| Author | Message | ||
     Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 1575 Registered: 01-2005 |
..and a hater of "white folks". Walmart, Allergan (maker of Restasis), Ally Bank (a unit of GMAC Financial Services), Best Buy, Red Lobster, Broadview Security (formerly Brinks Security), CVS, Re-Bath and Travelocity recently joined the previous Geico, Proctor and Gamble, Mens Warehouse, State Farm, Sargento Cheese, Lawyers.Com,Progressive Insurance, ConAgra, Radio Shack in pulling sponsorship of the Glenn Beck show on Fox News. I guess hate speech does have consequences after all! | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3044 Registered: 05-2005 |
Good to hear that. Thanks Michael. | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 479 Registered: 04-2005 |
Stuff that I have been reading about Obama's proposed healthcare reforms have made me wonder seriously about the States; I know already that they certainly don't think like Europeans, but frankly the attacks on the UK's NHS are from another planet ! From today's Guardian, for example: "One man, with a semi-automatic rifle strapped to his back and a pistol in his holster, mingled with supporters of Obama's healthcare reforms. Asked why he was carrying the weapons, the man told the Arizona Republic: "Because I can do it. In Arizona, I still have some freedoms." As I have mentioned before I have got into some extreme arguments on another forum with some Americans regarding their attitudes and comments; in the end you realise that there is almost no point in discussing anything, as both sides start from such opposing assumptions on how a 'just' society should function. And I know that I am dealing in broad specifics here; I know some perfectly wonderful Americans and some Europeans who are definitely not wonderful (Bonjour Monsieur Le Pen). Nice to think that things are changing, but the announcement that Obama's initial plan of public funding for the healthcare is a goner is an indication of how he is constrained by the big corporations. But we all knew that it would be a hard fight ? | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 1576 Registered: 01-2005 |
Spot on Andrew! Current large US health care insurance companies are operating at about a 30% profit margin. Those companies engage in practices such as dropping patients and deny coverage, tests and exams to folks with preexisting conditions. This is all done for bottom line profit margins to please the stock holders. Typical health care insurance execs of the larger companies make about 12 million dollars a year. For those US citizens over 65, they get government provided health care via Medicare. Medicare operates at about a 4% profit margin to cover expenses. Medicare doesn't drop people or deny needed tests. The head of Medicare makes around 150 thousand dollars a year. I'm not against capitalism, but there is no way I can see any value that the health insurance companies provide over medicare. I cannot justify their profit margins. The public option Obama is pushing for is a weak attempt to reign in the profit margins of the health insurance companies by providing competition. By the time it gets passed if it ever does, I wonder what kind watered down competition the government option will be? Obama should have gone for a single payer medicare type system for everyone over a phase in period of 10 or so years. Everother industrialized large nation has one. It will never happen in the US though in my lifetime. Too many politicians with pockets stuffed with lobbiests money from the health insurance companies. Too many ignorant hicks worried sick about the evils of solicalized medicine by the lies spread from the companies who prey opon them. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 1414 Registered: 08-2006 |
There's a reason we don't (or at least hadn't 'til BushCo) turn our national defense over to the private sector: it's a public necessity. So why is it health care in this country doesn't get the same deference? To me, it's as simple as that: the profit motive simply isn't desirable in matters that impact the health, well-being and safety of the entire nation. Period. I'm not against having private insurers in the game (they make a pretty penny providing supplemental insurance for those on Medicare - a fact conveniently ignore by the right-wing shouters), but the system as it stands simply isn't working right now without government involvement and oversight. In the "why didn't someone say this earlier?" file, here's a clip of the most-excellent Barney Frank (D-MA) eviscerating one of the whackjobs showing up at these town hall meetings. http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heat her/barney-frank-confronts-woman-obama-h itler | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2093 Registered: 03-2005 |
That was lovely Rob! Thanks so much for posting the link. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3052 Registered: 05-2005 |
Nice job Barney! A friend of mine in MA knows him well and has worked on his campaigns. | ||
| Mark Leydon Member Username: Mark_leydon Post Number: 253 Registered: 05-2005 |
The following article by Paul Krugman in today's New York Times is brilliant. Explains clearly and consisly why the current US political system makes it almost impossible to implement meaningful health care reform - despite the Democrats large majority and a president elected with a mandate for change. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/31/opinio n/31krugman.html?_r=1&ref=opinion | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 1580 Registered: 01-2005 |
US health insurance company profits were up 428% from 2001 to 2007. That leaves them with no problem in spending the 1.4 million dollars a day in lobbying Congress to protect and feed their lust, gluttony, greed and even envy (of the other health insurance companies that have a higher stock value and profit margin). That's four of the seven deadly sins they commit on a daily basis. |