Health protest 'side show:' White House

Beautiful.

Let's bring handguns to an already overheated debate.

Oh say, can you see?

Only in America.

President Obama's already-solid approval ratings have started to climb again. The increase in the President's poll numbers can be traced back to when Corporate Sponsored Wingnut Teabaggers started terrorizing healthcare town-hall meetings; Americans, apparently, don't like people who quash civilized discussion by rudely screaming ad nauseam.
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http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/08/10/Obama-has-6-month-approval-of-63-percent/UPI-86581249921095/

The loud Insurance Industry Astroturfed protests by the right-wing goon squads at Congressional town hall meetings are made for the media. It doesn't matter if the protests are astroturfed, or not; no "serious journalist" can resist showing, or writing about, chaotic right-wing protests. Thus the actions of a small, frustrated, and angry crowd dominate the debate the corporate media says this country is having.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8194485.stm
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Top Nine BIG Lies about Health Care Reform from the Big Health Insurance Lobby and their Repuglican puppets - and One Truth

The Lies:

1) The United States has the BEST healthcare system in the world!

No, it doesn’t. In fact, for the amount of money we spend, we have one of the WORST.

We rank 37th by the World Health Organization in terms of Health system performance. Countries that out perform us include every single Western European nation (France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada, United Kingdom, Italy etc...), Middle Eastern countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Israel), Latin American countries (our ‘poor’ neighbors to the South, Columbia, Chile, and Costa Rica) and even a few African countries. We just barely beat Slovenia and Cuba.

2) The current Healthcare bill will mandate euthanasia.

No, it doesn’t and it won’t. There is nothing in any health care reform bill before Congress that would require people to "decide how they wish to die." Yet Conservative talking points from activists and legislators, including Sarah Palin, have lied and suggested otherwise.

Section 1233 of the House bill would allow Medicare for the first time to cover patient-doctor consultations about end-of-life planning, including discussions about drawing up a living will or planning hospice treatment. Something anyone who is in their later years would naturally be interested in. Patients would, of course, seek out such advice on their own -- they would not be required to. The provision would limit Medicare coverage to one consultation every five years.

3) With healthcare reform, Americans will lose their private insurance.

No, they won’t. The bill does not force private insurers out of business or force people onto the public plan.

The CBO, in fact, estimates the House bill would result in a net increase of 3 million Americans with employer-provided care.

In truth, it would be a GOOD thing if private insurers did go out of business, because their private profit is predicated on a diseased and sickened America trapped into going to their outrageously expensive ‘resources’ for care (the ultimate captive market), but, unfortunately, that is not what is in the bill. Not even close.

4) The Health Care Legislation Mandates Taxpayer Dollars Pay for Abortions

No, it doesn’t. In fact, the House Energy and Commerce Committee adopted an amendment, proposed by Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.), that would prohibit taxpayer dollars from funding abortions.

"Private health care providers are free to cover abortion, but not with federal funds," -- U.S. News and World Report.

5) Americans Don't Want a Government-Run Health Care Plan

Yes, they do. Republicans have consistently berated the proposal for a government-sponsored health insurance plan, or "public option," as unpopular.

But, in fact, a CBS/ New York Times poll from late July shows that, even though doubts have grown in recent months about Mr. Obama's health care proposals, 66 percent of Americans still want the government to provide a health insurance plan like Medicare to compete with private health insurers.

6) Healthcare will be rationed with a health care reform.

Healthcare will not be rationed. One of the misleading buzzwords in the health care debate is "rationing" -- the idea that patients will have limited treatment options if the government becomes more involved in health care delivery.

In fact, while a public plan would not be able to cover all procedures, private insurance plans do not either. The difference is, actual health needs will determine the priority on who gets care, not someone’s ability to pay. If you have the money, of course, you can always pay extra and get your nose job or breast implant done privately, pronto, rather than waiting behind the long line of critical care and cancer patients (for example) who will have priority in a public system.

7) Health care reform is not urgent. We should take more time to study matters.

Urgency is in the eye of the beholder. Close to 50 million Americans currently have NO health insurance, which means something as simple as an auto accident could bankrupt them. During the span of Congress' three-week vacation this August, 43,250 people will lose their health insurance coverage, 53,507 people will file for bankruptcy because they can't pay their medical bills, and 1,265 people will die because they lack coverage.

8) The Blue Dogs are honestly interested in cutting government costs in Health Care Reform

No, they aren’t. Our so called ‘Blue dogs’, those self described fiscally conservative Democrats are in the back pockets of the drug and health insurance companies. Follow the money. When Blue Dog Democrats negotiated a compromise with Democratic leadership over certain elements of health care reform, they required the government-sponsored health insurance option that would be created to negotiate its own payment rates, rather than using Medicare payment rates, which will dramatically increase the costs to the American taxpayer. They also refused to allow cheaper drugs from Canada to compete with US firms.

According to a CBO preliminary analysis, the cost of those two changes would almost completely offset the $100 billion achieved in savings elsewhere. It’s not about being fiscally conservative, it’s about helping the insurance companies and drug companies maintain their profit thresholds—at the expense of America’s health.

9) Health care reform will cost us nearly One Trillion dollars!

No, it won’t. First of all, that's not a trillion every year, as most people assume -- it's a trillion over 10 years, which is the way that people in Washington talk about federal budgets. On an annual basis, that translates to about $140 billion, when things are up and running.
Even that, however, grossly overstates the net cost to the government of providing universal coverage. Other parts of the reform plan would result in offsetting savings for Medicare: reductions in unnecessary subsidies to private insurers, in annual increases in payments rates for doctors and in payments to hospitals for providing free care to the uninsured. The net increase in government spending for health care would likely be about $100 billion a year, a one-time increase equal to less than 1 percent of a national income that grows at an average rate of 2.5 percent every year.

* And now, a simple TRUTH: Selling American’s health for profit is a killer system

It kills the average American, while reaping huge profits for the privileged few. Why do we pay the MOST of any country on Healthcare cost and reap such few benefits, barely able to keep ahead of Cuba which pays less than 1/100th of what we pay per capita? Because Shareholder and CEO profits trump access to quality health care. The U.S. averages twice as much spending on health care with worse outcomes than any other industrialized nation on Earth. Where does the money go? Into the drug companies and health insurance industry pockets, that’s where. Commercial health insurance is responsible for 20 to 30% of health care dollars siphoned to excessive administrative costs, lobbying, marketing, CEO salaries and profit-taking. $1.4 billion stock options to former UnitedHealth CEO William McGuire, for example; another $30 billion went to after-tax health insurance profits, plus $32 billion insurance underwriting and marketing costs.

All that money could have cured thousands if not millions of Americans. Instead, it went to health care and drug company CEOs who have spent lavishly on Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats to ensure that meaningful healthcare reform does not happen in this country. That money is spent in hopes that you will continue to believe the 9 big lies that are currently be propounded by their lobbyists and fellow travelers and in hopes that you ignore this single truth: They don’t care about your health, they care about their wealth.

Health Insurance Insiders Speak Out and Spill The Beans on Republicans and their Insurance Industry Sponsored Teabagger Trolls!

Wendell Potter, a career insider in the health insurance industry for many years, has turned hero and speaks out about the secret, deceptive and corrupt practices of the health insurance industry. Wendell Potter says, "I'm the former insurance industry insider now speaking out about how big for-profit insurers have hijacked our health care system and turned it into a giant ATM for Wall Street investors, and how the industry is using its massive wealth and influence to determine what is (and is not) included in the health care reform legislation members of Congress are now writing."

"What I saw happening over the past few years was a steady movement away from the concept of insurance and toward "individual responsibility," a term used a lot by insurers and their ideological allies. This is playing out as a continuous shifting of the financial burden of health care costs away from insurers and employers and onto the backs of individuals. As a result, more and more sick people are not going to the doctor or picking up their prescriptions because of costs. If they are unfortunate enough to become seriously ill or injured, many people enrolled in these plans find themselves on the hook for such high medical bills that they are losing their homes to foreclosure or being forced into bankruptcy".
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http://www.prwatch.org/node/8422

Republicans are right about healthcare in America. Who cares if some people don't have access to healthcare?!?!

We don't need to concern ourselves with that. Poor and Middle-Class people simply do not matter. Forget about them.

We should only be concerned about what is best for the wealthy business owner. If 15% of the population don't have health insurance it only makes things better for the wealthy old Republican white guys, that's a small price to pay. I'm sure Rush Limbaugh is with me in saying that if the number of uninsured went up to 30% or even 50% that simply is nothing any of us should be bothered by. It is, in fact probably a goal we pasty white Republican rich guys should be working toward. Why should your employer pay for you to have health insurance? The big business CEO's would do better if they didn't, and that's all that matters. I'm sure those guys, like me, have demanded that their employer terminate their health insurance coverage, for the good of the company. We must all join with them in our sacred goal: healthcare for the few doughy white rich guys, sacrifice for everyone else.

These Corporate Sponsored Teabagger Thugs who are being bussed in to purposely disrupt things, are taking away the opportunity for average Americans to discuss healthcare at townhalls with their law makers.

If Republicans actually had anything to contribute to the healthcare discussion they wouldn't have to hire teabagger thugs to perfom their fake outrage performance art all over the country.

Stephen Colbert EXPOSES the fake Wingnut "protesters" for what they are - low IQ Teabagger stooges doing the dirty work for the Big Healthcare Insurance Lobby.
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http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/240728/august-04-2009/the-word---hippie-replacement

The Dems need to start parking a Black Helicopter and setting up ACORN and FEMA information booths outside of their healthcare townhall meetings from now on.

The Corporate Sponsored Wingnut Teabagger cretinss would wet their pants in fear.

Is that John W, Terry or John D in the picture? We know it's not Bruce because he isn't counting the words in a Swamp Post. We know it's not Inky because all the words on his pro-violence sign are spelled right. It's probably not Django because he doesn't look stoned out of his gourd.

We don't need no stinking helicopters, we have that most competent of all the presidents, of all times!!!! The Bush&Cheney tag team !! How can we lose with those losers representing those sleazy HealthCorps. Support a government-sponsored healthcare option and save money, save lives and save America's economy !! Also, say good-bye to the sleazy HealthCorps !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.

Wonder if Obama knows what he is talking about in his speeches regarding health care , the audience seem to know more than Obama.

Is that John W, Terry or John D in the picture? We know it's not Bruce because he isn't counting the words in a Swamp Post. We know it's not Inky because all the words on his pro-violence sign are spelled right. It's probably not Django because he doesn't look stoned out of his gourd.
Posted by: Swamp Rat | August 12, 2009 2:28 PM
Swamp-rat -
Good try, sure its not you looking into a mirror-

I would love to show up to one of these Healthcare Townhalls with vans marked "Wingnut Healthcare Meeting Disrupter Relocation Team" and a pack of folks in black jump suits with clip-boards and headsets, and start taking pictures and writing down license plates.

"What are you doing???"

"Please step back, we're making the list"

"What List????"

"The List. Please step back."

Wow. Look at this guy with his 9mm. He's packing, he's cool. Isn't he a great patriotic American. Bringing a hand gun to a town hall debate. What a loser actually. I would bet anyone on this planet that if boy George Bush were giving the town hall meeting, this moron wouldn't get anywhere near the place.

the audience seem to know more than Obama.
Posted by: Inky | August 12, 2009 2:50 PM
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Yeah InkyClown, and just like you, the other Wingnutters have been given a script from astroturf lobbying kings, Freedom Works, because they're willfully ignorant. But unlike like you, most of them can probably spell what they're thinking.

Swamp Rat,

Bruce carries a musket, if he can sneak it past his mom.

Grannydoc,

You've performed a valuable public service that I hope gains a wider audience.

the audience seem to know more than Obama.
Posted by: Inky | August 12, 2009 2:50 PM
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Yeah InkyClown, and just like you, the other Wingnutters have been given a script from astroturf lobbying kings, Freedom Works, because they're willfully ignorant. But unlike like you, most of them can probably spell what they're thinking.

Posted by: Itchy | August 12, 2009 3:04 PM
Sounds like you need Obamacare to find out what your problem is.

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Posted by: grannydoc | August 12, 2009 1:46 PM
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I take issue with some of the things you have written.
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1. There are rumors that the bill authorizes euthanasia. It is true that the bill does no such thing. However, I find it mildly strange that you would repeat Howard Dean’s mistaken understanding of what Sarah Palin said. She did not pass this rumor. Go back and check her words.
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2. I also take issue with your claim that “Healthcare will not be rationed.” Health insurance providers already ration care, and the current bill will do little more than enshrine this rationing in federal law. The bill only allows the federal government to set the minimal essential services that a basic plan for a qualified health care plan must contain. Health care providers will be under no obligation to offer any services beyond the basic plan. In which case, a person too poor to afford anything other than a basic health care plan could end up being denied important services entirely apart from the examples of cosmetic surgery you discuss. (And wasn’t this plan designed to meet the needs of people too poor to afford health insurance?) I mean, I hope you don’t think that insurance companies are going to get generous and add stuff to a plan that isn’t required by federal regulation. Do you? They are already under pressure to cut costs for these basic plans. The way the whole thing is structured, we could see a tug-o’-war over the “basic plan” services for decades.

I was going to post a comment trying to seek discussion of some of the issues, and then realized "why bother". Most of the people on this post are not interested in examining any position other than their own, and anything I post wil be responded to by name-caling and juvenile put-downs.

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Posted by: Swamp Rat | August 12, 2009 2:28 PM
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You’ve earned your handle. The photo was taken in New Hampshire. I have never been to New Hampshire, and I live rather far away. Besides, I would never think of carrying a firearm openly at a political rally. So, no, that wasn’t me.
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BTW - Apparently it was perfectly legal for this guy to carry the firearm because it wasn’t concealed. That’s New Hampshire law for you. The cops knew he was standing there and they did nothing about it. In contrast, it is illegal in my state to carry loaded firearm, concealed or otherwise, unless one has a concealed-carry permit. Those permits are about as rare as hen’s teeth here because their issuance is a matter of (rarely exercised) discretion for local law enforcement.

People discussing or debating issues is NO side show. It's responsible citizenry and a perfectly appropriate application of our First Amendment rights. Goes for both Democrats and Republicans (and anybody that doesn't fit in either category, for that matter).

People who are just babbling, shouting and screaming about issues they should KNOW BETTER about, and issues they're going after third- or fourth-hand with no attempt to investigate on their own? People who go for no purpose other than making sure that NOBODY is able to talk or listen? That's a side-show. It may even be a freak-show, but that may be a judgment call.

They probably STILL have a RIGHT to carry on like idiots, of course, as long as they're peacable and law-abiding in the process and don't hurt anybody, but that's totally different from being a side-show. Which they are.

Ahhhh, the Demented, Deranged Loons from the Left are running rampant again in their own weird, little alternative reality world, led by one of their chiefs, Robert "Fumblitis" Gibbs. So, folks speaking their mind is now a "side show." Funny, when the Loons were running rampant with their own protesting, the Bush administration said it was their right to protest and left it at that. This shaministration and its lap dogs, the state-run media seem to belittle and chastise those speaking their mind. No wonder Obimbo's approval rating is under 50 already, Congress is at 14 and the state-run media has an approval rating of 10 from its knuckle-dragging, brain-dead, moronic Loony Lefty followers.

I've got my Glock and I am always right. Anyone disagree?!!
AKA--civil discourse in Wing-nut land.

John W, perhaps with Obamacare you will finally be able to get that Humor Transplant you need so badly.

In the words of the great american war hero, Sgt Hulka, "Lighten up, Francis."

Funny, when the Loons were running rampant with their own protesting, the Bush administration said it was their right to protest and left it at that.

Posted by: John D | August 12, 2009 3:54 PM

Left it at that? The Bush administration made sure that protesters were in a "Free Speech Zone" when people wanted to criticize him. His town hall meetings were notoriously pre-filled with people who were in agreement with him. NOBODY who was opposed to him got let in. And they SURE weren't let ANYWHERE NEAR him or any other official carrying guns.

And it WAS their right to protest. As it's the right of THESE loons to protest.

Freedomworks and other similar organizations should be exposed for what they are. Unpatriotic and corporate sponsored. And they are inciting people to riot. There is a related post at http://iamsoannoyed.com/?page_id=588

"Funny, when the Loons were running rampant with their own protesting, the Bush administration said it was their right to protest and left it at that."

It's obvious your memory has gone the way of your teeth.

Swamp Rodent,

Not me - I was at work and the gun would be on my left side.

And it WAS their right to protest. As it's the right of THESE loons to protest.

Posted by: Op109 | August 12, 2009 5:05 PM

Yes, DopieOpie, those protesting government-run health care DO HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTEST. Also, DopieOpie, MOST Americans do not like the Dems plan.

And, then there is this:
It's obvious your memory has gone the way of your teeth.

Posted by: Diane | August 12, 2009 6:19 PM

Diane, my dear, I have all my teeth. In fact, every time I go to the dentist, he always marvels how wonderful my teeth are. They are in very good shape. And my memory is in fine shape as well.

Ahhh, the worthless lefty loons.

Funny, when the Loons were running rampant with their own protesting, the Bush administration said it was their right to protest and left it at that.

Posted by: John D | August 12, 2009 3:54 PM

Not true. Under Bu$h, anyone who disagreed with his position on basically anything was considered a terrorist and like your fascist types, it continues despiite the election which you seem to fail to accept.

"I have all my teeth. In fact, every time I go to the dentist, he always marvels how wonderful my teeth are."
Posted John D.

Too bad you don't do as well at the psychiatrist, Johnny D.

Not me - I was at work and the gun would be on my left side.

Posted by: Terry | August 12, 2009 7:18 PM
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Just like his fellow wingnut cretins, Terri here needs a gun, otherwise he'd get his a*s kicked.

And it WAS their right to protest. As it's the right of THESE loons to protest.

Posted by: Op109 | August 12, 2009 5:05 PM

Yes, DopieOpie, those protesting government-run health care DO HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTEST. Also, DopieOpie, MOST Americans do not like the Dems plan.

Posted by: John D | August 12, 2009 8:17 PM

I SAID you idiots have a right to protest, you dolt! UNLIKE YOU, I have not changed my tune about right to free speech when it turned from Dems protesting against Republicans to Republicans protesting against Dems. What MORE do you want? Your right doesn't change the fact you're idiots to make use of it the way you do. So many LEGITIMATE concerns to address, and you and yours are stuck on spouting LIES and INSANE RAMBLES?

It figures. John Dolt will NEVER approach an issue rationally.

Oh Gadfly Gladys, I see no psuchiatrist or psychologist. My mental and emotional state are very strong, unlike the demented and deranged souls on the Left.
I am rethinking my views on Obama's health care rationing ideas, though. Since the Left is such a worthless cause, perhaps no health care monies should be spent on the members of the Left. Health care costs come down and perhaps a few less loons to screw this country and world up!

DopieOpie, I see you have the same reading and comprehension problem that inflicts most of those on the Left.
Here it is one more time: "Yes, DopieOpie, those protesting government-run health care DO HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTEST."
I was acknowledging your post that these folks have a right to protest, giving you crefit for saying as much. Most of your friends on the Left have been dissing those protesting at town hall meetings though, or calling these folks names.
Boy, you try to be nice to a loon and the loon still gets it wrong!

Boy, you try to be nice to a loon and the loon still gets it wrong!

Posted by: John D | August 13, 2009 10:18 AM

Yeah, an a**hole like JohnDolt "tries" to be nice, and -- guess what? -- he's STILL AN A**HOLE.

Anti,

name the time - don't bring your mom.

OBAMA DOES NEED TO ATTEMPT TO QUELL THE "SIDE SHOW" THAT IS GOING ON IN TOWN HALL DEBATES. HE SHOULD DO THIS IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:

1. POINT OUT THAT THE CANADIAN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM REQUIRES DRAMATIC OVERHAUL IN ORDER TO SURVIVE ACCORDING TO CANADIAN OFFICIALS REPORTING IN TODAYS NEWS.

2. THE FRENCH HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM THAT IS GOVERNMENT RUN HAS BEEN IN THE RED SINCE 1989. THEY ARE CLOSING CLINICS IN ATTEMPTS TO AVOID FURTHER DEBT. A WOMAN FROM FIGAC, WHERE A MATERNITY CLINIC CLOSED RECENTLY DUE TO DECREASED FINDS, HAD TO DELIVER HER BABY ON A FIRE TRUCK THAT WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET HER TO A FACILITY THIRTY MILES AWAY FROM HER TOWN TO DELIVER.

3. THE BRITISH HEALTH CARE SYSTEM RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT IS IN DEPLORABLE SHAPE ACCORDING TO A LEAD STORY IN THIS PAST SUNDAY'S NY TIMES WEEK IN REVIEW.

PERHAPS BY TELLING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THE TRUTH ABOUT NATIONALIZED HEALTH CARE, HE MIGHT CONVINCE HIMSELF AND HIS PARTY CONSTITIEUNTS THAT THEY ARE ON THE WRONG PATH AND THAT THEY SHOULD SLOW DOWN, RECONSIDER THEIR OPTIONS, AND PROCEED IN A RATIONAL FASHION TO PROPOSE A LOGICAL, WELL THOUGHT OUT REFORM PLAN.

NATIONALIZED HEALTH CARE HAS FAILED IN ENGLAND, FRANCE AND CANADA....THERE IS NO CHANCE FOR IT TO SURVIVE IN THE USA.