Universal Healthcare, Administered By US Gov't Vs. Private Health Care Administered By HMOs: Which Would You Rather Have? GOP Fear Mongers "Socialized Medicine" & Public Falls For Propaganda! - RI10

Universal Healthcare,

Administered By US

Gov’t Vs. Private

Health Care

Administered By

HMOs: Which Would

You Rather Have?

GOP Fear Mongers

“Socialized Medicine”

& Public Falls

For Propaganda! -

RI10

Tabacco: The Capitalists are at it again. Their Sophistry is showing:

Capitalism gives everyone a chance – Socialism is un-American

Muslims hate our democracy & freedom; we must invade Iraq

Free Trade Agreements are good for everybody – Protectionism is bad business

Outsourcing means lower prices – (no mention of fewer US jobs)

Bill Clinton’s adultery shows he can’t be trusted – George W. Bush is a true Christian, doesn’t cheat on his wife, and can be trusted to lead America

Which of those disingenuous, lying bits of Sophistry has benefited the Middleclass? Answer: NOT ONE!

There is a reason why the top 5% has all the money and the bottom 95% has only propaganda: they continue to propagandize us and we continue to buy into it. Whatever the Super-Rich or Have-Mores say we should do, we should avoid that advice like a plague! It will only benefit the Super-Rich. If they win, you lose. It’s as simple as that!

They no longer share their profits with us, the bottom 95%; they share those profits with the top 5% in other countries. That’s why they fear Socialism, government-administered programs instead of privatization and American workers.

The Rich & their mouthpieces, the politicians, tell us that “Socialized Medicine is bad”, but they never tell you WHY it’s bad. They rely on the already-propagandized public to perpetuate the myth.

Why is Universal Healthcare bad? Why is Socialized Medicine bad? Because it will take the administration of patient care away from selfish, Capitalistic HMOs? Because the Insurance Industry will lose its biggest Meal Ticket: Health Insurance Premiums? Or is it just bad because they say it’s bad and because that’s what they want you to believe?

While we’re at it, discussing “PRIVATIZATION” I mean, would you prefer HMOs to administrate your Social Security and make that institution a crapshoot with private invested accounts? How about privatizing the Labor Department and Unemployment Compensation? Would you prefer private HMOs handling Fanny Mae instead of the federal government? I know the private sector would be a lot more generous and fair than the government, despite politicians’ self-interests! Yeah, right! And would you prefer HMOs handling the DMV instead of the government?

I know people on Welfare would prefer HMOs handling their Social Service. I know government administration is far from perfect, due in very large part to the political mismanagement and restrictive laws, passed by those “kissin’ cousins” of the Super-Rich: the politicians in Washington. But government administration is a lot better for those on Welfare than any privatization scheme, hatched by the Super-Rich to benefit the Super-Rich.

No, we don’t need “less government” and more Privatization! Au contraire! We need “more government” administration of those aspects of life relating to Social Programs and zero Privatization of those programs. Saying that the government does not do a great job does NOT imply that private sector would do a great job. That is a FALSE MYTH! The government administrators get their paychecks for showing up; but HMOs and other Privatizers get their paychecks from MAXIMIZING PROFITS! If you need an operation to save your leg or your life, whom do you want to authorize that operation: government employees or Profit Maximizing HMOs? Every $ out of the HMO cash register means fewer $$$ for the HMOs and their Capitalist administrators. You decide!

PS Blackwater and Halliburton are government private contractors. Which one would you prefer to administer the DMV, Social Security, Welfare and Fanny Mae? Incidentally George W. Bush is in almost complete control of those non-competitive contracts. Do you want Bush deciding whether you get that operation or not and ultimately whether you live or die!

Remember Tabacco is Not supporting Senator Hillary Clinton for president because I think she would support FTAs and expand war and the Profiteering that goes with it. I’m not against her for her Healthcare program! However Mitt Romney opposes her Healthcare program or plan. To understand why Mitt Romney opposes Hillary’s program, any “Socialized Medicine” or any “Universal Healthcare”, which avoids Privatization, go back and reread this post up to this point as many times as necessary until you get it!



 

LOU DOBBS TONIGHT

Hillary's Health Care Plan Unveiled;

Former Bush Administration Officials Blast President

Aired September 17, 2007 - 18:00   ET

KITTY PILGRIM, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight, new evidence our nation's borders have become a revolving door for tens of thousands of criminal illegal aliens. We will have a special report.

Also, rising outrage over the use of taxpayer money to build day labor centers used by illegal aliens.

And three of the best political analysts and strategists will be here to discuss the political impact of Senator Hillary Clinton's new plan for health care reform -- all that, much more, straight ahead tonight.

ANNOUNCER: This is LOU DOBBS TONIGHT: news, debate, and opinion for Monday, September 17.

Live from New York, sitting in for Lou Dobbs, Kitty Pilgrim.

PILGRIM: Good evening, everybody.

We begin tonight with some news about Lou. Now, many of you have been asking where Lou is. Well, he's just had a tonsillectomy and he won't be here for the next two to three weeks. We're pleased to report that Lou is doing fine, and we thank you all for your concern.

Tonight, turning to our top story, Democratic presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton announced today an ambitious plan to give health care to every American. Now, it comes more than a decade after Senator Clinton's first health care plan collapsed. The senator's political rivals immediately criticized her proposal.

Democrats said her plan is similar to their ideas. Republicans accused Senator Clinton of seeking government-managed health care.

Candy Crowley has our report -- Candy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Kitty, the last time Hillary Clinton tried her hand at health care, it did not go well. This time around, her campaign believes that times have changed and certainly, so has her approach. (voice-over): At the base of Clinton's $11 billion plan to revamp the health care industry is insurance for every man, woman and child in America.

SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Much like drivers in most states are required to purchase car insurance, all Americans will have a responsibility to get and keep health insurance in a system where insurance will now be affordable.

CROWLEY: There would be federal subsidies for those who cannot afford premiums and limits on how much a family would have to pay based on household income. Big business would have to provide health care coverage or pay into a government-run pool to defray the costs of those not covered. Insurance companies would be required to give coverage to anyone who applies and barred from charging the sick more than the healthy.

CLINTON: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

CROWLEY: This is the second go-round for Clinton, whose health care proposal as first lady went down in flames. Critics said it was too complex, amounted to government-run health care and would do away with insurance for those happy with their plan. So, this time, Clinton was specific about what her plan is not.

CLINTON: This is not government-run. There will be no new bureaucracies. You can keep the doctors you know and trust. You keep the insurance you have, if you like it. But this plan expands personal choice and increases competition to keep costs down.

CROWLEY: No sale on the Republican side. Rudy Giuliani called it a scheme that includes more government mandates and more big bureaucracy. Mitt Romney said it was Washington health care born and bred.

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: In her plan, we have a government insurance, instead of private insurance. In her plan, it's crafted by Washington. It should be crafted by the states.

Tabacco: Private Insurance profiting Capitalist Insurance Companies and administered by HMOs or government administrators: you have to be really stupid (that’s with a capital S – Stupid) to believe Privatization is superior to Universal Healthcare for the lower 95%!

States’ Rights were the facilitators of Slavery and Segregation! That’s what happens when States’ Wrongs supersede common sense. Healthcare should not be determined by the financial stability of each State and the Party in power. You can imagine what a Republican-controlled State will get under that philosophy! I’d rather live in a poor State than a Red one.

CROWLEY: No pass either from her Democratic rivals. Chris Dodd and Barack Obama said they were better suited to form the kind of bipartisan support need to overhaul health care. And John Edwards upped the ante.

JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I will submit legislation to the Congress that ends -- stay with me on this -- that ends health care coverage for the president, all members of Congress and all political appointees in both branches of government on July 20, 2009, unless they have passed universal health care for the United States of America.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

CROWLEY: In truth, most of the candidates talk about universal health care, and Clinton's plan is similar, though not identical, to most of her Democratic rivals. (on camera): As for how her plan deals with illegal immigrants in this country, a Clinton aide said: We haven't gotten to a lot of the details yet. That's one we're going to have to think over.

Candy Crowley, CNN, Des Moines.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PILGRIM: Now, as Candy reported, Senator Clinton's plan is very similar to health care proposals from other leading Democratic candidates. Senator Barack Obama wants a national health insurance program for individuals without employer-provided health care and who don't qualify for other federal programs.

Former Senator John Edwards wants employers to either provide health coverage for their employees or help pay their insurance costs. And, meanwhile, one leading Republican candidate, Mitt Romney says states should help reform our nation's health care system, a system that he says should be guided by private markets.

Tabacco: See what I mean! Privatization Capitalists cannot remain quiet or anonymous. They must unveil their intent as Romney has done. If you vote Republican, you are either Super-Rich or pitifully STUPID!

We will have much more on the senator's health care plan and its impact on the presidential election campaign later in the broadcast. Three of this country's best political analysts and strategists will join us to discuss that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PILGRIM: Joining me now, three of the best political strategists and analysts in the country.

Republican strategist former White House political director, Ed Rollins.
Tabacco: Take note of his affiliation whenever Ed Rollins says anything. All opinions are not equally reliable! Always consider the SOURCE!

And Errol Louis, columnist with the "New York Daily News".

And Democratic strategist and National Committeeman Robert Zimmerman; also, we point out, a supporter of Hillary Clinton's campaign.
Tabacco: A grain of salt and some skepticism should be taken with Zimmerman’s comments also!

So, let me ask...

ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I can point that out, too.

PILGRIM: Yes. Of course. Well, in all fairness, you know, I really should start with you.

Today we had big news from the Clinton campaign -- the proposal of a new health care plan that basically calls for individual mandates, which means every single person in the country has to have health care insurance, and it should be purchased like auto insurance.

What do you think of this plan, Robert?

ZIMMERMAN: Well, I think, even though I'm supporting Hillary Clinton, I can still be objective and agree with her, too, you know.

PILGRIM: Of course.

ZIMMERMAN: The point is simply that I think this plan, I think, shows enormous growth from the time she and President Clinton attempted health care reform in '93 and '94. And I think what distinguishes is its simplicity, its cost control and the consumer choice it provides, because whether -- if you like your insurance plan that you presently have, you can stay with it. Otherwise, if you want to have a multitude of choices, you can choose the same type of health insurance members of Congress get. It doesn't require a new bureaucracy, but it also recognizes that, in fact, considering the Republican record that's created this health care crisis in so many ways, that mandating insurance should be required because it impacts everyone's life.

PILGRIM: She was talking about invisible Americans.

What did she mean by invisible Americans?

ZIMMERMAN: Well, I think what she meant -- I can't speak to that particular speech.

PILGRIM: Right.

ZIMMERMAN: But I think when she's talking about health care insurance, I think there's so many people that fall through the cracks. We're dealing with millions of young people, children who aren't getting -- who are severely underinsured. Under seven years of Republican government, we have a record number of Americans without health insurance -- 48 million. So I think she may be talking about that.

PILGRIM: You know, I'd like to quote from her. And she said: "Perhaps, more than anybody else, I know just how hard it is -- this fight will be to get a health plan in place".

She does have her past record. It wasn't a success.

Tabacco: Hillary’s healthcare “failure” during Bill Clinton’s 1st term was directly attributable to Privatizing Republicans like Mitt Romney, not to a poor plan. Isn’t it amazing that when GOPers screw you, it’s your fault – not theirs - for not putting forth legislation they could support! How illogical is that!

So where does she stand on this?

Is it a plus?

ERROL LOUIS, "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS": Well, I think she's going to have a huge fight. And the reality is, at this stage of the game, she's not the nominee. There's no prospect of having to implement this any time soon. She can stay with a lot of generalities. And I read this, really, as just sort of a statement of principles. And, really, the key is when you see that -- something like $35 billion of the $110 billion that she's claiming it's saving is just efficiency, you know, getting medical records off of paper and into computers, something that would need to happen in any event, and something that the government can't really control.

So she's already sort of cheating as far as a hard-core plan. But she'll still be attacked, as if she had laid out some detailed proposal when really she's just talking about principles.

PILGRIM: A hundred and ten billion dollars to help cover the costs. And this is how she said she would pay for it.

Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: I won't pay for it by pouring money into a broken system. I won't pay for it by raising taxes on middle class families who are already struggling with rising costs and stagnant wages. Instead, I'll pay for a part of it by implementing the cost saving measures I outlined in May. And I will pay for some of it by rolling back part of President Bush's fiscally irresponsible tax breaks for the highest income Americans.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PILGRIM: So a $110 billion price tag basically appealing to middle class Americans with this proposal, right?

ED ROLLINS, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Well, she's -- it's -- her plan failed 12 years ago because she locked out many people who were professionals in the industry (Insurance Companies & HMOs – why not be honest, Ed!), who knew a lot about the problems -- doctors, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals (Partial honesty is better than total dishonesty, I guess! Doctors will get paid regardless of system. Most of their income is paid by Medicare & Medicaid today. Hospitals, however, would make out even better under privatization because they could refuse to serve the uninsured! And I don’t know how pharmaceuticals could possibly improve their bottom line – but greed knows no limits). She said they were all special interests. And every single one of them can add something to fixing the health care system. Fixing it for their own benefit, not ours! Ed Rollins is S-C-U-M!

When you mandate something by the federal government -- we mandate nothing other than you have to pay your fair share of taxes -- and all of a sudden we're -- and she's comparing it to auto, and you don't have to have a car. You don't have to drive. No, Tabacco doesn’t drive. But I do have to breathe always, get sick sometimes and die once! See how ludicrous their illogic is! “You don’t have to have a car”. And he calls Hillary the illogical one!

But to say to every American, you have to have health insurance, what are they going to do, put them in jail? What are they going to do, stop breathing!

I mean it's just -- it's an absurd process to begin. And I think, to a certain extent, there's it's a long, hard way to go.

Before this thing will be -- be very serious planning.

Tabacco: So privatization is the answer, hunh? Give me a break!

ZIMMERMAN: But I think that's really the critical aspect of this debate. Democrats -- it's not just Hillary Clinton -- but the Democratic candidates do believe there's an urgency -- a health care crisis that requires dramatic reform. And Democrats do believe that health care insurance needs to be provided across-the board because of the burden it places on all of us in terms of spreading disease, the economic burden of people who are underinsured or not insured.

And Republicans are going to run on their record, which has produced a record number of people without health insurance, a record number of children who are underinsured...

ROLLINS: You can't blame the Republicans. The Republicans didn't take away health insurance. The hell I can’t, and the hell they didn’t! We wouldn’t even have Social Security if the GOP had had its way! They didn't run around there saying you can't have it or you can have it. The truth of the matter is it would be an ideal situation if everybody in America could have a health insurance. And I'm all for that. Just how would you accomplish that under privatization? Capitalists ain’t gonna insure Welfare or poor folks unless the government pays for them. Rollins isn’t against government support of privatizers. He just doesn’t want government support of Social programs and poor folks directly.

But there's an awful lot of these 49 million people who don't want health insurance. They're young people. They don't think they're going to get sick. And if you say to them, pay $500, pay $800, pay $1,000 a month, you can have health insurance, they say no thank you. I'm not going to get sick. I'll pay for my doctor when I go.
If you don’t void the DMV because people such as Tabacco don’t drive, why void Universal Healthcare because some young fools think they won’t get sick? That is totally illogical!

I don’t have health insurance, and I’m 65. That’s not because I don’t think I can get sick, it’s because of assholes like Ed Rollins, who make healthcare insurance unaffordable for self-employed middleclass Americans like Tabacco!

Tabacco is against capital punishment on principle, but not if only the selfish Capitalists like Ed Rollins could be executed!

It has put a tremendous burden on the system and it's a very complicated thing. And this is not the only way to go. And I think it would be a better debate and I think at the end of the day we may get some (INAUDIBLE)...

ZIMMERMAN: Let's remember, though, the prescription drug program that the Clinton -- the Bush administration put forward -- was an enormous burden on our system and was basically a welfare program for the drug companies.

ROLLINS: The prescription -- well, I must have missed something, because I think the vast majority of Democrats voted for the prescription health program (INAUDIBLE)...

ZIMMERMAN: Actually, no. Too many Democrats, in my opinion, did. But the point is, what the result was of that prescription drug program was individual citizens can't even -- we can't even negotiate lowered drug prices. Republican, George W. Bush, did that! It was a welfare program for the pharmaceutical industry.

PILGRIM: Gentlemen, we'll have to continue this after a break, and we will.

In the meantime, coming up at the top of the hour is "THE SITUATION ROOM" WITH WOLF BLITZER" -- so, Wolf.

WOLF BLITZER, HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": Thanks very much, Kitty.



Tabacco: I consider myself both a funnel and a filter. I funnel information, not readily available on the Mass Media, which is ignored and/or suppressed. I filter out the irrelevancies and trivialities to save both the time and effort of my Readers and bring consternation to the enemies of Truth & Fairness! When you read Tabacco, if you don’t learn something NEW, I’ve wasted your time.


In 1981's 'Body Heat', Kathleen Turner said, "Knowledge is power".

 

T.A.B.A.C.C.O.  (Truth About Business And Congressional Crimes Organization) – Think Tank For Other 95% Of World

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