Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Being for the Public Option XI

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10 comments:

The Write Girl said...

Hi Judith,

So much has been left out of the Health Care bill which is ashame. I don't understand the stance of some like Lieberman and other opposition. I do hope they revise this bill. There is so much left out of it. Thanks for the video.

Judith Ellis said...

Hi Katina - Words are indescriable to express my disappointment with this health care debate.

zorro said...

T.R. Reid's documentary on health care was first shown in april of 2008. It showed that both positions in the current debate are just wasting time. Keith Oberman has been in a position for all this time to actually report on health care and not just take sides (except taking sides is very cheap - it only requires an opinion and nothing else)
He is not a reporter. He is an entertainer.
CNN gave two concrete examples of what the current bill would do for people currently without health care. One example was of a couple who owned a small business who made 57,000 a year, but they have no health care. Under the current proposal, they would qualify for medicaid. Another example was of a man who made 43,000 and had a heart attack an so he currently cannot get health care. His cost under the current proposal would be 2000 dollars a year. If CNN is reporting the facts correctly, this is enormous progress. This is exactly what we would have had in July if the left did not make such a big stink over requiring the public option. If that plan was passed in July or August, maybe the Tea Party would not have a 41% approval rating - which is higher than the democrats and the republicans currently.

Judith Ellis said...

Zorro - Yes, you introduced me to the research of T.R. Reid a while back and I have great respect for his work. Thanks for the CNN mention. I'll check it out. The problem with the bill is that it is by far too long for even concerned citizens to read it. It’s like banks and mortgage companies that complicate matters so you won't understand what you're signing. I also wonder if these bills are so long so the general public won't readily identify the largely self-serving pet projects of the senators and congresspersons.

With regards to Olbermann, he seems to basically be a good guy. I think that his sponsored health fairs are sincere. Also, he doesn’t seem to make any bones about the entertainment element of his show. He's a bit of a comedian, clearly. But I think the line is drawn pretty clearly when he's making a serious point, even outside of the special commentaries.

Olbermann's last two special commentaries, both on health care, did not seem to be for show and when others speak contrary to his opinion he does not press his own. I noticed this in the past, but even yesterday when several Congressmen and pundits voiced opinions seemingly contrary to his. I like Keith. Your point, however, about news personalities generally is well taken. I have written of it here many times.

Regarding the public option, I remain for it. But really I don't care what it's called, as I have said repeatedly here, I just something that allows access for those who can't afford it and I want the insurance companies to do away with pre-exisiting condition clauses. We should not be punished because of genetics. Ideally, I would also like more focus on preventative care.

Thanks for your comment, as always.

zorro said...

Based on CNN's reporting, the pre-existing provision is in the proposed bill.
That is why the guy who had a heart attack could get insurance for $2000 a year.
I'm not against the public option, but we won't get it this go around.
Obama and Rahm knew that - that is why they didn't push it.
"I'll check it out. The problem with the bill is that it is by far too long for even concerned citizens to read it."

It has as many words in it as Sarah Palin's book. At least that is what Oberman said a few weeks ago.
The pages thing is a Red Herring.
How does the page count measure up with the size of the original Medicare bill? Who knows - to find that out, MSNBC would have to do some research -

Judith Ellis said...

That's too funny about Palin's book, Zorro. I thought the bill had 2,000+ pages. If it has 200 pages or so, I'll get to reading it posthaste. I've read some of it. I'll look it up on NPR or C-Span. I think it's in either place, if I'm remembering correctly. Have you read it?

Judith Ellis said...

Regarding the original Medicare bill which was largely a success because of Frances Perkins--I've written or here here, by the way-- I would imagine that not very many Americans read that bill then either. I think we tend to trust oir elected officials, even when we complain about them. Or, is it that we are simply lazy?

zorro said...

The bill has 2000 pages -
But the number of words in it
is about the same as the number of words in Palins book per Oberman.

Judith Ellis said...

What's up with that, Zorro? Is the print super large? You can't have a 100% increase in pages and keep the same amount of words. I'm going to look for it now. Did you read the bill? I have asked you that now on three different occassions. Is that a question you just don't want to answer? Why?

zorro said...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/18/opinion/18krugman.html?_r=1&hp

Krugman on the healthcare bill.
From my way of thinking, Krugman and David Brooks are the only two pundits who are not all about their brand.
(which of course could be a brand)

I didn't read the bill and wont.
I'm sure I would not find something in it that would put me against it.