Holy christ, I had imagined her using a cutey little dart-board style bulls-eye. She's using an image of the cross hairs of a sniper rifle and what was her rallying cry? Something like, "Don't retreat, Re-Load"! And she doesn't understand why Congressional members are disturbed by their photos under the cross hairs of a sniper rifle? I mean, who wouldn't relish such a thing?

Isn't it funny that the "tea-party" has stopped talking about "t-bagging" now that they know what the word means? At first there was all this talk about "tea-bagging" the whitehouse. Classic comedy gold.

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"The U.S. is the only nation on Earth to pass from barbarism into decadence without once passing through an era of civilization."

Palin the Uber-Demagogue has got a Facebook page featuring a map of the US with strategic crosshairs symbolizing Democratic Congresscritters, in conservative districts, who voted for health care reform. Charming.

Oh, girl logic, it's even in MY city, too. Are the good people of Columbus, Ohio some fuckwits or what?!

You know I started off laughting at them, but I just got angrier and angrier at the rich girl bitching about welfare and the MEN bitching about abortion. And the Christians saying that their freedom of religion is somehow being threatened. THose people sound like morons, but they represent millions of our citizens.

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"The U.S. is the only nation on Earth to pass from barbarism into decadence without once passing through an era of civilization."

I'm in a peaceful frame of mind right now so I'm gonna keep my first spew short. BUT, I am MADMADMAD that Obama dropped the ball. NO, no. He did NOT drop the ball; he just up and handed it to the other team. WHat I am so pissy about is this: We now have fucking Monsanto chemical cocksuckers nominated to set our agriculture standards. Gee, as manufacturerers of chemmie pesticides, fertilizers, etc. what will Monsanto be recommending do ya think?

On Monsanto: they once developed a GMO that would not bloom/develop fruit without being exposed to a chemical that they had patented. So like if all the grains were introduced to these GMOs and then would not mature without Monsanto's chemical to pollinate them they could literally have control over the entire industry.Letting Monsanto set ANY kind of ag. standards or policies is inviting the fox into the hen house for a permanant stay.IF you are interested in stopping this Monsanto nomination, you can visit Food&Water Watch. org and click on their link for activism. They have an easy petition to send/ no having to register at the site or go through annoying BS. Just enter your basic info and click to send the petition. If you like, Food&Water Watch will send you updates to your mailbox. This is an excellent organization that has had amazing success at flooding Washington with hundreds of thousands of petitions and actually putting a stop to some of the current evil schemes.

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"The U.S. is the only nation on Earth to pass from barbarism into decadence without once passing through an era of civilization."

when obama doesn't mention or push a public plan in an interview about healthcare, and when i hear stories about how there are negotiations about how the heathcare companies are getting ammendments that will mean no more than 5% of people can be in a "government co-op," and when obama tells democrats not to talk bad about the blue dog democrats-- the very ones who are holding up healthcare reform...

why do i get the feeling obama isn't serious about real reform?

why has he consistently taken the weakest possible position when negotiating?

i may be cynical, but if, as some people assert, that obama is holding off on eliminating don't-ask-don't-tell so he can pass this reform, my question is why bother, when what it looks like we're getting is only the most minimal of change to our fucked up system.

honestly, i want to like obama. nobody in the lounge argued more fervently for him than i did, but honestly, imho, obama sucks.

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"what a swell farewell party! we said goodbye to everything, including the lining in my stomach." - garvey, from the film, born bad

"That's one career all females have in common, whether we like it or not: being a woman. Sooner or later, we've got to work at it, no matter how many other careers we've had or wanted." --margo channing, all about eve

I think the fundamental flaw in Obama's plan is that the private insurance corporations will still be in full control of coverage to all individual subscribers. It will inevitably result in a two tier system where those who can afford to buy really great insurance will have it, those who have no access to that insurance will be nickeled and dimed to death. I'd want to know what Obama would do, in detail, to regulate the private insurance companies so that no one would be denied access to care under any circumstance if it were needed. Unless his health care plan also involves a radical regulation of that industry, which is incredibly powerful politically as well as medically, I don't see how his idea for universal health care can succeed.

The systems in the world which do work effectively are the ones which are single payer--in that money to pay for all health care, cradle to grave, comes from the tax base, into which every one pays (including corporations--those are more the European models, as here in North America corporations are largely just taking from the tax base and no longer contributing to it). In these countries, immigration has to be courted as well: since these are the healthiest societies and full access to reproductive health care has become the norm there, many women have decided to have only the children they wish to have, and no more. This has resulted in a decline in birth rate--which has to be made up generationally by allowing immigrants from other countries to relocate there and create both demand for upkeep in the infrastructure of the country as well as steady contributions to the tax base. Countries which have been slow to understand this have had to learn the hard way---no money going in with new tax payers = no money for health care, pensions, schools, hospitals, etc. etc. etc. All of which also create jobs which keep the whole service system--including universal health care--in top form.

Canada started to seriously privatize its health care system about 15 years ago, in earnest, province to province. But when Free Trade was started during the Mulroney era, the complete elimination of universal health care, pension, unemployment insurance, all our social services which we've been paying into for our entire lives--were planned to end, and the dismantling started there with hospital closures, massive job elimination in all health care facilities, and terminated coverage for more and more treatments considered less than vital--such as medication drugs for older people. It's lucky we have what we have now! But it is true: people do die waiting for treatment now (which rarely happened in the past) and many things which used to be covered are no longer covered--though our taxes are still being collected to pay for those services. So our system's been taken apart and it's a shadow of what it used to be. To "examine" it now as an example would be to look at the way it's been decimated since it's been privatized over the last couple of decades. It's just not a good comparison to make, and it's not a good standard on which to judge private vs. public. Look at Norway's health care system instead--also not perfect, but at least it's not bullshit like Canada's.

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May suitable doses of guaranteed sensual pleasure and slow, long-lasting enjoyment preserve us from the contagion of the multitude who mistake frenzy for efficiency.

I'd like to know what all of your views are on the health care bill, if y'all don't mind.

To my knowledge, this hasn't been introduced in any of the bills currently floating around, but given the political volatility associated with this issue, I may have a plan in mind that would be as imperfect as anything else, but could satisfy the three main hotpoints (IMHO) of this issue:1 overall cost of care2 too many uninsured (very much related to #1)3 the fact that many Americans do not want the government running their health plan

Pres. Obama eluded to the possibility of opening up the plan made available to federal employees to cover all Americans interested in joining. I think this could work if the following regulations were attached to it:1 Everyone must carry coverage, whether it's a traditional PPO type plan, HMO plan, or high deductible/HSA/'oh shit' plan (all available to fed employees currently)2 Insurance companies must cover all, regardless of age or medical history3 Insurance companies must cover all procedures/treatments if 2 doctors agree it is necessary

In order to prevent people from having to choose to pay rent or health insurance, those making below a certain threshold (i honestly have no idea what it should be, especially since a living wage in bumblefuck wouldn't cover rent in NYC) would receive gov't vouchers to cover all or a portion of their insurance premiums. Since non-paying patients would essentially become non-existant, overall costs should go down. Insurance premiums should theoretically go down since the risk is spread over a larger pool.

This satisfies the need for comprehensive coverage, as well as satisfies the conservative concern of government run health care (founded or unfounded as it may be, some conservative support is needed to get something passed). There could be incentives to all parties for maintaining good health through preventative care, and a hundred other details that I haven't thought of/just didn't write out.

Seeing as how I'm very fortunate to have an employer that provdes 100% of my insurance premiums, and have an annual out of pocket max of $5500, I don't fully understand how crushing medical debt can be, or the feeling of helplessness associated with knowing I can't get treatment for me or my family because we can't afford it. I guess what I'm asking is, why hasn't something like this been proposed yet? I mean, it could be used as a political win for all (democrats can tout universal coverage, republicans can tout that insurance is still in private hands) and meets the end goal of everyone having equal access to health care.

Is there a fundamental flaw that I'm just not seeing? I realize the vouchers will be expensive, but would they be any more expensive that what is currently paid out by medicaid/medicare? I'm sure there would be numerous details to work out, and the bill writers would most definitely turn this into a 1200+ page monster if for no other reason than to show off their excellent legalese skills, but in the end, would this work?? I understand it wouldn't be perfect, but given the sad fact that this will be more of a politcal game than a true attempt to better the lives of Americans (just like everything else it seems that comes out of D.C.), would the compromises made by both sides of the aisle be enough to get enough conservatives (Dems & Repubs) on board to get this passed? Just wanted to get the thoughts of others, as I've been comtemplating writing this exact plan out in a letter to my congressman & senators. All of which are somewhat conservative, even though two are democrats & 1 is republican.

As a Canadian, I'd like to know what you all think. It's true, our system is far from perfect but I can't imagine going into the emergency room and having to pay for the visit.

I know that a lot of people here do die waiting for care and it's a huge problem. But at the same time, don't Americans also get denied treatments for things especially if their insurance says that it was a pre-existing condition?

That reminds me of another thing. Right now I'm not covered so the only thing I have to pay for is medication, which really sucks. But I remember a few years ago when my parents were changing their coverage and the form also asked about pre-existing conditions (my mom has a lot of health issues) because then they wouldn't cover the medication for those prescriptions.

Also, is Obama pushing for a two-tier system or what? And why are Americans so freakin afraid of socialism?!

I'm not at all well-versed about our system as it is. All I know for absolute sure is that insurance companies are able to leave their customers screwed, blued, and tattooed. And there doesn't seem to be much the customer can do about it.Yes, Americans routinely get denied by insurance companies because of pre-existing health conditions. My grandmother pays an arm and a leg to her insurance company, and can't look for another one because of her conditions. It's sick stuff, the private insurance game.Why are Americans afraid of socialism? 1) Too many of them don't understand the true definition of the word, 2) Too many of them think "Oh, we're such HOT SHIT, we do things our own way, screw everyone else and their commie ways of doing stuff, 3) It seems to me that too many individuals don't give a good goddamn about their fellow humans: "They didn't prepare themselves for bad health by getting a better education and a better-paying job? Tough. Let 'em die, it ain't my problem." Few people stop to think about how people who do 'menial work' actually make life a whole hell of a lot easier for them. How many attorneys/doctors/CEOs could go out and grow all of their own food, build their own houses, assemble their own vehicles, deal with 'dirty jobs' like sewage, or do any of these other things they've always had done for them, so they could live in comfort and earn their degrees? And when these hard-working individuals doing the thankless jobs get hit by a grave illness, what happens? Their insurance company starts using loopholes to get out of their obligation. So the individual is left with the majority of the bill, and is financially RUINED. Nobody stops to think about that, but it happens all. the. time.Something I hear all the blasted time from militant nay-sayers is "the government will be taking more than 50% of your paycheck in taxes to help fund socialized medicine." I nearly wet myself EVERY TIME because 1) these folks probably pay more than 50% of their income to their unscrupulous private insurance companies who will screw them out of coverage given the slightest chance and 2) America pays more per capita for healthcare than any other nation, but we still have more people who are not insured. That's PATHETIC.

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Shake off all the fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds are serviley crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God, because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blind faith. — Thomas Jefferson

You went to school where you were taught to fear and to obey, be cheerful, fit in, or someone might think you're weird.Life can be perfect. People can be trusted. Someday, I will fall in love; a nice quiet home of my very own.Free from all the pain. Happy and having fun all the time.It never happened, did it?

As a Canadian, I'd like to know what you all think. It's true, our system is far from perfect but I can't imagine going into the emergency room and having to pay for the visit.

I know that a lot of people here do die waiting for care and it's a huge problem. But at the same time, don't Americans also get denied treatments for things especially if their insurance says that it was a pre-existing condition?

That reminds me of another thing. Right now I'm not covered so the only thing I have to pay for is medication, which really sucks. But I remember a few years ago when my parents were changing their coverage and the form also asked about pre-existing conditions (my mom has a lot of health issues) because then they wouldn't cover the medication for those prescriptions.

Also, is Obama pushing for a two-tier system or what? And why are Americans so freakin afraid of socialism?!

I'd like to know what all of your views are on the health care bill, if y'all don't mind.

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Shake off all the fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds are serviley crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God, because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blind faith. — Thomas Jefferson

thing that always kills me is it's the republicans pulling that shit. the ones that are supposed to be all about governmental restraint. they moralize up and down but they are the worst perpetrators.

another thing that kills me is how they always talk about how corrupt gov't is, and they out do the dems in corruption too. seriously, i was listening to peggy noonan bloviate today about how she's scared of a medical plan because of the how much we're spending right now, but when bush was giving out money to cronies hand over fist she was mum. then she spouts what is my biggest pet peeve when talking about the medical revamp: do we really want a beurocrat in charge of managing people's health, and has government shown a good record of managing anything?

1)most healthcare plans have a bean counter managing people's healthcare trying to maximize their profits. that's not working since the country is awash with stories of people needing treatment and being denied.2)government manages things just fine when a dem is in office since they actually try to make gov't work instead of dismantling it, and when it fails blaming the system for things they had control over. i have no love for dems, but atleast they make a good faith effort instead of cutting funding for everything and screaming when those same agencies fail. fema anyone?

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"what a swell farewell party! we said goodbye to everything, including the lining in my stomach." - garvey, from the film, born bad

"That's one career all females have in common, whether we like it or not: being a woman. Sooner or later, we've got to work at it, no matter how many other careers we've had or wanted." --margo channing, all about eve

The Sanford thing is back in the news again because they're doing more investigating into his travel expenses. Nothing like charging the taxpayers for first class plane tickets so you can visit your mistress while going on and on about how government has to be more fiscally responsible.