Gary

I wish you well in your new home. Forgive the rest of us if we continue to battle for the nation in which we were born and to which we have an obligation.

At least 20 cases of hepatitis A have been confirmed in five Illinois counties—Rock Island, Mercer, Henry, Warren and Woodford, said Rock Island County Health Department spokeswoman Theresa Foes.

Authorities are still trying to learn why the case of hepatitis A in the McDonald’s food handler went unreported for more than three weeks.

This story should give pause to anyone fighting against universal health care. I just wonder, besides the thousands potentially exposed at this McDonalds, just how many people are already, or will be, affected by this one employee. Think about it. One employee exposed possibly thousands, those thousands exposed their families, friends and acquaintances, and on and on. Now think, how many of those exposed have no health care. How many will get a vaccine and how many will not and will subsequently go on to potentially expose more thousands.
This is a frightening example and yet it is real, and it is going on as I write and our congress is worried about universal health care “gouging the insurance companies” instead of the health of the people in this country. Instead, they are blathering about forcing seniors to “stop making bad choices and watch what they eat, stop smoking, go on a diet and join a health club”.
Problem is, almost all in congress and on the faux news are, themselves 50 to 200 pounds overweight and drinks like a fish, has a fat cigar stuffed in his mouth, smokes cigarettes, pot, or is addicted to some drug or other.

To Deny Healthcare is to Deny the Right to “Life,Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”. This was a Declaration of not only a new Republic but for all those who constituted it. Thus the preamble in the Constitution,“We the People”, declaring uniequivocally that fact. Denying access to healthcare is a violation of that inalienable right.But to deny 47 million is not merely 47 million counts of civil rights violations, it becomes an asault on the Republic itself. WE are only as strong as the sum of our parts. 
And that fact has been bore out by the steady decline in the economy. Failing to address the ineffecient delivery system and astronomical costs have lost US Jobs, talent and lives.To the Extent of Weakening our Global economic standing.China is kicking our manufacturing sales asses with shit products, even in our own sales market!
Pocket Politicians have blocked healthcare reform for decades, and look where it’s got US.
A Public Servants Duty is to assure that every citizen, thus the Country, has the ability to reach their full potential; And it begins by making sure WE are as healthy a Nation as possible.
Lady Liberty is On the Guerney, which Public Servants will come to Her Aid?

The “lesson” for today is:  The last place any Person or People should ever be caught is at the “mercy” of anybody who’s in it for “The-Money.”  Yet the domesticated peoples everywhere, as “individuals” and collected into nation-states, are absolutely subject to “financial” CONsiderations….not only where their mis-named “healthcare” is CONcerned, but in virtually every area of their increasingly miserable half-lives.

Dennis Kucinich cuts a fine figure pissing-into-the-wind here, yet the “bottom-line” remains the awful fact that at-least three-quarters of the captive population is already “redundant,” and expensive medical attention for them is just not “cost effective.”  Technological “advances,” it is intended, will soon render nearly all the remainder into equally devalued “surplus.”

The machinery of the idiotic “dominance” paradigm can only do what it was designed and built do to.  You who want genuine health, which is entirely biological in its nature, best look to Life Herownself.  Ideological/institutional/electro-mechanical CONceits turn inevitably into positive-feedback-loops whose professional expert operators can only “run” them into ever more vicious “circles.”

How come people aren’t mortally ashamed to be begging corporate behemoths and their gov’t retainers for the means to be healthy?  Medical attention ought to be absolutely the LAST resort for those unfortunate or inattentive enough to be reduced to requiring it.

Yes, it’s really impossible to be truly healthy in any ‘habitat’ as full of industrial poisons and institutionalized abuse as this “modern” world is.  As the “public” health continues to decline, it is also impossible to pay the skyrocketing “costs” of suppressing symptoms.  Yet there’s no ‘profit,’ either, in cleaning-up the mess.

Talk about “rocks” and “hard places.” 

HokaHey!

Yes, many think that Medicaid must be good, becaue it costs so so much. About 65% of the fees paid go to private, for-profit HMOS, who turn down everything (literally), and, unless a Congressperson or lawyer gets involved, forget it. Ot even if they do, sometimes.

That is why this bill HR3200, expanding Medicaid coverage, while expecting the states to pick up the bill, just will not work…the states are broke. More money shouldve been given to states and less cash to individuals—I mean, what good did it really do anyone?

KDelphi says

“Unfortunately when you are on Medicaid, if they dont cover it, you cant accept money from family, friends anyone and have it done. That happened when they went to HMOs.”

I’ll be darned!  I didn’t know about that.  How can they deny coverage (or the chance of raising funds) for a condition that requires medical care and prevents a person from functioning well?  But what’s the point of answering this question….

And he also says:

“I am a little embarassed that I keep giving personal (and family and client) atories, but, some just dont seem to get it until you describe a real situtaiton. The sad part is, even then, some just dont care.”

Please, try not to feel embarrassed. Learn from the profiteers/politicians that rob us. They don’t seem to be embarrassed about their stories and pictures being on the media, or about all kinds of details about their families becoming public. I was involved in trying to help someone (a legal, hard-working, low-income US resident who had some language problems) with a particular situation at the local hospital. I learned quite a bit then.  I always hear and read about medical care tragedies but it seems there’s always one more to learn about.

You’re right. Most people don’t have a clue.  They are happy with their cozy medical coverage (which may not be that great anyway and may even lose at some point.)  Ah, they may also make a donation to a non-profit… and that’s it for social consciousness. And when I try to tell people I come across with about the plight of those who are not so lucky, what I find most of the time is indifference. And the same when it comes to other issues such as our predatory wars, etc.  It’s the “that’s life” kind of attitude.

That’s why, in many ways, I have stopped focusing too much on political figures—they are just the result of what people vote for.  I’m more interested in what I perceive as a lack of basic values and common sense in the population.  No matter how much evidence there is, they just cannot see that the better more people are, the better our entire society can be.  And I’m not expecting perfect bliss—just much-needed improvement.

Xntrk—thanks, but I dont know about that. I have been the morphine route many times, for a long time…got to de-tox at home with an inexperienced friend…yee-ha!! Almost died, but I’m pretty sure that that is what Care Source had in mind…

MeHere—I am a little embarassed that I keep giving personal (and family and client) atories, but, some just dont seem to get it until you describe a real situtaiton. The sad part is, even then, some just dont care.

All Obama seem to mention now is “cost savings” and “waste, fraud and abuse”...I thought it was about HEALTH CARE…but BaucASS’ Finance Comm is caling the shots and it shows…Dems f’ed up again…

rfidlr—Why in the world would I want to “end class war”—I’ve just begun and there’s more of us than of you…some would say that and MS (Social Work) is a “degree in class warfare”—we never quit—we cant afford to..

KDelphi, I was on a very high dose of pred for a reaction to sulpha - or anything that resembles it. Then I really injured my back and wound up in a wheelchair for 2 months, waiting for a diagnosis, then surgery. They put me on morphine. You just think you’re woozy. My poor husband wound up living with a hyper zombi. I designed a house a day, and wouldn’t let anyone help me ‘cuz i dislike being dependent…

To those on Kaiser: If you are covered under a private plan here in Hawaii, it is pretty good. But when I was widowed and lost the Union Insurance, I had to go on ‘Kaiser Advantage’ It sucks! and, the Advantage is all theirs. If Medicare won’t pay them for it, they won’t provide it. But, they sure collect an extra 100+ bucks on top of the regular Medicare monthly payments. Plus co-pay of course.

The problem with going to straight Medicare is that no doctors are accepting new Medicare patients. Hypocritical oath and all that…

rfidler—”..think insurance companies are stingy…! Obama is already giving speeches advising us geezers to head for the hospices and die with dignity rather than have a “bunch of tubes stuck in them.”

Can you link where Obama said that, please?

20-80,000 per yr die now. Care is already rationed, by wealth. No civilized country in the world rations as much as the uS and it is immoral.

Dying before my time (which most in the uS do now) is not my worry—-being chronically sick and unable to get treatment—not that’s scary!

All the statistics and world studies just show you to be wrong. I do not like Obama’s plan, and yes , it will price itself out of business…but that should make you neo-cons very happy! You can point to more “failure of socialist policies” (even though you know damh well its not)or whatever bullshit youre spouting when it fails. Thats right—celebrate others suffering. Very Capitalist of you.

You know which cuntries have single payer and you know how long they live and how well. Youre just propagandizing…

ardee: You said: “There are any number of lawsuits from the relatives of dead former Kaiser members who were refused diagnostic procedures or medical treatments because they were too expensive.”

Do you think that a government run health care program will not eventually ration care to contain cost? If you think insurance companies are stingy…! Obama is already giving speeches advising us geezers to head for the hospices and die with dignity rather than have a “bunch of tubes stuck in them.”

Can I venture a guess at the “number of lawsuits from the relatives of dead former [government health care] members who were refused diagnostic procedures…” which will ever be brought to court?

Also poor people, and soon to be added, not-so-poor people, will die sooner or stay sick longer than rich people because their only care will come from a stingy government; rich people will find and pay for the care they need/want wherever it’s available, anywhere in the world if need be.

Rationed health care- and it will be rationed- is no way to end class war.

MeHere—Unfortunately when you are on Medicaid, if they dont cover it, you cant accept money from family, friends anyone and have it done. That happened when they went to HMOs.

Yes, it does seem like Dems do what GOP want, only they “feel yur pain”. I have voted Nader and Green—now I vote Socialist if its on the ballot.

I dont know the answer to this country’s problems. I know the Dems and GOP arent it…

Delphi,

I’m so sorry you’ve had to go through such an ordeal with your health. In my area, we knew someone who needed surgery and didn’t have insurance or tons of money and someone organized a fundraiser to cover his expenses.  It worked out very well.  Is there any chance you may raise funds that way with people you know, folks at this website (perhaps other ones,) some organization, etc.?  I’m sure I’m not telling you things you haven’t thought of but there may still be a chance that you can solve this. Don’t give up, please. You can probably go to Cuba, explain your situation and chances are you can get your surgery there. I’m not joking. People from various countries have done that.

I now know what you mean about Ron Paul, the Dems, etc. Thanks for explaining. I frankly don’t care for any of these people—Dems, Reps, or the Ron Pauls who are around. To me they are all political dinosaurs who are stuck with a mentality that doesn’t fit the 21st Century. But I also recognize that they are merely representing the “stuck mentality” of the society we live in.  Not much any of us can do about that.

I have supported Nader and the Greens.  A few years ago, I was involved with the Greens in my county… until they lasted.  We got very few people to come to meetings—very few even among the registered Greens.  It was a good group but very small and eventually the Chairman got tired and there was no point to continue -and he was right.  I have supported both the Greens and Nader over time. I always get a kick out of that liberal line about why they wouldn’t vote for the Greens or Nader: “Because they can’t win.” How can they if people don’t vote for them? I guess that’s one of the many mysteries of life I’ll never understand.

It is obvious that a third party needs to be built up and that it will not happen overnight, if ever. I’m fine with that, and I don’t feel the need to run to any Reps or Dems or hybrids and cast a vote that will turn out to be meaningless in the end.  Republicans don’t scare me any more than Democrats do because, when you think about it, Democrats seem to end up fulfilling Republican dreams. They keep the fire going until the Reps get their turn.  I favor a social democracy. I can already hear another liberal line: “That would be good but it’s not for this country. It’s too large.”  Who is the great prophet that knows it cannot work?  Or that some version of it cannot work?  Those founding fathers who are constantly being invoked would take a look at us today and probably say: “You people are clueless.”

You say you want things to change and that, if they don’t, you think we’re screwed.  Good thinking.  No, Obama will not change things the way some of us would like.  I don’t blame him.  He was elected, among other reasons, because Bush & Co. didn’t do one thing right (not even for right-wingers.)  But I don’t have any evidence that all those Obama voters elected him for the kind of change a number of us would want.

Keep up the good work. We need to know that someone is on the same wavelength…. it can get very lonely otherwise.

Forlorn R’s+D’s x liberterians + Anarchists = INDEPENDENCE PARTY.  “Party for Independence”

katydid—I like Sanders alot and get a newsletter from him. We are both Democratic Socialists (more or less) and , unfortunately, that is what would keep him from winning…but, if he and Kucinich would do it, I would be all for it!!

LostHills—agree.
ardee-yeah, just wait until somebody gets really sick…why WOULD a for-profit corp cover anything they didnt have to by law? They wouldnt.They are for shareholders, not patients.

MeHere—Thats a rather tough one. There are a couple things, not the least of which is disillusionment and frustration. The way I see it, Paul is not part of the duopoly, which I have grown to hate.He doesnt believe in corporate subsidies. He is, for the most part anti-war (except defense) and would cut the military budget. I disagree with him on—just about everything else…but what good have the neo-liberal Democratic “socially minded” programs done for the people who need them? They almost always benefit corporations more than the people. I guess I feel like, if the Dems are going to humilitate the real Left everytime we put them in office—-f’em. With Paul in power, at least we might get out of some wars and the big corps wouldnt get anymore money. He might drop all social programs, but, if this is the best Dems can do, I dont plan on being arouncd very long anyway—I mean, whats the point? I cant go back to work (lose Medicaid), yet the “care” is so bad, I cant do better long enough to trust I wont be disabled again…the neo-liberal caught in a paradox syndrome..Ever heard of Coyote Ugly??? You know, you chew your own arm off rather than wake up the person next to you….its that bad, yes.

I am not sure Paul is a Libertarian, really, but if he broke more from the GOP…I guess that shows you how angry at both parties the duopoly has made some of us and how desperate some of us are getting!

I mean, this is supposed to be my LIFE.

Maybe its the steroids I have to be on since they wont pay for my needed surgery, to go back to work full-time. They make me a little zooey. But I know that what the Dems are doing now, is not going to “work”.

I have talked to some Paul supporters who seem not to be Social Darwinists…there are others who just seem to have no conscience….I dunno, MeHere, I just really want things to change, and, if they dont, I think we are screwed. And I sure dont think Obama will do enough to change things, filllibuster proof majority or not.

Do you have any ideas for Third Party? Or Fourth? Or Fifth? We need a multi-party system, I think…

Xntrk—anarchy sounds good to me.

I agree Kucinich and Paul are polar opposites.  You might google information about Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont.  I believe he and Kucinich would make a great 2012 team. Bernie is a registered Independant.

Old Geezer Pilot, July 18 at 8:40 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

My wife and I are enrolled in Kaiser. They are the poster child for complete health care. There are NO insurance agents, NO gatekeepers, NO lawyers.

Just doctors and nurses.

The whole system is computerized.

There are no paper records.

If the USA ran its health care on the Kaiser model, we could cover the entire country for LESS than we spend today.
..................................

I have been a member of Kaiser Permanente for over forty years, three of my four children have been born at Kaiser on Geary St. in SF. Thus I am in a rather informed position in which to break my silence here ( temporarily) and tell Old Geezer to beware.

Kaiser is a perfect example of everything wrong with the Health Care Industry. Twelve minutes with a doctor is the goal, superficial,inexpensive and uncaring care is the result.

There are any number of lawsuits from the relatives of dead former Kaiser members who were refused diagnostic procedures or medical treatments because they were too expensive. Some years back a memo from Kaiser management circulated the internet stating that lawsuits were preferable to treatments vis-a-vis the bottom line.

For profit health care sucks, and always will.

One cannot under-estimate the importance of giving states the right to have their own health care plans.The Canadian system was built Province by Province.As each Province instituted single payer citizens in other Provinces clamored for their own plans creating a critical mass for a national plan.

Building momentum state by state is the most likely path to health care for all Americans.So those who believe in single payer should embrace this legislation and busy themselves lobbying their state legislatures.

Health care “reform,” as it is being sold by Obama and the Senate, is not worth having. We would be better off leaving things as they are until America is ready to institute the kind of plan that Dennis is talking about. If we let Obama sucker us into accepting his plan of putting the insurance companies in charge of everyone’s health care, then we will be doomed forever.

KDelphi,

I’m really curious about what exactly you like about Ron Paul and his Libertarian ideas. From reading your posts, I wouldn’t have guessed you like that kind of thinking.  Libertarian positions in general sound kind of unrealistic, ill-defined, not very socially-minded….. and with a hint of mothball smell. But it is always interesting for me to know how others think.  And, again, I believe that “falling in love” with a particular political figure can be dangerous.  It all depends on the aspirations and goals of those who support and work with him/her.

KDelphi, The ‘Anarchist’ remark wasn’t aimed at you.

My son and I were talking about the increasing government interference with our personal lives. I was kvetching about it loudly, when he said I sounded like a ‘Libertarian’. No, not a Libertarian, an Anarchist. I’d rather toss rocks at Starbucks, than hole up and go down shooting at the neighbors.

The complaint about the increasing surveillance etc it real tho. This morning, I read that Amazon had arbitrarily erased 1984 and Animal Farm from Kindle Books because they. was from an unauthorized source.

There goes any hope of me using a Kindle, which I find attractive because of the weight and size. My arthritis is bad enough, I am no longer reading many hard-backs, and often don’t purchase a book because of its size.

Xntrk—true. but I wasnt necerssarily talking about Anarchists, or did I say that? Sorry, not doing so well today, should get off…true, Kucinich has sold ut some. I just think he would be better than the corporates we have…

coloradokarl—I agere with much of what you say, and, I wish I could say that I would support all of it, but, I just haev a feeling that when Paul and Kucinich would sit down to tak over issues, it will get to be a sticky wicket. But, at least, we could get out of some of this Imperialist death marches,stop giving all of our money to banks, do something about the Fed, etc.I agree that Obama is corporate.

If they could “match it up” I could prob vote for it.

Sorry, steroids messing up spelling I’d best get off…didnt want you to think I didnt notice…but, give me a website or two, maybe talk more about it?

Kucinich might qualify as ‘the real deal’, If he hadn’t rolled over, time after time, after being pissed on in the Primaries. “Oh, too bad, I lost. Guess I’ll just have to support the Party Leader.”

That is what is wrong with supporting any member of one of the twin parties. If they lack the guts to leave home, they also lack the balls to fight for their ideals if it costs them power.

KDelphi, Libertarians and Anarcists have similar views on individual rights. The cheese gets binding when they talk about Communal Rights - which the Libertarians would deny.

KDelphi, I am a Conservative Bleeding Heart Liberal. I believe in a hand up and not a hand out. Small Government, Strong defense, 2nd admendment rights and enjoy differing opinions as long as they are heart felt and not mindless robot drival. Obama is starting to look like a sham and we need to look for honest leadership Dem+Repub= Independant 2012 ???

Dennis has always been a little laughed at by the media for looking “squirly”. Jon Stewart’s “face freeze” to the camera when holding up a picture of Kucinich’s wife springs to mind (she’s a stunner and about a foot taller and 10+ years younger than him). But he’s the real deal. Him and Ron Paul. Funny, they’re both extreme opposites of the political spectrum but things are so bad that most of what they say that needs fixing is a perfect match.

MeHere—You are so right…I dont see how Kucinich and Paul could avoid the very real differences that they have. I want an independent party, but, when I try to talk to Paul’s suporters online , or otherwise, there is just way too much emphasiss of the “free mkt” and MONEY is general. Also, very strict “consitutionalists” (in quotes because many just think that they are)

I agree with Paul on much. But, his economic policies would keep most (true) liberals from voting for him, as would Kucinich’s economic plans (like single payer health care) prevent Libertarians from voting for him….

I am not sure how to resolve it. It could be a viable third, but, many would be very spooked about returning to the gold standard, cutting more taxes and, all social welfare preograms in a time like this, especially. Most truly “Left” dont buy thar laissez-fare Capitalism wouldve woked if the govt hadnt intervened…it would probably have been better, but, still unsustainable….coloradokarl..I dont know what you believe, I’m not saying that. But alot of Paul ssupporters seem to want Kucinich as VP, with all the uselessness that provides, and, for Kucinich supporters just to support Paul, without any give and take.

If I’m wrong, please explain…thanks. I would love to see a viable third party. MeHere is correct—they would both have to abandon their morally bankrupt parties…(brw—I tried to post the petition to have Baucus step down and it seems that it has been “blocked” or “banned” from almost all the sites I tried to post it on! (along with me!) mostly “left leaning” Dem sites, which only goes on to prove your point all the more!

PDA even said, “thank you for telling us what you wuld like to do with Baucus…” (??)and “..blah, blah, we need to work on the bill at hand, blah…”

I could still circulate it locally, but, I dont think its going to work. Glad to hear some wouldve signed it!

A word of caution about “Kucinich for President.”  Here we go again, supporting a Democrat who will have to be backed by his own corrupt party in a corrupt election process.  We’ve been through this a number of times before. If Kucinich and his supporters want to do good things they would have to detach themselves from the Democrats and either build up a new third party or join one of the existing ones. At this point, trying to win an election is not the most important issue.  We need to build a permanent challenge to the two ruling parties who have miserably failed us.

Obama is a “changed” man since his trip to europe. It looks like he has been sold the One World Order status-quo. Let us find a team for 2012 and start now. Dennis and that ron paul would be quite the ticket. Paul Kucinich for President 2012

Now, some are saying that Kucinich’s amendment, to HR 3200, the “health care reform” bill, will “kill the bill”..maybe it deserves to die. Amendment 18

http://current.com/items/90449171_kucinich-amendment-passes.htm

This has disintegrated, for Obama and other Dems , into a race to see how cheap we can make it. To claim that you can cover, maybe 30 million people, without raising taxes, at least at start-up, is ridiculous. (that still leaves about 20 million to “buck up” as Obama put it—r, expading Medicaid, while cutting payments under Medicaid and Medicare—htf is that giong to work??)) Complaining about a tax on people making over $300,000 is ridiculous!! These people are in the 98th Quintile—how absurd!!!

What “killed” the bill (ie made it crap) was the refusal to stop tying health care to employment, swearing to not raise taxes and enforce pay-go , and lobbying by the insurance industry—they have convinced alot of so-called “liberals” all over again..

When this thing collapses under its own insurance industry bureaucratic waste and greed, the states that “experiment” (under Amendment 18) will be there to show the way. But, people will die, one every 14 minutes, until then.