So I disappeared for a full week, right in the middle of what should have been a busy writing schedule, and I have to claim some "personal days" to cover the time we missed here at the blog - but it won't be time entirely wasted.
Instead, I'm going to jump into my own personal life for today's story, and I'm going to do it so that we can stimulate some thinking about where we really need to go to if we ever hope to make some sense out of the crazy way we deliver health care in this country.
Since this appears to be the weekend that a lot of decisions are either going to be made about the future of our "social safety net"...or they wont; we're entirely unsure...let's talk about how it actually works for a lot of us - and how it could work a lot better.
So Arizona Senator Jon Kyl went and did a stupid thing the other day by claiming on the floor of the Senate that 90% of what Planned Parenthood does is related to abortions, and that, by God, we need to cut that Federal funding for abortions, and we need to cut all Federal funding for Planned Parenthood-and we need to do it today.
Of course, that 90% claim was total hooey; it turns out that only 3% of Planned Parenthood's work relates to abortions. (The Federal funding for abortions part is, too; the Hyde Amendment made such funding illegal decades ago.)
When confronted, Kyl's office released a statement claiming the Senator's comments were "not intended to be a factual statement".
Sir Rev. Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, DFA, decided to have a bit of fun with Kyl, and he challenged his audience to Tweet their own "Not Intended To Be A Factual Statement" about Kyl.
I decided to compose a Tweet of my own...and then another...and before I knew it I had an entire story's worth; that's why, today, we'll be taking a taking a short break from the daily grind to have a bit of fun with a man who truly deserves it: Jon Kyl.
Sometimes stories happen because of planning; other times serendipity intervenes, which is how we got to the conversation we'll be having today.
In an exchange of comments on the Blue Hampshire site, I proposed an idea that could be of real value to unions, workers...and surprisingly, employers.
If things worked out correctly, not only would lots of people feel a real desire to have unions represent them, but employers would potentially be coming to unions looking to forge relationships, and, just to make it better, this plan bypasses virtually all of the tools and techniques employers use to shut out union organizers.
Since I just thought this up myself, I'm really not sure exactly how practical the whole thing is, and the last part of the discussion today will be provided by you, as I ask you to sound off on whether this plan could work, and if so, how it could be made better.
It's a new week...so let's all put our heads together and rebuild the labor movement, shall we?
If you have health insurance through a for-profit health insurer provider, you will be disgusted by the following:
2009 Total CEO Compensation (excluding stock option exercises)
Aetna $18,157,779
Amerigroup $5,232,249
Centene $6,077,900
CIGNA $136,344,388
Coventry Health Care $25,653,780
Health Net $3,643,342
Humana $6,509,452
UnitedHealth Group $8,901,916
Universal American Grou $4,514,670
WellPoint $13,108,198
Total $228,143,674
Immediately after Obama signed the historic health care reform bill providing coverage for thirty-two million Americans, Michigan's Mike Cox joined twelve other Attorneys General in a lawsuit to block the new law in the courts.
A careful review of the U.S. Constitution and long-standing Constitutional precedents reveals there is no legal basis to join the Florida lawsuit. I object to Mike Cox's obstruction of real progress for working families.
Sign my petition today to urge Mike Cox and the other Attorneys General to drop their lawsuit against the historic health care reform bill and put the people ahead of politics. Enough is enough!
Check it out: the petition has dozens and dozens of comments now like:
I'm a nurse and paramedic. The people of this country need and deserve health care. Health care in this country is going to cost everyone more later, if we don't do something to get the uninsured medical coverage now. He's wasting our tax dollars blocking something we have to have now.
I am unemployed and will lose COBRA in the next few months. I have no idea when or if I will find a job that provides health insurance. I have pre-existing conditions and cannot afford to purchase an individual policy. To try to exempt Michigan from Health Insurance Reform is to deprive many thousands of people from adequate health care. You may even be responsible for the deaths of some of us if we cannot get the care we need. Do not play politics with my life.
This lawsuit is ludicrous and totally wastes the financial resources of our State. The middle class citizens of Michigan will benefit from the health care bill, it is not fair to expect them to pay for grandstanding by this office purely for your political purposes.
As a social work student, I have worked with many who have been victim to the pharmaceutical and insurance companies. This plan will give many the opportunity to receive the health care they need. It will also save Americans money. Your lawsuit only serves to prove to all those who have no faith in our government that you are a bunch of in-fighting children. Let the lawsuit go. You don't want to be remembered as the people who denied millions health care.
Apparently, Livingston County is going to be "ground zero" or teabag central for the petition drive to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot to try and deny thousands of Michigan residents access to life-saving health care.
A ballot group called "Michigan Citizens for Healthcare Freedom" is planning a petition drive kickoff for 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 29 at the Howell Freshman Campus cafeteria - 1400 W. Grand River Ave. 48843- to exempt Michigan from the historic health insurance reform law signed into law by President Obama last week.
The group is led Howell Public School Board member and teabagger Wendy Day. An article in today's Livingston County Daily Press & Argus is little more than a promo for the event, and I'm sorry I suggested it to my former colleague. It's ironic that just a few feet away from where Day voted to strip health care from more than 30 Howell school bus drivers she wants to rally people to deny it to thousands of Michigan residents.
This partisan political rally clearly violates district policy about using district facilities and events for political purposes, and this is a partisan political rally. The reporter never got an answer from Assistant Superintendent Rick Terres on why this is not a political rally advocating for a position. There is no way it can be "considered an informational meeting, which isn't prohibited in the district's building-use policy, according to the article.
Where is the other side if it's an "informational meeting?"
"A prior district policy prohibited political campaigning in district buildings, though Day's event doesn't fall in that category, Terres said.
That policy was revised in 2008 to allow candidate forums for local, state and national political races. The change was made after a Daily Press & Argus candidate forum scheduled at a district building was canceled by district officials, Terres said."
Again, this is a political rally, and it is not in any way a political forum. Now, if a representative from both sides of the issue held a debate, then it would meet the criteria for a forum or informational meeting. Clearly, it doesn't. It's a partisan political rally, and I don't want my tax dollars as a homeowner in the HPS district to be used to try and kill something that is needed so much.
So, if you're not doing anything Monday evening, please attend to show your support for the 32 million people who will receive health care coverage under this bill. If you can't make it, call the person who made the decision to allow taxpayers funds to support a partisan position. Call Associate Superintendent Richard Terres at (517) 548-6357 to lodge a complaint.
LANGUAGE WARNING: Today’s story is uncharacteristically blunt, and from this moment forward we will be using lots of inappropriate language in making our points.
It is by now fairly well known that Rahm Emanuel, President Obama’s White House Chief of Staff, had a bit of a blow-up with liberals who were ready to start running ads against “blue dog” Democrats who were working very hard to shut down the health care reform effort.
Now we’re not gonna get in the middle of that argument today; instead, since we’re finally getting a chance to talk, I figured me and Rahm could get a few other things out of the way that have been on everyone’s mind for the past year or so.
I was supposed to begin the long-delayed series of PTSD stories I’ve been planning, but before we begin, I need to tell y’all about something that just happened in my house.
For us it wasn’t a matter of life or death, but it is the kind of story that explains, perfectly, why we need to reform the health care system we have today—and for that matter, it’s also a great explanation of why a single-payer system would be a giant step forward for everyone in this country, whether you’re insured today or not.
It’s also hilarious and sad and frustrating, all at the same time—which makes today’s story a pretty good allegory for the current American way of doing health care.
So follow along, have a good laugh…and at the same time, take a minute to consider what could be, and how much less irritating things should be.
My former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers stopped by the offices of the Livingston Press & Argus in Howell, Mich. yesterday to throw some poop on health care reform. Not only did he throw poop, he told several bald-faced lies including this one:
He said a government-appointed panel's conclusion that women need fewer mammograms at certain ages would be incorporated in the bills.
Rogers, himself a cancer survivor, said the government shouldn't dictate who has access to mammograms.
"I said, 'Oh, my gosh. They just sentenced to death 36,000 American women.'"
There has been a great wailing and gnashing of teeth over the past day or so as those who follow the healthcare debate react to the Stupak/Some Creepy Republican Guy Amendment.
The Amendment, which is apparently intended to respond to conservative Democrats’ concerns that too many women were voting for the Party in recent elections, was attached to the House’s version of healthcare reform legislation that was voted out of the House this weekend.
The goal is to limit women’s access to reproductive medicine services, particularly abortions; this based on the concept that citizens of good conscience shouldn’t have their tax dollars used to fund activities they find morally repugnant.
At first blush, I was on the mild end of the wailing and gnashing spectrum myself…but having taken a day to mull the thing over, I’m starting to think that maybe we should take a look at the thinking behind this…and I’m also starting to think that, properly applied, Stupak’s logic deserves a more important place in our own vision of how a progressive government might work.
It’s Political Judo Day today, Gentle Reader, and by the time we’re done here it’s entirely possible that you’ll see Stupak’s logic in a whole new light.
Instead of real health care reform (Medicare for all, everyone in and everyone pays), the health care bills in the House and the Senate are just expanded Medicaid with a public option that isn't an option to the public at all. Thanks to Stupak, the taxpayers will pay for prayer therapy and Viagra while restricting payments for abortions. Apparently Stupak has no problem with killing 45,000 born babies and their parents each year.
Like the bank bailouts and Medicare Part D, Democratic health care reform is just another corporate rip off of the middle class; and for this privilege, they cut Medicare benefits and raised Medicare's monthly premiums. So much for no increases to people who make fewer than 250K a year.
With Democrats like Stupak in Washington, it really doesn't matter which party wins election because Republicans and religious zealots like Stupak win either way. To quote a local official in the newspaper on a totally different subject, the Democratic health care reform bills are "like putting whip cream on a turd".
The do nothing Democrats will pass anything, declare victory, and expect applause. Maybe if we clap hard enough, we can make them all disappear.
To rally the troops for this all-important bill that will help turn the country around and help cover the more than 47 million Americans without health care overage, a coalition of activists, organizations, progressive-minded groups and every MoveOn Council from across the state is sponsoring a pro-reform rally from 1-4 p.m. this Sunday on the lawn of the Capitol steps in Lansing called "Michigan Stands For Health Care."
Come out and join dedicated, patriotic Americans to make a stand for real health care reform as Congress is set to vote on major national health care reform,. Send an unmistakable message that Michigan is sick of the status quo of our broken, existing health care delivery system.
Billionaires for Wealthcare - a grassroots network of health insurance CEOs, HMO lobbyists, talk-show hosts, and others profiting off of our broken health care system - will debate members of MoveOn Michigan during. The debate will be moderated by Dr. Mark Guerrieri.
Just seeing Billionaires for Wealthcare is worth the trip, and the weather is expected to be good. So, get there any way you can; trains, planes, automobiles, bus or car pool.
It was a long hot August for those who would like to see health care reform, as rabid “Town Hall” protesters proffered visions of public options that would lead to death panels and socialism and government tax collectors with special alien mind control powers that would use sex education and child indoctrination and black helicopters as the means for gay people to impose their dangerous agenda on the innocent, God-fearing citizens of someplace in Mississippi that I’m not likely to ever visit.
Part of the reason that opposition was so rabid was because health care interests were spending millions upon millions of dollars doing...well, doing whatever the opposite of giving a distemper shot to the angry mob might be, anyway.
So wouldn’t it be great if all the CEOs of all those health care interests were to gather at one time and place so you could, shall we say, gently express your own thoughts regarding the issues of reform and public options?
By an amazing coincidence, that’s exactly what’s going to happen Thursday in Washington, DC, as the Patient Centered Primary Care Cooperative (PCPCC) holds its Annual Summit.
Follow along, and I’ll tell you everything you need to know.
So we are now finding out the answers to some of our questions about which members of Congress actually represent We, the People...and which ones represent, Them, the Corporate Masters.
We have seen a Democratic Senator propose a policy that would put people in jail for not buying health insurance and a Democratic President who has taken numerous public beatings from those on the left side of the fence for his inability to ram something through a group of people...and yes, folks, the entendre was intentional.
But most of all, we’ve been asking ourselves: “why would Democratic Members of Congress who will eventually want us to vote for them vote against something that nearly all voting Democrats are inclined to vote for?”
Today’s conversation attempts to answer that question by looking at exactly how money and influence flow through a key politician, Montana’s Senator Max Baucus—and in doing so, we examine some ugly political realities that have to be resolved before we can hope to convince certain Members of Congress to vote for what their constituents actually want when it really counts.
(I love this idea - a virtual lobby day! - promoted by JPowers155)
Planned Parenthood, along with our pro-choice coalition partners, are lobbying on behalf of our Prevention First Agenda, which aims to reduce unintended pregnancy and STDs in Michigan with commonsense health care solutions, like comprehensive sex education in schools and access to birth control and emergency contraception.
Mike Rogers (MI-08), never one to let facts get in the way of a good story, has been getting quite a lot of views for his impassioned YouTube defense of the current health care system.
Over in the Neighborhood, we review just how awesomely the current health care system is working out for Mr. Rogers.
With all that taxpayer dough covering his very sweet health care package, it seems a bit uncharitable for him to criticize health care reform as "socialism."
Mike Rogers' latest YouTube video is a masterpiece of mangled American historical facts and emotional ranting. Kicking off with the statement that "before the Constitution, before the Revolutionary War" Benjamin Franklin was the "finance chair of the Pennsylvania state legislature," Rogers goes on to say that the Great Depression was solved by plucky individuals:
So you think about it, the Great Depression, over 30% unemployment for years, the poverty level in the United States was staggering, but we didn't give up. We didn't say, "you know what, it's too hard, the federal government should do it for us." We didn't do that.
Those among us who are familiar with the Bible will recall that Jesus Christ himself was an active member of the health care community as he travelled about the Holy Land.
It is reported that he practiced within multiple medical specialties, and his works as both an ophthalmologist and a neurologist are recounted within the verses of the Gospels.
But what if Jesus had been practicing medicine in the therapeutic environment we’re familiar with today?
In today’s conversation we’ll be tagging along with Jesus as he takes a few calls at his HMO’s Customer Care Center—and by the time we get done you should be able to bring a whole new take to those discussions you‘ve been having about why reform matters.
So it’s the day of the big speech, Mr. President, and we got trouble with a capital “T” right here in Health Care City.
What are you gonna do? Do we follow the traditional Democratic Party legislative process of passing...something...at any cost, assuming the entire time that the Left and the Netroots will “go along with the program”, or is there a risk that the calculus doesn’t work as well today as it did in 1994 and 1996?
Well, lucky for you, I’m a fake consultant, and I know a few things about your “target market”, so before you answer that question...we need to talk.
My former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers stopped by the offices of the Livingston Press & Argus in Howell, Mich. yesterday 
