$597 Billion to cover the all Americans under proper health insurance, hmm seems pricey but worthwhile for about the same price as the Defense budget every but instead designing new and expensive ways to kill people.
But wait it gets better. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office's price tag of $597 Billion isn't for one year but the cost through 2019! That's rigtht $59.7 Billion cost per year to ensure health insurance for 310 million Americans. That makes the cost per person $192 a year, $0.53 a day! Seriously what cheapass person could possibly be against throwing their pocket change so that every man, woman, and child have universal access to affordable health care.
Aug 21, 2009
Betsy McCaughey--still bat sh!# crazy
Jon Stewart reading verbatim the H.R. 3200 to Betsy McCaughey that the end of life consultation spelling out exactly what life sustaining treatment the patient will be willing to receive. Below is the pertinent part of the legislation that read aloud, with McCaughey declaring immediately afterward that 'sustaining treatment' meant ending life and she had written "disgusting" on her personal copy of H.R. 3200.
I've met McCaughey when she was running for Democratic nomination for governor in 1998. My initial personal reaction upon meeting her was "Wow, she's a deer caught in headlights." She abandoned the Republican party because being the incumbent Lt. Governor was unacceptable to her after being pulled from her career of being a right-wing columnist without ever running for elective office.
17 INITIATIVE FOR END OF LIFE CARE.—
18 (1) PHYSICIAN’S QUALITY REPORTING INITIA
19TIVE.—Section 1848(k)(2) of the Social Security Act
20 (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(k)(2)) is amended by adding at
21 the end the following new paragraphs:
22 ‘‘(3) PHYSICIAN’S QUALITY REPORTING INITIA
23TIVE.—
24 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of re
25porting data on quality measures for covered432
1 professional services furnished during 2011 and
2 any subsequent year, to the extent that meas
3ures are available, the Secretary shall include
4 quality measures on end of life care and ad
5vanced care planning that have been adopted or
6 endorsed by a consensus-based organization, if
7 appropriate. Such measures shall measure both
8 the creation of and adherence to orders for life
9sustaining treatment.
10 ‘‘(B) PROPOSED SET OF MEASURES.—The
11 Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register
12 proposed quality measures on end of life care
13 and advanced care planning that the Secretary
14 determines are described in subparagraph (A)
15 and would be appropriate for eligible profes
16sionals to use to submit data to the Secretary.
17 The Secretary shall provide for a period of pub
18lic comment on such set of measures before fi
19nalizing such proposed measures.’’.
I've met McCaughey when she was running for Democratic nomination for governor in 1998. My initial personal reaction upon meeting her was "Wow, she's a deer caught in headlights." She abandoned the Republican party because being the incumbent Lt. Governor was unacceptable to her after being pulled from her career of being a right-wing columnist without ever running for elective office.
Aug 20, 2009
Large Swaths of the American Public Are Ignoramuses
Liberal blogosphere has already jump all over the fact that 39% of the American public believe the government should stay out of the beloved government agency Medicare. My concern is that only 90% believe the fiftieth state admitted to the Union believes Hawaii is part of the United States.
6% of the respondents deny that Hawaii is part of the United States, while another 4% taking the Hamlet route and are unsure of the state's being... well a state. 4% and 6% seem like far too small of numbers to be concerned about, but 10% either denying or unsure about 1.2 Million U.S. citizens status as citizens is disconcerting. 10% of Americans is 30 Million people, not a population you could really ignore. 39% being ignorant of the fact that Medicare should also bring shame to our national pride (especially since those 39% respondents are likely the ones that are quick to claim we are smartest, richest, best in everything country in the world), but confusing a government agency with private insurance is a little more understandable since Medicare pays private service providers and it is the private service providers are in direct contact with the public while Medicare exists several degrees of separation away from the end user. 30 million Americans not knowing enough about their own country shocks me.
With this response I would have like to seen the same poll have asked whether Alaska is part of America? The Hawaii question was the first of a string of questions leading to ferret out how many 'birthers' really are out there, and where do the 'birthers' believe President Obama was born. My question far any of these 30 million or any 'birther' conspiracy theorists, do they believe that Panama is part of the U.S.? Why would I ask that non-sequitur question? Well because that is where 2008 GOP nominee for president John McCain was born. Panama being one of the rare examples of former U.S. territory being handed back.
If birthers can't believe Hawaii is a state, or that the state's department of health issued a certificate of live birth for Barack Hussein Obama, or that 2 newspapers in Hawaii independently issued birth notices contemporary to the president's birth; how would they contain the possibility that John McCain was constitutionally eligible for the office of the president but not Barack Obama who was born in a state that is still part of the U.S.?
6% of the respondents deny that Hawaii is part of the United States, while another 4% taking the Hamlet route and are unsure of the state's being... well a state. 4% and 6% seem like far too small of numbers to be concerned about, but 10% either denying or unsure about 1.2 Million U.S. citizens status as citizens is disconcerting. 10% of Americans is 30 Million people, not a population you could really ignore. 39% being ignorant of the fact that Medicare should also bring shame to our national pride (especially since those 39% respondents are likely the ones that are quick to claim we are smartest, richest, best in everything country in the world), but confusing a government agency with private insurance is a little more understandable since Medicare pays private service providers and it is the private service providers are in direct contact with the public while Medicare exists several degrees of separation away from the end user. 30 million Americans not knowing enough about their own country shocks me.With this response I would have like to seen the same poll have asked whether Alaska is part of America? The Hawaii question was the first of a string of questions leading to ferret out how many 'birthers' really are out there, and where do the 'birthers' believe President Obama was born. My question far any of these 30 million or any 'birther' conspiracy theorists, do they believe that Panama is part of the U.S.? Why would I ask that non-sequitur question? Well because that is where 2008 GOP nominee for president John McCain was born. Panama being one of the rare examples of former U.S. territory being handed back.
If birthers can't believe Hawaii is a state, or that the state's department of health issued a certificate of live birth for Barack Hussein Obama, or that 2 newspapers in Hawaii independently issued birth notices contemporary to the president's birth; how would they contain the possibility that John McCain was constitutionally eligible for the office of the president but not Barack Obama who was born in a state that is still part of the U.S.?
Aug 12, 2009
The Christian Street
The Christian Street (like the eastern variation the Arab Street) is unfocused, intense, fearful and of course very, very, angry. Reza Alan wrote a book/thesis about the Islamic-fanatics called Cosmic Wars, that could just as easily describe the temper tantrums that have been occurring at Congressional town halls all through out the country.
- Neither the Arab Street or the Christian Street have plans for, or believe in a resolution.
- Neither the Arab Street or the Christian Street have complaints that are specific. (Anti-Zionism /Anti-Socialism)
- Neither the Arab Street or the Christian Street have desire for civil discourse.
- Neither the Arab Street or the Christian Street have solid organization or strict tenet of beliefs other than you are either one of us or one of them.
Jul 31, 2009
Fed Audit Supported By 75% Of Americans: Survey
Fed Audit Supported By 75% Of Americans: Survey
Of course the Federal Reserve should be audited, shouldn't the most economically influential organization in the country be accountable the same way the banks they deal with every day are? FDIC has the responsibility to audit banks they insure, so the Federal Government who insures the Federal Reserve with full faith and credit of the American government has the responsibility to audit the Federal Reserve. Why aren't the conservatives up in arms htat this hasn't been done already, they complain about healthcare being handled by some bureaucrat and an ever increasing size and scope of the federal government that is accountable to no one, and yet bringing accountability to these far off bureaucrats commanding and controlling the economy with a greater and greater scope and size has not brought out one tea-bagger, not one John Birch Society member, not one Libertarian, not one conservative talking head (the Glenn Becks, O'Reilly, Michelle Malkin, or Ann Coulter).
The conservative movement is paralyzed by their corporate pay masters, Obama and Tim Geither should get on this right away starting the audit will take less push than Healthcare and it is nearly universaly approve of bby the public (75% is as close as your going to get without including Mom, baseball, and apple pie)
Of course the Federal Reserve should be audited, shouldn't the most economically influential organization in the country be accountable the same way the banks they deal with every day are? FDIC has the responsibility to audit banks they insure, so the Federal Government who insures the Federal Reserve with full faith and credit of the American government has the responsibility to audit the Federal Reserve. Why aren't the conservatives up in arms htat this hasn't been done already, they complain about healthcare being handled by some bureaucrat and an ever increasing size and scope of the federal government that is accountable to no one, and yet bringing accountability to these far off bureaucrats commanding and controlling the economy with a greater and greater scope and size has not brought out one tea-bagger, not one John Birch Society member, not one Libertarian, not one conservative talking head (the Glenn Becks, O'Reilly, Michelle Malkin, or Ann Coulter).
The conservative movement is paralyzed by their corporate pay masters, Obama and Tim Geither should get on this right away starting the audit will take less push than Healthcare and it is nearly universaly approve of bby the public (75% is as close as your going to get without including Mom, baseball, and apple pie)
Jul 30, 2009
City Hall News, Broken!
CityHallNews.com has exceeded their bandwith limit. What story do you think cause all the extra traffic?
Jun 8, 2009
Monser-Rat!
Today in response to my State Senator betraying his Democratic Party, I called to have my displeasure with him as a constituent and I am guessing I'm not the only one since the constituent liaison who picked up the phone kept fumbling the name of his boss.
It went a little something like this.
HM staffer: "Senator Malcolm's ... I mean Hiram Monserrate's office, how can I help you?"
Me: "I'm a constituent and would like to leave a message for the Senator."
HM staffer: "um, so where in Smith's I mean the senator's district do you live?"
Me: "[Gave address]"
HM staffer: "What's the message?"
Me: "He's a disgrace."
It went a little something like this.
HM staffer: "Senator Malcolm's ... I mean Hiram Monserrate's office, how can I help you?"
Me: "I'm a constituent and would like to leave a message for the Senator."
HM staffer: "um, so where in Smith's I mean the senator's district do you live?"
Me: "[Gave address]"
HM staffer: "What's the message?"
Me: "He's a disgrace."
Apr 24, 2009
MTA starts hiring freeze. Really! Why didn't they start this last year!
MTA starts hiring freeze. Really! Why didn't they start this last year!
http://www.wnyc.org/news/articles/129772
MTA had service cuts and fare increases the last year why did they think that they had any money then but just came to the revelation now? I'm not one that is prone to privatizing anything but Elliott Sanders & the rest of the incompetent management at the MTA has got to be sacked and replaced with people without political connections and good large organisation management skill.
That's not likely to happen, but I can still dream.
Apr 13, 2009
Contract ended at Times Union -- Page 1 -- Times Union - Albany NY
Contract ended at Times Union -- Page 1 -- Times Union - Albany NY
The death of newspapers, the Union needs to think of organizing TMG.com
The death of newspapers, the Union needs to think of organizing TMG.com
Mar 19, 2009
Has The World Been Turned Upsidedown
J.D. Power and Associates named Jaguar and Buick as the top in reliability. Stand Up comics can't make fun of their Jaguar always being in the garage. As far as Buick, I really don't know what to say, maybe the ugly makes it more reliable.
Mar 18, 2009
LET IT DIE: Rushkoff on the economy | ARTHUR MAGAZINE - WE FOUND THE OTHERS
This is a concise though hyperbolic explanation of the current credit crisis. It gives the words that have been bottled up in my gut for the past six months, and squarely places the blame onto the speculators who produce nothing and feel entitled to everything.
Feb 4, 2009
Howard Dean for Secretary of HHS
Tom Daschle succumbed to tax scandal has withdrawn his nomination to head the Department of Health & Human Services. There probably is no better person to oversee health care reform than Dr. Howard Dean (former DNC chairman, 2004 Democratic canidate, former VT Governor that overhauled health care to provided every child in the state with health coverage.) The knowledge of the health care system that Dean would bring to the position would be invaluable to the Obama administration as well as the nation and to providing real solutions to national health care crisis.
During the 2004 presidential campaign, Dean had put forward in his stump speech the need for incremental changes for health care to end up down the road to be universal. He had said that the failure of Hillary's health care in 1993 was because of the attempt to jump directly to full coverage.
During the 2004 presidential campaign, Dean had put forward in his stump speech the need for incremental changes for health care to end up down the road to be universal. He had said that the failure of Hillary's health care in 1993 was because of the attempt to jump directly to full coverage.
Jan 30, 2009
Mayor Bloomberg's grim doomsday budget cuts 23,000 city jobs; Yet another massive screw-up of Bloomberg which will not stick to him.
Mayor Bloomberg's grim doomsday budget cuts 23,000 city jobs
7.6% cut in the city workforce; breaking campaign promises of supporting term limits while overseeing NYSEX plummet creating the cause for breaking term limits; after administrating 7 years of laisez-faire policies in department of buildings caused deaths of nearly a dozen New Yorkers; failed attempt to tax commuting New Yorkers via congestion pricing that would have done nothing to relieve outer-borough traffic; pushed for the Atlantic Yards Nets stadium which has now stalled not because of the emphatic support of the mayor but because downturn in economy started 2 years ago; mid-year budget cuts that killed school programs January 2007; for no apparent reason messing with school busing in the middle of the 2005-2006 school year; spent exorbitant amount of money to a failed attempt to attract the 2012 Olympics (thank goodness we dodged that bullet); has yet to accomplish anything with the rebuilding at ground zero either the freedom tower or the transportation hub;
All of these Bloomberg's Bloopers and yet still he is leading in the polls, Hizzoner is Teflon Don and can do anything without getting tagged without being held accountable to his screw-ups. Why is it that Bloomberg is able to get away with all of this? Is it possible that every bad thing that has happened under his administration is fault of someone else while every good thing came straight out his butt? MBA Presidents or MBA Mayors can't seem to hold themselves to account to anything, and is unwilling to admit any mistake.
7.6% cut in the city workforce; breaking campaign promises of supporting term limits while overseeing NYSEX plummet creating the cause for breaking term limits; after administrating 7 years of laisez-faire policies in department of buildings caused deaths of nearly a dozen New Yorkers; failed attempt to tax commuting New Yorkers via congestion pricing that would have done nothing to relieve outer-borough traffic; pushed for the Atlantic Yards Nets stadium which has now stalled not because of the emphatic support of the mayor but because downturn in economy started 2 years ago; mid-year budget cuts that killed school programs January 2007; for no apparent reason messing with school busing in the middle of the 2005-2006 school year; spent exorbitant amount of money to a failed attempt to attract the 2012 Olympics (thank goodness we dodged that bullet); has yet to accomplish anything with the rebuilding at ground zero either the freedom tower or the transportation hub;
All of these Bloomberg's Bloopers and yet still he is leading in the polls, Hizzoner is Teflon Don and can do anything without getting tagged without being held accountable to his screw-ups. Why is it that Bloomberg is able to get away with all of this? Is it possible that every bad thing that has happened under his administration is fault of someone else while every good thing came straight out his butt? MBA Presidents or MBA Mayors can't seem to hold themselves to account to anything, and is unwilling to admit any mistake.
Another Conneticut politician gets free home renovations and is caught
In 2005 Governor Rowland was caught for having a vacation home built in return for state contract to the contractor. Yesterday Hartford Mayor Perez received home renovations for half the cost by a contractor who believed "would be blackballed as a contractor in the city" if he did not do the renovations free, prosecutors said he told them.
Blago in Illinois left office for attempting sell Obama's Senate seat and a barrel full of corruption charges; NY Governor Spitzer left due to sexual scandal, NY State Comptroller left because misuse of his office's resources; North Dakota was deemed the most corrupt state based on indictments per capita. In large part the citizens' apathy is the reason why the moral bankrupt keep getting elected. If 300 million Americans became citizen-activists and knew their elected officials (not just the president) as well as became full participants in government there wouldn't be nearly as many corrupt elected officials.
Full participation of informed citizens is of course a pipe dream, but even if a third of the American public citizen-activists the other two thirds would benefit from having a higher quality of elected officials, and only a third of the country is actually achievable.
Jan 29, 2009
Blago Unanimously voted out of office
The end of Governor Blagovich came to an end with a unanimously voted out of office by the Illinois State Senate.
Jan 11, 2009
Danny Dromm: The Next City Councilman from the 25th District
I'm sad to say that I do not live in the 21st 25th City Council District, because if I did I would be a proud voter for Daniel Dromm. Not only is he a Democratic District Leader who will promote progressive policy he brings a lifetime of experience as a community activist, educator, and a union activist. The good news is that Dromm as a city councilman will benefit not only his district but Queens, the Democratic party, and the council itself, as well as the rest of the city. I encourage anyone living Jackson Heights, parts of Woodside and Elmhurst that lives in the 21st 25th District should vote for Daniel Dromm in the September 8th Democratic primary.
I've known Danny for only a 
couple of years, but I whole heartily believe his voice certainly needs to be in the city council.
Here is a picture I took at his community fundraiser at Novo Restaurant yesterday, so I've already put my money where my mouth is, and will expect to be putting knuckles to doors this June for petitioning.
couple of years, but I whole heartily believe his voice certainly needs to be in the city council.Here is a picture I took at his community fundraiser at Novo Restaurant yesterday, so I've already put my money where my mouth is, and will expect to be putting knuckles to doors this June for petitioning.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)