ebonlock | (no subject)

So the latest attempt to undermine Obama's plan to reform health care is yet another "Oooh, scary socialist health care!" ooga-booga commercial that's already been debunked as the new wingnut spokes model seems to have told a tiny fib about the nature of her actual illness. Turns out she didn't actually have cancer, rather a pituitary cyst. Despite her claim that she'd "be dead" without having come to America to get treatment that those Commie Canadian bastards would've made her wait weeks to get, the cyst wasn't actually fatal.

Anyone surprised by any of this please raise your hand. I just hope this self-loathing Canadian wingnutette was well compensated for her outright lies. Perhaps she could join Joe the Not-Plumber on the talk show circuit. There'd be a certain symmetry to that.

The Tragically Flip at Sadly, No! has a great comment on the use of the Canadian health care system in this debate:

It amazes me that people implicitly accept the absurd premise of doing an apples to apples comparison between Canada and the US on health care. Canada has a per capita GDP that is thousands of dollars less than the US, and moreover the US pays about 1.5 times the rate of GDP towards health care. So America is both wealthier and devotes a larger share of income to health care.

So the fact that Canada’s system is even at parity (never mind superior) to US health care when we’re a poorer nation and we pay less for this system is a testament to how fucked up US health care is. You’re paying Ferrari prices for Chevrolet performance and right wingers are proud that sometimes this $300,000 chevy can beat Canada’s little electric car.

Interestingly, I got to hear Obama's press conference on the drive home today and aside from being eloquent, thoughtful and delightfully mature, he beautifully undermined his opponents. The beautiful way he reiterated time and time again that while his opponents were simply interested in attacking him, he was, you know, an adult and actually wanted to get shit done. Imagine that.

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As a Canadian I find it absolutely mind-blowing that they keep throwing up CANADA-STYLE HEALTH CARE as some sort of boogeyman. I mean, our system isn't perfect but I do not know a single Canadian who would trade it for the US's system, and I know a LOT of Americans who would trade theirs for ours.

I know a LOT of Americans who would trade theirs for ours.

In a heartbeat, my friend, no question.

The thing that boggles my mind is the constant assertion that Evul Muslo-LibrulCare will mean you don't get to pick your doctor, that bureaucrats will decide what kind of treatment you get, that getting health care will mean a morass of paperwork and confusion instead of straightforward treatment.

Which is, you know, pretty much what we have now, unless you're with an employer that a) provides coverage b) from more than one c) PPO rather than HMO d) and your providers all participate.

The main reason I'm not President is that if I were, we'd have the military going door to door shooting anyone who even hesitates when asked "You don't seriously think the President of the United States isn't a citizen of the United States, do you?" At the very least, people would learn the actual dictionary meaning of decimation.* Of course, if I were President, they'd have to come up with a different bogeyman. I knew I shouldn't have signed up for adult show choir.

* For v. large values of 10 in Alabama, Mississippi and Texas.

Speaking of birthers... (http://nomoremister.blogspot.com/2009/07/devils-daughter-solves-gops-birther.html)

My rightwingnut husband keeps on bringing up the Canadian System boogeyman, to which I ask him "Do You hate Kaiser that much?" As we have Kaiser and he loves it. To Which I advise him that Canadian system is pretty much Kaiser on a Nationwide Scale. But his rightwingnut websites don't tell him that, so he doesn't believe me. *sigh*
I also remind him that any program being thought up now would let us keep Kaiser. Or better yet, because we have so little income, we might actually be eligible for subsidized Kaiser, same Kaiser only Cheaper! We are currently paying $12,000 a year for the three of us, or 1/3 of our "income". I had a breast cancer scare, luckily cleared but the cyst still needs watching, plus Moose was huge, so I'm considered a Type II diabetes candidate, so I'm not eligible for preferred rate. We could use cheaper.
Yeah, Obama is so eloquent, all the rightwing has is ugly smear talking points. Unfortunately Mudslinging works, as Obama's lowering approval ratings prove.

Well. The other thing that's lowering his approval ratings is the failure of the economy fairy to appear and wave a magic recovery wand.

Well. The other thing that's lowering his approval ratings is the failure of the economy fairy to appear and wave a magic recovery wand.

I often find it astonishing how 9/11 wasn't Bush's fault 'cause he was still getting used to the whole "Presidentin'" thing, yet Obama should be able to undo 8 years of GOP malfeasance within his first few months in office. Double standards? We haz it.

Even better: there were private, low-cost MRI clinics within a few minutes of her house, and once she was diagnosed, she could have gotten the expensive surgery FOR FREE.

She's a liar, and I have already e-mailed my senator offering to share MY story about how having a skull tumor almost caused me to be fired because surgery would have driven up my employer's insurance rates.

Liar.

She's a liar, and I have already e-mailed my senator offering to share MY story about how having a skull tumor almost caused me to be fired because surgery would have driven up my employer's insurance rates.

And that's the crux of it right there, what Obama is really proposing here is to take that mortal terror we all currently live with in this country away...but some are more afraid of change than they are of getting sick and losing everything. I think opposition to this plan comes down to three things, 1) fear, 2) greed and 3) a complete lack of empathy.

The one moment that gave me pause in Obama's conference last night was when he said the American public wanted to know "What's in it for me?" Do we, really? I mean is that the extent to which any of us can rationally consider new legislation? I have to think there are at least a few other people out there right now capable of considering the greater good. You know, thinking about those who can't afford even basic health care even if I'm not currently one of them.

So basically, we (Americans in general) suck. We're fearful without reason, ignorant, biased, racist, hateful, often stupid, addicted to TV and bad food, stoned on Crystal Meth, mothers at age 13, arrogant about our ignorance, and we vote Republican.

What a great country we live in!

If you aren't familiar with The Young Turks, you should check them out. They post a number of daily clips on uTube.

Their analysis of the politics surrounding healthcare reform is spot on.

Hope you've been doing well!

I'll definitely do that, thanks! :)

Check these out when you get some time. They don't exactly pull their punches, which is why I love them. ;-)

Senators Who Want to Secretly Kill Health Care Reform:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syTcJR7iRvQ

The Secret Republican Strategy on Healthcare:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWcCfmXqRzA

Watch How Some Democrats Use GOP Talking Points:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VysKG4Z1VX0

Obama and Democrats Fight Back on Healthcare!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxt9Xk26tXk

Democrats Must Go on the Attack on Healthcare!!!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI_3YejdfGs

Very good stuff, IMO.