"“We are at a crisis,' Margaret Flowers, a pediatrician from Maryland who volunteers for Physicians for a National Health Program said. 'Health care providers, particularly those in primary care, are finding it very difficult to sustain an independent practice. We are seeing greater and greater corporatization of our health care. Practices are being taken over by these large corporations. You have absolutely no voice when it comes to dealing with the insurance company. They tell you what your reimbursements will be. They make it incredibly difficult and complex to get reimbursed. The rules are arbitrary and change frequently.'”
"Ms. Flowers was blacklisted by the corporate media. She was locked out of the debate on health care reform by the Democratic Party and liberal organizations such as MoveOn. She was abandoned by those in Congress who had once backed calls for a rational health care policy. And when she and seven other activists demanded that the argument for universal health care be considered at the hearings held by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, they were forcibly removed from the hearing room."
Link: http://www.truth-out.org/power-and-tiny-acts-rebellion65351
Showing posts with label Senator Max Baucus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Senator Max Baucus. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Two fights for America and Americans
There are two fights, at minimum, going on right now--today, in fact--and it truly is over America and Americans.
Mostly our money.
The first was made obvious by the debate today at the Supreme Court over whether corporations will be allowed to pour their untold billions of dollars into our political campaigns, so they can say whatever they wish and about whomever or whatever they wish.
If you've read me before, you can no doubt guess I'd be vehemently against this.
In the first place, it simply goes against all court rulings and precedence and so, our law.
More importantly to me, though, is the fact that because of the dissolution of the "Fairness Doctrine" years ago by Republican lawmakers, our airwaves have been made far more ugly and vitriolic while at the same time, taking accountability and level-headedness out of our discourse.
Pouring far more corporate money, anonymously, into our political campaigns--which is what is being considered--will only increase the ugliness, bitterness and irresponsibility into our lives and political development.
There are other reasons, too, but these are the two main ones for me and certainly enough to show this should not change and should not go the corporation's way.
The second fight going on right now in America is evidenced by President Obama's address this evening to a joint sesson of Congress over health care reform.
He's pushing for this, sure, but it does look, in this case as well as the first one, above, that the corporations and big business are winning while Americans are losing--mightily and badly.
It's interesting but it doesn't look good for you and I--the man and woman on the street.
Mostly our money.
The first was made obvious by the debate today at the Supreme Court over whether corporations will be allowed to pour their untold billions of dollars into our political campaigns, so they can say whatever they wish and about whomever or whatever they wish.
If you've read me before, you can no doubt guess I'd be vehemently against this.
In the first place, it simply goes against all court rulings and precedence and so, our law.
More importantly to me, though, is the fact that because of the dissolution of the "Fairness Doctrine" years ago by Republican lawmakers, our airwaves have been made far more ugly and vitriolic while at the same time, taking accountability and level-headedness out of our discourse.
Pouring far more corporate money, anonymously, into our political campaigns--which is what is being considered--will only increase the ugliness, bitterness and irresponsibility into our lives and political development.
There are other reasons, too, but these are the two main ones for me and certainly enough to show this should not change and should not go the corporation's way.
The second fight going on right now in America is evidenced by President Obama's address this evening to a joint sesson of Congress over health care reform.
He's pushing for this, sure, but it does look, in this case as well as the first one, above, that the corporations and big business are winning while Americans are losing--mightily and badly.
It's interesting but it doesn't look good for you and I--the man and woman on the street.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Where we are with health care reform right now--by Matt Taibbi
If you haven't read the latest article by Matt Taibbi from The Rolling Stone on health care, you're missing an important covering of where we've come from and where things seem to be going.
Very informative.
Just a little bit of the article--
Opinion:
"Without a public option, any effort at health care reform will be as meaningful as a manicure for a gunshot victim."
Conjecture that seems true:
"Nearly a third of all health care costs in America are associated with wasteful administration. Fully $350 billion a year could be saved on paperwork alone if the U.S. went to a single-payer system — more than enough to pay for the whole goddamned thing, if anyone had the balls to stand up and say so."
Fact with great, fun analogy:
"'Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell admitted that "private insurance will not be able to compete with a government option.' This is a little like complaining that Keanu Reeves was robbed of an Oscar just because he can't act."
It is 7 computer pages of material which isn't really that much and it is an excellent, important article.
Of particular attention is Senator Max Baucus' remarks, work and multi-million dollar contributions he gets from the health care industry. It is terrific reading.
The other thing that occurs to me is that Mr. Taibbi should write with just as much "anger" or energy and less expletives so more people can and would read his material.
We need to get this kind of thing out.
And the sooner the better.
Link to story:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/29988909/sick_and_wrong/
Very informative.
Just a little bit of the article--
Opinion:
"Without a public option, any effort at health care reform will be as meaningful as a manicure for a gunshot victim."
Conjecture that seems true:
"Nearly a third of all health care costs in America are associated with wasteful administration. Fully $350 billion a year could be saved on paperwork alone if the U.S. went to a single-payer system — more than enough to pay for the whole goddamned thing, if anyone had the balls to stand up and say so."
Fact with great, fun analogy:
"'Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell admitted that "private insurance will not be able to compete with a government option.' This is a little like complaining that Keanu Reeves was robbed of an Oscar just because he can't act."
It is 7 computer pages of material which isn't really that much and it is an excellent, important article.
Of particular attention is Senator Max Baucus' remarks, work and multi-million dollar contributions he gets from the health care industry. It is terrific reading.
The other thing that occurs to me is that Mr. Taibbi should write with just as much "anger" or energy and less expletives so more people can and would read his material.
We need to get this kind of thing out.
And the sooner the better.
Link to story:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/29988909/sick_and_wrong/
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