Sun, 21 Mar 2010

Political Discourse Moved

I have moved my thoughts about politics to an outside blog:

The American Person

It reflects my frustration with the political system in the United States at all levels. The title reflects my annoyance at any politician telling me what the "American people" think. I feel they are out of touch with the people of the United States, divided and radical at all levels and political bents. So . . . here's my chance to speak out as the unique individual person that we all are!

posted 08:10 [/Politics] permanent link

Sun, 14 Mar 2010

Coffee or Tea . . . one lump or two?

Naming political movements after refreshments is an interesting trend. Of course, the American's threw tea into the bay and then adopted coffee as the national drink, so I suppose there is some tie in. One of the more interesting quote from the CNN story about the Coffee Party meetings this Saturday was . . .

"I think the biggest thing to come out of it was people were tired of being labeled and divided," said Jernigan, who added that a Tea Party member was among the attendees. "They do agree on a lot."

[source]

I know that the most irritating statements by anyone, especially politicians are those starting with "the American people . . .". First, I defy any politician to define "the American People" and second what do these insolated, self-centered, greedy people know about what I think? Nothing, that's what!

The tea and coffee versions of things are much the same. The difference seems to be that the Coffee party is less partisan, while the Tea party is definitely fiscally conservative and full of anti-tax rhetoric. I'm thinking the thoughts of the Coffee Party better suit my temperament:

"Just like in the American Revolution, we are looking for real representation right now. We don't feel represented by our government right now, and we don't really feel represented well by the media either," [Coffee Party founder Annabel] Park said last week on CNN's "American Morning." "It's kind of a simple call to action for people to wake up and take control over their future and demand representation. And it requires people standing up and speaking up."

[same source]

I like the idea of the people telling the political leaders what they think rather than the political leaders telling the people what to think! The political system is definitely broken and working only for those who make money by buying politicians through their contributions. Let's hope that the Coffee Party movement an show the politicians that the people have the power to take away their positions if they don't get with the people's program.

posted 13:55 [/Politics] permanent link

Fri, 22 Jan 2010

The American People, Reprise . . .

How do you know when a politician is lying? His lips are moving.

I have said it before and will say it again, there is no phrase more irritating from the mouth of a politician than one that starts,

The American People want . . .

When I hear this, all the words come out, "bs . . . bs . . . bs . . . ". It's like the old Charlie Brown cartoons where the adult voices we are
"waah...waah...waah". What do these self-serving insolated demagogs know about the American People and what we want!?

I have one thing to say to THEM, STOP IT!

posted 05:35 [/Politics] permanent link

Wed, 16 Sep 2009

The American People . . .

. . . I really dislike this phrase.

Probably because it is spoken by self-serving politicians as they try to tell me what I think.

The treat the phrase like there are two groups -- them and "the American people". Aren't THEY also the American People? And what gives them the right to tell me what I think?

posted 07:43 [/Politics] permanent link

Sat, 08 Aug 2009

She is Nuts!

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin called President Barack Obama's health plan "downright evil" Friday in her first online comments since leaving office, saying in a Facebook posting that he would create a "death panel" that would deny care to the neediest Americans

"The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's 'death panel' so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their 'level of productivity in society,' whether they are worthy of health care," the former Republican vice presidential candidate wrote.

[Source]
How can any responsible national figure say such things? First, it isn't true and second, the current system makes these types of decisions every day. If you have insurance, some bureaucrat in an insurance company or HMO decides on what services you will receive based on this effect on the company's bottom line. If you don't have insurance, well, the decision is made for you based on your economic condition. The current system does just what she falsely decries! Palin, shut up!

posted 06:56 [/Politics] permanent link

Fri, 26 Jun 2009

Healthcare Reform will Fail

The reason is simple -- greed. Greed on the part of the parties involved, the politicians, hospitals, insurance companies, lawyers, healthcare workers, pharmacy companies . . .

These groups have a vested interest in the current broken system which they have manipulated to maximize their profits. They are working mightily to maintain those profits in any revised system rather than working for the benefit of society as a whole. As long as this persists, healthcare reform will fail

This greed is one of the reasons why healthcare costs are so high in the U.S. Each entity involved is attempting to maximize their profits on the system. There are so many middlemen in the processes that profits are tacked onto profits onto profits before the end-user is finally billed. A profit-based healthcare system is wrong!

posted 06:25 [/Politics] permanent link

Thu, 26 Mar 2009

The People . . .

Have you ever noticed the way politicians at all levels talk? The are always talking about the people. Like there is a them and us sort of thing going on. It's the politicians and the (American) people.

It seems to me that the document says WE the people . . . . . .

posted 06:40 [/Politics] permanent link

Sun, 16 Mar 2008

Market-Based Solution to the Healthcare Crisis . . .

. . . Now there's an oxymoron if I have ever heard one!

Market-based means profits. So this phrase is code for "my rich friends in the insurance and pharmeceutical industries are making scads of money and want to make even more . . .". Oh, yeah, a large portion of the population don't have insurance, emergency rooms are closing because people don't see their doctors because they don't have insurance, a major cause of personal bankruptsy is crushing medical bills, . . .

We need universal healthcare in the US and a profit based system won't cut it. We spend more on healthcare than many other industralized countries and have poor outomes when we should have the best outcomes. The US is 41st in life expectancy among industralized countries. Our market-based healthcare system is a major contributor to the problem (or maybe a MAJOR contributor to the poor performance of the US healthcare system).

posted 09:21 [/Politics] permanent link