During the eight crap-filled years of the Bush administration, conservative friends would ask me if I would be as critical if Bush were a Democrat.The answer, of course, is fuck no. There are plenty of right wing critics who blast anyone to the left of Himmler and reporters who happily sucked up to Republicans when they were in power. They don't need my help. Let 'em write their own damn blog.
But here's something that sets my hair on fire. I worked my ass off to help get a Democratic majority and when the Senate convenes a roundtable to discuss health care they invite a passel of fucking insurance weasels to give their thoughts on what reform should look like.
Let me guess. More ways to deny coverage (saves money!) and the right to kick any American at any time, square in the goolies.
Here's who the Democrats invited:
Stuart M. Butler of The Heritage Foundation (the fucking Heritage Foundation)
John Castellani of the Business Roundtable (yay business)
Gary Claxton of the Health Care Marketplace Project (the key word here is marketplace)
Donald A. Danner of the National Federation of Independent Business (yay more business)
Jennie Chin Hansen of (insurance-peddler-in-disguise) AARP
Karen Ignagni of America’s Health Insurance Plan (wonder what side she's on)
Bruce Josten of the Chamber of Commerce (son of more business)
Scott Serota of Blue Cross and Blue Shield (can't have too many insurance reps)
These and a supporting cast of assorted lobbyists, hacks, sycophants, toadies and fluffers, but not one supporter of a single-payer system. Not one.
And when 8 brave souls stood up to protest this sham, they were arrested. By Democrats.
I expect blatant fellating of insurance oligarchs from Republicans, but we voted for something different from Democrats. Fuckers.
Can you imagine having this conversation without one representative of business or insurance present? It would never happen. So I'm asking you to look at this list of Senators on the committee and call any or all of them and tell them, put single-payer on the table. Even if you think it's a bad idea, it's something that should be part of the discussion.
Arkansas: Blanche Lincoln - (202)-224-4843
Delaware: Thomas Carper - (202) 224-2441
Florida: Bill Nelson - (202) 224-5274
Massachusetts: John Kerry - (202) 224-2742
Michigan: Debbie Stabenow - (202) 224-4822
Montana: Sen. Max Baucus - (202) 224-2651
New Jersey: Robert Menendez - (202) 224-4744
New Mexico: Jeff Bingaman - (202) 224-5521
New York: Charles Schumer - (202) 224-6542
North Dakota: Kent Conrad - (202) 224-2043
Oregon: Ron Wyden - (202) 224-5244
Washington: Maria Cantwell - 202-224-3441
West Virginia: Jay Rockefeller - (202) 224-6472
I still believe there's a difference, even if it's small, between Republicans and Democrats and since the Republican party has shrunk to a tiny band of angry old fist-shaking white men, this makes the Democrats, for now, the only game in town. But this shit plays into every cynic's view of American politics. And I don't want to be a cynic.
So pick the people you want to call and let them know that single payer should have a place at the table.
If for no other reason than to piss off those grasping insurance assholes.
4 comments:
The health insurance business is really very simple, and I don't understand why more Americans don't graspe the concept of millions of people bending over and grasping their ankles all at the same time. The insurance industry in the US can be summed up in two sentences... Give us your money. No, you can't have ANY of it back. Ever notice how similar politics and insurance are?
Dread
Good for you, Davey 3x's.
Good for you.
I could care less about the republican party, it can shrink into oblivian. I am not a republican, I am a conservative and according to a recent USA Today poll we are the largest voting block in the US. 40% of americans identify themselves as Conservative. Only 21% consider themselves liberal. Say what you will about Rush and Sean, but they have the conservative movement energized and this liberal/socialist/statist government we are currently suffering under will be short lived. Bank it.
...and I think I will call all of these Senators and tell them if they have any damn sense at all they will find a free market solution to healthcare. Not a government one. Rememeber the Free Market? It's the very thing that made the US the most powerful nation in HISTORY! We need single-payer (UNIVERSAL) healthcare like we need ANOTHER hole in our heads.
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