I don't often go all political on the blog but I've been off today and trawling the net, reading about the US health debate on Facebook and finding out more about Sara Palin's soul sister.
"It is not within our power as members of Congress, it’s not within the enumerated powers of the Constitution, for us to design and create a national takeover of health care. Nor is it within our ability to be able to delegate that responsibility to the executive."
Pardon? I thought that's what Congress was for?
These are the words of foot in mouth diseased Michele Bachmann, Minnisota Congresswoman who is fighting the good fight against Obama's public health option. Now I'm no expert on the US constitution but I actually heard this woman say that the US has the best healthcare system in the world. Actually, while the U.S. is spending more on total health care when compared to other countries, the country is getting less access, patient safety, efficiency and above all - equity!
Back to our fuckwit: Her verbal diarrhea and absolutely misguided rhetoric makes Sara Palin look like a pussycat.
Among other things, Congress has the power to “lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises” and to “provide for….the general welfare of the United States.” Correct me if I'm wrong but that's a pretty broad mandate!
Her husband owns two private mental health clinics, do you think he's feeling a little pressure from the possibility of public health providing the same services he does . . you betcha!
Some quotable quotes on rejecting the universal health care package:
“Right now, we are looking at reaching down the throat and ripping the guts out of freedom,” she said. “And we may never be able to restore it if we don’t man up and take this one on.” Freedom for whom? Those who can afford health insurance?But there's more:
“This is slavery, . . .It’s nothing more than slavery.” (on paying tax to fund health)
“What we have to do today is make a covenant, to slit our wrists, be blood brothers on this thing. This will not pass. We will do whatever it takes to make sure this doesn’t pass.” (Well that could solve the problem completely, if they all slit their wrists - no opposition - sorted!)
"You are saying that the people many conservatives have called bleeding heart liberals for years are in fact . . using health care as part of a plot to kill babies, disabled people and and the elderly! (Yeah then we're gonna eat them!)
- Voted NO on allowing stockholder voting on executive compensation.
- Voted NO on additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects
- Voted NO on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation
- Authored constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman
- Voted NO on tax incentives for energy production and conservation
- Voted NO on tax incentives for renewable energy
- Voted NO on investing in homegrown biofuel
- Voted YES on criminalising oil cartels like OPEC
- Voted NO on $9.7B for Amtrak improvements and operation through to 2013
- Voted NO on assisting workers who lose jobs due to globalisation
- Voted NO on protecting whistle blowers from employer recrimination
- Voted NO on giving mental health full equity with physical health (Remember hubbies business?)
- Voted YES to prohibit mandatory mental health screen for students
- Voted NO on increasing minimum wage to $7.25
- Voted NO on redeploying US troops out of Iraq starting in 90 days
Some may think her a darlin' but I just think she's a total fuckwit! A real American idiot.
Have a wonderful weekend. I'm hopeful of some nice photo blogs. Bondi tomorrow and the International Three Day Event showjumping on Sunday . . . may the sun shine on you this weekend and be nice to each other!
Well well, seems they're not the greatest country in the world after all. Bloody politicians, they're everywhere.......
ReplyDeleteHaha . . well they might be the biggest economy in the world but there's so much misinformation being spread over there that you'd think it was already a gulag! A friend of mine is 'waiting' for a knee reconstruction . .it'll take 3 months to schedule but his response when he found out there would be no cost was "Awesome, I'll grin and bear it!"
ReplyDeleteWow, surely she has to take the trophy for most right-wing, undemocratic, elitist, stamp-on-the-workers politician of all time? In fact she probably needs urgent treatment in one of her husband's mental health clinics....
ReplyDeleteReally, some people just shouldn't be allowed to breath! <-[ironic hypocrisy]
ReplyDeleteThe sad part is all this scaremongering is working and the overhaul plan if it ever happens is already being scaled back and diluted to appease the idiots claiming there is nothing wrong with the US healthcare system. I'd love to see a few of them dropped off at the ER without their cushy expensive insurance
ReplyDeleteQuickie quite so. The people I see objecting are all middle class, comfortably off and wanking on about losing their fucking freedom! What's freedom got to to with free health care. Seriously, I have a plethora of wonderful Americans commenting here (all of a like mind I should add) but I just don't get this Town Hall, small town and elitist mentality hailing back to founding fathers and liberty bla bla. It's the same idiotic rhetoric that allows gun laws to remain unchecked. Truly it's a coalition of the ignorant and the rich. One of the rare times I suspect either agree with each other.
ReplyDeleteDoes that make all of us western Europeans and Antipodeans Stalinists because we have access to free health care . I think not. For God's sakes don't tell the French that they're Stalinists because they have the best social security system in the world and I'd hardly call France a country without freedom. Fwooar (sound a bit cross don't I)
Oops, you've got one American who isn't like-minded on this healthcare topic. I object to the originally proposed healthcare plan and I'm neither rich, ignorant, nor an idiot!!!!! Just sayin'.
ReplyDeleteAnd p.s. when you're dropped off at the er without insurance here, you still get treated.
Yer not wrong there. But there are plenty more like here who are total nutbags.
ReplyDeleteMichelle Bachmann and Sarah Palin were twins separated at birth. And what you've quoted from her is only a tip of the iceberg of dimwitted, clueless, idiotic rhetoric that flows from her mouth.
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't like her. And I thank my lucky stars that I don't live in Minnesota.
Excellent post baino.Fuckwit is one of my favourite words for people like her.
ReplyDeletep.s. She's no politician, just a shark masquerading as one, lot of that in America. Feck! didn't Bush masquerade as President and he got away with it too.
In Hungary you get basic medical services for free but you have to pay for the remaining.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion Americans would think differently after 2 lost World Wars (in World War II our country was like a hall- armies were crossing it as they desired), unjust peace treaties a Great Depression which hit a country with no surpluses, 50 years communism, Russian opression and if we would quater their wages and double the price of oil. Then they would get what Hungarians got in the past 100 years. Moreover I could name countries which got more from the ill fortune (Ukraine, Poland). So American should just stay silent because in many countries many people would be upset when they hear American complaints. By the way free services are from tax.
We have a new subject which deals with changes in society, types of society and today we learnt about the types of dictatorship and democracy (direct, indirect) and the teacher pointed out that direct democracy (when people decided on issues by census) would lead to catastrophe in the US because for indirect democracy brain is needed. He told an example when in California people could vote on decreasing the tax and since that the state has been in crisis.
That's why once I told I would consider living in the US as punishment because people would have bad influence on me and they are not disciplined enough. I would live in Ukraine much happier despite it is a poorer country but they are not Americans at least and they like hockey.
until they realise you still owe from the last several times into the hospital...oh they will tack it onto the bill...would rather like to see healthcare reform. i have not had healthcare in 5 years...cant afford it...actually cheaper to pay the 47 bills that come each time you go, in 378 easy monthly installments...
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Brian.
ReplyDeletep.s. I don't deny Bachmann is a fuckwit though!
My husband and I were just talking about Healthcare reform a few minutes ago. The Republicans (Ms. Palin included) don't want reform they just want to take Obama down, or so it seems. We don't have the best healthcare in the world, France does or at least the WHO says so.
ReplyDeleteAh Baino- you never disappoint. You are the fount of interesting facts! I have heard all the allusions to the health care debate in US, but have been too lazy to look it up for myself. LOL re slitting wrists- what sort of political rhetoric is that?? Is the woman mad?
ReplyDeleteHer voting record speaks for itself.
I thought that once Bush left office I could stop being embarrassed to be an American. Sigh. People like Mrs. Palin and Mrs. Bachmann are ruining it for me.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with Kate H - these folks mostly seem intent on thwarting anything Obama proposes.
oh baino, i love you.
ReplyDeleteThe US has the best health care technology in the world. However, we have one of the worst health care systems in the industrialized world.
ReplyDeleteThe congresswoman in question is one of the worst. Unfortunately her display is typical of the minority party's tactics during this debate. It seems that in the US having rational discussions on public policies is increasingly difficult. I'm glad I got out of my job on Capitol Hill. Now I just to sort out what to do after Argentina and graduate school hehehe . . .
Canada has gone the other way and only allows government run and paid for health care. Now, this may sound great, and it is certainly better than the American system, but I do have a problem not being allowed access to private health care if that is how I choose to spend my money. What I really want is the best system possible. For that, look to European countries like France or Switzerland and copy what they are doing. This means a national health care system AND private health care for those who want it. The two systems work together and private money helps to fund public services. Canada is so set against any kind of private health care, since that would not be fair, that it is shooting itself in the foot and preventing its health care system from being the best that it could be.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to hear how other countries see our debate. There is a lot of fear mongering that obscure some of the hc issues.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, dearest Baino, but I saw That Name and I just couldn't continue reading. I'm trying to keep my Friday afternoon good mood alive!
ReplyDeleteI don't like violence but this "woman" is my current double-secret exception. I think I would actually enjoy hitting her in the face. Repeatedly.
Aaaggh! Good mood evaporating!!!
xoxoxoxo
nutbags all of them from O on down..
ReplyDeleteI love your Friday Fuckwits! Well done!
ReplyDeleteTo America I say 'don't knock it till you've tried it'.
There's a lot wrong with our healthcare system here in England, but no-one is going to be bankrupted because they're ill, or have to work themselves into an early grave because they can't afford to take sick days off. I think one of the most unjust things I've ever heard is the system where holiday days and sick days are interchangeable. You have so many days available each year for both and when they're gone they're gone.
So .. the chronically sick person who is struggling to pay their way and hold down a job is punished for being ill by not being allowed any (much needed) recuperation time? Sheesh...
Do these selfish people know what they are saying? Do they understand the meaning of the words coming out of their mouth? I just... I've not studied politics but I know that when someone needs help, you should help. Why is it so hard. And the excuses? They make no sence. Slavery? Suicide? Why do stupid people rule the world? How come people want to be in power just to pick on people. Where do inferior people like those come from? Ok, it's time to save the rest for Oprah, I'm sorry :D.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a beautifully honest post that makes sense, hon!
ReplyDeleteWe went to visit my niece in America this summer and she was shaking and teary over this: really *believing* that the Obamaites are coming to kill her babies with this health care thing. I pointed out that the US was nearly the only developed nation in the world without health care and that our own family had lived for years under a national health system doing just fine---I've had several surgeries and never had paperwork or a bill, and on several occasions my care was immediate or within the week.
Trouble is, too many Americans these days seem to do their "research" by whatever propaganda is getting shouted loudest; very few even know what the legislation proposes before they're out waving signs and screaming at television cameras. I find that scary, to be honest.
Wow...you know more about American politics than most Americans(guilty!) What is really frightening is that Palin appears to be the Republican's best choice for the next election! And seeing how Obama isn't getting stellar reviews...
ReplyDeleteThis is my standard response to the health care debate: Our tax dollars pay for public schools, National parks, roads, agencies to watch over us, including an agency to make sure that we pay our tax dollars! We topple governments and build new ones, along with other countries infrastructure, we bail out banks, who in turn take the money and find new and better ways to fuck us in the ass, we buy out car companies, bail out railroads and airplanes, but somewhere in America there is a kid who has strep throat that is not taken to the doctor because his mother has to try to figure out she is going to pay for it???? Seems crazy to me!!!!! I am not a democrat, by the way!
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to keep half an ear to the news reports about their proposed changes but there does seem to be an awful lot of Chicken Likens running around*!*
ReplyDeleteDon't get me started! I have posted on the need for health care reform so many times that my fingers are getting short.
ReplyDeleteI wish we could get the single payer system, but at least I am hoping for the Public Option. The idiots you hear screaming their stupid statements like Palin, Limbaugh, Beck and Bachman are just shills for the insurance and pharmaceutical industries. 78% of the people want universal health coverage. As they say, "Follow the money." If we could do away with the lobbyists and their deep pockets we might get decent health care reform.
So when you hear the ignorant who are parroting the right wing line just, please, don't judge all of us by the lame brains in our society. Too bad some of them get elected to Congress, though.
Bimbimbie couldn't have said it better. The squeaky wheels get the oil.
ReplyDeleteDarlene, Ive been following you and I know from the small group of American friends I have on both sides of the fence that thes people are whipping up a frenzy. At least it will get congress thinking hard about a proposal that might suit both sides of the argument. Good luck to them!
Our Government only recently, has actually put a cap on the amount of donations, functions and palm greasing that Ministers can participate in to try to prevent bias towards the wealthier lobbyists.
hear hear, baino... with luck the holdout dems wull see the light and vote for an american universal healthcare program and negate the gop idiots...
ReplyDeletein the senate, with ted dead, any bill can now be fillibustered :(
The conservatives in the US are sore losers. It does not matter what Obama proposes, they will be against it. I hear them say “we don’t want to be Socialist like the French.” First of all Sarkozy is not socialist, the socialist party lost. Second France was voted no. 1 by the World Health Organization on health care, so why can’t these idiots understand that. Many of these people receive emails telling them what to think and they believe it all. I get to the point I don’t want to watch TV anymore as I become so mad at all this ignorance. Now Bachman is totally loony and won her seat by just a few votes – because all her crazy constituents voted, even if they are a minority in her state.
ReplyDeleteAs a frequent user of the American healthcare system, I can tell you that the care is often hit or miss, the insurers and bean counters have docs by the shorthairs and the out of pocket expenses for what is not covered are staggering, and continue to rise.
ReplyDeleteI cannot buy individual policy insurance because no one in this state is obligated to sell anyone with a pre-existing condition a policy; they won't even return a phone call. I have a converted cobra and the cost rivals a mortgage at this point, and I'm not sure how much longer I can keep what I have.
Do I favour a public option? Yes, because it may be the only affordable option left to people like me.
Additionally, while the American system prides itself on its technology and trauma care, it does little to encourage preventive care and the basics are beyond the pocketbooks of most people I know, even those with jobs...That just isn't right and the naysayers are offering no alternative but rhetoric and fear-mongering, neither of which will provide access to services and care.
Thanks for this posting.
Wuff I'm hopeful that Ted Kennedy's replacement will be like minded and strong enough to take up the gauntlet. We'll see. Not all GOP reps are idiots I'm sure but the big ones seem to get all the press.
ReplyDeleteVagabonde, always interested in your perspective because you're French. It does appear to be a brilliant system and that was my earlier point, universal healthcare doesn't mean reversion to a socialist state. Why Americans are so afraid of 'isms I'll never know. And I agree, it seems any bill he proposes will be objected too on no sane grounds but in an attempt to discredit him. I feel for the fellow frankly!
e you are among many and this is something I hear ALL the time, not from healthy young Americans, or those requiring emergency treatment, I believe the health system copes with these issues but I do hear it from those requiring ongoing treatment, those suffering chronic disease and/or disability. It's expensive, it's sporadic and the out of pocket expenses are huge. Here, your wheelchair would have been provided free as would occupational therapy and any modifications you might need for your home (railings in showers, ramps instead of steps, special taps or knobs for those with limited hand mobility - that kind of thing) and whether you had private cover or not. Also if you are bedridden at home or require home nursing, this is provided by the government health service at no cost. My father had 3 weeks of excellent oncology care at home before he died. Nurses here every day to make sure he was comfortable and a doctor's visit as needed. All were free and enabled him to die with dignity and the minimum of stress.
Having said that, here you DO have to declare any pre-existing conditions BEFORE you buy a policy which may affect the extent of your cover but once you have a policy and you keep paying it, you are covered, the policy conditions do not change just because you've had a particular 'health event'. We also have 'waiting' periods for some cover such as pregnancy, dentistry and some pre-existing conditions. I'm not sure what the score is if a disabled person wants to take out health insurance. I suspect it would be granted but the premiums higher. In any event, these people would be cared for through the public system.k
Even with life or income protection, I have 'trauma' cover which pays out immediately I'm the subject of any traumatic health event and am unable to work. This is in addition to income protection which will pay 75% of my salary if I am unable to work. The premiums for both are higher because I'm a smoker but I still GET cover and if I give up for 2 years, the premiums will come down.
Look the bottom line is that loads of countries have universal, Government controlled health systems. Some are better than others but they all mean that everyone has equal access to health care (distance notwithstanding). Those who can afford it, pay extra for extra cover but we ALL contribute via a levy and our tax to the public systems. Our problem is the mismanagement of state spending on these systems and the difficulty of facing an ageing population.
Oh did I tell you that we also get tax relief for having private cover? A 30% rebate!
Bachman and Palin,
ReplyDeleteI can see the end of your political careers from my kitchen window!
i have to weigh in again. i live in massachusetts, which has "universal" health care, created on the watch of a republican governor (romney). my partner and i, both self employed, pay a collective $ 1300 a month for our coverage. we may need to get an authorization to see a specialist but overall the coverage is good. still, $ 1300 a huge amount, don't you think?
ReplyDeletei also work closely with poor families in a very poor urban city, everyone on welfare, unemployed, disabled, etc, has basic healthcare, and it is not inferior in any way that i can tell. in fact, unlike my own insurance, my clients tend to receive unlimited psychotherapy from me.
do i have a point? two i guess:
1. my coverage is too damn expensive for most people
2. if massachusetts can properly insure the poorer among us, without breaking the bank, what's the frigging problem?
salin palin, rush limbaugh, michelle bachman or whatever her name is: i'm losing my patience for people who think they're cool (i'm proud that i generally respect different views). this bunch is nasty, mean spirited, actually hateful. very vehement, very vicious. very sad.
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ReplyDeleteObama is the president in the wrong country.Instead of working with him and then slamming him if it doesn't work out, they are happy to keep the status quo which isn't working out at all. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteYes but just about ALL politicians are fuckwits.
ReplyDeleteLike the way they're forced into "apologizing" for gaffes they're not even sorry for. The hypocrisy is stenchraiding ...
Most able politicians are NOT statesmen. And statesmen and good administrators are totally different breeds. Good administrators are not necessarily good leaders. Democracy sucks but what's the alternative?
O & the ridiculous stuff I'm hearing from the American right wing re having some kind of health safetynet ... it's absolutely ridiculous!!
I 100% agree with you Baino!Nice one ;) one of your best,you see her face,you think straight away about that word..fuckwitt!Yeah!Many claps to you!:)
ReplyDeletehow did she get elected to office in liberal Minnesota? It's kinda like finding a liberal politican holding office in AZ. You just don't expect it.
ReplyDeleteWhile listening to the news at night, I will turn the volume down when certain people come on ...
ReplyDeletetotal agreement
ReplyDeleteit makes me gasp and spit, what people in the US are believing about our British NHS - far from perfect but truly something to be SO grateful for.
and odd that, how the people (here as well as there) who don't want National health systems are the people who can afford private
Nancy we can only hope so.
ReplyDeletekj that's expensive. I pay $580 for family cover which covers me, Clare (ironically she is considered a 'partner' and for Adam until he's 25 or leaves home. It's considered 'basic' cover but I paid only $150 out of pocket expenses for my hysterectomy in 2007 so well worth it I think for four days in a Private Hospital and the surgeon of my choice. From what I understand though the north eastern states have a very different attitude towards tax, health, public services. This is what I mean about the commonwealth disparity . . all the states are so different.
Gaye I think the far right just can't stand the idea of a liberal, educated black man in a position of power. Martin Luther King must be turning in his grave. They've tried everything to discredit him from slamming his background to questionning his citizenship. Outrageous. No white man would have to undergo such scrutiny. He remains gracious throughout all.
Gledwood, I'm not sure. I think some really do have a vested interest in their constituants. Another example of the few tarring all with the same brush. All it takes is one dickhead and we assume they all are. I am increasingly concerned about the ignorance of some Americans and at the same time heartened by the ones I know who bother to look outside their own existence and realise that there's a world outside the US . .yes . . a whole planet full of alternatives. America can no longer afford to be exclusive in this global community. And frankly, they need to learn more about the world. Educate and illucidate!
Candie, you're in the best position to comment. Is the French system all it's cracked up to be?
Cali, I don't know. I studied the US political system at Uni and actually dropped out of the course because it's the most complicated bureaucratised system I have ever seen. You're not a nation, you are a collection of disparate countries. Very, very complex politically . . frankly all the money spent on the hoopla of your various elections, State and Federal could fund National health in a heartbeat!
Mel . .I watch our national news broadcaster which is the least sensational but I despair of TV news. These days, I get it from the internet.
True Lettuce. Even Clare when she was there . .not a British citizen but does travel on a British passport, could get free health and dental. I agree, it's not perfect but it's bloody brilliant. I have an Irish blogger in Northern Ireland who will receive a hip replacement in coming weeks . .free . .gratis . . no charge! And another in the Republic who has British heritage with desperate chronic disease and visits a specialist in London . free, gratis, no charge!
OK I think that's enough now. Let's wish our American friends good luck. Obama better luck because it's a tough road he's travelling right now!
true enough, baino...
ReplyDeleteon the radio last week a chap who used nasty tactics in the 70s and 80s to promote 'rightwing christian values', as he called them [now he wants nothing to do with them], sez their methods are copied by all opponents of change, hammering on points non-existent, other than in their own minds :(
I've been menaing to come over for a visit, and his post just pulled me in. Firstly because I'm a big Green Day fan. And more importantly, because the nation's resistance to a national health care system is making me crazy. I'm a provider in private practice, and yet I would welcome a public health system and would be happy to work with in it to provide care. Because I'm self-employed, I can't get decent health insurance, and I want a cahneg in the system NOW.
ReplyDelete