Conservatives for Patients' Rights? You Are Kidding, Right?

Like most of you, probably, I have become increasingly sick of the commercials being aired by the CPR talking, almost exclusively, about waiting lines in Canada. What this group has done, is highlighted some cases of people who were let down by a "Government run" health care system. I am not going to argue whether or not those people were let down, let us assume they were. Not a single, that is right, not a single universal health care advocate claims that a universal system would be perfect. We know, that occasionally, people will be let down by their health care system, regardless of what system that is.

So where this conversation should really be held, is on the basis of which system lets down fewer people, and which system does so fairly. For instance, conservatives love to bring up the waiting lines in Canada as a major reason not to switch to a single-payer system. First off, it is a myth that waiting lines in Canada are worse than in the US. If your procedure is urgently needed, it is provided. Only elective surgeries are put on hold in order to take care of the urgent needs first. And you know what? Waiting lines in the US do not include all the people that never get in line because they have no insurance and know they will not get care. Simply put, waiting lines in the US, if you include those people, are probably far worse than in Canada. The only difference is that someone went around our waiting line and said, "All those with lots of money, please come to the front." Our lines are based on who can afford the procedure, Canada's are based on who needs it most.

For every person the CPR finds who is unhappy with a "Government run" health care system, we can find 50, or 100, who are unhappy with ours. And there is one thing that is more telling than any personal story whatsoever, and that is the numbers. So please, go do some research. Check out how much money per capita we spend on health care compared to Canada, or the UK, or, gasp, France. Check out how many people we have uninsured compared to them (hint: they're number is infinitely closer to zero than ours is). Check out what percentage of our uninsured are working full time. Check out where our nation, the most prosperous in the world, stands on life expectancy. Check out where we stand on infant mortality rates. I am not going to give you these statistics because I want you to google them. It is that easy. Literally search "Where does the US stand on life expectancy compared to other nations?" You'll get plenty of results.

UPDATE: Thanks go out to pkdu over at democraticunderground.com for pointing out this tidbit of information about the CPR spokesman and the health care company he created:

which company did he create ? Columbia/HCA

and what fine did Columbia/HCA pay in Dec 2000 " pleaded guilty to criminal conduct and paid out $840m in criminal fines, civil penalties and damages for alleged unlawful billing practices in what the US government described as 'the largest government fraud settlement ever reached by the Justice Department'."
http://www.againstcorruption.org/briberycase.asp?id=841

This astroturf frontman should be thanking his lucky stars every day he's not in prison.

That makes perfect sense. If you are planning on convincing American's of the "horrors" of universal health care, you need someone that knows a thing or two about defrauding the general public. Also, if you read the link, this guys hatred for the British health care system might have something to do with the fact that his company was one of the bidders to be a part of it, they just lost the bid.

The Responsibility to be an Asshat, err, I Mean Republican

I need to take a quick minute to share with you, a bit of hilarity from the folks over at redstate. An article they have up about the Gov of the country of Texas.

First things first, a series of questions from sir asshat:

Can anyone tell me that Medicare and Social Security are not each about to hit a wall VERY hard, and leave millions of Americans wondering what in the hell happened to their retirement and health care? Can anyone tell me that the massive amounts of spending being spent will not lead to significant inflation in the coming years? Can anyone tell me that the United States government will enforce its borders? Can anyone tell me that the United States government will take the necessary steps to get adequate fossil fuels, or build nuclear power to maximize liberty and lower energy costs? Can anyone tell me that we will be able to celebrate Christmas in schools or graduate students equipped for the world if we follow the ways of Washington? Can anyone tell me our healthcare system will be better off with greater Washington involvement?

Question 1: Yes. In fact, the Social Security bankruptcy is an unsubstantiated myth. When our government evaluates Social Security, they put together three separate forecasts. An optimistic one, a pessimistic one, and one somewhere in the middle. The one saying it will be bankrupt is the middle one. At first glance, that sounds reasonable. However, historical evidence shows us that every time, the optimistic forecast has been the most accurate. Our optimistic forecast (put out by President Bush's administration, mind you) says that, not only, will we not be bankrupt, we will have more money for it than we do now. Secondly, when it comes to Medicare, please show me one mainstream Republican that is in favor of cutting Medicare, or cutting up their own Medicare card. Otherwise, shut the fuck up about it.

Question 2: First off, "spending being spent" is not exactly proper English. As you like to say to the non-whites, you're in America, learn English. And no, I cannot tell you it will not lead to inflation. What I can tell you, is that doing nothing (or in Republican, cutting taxes and reducing regulations) would have a far worse impact on our economy after the devastation of your king, err, President Bush.

Question 3: Yes. In fact, liberals support enforcing the border (especially pro labor liberals). And, I think, our support for it will increase tenfold if Texas secedes. Secondly, I ask conservatives to name one democrat since Reagan's amnesty drive that has reduced the number of boarder patrol guards. Until then, shut the fuck up.

Question 4: Yes. You know what else they'll do in the process, invest in new, cheap, cleaner, more efficient forms of energy to make us "energy independent" so we don't have to give so much money to the conservatives most hated people, Muslims (see "terrorist" in the GOP dictionary).

Question 5: That's not a real question, right? Name one, one single move that President Obama has taken to outlaw celebrating Christmas in schools? This reminds me of when I got in a fight with a McCain staffer because one of their guest speakers accused President Obama (then Senator) of wanting to outlaw the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance. Seriously, you whacko, fuckhead, see a therapist.

Question 6: Yes. In fact, the best health care systems are Medicare and the Veterans Health Administration. I dare you too find anyone clamoring to get off Medicare. In fact, when ever people do switch from Medicare to a private option, they later complain about being lied to, manipulated, scammed. So yes, almost anything would be better than an industry which makes its money off denying coverage to the ill (or the people that need health care, as I like to call them).

So, in conclusion, shut up.

And about that crazy, asshat of a Governor, the federal government has the right to attach strings to funds (which is why I agreed with the feds that schools who refuse military recruiters can lose federal funding, I would be the first one to set up a table next to them telling people not to enlist while we have an immoral war going on in Iraq, but I agreed with the feds). Where was this outrage while President Bush tied our economy up and put out lit cigars on it? Where was this outrage when we found out that President Cheney, err, Bush was spying on Grannies for peace?

Where was the outrage when our legislators passed the Patriot Act, the single largest dump ever taken on the Constitution?

Republican's are not conservative. They are anti Democrat. In other words, they support everything the Republican's do, so long as it is not in line with anything the Democrats do, and if it is, they better have done it first.

I call your bluff Governor Perry. Our opinion on the subject has not changed. So, either secede and cut off all ties to this oppressive dictatorship, or shut up with the grandstanding.

VIDEO/AUDIO and eye-candy: Gov. Dean Returns to DFA

cross-posted at DailyKos

It was a big night for Democracy for America (DFA) on Wednesday, March 25th. On a conference call celebrating their fifth birthday, the DFA announced the return of Governor Howard Dean, at least temporarily. They launched a new website, StandWithDrDean, and are asking everyone to work like crazy pushing President Obama's health care plan. So, please start by visiting the StandWithDrDean website, sign the petition, and get your friends and family to as well.

It was a powerful conference call, especially for anyone that supported the DFA from the beginning. I cannot stress enough how scary it is to imagine where we might be right now, were it not for the efforts of the Dean family and the DFA.

We recorded the call, so we could share it with you. If you were not on the call, you truly should find the time to hear the whole thing.

And, without further ado, here is the audio of the call, with plenty of Dean/DFA eye-candy:










Hope you enjoy it! Don't forget to visit the StandWithDrDean website!