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Goofing up Health Care Reform
America's shouting match over health care reform has turned completely goofy -- and I'm not talking about confused seniors at teabag rallies getting red-faced with anger after being told by the right-wing scare machine that "government is trying to taker over Medicare." No, I'm talking about our United States senators.
Take Max Baucus. Please! He's the lightweight Montana Democrat to whom President Obama entrusted the heavy job of shepherding health care reform through the upper chamber. It was like asking Tweety Bird to lift a bowling ball.
Baucus is chairman of the finance committee. The what? Excuse me, but why wouldn't the health committee be the appropriate venue for taking the lead on, you know, health reform? I mean, we don't submit banking legislation to the health panel, so ...
Nonetheless, there it was, and Baucus rather goofily began the process by cheerfully chirping that he was discarding any consideration of the one straightforward and popular reform that would actually work: the single-payer system of insurance, which more appropriately should be called "Medicare for all."
This easy-to-grasp approach would be a boon to us patients, doctors and taxpayers, with only the greed-fueled insurance companies and rip-off drug companies getting a comeuppance. But, no go from the chairman -- who, coincidentally, has received nearly $600,000 from insurance drug companies and hospitals in the past two years and has gleefully continued to collect beaucoup bucks from them this year, even as he has been writing legislation that bases "reform" on their selfish profit interests.
Baucus, backed by unanimous and enthusiastic support from Republicans on his committee, has merrily jettisoned reform after reform that the industry opposed.
For example, an amendment to require drug-price discounts for low-income seniors with multiple chronic illnesses: killed. The provision to include a not-for-profit, public-insurance option to increase competition, provide consumer choice and keep insurance corporations honest: gone.
To explain such spectacular servitude to the special interests by a Democrat who should be expected to stand for the interests of ordinary folks, the milquetoast chairman simply stated that his goal was to produce a bill that could win the industry's support and get the 60 votes needed to overcome a Republican filibuster.
That's his goal? If the meek ever inherit the earth, Baucus will be a land baron! Why isn't it his goal to produce the best health care there is for all of the American people? Why has he empowered Republicans (who -- remember? -- lost the White House and Senate last year) to control the terms of the debate and the content of the Democrat's bill?
Why doesn't he take a couple of testosterone shots and reach out to the 65 percent of Americans (including 47 percent of Republicans and 63 percent of doctors) who support the public insurance option, rallying them and some of his own weak-kneed Democratic colleagues to kick the selfish health insurance lobbyists right in the butt?
It was not so long ago that Montana sent people like Mike Mansfield and Lee Metcalf to the U.S. Senate -- real Democrats of stature who didn't suck up to lobbyists and run scared of Republicans. One has to ask: Is Baucus really from Montana?
The Republicans he seeks to satisfy are ideological goofballs like Iowa's Sen. Chuck Grassley, who wails that a nonprofit public insurance option would offer better deals to consumers than the mingy, exorbitantly expensive health care policies sold by the monopolistic insurance giants. That's unfair, he cried. The public insurance plan, complained the clueless Grassley, would not pay excessive salaries and bonuses to top executives, would not rake off billions of dollars in profit and would not retain massive bureaucracies whose sole purpose is to try to keep from covering treatments that our doctors provide.
With no need to pamper executives, put profits above patients and stiff policy holders, sobbed the senator, the public plan would upset the industry's competitive balance.
Exactly! And that's why we consumers want and need the honest competition that the public insurance option could provide.
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23 Comments so far
Show AllIt's because all of DEM are blackmailed with information gleaned by Bushist illegal telecom wiretaps.
Jim Hightower is much too kind. "Goofy"? "Meek"? Try EVIL. Baucus, Grassley and the rest of the corporate whores in Congress are just plain evil.
If you would like details on who received how much money from the Health care industry see opensecrets.org I believe each time a congress person opens their mouth this disclosure should be their first statement. It would be revealing to have this on the screen each time they are interviewed on tv also. Maybe then the masses would understand why Democrates are killing any change. The numbers are truly staggering.
Yes, and then Hightower wouldn't have to ask, "Is Baucus really from Montana?"
Of course not. New York has an extraordinary number of senators. And why did the president give control of this landmark legislation over to him if Baucus would not reflect his own wishes? They both work for the same money interests.
Speaking of money, I keep noticing when I watch teevee that practically the only commercials left on are for drugs, almost like it had become a subsidy. All that money spent is written off and all of it comes from us. You would think that legislation to control healthcare costs might address something like that, but it's all part of the election grease.
Dennis Kucinich had an amusing suggestion. He said that like Nascar race car drivers whose sponsors are printed on their cars, Congress critters should have to wear the names of their sponsors (i.e., lobbyists) on their suits as they enter the halls of Congress each day.
Using the term "goofy" implies the making of ignorant errors and such. But we all know better, and so should Hightower. Baucus's status as the Inscrewus Industry's #1 bought and paid for senator was well known which is why he was given the job of moving the Inscrewus Industry's stimulus package.
Yes, that's what the Baucus bill ought to be called: The Inscrewus Industry Stimulus Act, as it has little to do with improving healthcare or reforming the Inscrewus Industry.
Too many "liberals" and swing voters dismissed Dubya's actions as incompetent.
In terms of wealth transfer (from the 99% to the 1%) the Dubya Regime was more competent than any of its 42 predecessors. The regime planned it all and everything went according to plan, except their failure to privatize social security. Obama, the Federal Reserve and Congress are continuing the wealth transfer scheme at the same pace.
None of these entities are or have ever been incompetent or goofy. They are executing a well planned mission to turn the US into a third world country.
Ah, the sting of truth! Ray, I do believe you have the measure.
Finance is the perfect committee to debate health care..since the health care industry is financing these politicians.
"The only means of strengthening one's intellect is to make up one's mind about nothing, to let the mind be a thoroughfare for all thoughts." - John Keats
It's not Baucus' fault. At least not only his fault. He is only the fall guy... Who elected the Senate Finance Committee? The Dems. They are all in it together, passing the buck from one individual to another is a game. They all have to go, a year from now. Third party or nothing.
Fault distributes.
It's Baucus' fault.
It's "the Dems'" fault -- most of the Dems.
If two of us beat someone to death, are any of us less guilty because we acted in tandem?
Like Klein keeps citing, Que se vayan todos -- though I suspect some of her Argentinian compas may have spelled out where.
Third Party!
We're going to need some election reform to swing this, though. Let's look for a ban on private campaign monies and a strict guarantee of equal time to all candidates.
They don't have to be blackmailed. They're bribed nicely by the health mafia to do it's bidding.
Just to state the obvious, at least to some.
The health insurance industry sells a financial product that is supposed to manage financial risks.
The health insurance industry provides NO health care!
That's why any changes/reforms to the health insurance industry must be legislated through the finance committee.
We ought to call "health care" in this country what it really is, money care. I'm not surprised that the Finance Committee gets to dictate the fate of "health care reform".
Medicare For All, also known as single-payer health insurance, is favored by a large majority of Americans.
How can we convince our Members of Congress to do what the people want?
Let them know that unless they support Medicare For All, you won't support them.
Take the Medicare For All Voter Pledge today:
http://bit.ly/medicareforallpledge
How? Run all of them out of office, of course!
Here's another article that takes me back to a "Democracy Now" segment earlier this year.
Rose Ann DeMoro (Executive Director of the California Nurses Association), was one of the single-payer advocates invited to Baucus' incredibly lame, too-little-too-late pro forma meeting with single-payer advocates.
Baucus is a real peach; who else would hold a meeting just to apologize for not really "getting" single-payer until it was WAY too late?
I'm paraphrasing from memory, but DeMoro noted that at the meeting, Baucus emphasized that the main thing was to give Obama the "win" that he'd demanded! Her impression, which I'm sure is correct, is that Baucus was both befuddled and anguished at somehow winding up in the middle of an unanticipated conflict between Obama and his "base".
Besides not getting around to appreciating single-payer, or even perceiving that there is a constituency fiercely advocating it, Baucus also didn't--doesn't-- "get" that non-Republican progressive types might not automatically enthusiastically support "their" candidate over issues.
DeMoro didn't use this term, but I think it's fair and accurate to say that, above all else, Baucus seemed flabbergasted at the lack of Team Spirit. Gotta support the team!
True he's only one of many self-serving, morally and intellectually bankrupt "made men" in a national crime syndicate. But that doesn't make him any less responsible for his venality and myopia.
· Yr Obd't Servant
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) score's the baucus plan at $829 Billion over a 10 year period, that is paid for. The CBO also states that it will lower the deficit by $81 Billion and it would be much lower if there was a public option.Criminally corrupt politicians are the reason the U.S. is ranked near the bottom of every catagory when ranked next to other modern, industrialized nations. Time for publically funded elections. lieberman $12.6M, mcconnell $7.8M, baucus $7.7M, cornyn $6.7M, kyl $5.6M, grassley $5.4M, ensign $5.2M, conrad $5.1M, cantor $4.9M, nelson $4.9M, burr $4.8M, boehner $4.4M, hatch $4.4M, lincoln $4.1M, vitter $3.9M, carper $3.6M were paid by the Medical Industrial Complex to kill Health Care Reform. (Source: OpenSecrets.org, Aug. 09)Follow the Money: http://hmc-lavadogs.livejournal.com/20128.html Call Congress and demand, Single-Payer Health Care for All!(Toll Free # House and Senate)1-866-338-1015 _____ 1-866-220-00441-800-473-6711 _____ 1-866-311-3405Sign Single-Payer Petitions: http://www.singlepayeraction.org/join.html http://www.americacantwait.com/TrueMajority Don’t let the Medical Industrial Complex steal your Health Care from you and your family by donating huge sums of money to Crooked Politicians in order to maintain the Status Quo. Keep up the good fight.SEMPER FI!
"The Republicans he seeks to satisfy are ideological goofballs like Iowa's Sen. Chuck Grassley, who wails that a nonprofit public insurance option would offer better deals to consumers than the mingy, exorbitantly expensive health care policies sold by the monopolistic insurance giants. That's unfair, he cried."
Hell, offer him a lifetime supply of his favorite booze...that might change his mind. This is one guy who more often than not looks like he half-in-the-bag.
Is this Democracy?
Why we do not have National referendum for:
• Health reform (single payer)
• Lobbying
• War in peace time (Iraq)
• And any other important issues
If Insurance companies will stay, why not make them not for profit with CEO salary max at double national average?
Lobbying is just legal bribing (criminal offense)
Make these phone calls and spread the word by email to your friends.
Boycott Tyson Foods of Arkansas who gave Mike Ross D-Arkansas
$37,000 for his campaigns. Call lobbyist for Tyson Foods Chuck
Penry 202 393 3921 and tell him politely that you refuse to
buy Tyson chicken until Mike Ross D-Arkansas the leader of the
Blue Dogs on health care gets the entire house and senate
conservative Democrats to help get HR 676 enacted into law.
Tell others to call. Send me email after you call to
info@democratz.org
Boycott American Express who gave Max Baucus $50,000 for his
campaigns. Call Joanna Lambert at 212 640 9668 and politely
tell her you will not use any American Express cards until
Max Baucus gets HR 676 enacted into law. Email me after you call.
Call GOP contributor Rite Aid Pharmacies at 800 325 3737 and
tell the person to get the CEO to get congress to enact HR 676
Single payer health care and enact a new Medicare Prescription
drug benefit in Medicare Part B covering 80% of the cost of
drugs with no extra premiums, no extra deductibles, no means
tests, no coverage gaps, and remove the means test for Medicare
Part B and until that happens, you won't buy ANYTHING from
Rite Aid Pharmacies.
In 2008 Brown-Forman, the maker of Jack Daniels Whiskey and
Southern Comfort gave Mitch McConnell money for his campaigns.
CALL Brown-Forman AT 502-585-1100 and tell the person who
answers to get the CEO to GET Mitch McConnell to execute no
Republican filibusters and enact the Employee free choice act
into law or you don't buy Jack Daniel's whiskey and Southern
Comfort anymore!
Call GOP contributor Wendy's restaurants at 800 443 7266 and
tell the person who answers that you want their CEO to get
congress to enact a $10/HR MIN. WAGE into law and until this
happens you will not go to a Wendy's Restaurant.
Call GOP contributor and war contractor General Electric
Corporation at 800 386 1215 or 203 373 2211 and tell the
person who answers, to tell the GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt that
you want him to get the President to end the war in Iraq
and Afghanistan and until that happens you will not buy
any GE products and that you will tell your friends about this.
Is it possible that when this is over and the citizens do not get what they want, but the insurance and drug companies get what they want, which is the opposite of what we want, that then the public will finally wake up and discover that they are not living in a democracy? that their votes really do not count at all, that all that counts is corporate money? just asking.