Health Care Reform

Bill O’Reilly Shocks Conservatives And Progressives Alike!

Ronald 5 Comments

Is there such a thing as ‘Miracles”?

Apparently, there might be, based on the shocking news that conservative talk show host and FOX News Channel star Bill O’Reilly came out in support of a public option availability for those who wish to have it.

He made clear that he did not want it for himself, but then again, what wealthy talk show host who makes in the top one tenth of one percent salary in this nation would want that or need that?

Still, it is a big surprise, and while I am no fan of Bill O’Reilly, I must say that he has always been a bit of a “populist”, in the sense that his common struggling middle class boyhood seems to have left some effect on him at times, although he usually gives in to his greed and materialist side.

In any case, for at least one time (so don’t count on many more accolades LOL), Bill O’Reilly came out for the correct (not Right) stand! 🙂 Congratulations!

The Obamas Go On The Offensive For Health Care!

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This weekend, President Obama is going on the offensive, appearing on a total of five news shows on Sunday, as well as on David Letterman on Monday evening, to promote health care reform. This is a followup on his nationally televised speech to a joint session of Congress, and his public appearances at several rallies around the country.

To top it off, First Lady Michelle Obama, who has direct experience in the field of health care in Chicago, is also entering the fray, and in her own inimitable style, is greatly assisting her husband as he seeks to give America what every other democracy in the world has–a public commitment to provide health care to everyone. She is very effective in discussing the personal side of health care, reminding us of her own father’s health issues, and how fortunate her family was to have health care protection, unlike many other people who often do not have their health conditions covered even if they pay health care premiums, along with millions who cannot afford to have health care protection and often face death as a result.

The fight for a proper health care program is not only important for providing everyone with the opportunity to receive necessary medical attention and promote a longer life, but also it is a MORAL cause. It is the RIGHT thing to do, and for anyone who professes religiosity to deny that their savior, Jesus Christ, advocated that all people are their “brother’s keeper”, makes a mockery of the true doctrines of their faith!

Republicans, The Constitution, And Health Care Reform

Ronald 1 Comment

As the health care debate heats up tomorrow night when President Obama delivers a prime time speech to a joint session of Congress, we get word that Republicans are claiming that health care is not allowed to be a subject of government initiatives under our venerable Constitution.

Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, himself a medical doctor, makes this statement in a very assertive way: The Constitution forbids any action on health care reform.

Let’s think about this: Where does it say in the Constitution that the Congress cannot deal with the issue of health care? Nowhere, Senator Coburn!

But I have a question for Senator Coburn: Where in the Constitution does it say we can have a military draft, or Social Security, or Medicare, or Civil Rights laws, or Environmental Protection Laws, or Consumer Laws, or any of the myriad of laws that have been passed in the 220 year history of our Constitution? The answer is nowhere!

BUT the Founding Fathers, a lot wiser group than most of the members of the Congress, and certainly than most Republicans who have always opposed almost ANY legislation designed to deal with real problems other than building up the military, DID come up with a solution to problems they could not foresee in 1787.

What did they put into the Constitution? ARTICLE 1, SECTION 8–the ELASTIC CLAUSE–which reads that Congress shall make all laws which are NECESSARY AND PROPER, FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE AND THE GENERAL WELFARE!

That “elastic clause” is the basis of ALL significant laws that have been passed in our more than two centuries of America under the Constitution.

And it is clear without question that it IS necessary and proper, for the common defense and general welfare, to pass health care reform, and that it is perfectly legal and constitutional!

So, Senator Coburn, stick to medicine, not the Constitution, which you have no clue to its meaning. You are NOT following the beliefs of the Founding Fathers, no matter what you might think. Health care reform is a necessary step at this point in our history!

Bill Clinton’s Advice To Barack Obama: Move Ahead On Health Care Reform

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Former President Bill Clinton has advised President Obama to move ahead on reform with or without GOP support.

Clinton points out that there are enough Democrats to bring about health care reform without Republican backing if that party’s members refuse to back any bill. We should move ahead and not let the opposition prevent change because of their unwillingness to compromise and support any legislation.

It is clear to me that if we are to let the Republicans dictate what is to be done in health care, we will lose the best opportunity in a generation to bring about what has been talked about on and off since the time of Harry Truman–the need to protect ALL Americans by providing low cost health care that has no people left out because of preconditions medically.

Obama, by his victory by a larger margin than any President in a generation, needs to keep his promise to his supporters and fight for what he feels we need–a public option and REAL reform of the whole health care system. Democrats need to remember that they have won this election in 2008 decisively, and the winners decide the future, not the losers.

The Republicans know how to promote their victories, and Democrats need to stop apologizing for their triumph last November and assert their authority to change the future.

We are waiting with baited breath for what we hope will be a President utilizing the techniques of Franklin Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, and Ronald Reagan to accomplish his goals.

Bill Clinton failed to accomplish his goal 16 years ago of health care reform. It is time for Barack Obama to fulfill what President Clinton was unable to achieve!

Barack Obama And Health Care Speech To Congress

Ronald 1 Comment

President Obama has announced his plans to deliver a health care speech before a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, September 9.

This is an excellent and necessary move, as so much propaganda and lies have been promoted by conservatives, Republicans and the health care insurance industry, all of them determined to defeat any substantial health care reform. These special interests have been willing to do anything to promote myths, fear, and trepidation, and encourage raucous Town Hall meetings.

The President must explain explicitly what he wants in the health care bill, why it is so important to the future of the nation, and challenge and destroy every last piece of propaganda, lies and myths that have been spread without shame across the country.

Health care reform is absolutely essential, as it has been discussed since Harry Truman’s time, and was first generally proposed by Theodore Roosevelt during his 1912 Progressive Party campaign for President. Isn’t a century since TR, and 64 years since Truman, enough time to take action finally on this crucial issue?

The Senate Finance Committee “Gang Of Six” And Health Care Legislation

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I am a big lover of the US Senate and am the author of a book on senators during the New Deal, many of whom came from small Midwestern and Western states, so I understand fully how much senators from small states can have an impact.

Therefore, I am particularly interested in the reality that six senators from small states –three Democrats (Max Baucus of Montana, Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, Kent Conrad of North Dakota) and three Republicans (Charles Grassley of Iowa, Mike Enzi of Wyoming, Olympia Snowe of Maine) are the major figures involved in blocking major health care reform, including a public option. As members of the Senate Finance Committee, they have made it clear that they do not wish to go as far on health care as the various committees in the House of Representatives.

The problem is these six senators together represent a population about the size of New York City (8.4 million people) and 2.75 percent of the total population of the nation. But they will have a major impact on health care reform and have a good chance to prevent major changes.

The three Democrats in particular represent states which only have ONE Congressman per state, and it seems to many that this whole situation is outrageous, and that the Senate is undemocratic in nature and should be changed.

But of course, there is no way that the Senate can be changed. The only major reform has been the 17th Amendment, which led to direct popular election of the Senate beginning in 1913. But the Founding Fathers did not set up the Senate to be a democratic body. Rather, it was set up as a barrier to “popular” rule and has long acted as a brake on the House of Representatives.

The Senate is a slow moving, slow adapting body, and often that is good, as it has prevented many unwise ideas passed by the House, including many crazy ideas for constitutional amendments.

In this case, the fight for health care reform, however, the Senate is becoming the bottleneck, and is giving too much power to a handful of Senators, who, were they in the House of Representatives, would have no attention given to them and would would wield no power at all.

Such is the makeup of our government, as established by the Founding Fathers, and there is nothing we can do about it!

President Obama And Town Halls In New Hampshire And Montana

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Despite all of the controversy surrounding some of the town halls that have been held by Congressmen and Senators these past few weeks, it turns out that President Obama performed excellently at town halls in New Hampshire earlier this week and Montana today.

The crowd in both cases was pleasant and respectful, as should be, but there were definitely opponents in the crowd who seemed to be satisfied with Obama’s responses, even if they were not totally convinced. Obama invited challenges and questioning by critics, and it was done in a civil way.

Obama certainly made it clear that the charges leveled against the health care plan were myths, and he was strong in his assertions that the government was not out to promote socialized medicine. He repudiated all of the hysteria and panic that has been promoted by conservative and Republican and corporate opponents of any substantial reform in health care.

It is evident that the American people are concerned about changes in health care, but Obama, after having held back in the past couple of weeks in getting deeply involved in defending and explaining the plans for health care, has finally taken to the road and is actively promoting what he sees as essential action.

Despite a lot of doubts that remain about the effects of health care reform occurring, it seems to me that Obama is starting to change public opinion in what is likely one of the toughest battles he will face as President. The supporters of health care reform have to realize who the enemy is, and fight with courage and conviction!