I Choose to See the Glass as Half-Full on Health Care

Hello Papamoka Bloggers! It's been a roller-coaster of a week trying to ride the ups and downs related to the health care debate in Washington and across the country right now. To be really honest, the reason it took me so long to post this week was due to extreme conflict within my own mind about how to react to events. I don't like to blog unless I feel well-informed and comfortable about an issue, and this one has pushed me to the limit.

First of all, I would like to say that I think the Republicans and a few bought-and-paid-for "conservative" Democrats are doing a great job lying about the health care debate. Like the president says, they are out there sewing fear hoping to terrorize the electorate. They are using every opportunity to skew the debate, distracting people from the real legislation.

It's sad to say that their tactics are working somewhat, since most of the national polls are showing a decline in support for the health care initiative overall, however, it's interesting to note that when the polls actually tell people what's in the primary legislation, the overwhelming majority of Americans favor it. It's also important to point out that most of the polls are misleading, manipulative and unworthy of reporting.

I don't wish to get into the nitty-gritty of the debate in this post seeing that I want to talk more about why we need to stay focused, but suffice it to say that after talking to a few Washington insiders this week I feel better about the delay and most of the legislation being debated in the House and Senate.

The bill forged by Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) led by Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) are very positive. Their work along with a few other Senate committees provide some kind of public option and clean-up most of what is wrong with the health care system in America. Hopefully the Senators will be able to find common ground during their August break.

We should be highly skeptical about the legislation coming out of Senate Finance led by Baucus (D-MT) and Grassley (R-IA) pushing for eliminating employee health benefits in favor of ineffective health cooperatives, but the good news from what I hear is they do not have the support of the majority of Democrats in the Senate.

I also hear they've earned a bit of a bad rep lately. The other Senators fully realize just how much health care industry money has been pumped into that committee, so much so that it's been embarrassing for many in the Senate. FYI, after working up there, Senators do keep an eye on their colleagues and donations - often looking for motive before a vote. They don't always like it when committees sellout to overzealous industry profiteers.

Donations from lobbyists work best when the amounts donated to each politician remain secret. When the process takes time and legal reporting leads to open accounting (past legislation thanks to Democrats), it can create conflicts between officials. There are signs it is beginning to happen in relation to the Senate Finance Committee, as some Washington insiders report many are tiring of Baucus and his industry friends.

There is also the fact that most of the committee chairs and co-chairs receiving the bulk of the money represent less than 3% of all Americans - a fact that sticks-in-the-craw of many elected officials.

The other side of this debate is - of course - the Republican lies. They are bigger and better than ever. Again, despite the August delay, I'm hearing good news from my friends in Washington. There are signs the Republicans may have gone too far once again. They may have "jumped the shark" in their opposition to health care. Many are reporting that their latest lies - the elimination of Medicare, loss of personal health care choices, and forced living wills and early death - may be one step too far to say the least.

It doesn't matter if Hannity, Limbaugh and others repeat the lies ad nausea, as long as they can easily be disproved. In the end, the lies themselves can ruin the credibility of the opposition.

The polls show that when Americans learn about the primary legislation, they support it. The bulk of the legislation goes far enough to solve most of our health care problems. The special interest groups have been spending millions on ads and the polls haven't changed that much. Most important, the president and others are willing to sacrifice their valuable political capital (something most politicians won't do) to get a bill. If the legislators spend August learning about the options and informing their constituents, then we may just have a chance to change the system come Fall.

To me, the glass is half-full. To me, the signs are pointing in the right direction.

It's easy to get discouraged these days when it comes to Washington, politicians, corporate greed and especially all the Republican lies. It's harder to actually do the heavy lifting, oppose the "ends justify the means" crowd" and fight the good fight. That's what we need our politicians to do. We need them to stay focused, and to ignore the ignorant rants of the uninformed. We need them to follow the president's lead, stay strong, and pass real health care reform for the majority of Americans who support it.

PS - Please consider contacting your elected representatives often to remind them we support real health care reform with a strong and effective public option.

Michael Boh

Papamoka's Left Coast Contributor
from Our Rants & Raves Blog

When In the Course of Human Events, It Becomes Necessary

Hello Papamoka Bloggers! Well, I attended another dinner over the weekend where a political debate broke out and the minority at the event offered the rest of us a political and sociological glimpse into just how unyielding America's Republicans are today.

We - Democrats - were trying to make our case that today's problems are too important to be ignored - the way they have been by the GOP (and Blue Dog Democrats) for decades, but we didn't go there. No matter how hard we tried to make our case for real reform where necessary - health care, energy, environment, finance and the rest - they would argue in fear of taxes. Of course, pointing out our historically low taxes didn't matter one bit.

Of course, the money their party already spent meant nothing to them - neither did the majority of the debt the GOP CREATED, to be brutally honest.

It was a tiresome experience. Though it seemed like a well-reasoned political evening where people actually listened to one another, the discussion went nowhere fast. Despite all our efforts, the Republicans that evening wouldn't give an inch. They wouldn't support us, the Democrats or Obama on any issue, or help solve any problem. They also offered us no solution of their own. They were hard-headed to the point of severe annoyance.

It's true, they didn't seem to think a plan was necessary. They said the GOP didn't need a plan, because everything would "work itself out the way it always did." Incredibly, that was their answer to everything. They refused to accept the idea that legislative, government policy and systemic changes always proceeded societal and economic development. It didn't matter, they wouldn't listen. To them, it was all Democratic BS!

They want their leaders to stop us from changing the status quo, no matter how scary the data is suggesting a very dark future for most Americans. No matter how serious, they didn't care. One minute they would acknowledge a crises (while defensively refusing to be blamed in any way), and the next minute they would be talking about how "real people and the market would work it out." That was their STUPID and INSANE answer to everything.

A Republican doctor at the event kept rambling on about how horrible health care is in the rest of the world, scaring all the other Republicans at the dinner to death. After prodding he acknowledged no real experience with those health systems. After being exposed to data showing otherwise by yours-truly, he still wouldn't give an inch. Any change was bad. I finally gave up.

I must admit, I left the evening depressed. If intelligent, civilized, politically-aware Americans cannot sit together and find common ground, then what does our future hold? We seem to come from two different Americas these days. One cares about the majority, while the other focuses on its own interests.

Looking back, and this might burn a few bridges, but my conclusion is that it's Republican individualism gone wild. They're simply selfish. They are determined to reject any change to help their fellow Americans, or even America itself, if it requires them to compromise their lifestyle in any way, or costs them any money. It's that simple.

That was my conclusion. Individual Republicans seem to be heavily invested in the status quo. The last thirty years since Reagan have given them most of what they wanted, primarily low taxes and minimal regulation. It doesn't matter if it doesn't work for most of us, as long as it helps them personally. They refuse to sacrifice anything for the greater good, or for a better future. They also seem unable to imagine a better world for some strange reason. It's as though they lack imagination.

They are refusing to help their nation compete and succeed. There's only one way to describe that position, and the word is unAmerican! We don't want to, but due to Bush and the Republicans (and those annoying Blue Dog Democrats), we Democrats know that sacrifices are now necessary. Whether it involves money or lifestyle changes, we must act now!

We Americans for America must fight their spurious claims of socialism, government waste, and their worst claim of all, Democratic corruption. If necessary, we must move forward without them.

If we cannot find common ground, let's ignore them and move on. President Obama needs to stop relying on phony bi-partisanship and focus on success. We cannot stand by and allow their personal greed to ruin what are legitimate attempts to reform our system.

If that calls on us to use the same dirty tactics of the GOP, by calling them unAmerican and unPatriotic, then let's do it. I don't necessarily believe it (thinking them ignorant instead), but if it works it may be worth a try.

We need to fight fire with fire. We need to show them how the "party of no" is trying to prevent access to affordable health care, clean domestic energy, guaranteed food and water safety, safe regulated financial markets, and a world without the threats of global warming and environmental catastrophe.

We also need to show them that instead of Republican lies and debt without end, we Democrats are trying to forge a healthy, effective, prosperous and financially sound America.

They may be willing to gamble with our children's future - and the planet's, but we are not. We are determined to change what isn't working. If our current crop of Democrats fail to deliver, I suggest we work hard (like we did to elect Obama) to defeat them, and install new ones. That's right, let's threaten to FIRE THEIR ASSES! That should scare them.

I say let's forget bi-partisanship, for it's a dead-end. Let's focus on real problems, real solutions, and finding corruption-free, fair politicians willing to deliver.

It's my new mantra! The Republicans are a waste of our time and energy. Let's force the Democrats to do their jobs. If they don't, let's fire them and find new Democrats. Let's stop playing games. It's time to create a better America for the majority of Americans. That's patriotism. That's what this nation was founded on, the "unalienable rights" of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" for ALL Americans. It is time. It has become necessary for WE THE PEOPLE to act.

Michael Boh
Papamoka's Left Coast Contributor
from Our Rants & Raves Blog

PS - What the minority Republicans and conservative Democrats don't realize is that most of us feel our leaders have turned their backs on us - ordinary hardworking Americans. Unless politicians focus more on WE THE PEOPLE and our concerns - instead of corporations and special interests - campaigns of change thwarted by the elite will ultimately give way to real revolution.

America's Weak Link in Health Care Reform

Good Morning Papamoka Bloggers! When it comes to health care reform it appears the House of Representatives is doing a great job, especially my Congressman Henry Waxman. The weak link so far appears to be the United States Senate, and that's where WE THE PEOPLE have to apply pressure to make sure we get a viable public option.

As I've said in my earlier post, a viable public option is necessary to drive down costs and to ensure fair competition in the health care market. Did you know that health care, along with baseball, is one of the few industries exempt from anti-competition, anti-trust laws? That's one of the main reasons why the costs are so high. It's well known that health insurance companies conspire and collude to drive up costs for sick Americans.

Did you also know that health care and pharmaceutical companies are some of the largest givers to national elections? Our representatives appear to be bought-and-paid-for these days thanks to a lack of reasonable campaign finance reform. It also seems that money creates a perfect storm of DC greed and corruption, making it very difficult for the American people to find a fair solution to this problem.

Forget the Republicans, for they are so deep inside the industry's pocket it's disgusting. Rank and file Republicans should be offended and repulsed by their leaders, but instead they seem to follow their every lead. Supporting our unfair, broken system seems to come natural to the GOP. It's beyond my reckoning. Personally I'm stumped why they support such an unfair system!

Now, for the Democrats. There are still a few that are undecided - probably due to big money contributions. We need to make sure they know what WE THE PEOPLE think. See the list below to identify the uncommitted Senators along with the industry money received so far - to see who you can lobby.

1. Mark Warner, $69,000
2. Harry Reid, $78,800
3. Kent Conrad $78,800
4. Joe Lieberman, $72,000
5. Blanche Lincoln, $91,000
6. Tom Carper, $58,450
7. Evan Bayh, $66,100
8. Michael Bennet, 2,000
9. Dianne Feinstein, $44,000
10. Mark Udall, $43,500
11. Max Baucus, $141,250
12. Ron Wyden, $40,750
13. Mary Landrieu, $38,000
14. Mark Pryor, $30,000
15. Ben Nelson, $106,123

I already wrote Senator Feinstein a strongly worded letter. I hope you do the same if you see your own senator on the list, Yes, I'm asking you to please TAKE ACTION! WE THE PEOPLE need to step-up and make sure our elected officials do not abandon us during our time of need. Here is the tally for the entire Congress so far:

House 195 YES/6 NO/239 DON'T KNOW
Senate 37 YES/40 NO/22 DON'T KNOW
Combined 232 YES/46 NO/261 DON'T KNOW

What you see here means that we have a good shot at getting the legislation passed, but it also means we need to start lobbying the Senate hard NOW! We worked hard to get Hillary and Barack elected, along with dozens of other new Democrats, so why can't we use that same spirit to pass comprehensive health care reform? It's important for us all to do something!

If you still have doubts about the public option, despite all my rantings, you should take time to look at all the great sources available. One of my favorites (and it's honest, based on the primary candidate legislation now moving through the House Energy and Commerce Committee) is Stand with Dr. Dean - by Chairman/Governor/Doctor Howard Dean.

The site FAQ section is a great source for finding out everything you need to know - in easy to read bullet form. I also encourage you to sign the petition on the homepage.

This is one of the most serious issues I've ever been involved in. It's critical to the well-being of the American people, American families, and to the American economy. I beg you not to listen to the lies and the propaganda out there. They are deceiving you. Many of our own elected officials are hard at work deceiving us. Don't trust anybody! Do your own research.

All I'm asking is that you look at a variety of sources for information. If you do figure it out, and see that it will lower costs, create a better system, and help the economy, then please TAKE ACTION and contact one of your elected officials and make sure they know how you feel. We all need to do everything we can to make sure that we get legitimate health care reform and a viable public option.

Michael Boh
Papamoka's Left Coast Contributor
From Our Rants & Raves Blog

Editor's Note: If you wish to debate me personally on this subject, be sure to visit Our Rants & Raves blog where I will be hosting my own debate.

PS - There is information about how to contact our national elected representatives in the right margin of Our Rants & Raves blog. I hope you decide to help out. Thanks - Michael

America's Split Political Personality

Good Morning Papamoka Readers! With all the talk about Texas wanting to secede, revolution, and the Republican "Tea Parties" of late, I got to thinking about how angry both political parties are at the moment. Then I read an Op-Ed in the LA Times this morning that really made me laugh. It compared the GOP to a jilted husband. I think it's hilarious!

So, I thought it might be interesting to discuss our two very different national political perspectives this morning, using two very interesting articles from two very different newspapers. Both are fascinating in their differences.

The first - the one about the jilted husband - is called The GOP, Divorced from Reality, from the far more interesting LA Times. It was written by Bill Maher and it's very funny.

The second is called Presidential Poison, His invitation to indict Bush officials will haunt Obama's Presidency. This Wall Street Journal piece is less about the GOP and more about how President Obama is making a serious mistake pursuing Bush officials, but it's still interesting.

The article ends by saying, "Mr. Obama is more popular than his policies, due in part to his personal charm and his seeming goodwill. By indulging his party's desire to criminalize policy advice, he has unleashed furies that will haunt his Presidency." I just love the Right's ability to reduce the President's high approval ratings to "charm" and "goodwill." What a bunch of BS!

Let's see, they also describe what most of us call breaking the law as "policy advice." What a bunch of filthy lying CRAP! It appears the Journal is using "FOX-speak" all the time now. In the end, they predict the future as something that will "haunt" the President. That is downright hilarious! They've been so good at predicting the future so far, wouldn't you say? Idiots!

What a joke conservatives - and the WSJ - have become these days! Wow, the mighty have fallen so far they may never get up. Finally, I love the way the piece mirrors some of the paranoia discussed by Bill Maher. They are going CRAZY right now! It's quite funny to watch.

I think both pieces are wonderful in the way they describe two very different political perspectives. It's fascinating - and depressing - the way our nation is confused politically. The only good news, or light at the end of the tunnel, is how Republicans are leaving the GOP daily. I know, it's not talked about in the news much, but it's true.

National data shows the GOP is bleeding. Some say it's hemorrhaging, or maybe in severe shock. Who cares! The good news is the liars aren't getting away with corrupting the majority of American people using propaganda and BS!

Now don't get me wrong, I don't hate the GOP as a party, just it's regressive policies and corrupt leadership. I also hate the way the GOP has evolved since the Reagan years. Today's corrupt GOP helped destroy the middle-class, promoted irresponsible deregulation, bubble economies, war profiteering, illegal wiretapping, torture, privatizing the profit while publicizing the losses, and overall multi-national corporate greed at the expense of our overall national health and integrity.

I hope THAT GOP is on its way out. I do want a two party system, BUT I want BOTH PARTIES to have the well-being of ALL Americans and the nation at heart. The GOP has failed as a party in that respect. It deserves to die. A two party or multi-party system needs to be concerned about EVERY American, not just the rich. So, with that being said, I'll go on record hoping the GOP dies a slow and painful death. They deserve it!

Anyway, I thought it might be interesting to read two very different viewpoints. Of course, I think Bill Maher's assessment is the more accurate. Enjoy!

Michael Boh

Papamoka's Left Coast Contributor

from Our Rants & Raves Blog

Ted Stevens Can Take His Corrupt Swag and Choke on It

Good Morning Papamoka Readers! In what could only be bad news to those of us who care about ethics in government, the Obama Administration's Justice Department today asked a federal judge to drop all charges against former Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska. As usual, politicians who break the rules go free. I find it so depressing.

A jury convicted Stevens last fall of seven counts of lying on his Senate disclosure form in order to conceal $250,000 in gifts from an oil industry executive and other friends. That is a VERY BIG DEAL whether you want to try to belittle it or not. I worked in the Senate, and lying about major gifts is a major no-no. It effects everything, especially the integrity of your votes.

I also met him. He is a very nasty piece of work. Stevens is a creepy little man who is directly responsible for tearing the Alaskan wilderness to pieces. The man never saw a piece of wilderness he wasn't willing to lease to a mining, oil or logging company. He spent his entire career trying to turn government protected land, owned by all Americans, into Alaskan corporate fodder.

He always claimed it was about jobs. Funny thing, like most Republicans, he never fought hard to use the billions in federal dollars - or oil/mining/logging dollars - for education or the creation of new industries. He was mediocre when it came to fighting for quality higher education. He never fought for anything much except those depressing blue collar jobs.

What does that tell you? It tells me that he promoted blue collar values and passions for one reason, so that he [and his political career] could benefit from the industries that need such workers. It was nothing more, nothing less.

Btw, I looked into it. Except for being a major supporter of natural resource industries, he paid little attention to Alaska's potential for other industries. Overall, Stevens did very little to promote a better future. Feel free to let me know if I'm wrong, but I can't find anything - and he had a LONG career. Explain to me what he did to help Alaskans move beyond just a few, crude, environmentally destructive industries?

The way I see it, he was a bought-and-paid-for, one trick pony. Interesting, how many other Republicans would fall into that same category? I'll bet more than a few. I think it's time we learn from the Ted Stevens of this world, and outgrow them.

His environmental legacy, comprised mostly of golf course and vacation home vista preservation, will go down as one of the worst in American history. Despite his personal love of hunting and fishing, his loyalty and passion for logging, mines and oil will anger preservationists for years to come.

Like the Long family of Louisiana, who helped destroy the wetlands and most of the "Sportsman's Paradise" in favor of the oil and gas industry, Steven's will be remembered for low wage jobs, dirty industries, carcinogenic waste, and poor overall economic development. He delivered millions each year to Alaska, but the state has very little to show for it. Where did that money go? You tell me.

Oh well, one more corrupt politician will be allowed to live his golden years out in peace and quiet, enjoying his spoils. When will this nation learn that unless we do a better job of prosecuting those who break our laws, we will continue to be victims of the treachery and manipulations of very bad people? I only hope Attorney General Eric Holder, and President Barack Obama, know what they're doing when they let people like Stevens go without a good fight.

Enjoy your retirement Ted, because if the universe does ask for payback, then you have a lot to account for after it's all over. Your nastiness alone should be enough to score you a hot seat. Who knows, maybe you'll be forced to mine or log for the rest of eternity - without gloves! At least you lost the election, and you're very old, so hopefully your bile - and ability to destroy - will grow less toxic very soon.

Michael Boh
Papamoka's Left Coast Contributor
from Our Rants & Raves Blog

Politics and 2008

The year 2008 was all about change no matter how you look at it politically. We started the year off wondering how to gas up our cars and looking at green energy with a new perspective and ended up with gas at more than half the price. I mention gasoline because the political world revolves around energy and energy is money and the politics of it all comes down to the almighty dollar. About eight or nine months ago I predicted the crash of oil prices here on this site just prior to George W Bush leaving office and oops… I was right. The scary thing to think about is that Bush could have gone down in history as the defender of America against terrorism but he succumbed to political pressure of the have too much and want more of too much. While he may have kept our nation safe from terrorist attacks he will be remembered as the President that let Wall Street kill Main Street. Then Elm Street, then Oak Street, then South and West Main Street and the list goes on.

Then we had the meltdown of politicians mostly from the right side of the aisle that seemed to exit stage right in disgrace and you can check the list at Republican Offenders website. Speaker of the House resigned, Senate President resigned, and a slew of congressmen and senators left because the picking were not looking so good with the Justice Department fast on their heals.

Out of almost nowhere comes this Senator from Illinois that speaks from his heart, talks common sense, and his mission is change. It doesn’t matter to the voters what his nationality is, his background and experience is or even if he smokes. He churns up the young people of America to get involved in politics and they do so for the first time in many generations. Much like FDR he promises hope, change, and a new beginning and it sold well at the polls. It wasn’t an easy win for Barack Obama but he did it with the help of many people that thought their voice should be heard too.

Anywho… I found this video for ya on politics and 2008 that I thought you might enjoy from You Tube…

Video Link




2009 should be interesting to say the least. We can look forward to many changes courtesy of the exiting President and insisted on by the new President. How it will all work out is anyone’s guess but I’m leaning to the positive side of life.

I filled the wife’s mini van from a quarter tank of gas for just under $22 today and just a couple of months ago it cost me over $60. I like that kind of change so far and Obama has not even been sworn in yet. How much more change are we going to be able to keep in our pockets once he is sworn in?

Papamoka

Why I am Voting for Obama

I’m not voting for Obama because he has better television or radio advertisements. I’m not voting for Obama because his opponent has to come up with so much negative advertising. I’m certainly not voting for him just because he is a Democrat! I’m not voting for Barack Obama because he is a rock star on the internet and has a very certain way of connecting with the middle and lower class people like myself.

I am voting for Obama because he is not George W. Bush or any facsimile there of. I am voting for Obama because he sees the screwing all of us in the middle and lower class of America have gotten. I am voting for Obama because he wants healthcare for all Americans. I am voting for Obama because he offers true leadership out of hope rather than fear and despair. I am voting for Obama because he isn’t afraid of tough questions from anyone when it comes to leading this nation. I am voting for Obama because he offers real tax relief to the middle and lower classes rather than giving millionaires, billionaires more tax cuts so we can get the crumbs off of their tables. I’m voting for Barack Obama because he never once endorsed or fought for the idea that we should privatize Social Security and move the funds to Wall Street.

I’m voting for Obama to bring our troops home out of Iraq and the lies that put them all in harms way from the Bush administration. I’m voting for Obama so that disabled veterans, friends of mine, will get the care they need rather than a nay vote from someone that claims to be a defender of veterans. I’m voting for Obama because “diplomacy” is not a dirty word that was replaced with “You are either with us or against us“. And I could go on and on.

This election for President isn’t a popularity contest, it is the survival of our society as a whole. America would and will be on a fast track to revolution if we face another four years of Bush 3.0 and the disastrous policies he looked the other way on. As I have stated here on this site before, gasoline and oil prices will tank just short or prior to Bush leaving office. It has!

Our government has been corrupted beyond belief and it is up to us to vote and make sure that the corruption has no chance to fester. While all the red state politicians voted themselves a pay raise every single year, they voted against giving minimum wage workers a raise for almost ten years in a row? Apparently, inflation only exist if you make over $150,000 per year as a public servant in Washington, D.C. and as a Senator or Congressional member.

We have seen enough corruption, resignations, lobbyist going to jail, White House staffers and confidants going to jail, denials, and members of Congress shamed out of office from the Republican Party. Enough is enough and that is why I am voting for Barack Obama for President of the United States of America. For that matter all you have to have is a Democrat next to your name and you have my vote. The Republican Party put these people that betrayed our trust into powerful positions. Granted we do have a few Democrats going to jail too but the tote board is heavy on the Republican side of the aisle. Deny Hastert, Speaker of the House down in flames, Tom Delay, Majority Leader of the Senate down in flames, Scooter Libbey down in flames and in jail, Jack Abamoff the lobbyist down in flames and in jail, and the list goes on and on. When is enough, enough? How many Congressional members should be listed that left office in disgrace and scandal?

Faith in our government only works if we the people believe in them. Barack Obama brings that to the table and has my vote. Enough said, vote, and vote for what is best for America and I urge you to consider Barack Obama the better person for the job to lead all of America and not just his select friends.

Papamoka

Cross posted at Bring It ON! and To the Center