The fact that 76% percent of the American public WANT a public option carries no weight with Congres...

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/17/obama-boost-new-poll-show_n_217175.html

Because if it did, the "debate" about a public option would not exist. But, why be surprised? - that was all clear a long time ago when these same ignoramuses signed a Medicare Drug bill that forbade negotiating with the Drug companies. They got away with that, so why shouldn't they get away with killing the public option, too?

They just f!@*ing don't care. Their collective, open contempt for the American public is beyond belief or compare. That we take it lying down is pathetic. Compare this to how the British reacted to having some moat cleanings and home improvements put on the public tab and they practically toppled Parliament! Our system is just completely broken. Our reps are owned by lobbyists and campaign contributors. I guess the one thing the Founding Fathers did not predict is that a nation of sheep would allow themselves to be plundered indefinitely and without limit by corrupt office-holders.

[rocktivity]

1. Three phone calls, as Randi Rhodes says

to your Senator and Congressreps and tell them, "Vote for single payer or I don't vote for you."

:headbang:
rocktivity

[vaberella]

8. I want them to vote for public option or I don't vote for them. n/t

[calimary]

22. Want the TOLL FREE Capitol Hill switchboard numbers?

Make as many calls as you like - TOLL FREE! Check my sig line.

[katandmoon]

2. It carries no weight with Obama either

[pot luck]

5. Obama has reiterated his support for the public option.

It's Congress and the insurance companies who own them that are against it.

[solstice]

28. Obama passed the buck straight to them.

[katandmoon]

32. Obama + "support" = throwing under the bus

[Dawgs]

6. Really. Is that why he's been pushing for it?

Step back... take a breath... think... and then post.

[solstice]

27. PUSHING for it? On what planet? Because it's sure not on THIS one.

[katandmoon]

33. I'm just being realistic. Maybe you should try it.

[4lbs]

13. That's why he had that town hall meeting in Green Bay, Wisconsin last week where he reiterated

publicly his firm support for a public option?

He also talked about the scare tactics that those opposed to it were using.

[solstice]

26. Guess Sebelius didn't get the word then.

[katandmoon]

34. Green Bay, WI? Why isn't Obama on the HILL? I'll tell you why. He's using congress for cover.

Just like they're using him. In the end, when there is no public option, and definitely no single payer (THAT absolutely never had a snowball's chance in hell), they can keep pointing fingers at each other, and we can keep fighting over whom to blame, while that big contributor they want the money to keep rolling in from, the health insurance industry, keeps on doing exactly what it's been doing, screwing us. And waiting for a president with real balls to smack them down. Obama isn't that president. The size of his balls is in inverse proportion to the size of his vocal chords.

[4lbs]

36. I see. I guess taking it directly to the people and talking to them directly is of no use?

Your incessant criticism is getting tiring. It seems the president can do nothing right in your mind.

[solstice]

25. So true. Obama is screwing over single payer proponents the same way he screwed over gays.

Acted like he believed in protecting a vulnerable group - in this case people who couldn't afford health insurance or couldn't get decent coverage - and then when push came to shove, he passed the buckk to congress.

I'm beginning to see a pattern here. Obama is setting a whole new standard for passing the buck.

[villager]

3. Our job is to get traduced into "voting" -- we don't provide what really counts, like money

n/t

[Auggie]

4. There's a rally in Washington D.C. next week

www.health-justice.org

Thanks to old mark for posting: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5873987

Please keep it kicked

[vaberella]

7. I abhor Congress----mainly the Senate. n/t

[DrToast]

9. We don't count. Money talks

Contributions from the Health Sector to Congress


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8478439&mesg_id=8478439

[DKRC]

15. The chart for denial of benefits & rescission probably matches that

almost exactly.

:mad:



If you haven't read babylonsister's OP about rescission here's the link:

Rescission: customers have insurance, pay premiums, get sick, companies drop coverage

[Hepburn]

10. Well, yeah, they HAVE good health insurance....

...why would most of them, particularly the Rs and the Blue Dogs, give a shit about anyone who doesn't? After all, being poor or ill is the fault of the person who is suffering this fate, right?

:eyes:

[quantass]

11. I loved Sicko (Movie by Moore) -- quite amazing how the Amerian people fear the establishment and

how most of the rest of the world (especially in European countries) the establishment is afraid of the people.

76% is crazy high and CLEARLY it shouldnt be a question but yet here we are debating it on tv ... or rather, all i see is republicans abusing it on tv....democrats are never on tv.

[Indenturedebtor]

19. The reality is that we are now a nation of brainwashed cowards

There are two things that most people here care about:

1) Comfort
2) Acceptance

Pukes figured it out years ago. Twist those screws and encourage them to grow deeper and you can suppress the population and pillage the country. When people start to catch on, start a war, and blame the troubles of the people on a couple of minorities.

[Blue_Tires]

31. +1

[LittleBlue]

12. The corporations have subverted the will of the people.

And we let them get away with it. We hold near absolute power, yet we let them dictate the agenda.

[uponit7771]

14. If democrats had message discipline we'd have a public option yesterday but they don't

...and have no strength of their convictions IMHO resulting in being milk toast with their responses

[FrenchieCat]

16. This is what we should be twitting about!

[burning rain]

17. The only real thing really to be said in defense of Congress here --.....

and it's not really a defense -- is that like so many things, Americans don't want public option enough to do much of anything about it; they just have a weak preference for it. As with most things, most Americans' apathy, laziness, and addiction to consumerism and entertainment will likely get the better of them, and the medical / insurance complex will chalk up another victory, and I daresay they will have earned it, because they fight hard and show perseverance, unlike the wast bulk of the citizenry. In such a case, the French would shut their country down, raise hell, and put the fear of God in their leaders, while Americans will whine a little, then go shopping.

[lindisfarne]

20. 67% of Americans favored the public option with private ins. in an April survey. This is a STRONG

preference.

Americans prefer the public option (67% favor), keeping private insurance for some alongside a public program, over a single payer plan (49% favor). Survey results are from April 2009.

http://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/upload/7892.pdf

g. Having a national health plan in which all Americans would get their insurance from a single government plan
49% favor
47% oppose

h. Creating a public health insurance option similar to Medicare to compete with private health insurance plans
Favor: 67%
Oppose: 29%

[burning rain]

21. That's a big percentage.

But I suspect that the passion and determination are overwhelmingly on the 29% "No" side. History is more often made by passionate, determined minorities than blase majorities.

[Kablooie]

18. The 2% that pay for their campaigns have 99% of the influence.

[old mark]

23. Come on - they are the finest legislators money can buy.

and they prove it repeatedly.

Email one of them and try to insult him...I bet you can't do it...they don't care about anything except making money and maybe screwing and staying drunk.
I include both parties and the independents in this.
mark

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

24. Yes. Literally. No irony or sarcasm intended.

The jig is up. I think most Americans are finally clued into the swindle that our government has become as far as looking out for the interests of the citizen/voter.

So what do we do about it?

[old mark]

29. No, sadly, no sarcasm at all - I am afraid there really is no solution -

they are after the rewards and nothing else, despite the rhetoric and spin...I doubt "public interest" even enters into things any more, probably hasn't for longer than I care to comprehend...

It has all been lies for a long time now.

mark

[Orsino]

30. The 24% that are corrupt or deluded count for much, much more, it seems.

:mad:

[Autumn]

35. The American public

carries absolutely NO weight with Congress . At least not until time for reelection then they will throw us a bone, after making sure the meat is completely stripped off.