Sen. Barrasso - He Doesn't Know What He Is Talking About Re: Healthcare Canada....

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I spoke with some Canadians a week or so ago. They were visiting Chicago and we got into a conversation with them over some drinks. They were two ladies in their 50's and they raved about their healthcare system in Canada and felt sorry for us that we didn't have one like theirs.

Also - this Barrasso guy just talked about waste, abuse and fraud in Medicare - thereby damning it and casting doubt on a government sponsored healthcare single payer plan.

Well - if there is waste, abuse and fraud in Medicare - address that situation and put an end to it. We have the technology and the ability to stop all the fraud in Medicare if we want. They don't do that so they can use that as a way of nixing any healthcare reform in the form of a government run program.

If the credit card companies can control fraud and abuse with their cards - certainly we can work out a system to prevent fraud and abuse in any healthcare or medicare system.

I called my Congressman today because I just got an e-mail newsletter from him that talked about losing luggage and delays in airlines. Not a word in his newsletter about the biggest issue of the millenium - healthcare reform. When I spoke with his aide on the call - I was told that the Congressman is waiting for the bills to be issued from the committee's before he takes a position. I told his aide that that is just total B.S. If he doesn't have a position now on 'single payer' or a 'public option' - that this guy isn't fit to be a Congressman. What his not having a position is telling me is that he is favoring the big insurance route. I told the aide that the Congressman should try and influence the Committee's before they come up with their proposed bills - not take a stance after they've come up with their plan.

We are getting the run-around by these elected officials. I really pissed because my Congressman is a Dem. I told the aide that if he doesn't support 'single payer' or 'a public option' and vote in favor of his constituency - that he won't be a Congressman the next time he's up for re-election.

I almost wish I had a Repug Congressman or Repug Senators (incidentally I called both my Senators today as well). We really need to put pressure on these elected officials. They are only getting one side of the story - and that's from big insurance and big pharma. Money is flowing and they think that the money will buy them votes in their re-election votes. I don't think that the American public is that stupid anymore. No single payer or public option - no cushy job in D.C. Sorry Charlie!!!!

Please if you haven't already done it - call your elected officials and put pressure on them. And even put more pressure on if they are Repug's.

I listen a lot to talk radio. It's interesting to note that you only hear stories from us common folk that have to deal with the insurance companies. I never heard a representative from the insurance companies telling us of their tale of woe and why we don't need single payer or a public option or shouldn't have it.

The reason is that they don't have a good reason - only that their profits, salaries and bonuses will suffer if we go single payer or public option. Well that's not reason enough for me.

Why don't the cable news shows have representatives from the insurance companies on defending their position. I bet they won't come on to do that. They are working the backrooms and the halls of the Senate and Congressional Office Buildings - doling out dollars to stop even any talk about single payer or public option.

Let's hold them accountable. Keith, Rachel, Ed - get the insurance companies on to debate this. And don't let them tell us that Canadians are coming to the U.S. because they hate their system. It just ain't true.

And have a real public debate - not just talking heads - spewing out the same old talking points about government run - will take away the doctors rights or waiting periods or all the crap they are throwing up to stop real reform.