He had a whistle blower, Hubble, who was a VIP at Cigna. He was from Tenn n one weekend while home, he attended a temporary 'health clinic' sponsored by MDs etc that came from all around to donate their services.

He was mortified to see people being treated in county fair horse stalls! He went on to say, some were poor, some others had health care put couldn't afford the co pay! He said at that point he knew he was on the wrong team!

He also stated that the proposal they are working on now is an insurance companies dream! Mather said someone had called it a blow job for the insurance companies. Hubbel said he would have to agree. That it MADE everyone have health care, which would mean more money for the insurance companies, and also was letting them move further away from what they would pay for. He said it was pro insurance companies, and the public would get little out of it.

Again, I think we should look at what is good about Frances health care, and try to adopt some of that such as cutting out so much of the paper work/ computerizing/ streaming the program.

When your system is broke, you need all the input you can get.

The following link spells it out for you...cost of health insurance...is breaking our backs. It is killing small bussiness, causing bankruptcy...etc..

If you have the mind set of being a slave to high cost, by all means do so. But if others are willing to try to find something better...what is your problem? Is your livelyhood somehow dependant on the status quo with this issue? I see no other reason not to look at the facts and try to come up with something better.

http://www.nchc.org/facts/cost.shtml

More Information on Health Care

According to the Monitor:

The Baucus proposal requires most legal residents of the US to obtain health insurance and sets up insurance exchanges, including subsidies to poor families, to lower the cost of that mandate. It’s also the sole Democratic plan to pass muster with the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and meet President Obama’s pledge to offer a plan that is fully paid for. In July, the nonpartisan CBO estimated that the House plan would add $239 billion to the federal deficit over the next 10 years. By contrast, the Baucus plan would cut the federal deficit by $49 billion over the next decade, according to a CBO estimate released today. The plan closes significant gaps of interest to Republicans, including lowering costs to the federal treasury and adding measures to deter those in the country illegally from gaining access.

I read the cost of health insurance for a family is now about 13,000. a year. With the employer picking up all but 3,000.+. You figure someone has about $300.00 a month health care...$200.00 a month are his/wife's/ an a kid's cars. Another 100.00 a month for home insurance...and about 150.00 a month life insurance. That is about $750.00 right off the top for INSURANCE .!

With no jobs out there and people strapped for cash, if ever someone should have compassion on the public's welfare, this is the time.

throw in about $300.00 a month in home taxes and you better make some big bucks at work!

to yourself?? You're sure your name's not Bonkers? Dollar? Etc...

"A Government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have." Thomas Jefferson

I wasn't responding to myself. The only response to myself was the PS.

I am for any and all health care reform...the public is being gutted by corrupt companies for all they can get out of us. Their best tool is the lobbyist. Both are corrupt.

Go march, sing songs.. and cry me a river..

"A Government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have." Thomas Jefferson

is perfectly reasonable considering that many who are whining that they don't have it are perfectly content to pay more for their entertainment and other luxuries than their health care. The people who truly can not afford health insurance can demand it, at taxpayer expense, by abusing the emergency room or going to the government with their hands out. It would make more sense and cost less for the government to write checks to private insurers to provide coverage for these people. Set up a group for the government insured, and get a huge volume discount on the premiums. Oh, no! we can't do that... someone might make a profit (GASP!!).

There are other ways we can deal with the problems that we do have with our system than forcing me into a system I don't want. If I wanted to have to live under a single-payer health care system, I'd move to a country that currently has it. That is my problem. What is your problem that you feel as if the government should be used as a tool to steal from those who are responsible and pay for their own health care and lifestyles to support those who aren't?

I don't have a problem with helping those who truly are in need, even if it is my sincere belief that the vast majority of those people are inexorably trapped in a situation brought upon them by their own stupid decisions and actions (I OWN this concept. I am well qualified to speak out about it). What I do have a problem with is destroying the best health care system in the world by putting inept, power-drunken left wing bureaucrats in charge of it. There is a better way to fix the imperfections without subjecting us all to yet another government failure.

"All I ask for is a little common sense. Apparently that's too much to ask for."

are you aware that the insurance companies take 30% right off the top for 'processing' you claim...in France, if you notice, they cut that out. France has some problems with their health care, but unlike us, they are trying to fix them, and in the process, waxing the middle man..for profit system.

It has been proved over n over n this country, if you turn certain groups loose, and they control the market, they abuse the public. The insurance companies are a shinning example of greed, mismanagement, and deception.

the following is from counterpunch

"U.S. health care costs are actually the... highest... in the First World, with its quality of care ranked among the.... worst providers.... In the 2000 World Health Organization (WHO) quality of care rankings, the U.S. ranked 37th behind virtually all of the First World. The U.S. competed alongside non-First World countries such as Cuba, Slovenia, Brunei, Bahrain and Croatia in terms of quality of care. With the worst quality, the U.S. is also charges the highest amounts for care. As of 2006, the U.S. spent between 52-55 percent more than Switzerland, Norway, and Luxembourg, the second, third, and fourth most expensive countries in per capita health care expenditures. The U.S. spent per capita between 158-160 percent more than the lowest cost health care countries: including Italy, Japan, and Finland. All of these countries, I should note, provided better quality coverage than the U.S. according to the WHO.

- As economist Paul Krugman explains, by 2004, the U.S. spent 15.3 percent of its GDP on health care (more than a 100 percent increase since 1970), as compared to Canada, which spent 9.9 percent of GDP, Germany at 10.6 percent, and the U.K. at 8.1 percent. Those systems demonized for “inefficient” socialized medicine, then, provide far superior and cheaper health care than the U.S. system.

- Aside from providing the most expensive and worst care, costs in the U.S. have increased since the studies above were conducted. Health insurance premiums in the U.S. increased by 140 percent from 1999 to 2008 according to a 2009 Kaiser Family Foundation study. Company health care costs are projected to rise another 9 percent by 2010, with 42 percent of employers expecting to increase employee contributions to health care plans, and 41 percent expecting an increase in employee co-payments and deductibles.

- The Kaiser study mentioned above also found a tremendous amount of inequality in access to health care along class lines. As of 2006, a staggering 96.8 percent of all health care spending was concentrated amongst the wealthiest 50 percent of Americans, leaving just 3.2 percent for the poorest 50 percent. The richest 10 percent of Americans accounted for 63.3 percent of all spending, meaning that this subset of the population (equaling only about 30 million out of 300 million Americans) enjoyed nearly two-thirds of all health care spending.

- Under the for-profit system, upwards of 50 million Americans are currently uninsured. Another 25 million are estimated to be underinsured (an increase in 16 percent from 2003 to 2008), bringing the total to 75 million people uninsured (or 25 percent of the public) in the richest country in the world. It would seem that, were a private health care system really that efficient, it would be able to better provide for such a large segment of the population. "

holds all countries' health care systems to the same standards, I wouldn't even wipe my behind with a report on quality of health care published by them. The WHO is run by the U.N, and the U.N. is anti-capitalist and increasingly, anti-American. I don't trust their motives or their envious hatchet jobs on my country's reputation. There is no question that if the statistics were to be applied fairly and without the U.N.'s leftward bias, the U.S. would fare much better in the world rankings.

I can cut and paste as well;

"the entire world trails the U.S. in treating cancer. According to an August 2008 study published in Lancet Oncology, the renowned British medical journal, Americans have a better survival rate for 13 of the 16 most prominent cancers when compared to their European and Canadian counterparts." That sounds pretty good...

"Take cancer survival rates. American women who contract breast cancer have a survival rate of 83.9%. For British women, the survival rate is just 69.7%." So does this.

"Since 1950, American expenditures on health care have gone up 14-fold. But average life expectancy has also increased by nine years." Does that mean you get what you pay for?

"Health care spending also brings huge economic gains by increasing individuals' productivity. University of Chicago economists Kevin Murphy and Robert Topel determined that the longevity gains associated with medical innovation are currently worth $2.8 trillion annually. That's larger than the GDP of the U.K." That's just the extra years people that people are productive!

"Obama is just one of many to claim that 45 million Americans--or 16% of the population--go without health insurance. That estimate isn't in line with reality.

The popular statistic comes from the Census Bureau, which admits that "health insurance coverage is likely to be underreported." That makes sense--some people may claim to be uninsured even if they lacked coverage for only a few weeks between jobs.

Nearly 18 million of the uninsured--38%--make more than $50,000 annually. More than nine million of those folks make more than $75,000 a year. Foolish as it may seem, a sizable number of financially comfortable individuals--particularly the young---opt against owning insurance. So long as insurance remains expensive, it's unlikely they'll change their minds.

Finally, as many as 12 million uninsured Americans are eligible for Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program--but they haven't signed up. Can we really argue that they don't have health insurance?" 75 Million? I really don't think so...

Oh, but the rest of the world is so much better at this medicine stuff than we are!

https://liberty.pacificresearch.org/doclib/20081020_Top_Ten_Myths.pdf

"All I ask for is a little common sense. Apparently that's too much to ask for."

The WHO ranked the U.S. 37 out of 190 and Cuba 39 out of 190 - basically calling it a tie. Does anyone with two functioning brain cells really believe that Cuba's healthcare system is as good as ours?

between Fidel Castro and that fat moron Michael Moore's Cuban handler went...

Fat moron Michael Moore's Cuban handler: " He says he wants to see one of our hospitals, El Jefe! Which one should I show him?"

Fidel "El Jefe" Castro: "Idiot! Take him to the hospital where we take all the tourists! Call ahead and have them freshen up the place a bit, and make sure they get Chavez out of there before you get there. Must I think of everything..."

"We don't need to vote the Democrats out of office and replace them with Republicans, and we don't need to vote the Republicans out of office and replace them with Democrats. We need to vote them all out and replace them with better people.

One of the biggest factors contributing to costs of health care is too much governmental regulation at the state level. Anyone saying that health care in the US is some kind of "free market" system is missing reality by a mile. Why insurance companies have to create and administer policies at a state-to-state level to comply with each state's protectionism and regulation is mind-boggling. Until Congress rightly asserts themselves as being the sole authority on "interstate commerce" as the Constitution requires and as they have had no problem doing when it comes to other things like drugs, prostitution, gambling, etc., costs aren't going down. Open up every state to free market competition and let insurers sell policies that are good in any state, regardless of where they are located.

You have to get states out of the picture and allow free market competition. Not much different than airline deregulation. Repubs need to shut up about how they believe in "states rights" as written in the Constitution since they abdicated that long ago whenever a Republican happened to be President. It's OK to mandate a 55mph speed limit or a 21 year old drinking age or gignantic Homeland Security, AS LONG AS A REPUB IS PREZ. Otherwise, it's totalitarianism/fascism/end-of-the-world. Besides, health care is an issue that crosses state lines and is NOT something to be left to the states in the first place.

I'm not gonna let you off the hook concerning your obvious partisanship. Here is a link to H.R. 3400, an alternative health care reform bill introduced by Tom Price (R-GA.).

http://covertheuninsured.org/legislative_bill/hr-3400-price

I believe this bill addresses that issue as well as some others. Why haven't we heard about it? Answer; This isn't abut health care. It's about a huge Washington power grab, and the Democrats are the ones pushing it the hardest. So much so, in fact, that many of them will continue to do so at the expense of their reelection hopes. This is bigger than partisanship, so let's all try to get with the program, huh?

"All I ask for is a little common sense. Apparently that's too much to ask for."

The tax credit would be available only to individuals living in states operating a high-risk health insurance pool; and federal grant funding would be provided to states for such pools.

Maybe it's because of those who want NO FEDERAL INTERFERENCE in state programs. Tom Price is trying - but would he be allowed to vote for his own bill because of 'Big Government'?

the right thing, even if it seems to go against what people think your core principles are. In cases where it makes sense, the federal government must regulate. I believe that insurance is a federal concern. We go across state lines, we are the ones covered by insurance, so insurance regulations need to be federal. Just not fettered by a bunch of anti-capitalist left wing loonies that believe the government should be running everything. Profit is not an obscenity!!!

If you are trying to imply that since Tom Price is a Republican he has no free will, you are barking up the wrong tree. I know, you have to get your cheap, tawdry attacks in. He sponsored the bill, so I'd expect that he'd vote for it. I don't think this bill will ever see the larger world anyway. The Democrats will see to that. They are too close to what can be considered their version of the Holy Grail-usurping control of the health care industry.
"We don't need to vote the Democrats out of office and replace them with Republicans, and we don't need to vote the Republicans out of office and replace them with Democrats. We need to vote them all out and replace them with better people.

I know, you have to get your cheap, tawdry attacks in.

Just asked a question. Many good ideas have come from Republicans - and they were inserted in the House proposal - and not one Republican voted for it - so I did not see that as a cheap, tawdry attack - just a question based on what is happening. Sorry I riled you up sir.

significant Republican proposal that made it into the the legislation without effectively being neutered by the Democrats. The politicians aren't focused on health care. The Democrats want control. They want to be able to modify the tax code through this legislation. They want the IRS to police it-God Forbid! That alone is a dealbreaker! The Republicans want tort reform and tax breaks and have a lukewarm, limp desire for changes of the insurance industry's regulations. None of the above have much to do with actually fixing the problem.

You really want to know what I think will "fix" health care?

1) Stop letting illegal aliens use our emergency rooms as their own personal concierge doctors. Make them take their little spawn back to their country of origin instead of granting citizenship to the child as a result of their parents' illegal actions, along with a bill to that country's government for medical services rendered. Use the money freed up by those children not attending public schools at American taxpayer expense to bolster support for indigent care for American citizens. While we're at it, we need to deny all state services to illegals to save money. Not only would this help by removing some of the tax burden from us, but word would spread that the welcome mat is no longer out on the front porch. I betcha' the unemployment numbers would look better pretty quickly, don't you think?
2) If you call an ambulance, you'd better be able to pay for it or actually need it. If not, the hospital has a shortage of people to wipe up puke and clean out bedpans. As a matter of fact, hospitals should be able to require that should a person be unable to pay for their care, they can take payments in the form of menial labor.
3) Tort reform is desperately needed in this country. The lotto mentality of many people has led us to an overly litigious society that kills a doctor when it comes to malpractice insurance. Any damages should have a cap. If a person or family isn't going to be rich of their own accord when they are healthy, why should they be rich because something bad happens to them?
4) Require hospitals and doctors' offices to post pricing schedules and require full and complete disclosure when quoting prices for common procedures, medical items, tests and especially drugs. Give consumers the ability to report fraud and air grievances using a standardized procedure.
5) Get off the backs of the pharmaceutical industry. They perform miracles every day with their drugs, and it takes massive expenditures in R&D, testing and especially the FDA approval process to bring a much needed drug to the market. Dare I mention the stuff that costs a fortune to make that they take a loss on every day, like vaccinations? Profit isn't an obscenity!!! Let them make one. Every time you throw another unnecessary expenditure, another tax hike, another fee or fine at them, they just pass it along to us.
6) Give the people control over their own medical records and put 'em in a digital format. Hell, put 'em on the patients' insurance cards if you want. Let's step into the 21st century, shall we?

I'm sure there is more, but that's enough for now. I may expand on this later. How about you folks, can any of you add something that doesn't involve bricking the free market any more than it already has been? Stop putting your faith in the government. They are a bunch of liars and cheats who do not care about you, other than getting your vote. once they have it they will gladly screw you, lie about it and blame it on their political opposition if they get caught lying. They are not qualified to run health care. Run the arrogant bastards out!

"We don't need to vote the Democrats out of office and replace them with Republicans, and we don't need to vote the Republicans out of office and replace them with Democrats. We need to vote them all out and replace them with better people."We don't need to vote the Democrats out of office and replace them with Republicans, and we don't need to vote the Republicans out of office and replace them with Democrats. We need to vote them all out and replace them with better people.

"Many good ideas have come from Republicans - and they were inserted in the House proposal - and not one Republican voted for it..."

Come on DM. Unfortunately, they did not simultaneously remove the BAD Democratic/Liberal ideas from the proposal that are stalling it. How could they vote for it?

There it is. No bi-partisanship in the making. We'll see what the Dems come up with. What a shame that no one appears to be interested in providing affordable health care for Americans - just making sure that their ideology is prevalent in the answer to this problem. If we could just get to the bottom of the issue without the scare tactics and lies from both side. . .oh well.

To quote you and right back at ya...."there it is"! That is exactly what we have been trying to say for months now. They are not looking for ways to provide affordable health care. If that was what they were REALLY trying to do, who would fight that? That would make it cheaper for all of us! It is about POWER, future voting blocks of indebted people, more governmental control of our lives, more entitlements, etc.

One last thing. When is the last time you saw true bi-partisanship in Washington politics outside of the immediate impact of 9/11? Does not happen any more...

I guess we just stop trying and let the country go to hell. Sad.
Compromise:

Women’s Vote; Civil Rights; Integration; Ending Viet Nam; - it may not be true bi-partisanship, but the peoples voices were heard. No compromise? Is there nothing in either 'sides' proposal that would help the American people? Republicans have said that they are at 80% agreement. Are the Republicans and Democrats both saying 'my way or the highway'? The people we need to get rid of are the lobbyists and corporate money. What Obama is finding out is that it is hard to 'change' a machine that has run without the people's input for so long. We'll see what they come up with. What ever it is – we the people need to keep the same heat on the issue that is now prevalent throughout this country. THIS IS A GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE – and we’ve turned it over to special interest for too long. I hope we’ve learned OUR lesson!

Please enlighten me. What 'entitlements, more government control, voting blocks of indebted people? Thanks.

only go as far as the swine feeding at the public trough. We the people are the ones who have to shovel up what comes out of the back end. Poor Obama. All him wanna do is help, and all those nasty republican bigots and good ol' boys just won't let him! Obama the saint, the victim, the martyr. BARRFFF!

Let's forget for a second that the Republicans couldn't stop a concerted Democrat push for this passing with all the noise and bluster in the world. The Democrats have a filibuster proof majority in the legislature. The Democrats could steamroll right over the Republicans... if they could all agree.

I got news for you sister, Obama brought this on himself. He swaggered into the oval office thinking that the U.S. has always been lost without him and his ivy-league educated belief that elected officials are the only ones smart and virtuous enough to make this country great, and with much aplomb and determination, decided to right all the wrongs by ramming his agenda down our throats whether we like it or not. He began with the sincere belief that the U.S. is a racist, oppressive country that is broken and needs to be re-made after his own leftist Utopian vision. The problem is that when he was campaigning, he promised moderation, but after he got elected he showed his true colors and has reverted to the hard left.

The people are speaking-loudly. They are rebelling against the entire Democrat upper echelon's bull-headed "this-is-good-for-you-take-your-medicine" attitude and the high-handed treatment of Obamacare's detractors. And they are correct in their fury. The democrats ignore, dismiss or impugn the character of anyone who dares to disagree with them, and I for one am sick to death of it.

"Entitlements" refers to government programs that disburse taxpayer funds to those who have not earned them. The Democrats are constantly promising that the government(should the people be wise enough to elect a majority of Democrats, of course) will supply an ever expanding net of safety and financial security, making the case that citizens are entitled to this. To pay for it, they simply propose to charge an even higher percentage of the annual income of top income wage earners, taking advantage of the natural envy of people in general to legitimize the practice. This is called "class warfare", and is one of the oldest and cheapest forms of persuasion available to a politician. Nothing goes over quite as well as telling people who feel underpaid and under appreciated that you'll screw their boss and give them the money!

If you haven't figured out that the liberals want to control as much of the economy and peoples' everyday decisions as possible, there is no hope for you. Get a helmet and go watch "Sesame Street" for the rest of your life, because you will never progress much beyond that level.

Voting blocks of indebted people are a direct result of a successful implementation of a government entitlement program. For example, if the Democrats get their stuff together and pass a health care bill with a public option that gets signed into law, they will get to use the fear of losing that program in every election campaign for all time against their political opposition.

I have never suggested we let the country go to hell. as a matter of fact, that is what I'm fighting against right now. Health care isn't the problem. We could solve that in five minutes if that were the real issue. The problem is those who will inflate problems to crisis status, scare the hell out of everyone, then use that false crisis to usurp the people's power "for their own good".

"We don't need to vote the Democrats out of office and replace them with Republicans, and we don't need to vote the Republicans out of office and replace them with Democrats. We need to vote them all out and replace them with better people.

On Bill Mather...getting it off his chest...!

A few good men! That is all we need to clean up the industry.

He talks about how the lobbyist have highjacked the bill and clearly made it something that the insurance companies would make ...MORE..money off of!

Open your eyes...!

profit is not an obscenity! Does the insurance companies' ability to make more money hinder the positive effect that it has on the insured? Nope. It just bothers the crap out of all the envious little people who can't figure out how to succeed and hate the rich because they don't have what the wealthy people have.

I completely understand the insurance companies desire to increase premiums on older people. They cost more to cover. I'll bet that most of you don't have a problem with smokers or obese people being charged more. Wait, this is great! Do you realize that most of the wealth in this country is held by that very demographic? Older folks, not smokers or obese folks.

It seems to me that you are outraged because the demographic in this country who has the most money, statistically, is getting shafted by the insurance companies! Gosh, but that's rich!! Can they be white older folks and still get your sympathy, or is that too much?

On a serious note, you actually believe him when he says that the "public option" will actually compete with the private sector? That raises more red flags than the venue he chose to "get it off his chest". Clearly, the example of Social Security is completely forgotten. I'd feel much better about a "public option" for health care if participation in Social Security weren't mandatory.

"We don't need to vote the Democrats out of office and replace them with Republicans, and we don't need to vote the Republicans out of office and replace them with Democrats. We need to vote them all out and replace them with better people.

Well said.

"We need to vote them all out and replace them with better people".

The problem is those who will inflate problems to crisis status, scare the hell out of everyone, then use that false crisis to usurp the people's power "for their own good".

I understand! Birthers; loss of 'states rights'/too much government in our lives; Muslim; white hating Christian; taking 'my' money and paying for others who are lazy; elitist northerner; Nazi; Marxist; Socialist. It has nothing at all to do with 'race'. Thanks for making that perfectly clear. If 'health care' is not the issue - what is the issue that you can solve in five minutes? But wait. Don't waste your time trying to explain that to me. You've made it perfectly clear I will never progress beyond the Sesame Street level of comprehension. Now where are these 'better people' that can get us out of this mess? Let's get them lined up right now to serve and save our country.

and do not listen to anything except what you wish to be true. How much more difficult is it to turn that critical eye back on yourself than it is to make me the enemy so you can go back into that little comfort zone of yours.

I am not a birther.
I am not a muslim hater.
I am not a radical right wing christian fundamentalist.
I am not a partisan.
I do not advocate anarchy.
I do not believe that the states rights are being violated every time the federal government regulates what they should.
I am not now, nor will I ever subscribe to either the Democrat party or the Republican party.
I will never be so irresponsible that I would vote for any candidate based on any other criteria other than their voting record and what opinions they have consistently expressed over time.
I do not believe that expressing my opinion is bad, or that I deserve to be excoriated for arguing my beliefs.
I do not agree that the federal government should now have the right or should have ever been given the right to tax the citizenry of the United States directly.

I do believe that elitists have taken control of our federal government.
I do believe that Barack Obama is one of them.
I do believe that the leftist philosophy more closely matches the definitions of Marxism, socialism and fascism than they would care to admit.
I do believe that the money that I work for is mine, and no one has the right to force me to finance their feelings of compassion for whatever cause is dear to them at my family's expense.
I do believe that we are all born with the same opportunity to succeed in this country.
I also believe that this wonderful gift is misunderstood by those who believe that true equality of standard of living is their right despite not being willing to achieve it on their own.
I believe that my chosen way of living and philosophy simply means that I don't want to force you to have to live my way, I simply want to be left alone so I can take care of myself and my family without having to be a burden to my fellow citizens.
I know for a fact that many others do not share this "live and let live" philosophy.
I also know for a fact that leftist policies cannot exist without the fruits of the hard working successful wage earner to finance them.
I do believe that I'm wasting my time talking to you, because you are a person who has been convinced by the Jim Jones's of politics that you are going straight to heaven when you drink the poisoned cool-aid, but I'm helpless not to speak my mind for the sake of those lost souls who may wander into this forum and see logic and reason.

I never said that you personally are the helmet-wearing perpetual Sesame Street watcher. That comment was conditional. If you meet the conditions, then I'm sorry because you must also not have much of an appreciation for sardonic humor.

The fact that you take so much of what I say personally must mean that I'm close to the mark. Don't you ever question your devotion to those politicians who lie to you repeatedly? I did. I used to be a leftist, until I grew up and realized that the promises were so many turds falling out of the mouths of career liars and snake oil salesman. I grew up and made myself responsible for my life. It wasn't easy, and I've had setbacks, but I won't fail until I become a burden to my friends and neighbors while I still have a hand with which I can wield a tool, a mouth with which to speak or a brain with which to think.

A better person in politics is a leader that knows when he needs to stand down and listen to those who put him in office.
A better person in politics can make laws that apply to all equally and don't take the rights of someone in the minority for granted because they are easy targets for class warfare tactics and they have what seems to be lots of disposable income.
A better person in politics is someone who actually understands the Constitution and takes the oath to support and defend that document to heart, instead of viewing the Bill Of Rights as an impediment to their own agendas.

No, I don't think you do see clearly. Not at all.

"We don't need to vote the Democrats out of office and replace them with Republicans, and we don't need to vote the Republicans out of office and replace them with Democrats. We need to vote them all out and replace them with better people.

. . just an anonymous blogger.
Don't you ever question your devotion to those politicians who lie to you repeatedly?
Excellent question. What is your answer?
The lies and myths that have been circulating recently from 'both sides' have created a division that will take some time to heal - but it will be healed. I believe that there is enough validity to the issues being discussed, that there is no need to lie to the people. . but I guess the politicians and seekers of power don't see it that way.
I never said that you personally are the helmet-wearing perpetual Sesame Street watcher. That comment was conditional. If you meet the conditions, then I'm sorry because you must also not have much of an appreciation for sardonic humor.
Sorry I misunderstood the below comment as not being a personal attack.
If you haven't figured out that the liberals want to control as much of the economy and peoples' everyday decisions as possible, there is no hope for you. Get a helmet and go watch "Sesame Street" for the rest of your life, because you will never progress much beyond that level.
I accept your definition that the above was not intended to be 'personal'. Your seeming anger appears to be misplaced. . .but your interpretation of my intent is your right.
Your definition of a better person is one who agrees with you; who leaves you and yours alone. My question to you was where are these people who are able to do a better job of governing our country? We need them now . .but what about the representation of those people who don't agree with you? I did not accuse you of calling Obama 'names' - but only repeated what has been seen and heard on the news from many sources. It is unfortunate that you feel that you must denigrate others in order to explain your point of view. They (I) have the right to live my way, believe whom I choose, without belittling those who don't believe as I do. That is the American way.
instead of viewing the Bill Of Rights as an impediment to their own agendas.
Hmmmm. What about those who view the Bill of Rights as an assurance that all citizens will be accorded the privileges of citizenship along with the responsibilities of citizenship. . .regardless of the 'agendas' of individuals. We both see clearly - from our own perspectives. Your right ends where mine begins. Don’t tread on me.
I respectfully acknowledge your right to disagree.

a machine that has run without the people's input for so long.

Obama is just now finding this out?

I could have told him that sitting here at my keyboard.

And don't forget when talking about lobbyist we are also talking labor unions and other social and other special interest groups.
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I'm just wondering - why didn't we hit the streets earlier and protest when we found out we had been lied to about WMD's? (I'm including myself in that question.) I have always believed that a non-elected group of men in this country actually pull the strings - and we just sort of follow along like puppets on a string. Goldwater and Reagan certainly aimed at 'special interest' groups to achieve their goals. What has 'changed'? The groups that are being pandered to? POWER - by any means necessary. Sad. Race is a 'side bar'. Less government, unlimited power of private industry, more money for the corporate big-whigs - and less for the poor smuck who needs a union in order to get fair wages and benefits. The radicals on both sides of this equation are trying to pull this country down. I don't think they can do it. We'll see.

I know, I wish those WMD were found. But it's no different then when JFK ran a campaign that implied that there was a missile gap that favored the Russians. But in reality, it was the other way around. We, the public, get transfixed on issues that our "internal compass" (AKA political leanings) seems to direct us to. I suspect it will not change as the this is part of the science of politics. It's well studied and understood.
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

Yup.

He's young and hopeful. It's from those like him that hope springs eternal. Let's hope that our younger generation is able to get us (the people) back in control - and that all the diverse views of Americans will be heard with respect and civility.

If you actually ever meet this man, will you ask permission to lick his boots or will you just go ahead and do it?

He is a cynical, shrewd and ruthless politician who navigated the choppy, predator-infested waters of the Chicago political scene. He has lied repeatedly to the American people, both before and after the election. He insults and accuses of racism or petty politics any person who opposes him.

I have had plenty of time to examine the content of his character, and I have found it wanting. This blind devotion people have for him makes me want to puke.

"We don't need to vote the Democrats out of office and replace them with Republicans, and we don't need to vote the Republicans out of office and replace them with Democrats. We need to vote them all out and replace them with better people.

compromising with someone who is all the way wrong, whose actions will harm this country, doesn't make them partially right and any less destructive. It makes us wrong as well and partially responsible for the carnage.

P.S. Read my last post!

"We don't need to vote the Democrats out of office and replace them with Republicans, and we don't need to vote the Republicans out of office and replace them with Democrats. We need to vote them all out and replace them with better people.

Share your better idea with your representatives in Congress - and follow through to see if they articulate your idea and contribute to solving this problem about affordable health care for Americans.

that I, unlike most of you, don't have much faith that the government will ever willingly do the right thing. We have to stop them from doing the wrong thing first, then let them know that we're not going to put up with their shenanigans and they had better shape up.

I think our country is doomed, but I also think that the recent tea parties all over the country and the big one that went down in D.C. on 9/12 are a good sign. Maybe we won't all go as quietly into that dark night as I'd thought.

"We don't need to vote the Democrats out of office and replace them with Republicans (although that would be a good beginning), and we don't need to vote the Republicans out of office and replace them with Democrats. We need to vote them all out and replace them with better people."

Very well put.. I did love the "bugger off" ending.

The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism.
But, under the name of “Liberalism” “they will adopt every fragment of the Socialist program, until one day America will be a Socialist nation, without knowing how it happened” Norman Thomas US Candidate for President