tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59701618691211112882024-03-13T12:27:49.571-04:00Shiny ParadigmUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970161869121111288.post-44967862181131426312009-07-01T15:02:00.005-04:002009-07-01T15:36:39.571-04:00Can't stress it enoughCall our representatives and tell them we want a public option. Our representatives have a choice in their healthcare. If our insurance industry is so good, why do they choose a government backed plan? A plan that doesn't cancel them if they have a pre-existing condition? A plan that isn't cancelled if they use it? A plan that doesn't increase premiums by 78 percent? A plan that doesn't deny treatment or specialists because insurance companies feel it's unnecessary (too expensive to pay for)?<br /><br />Distribute this freely. I left space so you can put your own text on the bottom.<br />As usual, click on the image to get a full size graphic for redistribution.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJhVadwDe6y2jIBM7xQlPLu4fihygyeNAAAnTOtQjQ-E44u9RNjq0RLq8eUGqoncWmjki8zReZ7GpuJCNWYJp4ObIVHMM1UMupQ5vbxrTNhcwDhSIWQV9NMqQjpq9m7pLDgF1m7OInlBA/s1600-h/Why+they+smileLarge+copy.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJhVadwDe6y2jIBM7xQlPLu4fihygyeNAAAnTOtQjQ-E44u9RNjq0RLq8eUGqoncWmjki8zReZ7GpuJCNWYJp4ObIVHMM1UMupQ5vbxrTNhcwDhSIWQV9NMqQjpq9m7pLDgF1m7OInlBA/s400/Why+they+smileLarge+copy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353570333265571554" /></a><br /><br />Tell Senator [Name] that we DO NOT want the 7-year trigger for the public option and take it off the table, and that we want him to support an affordable strong, robust Medicare-like public option. We NEED a strong, robust Medicare-like public option NOW OPEN TO ALL AMERICANS AND AFFORDABLE, not more of the SAME broken system that's given us unaffordable premiums, little private insurance coverage, and rising co-pays. Also, DON'T TAX OUR EMPLOYER HEALTH BENEFITS. Instead, follow the proposal by President Obama to tax the wealthy above $250,000, eliminate the overpayments in Medicare Advantage, and put tax capital gains to help fund health care reform. <strong>TELL OUR SENATORs NO ON THE SCHUMER COMPROMISE AND NO ON THE CONRAD CO-OP COMPROMISE.</strong> <br /><br /><em>These are the members of the HELP Committee to CALL today: </em><br />Tom Harkin (IA): (202) 224-3254 <br />Barbara A. Mikulski (MD): (202) 224-4654 <br />Jeff Bingaman (NM): (202) 224-5521 <br />Patty Murray (WA: (202) 224-2621 <br />Jack Reed (RI): (202) 224-4642 <br />Bernard Sanders (I) (VT): (202) 224-5141 <br />Sherrod Brown (OH): (202) 224-2315 <br />Robert P. Casey, Jr. (PA): (202) 224-6324 <br />Kay Hagan (NC): (202) 224-6342 <br />Jeff Merkley (OR): (202) 224-3753<br /> <br /><em>Then PLEASE CALL the rest of the Democratic Senators to urge them to support a strong, robust Medicare-like public option in health care reform! </em><br />Please CALL Senator Max Baucus at (202) 224-2651 <br />Please CALL Senator Olympia Snowe at (202) 224-5344 <br />Please CALL Senator Charles Schumer at 202-224-6542 <br />Please CALL Senator Edward Kennedy at (202) 224-4543 <br />Please CALL Senator John Rockefeller at (202) 224-6472 <br />Please CALL Senator Ron Wyden at (202) 224-5244 <br />Please CALL Senator Kent Conrad at (202) 224-2043 <br />Please CALL Senator Jeff Bingaman at (202) 224-5521 <br />Please CALL Senator John Kerry at (202) 224-2742 <br />Please CALL Senator Blanche Lincoln at 202-224-4843 <br />Please CALL Senator Debbie Stabenow at (202) 224-4822 <br />Please CALL Senator Maria Cantwell at 202-224-3441 <br />Please CALL Senator Bill Nelson at 202-224-5274 <br />Please CALL Senator Robert Menendez at 202-224-4744 <br />Please CALL Senator Thomas Carper at (202) 224-2441 <br />CALL the White House at: 202-456-1111 and E-MAIL them as well!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970161869121111288.post-39609372074856685462009-06-30T21:00:00.004-04:002009-06-30T23:18:11.283-04:00Mark Sanford (R-Cheating Lying Dickhead)In the ongoing saga of Mark Sanford, today he announced that he will try to reconcile with his wife even though his mistress is his soulmate.<br />Way to kick Jenny in the teeth, Governor Dickhead!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZCjtZ8W9Cm9nLD1DKPoJpm4s411OOa0TdeGuZ7qNbnBusODtrnv3FIl1JN8uGRG7avgYWawWes8c5f4Wut8T7kR7FactvKMplMKiQ4m_nSHGfxYirAhQnCHFro8JUBS-jr1LwG9b8kk-/s1600-h/SoulmateLarge.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZCjtZ8W9Cm9nLD1DKPoJpm4s411OOa0TdeGuZ7qNbnBusODtrnv3FIl1JN8uGRG7avgYWawWes8c5f4Wut8T7kR7FactvKMplMKiQ4m_nSHGfxYirAhQnCHFro8JUBS-jr1LwG9b8kk-/s400/SoulmateLarge.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353290682672812610" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970161869121111288.post-43599177096763718552009-06-30T17:29:00.002-04:002009-06-30T17:32:10.596-04:00Free to redistributeI'll be making some "mailers" that can be downloaded and redistributed free. Just leave the credit line on please.<br />Here's the first one.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2LOTwqgymmJeAwtjRK-4OQwJljRPMEO0wMfe8Z4GApXOFIkIrgtbS8pKdoewKGMFkasTsVKHQkmVnGf5_RmoxXbmlRayI6CzPyz88whYUAALZKNfnt9CLL5nKaqEJpJD179ovh8AcGtK/s1600-h/Healthcare+SquashLrg.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2LOTwqgymmJeAwtjRK-4OQwJljRPMEO0wMfe8Z4GApXOFIkIrgtbS8pKdoewKGMFkasTsVKHQkmVnGf5_RmoxXbmlRayI6CzPyz88whYUAALZKNfnt9CLL5nKaqEJpJD179ovh8AcGtK/s400/Healthcare+SquashLrg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353236515783082850" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970161869121111288.post-75451392909982995622009-06-26T03:12:00.007-04:002009-06-30T21:42:16.460-04:00Adventures of Mark SanfordClick image for larger version.<br />My contribution to the Mark Sanford soap opera. You just know all the other Republicans are wishing they were him, with his hot Argentina Chica...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfD6CFZIwhtp21ihArYbBDBpbcFZqfpBOjOI__3vS9HHWk4qiYUfOi57x_XWuBrwaxN7TfbHKPzdmJT4R5NqPclb79PswFTP8xuq4yTZp6gxjJVdZoXBi1GtgCIWcROqRw31Wl1iXWrEi/s1600-h/SanfordArgAdLarge.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfD6CFZIwhtp21ihArYbBDBpbcFZqfpBOjOI__3vS9HHWk4qiYUfOi57x_XWuBrwaxN7TfbHKPzdmJT4R5NqPclb79PswFTP8xuq4yTZp6gxjJVdZoXBi1GtgCIWcROqRw31Wl1iXWrEi/s400/SanfordArgAdLarge.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353300997035504514" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970161869121111288.post-69938425524342616782009-06-23T22:28:00.001-04:002009-06-23T22:30:00.190-04:00Computer IssuesWill update with more Healthcare and other news when computer issues settle down.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970161869121111288.post-72511194050070456392009-06-22T13:21:00.004-04:002009-06-22T13:31:30.759-04:00Healthcare wanted (part 4)There's a rally June 25 to provide us with a voice about healthcare.<br /><br />WHEN: June 25 <br /> <br />WHERE: Upper Senate Park, Constitution and Delaware avenues, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002 <br /> Closest Metro: Judiciary Square (Red Line) <br /> Town Hall Meetings: TBD <br /> <br />SCHEDULE: 11 a.m.: Crowd assembles and buses arrive <br /> 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Rally <br /> 1 p.m.–4 p.m.: Lobby visits and town hall meetings <br /> 4:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.: Debrief and report back <br /> 6 p.m.: Buses depart <br /><br /><br />Text HEALTH to 94553 to receive updates.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.healthcareforamericanow.org/">http://www.healthcareforamericanow.org/</a> has additional information and updates.<br />See you there!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AILtwX8ez9k&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AILtwX8ez9k&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970161869121111288.post-80775427344583591382009-06-21T21:32:00.003-04:002009-06-21T22:01:01.064-04:00Healthcare Wanted (part 3)<div align="justify">Monday is the day comittees are marking up proposals. Action we can take tomorrow (Monday):</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br />CALL Senator Dodd at (202) 224-2823 and ask him to put in OPTION A, which is the strong, robust Medicare-like public option, NOT OPTION B, which is the Conrad co-op proposal,<em> in the markup on Monday.<br /></div></em><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">EMAIL the Senate HELP Committee at help_comments@help.senate.gov to ask them to put in OPTION A, which is the strong, robust Medicare-like public option, NOT OPTION B, which is the Conrad co-op proposal, in the markup on Monday. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br />CALL the phone numbers of ALL the Senators on the HELP Committee with these talking points below: </div><div align="justify"><br /><blockquote>Tell Senator [Name] that we DO NOT want the 7-year trigger for the public option and take it off the table, and that we want him to support an affordable strong, robust Medicare-like public option. We NEED a strong, robust Medicare-like public option NOW OPEN TO ALL AMERICANS AND AFFORDABLE, not more of the SAME broken system that's given us unaffordable premiums, little private insurance coverage, and rising co-pays. Also, <em>DON'T TAX OUR EMPLOYER HEALTH BENEFITS.</em> Instead, follow the proposal by President Obama to tax the wealthy above $250,000, eliminate the overpayments in Medicare Advantage, and put tax capital gains to help fund health care reform. <em>TELL OUR SENATORS NO ON THE SCHUMER COMPROMISE AND NO ON THE CONRAD CO-OP COMPROMISE.</em> </blockquote></div><div align="justify"><br /><br />CALL ALL of the members on the House Education and Labor Committee to ask them to support a STRONGER public option than what is currently proposed in the Tri-Committee draft with these talking points below: </div><div align="justify"><br /><blockquote><div align="justify">Tell Representative [Name] that we want the National Exchange and the public option to be started in 2010, NOT in 2013 because we desperately need affordable health care RIGHT NOW. Tell him or her that WE DON'T WANT the public option's tie to Medicare rates to "severed over time as more flexible payment systems are developed." We want the public option to be based on Medicare plus rates, and that we don't want the public option to end up as a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. We want it to be administered by the government and NOT by any private insurance companies, and to be like Medicare based on its ability to negotiate rates with providers and pharmaceutical companies. Also, that we want doctors to be required to participate in the public option, so that we can have access to the public option anywhere you are. Say that we don't want our health benefits to be taxed, but that we support a raise in taxes for the wealthy to help pay for the public option. We don't want the public option to be self-sustained only by premiums because that will help hobble its viability, and that we NEED for it to have some financing from the government. </div></blockquote><br /><br />We'll KEEP UP the pressure on these Senators and the White House as well.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970161869121111288.post-72832726127072296742009-06-21T14:26:00.014-04:002009-06-22T02:29:48.007-04:00Healthcare Wanted (part 2)<ul><li>Click on the image for a larger version.<br /><br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sUs8yNNMyu2kbeVOIy94Ugca7zjIzx-iqoouV_CZo1Zb8kvudf-EBDaAyyKRBrq6miY48YDRKl14HOtUYASGNQx3BDfKTIANfLiMqcYGASBThZYLOUn9iizojb81FugIpANPjP0nXKpV/s1600-h/pubopt.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 326px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349938046474341090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sUs8yNNMyu2kbeVOIy94Ugca7zjIzx-iqoouV_CZo1Zb8kvudf-EBDaAyyKRBrq6miY48YDRKl14HOtUYASGNQx3BDfKTIANfLiMqcYGASBThZYLOUn9iizojb81FugIpANPjP0nXKpV/s400/pubopt.png" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNm2MVgImhci0L8jf-lWrgXzfuUTBke97a7ffS9nNhyphenhyphen7SlbCsFHnX-41q0l-9bfc0A6wsq04D-oDM9a_QhWDVh8isnpv1Cr_h3mANvJ2bbl4L4vcpOJx9XOywzQ3bx_Zr6p57TMnw5IxXt/s1600-h/single-payer.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 181px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349937321164482466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNm2MVgImhci0L8jf-lWrgXzfuUTBke97a7ffS9nNhyphenhyphen7SlbCsFHnX-41q0l-9bfc0A6wsq04D-oDM9a_QhWDVh8isnpv1Cr_h3mANvJ2bbl4L4vcpOJx9XOywzQ3bx_Zr6p57TMnw5IxXt/s400/single-payer.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />With a public option (universal health care) being so popular (anywhere from 60-80% for it) why are we not seeing our elected representatives moving on this?<br /><br />Supposedly there are not enough votes in the senate for it.<br /><br />“ ‘I don’t know that he has the votes right now,’ Feinstein said today on CNN’s "State of the Union" program” From CNN<br /><br />Call and e-mail your representatives and tell them we support Universal healthcare. Let them know we want a public option.<br /><br /><strong>Here’s the numbers:<br /></strong><br />White House<br />Tel: 202-456-1111,<br />E-Mail: <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/">http://www.whitehouse.gov/</a>... </li></ul><p></p><ul><li><strong>Senate HELP:</strong><br />help_comments@help.senate.gov<br />Senator Edward Kennedy at (202) 224-4543<br />Senator Dodd at (202) 224-2823 Fax: (202) 224-1083<br />Tom Harkin (IA): (202) 224-3254<br />Barbara Mikulski (MD): (202) 224-4654<br />Jeff Bingaman (NM): (202) 224-5521<br />Patty Murray (WA: (202) 224-2621<br />Jack Reed (RI): (202) 224-4642<br />Bernard Sanders (I) (VT): (202) 224-5141<br />Sherrod Brown (OH): (202) 224-2315<br />Robert Casey, Jr. (PA): (202) 224-6324<br />Kay Hagan (NC): (202) 224-6342<br />Jeff Merkley (OR): (202) 224-3753<br />Senate Finance:<br />Max Baucus at (202) 224-2651<br />Olympia Snowe at (202) 224-5344<br />Charles Schumer at 202-224-6542<br />John Rockefeller at (202) 224-6472<br />Ron Wyden at (202) 224-5244<br />Kent Conrad at (202) 224-2043<br />John Kerry at (202) 224-2742<br />Blanche Lincoln at 202-224-4843<br />Debbie Stabenow at (202) 224-4822<br />Maria Cantwell at 202-224-3441<br />Bill Nelson at 202-224-5274<br />Robert Menendez at 202-224-4744<br />Thomas Carper at (202) 224-2441 </li></ul><p></p><p><strong></strong></p><ul><li><strong>House Ways and Means Committee<br />Tel: 202-225-3625 Fax: 202-225-2610<br /></strong>Charles B. Rangel, Chairman Ways and Means NY-15th 202-225-4365<br />Pete Stark, Chairman Subcommittee on Health CA-13th 202-225-5065<br />Lloyd Doggett, TX-25th 202-225-4865<br />Mike Thompson, CA-1st 202-225-3311<br />Xavier Becerra, CA-31st 202- 225-6235<br />Earl Pomeroy, ND-At Large 202-225-2611<br />Ron Kind, WI-3rd 202-225-5506<br />Earl Blumenauer, OR-3rd 202-225-4811<br />Bill Pascrell Jr. NJ-8th 202-225-5751<br />Shelley Berkley, NV-1st 202-225-5965 </li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p><ul><strong></strong><li><strong>House Energy and Commerce Committee<br />Committee Telephone: 202-225-2927<br />And the Subcommittee on Health<br /></strong>Henry A. Waxman (Chairman) CA-30th 202-225-3976<br />Frank Pallone, Jr., Chairman, Health Subcommittee) NJ-6th 202-225-4671<br />John D. Dingell, Chairman Emeritus MI-15th 202-225-4071<br />Lois Capps, Vice Chair CA-23rd 202-225-3601<br />Bart Gordon, TN-6th 202-225-4231<br />Anna G. Eshoo, CA-14th 202-225-8104<br />Eliot L. Engel, NY-17th 202-225-2464<br />Gene Green, TX-29th 225-1688<br />Diana DeGette, CO-1st 202-225-4431<br />Jan Schakowsky, IL-9th 202-225-2111<br />Tammy Baldwin, WI-2nd 202-225-2906<br />Mike Ross, AR-4th 202-225-3772<br />Anthony D. Weiner, NY-9th 202-225-6616<br />Jim Matheson, UT-2nd 202-225-3011<br />Jane Harman, CA-36th 202-225-8220<br />Charles A. Gonzalez, TX-20th 202-225-3236<br />John Barrow, GA-12th 202-225-2823<br />Donna M. Christensen, VI-delegate 202-225-1790<br />Kathy Castor, FL-11th 202-225-3376<br />John P. Sarbanes, MD-3rd 202-225-4016<br />Christopher S. Murphy, CT-5th 202-225-4476<br />Zachary T. Space, OH-18th 202-225-6265<br />Betty Sutton, OH-13th 202-225-3401<br />Bruce L. Braley, IA-1st 202-225-2911<br /></li><li><strong>House Education and Labor Committee<br />T: 202 225-372<br /></strong>George Miller, Chairman CA 7th 202-225-2095<br />Robert Andrews, Chair Subcommittee HELP, NJ-1st 202-225-6501<br />David Wu OR-1st 202-225-0855<br />Phil Hare IL-17th 202-225-5905<br />John F. Tierney MA-6th 202-225-8020<br />Dennis J. Kucinich OH-10th 202-225-5871<br />Marcia Fudge OH-11th 202-225-7032<br />Dale E. Kildee MI-5th 202-225-3611<br />Carolyn McCarthy NY-4th 202-225-5516<br />Rush Holt NJ-12th 202-225-5801<br />Joe Sestak PA-7th 202-225-2011<br />David Loebsack IA-2nd 202-225-6576<br />Yvette Clarke NY-11th 202-225-6231<br />Joe Courtney CT-2nd 202-225-2076<br /></li></ul><br /><br /><br />(chart from here: <a href="http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/06/public-support-for-public-option.html">http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/06/public-support-for-public-option.html</a> )<br /><br />Some amazing analysis of how bad the proposed "public option" from Senator Baucus can be found here: <a href="http://jwalkerreport.blogspot.com/2009/06/baucuss-health-care-plan-is-worse-than.html">http://jwalkerreport.blogspot.com/2009/06/baucuss-health-care-plan-is-worse-than.html</a><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>Just how bad is Senator Baucus's draft proposal? It is worse than the proposal put forward by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). That is correct -- the health insurance industry wrote a better proposal than the Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee.<br /><br />For the most part Baucus's proposal is almost identical to that of the AHIP lobby. Both do not include a public option and would offer a bare bones insurance plan. Both have an individual mandates, a form of community rating, and some type of health insurance exchange. Both would also limit out-of-pocket cost based on the current HSA standard. In the few places the proposals differ, Baucus's proposal is in fact less generous than the AHIP.<br /><br />Paying for private insurance<br /><br />Baucus Proposal – People making below 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL) would get subsidies to help buy insurance. If you make more than $31,500 you are on your own for the full cost of insurance.<br /><br />AHIP Proposal – People making below 400% of the FPL would get subsidies to help buy insurance. Also everyone buying private insurance would get to deduct the full cost of their plan.<br /><br />Medicaid Eligibility<br /><br />Baucus Proposal – Every adult below 100% of the FPL would be eligible for Medicaid. Children below 133% of FDL would be eligible.<br /><br />AHIP Proposal – Every adult below 100% of the FPL would be eligible for Medicaid. Children below 300% of FDL would be eligible.<br /><br />The conclusion is simple. To claim that the health care reform plan put forward by the Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee was written by health industry lobbyists would be an insult to the lobbyists. Their plan was slightly better and did more to help average Americans buy health insurance. </blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5970161869121111288.post-46212576500208651032009-06-21T01:29:00.011-04:002009-06-21T21:14:04.694-04:00Healthcare Wanted (part 1)<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The United States is in the 17th month of straight job losses, shedding approximately half a million jobs a quarter. Half a million jobs a quarter. For every job opening, there are five unemployed people competing for that job. Manufacturing employment is at its lowest level since 1960. Fewer than 10 percent of all U.S. jobs are in manufacturing, which have traditionally been the prime vehicle for populations to achieve middle class status.</span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Bankruptcies are up by 40 percent with approximately 800,000 people filing. Corporate bankruptcies are escalating at an ever-increasing rate to the point where the courts can’t keep up with filings. Foreclosures are up 79 percent with over 2 million households filing.<br /><br /><br />Healthcare in the U.S. is directly tied to employment. If you are unemployed or underemployed, chances are you have no or insufficient health insurance (medical bills directly cause 62 percent of all bankruptcies and three-quarters of those people had health insurance). Employers spend approximately $14,000 a year per employee (family of four) on healthcare. The employee spends another (approximately) $12000 on insurance. Employers are always looking to cut costs of business in the best of environments. A place to cut costs has always been in benefits, but the last few years, insurance premiums have risen faster than cost of living increases since 2001, premiums for family coverage have increased 78%, while wages have risen 19% and inflation has risen 17%, according to a 2007 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation.) To remain competitive, businesses are forced to constantly change insurance programs or discontinue offering health insurance.<br /><br />We often hear that the United States is number one in the world for healthcare. Looking at the actual world statistics, we find that’s just not true. We’re 37th (second to last) for industrialized (first world) nations in providing healthcare for our citizens. Americans also fall near or at the bottom of the scale for life expectancy, preventative care, patient satisfaction and use of information technologies. Preventative deaths are high on the list. We have more people dying from disease and illnesses that could have been prevented with proper, timely, cost-efficient medical delivery system than most industrialized countries. The United States is the only industrialized (first world) wealth country that does not have universal coverage for its population. The only place we come in first among industrialized (first world) nations is in infant mortality and cost.<br /><br />Why are we paying so much for so little? Insurance companies. Insurance is, in dictionary terms, “a contract purchased to guarantee compensation for a specific loss by fire, death, disability, illness etc.” In practice, Insurance companies are the middlemen between healthcare and us, rationing our healthcare, denying our claims, and rescinding our policies when they deem us unprofitable.<br /><br /><br /><em><strong>The 10 largest health insurance companies had a profit increase of 428% and premiums have increased by 87 percent in just the last six years.</strong></em><br /></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><blockquote><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>In 2007 alone the chief executive officers at<br />these companies collected combined total compensation of $118.6 million—an average of $11.9 million each. That is 468 times more than the $25,434 an average American worker made that year.</strong> </span></p></span><p align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">With universal healthcare, medical delivery costs would be lowered from 30% overhead to 3%. With increased cost savings to business, and a better healthier life for all our population, why is it so hard to get universal healthcare when over 70% of our population wants it? Follow the money.<br /><br /><strong>Top 20 Members receiving insurance monies </strong><br />Candidate Amount<br />McCain, John (R) $2,429,905<br />Obama, Barack (D) $2,293,041<br />Clinton, Hillary (D-NY) $1,218,340<br />Dodd, Chris (D-CT) $862,056<br />McConnell, Mitch (R-KY) $400,333<br />Coleman, Norm (R-MN) $396,629<br />Rangel, Charles B (D-NY) $370,090<br />Kanjorski, Paul E (D-PA) $346,048<br />Chambliss, Saxby (R-GA) $334,086<br />Sununu, John E (R-NH) $303,804<br />Cornyn, John (R-TX) $287,569<br />Baucus, Max (D-MT) $287,350<br />Dole, Elizabeth (R-NC) $280,062<br />Pomeroy, Earl (D-ND) $277,925<br />Cantor, Eric (R-VA) $254,100<br />Bean, Melissa (D-IL) $253,308<br />Crowley, Joseph (D-NY) $234,868<br />Smith, Gordon H (R-OR) $230,350<br />Boehner, John (R-OH) $225,525<br />Collins, Susan M (R-ME) $215,700 </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><em>The numbers on this page are based on contributions from PACs and individuals giving $200 or more. All donations took place during the 2007-2008 election cycle and were released by the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday, May 12, 2009.<br />Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics. For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks, contact the Center.</em><br /></p></blockquote></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Insurance companies and lobbying interests are afraid of universal healthcare. They see their billion dollar a year profits dissipating and they are doing whatever it takes to prevent a more humane, cost efficient and fair healthcare system.<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em><a href="http://www.epi.org/publications/entry/jobspicture20090605/">http://www.epi.org/publications/entry/jobspicture20090605/</a><br /><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/03/news/economy/consumer_bankruptcy/?postversion=2008010312">http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/03/news/economy/consumer_bankruptcy/?postversion=2008010312</a><br /><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSN1628717520090616?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews">http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSN1628717520090616?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews</a><br /><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22893703/">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22893703/</a><br /><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_14/b3978116.htm">http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_14/b3978116.htm</a><br /><a href="http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet">http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet</a><br /><a href="http://www.modernmedicine.com/modernmedicine/Modern+Medicine+Now/Illness-Medical-Bills-Linked-to-Growing-Bankruptcy/ArticleNewsFeed/Article/detail/602000?contextCategoryId=40130">http://www.modernmedicine.com/modernmedicine/Modern+Medicine+Now/Illness-Medical-Bills-Linked-to-Growing-Bankruptcy/ArticleNewsFeed/Article/detail/602000?contextCategoryId=40130</a><br /><a href="http://www.kff.org/insurance/ehbs091107nr.cfm">http://www.kff.org/insurance/ehbs091107nr.cfm</a><br /><a href="http://www.who.int/countries/usa/en/">http://www.who.int/countries/usa/en/</a><br /><a href="http://hcfan.3cdn.net/dadd15782e627e5b75_g9m6isltl.pdf">http://hcfan.3cdn.net/dadd15782e627e5b75_g9m6isltl.pdf</a><br /><a href="http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/22/2/230">http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/22/2/230</a><br /><a href="http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7015555615">http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7015555615</a><br /></div></em></span><blockquote><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0