Sun, 21 Mar 2010

Political Discourse Moved

I have moved my thoughts about politics to an outside blog:

The American Person

It reflects my frustration with the political system in the United States at all levels. The title reflects my annoyance at any politician telling me what the "American people" think. I feel they are out of touch with the people of the United States, divided and radical at all levels and political bents. So . . . here's my chance to speak out as the unique individual person that we all are!

posted 09:10 [/Politics] permanent link

Sun, 14 Mar 2010

Coffee or Tea . . . one lump or two?

Naming political movements after refreshments is an interesting trend. Of course, the American's threw tea into the bay and then adopted coffee as the national drink, so I suppose there is some tie in. One of the more interesting quote from the CNN story about the Coffee Party meetings this Saturday was . . .

"I think the biggest thing to come out of it was people were tired of being labeled and divided," said Jernigan, who added that a Tea Party member was among the attendees. "They do agree on a lot."

[source]

I know that the most irritating statements by anyone, especially politicians are those starting with "the American people . . .". First, I defy any politician to define "the American People" and second what do these insolated, self-centered, greedy people know about what I think? Nothing, that's what!

The tea and coffee versions of things are much the same. The difference seems to be that the Coffee party is less partisan, while the Tea party is definitely fiscally conservative and full of anti-tax rhetoric. I'm thinking the thoughts of the Coffee Party better suit my temperament:

"Just like in the American Revolution, we are looking for real representation right now. We don't feel represented by our government right now, and we don't really feel represented well by the media either," [Coffee Party founder Annabel] Park said last week on CNN's "American Morning." "It's kind of a simple call to action for people to wake up and take control over their future and demand representation. And it requires people standing up and speaking up."

[same source]

I like the idea of the people telling the political leaders what they think rather than the political leaders telling the people what to think! The political system is definitely broken and working only for those who make money by buying politicians through their contributions. Let's hope that the Coffee Party movement an show the politicians that the people have the power to take away their positions if they don't get with the people's program.

posted 14:55 [/Politics] permanent link

Fri, 22 Jan 2010

The Corporations as the American People . . .

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The corporation you work for is now more a part of the "the American People" that the political demagogs rant about than you are . . . at least in the view of the conservative majority of the Supreme Court. That's because they are allowed to contribute as much money as they wish to political campaigns while you are not and we all know what influences politicians. It's not the voice of "the American People", but the money of the special interests. And what segment of the country has the most money? The insurance companies, the pharmeseutical companies, the defence companies, . . .

For politicians, money talks -- corporations have it, you don't!

posted 07:58 [/Politics] permanent link

The American People, Reprise . . .

How do you know when a politician is lying? His lips are moving.

I have said it before and will say it again, there is no phrase more irritating from the mouth of a politician than one that starts,

The American People want . . .

When I hear this, all the words come out, "bs . . . bs . . . bs . . . ". It's like the old Charlie Brown cartoons where the adult voices we are
"waah...waah...waah". What do these self-serving insolated demagogs know about the American People and what we want!?

I have one thing to say to THEM, STOP IT!

posted 06:35 [/Politics] permanent link

Tue, 22 Sep 2009

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

One of the most famous phrases from the U.S. Declaration of Independence. They are part of the inalienable rights of man stated in the document. Now, I hear about the proposed health care plans requiring that people purchase health care insurance. Seems to fly in the face of this phrase, doesn't it? OK, so people are required to by automobile insurance if they drive. Yes, but they aren't required to drive as they are to live. Unless, of course, you are pursuing happiness in your car, I guess. It seems to me that, if the politicians are going to require the American people (gawd, I hate that phrase) to buy insurance, they had darn well better control the costs! This means controlling the profits of the companies providing the insurance.

posted 07:41 [/Politics] permanent link

Wed, 16 Sep 2009

The American People . . .

. . . I really dislike this phrase.

Probably because it is spoken by self-serving politicians as they try to tell me what I think.

The treat the phrase like there are two groups -- them and "the American people". Aren't THEY also the American People? And what gives them the right to tell me what I think?

posted 08:43 [/Politics] permanent link

Thu, 27 Aug 2009

Edward Kennedy

Senator Kennedy is dead. My respects to this liberal lion and his efforts to help people. I heard an interesting statement that it's unfortunate that he will not see the healthcare system reformed -- a cause for which he fought long and hard. In that respect, I don't think he's any different than the rest of us. I don't think any of us will see actual reform in the U.S. healthcare system. We'll see some reform which will result in no real change and still benefit the bottom line of the insurance companies, hospitals, doctors, lawyers and others who make huge profits from the existing system.

posted 07:17 [/Politics] permanent link

Sat, 08 Aug 2009

She is Nuts!

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin called President Barack Obama's health plan "downright evil" Friday in her first online comments since leaving office, saying in a Facebook posting that he would create a "death panel" that would deny care to the neediest Americans

"The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's 'death panel' so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their 'level of productivity in society,' whether they are worthy of health care," the former Republican vice presidential candidate wrote.

[Source]
How can any responsible national figure say such things? First, it isn't true and second, the current system makes these types of decisions every day. If you have insurance, some bureaucrat in an insurance company or HMO decides on what services you will receive based on this effect on the company's bottom line. If you don't have insurance, well, the decision is made for you based on your economic condition. The current system does just what she falsely decries! Palin, shut up!

posted 07:56 [/Politics] permanent link

Wed, 05 Aug 2009

Profit in the Healthcare Debate

It's interesting that you don't hear anything about protecting/enhancing profits in the healthcare debate -- even from the opponents of for-profit healthcare. Yet, to my mind, it is one of the driving factors in the opposition to government run healthcare (read competing for my profits). It seems to me that profits along all points of a for-profit healthcare system is one of the major factors for the outrageous increases in health care costs in the U.S. After all, my doctor, the lawyers, the phramaceutical, insurance and hospital executives don't drive 10-year old Pintos, they are driven around in luxury limos and they don't live in my neighborhood, they are residents of several houses in luxury neighborhoods.

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with making a profit. After all, it's what makes our society tick. But should the profit motive be part of healthcare? I don't think so. As I listen to the healthcare debate, and I hear the insurance industry backs reform, what I really hear is "we have found a way to make a great deal of money from reform" [at least the element of reform that they are backing]! When I hear the for-profit hospital or pharmacy executives saying the same thing I hear, "here comes a better bonus for me as I increase quarterly profits". When I hear lawyers backing reform, I hear, "more law suits are coming my way"! And the politicians on both sides don't mention the profit motive because it's just that motive that increases their campaign coffers. They don't want to reduce that flow by reducing the profits of their constituencies you can bet.

So what do we do? I'm not sure. It seems that we will continue to have profit-driven health care in the States. So, the best we can hope for is to align the profit motive with the health of the country to improve outcomes. Perhaps we need to reward the profit-driven companies for keeping people healthy and reduce payments when people use the emergency rooms. It's a thorny question because so many groups -- insurance, hospitals, pharmacy, lawyers, doctors, politicians . . . -- have a vested interest in the status quo. Unless we can show greater profit resulting from something actually benefiting the healthcare buying public as a whole, things are likely to continue as they are now and the benefits to these powerful lobbies will continue to grow at the expense of the rest of us.

posted 07:34 [/Politics] permanent link

Sat, 11 Jul 2009

Would you take an IOU?

Major banks won't take California's IOU's starting today, even though there is 3.5% interest being paid. The IOU looks like a basic check and, some think, there's a good chance for fraud. The idiots in the Sacramento legislature and the governor -- another major idiot -- need to get their act together and compromise! I have said so before the still believe that they need to do their jobs even if they have to compromise the desires of the special interests which are backing them.

posted 08:05 [/Politics] permanent link