21st century "reform": captive customers paying insurance CEOs $1 trillion with their tax dollars

[brentspeak]

The Iraq War proved once and for all that the government can, at will, fool and manipulate the general public, no matter how outrageous and insane what's being sold. The bank bailouts proved once and for all that the government can, at will, have their way with your tax dollars, no matter how in-your-face criminal what's being sold. The $1 trillion Wealthcare for Insurance CEOs Act continues the grand trandition.

[villager]

1. Once they were in-your-face about stealing elections in broad daylight, that was that

It was official that the American people would willingly put up with anything....

[emulatorloo]

2. Please explain to me why the Insurance Industry is spending so much money trying to kill this bill

if it is a "Wealthcare for Insurance CEOs Act". No one on DU can give me a answer that makes any sense.

They hate this bill. They are scared of this bill and where it will lead.





(and don't put words in my mouth, I don't think this bill is wonderful myself)

[John Q. Citizen]

6. Have you heard of open secrets? You can see where the health care money is going. It's going to the

Dems.

If you have a link that shows what insurance company has spent how much money to defeat this bill, I'd love to see it.


The insurance industry signed on to this bill last spring. They love it. The head of AHIP has said publicly and repeatedly that they support this reform. Obama has said that the insurance companies, for the most part, support this reform.

[BklnDem75]

9. Got a link for that?

So far, throughout this thread, I've only read opinions.

[emulatorloo]

10. INSURANCE AND HMO INDUSTRIES SPEND NEARLY $700000 PER DAY TO KILL REFORM

http://www.campaignmoney.org/HMO_insurance_spend_to_kill_reform

Washington, D.C. – A campaign finance watchdog’s analysis of insurance and HMO political contributions and lobbying expenses found the industries spent $126,430,438 over the first half of 2009 and $585,725,712 over the past two and a half years to influence public policy and elected officials. The group, Public Campaign Action Fund, found that in the first part of 2009, the industries were spending money at nearly a $700,000 a day clip to influence the political process and that the monthly pace of political spending this year has increased by nearly $400,000 over the average spent per month in the previous two years.

=========

They are still spending this kind of money. Look at the Michelle Bachmann rally the other day, underwritten by Freedom Works and Americans For Prosperity, who will not reveal their donors (but we know are probably the insurance industry)

Again, no one can answer my question with anything that makes sense. If it is a 'INSURANCE INDUSTRY WET DREAM" why do they continue trying to kill it?

[Zynx]

12. Do you talk to right wing business people ever?

I have the misfortune of doing so and let me tell you that they honestly believe that this bill is the end of the country.

[emulatorloo]

14. I've had those conversations too.

[Zynx]

16. They honestly believe we are on an inescapable path toward Stalinism.

This is what I cannot reconcile with DUers who think Obama is in league with big corporations.

[John Q. Citizen]

19. Everybod knows it . Not just DUers Don't you read the papers?

http://www.newsweek.com/id/217458

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124891353497192109.html?mod=todays-us-page-one

http://www.slate.com/id/2224621/

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/08/12/big_business_goes_big_for_health-care_reform_97859.html

Do you know how many times Karen Ignagni has been to the White House this year?

You are aware, right, that the White House together with the Finance Committee, which is chaired by Max Baucus, the biggest recipient of health care industrial complex money in the congress, have been cutting deals to keep the insurance industry, big pharma on board for this "reform."
It's because of course the corporations want 30 to 40 million brand new customers many of whom are subsidies by the government to purchase their product.

I don't know what business people you deal with, but the ones i know would love to have 30 million new subsidized customers who are required by law to buy their product. Health Insurers have been losing customers. Every time someone can't afford insurance they lose a customer. As people retire they move onto Medicare and need far less health insurance because Medicare covers a lot of it.

They see this as a bonanza. Of course they want to direct it so it comes out as advantageous for them as possible. They don't want a strong public option. And we aren't getting a public option at all worth a damn. So they are getting what they want, and it isn't what we want.

What's to reconcile? Are you telling me business people/farmers opposed selling wheat to the Soviets, back in the 80s? They loved it. Midwestern Farmers like money. They don't care if it's the Soviets, their money is good. Same with CEOs of the insurance companies and the Drug Companies and the hospitals, etc.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/ahip-concerned-about-house-health-reform-bill.php

See, she's concerned. Not fighting it. not opposing it. Just wanting to direct it.

[emulatorloo]

13. WAPO: HEALTCARE INDUSTRY SPENDING $1.4 MILLION A DAY ON LOBBYING

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/05/AR2009070502770.html

The hirings are part of a record-breaking influence campaign by the health-care industry, which is spending more than $1.4 million a day on lobbying in the current fight, according to disclosure records. And even in a city where lobbying is a part of life, the scale of the effort has drawn attention. For example, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) doubled its spending to nearly $7 million in the first quarter of 2009, followed by Pfizer, with more than $6 million.

[John Q. Citizen]

18. Absolutley and they got what they wanted for the money. An industry friendly bill.

The insurance companies are getting 30 to 40 million new customers, thanks to their friends in the Democratic party.

They love it.

Or do you think they hate millions of new subsidized captive customers?

[phleshdef]

21. Because contrary to the OPs bullshit, this bill makes them bend over and grab their ankles.

And actually, ya know, cover people that pay for coverage.

[Sebastian Doyle]

3. Sad, isn't it.

Now let the Cheerleader unrec onslaught begin... :evilfrown:

[John Q. Citizen]

4. Yep. The money party wins again. The Dems have become Repos and the Repos are Fascists

Look at how fast the people just rolled over on the PO.

When do suppose anybody will get around to fixing NAFTA? Like never would be my guess.


:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[ProSense]

5. Aren't they paying more than $2 trillion now?

And still nearly 50 million people are uninsured.

People need to stop pulling numbers out of there ass to try to mischaracterize reform.

[John Q. Citizen]

7. Yep, no cost containment Just spending more on the criminals who broke it.

The trillion a decade is in addition to what's being spent right now. Plus, there will be a bunch more private money because of the unfunded mandates on individuals.

Plus there will be more money the states are required to pay.

But you knew that.


We will be spending a lot more than we do currently. And as costs raise our benefits will be cut.

[Davis_X_Machina]

8. I agree.

We should vote it down, and move on to the single-payer plan funded by a new top income tax bracket of 55% that just passed committees in the House and Senate, and sits next on the agenda.

Hey, wait a minute...

[Zynx]

11. This isn't a legitimate policy debate. This is just ranting. It's like people who confuse TARP with

ARRA.

[geek tragedy]

15. Yeah, that Bernie Sanders is a real sellout.

Too bad he isn't fighting for good policy like you do.

[brentspeak]

17. Bernie Sanders is fighting for single-payer, Brain Stem

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/healthwellness/143494/sen._bernie_sanders:_the_fight_for_better_health_care/

[geek tragedy]

20. He's going to betray you by voting for Obamacare. nt