Translation-we're going home to our states and we are not willing to take the kind of heat representatives took over their votes on cap and trade.  No one is going to accuse us of voting on a bill we haven't read; and the public taste for this bill has turned sour.  We like our jobs and would like to keep them.  

Very truly yours

How are you Dems going to keep Barack's promise of not raising taxes on 95% of all Americans and still pay for all these social welfare goodies? As written the WSJ – 10/13/08: “One of Barack Obama's most potent campaign claims is that he'll cut taxes for no less than 95% of "working families." He's even promising to cut taxes enough that the government's tax share of GDP will be no more than 18.2% -- which is lower than it is today. It's a clever pitch, because it lets him pose as a middle-class tax cutter while disguising that he's also proposing one of the largest tax increases ever on the other 5%. But how does he conjure this miracle, especially since more than a third of all Americans already pay no income taxes at all?”

Uncle Sam can barely pay for Medicaid/Mediacare/Prescription Drug Benefits now; it is bankrupt by 2017 according to the latest GAO report. Social Security makes Madoff look like Mother Theresa. Socialist Security is another Democrat Ponzi scheme waiting to collapse.

Tax the rich you say? Great!

Start with the seven wealthiest US Senators, all Democrats. Then move out to the left coast and tax all the Hollywood beautiful people who love Obama so much. George Soros is a billionaire. Oprah Winfrey is a third of a billionaire! How much health care would that buy for the poor!

This is great!!  I agree wholeheartedly that the public should have time to digest it, ask questions and discuss.  The recess is a perfect time for the senators to discuss with their constituents.

Don't forget, Congress works for us, no matter how much Obama tries to bully things through.  

 When is Olympia Snowe up for reelection?  I need to remember to send her a hefty campaign contribution.  

Anita - "Please point out to me which section of the Constitution grants corporations citizenship ?

Any ideas, MO Attorney ??"
--------------------------------------------------------
I really don't see what this has to do with anything, but that would again be Article I, Section 8.  While the aforementioned section doesn't reference corporations, it does allow Congress to create legislation defining corporations, which Congress has done twice: once in the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) and again in Section C of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).  Technically speaking Congress never voted on the UCC, but every state has and Congress has never intervened, effectively making it the law of the land under Article IV, paragraph 2 of the Constitution.
------------------------------------------------------
Anita - "As far as transparency, audit the Federal Reserve
How about investigating TORTURE and WAR CRIMES ??
Are you for THAT Transparency ??? "

Personally, I would not be opposed to any such investigations.  I do believe that the Fed audit is more important, however; torture and war crimes impact a very small number of Americans, while the Fed's manipulation of the U.S. dollar impacts each of us every day.

U2 said it best:

"With or without you"

Sorry well-insured Senators, we've waited long enough.

I note that for all the cries to delay the process, nobody is explaining exactly how they plan to use that extra time.

We just lived through a two year presidential campaign with 2 zillion debates . . . if Olympia Snowe's "constituents" don't know anything about healthcare by now, I'm guessing they never will.

I have an idea . . . how about we suspend all Congressional healthcare benefits until we've had the opportunity to "review" what the hell they are doing to earn it.

Smug b#*(@)$&.

I agree.  I would rather have this Bipartisan than another push and shove bill through Congress.  If we all agree Healthcare needs to be reformed, well then, that's a good start.  To tell the truth, I am thrilled it got this far.

Those repukeagains! They are killing this bill!! This is exactly what happened with the Clintons back in '93. The more time people have to look at these bills, the less they will like them. President Obama and Speaker Pelosi should respond by saying we need to rush the bill even faster because America depends on it. It is time our representitives held their noses and just voted for this bill.

Health Care for All!!

I don't have a problem with asking for more time, but the problem, as I see it, is that it is impossible to trust the republicans. They are going to spend every waking moment spreading lies about how expensive it is (before they know), about putting the government between you and your doctor (even though none of the plans mentioned do that), about how President Obama wants to get rid of your existing coverage (even though one of the key goals he has presented to congress is that it NOT eliminate existing plans), and that it is going to cost jobs.

If you could trust the republicans to negotiate in good faith and then actually support a compromise bill, this slow down would be great. But the republicans have already proven that they won't vote for the bill unless they write 100% of it, and we all know that isn't going to happen.

Why must we make a Bi-Partisan bill that the Republicans will just reject anyways.  They did it with the Bail out plan and they will do it now.  I say the Dems write it how they want to right it and say the hell with the Republicans.  Why add thier stuff if they're not even going to vote for it in the end!  You can't have Bi-partisanship with the Republicans, they don't even understand what the term means!

Your time is now up.  The majority of Americans would be happy with the best healthcare system in the world that even have people all over the world coming here to partake in.

This Bipartisan group seems like the only reasonable faction in Washington. It's okay to suggest a timetable with and verify progress along the way. But get it done in two weeks or else?? That's just dumb and irresponsible. This hurry it up and screw it up process needs to stop.

Maybe they should just be told "vote for this bill or you are un-American".  It worked when the GOP shoved the war funding bills down our throats without any time to debate them.

Barack Obama (Messiah-IL) is getting his nose rubbed in it just a little bit more everyday. The numbers for the his bill just don't add up. The cost containments for Health Care are pure fiction, and the taxes need to fund Health Care Reform just are not there. The CBO has weighed in and told everyone the entire mess will destroy Americas future ability to be competitive in the world markets.

So let the Democrats play house for a few weeks, and then count noses for who is willing to vote for this tragic bill. The sensible Senators and House members will walk away from this turkey of a bill in a heartbeat.

Of course Emperor Obama doesn't want to give people any time to think about, debate or study his program.  He knows that if the people are given time they will see what a huge waste of money and resources this health care bill is and will not let there representatives pass it.  

Also how many czars does this administration need?  Is Congress even relevant anymore?  He has all of these commitee czars that make policy that answer to noone but him.  He is slowy subverting the legislature by creating a middle man system that bypasses Congress altogether.  His "Green Jobs" czar is actually an avowed communist.  Look it up before you start saying its untrue.

Pursuing a bi-partisan solution is folly. The Republicans have no interest in changing the status quo - their only need is to protect the profits of the healthcare industry and their lobbyist pals. The GOP showed no propensity to work with Democrats to solve the healthcare crisis when they held the White House, House and Senate. Now that they are out of power, though, we're to believe they are sincere in working across the aisle.

Republicans know the administration wants bi-partisan support: they hold out the promise of working together the way Lucy holds a football. Democrats in Congress and the administration should by now see the writing on the wall. If there's going to be healthcare reform, it will happen when the Democrats have the courage to stop waiting for GOP participation and simply ram the legislation through.

"I reminded the president that President [Lyndon] Johnson from the time that he gave his address on creating the Medicare system, it took a year and a half to accomplish that goal." - Sen. Olympia Snowe
==================================================

You know, that is a really cute example.

I don't remember there being corporately owned and operated right wing "news" organizations filling the airwaves with lies 24/5 back then, do you Senator Snowe?

Also, I wonder, were lobbyists spending over $1 million dollars a day back then?

Is it your policy, Senator Snowe, that the millions of uninsured and under insured Americans should go another year and a half without coverage just because you need more time to reflect on/obstruct the process?

Somebody should come up with a counter of how many people have been denied medical care and/or loss their lives while well paid pundits and politicians opine "What's the rush?"

The Congressional Budget Office says that healthcare costs will grow from 17% to 30% of the GDP with the presidents health care plan. Doesn't sound like much cost cutting to me.

What time do they need...we've been working on this since Teddy Roosevelt, and certainly at least since Truman. Do they need 50 more years or 100 more. Jeez, this is important...they say too important to rush...I say too important to wait. Get it done.

It's interesting if you evaluate Pres Obama's different reactions and urgencies with different issues.  During the campaign he didn't feel the need to rush back to Washington DC when the economic crisis hit a peak point.  He continued campaigning and even did a Hollywood fund raiser during that time.  When it came to the Iran voting fraud issue and hurting/killing of some demonstrators, again he was Mr reserved with what he said and when.  But with domestic economic issues, we've seen a different Obama.  With the stimulus package, the entire economy it would seem was about to collapse in the next week if they didn't push it through immediately.  Now we know that the funds have gotten out way slower than promised and for different purposes than were proposed.  We also know that legislators didn't even have close to enough time to read the mammoth bill which was signed in ignorance.  Now again with health care, 17% of our entire economy, it's "urgent", "critical",...etc.  Could it be that this president calculates (along with his advisers) every move, not based on what truly will benefit the country most, but on what makes him look the best?  I hope I'm wrong, but I fear not.  Mr. President, we'd rather wait, as long as it takes, for a solid and truly beneficial health care bill, not one that further indebts our nation and future generations and simply grows gov't for the sake of growing gov't.  One last thing, if you're at all serious, please get tort reform in the discussion.  If not, this is a sham.

From NBC's Ken Strickland
Facing a White House-imposed August deadline to pass the health-care reform bill, a bipartisan group of senators is asking Democratic and Republican leaders for more time to write a bipartisan bill.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

No more damn time. While you were saying NO to everythig, you had time then. Anyway, you have no friggin bipartisan billl, you don't know the meaning of the word.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

To: Lynn

Dearest Anita: Did you not get the memo? Barack Obama said the other day the economy is his. So please stop blaming others for problems Obama is creating.
And have a really nice day.
Lynn Wheatly

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Lynn, I never denied that the President Obama didn’t take ownership of this economy. President Obama did the responsible thing in doing so and set your party up for the “kill”.

Yea, you people are on script with the old doom and good theory, because you are becoming a dieing breed…literally. Between people like you and Pat Buchanan (who really showed the color of this neck last nigh); that’s why this nation is in the shape it’s in now.

You people are stupid and literate. You’ve always had the pleasure of having someone else do your dirty work. You think that you are above everyone else because of the color of your skin, when in reality; you people are the skeezers of society.

Never mind that education and experience is needed. The only thing that is required is to be a “white male”, because birth right by paint job is the only qualifications required?

President Obama IS responsible leadership, the leadership that all races voted for in November…and Lynn…WE WON.

Have a W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L life in fairy land Lynn…

FR: "I reminded the president that President [Lyndon] Johnson from the time that he gave his address on creating the Medicare system, it took a year and a half to accomplish that goal."

Meidcare is one reason the country is in such bad financial shape. It pays pennies on the dollar for medical services rendered. It's underfunded and over used. Corruption and theft by Medicare fraud accounts for about 20% of Medicares overall cost.

Knowing all this, do you know what liberals call the Medicare program? "A complete success!"

Here's an idea.

How about NO VACATION until it's done?   Congress is a bunch of the most spoiled people in the world.  Nothing but 3 day work weeks and endless vacation breaks while being paid $200k+ with massive benefits for life.

How about you people do your job and stay there till it's done.  There is no need for a 3 week vacation to "talk to constituents" anymore like old days... you have email and telephones now.

I imagine you ask for a deadline on something like this for the same reasno you ask for a deadline on a  computer programmer. If you don't set a deadline it will never get done.

Maybe it will come in a little late, and there's nothing wrong with that, but lawmakers should feel some pressure to get the work done and not put it off for more easy fare.

MSeirra,

There isn't any Constitutional provision for corps. to be granted protections.  There isn't any Constitutional provision for congress or the president to tell Corps. what to do.  This is kind of a Nader view of the economy, and I like Ralph on some things, but his economic views don't address the primary issue which is the FED (I know I sound like a broken record.)

In fact the supreme court ruled on this during the Truman admin when he tried to take over the steel mills.  I'll admit the decision wasn't very conclusive, but it did prevent the President anyway from asserting control over an industry because he thought it poses a threat to national security.

So while the protection of business is afforded by the constitution the limits of power set on the Executive and Legislative do provide indirect protection against government intervention for businesses.  Is this always good?  Probably not, but my opinion is it's better than the alternative of state control.

Also...and this is meant to be funny so tar and feather me too much.

I saw this on here and I couldn’t resist.  Credit to “Torpedoyoo” for the list.  Credit to me for the Libertarian interpretations.

Big government BAD less government Good!   - Totally! I’m glad you agree.

Let the market regulate itself! – Man, I wish more people thought like this.  The market hasn’t been allowed to regulate itself in years.

The insurance companies and banks know more about the economy then the government so the government needs to get out of the way! – Well some insurance companies and some banks are competent, but the ones that aren’t should fail.  Sorry I can’t get completely on board with that one.

Let the health care companies run the system. – Well shouldn’t innovation run the system?  I mean if the innovation is coming from the health care companies sure, but I would think a meshing of for-profits and non-profits would create the most success.  Of course I’ll refer back to statement number one for how to ensure that.  

Healthcare should be profit centered and is a privilege not a right.
It's all Clinton's fault! – Well people have a right to earn a profit off of health care sure. I wouldn’t blame Clinton though.  Maybe Lyndon Johnson, but we can leave Bill out of that one.

Barney Frank, Pelosi, or Harry Reid did it! – Well they don’t help anything, but I believe Wilson started it by forming the Federal Reserve, and then Greenspan, and Bernanke moved things along by trying to control a free market making it ….ummm “un-free.”  Then there was Paulson he was crooked too...I could on for hours about how much of a d-bag Paulson is.

The government needs to stay out of the Auto business and let them rise or fall on their own merits.  – It’s so true.  That means they shouldn’t give them incentives to leave either though.  It’s a two way street.

Gun Control BAD.  – Second Amendment good.  Man I sure do love the Bill of Rights!

We need more assault weapons on the streets! – I don’t know that we need them, but if you like them, and are willing to hop through all the state sanctioned hoops…well why not?

The democrats are going to tax ammunition, ban assault weapons and hi capacity magazines. – To be fair I think Republicans would too if it would advance their popularity.

No national ID cards as this would erode our personal freedom. – It really would, but wasn’t this a Bush Idea to begin with?  I thought he was a Republican.  Well Dadgumit now I’m just confused.

Deploy the military to the border to keep illegal aliens out. Arrest and throw the ones already here with their children out of the country. – Well that is what the National guard is supposed to be for.  Hence the name.  I don’t know about that second part though.  Maybe not throw them just escort them back home.  They can try the legal way though if they want.

No health care to the illegal alien who shows up in the E.R. Let 'em die. – Well don’t let them die, but probably leave it up to the Hospitals, and doctors instead of the bureaucrats  

We need to subcontract more work out to private companies and our friends which creates jobs so our military can focus on fighting. – I’m kind of a pacifist and I don’t think I like how that sounds…

No more welfare or healthcare for the poor. Let the churches do it. – And the Red Cross, and Charities like big brother big sister, miracle network, YWCA etc…I mean don’t let the Church hog all the benevolence.

No more unemployment to those looking for work. 16 weeks and that’s it! You are on your own. – I thought unemployment was a state thing…it’s supposed to be.
More jails for criminals. – Just the violent ones.  

Privatize Social Security.  – Amen!

Privatize Medicare. Healthcare companies are doing an excellent job! – You already said that! Refer to Item#4

Talk is cheap. Forget diplomacy and Bomb Iran and North Korea.  – Don’t do that…can’t we just leave them alone?  Call me crazy!

No Gay Marriage. We love Jesus! – Well you’re allowed to love Jesus, and whoever else you want to love.

No Abortion. We love Jesus! – Well even the Republicans have to pretend to care about someone,  but there are lots of people that aren’t Republicans that would like to take another look at this ruling.      

The death penalty for all murderers. We love Jesus!  - Again isn’t this a state thing?  I don’t think Jesus has anything to do with it.

Ban all trial lawyers. Doctors who malpractice or manufacturers who make faulty products are not responsible.  – Sure they are!  However McDonalds shouldn’t be responsible for selling hot coffee that can burn you.  Maybe we just need either trial lawyers or government regulations and fines, but not always both.

The individual is responsible for the consequences of his actions. – Wow!  I mean this is some revolutionary thinking.  I couldn’t agree more!

Limiting access to our representatives for those with money is a violation of their free speech rights. – Yes. Shouldn’t you be more angry at the Rep. who is ignoring you than the Rich guy who can get his attention?


Eliminate the Department of Education.  – I’ll do you one better eliminate every dept. there isn’t a provision for in the Constitution.  

Eliminate all government grants to universities and research institutions. – Now I haven’t seen this in any commercials, but again it’s not in the Constitution.  Don’t Schools make a lot of money anyway…I go to college it’s expensive.  State’s can subsidize Universities all they want though.  Tenth Amendment!

Let banks with government guarantees fund student loans and make money. – Who gave banks government guarantees?  That was stupid.

Less regulation for Wall street. The SEC is doing a great job. – Yes to part number one.  No to part number two.  Haven’t you been paying attention?

Let's not tax the rich they are the engine of job creation. – I wouldn’t call them the engine, but they do employ lots of people.

I completely understand now. – I wouldn’t say that.
TorpedoYoo (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 2:28 PM)

More time works against the Obama/Pelosi/Reid Healthcare plan. Shining the light of truth on the bill does nothing but expose the bill for the phony fraud it is. Pelsoi is trying to ram it through so fast, no one even has time to read it, which seems to be a trend for Nancy.

The heavy lifting is the result of doing nothing for the last 8 years. Maybe after they lift the bill they'll all need doctors. I don't mind spending another month to get it right but to delay for the sake of delay is also ridiculous. Since the GOP would love nothing better than to kill this bill a long wait might just give them time to do just that. It is a balancing act that Reid and Pelosi are going to have to watch closely. The bill won't be perfect and it shouldn't be watered down either. There will be time to tweak later but for now let's do the best we can to produce an hisotic law just as we did with Social Secuity, the TVA, approving space travel to the moon (anniversary of the moon walk), voting rights, and several amendments to our Constitution. All these are momentus changes. There were people, usually from the far right, that fought each change tooth and nail. Fortunately progressives eventually won the fight and we live much better today than our ancestors did.

What they really mean is that the blue dogs intend to talk the bill to death and then next year we'll be in full political swing again so nothing will happen.

I'll always be able to afford what healthcare I need but most of my employee and most people I know couldn't afford the 1,2 and eventually 3 thousand a month premiums many of us will be stuck with down the road. Tough luck for them for voting for republicans and blue dogs.

Fr--"I reminded the president that President [Lyndon] Johnson from the time that he gave his address on creating the Medicare system, it took a year and a half to accomplish that goal."

Senator Snowe, we don't have a f***ing year to wait. Now tell me what's wrong with this statement? See how out of touch they are.....what a joke...

The "bi-partisan" Senaotrs put it so nicely. Behind close doors they most be laughing their butts off over the bill. Voting for it means that no one would be voting for them.

This blog is in reponse to Bad Chihuahua's 7/16/09 whereby he asked me if I had left Cuba by way of boat in 1980?   Ignorant, rascist and moron. I actually left their at 3 months old by way of PLANE in 1960. Were you hatched? Did you slizer from the promodial pond scum and finally you need to take off your bed sheet because rascists like you hide ingognito. Spare us in Ft Lauderdale we are too progressive and not cro-magnum for you.                                                  

There is no time to wait.  Now that some bills are  ready for debate by the Senate, these Senators say WAIT!  The American people have waited for action for 40 years already.  Get on with the job you were elected to do and stop being naysayers.

Translation-we're going home to our states and we are not willing to take the kind of heat representatives took over their votes on cap and trade.  No one is going to accuse us of voting on a bill we haven't read; and the public taste for this bill has turned sour.  We like our jobs and would like to keep them.  

Very truly yours
no joe, no bo,nj


The Democrats are going to hate this request by the moderates. Anyone of them that is thinking about voting for this travesty of a bill will need to set up a bunker in their hometownand home-region offices. There are going to be a lot of angry people wanting to talk to them about this massive private sector grab being done by the federal government.

What is it with these Clowns?? They’re CONSTANTLY asking for more time for this and more time for that… and they STILL don’t produce any results!

Either learn to multi-task or the JOKERS need to start putting in some OVERTIME!

I agree with Nash… now that they’re being forced to actually EARN their paychecks all we get out of them is more whining!

This country’s moving forward and they either need to get on board or get out of the WAY!

Suck it UP and GET TO WORK!

I think some clarification is needed:

The President is not asking that the FINAL bill that will be signed into law be passed by the August recess . . .

He is asking that the Senate VERSION of the bill, that will still have to be reconciled with the House VERSION of the bill be done by the August recess.

I mean, this is just a step in the process, and it will continue to be modified, so what is so hard about taking this FIRST STEP?

Have a W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L life in fairy land Lynn…

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama

Is there a mental health provision in the Obamacare plan? After reading this mess, lets hope so.

I have no problem with allowing more time.
It impacts 310 million Americans.
It will cost a great deal of money regardless of how it is paid for.
It should be designed to last, with only minor changes, for many years.
Few of the adults in the US have a clue what is in it – except what the TV ads tell us, which are questionable since they are paid for by special interest groups.

MO Attorney

You must be really hard up for attention, starting to seal handels again aren't you? Typical republican...

I accidentally credited Anita for something MSierra said.  My apologies, Anita.  The difference in writing styles should've alerted me to my mistake.

Nashville_fan:

U2 said it best:

"With or without you"

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

But Obama needs the Republicans. There are about 15 Demcratic Senators that will flat out not vote for the health care bill. There are at least 70 House Democrats that will flat out not vote for the bill. Do the math. The bill is dead without the Republicans.

Health Care bill. Just save time and money, and bury it now.

CBO has stated the HCR proposals drafted by congressional Democrats do not propose the fundamental changes necessary to rein in the skyrocketing cost of government health programs and would actually pile on an expensive new program to cover the uninsured (see today's Washington Post).  Therefore, HCR in its current form is dead.

Moderates from both sides are imploring Obama to give them the time necessary to do the 'heavy lifting' i.e., figure out how to pay for all of this.  So why does he insist on trying to ram flawed legislation through before the August recess?

One can easily get the impression that Obama doesn't care what it costs and doesn't care about the impact on the nation's finances.  So what's a responsible congressperson to do in the face of such fiscally reckless stubborness?  Vote against the darn thing, he's not giving reasonable folks any other choice.

Here's an idea.

How about NO VACATION until it's done?

BL, Cincy

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

Wrong answer BL. The congresscritters need to make their way home before the vote. They need to listen to the People. Just like with Cap and Trade, when the people got ahold of the congressmen that voted 'aye', those congressmen got an earful. HC is much bigger, I'd expect they'll get an even bigger earful on telling them to vote 'no' for that bill.

Where are all the jobs Barack? You spend more time overseas than in the US to hide from 10% unemployment, rising foreclosures and rising food and energy costs.

And please, to the perennial Obama booster club on MSNBC, don't waste your time plagiarizing Wikipedia or Googling up some dirt on Bush or the Republicans. Your moral relativism arguments don't hold water.

Obama is failing to keep his promises and the plans he has enacted are not helping matters.

Again, no schoolyard comebacks of "Well what are the Republicans doing about it?". I DON'T care for either party. You Dems constantly gloat about winning the White House and control of Congress. Now YOU Dems and your Ivy League eggheads and echo-chamber media pawns fix it!

Is it your policy, Senator Snowe, that the millions of uninsured and under insured Americans should go another year and a half without coverage just because you need more time to reflect on/obstruct the process?

Somebody should come up with a counter of how many people have been denied medical care and/or loss their lives while well paid pundits and politicians opine "What's the rush?"


Nashville_fan (Sent Friday, July 17, 2009 2:30 PM)

-------------------------------------
No one is dying from no insurance.  Everyone is essentially "covered" since any hospital can not refuse to treat someone if they go to the ER.  Even illegal people get treated.  THERE IS NO RUSH to get it done in a week.  I do believe it's urgent, but no reason to shove it through without input from the public.  Quit your fearmongering.  It's getting old.

Pete Roleum, Detroit, MI USA - probably the same way George Bush paid for the Iraq war (just a metaphor).

Oh did you question that tactic - probably not because you didn't think any of your personal dollars would be involved.

But it was - it was just hidden and called - high gas prices and "left out of the budget tax dollars.

See what you fail to understand is - this health care reform bill is needed, unlike the Iraq war - but President Obama won't lie, cheat or steal to get the money to pay for it and none of his buddies (unlike George and Dick) will be getting wind fall profits, because of it either.

As well - no service members and innocent citizens will be killed or die - to pay for this health care program.

So – for you republicans – what exactly are you afraid of?

Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA

Please remember that personal bankruptcies are at all time highs and that over the last two years 60% of them involve health cost liability. 45% actually had insurance before the health problem. This compares to eight percent back in the early 1980s of total bankruptcies.
The growth of the health care industry has been like corn on a hazy humid summer day and if it continues at it's current rate, will reach 20% of our entire economy by the time the bill is enacted. That's one fifth of the budget, our own and the nation's. My own health care costs are above those numbers and I have no major health issues other than my birth date.
This is a middle class survival issue... I ask my friends with lifetime coverage through employment to consider your good fortune and please find compassion for those of us who have had to find our own coverage. We have worked just as hard as you and no one considered this issue so paramount back when we began our careers. The self-employed are every bit as much a part of a vibrant US economy as small businesses and large corporations.
Cost control is a necessity, but reducing the massive corporate profits in this industry, which is making big bucks off the wellness of others, is financially  choosing who has the right to live and who is left to die...
Please, Senators Six, time is of the essence...

Obama speaks on health care this afternoon. Perhaps agreeing to delay his August mandate? Or is he about to skewer moderates for "obstructionism"?

http://www.political-buzz.com/

From previous post:

Jonathan, you wrote:

" The problem we have to overcome is this idea that Free Markets will ruin the little guy.  The reality is we haven't had a modern free market to test this theory.  We just assume because we were taught in 7th grade about the monopolies of the 19th century that this will be the reality now.  We forget that these so called evil businessmen fueled innovation that made us the economic giant we have become.  Yeah some guys made bad choices, and treated people wrong, but you can't apply the bad choices of a few to the entire system.  "
=============================================
So when your beloved "free enterprise" screws up you say "the bad choices of a few don't apply to the entire system."

But when it is the government that screws up you say
"I don't think the government does a good job of protecting us.  Look at their record, it’s awful.   Why should I trust them? "

Can't you see that the only difference between "trusting" the government and "trusting" this mythical "free enterprise" is our own personal biases?

Neither the government or the "free" markets is ever going to be perfect, because the are both run by PEOPLE!

The difference is, imperfect though it may be, the government is SUPPOSED to represent ME, and "free enterprise" is supposed to make a profit regardless of what happens to me.

This is why I will not blindly condemn "the government" and refuse to allow it to play a role in my life, because "the government" is ME! If I don't like it, I can make it better - and that is EXACTLY what the American people are doing.

It's not pretty and it's not perfect, but it's DEMOCRACY.

The political crooks who have run Washington WANT us to all get exasperated and just give up so the can continue to call the shots.

It's not. going. to happen.

P.S. You talk about the Wild West being a romanticized notion?  I think the biggest romanticized notion is this mythical "self reliance" that you speak of - are we the UNITED States of America or not? We can't just be United when you agree Jonathan - that's called anarchy.

I completely understand now. – I wouldn’t say that.
TorpedoYoo (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 2:28 PM)

Jonathan flint, mi (Sent Friday, July 17, 2009 2:38 PM)

That's right Jonathan, let's bring back the gold standard and that will solve all our problems.  That said, here is a little local law that may interest you:

Ordinance No. 9:
"To Provide against Carrying of Deadly Weapons" (effective April 19, 1881).
Section 1. "It is hereby declared to be unlawful for any person to carry deadly weapons, concealed or otherwise [except the same be carried openly in sight, and in the hand] within the limits of the City of Tombstone.
Section 2: This prohibition does not extend to persons immediately leaving or entering the city, who, with good faith, and within reasonable time are proceeding to deposit, or take from the place of deposit such deadly weapon.
Section 3: All fire-arms of every description, and bowie knives and dirks, are included within the prohibition of this ordinance.

Tombstone Arizona 1881.

I guess little law was sorta unconstitutonal huh?

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