ReElectNoOne's Comments (58)

“The main roadblock to creating a health care system in America is and always will be greed. Private insurance companies own congress so don't expect anything to happen that will really help America citizens when it comes to health care. It has been tried for decades with out any progress.

The problem is everyone always turns to financial arguments so they can side step the real need for reform. Saving lives and keeping Americans healthy. Cost should not be an issue because with control over a run-away system the price can only go down, provided you can keep the sticky fingers of big insurance companies out of the pie. Why else is it we pay more for less than any other nation on the planet for health care? Why are we rated no better than 37th place with a higher infant mortality rate and shorter life span than many other developed nations who take care of their citizens?

Remember the government is not "them" it is "us" and we need to insist that the tax dollars we pay actually do some good for all of us, not just for a wealthy few. It is not our job to insure profits for private insurance companies.

In a word...greed.”

“A "general fund" would need to be funded from taxes everyone pays. If government levies a fine on you for not entering into a contract, you are being deprived of property and are entitled to due process.”

“"I signed no contract with the state obligating me to buy health insurance or to maintain my health according to Democrats' arbitrary standards."

Yes you did, when you signed your license tags, being insured is part of your legal agreement with the state in exchange for that license. That said I also don't believe a mandate will hold water in court because it involves a fine for not buying a private commercial product that does involve a contract, one you (a) cannot require the company to negotiate with you and (b) you cannot refuse to accept even if the terms don't meet your needs or wants. Today you at least have the option to refuse to sign any health care agreement if you don't like the terms and they won't alter them to suit.”

“Minority party?

Were you asleep all through the last 3 years?”

“"A mandate... There is an exemption for folks who can prove they can't afford to buy insurance."

Since there is a fine or penalty for NOT buying insurance the burden of proof MUST lie on the government to prove you can't afford to pay, not on the consumer to prove it. This would go along with our constitutional right to due process when the government tries to levy a fine or other penalty. Just another can of worms such as has become typical of Congress these days.

"No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law."

This "mandate" will also run afoul of our legal rights in contracts or agreements. What if I were to propose an amendment to a health plan contract and the insurance company refuses? Today I have the right to refuse to sign if we don't reach a mutual agreement. That is the basis of contract law. This "mandate" would seem to cripple citizens rights to negotiate contracts or refuse to sign one that does not meet their desires or needs. Forcing anyone to sign a contract to pay for services when the right to negotiate that contract is prohibited faces some interesting court challenges.

I suspect they just don't care because they have been bought and paid for by big insurance. Want to buy your own politician just for laughs? http://thingsithinkabout.info/buypoliticians.html”

“You have to hand it to some politicians. They are good at finding ways to screw Americans and at the same time support the wealthy who paid for their seats in office. Just one more trick.

So some Republicans like the idea. It does not matter because they won't vote for the reform bill anyway so the bottom line is they only want to propose this to delay reform, not to offer anything of benefit to citizens. Even with this amendment they will vote against reform, and their own amendment as a consequence.

Do they really think we are that dumb not to see what kind of foul trick they are playing on Americans.

Republicans, and some Democrats as well, are not about the best interests of their constituents, rather they are in office for three other reasons:

(a) personal agrandizement and
(b) to serve the masters who paid for their elections.
(c) secure themselves a future in big business when they leave Congress

Our interests are only of concern when seeking re-election. We need to think twice...then a third time before we send these same people back to Congress. They have proven not to be for the American middle class. Why do we think they will repent if we send them to serve another term?

//”

“Quoted: "We know the stimulus failed..."

Do all of these jokers speak out of both sides of their mouths! At the outset he says to use the unspent stimulus funds, then, after having admitted they have not yet used that money, claims the stimulus has failed?

Typical of the "do-nothing" party response to claim something still in its infant stage to be a failure then point blame and try to redirect those funds to pay for war, thus terminating our stimulus to buy bombs.

What is he trying to stimulate? Violence? War? Haliburton? ( Does Cheney have his stocks back yet? )

His party dug these holes now he complains that the new administration and his own congress have not yet fixed those problems Republicans spent the better part of eight years creating.

Bush started his term with a record surplus...He spent like a college kid with a gold card. Our card.

//”

“I can't help but get a chuckle ( and a shiver ) when I read the conservative counterparts to this site.

Case in point linked below...this site claims the same CBO says premiums will rise. But what is most un-nerving is the lack of intelligent posts by their readers. It saddens me the level of ignorance that pervades so many conservative blogs.

I think one of the primary problems in the US today is this ignorance. People are not just dumb...they seem proud of the fact that they won't allow truth to get in the way of their beliefs.

It is obvious why Corporate America loves to target these people...they are soooo easy !

http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?rsrcid=57820

We need to start exposing this ignorance by re-posting some of the stupidest things people say over there. LOL !”

“I have a question.

Was Sen. Mark Warner one of those in Congress who voted to pass a bill that failed to place conditions on the lending of the cash to the banks...for instance a REQUIREMENT that they start loaning money again??

These spending bills are written by and passed by Congress. So why were provisions not included to make sure no bank got money without agreeing to loan it back out to business? Better omit the important then blame the president I guess.

Stop passing the buck Congress...if you anticipated banks doing the right thing on their own, you are too dumb to hold that office. You should have written strict mandatory guidelines into the bill that loaned the money in the first place.

Now stop complaining and amend the law to REQUIRE banks use the cash in ways that help the economy of someone other than themselves.”

“Won't happen because it would stand in the way of their "power" but I believe that with the internet is should be mandated that EVERY bill be posted and open for public comments before it can be voted on in Congress.

Each voter should be able to post a comment using their voter registration number so they get one comment only. Those comments would be sent to their representatives based on their voting districts so those reps know what their own constituents think. Those comments should also be available for other viewers to see minus personal identifying information.

After the comment period is over the individual reps should then be required to post their response to their own constituents with regards to their intended vote and why.

Let the world know what Congress is proposing and what the people really think about it.

I see a future where an elected representative becomes pointless and where, because of technology, "We the People" can actually propose and vote on the laws we must live under.

( We need to fix a sad education system first of course )”

“You hit the nail on the head re. Republicans these days.

They really DO want it both ways as long as both of those ways are THEIR ways.

Republicans simply cannot be satisfied with anything unless they are in total control...then they make war and trample civil rights circa "Bush" years. Heaven forbid they actually DO anything positive for America other than whine how patriotic they are as they slash and burn the middle class and pass the spoils to the wealthy class.”

“We need to correct something in this and similar discussion re abortion rights. The present debate is really not about abortion rights but about federal funding of abortions. There is no debate that abortions are legal and currently protected by Roe v Wade.

What bothers me about the anti-health care crowd is the false labels they love to assign to everything to confuse people. The current situation with the likes of the Catholic Church is that they seem willing to trash health care for millions over a funding issue. They talk about being "pro-life" but don't seem the least bit concerned with the tens of thousands who die each year because they don't have health care.

They argue about FUNDING as if it is about RIGHTS. The two are not the same thing.

Near sighted policies could doom tens of thousands more to die over money. When it comes to the cash the Churches are no better than Congress about using finance as an excuse to allow the death toll to continue. It is NOT about money, it is about lives.

//”

“You have to remember who owns Congress and who is always put at the top of the line.

On the other hand we want them to live long enough to pay back the trillions in bail out money they took ( stole) from the taxpayers.”

“Can Obama pull a Bush and use republican tactics against the GOP. He should appoint his people as "interim" heads "pending confirmation" so the business of government can go on without obstructions.

Those on the right like to say government can't do anything right ... but consider it is the right blocking anything at all from being done.”

“I would love to see Blackwater contracts canceled. If there is cause to cancel Acorn contracts, so be it. But to punish them when no one has even been accused of or found to have violated any crime or rule yet is the most chicken-sh^t action Congress could take.

It amounts to shoot first ask questions later. Not how I want my Congress to do business because it puts every organization at risk.

You need to show grounds then proceed against the actual offender...not an entire organization that is otherwise doing good work. That just hurts more innocent people who had noting to do with the matter.

I think it is all part of the right-wing attack machine who want the government to fail us all for their own political gain.”

“For the GOP it was vindictive. For any Democrat who went along with it, which would be required given the minority status of the GOP, it was a weak kneed capitulation to the GOP.

This was a direct punishment absent any day in court to prove any actual wrong doing. Sadly it is the American way to punish first...we love the phrase, "Kill them all and let God sort it out."

Is this how we expect Congress to do business? Shoot first and ask questions later?

I am ashamed of all of them. The proper response is to investigate then punish only those who are found guilty of some infraction or criminal code.”

“Read the info again....It is for his efforts. No effort, nothing accomplished. He is still up against a loud mouthed group of GOP and right wing thugs who do nothing but obstruct his efforts. The likes of Rush Limbaugh who openly wish him to fail etc. The timing for the prize is perfect, not for the lack of progress but for the courage to try while others sit back and criticise everything without so much as an alternate plan.

I know what the Nobel commitee is thinking and you don't need to be a mind reader. They know what Obama hopes to accomplish and hear so many people trying to shout him down for what ever selfish reason.

This is a message the the world can understand. "Obama is trying where none other have, let him succeed for the sake of the world."”

“"[GOP] Chairman Michael Steele...Obama won the prize as a result of his "star power" rather than meaningful accomplishments."

Let's list those who have done there very best to block any accomplishments...Oh right. The GOP!

He did it despite their obstructionism. Had a Republican won I am 100% certain that Obama would be among the first to offer his congratulations.

Typical Republican....”

“Correct...our country does not have free trade or a "free market". Big corporations depend upon protections and non-interference from government to rake in billions at the expense of the middle class.

The very people shouting "free market" are constantly lobbying Congress for special consideration to protect their business from free markets.

How is it that insurance companies are exempt from anti-trust laws designed to protect the consumer from monopolies? Is that really "free market"?

Were trillions of bail out dollars "free market"...that was welfare as a reward for failure.

Wish I could get that.”

“You are partially correct...he is vary far RIGHT....too much so to claim to be a Democrat !”

“I smell a dirty trick in the works by Baucus and his cohorts.

While I believe we Americans should not be paying more for the same drugs that Canadians buy, this could be yet another trick to derail reform.

Why?

President Obama made a deal, like it or not, with big Pharma in exchange for them supporting reform. They spent millions on ads to support reform because of the deal. Perhaps it is not the best deal but without it the same Big Phama would have spent their money fighting reform, not helping.

Along comes Baucus with a plan to derail the deal...is he hoping that doing so will turn Big Phama against reform and get them to switch sides to help derail reform?

Do I put it past Baucus and his henchmen? Not for a second, because they work for the big insurance companies. Congress is just their side job!”

“Seems strange how normal "contract law" has been prohibited to the consumer by the government. If they want a contract so be it. But if I sign a contract for care that I pay for, no one has a right to deny me the contractual right to ask for what I want.

If government wants to foot the bill for me I won't argue about what they agree to pay big Pharma. But if I am the one paying the premium, how can some one else tell me I cannot negotiate drug prices?”

“With violence in mind I sent a request asking the FCC and the FBI to investigate Glen Beck's broadcasts based on their likely hood to incite violence as well as for distortions and out right lies on what Fox is promoting as "news". The complaint is not about first amendment, which does protect freedom of expression, but does not protect a news broadcaster from bias, lies and distortion when using public airwaves. My claim is that these poison talking heads are speaking over a logo that says "Fox News" and that, in doing so, they convey the impression that their hate speech is actually news.

I asked the FCC to demand Fox remove that logo from opinion shows and allow its use ONLY on actual news broadcasts that stay clear of bias and distortion as required by FCC rules...or lose their broadcast license.

I would love to see both the FCC and FBI flooded with complaints about shows like these that violate regulations on bias and distortions as well as inciting violent actions.

FCC said I should have received a response from Fox but so far no word from them.”

“It is easy to draw a line between Republicans and Democrats. It is not so easy to prove which side of that line Baucus should stand.

We know Republicans seldom do anything for the average American. They are the party of the rich who already have everything and who could not care less if anyone else gets anything. The rich have their death panels that apply to the rest of us already. It is in the hands of insurance companies who pull the plug on care when your disease becomes too costly even though you have paid your premiums.

The only response that helps the bottom 95% of Americans is the freedom to chose a national health plan, just as members of Congress already have access to...and for which we already pay for.

It is just easier for the right ( shame they got that name since they seldom are but then the rest of us do get "left" behind ) to close their eyes to any suffering so long as they are not the ones doing the suffering.

It is also a shame how successful they are at convincing people to vote and speak out against their own best interests. The right also loves a dumb voter I guess, which probably explains why most of the states with the worst education systems are traditionally "red" states.”

“Baucus is just playing a game. He is really supporting the Republicans by working so hard to let them appear to not compromising while offering a proposal designed to kill reform...just as the Republicans want.

In the days before the internet, people might have missed this slight of hand but no more. We know what Baucus is really about and it is not in helping Americans...it is about helping himself and his big insurance buddies who fund his campaigns.

There is no claim to morality that can be made by any politician who is voted in to protect the best interests of his constituents who gets elected by spending money in exchange for doing just the opposite. That is not public service, that is self-service.”