirty six year old Downs Syndrome niece should not be cared for as well these perfectly "normal" people. Dr. Emmanuel should pay a little more attention to a doctor who seemed to have similar ideas. I believe his name was Josef Mengele. Didn't he have some ideas about who should live and who should die. Please make sure the American people know about these men and their ideas. Thank you for your work.
The FED monitizing the Debt scares me worse than all this. The health care we have currently is the best in the world. "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"
Want to fix Medical Malpractice Law Suites, easy, "loser pays".
I received a phone call this morning that shows how desparate the White House is getting. The ID showed private caller but the man said he was from the DNCC. He specifically asked for me and let me know that all must get together to help pass the energy and health reform bills. I told him that I had worked in health care for 15 years and I know you cannot take on the whole system at one time; it would be a disaster. He tried to argue but I said good bye. Why not help those in most need first (Americans); both the uninsured and the underinsured.
Here is your choice, America;
1)Socialism, national or international (flip a quarter for your flavor), which Lenin says leads no where but to Marxist communism.
2) Your Constitution.
Make up your mind. Are you going to be Americans, or something else?
There is no compromise between a free man and a slave.
I received an e-mail about health care reform this morning from the white house. I didn't ask for a reply to any of my e-mails I send them. Why are they contacting me. I don't like their agenda. I don't want cap & tax, national health care. I am sorry they are ruining our economy, stealing all of our money, every decision that comes out of Washington is against the American people. We are NOT going to change our minds, not matter how many e-mails they send us.
First. Why is it when a conservative makes a statement or contradicts something said by the White House of Democrat the result is smear.
Government has no business, Congress and the Senate plus the White House have proven most of them aren't responsible adults and have no business being involved in this type of discussion. THEY CAN'T RUN A BUSINESS – PERIOD.
Stop the debate, what happened to working with the major PRIVATE insurance companies instead of making them the bad guys.
FREE MARKET DOES WORK.
M.
This country is broken!!! These incumbent politicians seated in the house and senate are mind-numb Obama-bots who vote in lock step with this "progressive" administration. I'm a newly self proclaimed "conservative activist" who will campaign against my district's seated congressman named Dave Obey with every fiber of my being! Dave Obey blindly voted for the Waxman cap and trade bill recently, he will vote for this medical takeover bill, and has a voting record that proves his reckless regard for his constituency. His response to my phone calls and emails consisted of a letter essentially telling me that even though we don't agree, he knows best!
I received the same type of response from my two progressive senators; Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl. This country's financial insanity must stop and desperate repair to our great country is needed!!! We need hope and change from this pretend presidents "hope and change"!
To my brothers and sisters in Wisconsins 7th district; if we each convince 2 persons who did not vote in the last election to vote, we can take back OUR house seat that Dave Obey occupies.
Congressman Obey-you work for us! We will defeat you and send you packing! To our senators; I will do everything I can to inform my brothers and sisters of this state that you have been seated in OUR seats too long, you incumbents are part of the problem, not part of the solution.
This 48 year old dog can learn new tricks; starting with political processes and continuing with keeping the public informed of your past voting records.
We Americans are still in charge of these politicians, lets keep it that way!!!
Personally, since the liberals are bent on suspending my 2nd Amendment rights, I suggest we seek to suspend the Free Press. Never in my life time have I felt so contraindicated from our representatives desires. Whom do our elected officials work for? The press, in order to enjoy the specific freedoms spelled out for them must be obligated to hold themselves to that implied contract of free press. If I were to go out and use a firearm in an felonious manner, I woulf rightfully lose that freedom. Therefore, if the press cannot use their right in the intended that right shoukd be forfeited. There has to be recourse We The People have to thwart fraudlent press and treasonous elected officials.
The constitution does not guarantee you health care. What it does say is you are given the natural right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The founding fathers limited the federal government’s power to those grated them by the states. If the states want to pay for its constituents health care it is well within their rights to do so. However the federal government is over stepping its bounds to require every state to do so with tax payer money.
Our members of congress are out of touch with what the American majority feel they must, as a charitable society, be willing to pay for. We are quickly becoming a socialist state because of the entitlement mentality.
Read your constitution! It is the greatest and easiest doctrine to understand that was ever written!!!! If we lose it… it will never again be duplicated.
This is a good thing but it is not time to rest. If they cannot get this passed, they will try something else. If we can keep putting up a resistance, we can hold them off until '10 and then VOTE THE BUMS OUT! Please find a solid respectable conservative candidate in your area and devote some time to helping them get elected.
Oh, and in the spirit of helping everyone, can we all pitch in and get Mr. Ken Jarvis of Las Vegas a plane ticket to CUBA so he can be with others of his kind and see what a UTOPIA he is promoting?
Andrew Hood is on facebook if interested in networking.
We need to start talking about the real reason behind Obama's healthcare plan. It's not about helping people who have no insurance. It's about Obama gaining control over one of the largest segments of private industry in his ultimate quest at total control over all our lives (socialism). If we let him have his way, he will destroy this country by compromising the values of freedom that our founding fathers granted us in the Constitution. It would be very naive to think that tyrants are a thing of the past. To the contrary. The history of mankind is one continues story of the quest for power. Just because we are America, doesn’t negate the fact that we can be concord from within by tyranny.
i have a question..isn't the danny kaye childrens hospital one of the best in the world?? and don't they take care of kids insured or not..and I think the mayo clinic is known through out our land as being the best as well..I bet we have the best ever when it comes to health specialist. however have you ever visited a va hospital..or know somebody that has been to one..they are run by who? and we want the same dopes to be in charge of the rest of the hospitals..no lets let the specialists who know what they are doing run health care.what has this country done for the last 250 years? survived.whats going to change ..more government isn't the answer!
It's not enough that the purple shirt SEIU is wielding night sticks, fists and kicks to honest demonstrators, now George Soros is once again using his wealth to bring down the process of free speech. Paid demonstrators are nothing new with the Left, but Soros' hiring through Craig's List is a blatant example of his USA-hating tactics. Allowing the system to work through free expression cannot be not allowed, for it threatens the agenda of Big Labor and this presidency.
I notice the first comment and would like to respond, if I may, all due respect. Please tell me what policy has Mr. Obama pursued that has our interest at the forfront? I cannot think of anything. He promised everything during the campaign. What has he delivered? Leadership is not giving away the store to promote good poll numbers. Transparency, College records, travel records, the list goes on. I have seen your President ridicule me and my like on national television, because we have the "nerve" to speak out. His statement, "I have excellent healthcare,this isn't about me…"Is the saddest thing I have heard from a President since…"that depends on your definition of the word is.."Bill Clinton.So please educate me. Thank You
Please define winning?
To Ken Jarvis in Las Vegas:
You're a liberal because you think that everyone else owes you something! My part in this society is to provide for my own, and then to grab my neighbors hand and help them "on their way" to working and helping themselves.
I've worked directly with the public "one on one" in their homes my entire life and one common thread among todays liberals; they think they are owed something!
Foolishness is no longer shameful!
The public needs to know that the AMA does not truly represent doctors and hasn't acted in their interests for a long time. It consists mostly of academicians and beauraucrats, who curry favor with politicians, sitting in cushy positions and not on the front lines treating the sick. The clinicians who treat you, do not generally support the AMA, and do not belong to it.
So, if Obama is not "misspeaking", as he did with AARP, and is using AMA "endorsement" to make you think the majority of Doctors are supporting his plan, he is again being disingenuous to say the least.
In Britain, in 1949, the leaders of the British Medical Society sold out their doctor members and were rewarded with cushy consultanships in return. Look at where BritCare is today!!! It is draconian in its clinical application and should not be emulated!
I wonder what Obama has promised the AMA leaders?
Many of the people showing up for the town hall meetings are simply now well informed, and wish to
know why Congress wants to jam through HR3200, without the people being allowed to weigh in.
It is apparent that radical fringes from both sides
of the aisle are desperately trying to influence the
outcome of health care reform.
Town hall meetings are buffered in the front rows by
Obamacare supporters and unionists. The so-called
right wingers are relegated to the back of the room,
and many are simply denied access.
Our democratic process is being abused by both sides. This makes no sense and only serves to further deteriorate the freedom of logigal debate
and resolution. The accusations, diatribe and silly
leftist rhetoric from 'responsible' legislators,
pundits and journalists is causing a maelstrom of
confusion and anger among the populace. This will,
in all likelihood, lead to the failure of any
meaningful debate on health care or ANY future
Congressional legislation. Trust has been eroded.
People are informed and angry. Enough is enough.
Many thanks to the leftist MSM, for they have unwittingly opened the floodgates for all of America
to see the truth behind the deception of the
Administration and Congress. America appears to be
waking up from its sorry somnambulance and the
Washington elites do not like it.
It appears progress is being made and our Congress is being reintroduced to the silent majority.
Just to make it easy for all citizens to let their Congressman know their concerns, would it be appropriate to publicly list the names of all those who voted for this Health Care bill with their home district and contact information?
Jerry S. Dickinson, Las Vegas, NV. writes:
Personally, since the liberals are bent on suspending my 2nd Amendment rights, I suggest we seek to suspend the Free Press.
That would include this forum. I am able to follow the thought process from the readership on this web site but disagree totally with suspending the constitution. I would hate to see this site closed.
I would also lose thenextright.com.
Mad-andy, Missouri writes: Oh, and in the spirit of helping everyone, can we all pitch in and get Mr. Ken Jarvis of Las Vegas a plane ticket to CUBA so he can be with others of his kind and see what a UTOPIA he is promoting?
What is implied by "his kind" ? I don't see that comment as heroic, necessary, proper or on topic in this forum.
A major player who will have a large voice in what any health care reform looks like is the American Bar Association and it's members and we have heard nothing from them or about them. There is no talk of any legal reform as part of keeping health care costs down in any of the bills currently out there. I am sure that any reform the Democrats produce will have as its main priority maintaining the profits of this group w/ actual health care way down the list. I don't see the ABA ever allowing the Democratic party, who they have bought and paid for, to impliment any kind of single payer sociailized medical system that might take medical malpractice off the table as a profit center for them. I believe this is what President Obama was refering to when he said that the U.S. would never have a system like Canada's. We will never have a system where lawyers can't sue doctors and insurance companies. I believe those on the left who have a Canadian type single payer system as their utopian dream will end up being very disappointed in what the ABA will allow the Democratic Party to impliment.
My answer to Liberal Posters:
My first duty is to my FAMILY, not to my neighbor. It is my DUTY to care for my family and only my family. It is my DECISION whether or not to take care of my neighbor, not my DUTY. The only time it becomes my DUTY to take care of my neighbor is if an enemy invades our shores. Then it is everyone's duty (except that most Liberals will surrender)!
What is equally disturbing to me is the new information out now about page 838 of the House bill written about in an article by Chuck Norris. He says this: "The bill says that the government agents, “well-trained and competent staff,” would “provide parents with knowledge of age-appropriate child development in cognitive, language, social, emotional, and motor domains … modeling, consulting, and coaching on parenting practices,” and “skills to interact with their child to enhance age-appropriate development.”
So now we are putting debt on our grandchildren, crippling our country's freedoms and health choices, and now we are going to let the government parent our children? No way!
The people of this country have grown use to the idea that the government will provide for them. We need to realize that we only provide for ourselves, and that includes health care. The dems keep saying that all people have a :right" to health care, I have not seen this in the Constitution, people only have the right to obtain healt care and insurance to help pay for it. I have worked 50+ years and paid my way, why do others now expect me as an older tax payer to pay for them?????
Noone wants to or will except the idea that they or responsible for themselves, it is easier to shift the blame for hard times to others, as the responsiblity to take care of theirselves and families. This country can not go the way of a socialist medicine and expect to surive. The debt is already out of reach for most of our liftimes, and will be past on to the future, Of course this only depends on the hard working person that is willing to sacrafice their future for this country.
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS, EXCEPT THAT SOMEONE ELSE WILL NOT PAY THE WAY FOR YOU.
It seems that the thrust of this article is more worried about hurting the Republican Party. The Republican party is as responsible for this mess as anyone. I could care less at this point about the Republican party, I am worried about me and my kids and grandkids. This healthcare crap has to be stopped now and the republicans are worried about me hurting their image, someone give them a pill…………..
Thanks Ken on the explanation or justification of why you supported corrupted power coerced through mandated government force than chosen earned value with compassion and care given from those that are not only willing but able to offer service freely.
It is always easier to allow government power to destroy freedom, liberty, Independence, earned value and merit by allowing them absolute power over moral decisions that have been the heart and soul of all great free people.
Your surrender to socialisms virtues and naiveté and the results of that surrender are exactly what is before us with the health care fraud.
No government can insure safety, health value or merit without first protecting the freedom of the people to deny, that is right deny such service first.
Freedom, liberty and self proclaimed earned value are the merits of a noble people who respect self worth and each others shared struggle through life; only the uneducated willing to sacrifice work, effort and human value would suggest that it is easier to allow the BUREAUCRATS power over personal choice and perceived value.
You eloquently state the obvious, that it is easier to surrender to government decisions, when it is life decisions your are fully surrendering, for even those you do not know. Liberalism should not be an excuse to surrender free will because you yourself can't make the hard choices, because in doing that you surrender other peoples right and privilege to choose thee own path.
This American argument is a defining moment in our history; will we cave in to the weaknesses of those that find it easier to sacrifice other peoples money, value and merit so the government can impose a system it can't design without the usual highly inefficient government bureaucratic waste, ineptitude and increased debt and future irreversible faults. Or will the people be protected from the decision to ingratiate the powerful to enslave all to its will and erase courage dignity and independence.
Socialism is the religion of atheists who would like to apply their guilt onto a government program at the cost of even those they do not want to join the faith. No religion is so callous but those that form themselves into governments and enslave even those who are not of their faith.
Hope and pray that is the case. Would be great if truth prevailed, rather than the lies, deceit and deception of the Democrats and their dupes.
Mr. Jarvis,
I was pleased to read your comments, in part, saying:
"The way I look at it is- WE are ALL Part of a Society and it is the RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SOCIETY TO TAKE CARE ALL OF ITS MEMBERS It is EASIER for US to CARE for ALL Members that TRY to
decided(?) WHO deserves help & support and who doesn't."
I'm glad to hear you are against abortion and against health care rationing.
What charity organizations do you contribute to, and do volunteer work for? I'm sure they are all grateful for your help. Keep up the great work.
EVERYONE SHOULD SEEK OUT A COPY OF ALDOUS HUXLEY'S "BRAVE NEW WORLD". IT WILL OPEN YOUR EYES TO THE FUTURE!
READ: STANDING ON TRUTH, TX COMMENT ABOVE.
I like myself and millions of hard working people contributed to Medicare all of our working lives to be covered for our medical needs if needed . All of a sudden they want to take this benefit away. Guess what every body better wake up & smell all the STINK this health reform bill has and stop it immediately before we all get the SHAFT!!
I am so discusted with our presant government! WE THE PEOPLE WILL NOT STAND FOR IT!!! The Dem's and the Republican's are loser's! I want to keep the money I work so hard for! The Fed was made to help the states,not dictate to us. They need to use the same system they try to make us use. And did anyone ever teach them to read? I live for our constitution pur founding fathers made for us,not some white wash our presant gov decides to give us. Seems like they're committing treason in my eyes. Get rid of the progressives then our problem will be pretty much solved.
Dear Mr Jarvis, "Why I am a Liberal"
Your opening statement:
'The way I look at it is -
WE are ALL Part of a society
and it is the RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SOCIETY
TO TAKE CARE ALL OF ITS MEMBERS".
This encapsulates the most fundamental of differences between modern American Liberal (PC driven) thought and Conservative Thought.
To the conservative, first comes Individual Responsibility and a basic belief that one's Individual Rights end at the end of his neighbor's nose.
Only when tragedy or misfortune happens does the community have "obligations" to help the victims. These "obligations" have traditionally been taken care of at the Community level. This took the form of Church, Salvation Army, Red Cross and other private agencies depending on the nature of the "problem".
It has been only in the second half of the 20th century and on into today that Liberal Existentialism and The Collective has become the political wave of the future.
Now, Individual help and responsibility to aid the unfortunate through personal charity is being replaced by a Collective need to aid all "Victims" of Societal Behavior as defined by the Social and Political leaders of this society.
Therein lies the fundamental difference between Liberal and conservative:
Liberalism = Societal Responsibility, you are your brothers keeper.
Conservatism = Individual Responsibility and the recognition of one's brother's right to privacy.
These two viewpoints are not reconcilable.
In the current political climate "Crossing the aisle" and bipartisanship is just not going to hack it. Those Republicans that continue down the road trod by Snowe, Spectre, Graham, McCain, Collins, et.al. are going to lose.
More than anything else at this time I hope that Conservative Americans from all walks of life will stand up and make their "individual" voices heard in such a manner as to drown out completely the Collective (read: Marxist, Fascist) "Bill of Goods" being trumpeted by the Obama gang (czars and all) and its drooling Congressional and Media "Lapdogs"
TownHalls and Tea Parties Rock!! The "real crooks" are showing up and the close ties between ACORN, the SEIU, Community Organizers, G. Soros, Bill Ayers, the teaching of Saul Alinsky, the "Chicago Machine" , the Obama "puppets" and the "string pullers" are showing their "collective" hands.
PC is Thought Control
LEE
The voters go to the polls, we vote, 535 people make the decisions for all of us. Most of those vote for what benefits their friends and their pockets. They get all kinds of perks. They wheel and deal but not for the average family. They don't even want to listen to us. We are suppose to be boss. I want to see one of them come forward with a plan to fight for tort reform, take away their insurance program, (let them be one of the people) cut out all pork and most of all throw out all the voting rolls and start anew. When I signed up to vote I went to the town hall signed cards had to show proof and also read a few lines before I was allowed to be placed on voter roll. We are so far down the road now with voter fraud we are now going to have the same group taking our census True Americans are waking up and we need to show we are the boss and we will vote for people who will respect us. Listen to our idea's.
Since this is a healthcare issue let's treat the solution like a healthcare solution.
When a new treatment or drug is proposed, the medical community doesn't just throw it out into the general public without testing first.
First we will run a small test. Since we own the car companies let's put all the autoworkers on the new healthcare. If that is successful we can put all the NEA members on it. And for our last big test we can put all public employees, including the Legisative, Administrative and Judicial branches of Government, into the system.
If all these tests are successful then we can try it for all Citizens, and I do mean Citizens only.
During a tour of the Dept.of agriculture Nikita Khruschev remarked to Sec. of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson that communism would eventually consume democracy. Benson replied that Americans would never accept such a drastic change in their form of government as communism. Khruschev then told Benson that it was already beginning to happen.
He said that Americans were being fed one small bite of communism at a time, and that over the course of several years, Americans will have accepted so many communistic ideals, including a massive and uncontrollable federal government, that one day we would wake up to discover that we are a democracy only in name – that our policies and methods of government will be communist in nature. Khruschev concluded that it will be the slow injection of socialist/communist principles into America – not nuclear missiles – that would destroy our nation.
That was during the Eisenhower administration and since then Khruschev's dire prediction has come closer and closer to fruition. The federal government, at their discretion, randomly audits taxes, puts liens on private property, confiscates possessions, and spies on their own citizens NOW. This is not some Bladerunner, 1984, Brazil, Fahrenheit 451 fantasy movie. This IS our lifetime and to see it, all you need to do is open your eyes and stop thinking that this administration only has your best interests at heart. The #1 tactic of the classic con-game is to gain the mark's unyielding trust. Our present administration brings us closer to the edge of that cliff than all of the previous administrations combined.
This issue (health care reform) may very well need to succeed, but, only at the state level. On the federal level, it is unconstitutional as is medicare and social security.
The preamble to the U.S.Constitution authorizes the national government to PROVIDE for the common defense, but only PROMOTE the general Welfare. The founding fathers meticulously chose the wording of the document and used both words, so they surely knew the difference between them. That means that the federal government may recommend, encourage and even go so far as to write a suggested health care bill to forward on to the individual states, but it is NOT authorized to pass that legislation on a national level. PROVIDING general Welfare is the responsibility of the individual states, according to their individual state constitutions.
Programs such as Social Security and Medicare, unconstitutional as they are, are already in place, so eliminating them abruptly would create havoc, but they are very poorly administrated. They are the type of inspired ideas that make this country great, but their implementation has proven, over the years, to be an increasing drain on the economy at the expense of the taxpayer.
Just because we have let our predicament get this far does not mean we have no choice but to let it continue. You boil a frog by putting it in a pot of cold water and slowly bringing up the heat. The frogs don't even twitch, they just cook.
Pingback: » Financial News Update - 08/13/09 NoisyRoom.net: Where liberty dwells, there is my country…
Hospital pharmacist for 22 years. My thoughts
1. Put the 1000 page Health Care Bill out on a Wiki on the Web and let the American people have at it. Sort of like "open source" legislation. I don't understand completely how that works but I know it can be edited and I would love to see what we end up with. Bet we amateurs could write a leaner more understandable and definitely fairer health care bill than they can.
2. Where are the Republicans? They are like little whipped dogs waiting for a bone to fall off the table then they all fight over it. The Dems are setting the agenda, the tempo, the rhetoric of this debate. By the time the Repubs react the Dems are onto the next attack. What a bunch of amateurs! Let's see them start taking the fight to them. Where is your plan RNC?
3. TV is dead except for entertainment, newspapers are dead. The best info and news is coming from the internet. Let's see the conservatives start laying the groundwork to use it effectively. How? One way is to use the Fairness Doctrine against the Dems by unbundling cable TV, a la carte channels, I buy what I want to buy to watch on TV. Call it local control so I don't have to get CNN in my basic package, watch how fast those stations fizzle.
Hop on internet TV. The next and most democratic(small d) way to get unbiased information.
My beloved fellow Americans —- LET'S LIFT UP OUR VOICES LOUDER AND LOUDER !!!! As Dumbocratic rhetoric sinks lower and lower into the slime of prevarication, the still held precious ideals of Constitutional Americans shine brighter and brighter. We can overcome this travestry if only we will demand to be heard and speak up LOUDLY – and in unity of spirit. The COMMUNISM that Mr. obama is attempting to foist upon us has a dismal history of not working. THE ONLY PLACE COMMUNISM CAN EVER WORK IS IN HEAVEN — AND THEY DON'T NEED IT THERE !!!!
I received one of those unsolicited emails from Axlerod at the WH. I did respectfully reply to it. I have suspected for some time that I'm on some sort of WH 'watch list' as I blog about the Health Care bill and Cap and Trade, offering my own opinions against them. I asked the President to agree to disagree with me. I was shocked to find that Major Garrett of Fox News had been queried by many others who received such email from the WH without prior solicitation. I firmly believe that with the capabilities of surveillance aps that the WH is quite capable of making sure that any one of us is silenced by many methods. I await the next surprise.
We need health care reform…we do not need government control of health care.
If the government would opt out and let the competitive market compete it would work itself out. Why does the government not allow the individual member tax deductions if they buy health care but allow businesses to take tax deductions for this priviliege??????? This health care bill being bulldozed through is an abomination and goes against everything this country stand for….freedom of the indivdual.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but you are not winning the debate. You are simply stopping the Dems from passing their version. As for the Republican solution, no one knows what it is. So get out there and tell people what it is.
Hopefully it isn't just tax cuts. But a real solution like tort reform or reform of anti-trust laws and the abolition of price controls.
Mr. President, with all due respect, you and those under your thumb and beyond, are out of touch with reality.
Here's a bumper sticker for us: Warning: Extremists armed with knowledge and truth.
Danger to all government members afraid to face the truth of this corrupt government's actions. Now serving those government deems extremists. By government's own ignorance and refusal to tell the truth. Who's government title has taken on the position of intolerance of truth and knowledge, Steadfast to mislead all.
I've got just one question to ask all of you;
Can I have your Medicare if you don't want it?
Health Care reform is not communism, the for profit system has exploded in it's costs and is offering you less and less coverage. Please stop and think about what you are supporting. We all are scared and frustrated with what has just happened to us with the economic melt-down and we don't know where to vent our anger. Please don't take it out on Health Care. The bible tells us to take care of the sick, I just don't know how you can defend what is transpiring within the subordinate culture in this country and not want to help. If we don't do something, this country will go down the tube.The American democracy that I know and love is kinder than that. Rest assured, the truth is going to come out.
I will confine my comments to the cap and trade fiasco, the most stupid proposal ever conceived by our Government. Ostensibly it is supposed to save the world from AGW, man caused climate change due to our use of hydrocarbon fuels, supposedly producing quantities of carbon dioxide in our air. This is a brazen lie, the byproduct of brain dead enviros who never researched the history of ancient climates. They would have found that never has there been an extinction due to a warming event, even when CO2 reached over 10 times todays values during the 100+ million year reign of the dinosaurs. Somehow, starting about 20 years ago, our Gov't was persuaded to begin research on some way that CO2 could be a hazard to mankind. Competitive Enterprise Institute reports today that over $30 billion has been expended on pure science research."No one has been able to point to a single piece of empirical evidence that CO2 has a significant effect on the global climate." (CEI) Our great leader can hardly wait to begin spending trillions of dollars on a non-problem!! This is the
fallacy of idiotic policy trumping science. There is
no reason whatever to rush into adopting green energy, we have 100 years to do this in a orderly and cost effective manner without breaking the back of our great country.
I am a 67 yr old medical social worker; 12 yrs as nursing home administrator, 10 yrs as hospital case manager and discharge planner, 1 yr dialysis social worker, and recently, 5 years as home health social worker. Doctors, nurses, social workers, most medical professionals currently 'counsel' patients of all ages on end of life issues because we are required by law, to ask everyone if they have Advanced Directives.
That question leads us into various types of end of life discussions, from "how do we want to do this, ie. ventilator or not, tube feeing or not, etc " to organ donations . Almost every time a patient is seen, they are given this opportunity. So, I ask, why now under "reform", will the same thing (supposedly) be 'required'. This has been going on for years and is nothing new. Besides, it was never a covered expense, just required, and now it will be an additional expense!! Where are the people who wrote this into the bill? Not very knowledgeable, which detracts from their credibility.
The Medicare paperwork that professionals have to complete to meet "government" guidelines is phenomenal. Same with VA patients. Paperwork that often stalls treatment. The criteria that Medicare requires for Hospice patients alone is often ridiculous. One of my ALS patients was dropped from Hospice services because he was "doing too good" for a brief period of time. I don't know of too many ALS patients who are lucky enough to be "too good" to have services. But that is government run. Another of my patients is and has been bedbound due to failure to thrive and her labs just aren't "bad enough" yet for Hospice to be covered. And the rest of us who aren't afraid of being reported, have thousands and more stories like that.
To Ken in Santa Barbara,
I believe the Constitution is strong enough to withstand any Con Man that comes along, Our problem now is the Liberals have plotted and planned to a fine degree their strategy. Mr Obama appears on a video while a Senator making the statement enough hasn't been done toward equality in this country. He wants it done on a multi faced front Legislative and Judicial. To me that is jumping the circuit of our checks and balances. My reference to suspending any rights is strictly a comparision. As I understand the Constitution inalienable right by our creator is not to be managed by any man. That is the fight
Mr. Jarvis, if you were the only person on earth, who would take care of you? That's right, Mr. Jarvis, you would. Please stop demeaning human life. In general, we all have the innate ability to take care of our personal selves and America had the private sector to aid in the ability.
Of all the population in this country, there are a few who do not have the ability. Those few are aided by family. If no family, should be the only ones aided by society.
The reform should focus on benefits for the elderly and for the future of all who pay and have paid from their income checks by force of the government.
Many people who can take care and do for themselves but don't, are some of the ones that implemented this as a "crisis."
Have some dignity, Mr. Jarvis. Respect and acknowledge those who do. Build the strength of those who don't.
The history of government disrespect, degradation, bias, discrimination, racism and corruption means this is a gold mine for profit, giveaways and bankruptcy.
Private sector corruption is found out and penalized. Government deceives, steals and covers-up much.
Has President Obama read the healthcare reform bill in its entirety himself and if this so called healthcare reform is so good for the country, then why isn't it good enough for Congress and the President? President Obama needs to lead more by example and less with his mouth!
When Obama was campaigning for election, he used paid volunteers such as young people, people without jobs and union activists to rally and hold signs. These people had nothing to lose and and could earn a buck while raising hell.
Now, Obama is talking to the grownups who have a lot to lose as their life savings, their 401k savings, their pensions and the future of their children and grandchildren. Big difference. He can't BS the grownups. They have been there.
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Lets be clear with any official we speak with,that we are not debating single items of the HR3200. Emphasise we are against any and all plans of Government take over of our Health Coverage. FIX that which is broken, clear up the free rides and leave us all alone.
Interstate coverage is tricky as economics of each state is different, costs of living are different.
Each sate has an Insurance Department that governs the Insurance industry. They have to clean up their ghosts in the closet and tighten their own inforcement regulations.
You'll be sorry if this health care goes through!!
I've read every blog posted here and have not saw even one Real Idea on how to fix the problem. Folks, use your phones, write letters, send e-mails. Bury your respective congressional leaders under reams of paper, keep them so busy answering their phones and screening their e-mail that they will have to come to the realization that someone out there is going to vote them out of office if they don't wake up. While you're at it do the same to the television networks and newspapers that seem to be owned by this administration.
Just remember, "don't just complain, hit them with constructive critism (Read the bill, find something you don't like, tell them why, and recommend a solution.)
Darn, that's too hard. If you really think so then our country is truly doomed. If enough of us put our heads together we can make a difference.
The Heritage Foundation has the infrastructure. We the People need to step up and be Americans. Forget race or nationality. Just true Americans!
Al from Jackson has a good idea,but unfortunately
they turn off their answering systems and shutdown
their e-mail
Be careful about believing that we are winning the healthcare debate. Until the the Democrat platform is to increase access to private health care and reduce federal involvement in Medicare and Medicaid the right must stay on the offensive. The left is intent on total victory….. one battle at a time. Many of the ideas included in the current legislative proposals are put there as a distraction to focus our attention away from the left's real agenda. They are conceding items that they didn't really want…..this time.
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