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The Green They Steal, The Greed They Wear
A St. Patrick's Day Lament
Friends,
It was amazing. Every story on the front page of Monday's New York Times told the story of the Age of Greed during which a system known as capitalism is slowly, but surely, killing us:
Insurance company greed: "Millions Spent to Sway Democrats on Health Care"
War profiteers: "Contractors Tied to Effort to Track and Kill Militants"
There's no profit in repairing our infrastructure: "Repair Costs Daunting as Water Lines Crumble"
China, the bank: "China Uses Rules on Global Trade to Its Advantage"
You mean NAFTA didn't improve life in Mexico: "Two Drug Slayings in Mexico Rock US Consulate"
What happens when Big Food profits from hurting kids: "Forget Goofing Around: Recess Has New Boss"
There's now a daily parade of news like this -- well, not really "news," more like the media division of large corporations shoving your face into the dirt that is your life. You already know the schools are a disaster and the war is a boon for the Halliburtons and a bust for you. You don't need a newspaper to tell you the roads and electrical lines and the local sewage plant is in miserable disrepair.
And by now you've figured out that you don't really have any say in this, that what we call the "democratic process" is mostly a sham, pretty words that get repeated in the hopes we will all still fall for it. But the fix is in and we don't fall for it anymore. Admit it: Wall Street owns "our" Congress lock, stock and big barrel o' campaign cash. You want a say in this? Well, I don't see you on the Forbes 400, so shut the f@*& up and go fetch me another bottle of bubbly.
Within days, the House of Representatives will vote to pass the Senate health care "reform" bill. This bill is a joke. It has NOTHING to do with "health care reform." It has EVERYTHING to do with lining the pockets of the health insurance industry. It forces, by law, every American who isn't old or destitute to buy health insurance if their boss doesn't provide it. What company wouldn't love the government forcing the public to buy that company's product?! Imagine a bill that ordered every citizen to buy the extended warranty on all their appliances? Imagine a law that made it illegal not to own an iPhone? Or how 'bout I get a law passed that makes it compulsory for every American to go see my next movie? Woo-hoo! Who wouldn't love a sweet set-up like this windfall?
Well, the insurance companies -- get this -- don't like the Democrats' bill! That alone should be reason enough to vote for it.
Now, you would think these thieves would love this bill -- but they are actually fighting it. Why? Because it doesn't give them ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of the what they want. It only gives them... 90%! YOU SEE, pure greed demands all or nothing.
The insurance industry hates this bill because it puts a few minor restrictions on them. Six months after its passage they won't be able to deny children coverage if they have a pre-existing condition. How awful! Government interference! SOCIALISM!
But, hey, they'll still be able to deny these children's parents coverage until 2014! So if a parent gets sick and dies in the next four years, I'm sure someone will step in and raise these already-insured orphans.
And how big will the fines be if the insurance companies do deny someone coverage for having a pre-existing condition? Are you sitting down? A hundred dollars a day! That's it! So if you're the insurance company, and Judy is a customer of yours, and Judy needs an operation that will cost $100,000, what do you do? You take the fine! Let's say Judy lives another year after you've sentenced her to death, your $100-a-day fine will only cost you $36,500! That's a savings of $63,500! And trust me, my friends, that's EXACTLY what's going to happen.
There are some good things in this bill. Parents will be able to keep their children on their policy until the kids turn 26. A few things like that. So, yes, pass that.
But don't insult me and 300 million Americans by calling this "health care reform." At least you've stopped calling it "universal health care." We will not have universal health care or anything close to it. I wish the president and the Democratic leadership would just stand up and say, "We're sorry, America. We didn't get the job done you sent us here to do. We're weak and scared and unable to communicate the simplest of messages to the American people. Therefore, our bill will guarantee that 12 million of you will still have NO health insurance. And that's because we have decided to leave the greedy, private insurance industry in charge of our system. Forgive us for this and for continuing to allow profit to be the determining factor as to whether a patient gets the help she or he needs."
Please, Democrats -- just say that -- then pass this poor excuse of a bill. Pass it because, if President Obama takes a fall on this one, I don't know if he'll be able to get back up. And then NOTHING will get done. We can't have that. (And thank you Dennis Kucinich for hanging in there right up to the end and being the only one out of the 435 members to speak the awful truth.)
On the front page of yesterday's New York Times, the dateline was, sadly, once again, "Flint, Michigan." The story was about how doctors are no longer accepting Medicaid patients. Which means tens of thousands of poor can no longer go to the doctor. Last year, the State of Michigan also prohibited doctors from accepting Medicaid patients who had anything wrong with their vision, their hearing, their feet or their teeth. In a 16-county area northwest of Flint, there will soon be not one single hospital that will allow you to give birth there if you're on Medicaid. The official unemployment rate in Flint is 27% (unofficially, closer to 40%).
This is an American tragedy. And, as I've warned you for years, this tsunami is heading your way -- if it's not there already.
I've just turned on my new iPhone and it informs me that it has "apps" it would like to suggest I buy. One is called "Scanner." It will allow me to listen in on police scanners anywhere across the country. I buy the app. I see that the Flint police scanner is part of this. I turn it on out of curiosity. And this is what I hear, at one in the morning: A woman is being beaten by her husband... A home invasion is taking place ("16-year-old black male, wearing a white skull cap")... A child has been missing since noon today... Another woman is being beaten by her boyfriend... A diabetic, obese man is having trouble breathing and needs to be rushed to the hospital (there will be three more of these obese diabetics in the hours to come; the entire town is ill)... One more woman calling, screaming for help, "officers urged to use caution..."
...And on and on and on. This is what I have listened to before going to bed. I am filled with despair and helplessness as I hear my former neighbors crying out for help. I hate it. I have to turn it off. I start to cry. Thank you, iPhone. Thank you, Democrats. I'll sleep better knowing that you're looking out for all of us.
Bastards.
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
MichaelMoore.com
P.S. I'll continue my jihad today on Dylan Ratigan (MSNBC, 4pm ET) and, for the first time together in the same studio since our, um, 2007 debate, I'll join Wolf Blitzer live in his CNN Studio (5-8pm, ET). I'll also be on live for the entire 11am hour this morning on the wonderful Diane Rehm Show on NPR. You can listen live online here.
The rest of the day I'll spend wandering the halls of Congress with my shillelagh and shamrocks, doing my best impersonation of St. Patrick as I try to drive the snakes out of Capitol Hill. Wish me luck...
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167 Comments so far
Show AllWe have at last become a third world country!!! How terribly sad!!!
Yup!
Which third world nations have an individual mandate that extorts money from its citizens for bogus insurance?
This is the same model the Chicago mob has applied to extort money from small businesses.
Oh, I forgot, the Obama Regime is the Chicago mob.
actually there are 3rd world countries that have better healthcare than MM describes around Flint.
I'm sadly guessing that Flint is not alone in its misery
Thank you, Michael!
I believe that we've hit bottom.
Time to start climbing up again for the sake of our children.
Keep on writing!
I'll say one thing, though, JMALH; It's not gonna happen with this Administration...THAT's for sure!
Moore talks about a provision allowing offspring to stay on their parents' insurance until age 26 as if it respresents progress.
In nations that have pro-citizen health care (vs. the pro-corporate US model)every citizen is covered irrespective of their family lineage, marital status, employer or age. The fact that children need to be covered at age 3 let alone 26 by a parent's policy confirms that a fragmented system will become more fragmented under Obamacare.
Considering that only 20% of 2009 US college graduates have landed jobs, Obama better increase the age limit from 26 to 36, especially considering that Obamacare will cause even more baby boomers to delay or cancel retirement,thereby reducing job opportunities for millions of young Americans.
I think it's going to be far more than 12 million who continue not to have insurance. I think there will be millions more who won't be able to afford policies, such as myself, but be forced to pay fines.
It's nice that Moore laid out the fine structure for pre-existing condition denial. It hope this thing runs on HuffPo and I hope the idiots there will read this and do the math. I can't tell you how many posts I read where you know all these people do is spout what the media, or Obama, tells them -- no denial for pre-existing conditions and 30 million more people insured. That's their mantra, the be-all and end-all of why this bill should be passed. If that's the math for denial of service and I'm a big insurer, I'll take it. That is chump change.
As far as the insurance companies fighting this bill? It's been tepid at best since the PO and any hint of extending Medicare was dropped. This was a question that Marcia Angell, again, answered well on Bill Moyers. They've been stock piling the coffers for an all-out assault in the event Obama and/or the House acquiesce to Kucinich's demands -- ERISA and the real public option, at the very least. Then watch them fire up the tea partiers again and wall-to-wall advertising, just as it was this past summer.
But I'm still glad the Moore writes this piece and in this one no hint of still having faith in Obama, or that Obama is a decent human being who really does want to do the right thing but "X" whatever is standing in his way.
The anger out here is palpable. How long will it take before things get violent? From Michael's "scanner ap" I'd say they already have. Maybe some of that violence needs to be directed towards the people that put us in this position.
The damned politicians have NO IDEA of the amount of rage building here outside the beltway. No idea. Widespread violence is surely coming.
And most of that rage is of a distinctlt unhinged, almost psychotoc, fascist flavor. Not pretty.
I dont have cable, but in an empty bar yeaterday after work, I switched the TV over to CNN's "Situation Room" program. Sure, it defends the US excetionalist foreign policy abroad and corportist agenda at home.
But far worse, was the unreal, down-the-rabbit-hole logic that permeates it's news and commentary. For example, one commentor claimed that the recent US (minor, hyped) falling-out with Israel would hurt it's image with the Arab world (!?!?) "becasue it reduced the chances for peace".
If the US populace is getting it's information from such sources, that would explain the near paranoid-deluded psychotoc nature of the "rage".
"politicians have NO IDEA of the amount of rage building here outside the beltway."
Sure they do. they just intend to manage it, as they always do. Aren't you excited for the next episode?
If it weren't so tragic, it would be funny.
BTW, who's still wearing their nose ring?
I just got a "presidential survey" from the Dumbocrats, along with a shakedown request for some of my meager money. I am going the write them a real flamer of a letter telling them to basically go f*&k off. I'd put a copy of it here but I think it would get yanked by the CD censors real quick due to the language it will contain.
My advice to everyone is to do whatever you can to provide whatever level of self reliance you can for you and your family, because the country is going down. How quick, I don't know, but what is going on here is unsustainable.
As far as I know, CD has never deleted posts due to profane language, only the use of flame-caps. They also once had a syatem that auto-deleted posts that contained certain words like "zionist" and "general strike" (for some odd reason), but never profane language. So you should feel free to go ahead.
In the past, during the run-up to Obama's election, they deleted posts and banned users who were critical of obama fron a leftist perspective.
censorship on CD, say it aint so!
Oh, it most certainly is. Witness yours truly (but I daren't say more).
It is so. I was censored. It shocked me to the bone. But ... I'm still here.
The only thing I can think of, why he would censor so many, is that he bought into Obama all the way and thought it was his civic duty to practice censorship so that Nader or McKinney would take few votes away from Prince Obama. He should have known, censorship is NEVER a good idea. Censorship is actually an evil.
Also, he lost his beloved wife, he was on an emotional roller coaster. I forgive him.
You MAY be right, rvrwalker, but it's simply wrong and regrettable that "he" does not see fit to address this circumstance.
I've mentioned before that I feel like a previously-burned cat jumping back on the stove top when I risk addressing this subject.
The reason I feel that way is because as a long-term commenter, I SHOULD feel "comfortable" about commenting. But in the absence of any recognition that there was at least something untoward about that purge, I always feel like I'm walking on eggs.
One just never knows whether a particular word, phrase, or topic won't "sit well" with "him" (or "them") and will be censored.
Obviously I push past that inhibition, which is inimical to my free-spirited and long-winded style.
Once in a while I try to sign on using my old nym, but it remains "banned" or locked; I used to hope that "he" would get the message and at least quietly restore banned IDs as a silent gesture of reconciliation.
But it's sad and exasperating that someone who can be so eloquent and communicative for fund-raising purposes can remain so opaque on this matter of consequence.
The funniest thing? Fund-raising emails addressed to banned addresses!
Always gives me a chuckle.
My guess is that any of those they get which have checks, they cash the checks, and everything else goes in the trash unread, or at best gets put in a bin for sending form letters.
They really DON'T care.
This is just playing with numbers, not about issues. They give or take here or there to shift numbers, by the polls, the same way as a general moves troops or supplies here and there in a war, and cares nothing for anything but winning. It's not about people any more than financial arbitrage is about people -- except themselves. Once they 'win the war' they occupy the territory and do what they want (regardless of what they said or did previously).
I almost always agree with Michael Moore, but I still don't think this bill is worth passing without a version of "Medicare for All". I was hoping Dennis Kucinich would stick to his guns. The Democrats caved and they continue to cave.
Kucinich just caved, live on MSNBC. He will vote for the "Increased Profits For Insurance Companies" bill.
What good is it to say you speak for the people if you wind up voting against them in the end? You're still part of the same dog and pony show. I wonder if Wellstone would have caved. Pitiful.
To not put it all on Dennis, what does Bernie intend to do?
Mr. Moore say it ain't so. Your still imploring the Dems to do the right thing. Grow a pair Mr. Moore and join the fight on the right side fuck Obama and the Dems.
"Please, Democrats -- just say that -- then pass this poor excuse of a bill. Pass it because, if President Obama takes a fall on this one, I don't know if he'll be able to get back up. And then NOTHING will get done. We can't have that. (And thank you Dennis Kucinich for hanging in there right up to the end and being the only one out of the 435 members to speak the awful truth.)"
We take no quarter and give no quarter to capitalist cannibals and the corrupted government they control. It's been a long time since America was a democracy if ever.
:)
Cicero: "Freedom is participation in power."
"We take no quarter and give no quarter to capitalist cannibals and the corrupted government they control."
Really? Who is "we" and how come no one in the U.S. has ever heard of you? If you're living in the U.S. you're living under the boot heel of capitalist cannibals whether you realize it or not.
Marx argued that the capitalist system requires exploitation to survive. Due to this exploitation, the proletariat (have nots) ultimately will lead a revolution against the bourgeoisie (haves). Seems we get closer to fulfilling the Marx prophecy with each passing day.
Marx was wrong. The revolution will not come so easily. He was not able to predict the abundant distractions that developed around capitalism that keep people...distracted, busy, and stupid, nor the relationship the governments would play in helping preserve it, crisis after crisis. It's really up to us to put in 500% effort to get the ball rolling, to start building the foundation, and not simply for minor reforms, a new party, etc. Our destiny is complete disruption and destruction of this earth as we know it within a hundred years or so. This likely will put our own survival as a species into jeopardy. All of our advancements will be for nothing. We must fight against this destiny now. Capitalism and the central governments, all exploitative hierarchical structures must go.
You'd be surprised how fast things can change when enough people can't fill there stomachs or gas tanks.
Cicero: "Freedom is participation in power."
Unfortunately the right-wingers are far more prepared for this eventuality than the American "Left" such as it is.
When the tummy is hungry, the mind gets clearer, and energy levels rise (thus, the expression lean and mean). When the people are no longer able to adequately narcotize themselves, likely all hell will break loose; they will no longer be able to deny the obvious.
In the words of the immortal Dr. Strangelove: I would not rule out the possibility of preserving a nucleus of human specimen." A small number of humans WILL survive the catastrophic fallout of global climate change. They will then start to rebuild the population again over a period of 2,000 years sans oil (because it has been depleted) and out of this "specimen" MIGHT rise the world we all now dream of: a world with clean-burning fuels, a steadying climate, possibly a whole new GREEN planet that will sustain the survivors for a few millennia before the whole cycle of greed, corruption and avarice starts anew.
Wake up: Oboma does not give two shits for a progressive agenda.
Obama will declare marshal law in a New York minute if there is an uprising. Watch how quickly his pretty rhetoric changes.
Talk about BLARNEY!
Act all impassioned and indignant and then endorse what you pretend to think is an abomination. Wow!
Michael Moore is now just a typical papal-supporting (like so many members of the so-called supreme court) apologist for corporate corruption.
So, fascist-like behavior is now acceptable as a starting point?
BREAKING NEWS:
Dennis Kucinich is voting YES on Obama's Health Ins. Enrichment Bill.
Yeah, when it was reported that Dennis was on Air Force One a couple of days ago, I thought he would sell his soul.
RichM
Excellent post!! Just excellent.
Moore is clearly disillusioned with the democrats, at least give him credit for that. I think he's playing good cop, bad cop all the same article, and sees it, but understands there's presently no alternative to the Democrats. This is his clever way of calling them out, while realizing it's most likely an exercise in futility.
Perhaps you are correct, but I didn't get that impression watching his interview with Amy Goodman, though I could be misreading him.
Cicero: "Freedom is participation in power."
Moore and Kucinich seem to me to represent two varying degrees of desperate resignation to the fact that there is no new viable, authentically progressive Third Party alternative to the Democratic Party. That is all our faults. A national summit of progressive leaders (excluding Democratic Party support organizations) should have met within 6 months of Obama taking office and presidentially demonstrating his true corporatist nature. That summit should have begun building a new Party in 2009. Or at the very least a new more united and organized national movement with the capability to field primary opposition candidates against the worst candidates of the DLC and GOP. If you want to get good laws enacted or, at least, bad laws halted, you have to have the votes in Congress. The Democratic Party is now all but fully incapable of passing good laws or halting bad ones. We urgently need a united progressive Third Party.
I agree.
As do I, and with both comments above...
The Green Party is up and running. What they desperately need, though, is people! Yeah, like you! they need organizers, candidates, some money, good publicity.
Greens have worked hard to get ballot lines in most states. This is no easy thing to do.
We need to "TAKE OVER THE GREEN PARTY" from the GRASSROOTS!
The light is Green. GO!
Yes, Kucinich caved and he got absolutely nothing in return for a yes vote. Obama basically sweet-talked him. It makes me retch. Say what you will about Michael Moore, but last night on Countdown he said Dennis was 1 out of 435 standing up for 300 million. He also said that if this bill is going to pass -- which it will now, it seems -- that President Obama should at the very least stand up there and be honest. Take a listen:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/
But I'm listening to Dennis now. Apparently Obama convinced Dennis that he would continue to work for real health care reform "down the road." I cannot imagine this will happen. The Dems will lose seats over this and Obama will be a lame duck, as well. It's over.
Apparently Dennis now believes in Santa Klaus like Thom Hartmann and his disciples. If the Dems lack the resolve to pass a Public Option while controlling the Senate, House, and Presidency, is Dennis naive enough to think it will happen "down the road" when the Republicans regain controll of one or more branches of the Legislature?
Kucinich is just another bought and paid for piece of dung.
Down the road? Past 2014 at the least because much of this doesn't start until then. It's complete BS. Stop believing in these parties. We want democracy, let's make it happen. Electing kings and queens (from a small group backed by financial elites) that sweet talk us then sell us down the river is not democracy at all. One really good point in Moore's Capitalism is him showing working run companies. This must be one of our primary aims. Not simply joining liberal unions, who beg bosses for crumbs but help retain the exploitative structure of the company, but fighting to get rid of the bosses and bring democracy into the work place.
Nothing? He got to stay in Congress.
Cynthia McKinney didn't, taken out by the party in the primaries. An object lesson, of course.
Now she's a Green.
In the long run, it would be good if this health bill did not pass.
-"if President Obama takes a fall on this one, I don't know if he'll be able to get back up. And then NOTHING will get done."
I believe it would be great if nothing more got done by the Obama administration. We don't have the money to keep the Wall Street Bankers in the chips and help out middle America,too. In truth, we can do neither, because President Obama has decided he wants to be a War President, just like George Bush.
We have seen where Obama's allegiance lies, and that leaves little if any for the rest of us.
Gawd, USan "progressives" are stupid clods.