HEALTHCARE– Public Option and Congressional Opposition

I have listened and attempted to understand the logic dictating Congressional Opposition to a Public Option being included in the Health Care Reform Package but I can’t figure out the logic nor understand the strategic plan. That is unless the strategic plan is to do nothing, change nothing and reform nothing as Congress eats and drinks at the MONEY trough of lobbyist. The main objection seems to be who will pay for Health Care Reform; and of course the President has a pay as you go policy. But this does not explain what their Health Care Reform is and who in America their plan will benefit.

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090617-716441.html “... Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., interrupting the opening remarks of Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., called the proceedings a "joke" and suggested the panel needed better cost estimates before it took up the legislation.

"I suggest we not move forward until we have some provision on how we're going to pay for it," McCain said. "Obviously, the CBO estimates that came out yesterday are much, much higher than we have originally estimated and we've yet to pay for them."

Here is my suggestion for Senator McCain and the rest of my Congress – First, get off your dead ass and do your damn job and be thankful you have your job because a lot of Americans don’t; you might not have your job following your next election if you keep making the American people suffer. Second and this is specifically for you Senator McCain, you are a triple dipper…Senator McCain receives a monthly Navy pension (along with all the benefits befitting a retired Naval Officer (including insurance, medical benefits, and drug benefits); Senator McCain also receives a monthly salary as a U.S. Senator (along with all the benefits of a tax paid employee (including insurance, medical benefits and drug benefits, oh I forgot dental and vision (above); and because he is over age 65, he receives a monthly Social Security payment and Medicare Benefits. Taxpayer dollars pay for all of this Senator McCain; true you have earned your Navy benefits and I salute you as an American Hero for your Naval Service and your endurance. However, since you can’t seem to do your job getting Real Health Care Reform for United States Citizens and specifically for Arizonians, you should QUIT or be FIRED. At that point, Senator McCain, you will only be a double dipper.

• Over forty million Americans are currently without Health Care
• Every American Senator and Representative has a Public Health Care Option
• The Bush Administration Medicare Reform had a giant “Donut Hole” which benefited the lobbyist, pharmaceutical companies and possible some politicians but gouged the elderly.
• Clinton Administrations attempt at Health Care Reform was blocked by Congress and never even got off the ground

In the meantime the American public has had the following heaped upon us

• My personal favorite – HMOs and PPOs

Not sure what HMO stands for, but I do know that since their existence, actual health care has been diminished

• Doctor/patient ratios increased significantly;
• Doctor time spent with patient, decreased dramatically;
• Doctors no longer “see” patients, and rarely physically touch their patients;
• Doctors very readily prescribe pharmaceutical drugs which in many cases are unnecessary;
• Doctors run lots of expensive tests that usually result in normal parameters but never help in the diagnosis of the initial problem;
• Doctors no longer look at the whole body to determine diagnosis – there is no time;
• Consistently Increasing Prescription Drug Cost
• Drugs that became approved by FDA in the 1960’s and 1970’s today cost 50% or more in comparison to original released rates;
• Recently developed drugs are released without thorough testing (primarily because of cost) sometimes resulting in deaths that are considered collateral damage;
• Increased law suits resulting from deaths or lifelong impairment due to taking drugs that have not had rigorous testing; most are not “frivolous” as suggested by former President Bush with his tort reform. Households who are affected by improper drugs will have life long medical problems which will have to be paid – Pharmaceutical companies are not volunteering to pay these costs;
• Drug companies profits keep going up;
• Drug company CEO’s and top management are paid more than the President of the United States in most cases ;
• Insurance Companies Ripping Off Consumers
• Personal note – I believe insurance is the biggest SCAM in America. Really think about this people – Life Insurance (oxymoron?) – Once you get life insurance you pay premium rates each year/month, each birthday your rates increase and/or you add more insurance, paying more and more every year till you die; then someone else gets the benefits. How is that insurance on your life?
• Monthly premium rates have tripled in comparison to inflation rates over the last nine years;
• Coverage has decreased to consumers and health providers together nickel and dime consumers to death with hidden costs that are no longer covered by “the plan”
• Medical Insurance Companies profits have increased along the same rate as the premium rate increases over the last nine years
• Insurance company CEO’s salaries are more than the President of the United States in most cases;

Congress, We the Hardworking People, have given everything we have monetarily in taxes, we have nothing left to give to you or the pharma companies, insurance companies, and HMO, PPO’s , who have all gained so much monetarily. Stop sucking the blood of the middle class. Do you job for the people and stop sucking up to Corporations. If you can’t do your job, QUIT!

I did my research; below you will find some supporting web documentation that will open the eyes of the American people to the farce that Congress refuses to see.

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7015852971?Health%20Insurer%20UnitedHealth%202Q%20Earnings%20Jumps%20On%20Prior-Year%20Charges,%20Higher%20Revenue

Health Insurer UnitedHealth 2Q Earnings Jumps On Prior-Year Charges, Higher Revenue

Minneapolis, MN (AHN) - UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) announced Tuesday that its second-quarter profit more than doubled on previous year charges, with growth in revenues, topping analysts' estimates. The company also raised the low end of its full-year earnings outlook.

For the 2009, the company improved its guidance to $3.00 per share to $3.15 per share from the previous outlook range of $2.90 to $3.15 per share. UnitedHealth Group continues to project full year 2009 cash flows from operations of approximately $5 billion.

Read more: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7015852971?Health%20Insurer%20UnitedHealth%202Q%20Earnings%20Jumps%20On%20Prior-Year%20Charges,%20Higher%20Revenue#ixzz0M6yKjcJl


http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/health-care/pfizer-reports-second-quarter--results-increases-year--adjusted-diluted-eps/

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today reported financial results for second-quarter 2009. Revenues were $11.0 billion, a decrease of 9% compared with the year-ago quarter and flat on a constant currency basis. Foreign exchange unfavorably impacted revenues by approximately $1.1 billion or 9%. For second-quarter 2009, U.S. revenues were $4.5 billion, a decrease of 5% compared with the year-ago quarter. International revenues were $6.5 billion, a decrease of 12% compared with the prior-year quarter, and reflected operational growth of 2%, which was more than offset by the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange of 14%. U.S. revenues represented 41% of the total compared with 39% in the year-ago quarter, while international revenues represented 59% of the total compared with 61% in the year-ago quarter.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/health-care-reform/2009/07/health_care_continues_its_inte.html?hpid=topnews?hpid=topnews

Lobbyists Spend Millions to Influence Health Care

By Dan Eggen
Drugmakers, hospitals and insurers continued to pour millions of dollars into lobbying during the second quarter of this year, hoping to limit the damage to their bottom line as lawmakers and the Obama administration wrangle over landmark health-care legislation.

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090617-716441.html

JUNE 17, 2009, 6:34 P.M. ET

4th UPDATE: Senate Republicans Assail Process On Health Care

   By Patrick Yoest 

   Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES 

http://www.fiercepharma.com/special-reports/top-17-paychecks-big-pharma

Top 17 Paychecks in Big Pharma

May 19, 2008 — 2:35pm ET

by Tracy Staton and Maureen Martino

Few statistics are as hotly debated as CEO pay reports. Investors, analysts, and the just plain curious all want to know how much the head honcho makes--and how one company's chief stacks up against another's. So here for your rubbernecking pleasure are the 17 highest-paid CEOs in Big Pharma. While the names themselves probably won't be a surprise, their pecking order might. For instance, the biggest drug maker by sales--Pfizer--doesn't have the highest-paid executive, and one of the relatively small fry counts its chief among the top 10.

http://www.centerjd.org/air/pr/AIRProfit.pdf

For Immediate Release Contact: Joanne Doroshow, 212/267-2801

September 30, 2003

Insurance Companies Raking in Huge Profits

Contrary to what insurance lobbyists may be telling lawmakers, newly-released data shows

that insurance company profits, including those of medical malpractice insurers, are booming and insurance analysts are privately raving about it.

According to the September 15, 2003 issue of Business Insurance (“Market conditions still

ripe for insurer profitability; Buyers to see rate hikes ease”), 14 property/casualty insurers saw a 35.9% increase in net income, to $7.5 billion, in the first half of 2003. Only Hartford booked an $888 million first-half loss, reflecting a $3.91 billion pretax charge for asbestos reserves in the first quarter.

Nancy Pelosi, The CIA and Congress

It appears Congress has lost it collective mind once again. Am I the only American who expects our elected officials to do the job for which they are getting paid?

We elected you; we pay you to be intelligent, honest, rational, logical, straightforward and practical, with the ability to exercise real common sense. But what we see from Congress today is more like watching high school students, bicker, tease, push and shove each other in the halls and bathrooms. You people are supposed to be grown adults. Until now, MSNBC had been doing a fairly decent job, providing good journalistic information and satisfying my need to demonstrate my dismay and disappointment about our Government. But the crap that has been coming from Congress over the last several weeks, has once again forced me to “RANT”.

CIA versus Nancy Pelosi and Water-boarding –

Good grief people, get a grip. Speaker Pelosi says that the CIA did not brief her on the fact that “Enhanced Interrogations”, were being utilized by CIA operatives in dealing with detainees. “Enhanced Interrogations”, which includes water-boarding, and who knows what else we are unaware of at this time. “Enhanced Interrogations”, doesn’t that sound like code for something much more than you or I could possibly comprehend? Speaker Pelosi went further in a press conference recently when she stated that “the CIA has misled the Congress”. Why anyone, including Congress find this difficult to comprehend baffles this American voter. After all, wasn’t it the CIA that provided the FALSE details that led to the invasion of Iraq? Remember, weapons of mass destruction, Chemical Weapons in Iraq, Yellow Cake in Africa being provided to Saddam Hussein, the Downing Street Memos. Let us not forget, Iran Contra – drugs and guns; then there are these:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2001/may/02/worlddispatch.kateconnolly

CIA knew about Waldheim's Nazi past

Newly released US intelligence documents show that officials knew about Kurt Waldheim's Kate Connolly; history long before he was appointed UN secretary general, writes…

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1207/7481.html

NY Times changes CIA headline for WH

By: Michael Calderone
Dec 19, 2007 03:31 PM EST

The New York Times has changed the sub-headline in Wednesday’s front-page story on the CIA’s destruction of secret interrogation tapes, following a formal request by the White House.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/22/washington/22cia.html

August 22, 2007

C.I.A. Lays Out Errors It Made Before Sept. 11

By MARK MAZZETTI

Correction Appended

WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 — A report released Tuesday by the Central Intelligence Agency includes new details of the agency’s missteps before the Sept. 11 attacks, outlining what the report says were failures to grasp the role being played by the terror mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and to assess fully the threats streaming into the C.I.A. in the summer of 2001.

I am sure I have not included additional documented evidence that the CIA has lied to Americans in the past.

REMEMBER: “Those who do not remember the past are doomed to make the same mistakes”

We don’t even have to remember today…WE HAVE GOOGLE! And believe me Americans are very knowledgeable of the Google. We use it, why can’t our elected officials.

REMEMBER: G.W. BUSH, DICK CHANEY, CONDI RICE, DONALD RUMSFELD, PAUL WOLFOWITZ, AND JOHN ASHCROFT WERE IN CHARGE…WITH ROBERTO GONZALEZ HEADING LEGAL/JUSTICE DURING THE TIME IN QUESTION. REPUBLICANS WERE IN CONTROL OF THE WHITE HOUSE, THE SENATE, THE HOUSE AND THE JUDICIARY BRANCHES OF OUR GOVERNMENT DURING THIS TIME.

It is not that far fetched that Speaker Pelosi is accurate when she states she was not briefed completely and accurately on the facts surrounding CIA Enhanced Interrogations actions.

Additionally, it has occurred to me from listening to an FBI agent’s testimony to Congress recently that the CIA “CONTRACTED” to someone else to conduct “Enhance Interrogations”. WTF, America…it wasn’t even the CIA, it was a “Private Contractor” who conducted the “Enhanced Interrogations”. I think that what should be investigated is who authorized the procurement of the “Private Contractor”? Because, you can bet your last dollar, that Congressional oversight has not investigated this aspect of who authorized “Enhanced Interrogations” and when a contract was approved and by whom. Dr. James Mitchell was definitely paid for his services. Remember, Watergate’s Sins were revealed according to Bob Woodard, by following the money. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104350361 May 22, 2009

Did White House OK Earliest Detainee Abuse? by Ari Shapiro

All Things Considered, May 20, 2009 · It is clear that increasingly abusive interrogation techniques were used on Abu Zubaydah, the first high-value detainee, in the months between his capture and the first Justice Department memo authorizing harsh interrogations. But the legal guidance that authorized those early interrogations remains shrouded in secrecy.

I haven’t had the opportunity to read the 243 page recently declassified “Report by the Senate Armed Services Committee on Detainee Treatment” (http://documents.nytimes.com/report-by-the-senate-armed-services-committee-on-detainee-treatment#p=1) at the time of this writing, but I plan to dig into it very shortly. I will be looking for those documents that detail how and when money was allocated for the psychologist involved in “Enhanced Interrogation”.

The US Economic Crisis

Why is the United States in such dire economic straits?

Over the past six months, the American people have seen and heard the ominous reports that our economy first was advancing toward recession, followed in a short period of time that our economy was progressing to a depression similar to that of 1932. It is the opinion of many laypersons that this economic crisis has been brewing for the past eight years, under the administration of G.W. Bush.

In the past six months, over six million Americans have lost their jobs. Companies, Corporations, small businesses are DOWNSIZING at an alarming rate. States, cities and counties across the nation are in dire financial crisis with no easy solution available. Banks and investment firms are failing, while record numbers of homes are being foreclosed leaving more people homeless and on welfare.

Police, firefighters, and local government employees end up laid off, furloughed or with their hours cut. Husbands and wives when laid off commit suicide and murder their children, and worse. http://www.newsweek.com/id/179247


American corporations over the past ten years in an effort to increase profits for the CEO’s and stockholders, moved technology and customer service jobs to India or China so they wouldn’t have to pay fair market salaries for an American workforce. (I personally have not had full time employment in nine years). Even though hundreds and thousands of high tech workers complained, worried and warned about these events, no one seemed to hear the cries of caution about these actions.

The construction industry boomed all across America, (new homes, condominiums, shopping centers and office buildings) over the last eight years were able to offer less than fair market salaries for skilled workers and began hiring low-wage unskilled workers (mostly illegal aliens); Real estate developers made lots of money, unskilled works made money and skilled and or union workers became unemployed. Additionally, construction materials purchased from lower cost imports instead of buying American forced many local businesses to file for bankruptcy, i.e. the U.S. steel industry.

To date, no action by our Government occurred to stem the tide of off shoring; even some cities are guilty of moving certain segments of the workload offshore.

Friday we bemoaned the newly released jobless numbers, while Republican Congressional people insist that our President and his proposed “Stimulus Plan” is out of touch with the American economy and Americans. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/02/05/graham-says-obama-awol-stimulus-debate/

Watch CSPAN, and listen to Republican Senators speak for YOU. Their solution to our problems seem to be we need more tax cuts for big business and the wealthy; no money for states or cities, and even less money for education or health care, and the biggie, the housing crisis.

Every time you turn on cable news, you hear some Republican speaking about how bad the proposed “Stimulus Plan” bill will be for Americans. Let us not forget “Rush Limbaugh” with his declaration “he wants President Obama to fail”.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/01/obama_vs_limbau.html

The McCain Alternative $450 billion was entirely “tax cuts” and only Republicans voted for the McCain alternative. “main stream media” has already declared a disaster for Democrats should President Obama’s plan to stimulate the economy fail. In reality, REPUBLICANS are responsible and MUST OWN these failures.

Republicans had control of Congress for the past twenty years, Republicans are responsible yet not one Senator or Representative has stepped forward to say, “it is my fault” …happened.

Just a few months ago, then President Bush told all of us that the economy needed 750 billion dollars to bail out Wall Street, investment companies and banks or the economy would collapse. When democrats wanted oversight and control, Republicans delivered threats that the democrats were impeding the President and Treasure Secretary from saving America. Today we know this was BS; the current Administration is still attempting to determine who received TARP monies and what, how and why it was dispensed, if at all.

What is wrong with these folks?

Remember not to long ago, Americans were paying almost four dollars for a gallon of gasoline; a barrel of oil was between $150 to $180; there were no explanations for the sudden increases in cost, which trickled down to increase cost of food. (Gas is on the creep up as I type)

No one accepts RESPONSIBILITY for –

• Increases in cost of gasoline/gouging
• Gas company record profits
• Record Unemployment
• Failed Banks
• Corrupt Investment Corporations
• Corrupt Investors
• Irresponsible/misuse of tax pay funds (TARP)
• Poisoned/contaminated foods
• Poisoned/contaminated toys and other imported products
• Poisoned/contaminated prescription medicines
• The absolute lack of alternative fuel and power supplies
• Excessive CEO Salaries/Compensation Packages
• Bridges collapsing
• Cities not rebuilt following natural disasters
• Infrastructure failing (power, water, roads, public transportation, etc.)
•
• And there is more

Read a little about Deregulation -- http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/17/business/economy/17gramm.html?_r=1

In my house, you break it you buy it, you screw up you accept responsibility. Our children emulate what they witness, do we want or need another generation /that feels it can break the law, violate others civil rights, steal and cheat but receive no consequences or accept no responsibility? Each day Americans go to jail for minor infractions of the law; to my knowledge, only two people have lost there jobs because of TARP improprieties.

Bernie Madoff (indicted), is the only person I know charged with a crime, so far. Warned of potential problems surrounding Madoff’s investments group the SEC reports their investigations revealed no problems, leaving Madoff to continue his ponzie scheme.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/bernard-madoff/4443217/Bernard-Madoff-whistleblower-Harry-Markopolos-to-testify-today.html

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090205/ts_nm/us_madoff

Tar and feathers for those on Wall Street and in Congress may be the only recourse We The People has available to us.

I live in Arizona; I am still searching for that $50 an hour lettuce-picking job, John McCain promised.

I would like Arizonians to do some research on the issue of our current representation in Washington, D.C. (Senators John Kyle and John McCain). During his campaign for President, John McCain boosted that in his entire tenure as Senator, he never requested a single earmark or “pork” for Arizona. This explains why our state ranks near the bottom in almost every evaluation category of government reporting. He also reminded us that he knows very little about the economy. This being the case, why do we need him to represent Arizona in the Senate?

This week alone, state universities in Arizona announced a lack of funding resulting in reducing the staff of teachers as well as increasing the cost of tuition, yet again for in state students. They also announced the close of a virtually new campuses (i.e., ASU Polytechnic in Mesa, AZ), as well as the possibilities of furloughs for professors and professionals (to be determined).

State government announced big budget cuts in public education when for the past two years, the state received fines of $1 million a week because no federally approved English Learning curriculum existed for those whose first language is not English. Additionally, “no child left behind” regulations cost the state funding from the Federal government, as it appears Arizona students can’t pass the required testing to prove “childrens do learn”.

Foreclosures in Arizona are keeping pace with California, Nevada, Florida and Texas. The major employers, Intel, Motorola and Boeing have announced job cuts. We have no job making industries on the horizon. We could, but because our local, state, and federal representatives are more interested in themselves than the residents of Arizona.

Remember, John McCain does not have to worry about foreclosure (he has eight homes); nor does he have any concerns about health care…he receives the best federally funded Healthcare taxpayer money can buy – just not for taxpayers. Neither will have their retirement taken away from them. Neither McCain nor Kyle has any idea what We The People deal with on a daily basis.

Arizonians, we need Government Representatives to work for our State and its residents, not just a select few who can personally profit from back room deals or corporations.

Arizonians, as you drive around this weekend, observe the empty -- strip malls, homes, schools, closed hospitals, think of all the major store closures (Mervyn’s, Circuit City, Albertson’s). Think of all the people who became unemployed because these stores closed. What will replace them how will we ever get people back to work here?

I plan to demand some answers from my City Counsel, my State Representatives, my new Governor and my Congressmen. We can no longer stand around doing nothing, write, phone, text and email your representatives.



To learn more point your browser to – www.house.gov
www.senate.gov
www.whitehouse.gov

Send emails, texts and letters to your Representatives and let your opinion be heard.