A Post-Election Health Reform Update from Jane Hamsher (VIDEO)
The country's Politicos turn from election results back to the loose end that is health reform.
Wednesday November 4, 2009 3:34 a.m.
For those who follow politics closely, yesterday's elections provided a welcome break from the endless back and forth that is the health care reform debate. Now, with polls closed and results set, focus returns once again to the loose end of health reform.
Frequent guest, friend of the show, and resident activist-expert Jane Hamsher of Firedoglake returns to "The Rachel Maddow Show" to help reset our political compasses and provide a preview for whats to come in the ongoing debate over health reform.
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What are the ethics of political contributions?
Here's an example of what I believe is a political system that is morally and ethically bankrupt (ours):
My Congressman is Wally Herger of the California 2nd Congressional District (yes THAT Wally).
The 2nd District is one of the premier agricultural regions in the world. Agriculture, mostly rice and almonds, is far and away our primary industry. Why then did Wally, in the 2009-10 congressional cycle, receive 99,000.00 from insurance, medical, and pharmacy interests (30% of total contributions)? M'god, the ag community, his natural constituents, only donated 17,000.00 (5%). [ Please check my facts ] Wally has never shown a whit of interest in health care reform, and as far as I can tell, is not well informed on the subject. Yet he is reported to be the fifth largest Congressional recipient of funds from this medical/insurance cabal. When asked to comment about this, he resorts to a kind of befuddled dithering diversion -- his favorite response to tough questions -- as he manouvers to a new subject.
Wally has kept his seat for twenty or more years and has never in that time had a serious opponent. It is generally understood that he will have the office until he chooses to give it up. His campaign fund is always in surplus (it takes him comparitively little to run an election, given these circumstances). His personal wealth is over 12 million. Why then, has the Cabal chosen him as a recipient for its largesse? And why, if he's the ethical servant he purports to be, hasn't he refused it? Wally will vote "No" regardless.
Someone please explain this.
To Bob Jackson (above),
Let me help you understand, Bob. There are a relatively few people, always wealthy, who come to the U.S. to take advantage of the advanced medical technologies and expertise that is only available in a few countries. Yes, we have some of the the best medical care in the world. It would be awfully nice if the 30 million of us who do NOT have health insurance could also access this superb care. It would be darn nice if it did NOTcost 16% of our GDP (vs. 2.5% to 8% in other industrialized countries which provide UNIVERSAL coverage). It would be nice if our infant mortality figures were at the top of the chart, NOT in the middle. It would be nice if the number one cause of personal bankruptcy in American was NOT the result of overwhelming health care bills. The one thing we might agree on, Bob, is that America has an exceptional health care system. But here's a question for you: why are American's, increasingly, electing to seek medical care in countries like Thailand and India ? Don't believe me? -- google "Medical Tourism". Hope this helps you, Bob. Here's another question Bob. Why did the Swiss, who once had a system almost identical to ours, a number of years ago vote for a government run univeral health care system? And why, despite great resistance at the time, is there now almost UNIVERSAL support for this new system, even from conservative politicians who had strongly opposed it?
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Can you help me get a message to Bart Stupak about the Pits-Stupak Amendment? Because I no longer live in his district, he, supposedly, is unable to respond to me. This is what I want him to receive: Mr. Stupak:
I was born and raised in Michigan. I now live in Colorado. I am absolutely appalled at your part in the recent Pits-Stupak Amendment to the House health reform bill.
As I hear about this infringement on women's rights, I'm also reading a book about the impact of Islamists following the revolution that threw out the Shah of Iran and how school girls were all of a sudden forced to wear veils in public. Is that the direction you plan to take our country next? Are you also a part of that frightened group of men who feel you have to control women?
How can you with any conscience take away the right of health care for women in trouble? When I was a resident of Michigan, I was a staunch Republican. As I matured and became more politically aware, I could no longer abide the philosophy of much of the Republican agenda, and I became an Independent. When Bush and Cheney and the rest of the lying, oil barons illegally took our country into Iraq, I had no choice but to sign up with the Democratic Party that was at least being honest about our foreign policies over the years and about what was happening to our economy. Now I discover that a "fellow Democrat" has become brainwashed by the male club of the C Street house, has become a puppet to the same ideology that forced me out of the Republican party.
I am so ashamed of you as a representative of my native state of Michigan.
I was instrumental in getting Barak Obama elected in my small town in Colorado, and I will not allow the all-male club to become the Taliban of the U.S.
I expect an answer from you and an explanation for your motives in supporting the male-dominated so-called religious right of the Republican party.
Most sincerely,
Harriet Vaugeois, graduate of Michigan State and Wayne State.
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I'm just so tired of the political games. Lieberman is reveling in the attention and it's very difficult to believe that he even cares about healthcare reform, beyond how it affects his own career. It's pretty disheartening to see the Democratic majority being held hostage by the Lieberman and the Republican minority. It shows how divided Dems are compared to the Republicans. You can bet that if the tables were turned that the Republicans would have long since rammed their plan through with little problem. The Dems just seem incapable of concerted action.
Erik Prince (http://eaprince.blogspot.com/)
Even though I can't stand how Lieberman is doing this, let's not give any more fame to Carrie Prejean.
I cannot understand why so many people from all over the world come here for healthcare. We need to fix it so it is more in line with other countries like China or Russia.
Hi Rachel,
Loyal listeners/viewers here who've been frontline on healthcare. Here's an important link from Columbia Journalism Review to a thorough dissecting of the dems non-reform currently being shoved down our throats. Trudy Liebermans Nov. 2nd piece is an eye opener. She would be an excellent guest interview for you. http://www.cjr.org/campaign_desk/the_devil_in_the_details_archi. hp
Regards,
Real Democrats for Real Reform
Why do politicians and profit machines hate American's so badly ? We MUST have a strong robust public option, the acceptable standards of health care in America is sickening.
http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=62 This has to stop and hospital infections in our communities have to be addressed. How many more innocent people have to die ?
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