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Armstead

(47,803 posts)
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 02:38 PM Apr 2016

The Deflection Campaign has hit a sleazy new low....I just looked up who Paul Song is.

(I should be working, but I keep coming back to the unadulterated CRAP the Clinton campaign, its supporters and the MSM are perpetuating over his unfortunate use of the phrase corporate whores.)


I frankly didn't know who Dr. Pail Song is before yesterday. Thought he was maybe some jerk who happened to support Bernie. So I looked him up online. Now I'm REALLY PISSED.

We have sunk to a new low in sleazy politics and media coverage. Thanks for the collateral damage to the reputation of a guy who...well, here's a little background.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-y-song-md/

Paul Y. Song, M.D. is a physician, progressive activist, and biotechnology executive. He is the grandson of the late Sang Don Kim, the very first popularly elected Mayor of Seoul, South Korea. Dr. Song serves as the Executive Chairman of the Courage Campaign, a leading California-based online organization made up of more than 1 Million members who fight for a more progressive CA and country. In 2013, Dr. Song was named and served as the very first visiting fellow on healthcare policy in the California Department of Insurance. In addition, Dr. Song serves the co-chair of the Campaign for a Healthy Califrornia and on the executive board of Physicians for a National Health Program California, Liberty in North Korea, People for the American Way, and the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies. Dr. Song graduated with honors from the University of Chicago and received his M.D. degree from George Washington University. He completed his residency in radiation oncology at the University of Chicago and did a brachytherapy fellowship at the Institute Gustave Roussy in Villejuif, France.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-y-song-md/the-real-healthcare-debat_b_9121210.html
The real debate Democrats should be having

Excerpt:
Recently, a fierce debate has been ignited within the Democratic Party regarding the merits and feasibility of a single-payer Medicare-for-All universal healthcare system. Some liberal commentators have summarily dismissed Senator Sanders’ proposal as politically unrealistic or as greatly lacking in details while championing a slightly improved status quo, and other political surrogates have spread GOP-like untruths that have no place in any honest discussion.

Regardless of ones’ individual beliefs on Medicare-for-All, it is crucial to note some indisputable facts regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the current status quo:

1. While the ACA did indeed do some very positive things like end lifetime caps on medical coverage and do away with discrimination for pre-existing conditions, it was never intended to cover every uninsured individual. In fact, after the ACA is fully implemented, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that up to 29 million residents will still remain uninsured.

2. The only area of the ACA that both Democrats and Republicans found mutual agreement on was to exclude our undocumented brothers and sisters.

3. The average insured family still pays an extra $1,017 in premiums (hidden tax) to cover the cost of care for the uninsured.

4. A recent Commonwealth Fund study revealed that 31 million people with insurance had such high out-of-pocket costs or deductibles relative to their incomes that they were UNDER-insured and that 51% of these adults reported problems with their medical bills, while 44% of all adults reported not getting care because of high co-pays and deductibles despite being insured.

5. Even after a significant decrease in the total number of uninsured, there were still 1.7 million medical related bankruptcies in 2014 of which 75% were actually insured, and this is only expected to get worse.

6. Most individuals in the U.S. cannot afford an annual deductible of $6,850 and most families of four cannot afford an annual deductible of $13,700.

7. Despite premiums increasing over 150% over the past 9 years, there is no federal insurance rate regulation.

8. Despite the fact that average branded drug prices have increased 127% during the past 8 years to the point that 73% of Americans now find the cost of drugs unreasonable, there was no mechanism to control drug prices.

9. Many states have huge underfunded retiree healthcare liabilities. California’s alone is $150 Billion.

10. Healthcare costs are currently 17.5% of GDP with over 1% of GDP spent on Prescription drugs alone, and will only continue to climb as mandatory federal health spending is projected to double in the next 10 Years.

11. Recent data from the American Journal of Public Health found that tax-funded expenditures accounted for 64.3% of all U.S. health spending. U.S. health spending for 2013 was $9,267 per capita, with government’s share being $5,960.

12. Prior to the bailout, GM spent more on healthcare for its employees than it did on steel. Rising healthcare costs are making U.S. companies less competitive and taking money away from wages and capital investments.

13. Most Americans continue to get employer-sponsored healthcare but worker’s contributions to premiums have increased 212% since 2000 while wages have only increased 54% during the same period.

14. Healthcare benefits have become the biggest source of labor negotiation strife.

So if anything, most health policy experts believe that our current healthcare system is unsustainable for individuals, businesses, states and our federal government, and to continue this status quo is what is really unrealistic.

The real debate Democrats should be having should not be about whether single payer, a highly successful proven system in so many industrialized nations, is the solution, but rather how we can collectively come together to overcome the corporate forces that derailed the ACA from providing a public option, drug price controls and insurance rate regulation, and how we get to the ultimate goal of Medicare for All.
38 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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The Deflection Campaign has hit a sleazy new low....I just looked up who Paul Song is. (Original Post) Armstead Apr 2016 OP
there is NOTHING Hillary can do to stem the tide of Bernie. grasswire Apr 2016 #1
You're right but it disgusts me that they will disqualify and destroy anyone that stands in the way jillan Apr 2016 #3
Except if she gets to the WH, the GOP will roll over her for 4 to 8 years Armstead Apr 2016 #27
No Math Will Take Care of Everything Over Next 12 Days Stallion Apr 2016 #4
The voters have been doing that for her. NuclearDem Apr 2016 #6
Not lately. Punkingal Apr 2016 #9
Still 2.5 million ahead. NuclearDem Apr 2016 #11
Rubbish argument. Absolute Rovian tosh. longship Apr 2016 #17
It's absolutely relevant when Sanders supporters claim "the people" overwhelmingly support him. NuclearDem Apr 2016 #18
As the Zen Master said, "We'll see." longship Apr 2016 #20
Caucuses require attendance for several hours on a specific day. NuclearDem Apr 2016 #37
Again, the playing field is level, so your argument is irrelevant. longship Apr 2016 #38
Not the metric by which we nominate, or an accurate number for that matter. morningfog Apr 2016 #26
I'm not talking about the nominating system. NuclearDem Apr 2016 #36
Nothing but...beat him in the pledged delegate count? Tarc Apr 2016 #25
He is awesome! tk2kewl Apr 2016 #2
One would think he would have been smart enought to not use that verbiage. NCTraveler Apr 2016 #5
I think he's probably just completely fed up with all the corruption and didn't polly7 Apr 2016 #7
I think so too....caught up in the heat of the moment Armstead Apr 2016 #24
Maybe you should read what he's all about and forget his "stupid moment" Armstead Apr 2016 #8
It literally just happened last night. The dog and bone analogy has no place. NCTraveler Apr 2016 #14
Such moments like not noticing the Antisemitism nadinbrzezinski Apr 2016 #31
What verbiage are you referring to? passiveporcupine Apr 2016 #29
Biotech executive. Well he should LOVE CLinton since she has promised to bring them to the table Skwmom Apr 2016 #10
It is deplorable, and it has happened to both sides - good people being kicked to the curb blm Apr 2016 #12
I shared your post about this brilliant man in that 'idiot' thread, polly7 Apr 2016 #13
sure the more the merrier Armstead Apr 2016 #15
This poutrage will bite em on the backside as it calls attention to the fact that snagglepuss Apr 2016 #16
Maybe that's part of the reason for the reaction Armstead Apr 2016 #21
I noticed they automatically assumed he was talking about Clinton. Fawke Em Apr 2016 #23
Well he did say her name a minute before that. But, it was in a different context. Kalidurga Apr 2016 #28
I laughed at those who were outraged that it was directed at her, in their eyes Autumn Apr 2016 #32
...and that "glass Slipper" fit perfectly! bvar22 Apr 2016 #35
Kicked and HIGHLY recommended! beam me up scottie Apr 2016 #19
Impressive... n/t ChiciB1 Apr 2016 #22
Here's a photo DesertRat Apr 2016 #30
I'm sure he is grateful to Clinton, and I'm sure he supports Sanders Armstead Apr 2016 #33
yes, get regular emails from Courage Campaign; Dr. Song is a great person amborin Apr 2016 #34

jillan

(39,451 posts)
3. You're right but it disgusts me that they will disqualify and destroy anyone that stands in the way
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 02:47 PM
Apr 2016

of Hillary.

longship

(40,416 posts)
17. Rubbish argument. Absolute Rovian tosh.
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 03:37 PM
Apr 2016

The number of votes is meaningless during primary season as you damned well know. So stop making up shit. Caucuses, which Bernie has overwhelmingly won, have much fewer voters. So of course Hillary has more votes.

All irrelevant. It is pledged delegates that are all that matters. Yes, Hillary has the advantage there, too. But stop ringing that cockamamie votes bell. It is a Rovian lie.

Plus, it is transparently pathetic in its irrelevance.

God save us all from Hillary supporters.

 

NuclearDem

(16,184 posts)
18. It's absolutely relevant when Sanders supporters claim "the people" overwhelmingly support him.
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 03:41 PM
Apr 2016

The popular vote may not determine the outcome of the primary, but it sure measures who people have overwhelmingly voted for.

And you're right, Sanders does win big in caucuses, specifically ones that preclude working voters with families or those who can't physically handle attending one. So, congratulations, Sanders benefits from systems that suppress votes.

longship

(40,416 posts)
20. As the Zen Master said, "We'll see."
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 03:50 PM
Apr 2016

And even if Hillary gets the nod, Bernie will still be a formidable force in the party at the convention.

It's win-win for him.

Re: the Zen Master, from Charlie Wilson's War (a true story, verified by former US Rep. Charlie Wilson):



And I fucking stand by my claim of Rovian tosh.

And as to the caucuses, what's good for the goose is good for the gander. So why didn't Hillary win them?

BTW, I highly recommend that film, the last by director Mike Nichols. Tom Hanks, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julia Roberts, Ned Beatty, and it's based on a true story. How did we kick the Soviets out of Afghanistan? And how did the Taliban (and Al Qaeda) get started? It is a gem of a film. My cited clip is one of the money scenes.

My best to you.

 

NuclearDem

(16,184 posts)
37. Caucuses require attendance for several hours on a specific day.
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 08:27 PM
Apr 2016

People who can't take off work, arrange childcare, or have some form of physical or mental disability that precludes their attendance don't therefore have a voice in a caucus.

When people have greater freedom of choice when it comes to method and time of voting, Clinton wins. Arizona and Florida have long early voting periods and a large number of people who vote absentee, and Clinton won them both by overwhelming margins. Victories for Bernie Sanders, ironically, depend on poor, working-class people with families being unable to participate, and venues being packed with millennial college students.

longship

(40,416 posts)
38. Again, the playing field is level, so your argument is irrelevant.
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 08:40 PM
Apr 2016

Why doesn't Hillary have those demographics? That is the question you and Hillary ought to be asking yourselves.

The reason is important. Hillary does not connect with those demographics because she just does not fucking care. That is why her campaign stops are small pay to play events for only those who can afford them. I find it astounding that she has actually convinced people that she cares while Bernie is bringing in throngs of people all over the country for (horrors!) free.

Meanwhile his fund raising is doing just fine, thank you. And he still flies coach, not by corporate jet donated by some corporation who undoubtedly wants a payback. Remember, for Hillary, it's pay to play. And she'll pay back, which is why she does it.

Bernie does not do that. Viva la difference!

 

NuclearDem

(16,184 posts)
36. I'm not talking about the nominating system.
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 08:17 PM
Apr 2016

I'm simply saying that by virtue of the popular vote, Sanders is losing; the popular vote being the method by which people express which they greater prefer, you can't claim a preference that's losing that vote has the "overwhelming support of the people."

And, no, caucuses simply don't have high enough attendance to change that number in any meaningful way. He's still going to be millions of vote behind Clinton.

 

NCTraveler

(30,481 posts)
5. One would think he would have been smart enought to not use that verbiage.
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 02:49 PM
Apr 2016

Unfortunately, he made it about him.

I do not think he is a bad person. I think he had a stupid moment.

I also don't think he is not on my team. For the most part he is.

polly7

(20,582 posts)
7. I think he's probably just completely fed up with all the corruption and didn't
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 02:52 PM
Apr 2016

think about his words in advance. Sometimes frustration gets the best of us.

 

Armstead

(47,803 posts)
8. Maybe you should read what he's all about and forget his "stupid moment"
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 02:53 PM
Apr 2016

Yeah I know Bernie supporters have jumped on stupid comments by Clinton surrogates. Mea cilpa.

But the degree to which the Clinton campaign is manufacturing outrage makes it pale by comparison. This has become like a dog that refuses to let go of a bone.



 

NCTraveler

(30,481 posts)
14. It literally just happened last night. The dog and bone analogy has no place.
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 03:01 PM
Apr 2016

If you knew he was going to say this before the speech last night, you would have told him EXACTLY what the outcome would be. Same if I would have known beforehand.

"Maybe you should read what he's all about"

You made it clear in your op that only one of us knew about him before this instance. You might want to think about that before telling someone to "read what he is all about." That is something you needed to do and admitted as much in your op.

Stupid moments are used in politics, as you mention about Bernie supporters jumping on stupid comments by Clinton surrogates.

 

nadinbrzezinski

(154,021 posts)
31. Such moments like not noticing the Antisemitism
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 05:23 PM
Apr 2016

Just spent a quality morning with some of my favorite people..fight for 15 (and a union activists) let's talk some policy shall we?

Squirrel. Sorry

Yes, this is exactly how each of these false issues feels to me. It is an avoidance of issues.

Back in the real world, I had a much deeper conversation, mind you from a Republican POV, the other day interviewing attendees at the Cruz Rally. (Nope did not break into hives) or today at the labor rally, or at the Sanders Rally talking with a smattering of attendees.

Here is the real cliffs notes...people are pissed and have had it.

I will leave you to your outrage...squirrel!!!

passiveporcupine

(8,175 posts)
29. What verbiage are you referring to?
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 05:11 PM
Apr 2016

And what do you mean all about him. If you are referring to corporate whore, you know it wasn't Sanders who said that, right?

Or do you mean that Song somehow made Sanders' campaign all about Song?

Skwmom

(12,685 posts)
10. Biotech executive. Well he should LOVE CLinton since she has promised to bring them to the table
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 02:55 PM
Apr 2016

to talk against insuring against losses. Though he did highly praise her.........

Amazing how well this is working out for some people...

blm

(112,920 posts)
12. It is deplorable, and it has happened to both sides - good people being kicked to the curb
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 02:59 PM
Apr 2016

so the vanities of the thin-skinned internet trash talkers can rule the day at Dem forum after Dem forum.

Surely not all of these hatespreaders could be GOP operatives. Some actual deems are following their lead, though.

snagglepuss

(12,704 posts)
16. This poutrage will bite em on the backside as it calls attention to the fact that
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 03:21 PM
Apr 2016

the proverbial shoes fits.

Fawke Em

(11,366 posts)
23. I noticed they automatically assumed he was talking about Clinton.
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 04:02 PM
Apr 2016

He was talking about the corporate "tools" in Congress, but they automatically put the glass slipper on her foot.

Kalidurga

(14,177 posts)
28. Well he did say her name a minute before that. But, it was in a different context.
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 04:29 PM
Apr 2016

Ironically I doubt Bernie supporter would have ran with that phase if Hillarians hadn't taken it so much to heart. They know it's true. They can't say she isn't in bed with big money so they latch onto a word and fake outrage to deflect from Hillary's very very bad behavior.

Autumn

(44,748 posts)
32. I laughed at those who were outraged that it was directed at her, in their eyes
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 05:27 PM
Apr 2016

it must have been a perfect fit.

bvar22

(39,909 posts)
35. ...and that "glass Slipper" fit perfectly!
Thu Apr 14, 2016, 07:31 PM
Apr 2016



[font color=firebrick][center]"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans.
I want a party that will STAND UP for Working Americans."
---Paul Wellstone [/font]
[/center] [center] [/font]
[font size=1]photo by bvar22
Shortly before Sen Wellstone was killed[/center]
[/font]



You will know them by their WORKS.
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