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I appreciate Loretta's comments in regard to my earlier posts. However, it should not be ignored that the hate speech of right-wing radio does have an effect on people who are "unbalanced," whether emotionally or mentally. I would also suggest that Palin doesn't deserve a "sexism" defense; this is a self-obsessed individual who will tread on anyone in pursuit of power. If she ever does decide to run for president, I hope that SNL does a "Dead Zone" parody where Christopher Walken shakes hands with Palin, and sees what lies in store for us if by some bizarre scenario she should become president.
I love your letter Thom.
I do believe like Phil said we can either take this lying down like most of the left has been or we can hit the streets and protest. What has happened to the American spirit that knew protesting as one of the only ways to be heard? I think the right is counting on us to just continue to lie down and do our emails and phone calls. The problem with these forms of "voice" is that know one else sees them or hears them. People begin to think that they are the only one out there screaming to be heard. If we take to the streets like others have it is harder to be ignored and silenced. I am almost 60 and I wonder why the younger generation is just sitting silent and not out there protesting? I think we need a revolution. The question is, "Will it be peaceful or violent? The Chinese, French and may others are willing to stand up and hit the streets, why aren't we? Before it is to late TAKE TO THE STREETS PEOPLE AND LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD!
In today's program, you mentioned Bill Clinton's advice to President Obama to pass something, anything and call it reform. (Remember Bill Clinton's cheerleading for NAFTA.) As a modest proposal, President Obama and the Democrats could stand up, go for real reform -- including a smart and viable public option. Then, in the unhappy event that real reform does not pass, Republicans and Blue Doggers will bear the natural consequences of their positions. Let them answer constituents' pleas for help with the insurance/big pharm behemoth; let them respond to political opponents in the next election. The heartbreaking abuses, crippling economic pressure on American businesses, and other outrages of the current health care system are simply too universal, too grave, for any facile political fix. Go for the real thing!
Thom...
MEDICARE FIT :The one word name for our nations health plan and your
idea of letting all Americans join Medicare.
It "FITS" our nations pocketbook and the individuals pocket.
It make America FIT and healthy economically and physically.
What do you think? An easy catchy positive phrase
Feedback please. Thanks. Julie
MORE RESULTS OF THOM HARTMANN'S ALLEGIANCE TO THE PALESTINIAN EXTERMINATION
Human Rights Watch Calls on Israel to Investigate "White Flag" Shootings of Gaza Civilians
Human Rights Watch released a report last week detailing new evidence of possible Israeli war crimes committed during last winter’s Operation Cast Lead in Gaza that left over 1,400 Palestinians dead. The report says Israeli soldiers unlawfully shot and killed at least eleven Palestinian civilians, including five women and four children, who were in groups waving white flags to make clear that they were civilians and not combatants. We speak to HRW’s Fred Abrahams and air exclusive video from Gaza from Democracy Now!‘s Anjali Kamat and Big Noise Film’s Jacquie Soohen.
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/8/17/human_rights_watch_calls_on_israel
A public option should be Medicare in another name, and I think Thom is right in suggesting that the terms of the healthcare debate should be changed to accommodate it. It would be so much easier for people to grasp what "public option" means.
The caller before the end of the first hour merely confirmed my contention at the top of this page. I would add that most of those "brown people" sitting in hospital waiting rooms are not in there for themselves, but for their children--the "natural" result of substandard living conditions.
If I had the money I would wager any republican or person opposing heathcare reform that if a survey were taken in countries like Canada, England, Germany, France or Italy and the question was..."If you could choose between the system you now have or the one in the United States, which would you take?" I think that if 20% picked the United States, I would be stunned. Until that number reaches 50% plus, don't give me anecdotal stories. In the United States, in poker betting terms, I will see your story and raise you fourfold.
I spoke earlier about not media coverage of Rep. Adrian Smith's (R NE) Town Hall meeting in Aurora, NE last Friday. Here is the email I received from the editor of the regional daily newspaper.
Mena:
I have no idea where the town hall meeting was on Friday. We recvd no notice or press release about it. We did cover his meeting with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in G.I. on Friday and that was on page one of the Saturday edition. We did have notices about his appearances in Osceola and Aurora on Friday, but they were not billed as anything resembling town hall meetings. Where was the town hall meeting?
Say- does anyone here have the link to that FAIR.org article about the media sitting on boards of health care insurers? I was at that site and am not sure that I had it and am multi tasking.
Ask Shawn if she will be our poster child - although, you know what the right will to her, what they did to Max Clelland.
Yellowbird, obvously I am pissed off and ranting a bit. In 1992, I canvassed and fundraised for a Single Payer System, and since then have been a champion of progressive reform. Believe me, I hate Republicans as much as, well, almost as much as the spineless Democrats that WE put into office to make the changes WE demanded. I can tell you this, if there is not a strong public opton in the health care bill and Obama signs it, the health care system will still be broke, the Republicans will have gotten what they wanted and, worst of all, the Democrats will have spent ALL of their political capital for NOTHING. If you're going to take a big hit politically, it has to be worth it. Johnson knew there were going to be serious political repercussions for pushiing through the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act and Medicare, but he did the right thing, got them passed and then took the heat.
The other side has already won this battle, and is effectively still in charge. The only way progressives could have won the hearts and minds of the public was to fight, fight, fight; to demonstrate the courage of their convictions. Most voters just want to see if you are passionate about something. The right knows this, and uses it to get their way every time. Instead of fighting, the Democrats wilted, and expained how unfair the fight was, how many lies the opposition told. There will be a massive Democratic losses in both houses in 2010, so get ready for it.
I also fear that Obama is a one term president. The only chance we had was to cram through progressive legislation, and to hell with bi-partisanship. Does anyone really think the Republicans care about anything? Hell no, their only interest is to be in power, to prevent change.
I think the progressives should re-focus their energy towards the few states where we have a real chance to make a big change, and forget about the national stage. I think that in Washington and Oregon, we could get a regional Single-Payer System in place, I think that is more likely. To hell with Iowa and Montana, if they want the status-quo, good luck with that.
Re: Stiff opposition
Thom, your "Get screwed by Thom Hartmann" ad always makes me chuckle too!
Thom,
Your letter is brilliant. That turns the argument around. Those who oppose medicare for all are interfering with my right to choose the best healthcare plan.
Would Jefferson wish us health care?
See? Preamble is to promote the general welfare
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America
we must fight back harder and kick ass. we have truth on our side when they yell .we yell louder speaking the truth. lets get ready to rumble
Mark,
Thank you for your awesome posts. I am so disgusted with the racism and sexism infiltrating the right. The nutcases are coming out of the woodwork right now.
The statistics you shared about education in Pakistan were also very interesting. Instead of sending guns to Afghanistan we should be sending solar and wind energy technology to help their citizens become leaders in the alternative energy industry. Continuing to kill innocent civilians with more bombing and fighting will only create more terrorists. We need to focus on social welfare to compete with the Taliban.
And also, the hate speech entering the left via jabbing right wingers is very depressing too. Mental illness is under attack via jabs at the right wing talk show host who cries so frequently. (I've forgotten his name suddenly). And the sexism that surfaces while people are critiquing Palin is pretty disgusting too.
People need to get their points across without demoralizing millions of other innocent people. We aren't doing ourselves any favors by disenfranchising women or those with bi-polar disorder while we critique the ridiculous views on the right. There are much better ways to go about it. Thom Hartmann and his blog are a great example of intelligent, positive ways to debate.
The interesting discussion on sex-dancing is a good example of discussing important issues that can spin quickly out of control in a tough minded yet positive and meaningful way.
Would you like an illustration of just what the other side is saying? Do you want THESE PEOPLE back in charge of our nation? Just watch this clip PLEASE:
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/john-fund-cites-nate-silvers...
to me the arts is a spiritual experience. through the arts people express their humanity people that want to suppress the arts are evil. they do not want people to inspire others in positive ways
Who will join you in supporting Republicans to "scare" and "depose" Democrats? Certainly NOT me! Nothing like cutting your nose off to spite your face!
More aggressive progressive organizations are forming and they have lists of Democratic Blue Dog Traitors to replace. Money is being collected for primary battles and they will be replaced with PROGRESSIVES not republicans.
I expect that any attempt to pass the simple Medicare-for-all solution would be met with a barrage of misinterpretations/mischaracterizations along the lines of those which are only too familiar to us.
E.g. "It's going to destroy Medicare"."It's a backdoor to government funding of abortions", "We can't afford it", "It's socialist", etc, etc, yadda, yadda...
check out the snapshot of the health insurance sector from Goog Finance:
http://www.google.com/finance?catid=us-52935503
The booming stock prices of the healthcare companies should tell you all you need to know.
Notice how the AFLAC's and UNUM's are down?
It's because those guys are supplemental insurers; they would have benefited from real reform. That's why AFLAC makes all it's money abroad! We're the only country in the world (with money) with our ass hanging in the wind for primary care.
CNBC will cry all day about the sinking market and will never even mention that the healthcare racketeers are making a killing today.
Swine flu jab link to killer nerve disease:
Leaked letter reveals concern of neurologists over 25 deaths in America 15 Aug 2009 A warning that the new swine flu jab is linked to a deadly nerve disease has been sent by the Government to senior neurologists in a confidential letter. The letter from the Health Protection Agency, the official body that oversees public health, has been leaked to The Mail on Sunday, leading to demands to know why the information has not been given to the public before the vaccination of millions of people, including children, begins. It tells the neurologists that they must be alert for an increase in a brain disorder called Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), which could be triggered by the vaccine. The letter, sent to about 600 neurologists on July 29, is the first sign that there is concern at the highest levels that the vaccine itself could cause serious complications.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1206807/Swine-flu-jab-link-kille...
White House Appears Ready to Drop "Public Option"
http://www.truthout.org/081609J?n
Philip Elliott, The Associated Press: "Bowing to Republican pressure, President Barack Obama's administration signaled on Sunday it is ready to abandon the idea of giving Americans the option of government-run insurance as part of a new U.S. health care system. Facing mounting opposition to the overhaul, administration officials left open the chance for a compromise with Republicans that would include health insurance cooperatives instead of a government-run plan. Such a concession would likely enrage his liberal supporters but could deliver Obama a much-needed win on a top domestic priority opposed by GOP lawmakers."
Please help. I do not understand…Republicans have bashed government for 30 years for incompetence and inability to produce.
Why isn't that disputed...loudly?
Why would Federal Personnel continue to do anything for the people who continually berate them?
If they are not talking about civil service, are they talking about their Colleagues?
Am I missing somthing in this equation?
[I believe that government can and does work, much/most of the time.]
I am a lifelong progressive democrat, and I have had enough. We can take this sitting down like the spineless democrats in congress or we can stand up and fight back! Since OUR representatives are more afraid of losing their seats than giving us what we want, let’s take those seats away from them. We have the power. But I have a new approach and am looking for support from my progressive brothers and sisters. Since democrats are not afraid of the left (why should they be, the left hasn’t put of a real fight in 40 years), let’s come at them from the right. Here is my logic. We could support progressive opposition candidates from the left, but the incumbents would easily defeat them in the primary. The real threat comes in the general against the Republican candidate. In many districts, the Democrat’s margin is very thin, especially in the blue dog districts. It we progressives put our effort and finances behind the Republican candidate, we will have better chance of unseating our turncoat, Democratic representatives. They need to be punished for their disloyalty to the cause.
Democrats, we gave you a majority in both houses, we will take it away. Who will join me?