The LuLac Edition #905, Aug. 12th, 2009
SNAPPLE "REAL FACT" #868, Thomas Jefferson invented the coat hanger.
PHOTO INDEX: OUR HEALTH CARE REFORM LOGO.
NO CHALLENGES!!
Independent candidate for County Controller Wil Toole got some good news yesterday in the form of no news. Apparently there were no challenges filed to his petitions to get on the ballot for the November election. Toole had obtained hundreds of more signatures just in case there were some questions. There weren’t and the Pittston Area resident will face off against Democrat Bob Morgan and Republican Walter Griffith, Junior.
CITIZEN THUGS
The Health Care debate is now entering a surreal arena. I have always contended that while every American has the right to vote, I’m pretty glad when most of them don’t. A recent survey said that over 1/3 of those questioned were surprised to learn there were three branches of government. I am personally astounded at the abject ignorance of some of the people who are attending these town meetings on health care. The lack of knowledge is one thing but the lack of respect is appalling. While everyone has a right to disagree with public officials, using them as punching bags in public is something else. Take a look at the Town Meeting Senator Arlen Specter conducted in Lebanon yesterday.
To the people who are castigating President Obama on his policies, here are my questions. Who voted for him in 2008? Certainly not the vocal minority that’s coming out to these meetings. And if they did vote for him by chance, exactly what were they expecting? One of the cornerstones of his campaign was reforming health care. The lies being told smack of desperation. Death panels, rationing of care and killing off old people. Please! Only fools would take something like that seriously and judging from the town meetings I’ve seen, these fools are mighty loud. American people in the abstract are a generous people, in the concrete, we are selfish. Health care reform can bring out the best in this country but like many of the huge social changes we’ve experienced, like say Civil Right, we have to drag people kicking and screaming until they’ll concede it is a good thing. And after all these years, that’s pretty sad.
posted by David Yonki @ 12:26 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
David:
There are those who believe that all of the turmoil over health care, including the anger apparent at many forums and town halls, is manufactured by a right wing conspiracy.
I don't think so.
While I personally think all debate on health care should be done in a rational, civilized way, what we are seeing is an indication of just how precarious a situation our country is in.
The average American is being pushed into a corner.
One in four Americans are upside down on their mortgages... they owe more than their houses are worth. That number will creep to nearly a third next year.
Unemployment is high. While I welcome the small drop in July, I think there are some really nasty months ahead. I also think the "real" unemployment rate is higher than the government numbers, which excludes those forced to find part-time work or who are no longer looking for work. Mix the mysterious "business birth-death" adjustment into the numbers, and it is really difficult at times to figure out just exactly what the unemployment rate is. I accept the government's numbers...I don't think there is a conspiracy here; any flaws in the modeling have been there a while. But there are enough variables in there that only a sustained drop in unemployment will put Americans at ease.
And Americans are decidedly NOT at ease.
Those who are working are putting in more hours for less money. Along with the destruction of their primary source of wealth...the value in their homes...their retirement funds have taken a beating. Their retirement planning has come to this: Keep working, if a job can be found.
Add into this mix the government pushing health care reform, and the potential exists to ignite the tinderbox created by an economy that was essentially Chernobyled last year. Americans perceive Congress, tucked away behind the Beltway, as being out of touch with the average American. Those without health care need something. But those with health care perceive that they are about to take yet another hit. A hit they cannot afford.
I fear that the anger coming to the surface in America is far deeper than Washington realizes. I fear that at some point there will be an act of violence connected to the health care issue that stuns this nation.
We are a fractious lot, we Americans. In good times, we put most of our differences aside. Times are not good. Many Americans feel personally threatened by the zombie economy we live in, one in which their personal wealth has been savaged and their standard of living has fallen.
And now, government will "fix" their health care. As Ronald Reagan said, the most terrifying words in the English language are: "... I'm from the government, and I'm here to help."
Why is it that anti-war protesters who disrupt are always lauded as heroes and those that have a believe in the individual are branded in negatives? I guess when you agree with the protesters you cheer them?
F&*k all this. The American experiment is over and it is a failure. Mankind is not ready for freedom and self-reliance.
Amusing above all else is that most of the toothless morons screaming the loudest against health care reform are the ones who need it the most. Worse yet, most of these rectums are not registered voters and haven't cast a ballot in years.
The mere mention of socialism has these twits all in a knot, although damned near all of them will collect or are collecting SOCIAL Security.
A nation of dolts? No, just too goddamned many hard-right Republicans who despise anything Democratic, and more disturbingly, despise the literally changing face of America, while most all of them are grandchildren of immigrants.
Ronald Reagan? Please, he's the man most singularly responsible for the drastic right turn this country took all those years ago. Probably the worst president we ever had.
Basic economics tells us that if you INCREASE the demand for something ("free" health care) while REDUCING the supply (medical professionals being paid a fair 'salary') then availability becomes scarce. If a medical student can't pay for his schooling, do we really expect him to continue?
No difference between this and the outsourcing of tech support to India or the "tickle me Elmo" toy runs during Christmas.
Medicare/Medicaid is approaching bankruptcy (paying up to 10x the what a reasonable profit would be for pharms and services) yet we want those running it to provide our health care? Not ME!!!
Look how our judges "helped" us with our kids.
BTW after my initial shock over Reaganomics and the jump in income taxes things settled down, business got good and I made more money (and kept more of it) than ever in my life up to that point. Sure he wasn't perfect but everyone I know who got motivated did very well. My money had value.
Not sure why 9:45's so bitter - maybe a little dash of Fox News Channel might help. ;>)
Post a Comment
<< Home