Health reform is gaining not losing momentum. Opponents are sandbagging against the ocean.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

At some point in the very near future you will start to see a shift and former blowhard obstructionists will start rewriting history into "Oh, no! I was ALWAYS for a public option. You must have misunderstood."

[JuniperLea]

1. I was told by a RW nut last week...

That one of the reasons European healthcare is so bad is because they don't allow pharmaceutical advertising... so people who are sick don't know what drugs to ask for... I kid you not.

[ejpoeta]

4. now i know that we didn't always have those pharma ads... and we seemed to do alright.

and many of these ads have been the cause of the tiers regarding pharma coverage in most insurance companies. That's why if I get actual Prozac it costs me $30 or $40 copay. Because instead of using something that may work just fine that isn't some designer high cost drug we saw on a tv commercial, there are plenty of drugs that would work just fine or maybe even better. that argument is crap.

[SammyWinstonJack]

6. Seriesly?

:spray: :silly:

[KansDem]

2. From "teabagging" to "sandbagging"

Not a good time to be a right-wing, neo-con, fascist-corporatist, religiously-insane GOP obstructionist hypocrite...

[Cleita]

3. Good, however, a word of caution.

Beware of Trojan horses. Some one brought up that if a weak public option is passed because it makes the obstructionists happy, and it is a failure, they can point out down the line that a public option doesn't work. There is an idiot Senator right now from NC trying to make every insurance company argument but dressing it up in different words. I had to turn him off. My blood pressure can't take it. Only a public option crafted along the lines of Medicare will work.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

8. I completely agree with your caution. We cannot accept "public option lite"

like the Schumer "compromise".

But I think we are getting people very educated about what is needed : adequate government funding/ subsidy, availability to any who want or need it, and a more than adequate network of providers, and affordability along the lines of Medicare.

There are too many eyes on this one to let them get away with the bs as usual.

[JimWis]

5. I agree, It is slowly gaining momentum.

[Echo In Light]

7. The catch is, corporate America cares not what We want, so what will people do?

As usual, absolutely nothing. So WHY will corporate America concede to the demands of the people when they've absolutely NOTHING to lose by calling our bluff?

Aside from the typically mealy-mouthed "we'll vote the bums out" nonsense that corporate America fucking LAUGHS at (that jive really gets em quaking in their shoes, to be sure) the American populace will do ZERO to help bring about beneficial change. So, let it gain all the "momentum" one can hope for, cause it won't amount to dick in this country. That's what makes America, America.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

9. Well, we are at amazing numbers in terms of support in the polls DESPITE

the 24/7 fear mongering about "bureaucrats", deficits, etc.

I'm VERY cynical, but even cynicism has to be tempered with just a dash of optimism occasionally. I SWEAR I am sensing what they refer to as a "sea change" in public sentiment.

Now, if we can just get Obama to agree to draw the line in the sand, I think we can get there. I think he will do that, but I think he will do it when the time is appropriate. Truly, his Presidency will be judged in large regard by what happens with this reform.

[Echo In Light]

12. Clinging to the illusion that any "prez" actually gives a fuck is a huge part of the problem

People need to at LONG last give up that willy-nilly fantasy, and begin mass organization for endless strikes/marches, cause bodies in the street - and I mean big time - is the ONLY thing that may begin to seriously sway the powers that be. Those beholden to Hallowed orgs have to pay attention to that.

Will it happen? Never.

There's a stronger chance of that occurring if it involved a fucking sports game than it would for anything that actually mattered.

Seriously, sitting back and waiting on an exalted sock puppet to miraculously do the work of The People is just the exact same, tired, lame-o approach that cowardly idiots have naturally relied on for decades, and will only yield more of what it already has: the same.

[Romulox]

10. I haven't heard ANYBODY clamoring for mandatory, for profit insurance, except politicians. nt

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

11. AND media flacks. nt

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

13. Although, I predict soon we will be getting a lot of polls showing that

Americans don't want "government bureaucrats" running their healthcare. I say this based on the flawed poll I ran into just last night.