Universal/Socialized/Public Healthcare: Your Arguments are ridiculous America.

Facebook has done us all the ‘favor’ of putting the Presidential debates on forums for all those ‘Facebookers’ out there to debate to exhaustion. I generally don’t participate in these because its not just tiresome but frankly, I come across arguments like the one I am going to post, and frankly, these kids don’t know what they hell they’re talking about.

In terms of taxes, most of our parents bred us to think lower is better. I remember in high school debating with fellow classmates about the very-real operational tax the school district HAD to pass to open the newly built lower school. If it didn’t pass, they’d cut 90% of sports and extracurricular activities. I remember our Valedictorian and two sisters, who were I believe captain of the volley ball team, along with other highly engaged high schoolers were like “No, because it will raise my parent’s property tax”. While I understand this, it doesn’t speak to the fact that the initial tax to build the school was passed, it was built, and this was the only viable tax. I think the same kinds of kids argue against public health care; their parents complain about taxes, they really don’t understand other countries’ systems, and they only look out for themselves.

The day they aren’t covered by mom and dad or they work a job that doesn’t provide health care, they’ll get it. Even then, its still a poorly executed system that relies on the invisible hand and trickle down theories. Pffft.

Here is what a Facebooker said to someone in favor of ‘universal health care’:

“It is not the worst in the world ( U.S. healthcare). It is among the best, it just is not the best. And that’s probably not due to our health care system but Americans being generally far more unhealthy and living unhealthy lifestyles than other countries. Bottom line, universal health care would be an absolute disaster. If you want your taxes to skyrocket, go ahead, be for it. It is not free, you pay for it with your taxes as well as for others. Why should I have to pay for someone else’s doctor visits, hospitalization, tests, medicines, and much much more? Why do you think people from all over the world come to America for health care? Because they don’t get good quality health care in their socialist countries and have to wait forever to be seen. Also, universal health care just adds more power to the government. Do you really want the government deciding whether or not you should have a certain surgery because there is not a life threatening need? Do you want the government running another institution with their tendency to not run institutions that well? Private health care is better for the economy and has better quality. Also, the salary of doctors and other health care workers would drop drastically. Thousands of people working for insurance companies would lose their job because their insurance company would go bankrupt. America is NOT a socialist country and we shouldn’t turn into one. If someone wants to live in a socialist country, they should move to Canada or a European country where the taxes are among the highest in the world. In my opinion, socialism is a minor form of communism trying to make everyone equal and to redistribute wealth. Communism has never worked. I understand that something needs to be done to stop the extreme high costs of health care, but universal health care is most definitely not the way to go. ” – Jane

My backlash of a response to her and all the others using Canada, taxes, and communism as a response. I apologize for the lack of citation and references, as it was a Facebook post, although I’m sure it would have augmented my perspective on things:

“There are hundreds of posts (on this subject), so I just stopped at the first that truly got my attention. Before you defend private health care: have you ever gone without any insurance during a health care crisis? I’m going to say probably not, because if you have, you’d understand how desperate things can get.

1. We have superb health care POTENTIAL but one of the poorest executed systems. So yes, we have the means, but few can attain the coverage needed to get that five star care. What does it matter if you can’t get it?

2. Having social health care doesn’t make us a socialist country. And what most Dems and liberals are talking about is an integrated system that allows for paid coverage as well as flat coverage. Examples of this already exist in our government you’re just USED to them; we have the USPS and its not like people don’t use Fed Ex or UPS. We even already have some of these elements in health care, it is just hugely lacking. It can be fashioned, and it would be sensitive to our market economy, naturally.

3. “Private health care is better for the economy”?? Who’s? If you haven’t noticed, the only people that truly reap benefits from private health care are hospital execs and pharm companies. Other countries DO have standards for public health care and they DO pay well because they can afford to do so by health incentives.
Healthier citizens and those with access to health care means less tax dollars wasted on preventable disease, early pregnancy, and even emergency medical attention. There ARE government checks and balances that can be implemented to better monitor this while still paying doctors well enough- European countries do it.

4. Out of all the socialized health care systems, CANADA ranks far far lower than others, so people should stop using it as an example! I can tell you the France and UK do not have the same gripes. AND EVEN IF THEY ALL DID, according to studies, countries with socialize services and high taxes rank among the HAPPIEST in the world. Literally!

5. I think people are using the term ‘universal health care’ broadly; it doesn’t mean just raking in a single tax and pumping out unquestioned free health care. It’s complicated and requires a great amount of infrastructure that is sensitive to both our economy and social needs. People like ME are willing to pay taxes for people LIKE YOU because I know none of us can predict our future need for a system like this; your child might be born with a handicap, and I might get cancer. As one doctor I spoke to on the matter said “It shouldn’t be health insurance. Sickness and death are inevitable.” Americans have no foresight for this, as a collective conscience.

6. People like me are more worried about creating a sustainable environment for our neighbors and our kids than just myself, and I’m willing to live a more conscientious lifestyle to do it.

7. Nine out of 10 Americans don’t know what they hell they are talking about when they say Socialism or Communism; neither of these systems are inherently evil.

8. Telling people to get out of the country if they don’t like things the way they are? True patriots and those who love their countries are willing to invest to make it better, not abandon it. (More information on ‘dogmatic nationalism’ opposed to ‘patriotism’ in previous blog Howard Zinn: Be apart of your Country’s Democracy”)

Please don’t take this personally, as this addresses my issues with many people who argue public health care. My points were brief and I assure you not as simple as I presented them, but I hope you truly consider the future of our entire nation before making your mind up on this.”

I wonder if any of this will resonate.
For now, those of you with this ridiculous dogmatic rhetoric from your parents, go ahead, prove yourself right, pay for your own insurance. Or, just drop it and run the risk of getting sick.  What are you waiting for?

Cheers not Leers!

Edwards is Finally Endorsing Obama

Finally, after all the begging, jokes, and projections: John Edwards is endorsing Barack Obama for his presidential candidacy.

He will later be giving his official endorsement at a campaign event in Michigan.
I’m supposing it will be riddled with careful verbiage to imply that he is supporting Barack Obama as the Presidential candidate, versus the Democratic nominee.

Edwards had dropped out because he thought it would expedite the process, and possibly to retain his gracious and humble image, but really the only offer he has brought to the plate lately has been his endorsement. Obviously he waited for a clear sign before making this decision.

Possibly helpful to Obama’s standings with the “hard working white” demographic?
Now if we can get Hillary on board.

Check it out.

Go Obama.

photo credits Washington Post

Pandermonium: The Gas Tax Holiday

I’m a huge fan of Veracifier‘s podcast and website. If you’re not subscribed and you like a fresh analysis of the political landscape I’d say get on that. ‘

While some episodes are commentary from Josh Marshall at TPM Media, others are citizen-submitted journalism, others are cuts of all the major political shows, pundits, and candidates themselves on recent issues.

Here is the episode “Sunday Roundup: Gas Tax Holiday (From Reality)”.

In the Clinton interview with George Stephanopoulos, she dismisses the what economists have to say about the issue (including her husband’s former Labor Secretary who refers to it as “Stupid and dumb and I don’t know why she would support it”). One woman in the audience, who clarifies she only makes $25,000 a year and is very concerned about the gas prices, calls Clinton out on pandering as well as ignoring what experts have to say on this.

Rep. Neil Abercrombie came out on Washington Post saying he thinks Obama is belittling the common American by not recognizing the importance of $25 saved monthly at the gas pump. While I believe Barack Obama should finish out his message on the gas tax with how HIS plan is going to specifically save them money, I think Abercrombie isn’t recognizing what many Americans are smart enough to realize as well as our economists: Demand will rise, the price will rise, people will just drive more.

Also, Barack Obama has vote FOR a gas tax holiday before (*gasps*). After his Senatorial experience in Illinois, and passing this ‘holiday’ and voting for the holiday three times, he has learned from experience that it does not benefit the consumer and only drained funds from other important civic projects to compensate for the tax.

So not only is it just for political positioning, it wouldn’t even be effective for the stated purpose.
I thought HRC was bent on who has the legislative experience, the policy experience? While she might have the ‘track record’ for health care, this issue she doesn’t, yet she goes against expert opinions and ignores the experience card Obama’s case.
Seems like a double-standard to me.
Mrs. Clinton, we’re getting mixed messages from you, just fyi.
This is just another ploy that has driven me away from her campaign and supporting her.

I’d say more but I think that video says it all.
Very representative of what we’re dealing with here.

Cheers

Canvassing: Not for you?

Truth be told: I am not a salesperson.
I don’t just mean that this is not my profession, but in the fact that it is not in my make up to attempt to sell people my ideas, opinions, or my identity. I used to think this was a decently good thing, but as you grow up and those rosey glasses fade away, you realize so much of the world is…sales.

I have really begun to reflect on this because as you get more involved in a political campaign, you really have to start ‘selling’ your candidate. It doesn’t make it less genuine- there is just sometimes a limited amount of interaction that requires a strong elevator pitch.
That might be the only contact they have with the campaign (as much as we try to prevent that).

Out of all the things I do for the campaign, my least favorite is canvassing. While this is great face-to-face interaction, I think I’m just poorly represent the campaign.
For starters, I am younger than I look, and I feel a lot of older voters, especially predispositioned old-school Democrats, see me as just that: young.
While I’ve gotten better at going without a script, remembering talking points, and not being so entirely awkward, I am a soft sell at best.
When they look like they are being bothered, or might react negatively if pressured too much… I don’t challenge that.
Reflecting on that, I went out much more determined today.
This morning I walked up the slopes, sans coche, and proceeded to go through “Clinton Country”. A lot of door slamming. A lot of snide remarks. However, the one woman who told me she was genuinely torn, and very educated, I let her carry on the conversation, and actually did try to make a sell. By the end she seemed leeeeaning our way. Uh, high five we maybe potentially will get this woman to vote Obama?

We have gotten new volunteers and certainly new voter registration out of canvassing (whats the figure? about 9 in 10 new voters vote Obama?), and even if only 2% of people we talk to are receptive, that’s 2% we might not have had. The foundation of this campaign is that everyone counts; it sounds trite, but we want to mobilize communities to empower them in their politics.
It’s working, but  there is a lot of uncovered ground and so much at stake.

The moral of the story, is that there is a lot of work to do in Pennsylvania, and even our neighborhoods. I’d really love to hear from people who aren’t voting for Obama, or, aren’t voting at all, OR, they are voting and don’t see the need to volunteer.
I’ve met quite a few people that fall into this latter group; I’m not talking people who just don’t have time, but the people who are reluctant to volunteer and make any effort.
It’s curious, and if you have any thoughts, please feel free to send them my way.

For those of you even slightly interested in the campaign, even if you don’t live in Southside, if you have undecided friends, OR you waiting to volunteer and you don’t know how, these are some events we have coming up:
Southside Canvasses for Change:
Saturday, April 5th
10 Am & 2 Pm
123 17th St, off of East Carson

Sunday, April 6th
2 pm 7 4Pm
Location TBD (email me for info)

Obama House Party!
Sunday, April 6th
6:30 PM
Southside Works Common’s Clubhouse

Obama Volunteer Happy Hour
Wednesday, April 9th
6 PM
Library Bar & Restaurant @ 2304 East Carson

Obama vs Hillary Debate Watching Party
Wednesday, April 16th
The Library Bar & Restaurant @ 2304 East Carson
7:30 PM

Obama vs Hillary Debate Watching Party
Wednesday, April 16th
@The Library Bar & Grill
7:30 PM

RSVP by checking out The Southside Events Page on barackobama.com
Let me know if you are interested in these or other events.

If you are interested in helping out please contact me however you can, and I will let you know both volunteer efforts as well as less-time consuming ways you can contribute to the campaign.
If you aren’t voting in the Primary, or the Presidential campaign, again I’d love to hear why.

Next Issue: Howard Zinn &  The Poor Man’s Analysis of the PA Primary

Cheers