We have learned that the health industry lobbyists are spending $1.4 million per day persuading Congress to do what they want and not what the American people want.
We also know that the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America has "doubled its spending to nearly $7 million in the first quarter", to fight against the needs of the American people and for a continuation of their high profits.
So the latest from the Senate Finance Committee comes as no surprise…..
They said any legislation that emerges from the talks is expected to provide for a non-profit cooperative to sell insurance in competition with private industry, rather than giving the federal government a role in the marketplace.
This, either….
PhRMA, which represents drug companies, has purchased more than $500,000 worth of television ads to air during the week in nine states.
I'm sure you've seen one or more commercials on teevee sponsored by either Big Pharma or Big Health Insurance advocating for reform. Imagine…..Big Pharma and Big Health Insurance are FOR health care reform. As long as Big Pharma and Big Health Insurance can write the bill to favor themselves, I guess, these mighty Capitalist Jihadists are all for reform.
At least in the Senate Finance Committee, that's who is writing the bill.
Howard Dean, (who will host Countdown on MSNBC tonight and tomorrow night), was a guest on the Rachel Maddow show last night. Dean reminded viewers that 72% of Americans want a public option plan….not a co-op plan…..to be included in the final reform bill.
Finance Committee Senators, apparently, could give a sh*t what the American people want. $1.4 million per day is much more important to Senators than what the American people want and need.
A co-operative plan option for health insurance is the mechanism the industry giants desire because it will be toothless in bringing health insurance costs down. Bribed Senators will be able to point to the co-op plan and disingenuously tell the American people they've done something to keep insurance prices in check. Big insurance will be guaranteed millions of new customers without having to sacrifice any profit margins. All good. As long as you are not a regular American citizen.
Many Americans still believe that our most dangerous enemies are found in the caves and middle eastern hellholes where radical Islamics dwell. While dangerous, al-Qaeda and Co. pale as a national threat when compared to Big Capitalism. Al Qaeda isn't bribing elected American officials to do their dirty work against American citizens. Big Capitalism is.
When America's enemies within Big Capitalism, those who fight against the essential needs of American citizens in order to protect their profits, can turn a legislative battle into nothing but another windfall for themselves….we should all be very concerned.
If the health reform bill doesn't include a public option, if it doesn't include discount bulk pharmaceutical purchasing rights for the federal government….then the only reason to pass it….is for the sake of Big Health Care, to help them make even more profits.
If this sellout happens, and there is no reason to think it won't, the result will be worse that the 9-11 disaster, as far as scale…..because millions of Americans will be affected negatively.
To bribed Senators, that's all okay, because they're being bipartisan…..and that's, somehow, all that matters.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
If the bill is as bad as you say then Obama won't sign it, right? Or is Obama being bribed too?
We'll see.
Good point, Rev. Without the public option and bulk purchasing power, this "reform" will become just another costly boondoggle dedicated to preserving the status quo. One can only hope that people will recognize the difference between reform and a sellout.
Yes.
Without the public option and pharma changes all that is left is a Republican plan.
Without those two, Obama should veto….my fear is, he won't. With only a Republican plan, prices will automatically increase and perhaps exponentially. The GOP will then point to the "Obama" health reform plan as a disgraceful failure while they cash their health care stock dividends…and get ready to snow the people into voting their sorry asses back into power.
Like I said. It's all good.
More examples of the results of Obamacare……..
A man rushes his limp dog to the veterinarian. The doctor pronounces the dog dead. The agitated man demands a second opinion.
The vet goes into the back room and comes out with a cat. The cat sniffs the body and meows. The vet says, "I'm sorry, but the cat thinks that your dog is dead, too."
The man is still unwilling to accept that his dog is dead.
The vet brings in a black Labrador. The lab sniffs the body and barks. The vet says, "I'm sorry, but the lab thinks your dog is dead, too."
The man finally resigns to the diagnosis and asks how much he owes. The vet answers, "$650."
"$650 to tell me my dog is dead?" exclaims the man.
"Well," the vet replies, "I would only have charged you $50 for my initial diagnosis. The additional $600 is for the cat scan and lab tests."
Rev says, "Without the public option and pharma changes all that is left is a Republican plan"
Huh ? The Republicans have nothing to do with the health care plan. This is all the Democrats doing.
Yeah, Republicans have nothing to do with blocking reform. Nothing whatsoever.
"Republicans have nothing to do with blocking reform. Nothing whatsoever"
The only accurate thing Rev has said in 4 years.
The "only" thing, huh?
That's right, Rev. The Republicans have nothing to do with this health care plan. They don't have enough votes to do anything about it. I repeat, this is ALL the Democrats doing. Republican proposals don't even make it into the plan. If they did, you'd see things like tort reform in there. Have you ever heard Obama say one word about that ? N-O-P-E.
Why would Obama include tort reform when malpractice suits are basically insignificant in the overall health care cost problem?
Insignificant, my fanny. When one third of surgeons have been sued, when you add in the costs of defensive medicine to avoid lawsuits, it's very significant.
All one has to do is find the total number of malpractice suits that survive the legal process…..to know that malpractice reform is insignificant vis-a-vis the overal health care cost problems we are facing.
But it's always those damn trial lawyers, right King?
Malpractice suits that do not "survive the legal process" are also quite costly, Reverend. You are making dishonest arguments again.
They may be costly, as you say, but they are insignificant in the larger cost picture.
Complaints about malpractice suits are standard issue "bash trial lawyer", conservative and Republican dogma.
Here's a tongue-in-cheek take on your malpractice suit….malpractice…..
"We could save our whole system if we just capped malpractice awards. Two of our biggest states—California and Texas—did it a few years ago and nothing has changed there, but who cares?"
http://www.newsweek.com/id/209817/page/2
That fellows got even less evidence than you, Reverend. What's happened to Newsweek anyway? I picked one up a couple weeks ago and couldn't believe what a joke it's become.
I'm not gonna start defending today's media. But in this case, Alter makes a good point with Calif. and Texas…..and hasn't Ohio also come down on the side of insurers and against regular people whose doctor may have killed their child?
California and Texas also treat more illegal immigrants than other states, Reverend. Alter's article is simplistic and dishonest.