Single Payer Health Care... Here IS The REAL PROBLEM Mr. President!

[DaLittle Kitty]

Appearing on John Russell's website is this letter sent to The White House today. John Russell making some very good points!

www.johnrussellforcongress.com

Sent to www.whitehouse.gov/contact

3 June 2009
To: The Staff of The President... Please take a moment to review my health care plan. The link is provided here.... http://www.johnrussellforcongress.com/page.asp?PageId=35

There are seven sections involving problem analysis, proposed solutions with associated rationale for adopting, as well as benefits associated with adoption of my recommendations.

I, more than most people understand the inner workings of our current health care system as well as the "politics" of it.

NOW, Let me discuss the REAL PROBLEM w/ Health Care Reform...:think:

The outrageous nature of the so-called debate on Health Care Reform by the "Body Politic" offers succinct corroboration of the duplicity of those who ARE "in charge" ...of managing the ship of state.

The President as a politician, is doing himself a great disservice by leaving Senator Baucus in charge. He should be summarily removed for incompetence, as well as ethical impairment related to his quite apparent affection for contributors of "certain industries" where a conflict of interest relative to Health Care Reform, is so patently obvious.

I would like to know just WHAT change in policy President Obama was talking about when he was campaigning, as compared to the "change" that I am observing presently, given his having taken office?

Mr. President, as a relative expert on this topic, the objective information is overwhelmingly in favor of a Single Payer/Public Option. There is NO valid rationale for continuing with the status quo!

The American system as it is currently structured and operates has evolved into Rube Goldberg Contraption...:freak: Squeezing EVERY LAST DIME of profit for itself, no matter the cost to the American people, health care providers and our economy..

Therefore, the ONLY reason for the President and Congress to knuckle under to the insurance/pharmaceutical/HMO industry is the Lobbyist's CHECKBOOK!:puke:

BTW, We ALSO MUST HAVE ELECTION/CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM Needs a couple of updates but just for good measure, Here's that link too!
http://www.johnrussellforcongress.com/page.asp?PageId=68

Mainstream America is waking up to this and HOW it effects them personally. I can tell you as well, that there are many of us who are well equipped to articulate the details, in order to broaden the public's understanding... that politicians of BOTH MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES ARE BOUGHT and that nobody is representing us!

I look forward to your response. Thank you.

John Russell, MS/ARNP, MBA, Health Systems Management

2006-2008 Democratic Nominee, U.S. House, District 5, Florida

[babylonsister]

1. I stopped reading after the claim 'Baucus is in charge'.

He's not the only one. Teddy Kennedy has just as much sway, if not more. This isn't over yet.

[DaLittle Kitty]

2. It's NOT Ovfer For Sure But Baucus IS Da Ceremonial "Chief" Directing The Faux Debate!

:)

[DaLittle Kitty]

14. Herre Is Nurse Practitioner Russell, And Dr. SilverDiscussing Single Payer Vs. Status Quo!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2INV-rf_bEk

[DaLittle Kitty]

28. Watch Out For The Latest... The "TRIGGER" PLAN! We're Cooked!

Hope all those who are ignorant of da facts as they so aptly demonstrate... have a good job with employer paid health insurance....

[sandnsea]

3. Did you read Obama's letter?

It's excellent. He continue to support exactly what he said he would, public option, no pre-existing conditions, cost effective, repeal the Bush tax cuts, etc. I didn't see it posted here, did I miss it?




The meeting that we held today was very productive and I want to commend you for your leadership — and the hard work your Committees are doing on health care reform, one of the most urgent and important challenges confronting us as a Nation.

In 2009, health care reform is not a luxury. It’s a necessity we cannot defer. Soaring health care costs make our current course unsustainable. It is unsustainable for our families, whose spiraling premiums and out-of-pocket expenses are pushing them into bankruptcy and forcing them to go without the checkups and prescriptions they need. It is unsustainable for businesses, forcing more and more of them to choose between keeping their doors open or covering their workers. And the ever-increasing cost of Medicare and Medicaid are among the main drivers of enormous budget deficits that are threatening our economic future.

In short, the status quo is broken, and pouring money into a broken system only perpetuates its inefficiencies. Doing nothing would only put our entire health care system at risk. Without meaningful reform, one fifth of our economy is projected to be tied up in our health care system in 10 years; millions more Americans are expected to go without insurance; and outside of what they are receiving for health care, workers are projected to see their take-home pay actually fall over time.

We simply cannot afford to postpone health care reform any longer. This recognition has led an unprecedented coalition to emerge on behalf of reform — hospitals, physicians, and health insurers, labor and business, Democrats and Republicans. These groups, adversaries in past efforts, are now standing as partners on the same side of this debate.

At this historic juncture, we share the goal of quality, affordable health care for all Americans. But I want to stress that reform cannot mean focusing on expanded coverage alone. Indeed, without a serious, sustained effort to reduce the growth rate of health care costs, affordable health care coverage will remain out of reach. So we must attack the root causes of the inflation in health care. That means promoting the best practices, not simply the most expensive. We should ask why places like the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, and other institutions can offer the highest quality care at costs well below the national norm. We need to learn from their successes and replicate those best practices across our country. That’s how we can achieve reform that preserves and strengthens what’s best about our health care system, while fixing what is broken.

The plans you are discussing embody my core belief that Americans should have better choices for health insurance, building on the principle that if they like the coverage they have now, they can keep it, while seeing their costs lowered as our reforms take hold. But for those who don’t have such options, I agree that we should create a health insurance exchange — a market where Americans can one-stop shop for a health care plan, compare benefits and prices, and choose the plan that’s best for them, in the same way that Members of Congress and their families can. None of these plans should deny coverage on the basis of a preexisting condition, and all of these plans should include an affordable basic benefit package that includes prevention, and protection against catastrophic costs. I strongly believe that Americans should have the choice of a public health insurance option operating alongside private plans. This will give them a better range of choices, make the health care market more competitive, and keep insurance companies honest.

I understand the Committees are moving towards a principle of shared responsibility — making every American responsible for having health insurance coverage, and asking that employers share in the cost. I share the goal of ending lapses and gaps in coverage that make us less healthy and drive up everyone’s costs, and I am open to your ideas on shared responsibility. But I believe if we are going to make people responsible for owning health insurance, we must make health care affordable. If we do end up with a system where people are responsible for their own insurance, we need to provide a hardship waiver to exempt Americans who cannot afford it. In addition, while I believe that employers have a responsibility to support health insurance for their employees, small businesses face a number of special challenges in affording health benefits and should be exempted.

Health care reform must not add to our deficits over the next 10 years — it must be at least deficit neutral and put America on a path to reducing its deficit over time. To fulfill this promise, I have set aside $635 billion in a health reserve fund as a down payment on reform. This reserve fund includes a number of proposals to cut spending by $309 billion over 10 years –reducing overpayments to Medicare Advantage private insurers; strengthening Medicare and Medicaid payment accuracy by cutting waste, fraud and abuse; improving care for Medicare patients after hospitalizations; and encouraging physicians to form “accountable care organizations” to improve the quality of care for Medicare patients. The reserve fund also includes a proposal to limit the tax rate at which high-income taxpayers can take itemized deductions to 28 percent, which, together with other steps to close loopholes, would raise $326 billion over 10 years.

I am committed to working with the Congress to fully offset the cost of health care reform by reducing Medicare and Medicaid spending by another $200 to $300 billion over the next 10 years, and by enacting appropriate proposals to generate additional revenues. These savings will come not only by adopting new technologies and addressing the vastly different costs of care, but from going after the key drivers of skyrocketing health care costs, including unmanaged chronic diseases, duplicated tests, and unnecessary hospital readmissions.

To identify and achieve additional savings, I am also open to your ideas about giving special consideration to the recommendations of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), a commission created by a Republican Congress. Under this approach, MedPAC’s recommendations on cost reductions would be adopted unless opposed by a joint resolution of the Congress. This is similar to a process that has been used effectively by a commission charged with closing military bases, and could be a valuable tool to help achieve health care reform in a fiscally responsible way.
These are some of the issues I look forward to discussing with you in greater detail in the weeks and months ahead. But this year, we must do more than discuss. We must act. The American people and America’s future demand it.

I know that you have reached out to Republican colleagues, as I have, and that you have worked hard to reach a bipartisan consensus about many of these issues. I remain hopeful that many Republicans will join us in enacting this historic legislation that will lower health care costs for families, businesses, and governments, and improve the lives of millions of Americans. So, I appreciate your efforts, and look forward to working with you so that the Congress can complete health care reform by October.

Sincerely,

BARACK OBAMA

http://www.obama-mamas.com/blog/?p=253

[DaLittle Kitty]

5. I DID Hear Him Say That..."IF WE Were Starting From Scratch... That He Would Choose Single Payer...

But that we're not so..." That IS what he said publicly a couple of weeks ago!

[sandnsea]

6. He's always said that - so???

What is your point. There isn't going to be a single payer plan. There was never going to be a single payer plan. The single payer plan people did enormously well to get a meeting.

Obama supports a public option plan like he always said he did.

[DaLittle Kitty]

8. Sandy The Public OptionIS SINGLE PAYER! Go to John's website and REad What It Is!

http://www.johnrussellforcongress.com/page.asp?PageId=35

[sandnsea]

13. No it isn't

It's a public option alongside Medicare, Medicaid, VA, private insurance, etc.

[DaLittle Kitty]

15. The Public Option Would REplace Medicare And Medicaid Incorporating BOTH Into

A Medicare For ALL Plan... Did you go and read Russell's Plan? NO! If you did you would have a clue what you were talking about!

http://www.johnrussellforcongress.com/page.asp?PageId=35

[sandnsea]

19. Maybe John Russell's plan would -

but that's not the plan anybody is talking about. Maybe you need to get a clue what you're talking about. Or sleep it off.

[DaLittle Kitty]

24. Right and NONE Of The Idiots In Charge of Putting "Reform?" Together OBJECTIVELY

want to truely solve the problem. If they wanted to solve the problem???? A plan similar to Russell's would be the plan that was being talked about! But they're not because as Russell so clearly says They ARE ALL BOUGHT FROM BOTH PARTIES... It IS Da QUID PRO QUO YA KNOW... Watch THIS and get a "lesson" in HOW things work. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBJAkCjjz1Y

Then :think:

[sandnsea]

25. Wow

How have I managed to avoid you for 6 years?

:crazy:

cya.

[DaLittle Kitty]

27. I Would Guess That I HAve Just Been Plain Fortunate!

:toast:

[DaLittle Kitty]

51. Obama Flip Flop On Single Payer, Watch THIS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQoCf3_xsSo

[babylonsister]

10. Yes, and I'm happy to see some sanity from someone.

People are setting themselves up to blast Obama when he's trying to accomplish exactly what he said he'd do.

He can't win.

[DaLittle Kitty]

16. Edwards Had The Right Plan... Obama NEVER Said HOW!

I read the letter.... Nothing definitive, just vague use of items from liberal "wish list."

[babylonsister]

18. EDWARDS LOST! GET OVER IT!!1! nt

[DaLittle Kitty]

20. Edwards Was The ONLY One Who Said You Had to DEFEAT The HMO's/Insurance Co.'s

What I've predicted is quickly coming to pass. I don't have to "get over" anything... It's the Koolaid drinkers that are going to have to "GET OVER IT!" disappointment!

[vaberella]

30. That's sweet...but he'd never have succeeded if he was President

because we have a shitty Senate. So Edwards could have said what he wanted, and I supported him for it, but he would NEVER have been successful as we're seeing.

[DaLittle Kitty]

34. You Call THIS Success? Again I Refer You To Post #9!

That IS The Entire Point! Any Regs on Banking? No Any Prosecutions On Banking ? No nThe Same Klowns That Ran Economy Into The Ground Are... In Charge! Leaving Iraq anytime soon? Nope There Too! Hey, Why are those gas prices going up... for no reason?

John Russell Quote... "Government By The Corporation, For the Corporation at OUR Expense!"

[DaLittle Kitty]

41. Again, This Is Success? Not Likely, More Or Less A Lot Of BS For The Drinkers Of

Da Koolaid!

[Adelante]

46. Bwahaha

I was waiting for it. :rofl:

[DaLittle Kitty]

29. I Read IT. OBama Is The Most GLIB Guy In History, w/ A Deep Voice And NO Details!

Just lots of dancing around the edges throwing in tidbits that the koolaid drinkers all eat up w/o any serious effort targeted at holding him to account for his vague promises...

[vaberella]

31. Obviously you don't know what you're talking about and just want to stir up shit. n/t

[DaLittle Kitty]

42. Right...

Go Pray in front of your Obama Poster!

[John Q. Citizen]

4. John Russell isn't aware that all heath care reform legislation passes through the Finance Committee

(and the Heath Committee) and that the president isn't in control of the seniority system in the Senate.

Poor John thinks a President can dismiss an elected senator. That looks bad, John.


I will admit that John is correct that money from the health care industrial complex is warping the debate and harming Americans

[DaLittle Kitty]

7. It's All "Bout Da $Money... Don't Cha Know? Baucus=$700K From Pharma!

Someone IS Ignorant here and It Ain't John Russell... Oh and Obama can't influence w/ a bit of string pulling what Baucus does or maybe ole Max might just "step down" from all da pressure? Get Real Obamaniacs... Who has the power here? King Baucus or ole Teddy?


The power is w/ CORPORATE AMERICA and their LOBBYISTS! THAT ia what John Russell is saying! :think:

[John Q. Citizen]

23. Are you on drugs? First Baucus got 1.8 million last year from insurance, pharma, equipment

manufacturers and hospitals (the health care industrial complex)

and second, if you think Baucus is stepping down or that Teddy would interfere in Baucus' committee, you are wrong.

Third, I already agreed that money is warping the debate and harming Americans. But if the guy running for congress has such little knowledge of what the law is and how congress operates, then that's not good. It's bad.

[DaLittle Kitty]

26. YOU Sir Just Don't Understand "How" T H I N G S Work!

Obama can do anything he wants to do IF he really wants to do it. If Obama wants Single Payer/Public Option to Go Through at least get a real plan up for a vote that shows "where everybody lives" politically... it will happen. He's still in his honeymoon right... Political capitol eh? It ain't hapnyn and Obama WILL in the end be to blame.

As Russell so aptly said... Election/Campaign Finance Reform IS the key to getting our country back. But these bought and paid for quid proquo'ers ain't gonna vote themselves out on dat one either... So we're ALL F*CKED FOREVER!

[vaberella]

32. You know nothing of the system. I realize you had Bush for 8 years who run roughshod.

But a real president understands that there are divisions of damn power. Obviously you don't and for that there really is no point in listening to you because all you want is this or that...thank God you're not Pres because you would be pure tyranny. That being said, you want obviously dislike O and the fact he's following the rules.

[DaLittle Kitty]

33. The Point IS Succinctly Made In Post #9!

GETTIT?

[DaLittle Kitty]

35. Wrong I Do Not Dislike Obama At All... I am Just Holding Him Accountable To All Of His Promises and

WHAT the AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED! I absolutely believe that he is a very intelligent individual and probably would like to help the American people but he sold his soul to get where he is and he did not sell it to us. He sold it to Corporate America as demonstrated by his list of Lobbyist contributors. Leader of the Banking/Wall Street crew comes immediately to mind. These are the facts. I can accept this IF he demonstrates some balance in the areas of need WHERE IT COUNTS! Health Care, The Economy, Middle East, Energy... Let's not forget Campaign Finance Reform. CFR is fundamental to achieving any of the previously mentioned issues. So let's keep the pressure on and watch and wait.

[Kermitt Gribble]

9. "that politicians of BOTH MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES

ARE BOUGHT and that nobody is representing us" - TRUTH

[DaLittle Kitty]

45. Truth The missing ingredient

:nuke:

[DrToast]

11. Campaign finance reform

Campaign finance reform is the single most important issue facing us today. That seemingly small problem has infected every corner of public policy. It's the money from special interests that prevent change. Stop the influence and you'll have a government working for the people again.

VV See my signature! VV

[DaLittle Kitty]

17. Russell Who Contested His 2006 Election Understands Election/Finance Reform Too!

http://www.johnrussellforcongress.com/page.asp?PageId=6...

[Freddie Stubbs]

38. But unfortunately he does not understand how to raise money:

http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=FL05&cycle=2006

http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=FL05&cycle=2008

[DaLittle Kitty]

39. Frederick... John Russell Does NOT "Sell Out!" That's His "Problem..." Watch the video and Learn

John Russell IS NOT a Sell Out! Like 99% of the Congress, Senate... and we will wait and watch a little longer before making final book on Obama. It's nice to have Debbie Wasserman-Schultz endorsing the Republican opponent also. The story is about one man who actually is NOT "malleable" and WILL NOT GO ALONG JUST TO GET ALONG! You can just take your BULLSHIT about raising money and stick it up there where the sun don't shine... K?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBJAkCjjz1Y

[Freddie Stubbs]

43. Please stop posting lies about Debbie Wasserman-Schultz

She did not endorse Russell's Republican opponent, and you know it.

[DaLittle Kitty]

44. Thank You! No Lies Here... The TRUTH About Some Folks (Deb),Is Worse Than Fiction (Links)

For "Those" who have doubts, here is the link to the whole story as well as links to the St. Pete Times article(s) from which Lil Debbie was quoted.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00219.htm


Excerpt from the story...


:wtf: Prominent Florida Democrat Endorsed Republican Incumbent in Russell’s Race
Before the campaign in Florida’s 5th Congressional district ever got underway, one of Florida’s most prominent politicians seemed to endorse the Republican incumbent.

:think:“The bottom line is that the voters, whether they’re in the most liberal or conservative or moderate districts, they like their elected officials to have the backbone of steel that Ginny Brown-Waite has,” said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a liberal Democrat from Broward County who has worked with, and against, her since their days in the Florida Legislature. :puke: Link to story http://www.sptimes.com/2006/05/27/Tampabay/Brown_Waite_s_no_one_.shtml

“When constituents know they are represented by someone who is willing to vote her conscience and do the right thing and is independent and not a rubber-stamp, that’s going to be tough to beat.” St. Petersburg Times 27 May 2006

Russell said, “It is extremely tough to beat an incumbent representative when the people who should be working to elect Democratic candidate are instead working to insure Republican Ginny Brown-Waite’s re-election.”

Russell had worked hard for the party in 2004 delivering the 5th for Betty Castor in a tough election. His campaign issues were all within the mainstream of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. In addition, he took thoughtful positions on election integrity issues that were more than justified by Florida’s election experiences since 2000.

With less than a month until Election Day 2006, another story appeared in the St. Petersburg Times 15 October 2006 http://www.sptimes.com/2006/10/15/Citrus/Some_call_it_flip_flo.shtml in which :puke: :think::puke:Rep. Wasserman-Schultz again commented on Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite: "She's pretty independent-minded, she stands up for what she believes in, and if she changes her view, it's because she's carefully evaluated" the issue. :puke:

This inspired Russell’s question, “So why would an elected official from my party be actively working for my Republican opponent?” :spank:

John Russell’s Fight for Democracy in Florida’s 5th Congressional District

John Russell represents a real citizen candidate for public office. In 2006, he mounted his grassroots campaign for Congress in Florida’s 5th Congressional District. The district is north of the Tampa Bay area and looked like a good opportunity for Russell’s type of Democratic populism. Russell was encouraged by his successful delivery of the district in for the Democratic candidate for the Democratic Senate candidate Betty Castor, who lost statewide to Mel Martinez in 2004.

Russell’s campaign was under funded and received inconsistent attention from the major media. Florida Democratic Committee Chairperson Karen Thurman, the former Congressional representative from District 5, provided no help. She contributed a personal check for $50.00 to Russell’s campaign only after what Russell says was “much coaxing.”

Things looked good according to a Rasmussen Research poll near the end of the race showing John in striking distance. Oddly enough the supposedly liberal St. Petersburg Times (a media source for the 5th) ignored the Rasmussen poll and relied on polling from a source that consistently showed Russell 20 points behind.

Russell lost but he wasn’t finished by a long shot. He and others noticed voting irregularities and began amassing evidence. Again the Florida Democratic Committee ignored the citizen candidate’s cause. Russell’s investigative efforts were severely hampered by lack of funding. As Russell sought to verify the vote, he weathered the storm of assault by right wing newspaper columnists as a “sore loser.” In Florida, as in other places around the country, you need to pay several thousand dollars to even look at the ballots.

Russell’s campaign for election justice continues along with four other Florida Congressional candidates challenging the 2006 results all represented by Tampa attorney Mark Adams. * Read page 375 of Mark Crispin Miller's "Fooled Again" Revised edition Also Election Reform and Campaign Finance Reform section on John's website.... http://www.johnrussellforcongress.com/page.asp?PageId=68

Sorry, the TRUTH hurts and increasingly the TRUTH is what is missing from our elected officials and our government.

[Freddie Stubbs]

47. No where in the article does Congresswoman Wasserman-Schultz endorse the Republican

[DaLittle Kitty]

48. Baloney! You Just DO NOT Understand Politics! She Does NOT Have To Use The WORD ENDORSEMENT!

You are in DENIAL!!!

Lil Debbie's statements ARE... an ENDORSEMENT by any measure! Through her public statements, Congresswoman Wasserman-Schultz is dissuading voters in particular, DEMOCRATS from voting for Russell!

"Ginny has a BACKBONE OF STEEL and is An INDEPENDENT VOICE." Exactly the same lines of BULLSHIT THAT BROWN-WAITE was USING In Her Campaign jargon and literature.

Falling all over Ginny is exactly the same as standing up at a podium and giving an "official endorsement."


It is ALL ABOUT THE POSITION THAT LIL DEBBIE HOLDS AND HOW SHE "COMPLEMENTS HER COLLEAGUE!" Instead of acting to encourage voters to vote for the DEMOCRAT!!!! JOHN RUSSELL!

:puke: We do not need more good apologists for corrupt democrats who aid and abet the OPPOSITION!!

Lil Debbie did the same thing in 2008 when she said that "I cannot campaign against my friends in the congress!" The Diaz Balarts etc.

Debbie is pathetic and WHEN IS SOMEONE GOING TO RUN AGAINST HER IN A PRIMARY??????

[Freddie Stubbs]

49. If Mr. Russell and his supporters understood politics, perhaps he would now be a congressman

instead of a nurse.

[DaLittle Kitty]

50. You Clearly Demonstrate The Weakness Of Your Argument By Attempting To "Demean" Mr. Russell

You lose the debate here, so then you strike out and attempt to demean Mr. Russell and somehow imply that Russell is "something" that he is not, as a means of discrediting him.

These were the sordid tactics of Russell's general election opponent in 2006 and 2008 as well as his primary opponent in 2006. So you wish to crawl along the ground with the lowest of the low? :spank:

To those who are concerned with knowing the truth here? Mr. Russell is a Nationally Certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with a Masters in Nursing as well as an MBA in Health Systems Management. Bio www.johnrussellforcongress.com

Mr. Russell is an expert on the topic of a National Single Payer Health Care Plan by any measure.

:think: As a Nurse Practitioner, (NOT a nurse!) Mr. Russell is by law in 26 states entitled to practice as a primary health care provider without physician oversight.

Clearly Mr/Ms Stubbs whatever??? Could it be that you have an axe to grind against Mr. Russell of a more personal nature? :freak:

Could it be that you are a Florida Democratic Party koolaid drinker?

The FDP is the major problem for those who are Legitimate Democrats with PROGRESSIVE values seeking elective office in the state of Florida.

Beyond dispute is the very cogent point that Mr. Russell has made again and again which rings louder and clearer with each passing day... "The FDP is purposefully inept!"

That is, they do everything in their power to be completely ineffective.

and of course, lest we forget...

The ONLY good candidate for the Florida dems is an ex-REPUBLICAN! Seen time and time again! :spank:

:think:Here is a sterling example of just what John has spoken about...

The State chair cashing a monthly check for $3,500 from Al Cardenas law firm... (Cardenas is the Former State Chair for The Republican Party of Florida).

In this Dateline NBC type video John inquires of Karen Thurman as to her rationale for doing this. Giving up Democratic Party political "leverage" by doing so... Watch and learn http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM1qEtNIgSM :spank:

[Freddie Stubbs]

54. Alex Sink, Alan Grayson, and Suzanne Kosmas were great candidates, and not ex-Republicans

All three got strong support from the party and were successful.

[quidam56]

12. Clearly, Profit Care is more important than Patient Care

in Tennessee and Virginia. http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=62 It is shocking what is deemed, defended and supported in East Tennessee and southwest Virginia as "THE ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS OF HEALTH CARE".

[DaLittle Kitty]

52. Nice Link!

:)

[Honeycombe8]

21. What are you unhappy about? Obama has made it plain he wants a public option.

So has Kennedy. Do you REALLY think the Baucus is going to override those two?

You're acting like we're about to have passed the Max Baucus Healthcare Plan. You have a point about Baucus, but quit acting like Obama is against a public option. He's not.

But I do agree that if Baucus is dead set against a public option, he should go.

[DaLittle Kitty]

22. Watch And Wait... Do You Really Think That IF Obama Wanted to Give SPayer A Seat That Baucus Could

BS like he has and shut US out? Get REAL!

[MissPuddy]

36. Baucus is the gatekeeper for the insurance industries & big pharma..

What makes this guy qualified to be in such an important position? Not having Single Payer reps at meetings and squelching the dialogue is givng Baucus way too much power. This man is standing between the corporations and the will of the people. He needs to step aside because he's not an impartial mediator.

[Dr.Phool]

37. Kick. Here's the main reason we need single payer now.

(From a post by Ozymandius, in SMW thread)


Medical problems contributed to nearly two-thirds (62.1 percent) of all bankruptcies in 2007, according to a study in the August issue of the American Journal of Medicine that will be published online Thursday. The data were collected prior to the current economic downturn and hence likely understate the current burden of financial suffering. Between 2001 and 2007, the proportion of all bankruptcies attributable to medical problems rose by 49.6 percent. The authors' previous 2001 findings have been widely cited by policy leaders, including President Obama.

Surprisingly, most of those bankrupted by medical problems had health insurance. More than three-quarters (77.9 percent) were insured at the start of the bankrupting illness, including 60.3 percent who had private coverage. Most of the medically bankrupt were solidly middle class before financial disaster hit. Two-thirds were homeowners and three-fifths had gone to college. In many cases, high medical bills coincided with a loss of income as illness forced breadwinners to lose time from work. Often illness led to job loss, and with it the loss of health insurance.

ILLNESS, BANKRUPTCIES LINKED TO TWO-THIRDS OF BANKRUPTCIES.


Even apparently well-insured families often faced high out-of-pocket medical costs for co-payments, deductibles and uncovered services. Medically bankrupt families with private insurance reported medical bills that averaged $17,749 vs. $26,971 for the uninsured. High costs – averaging $22,568 – were incurred by those who initially had private coverage but lost it in the course of their illness.

Individuals with diabetes and those with neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis had the highest costs, an average of $26,971 and $34,167 respectively. Hospital bills were the largest single expense for about half of all medically bankrupt families; prescription drugs were the largest expense for 18.6 percent.

The research, carried out jointly by researchers at Harvard Law School, Harvard Medical School and Ohio University, is the first nationwide study on medical causes of bankruptcy. The researchers surveyed a random sample of 2,314 bankruptcy filers during early 2007 and examined their bankruptcy court records. In addition, they conducted extensive telephone interviews with 1,032 of these bankruptcy filers.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-06/pfan-imb...

------------------------------------------

Read the numbers folks. We need single-payer because the insurance companies don't pay the bills.

[DaLittle Kitty]

40. Dr. Phool... Nicely Said! Why Don't You Give Frederick S A Little Advice!

:)

[DaLittle Kitty]

53. KICK!

:)