Dammit. Yet again....My hard-won apathy about Health Reform is shattered watching Countdown tonite

[Armstead]

Once again, I had managed to achieve the only sane response to the whole disgusting way health Care "reform" has been handled by Obama and the Democrats this year....Blessed Apathy. Fuck them, let them pass their idiot bill if they can bumble their way to the chambers to vote.

But then I watched Countdown tonite. The news and Keith's discussion with Mr. Potter the former insurance executive turned reform advocate.

So much for apathy.

The fricking insurance companies are set to impose still more extortionist rate hikes. And the version of "reform" we've got is nothing but propping up the inherently bad business model that is American health Insurance.

AND YET THE DEMOCRATS ARE TOO CHICKENSHIT AND/OR CORRUPT TO PUT THESE BASTARDS IN THEIR PLACE.

And we can't even consider a public coverage alternative? We can't even consider actual strong regulation of these gangsters?

This is disgraceful.

Rant over....Please return, blessed apathy.

[truedelphi]

1. You were not the only one whose apathy slunk off

During the Olbermann - Potter interview.

Just when I start thinking Keith might be irrelevant, he turns insightful and targets important issues in engaging ways.

[FrenchieCat]

2. Perhaps "support" is what is needed .....

not apathy, not anger, and not placing blame.

There's a march tomorrow......but no one here cares...
How can we win if every one sits in the respective corners,
either mad as hell or not even caring at all?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=185201&mesg_id=185201

[Armstead]

3. Because I started out hopeful, became disappointed, called Congresspeople over and over....

doing my little part to try and get something positive done.

And a majority of Americans wanted some kind of actual reform.

But the bill just got worse and worse. They had a golden opportunity and yet found a million excuses and ways to blow it.

And now the plan is to go to the republicans yet again, and water it down to placate them, yet again, only to have the GOP vote against whatever is worked out, yet again.

I am so over thinking they will do anything constructive about the problem that it's not worth thinking about. All it does is stir anger to think how they blew it and the consequences of their failure on people in the real world.

[FrenchieCat]

4. Well, I agree this is not what I had hoped for, but

I realized long ago, that it couldn't really be about me,
and it really couldn't be about those who control things....
I have to think of those who will benefit the most,
cause it is about them.....
That's what keeps me going.

[Armstead]

5. That's what makes me angry -- This will make it worse for people

I guarantee you that when they require people to buy insurance who can't afford it, the subsidies, etc,. will not offset the financial hardship -- especially as the insurers find new and creative ways to raise rates -- especially on the people with health problems.

They could solve so much simply by offering people a chance to buy into an affordable public plan and regulating the pants off of the private insurance industry.

And ultimately it would be financially better too.

[vegiegals]

14. they are raising rates now=just like the credit cards companies did and both

will continue. I have no doubt about it.

Mass has the 'reform' in place and it is continuously broke with people waiting/dying.

[gateley]

6. I always wished Mr. Potter (and his counterparts in other industries) would

just be able to sit down and have a conversation with Obama, then invite Obama's other advisors in the room so they could present their side and he'd be able to explain where they're wrong.

He's listening to the wrong people -- or not enough people. That's why I was impressed when he sought varying opinions about Afghanistan (although I didn't like the result!)

[Armstead]

10. Frankly, I don't think Mr. Obama would listen

He seems more and more like when he's made up his mind, that's it.

Obama would, of course, be very nice and seem to pay close attention and solicit his ideas. But as soon as Potter left the room. he'd be forgotten.

[gateley]

13. I think he would listen, then be persuaded by his advisors, which is why

I think it would be optimal for both Potter and the advisors and Obama to have a discussion together.

We'll never know, cuz it'll never happen.

[ProSense]

16. "He seems more and more like when he's made up his mind, that's it."

Hasn't everyone been demanding that he be more like Bush. Shouldn't you and others be rejoicing?

Seems to me that you just want to rail against any thing. Everything sucks and we're doomed.

Good grief.

[FormerDittoHead]

7. That's why I'm getting out, especially after the recent SCOTUS corporate decision.

I don't want to get into some fight with the idiots out there who believe that the recent decision wasn't a BIG game changer.

We don't have an adversarial political system, we have an AUCTION, and with the rich people now being able to use OTHER PEOPLE'S money to pay off politicians, those who are just getting by will never win that auction.

So I've completely stopped giving any political money, (and I'll have to count my contribution to Al Franken as my best investment, but everything else as money down the drain) and I include the ACLU with that, considering they too, insist upon working "within" the system that is broken BY DESIGN.

My first decision was to become a subscribing member of The National Association of Free Clinics - http://www.freeclinics.us/ I can't help but think my money will be more honestly spent, help more people and in the end go for greater change, for the good, than what our political system allows.

[cornermouse]

8. "We don't have an adversarial political system, we have an AUCTION,"

Exactly.

[flpoljunkie]

9. Yet Potter supports passage of the Senate healthcare bill with the negotiated reconciliation fix

He thinks it's unconscionable that we would let over 30 million people continue to go without health coverage. It's a start, in other words, and we cannot miss this opportunity.

[Armstead]

11. Like many others, he seems to believe "This stinks but it better than nothing."

That may be a start, but it's a lousy one -- And it didn't have to be this way.

My attitude about the Democratic "leadership" on this is "What the hell. Let them pass this pile of stinking fish if they want to. What I and the majority want is irrelevant. They are going to do whatever they're going to do, irrespective of whether it actually is beneficial or not. But screw 'em."

[ProSense]

15. You in a previous comment: "This will make it worse for people"

That's completely ridiculous. You do nothing but post the most pessimistic crap that has no basis in fact.

[LatteLibertine]

12. What concerns me

is no matter how much support we show some politicians aren't going to take real action. Sure, you might get some flowery rhetoric out of them. They're going to side with the lobbyists who are compensating them well. Of course if they get thrown out of office or simply leave they will go work for their masters in a more direct fashion. For some it really is just a game to be played for ever more wealth. Consequence to the nation is irrelevant.