August 10, 2009
Health care “debate” highlights need for campaign finance reform
Sometimes the most obvious take on current events is so obvious that hardly anyone bothers to say it out loud. A classic case in point is the current national discussion over health care reform in which a small cadre of industry funded shills has managed to mobilize and outrage a goodly number of folks by telling bigger and bigger lies on a daily basis.
As Molly Beacham over at Democracy North Carolina reminded me this morning, the current debate would undoubtedly look and sound a whole lot different if so many members of Congress weren’t so dependent on health care and insurance industry cash to fund their campaigns and/or so fearful of their wrath.
In a hopeful sign that more people are beginning to take not of this “obvious” fact, here are some excerpts from a piece from a group called Americans for Campaign Reform that appeared on the Huffington Post last week:
We believe that real reform of our nation’s healthcare system is floundering for one simple reason: lawmakers in Washington cannot afford to ignore the millions of dollars in healthcare industry money that goes to fund their campaigns.
Consider the numbers. Since the start of 2009, healthcare industry groups — including health insurers, pharmaceuticals, and HMOs — have contributed nearly $20 million to federal candidates and parties, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. Combined with the $150 million in 2008 industry contributions to elect our current leaders, and over $500 million in lobbying expenditures in 2008-2009, that puts the healthcare industry at the top of the special interest pyramid alongside Wall Street banks.
And their giving has been anything but haphazard. In nine of the last ten cycles, industry groups gave more to the party in power. Members serving on key congressional committees with jurisdiction over healthcare reform received the lion’s share of industry contributions, an average of $171,000 per cycle, compared with $87,000 for non-committee members. In a climate of rising campaign costs, where incumbent Members of Congress must raise a million dollars or more to keep their seat, it is little wonder that industries with the means and incentive to contribute large amounts are seated at the front of the room. And the public pays the price.
As a partial solution to this dilemma, the post goes on to promote a bill sponsored by North Carolina Republican congressman, Walter Jones: HR 1826, the so-called Fair Elections Now Act. Under the bill, members of congress would have the option of participating in a new system of publicly financed elections that would be similar to the one already in place (and working well) for some Council of State races in North Carolina.
While no one expects the campaign finance reform bill to pass before the health care debate comes to a head, the current mess ought to provide a powerful reminder to all who care as to why such reform is long overdue.
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That does bring up a good point about people thinking that current legislative proposals will bring about socialism.
Big health care companies — medical device makers, drug companies, insurance companies — are the primary funders of most political campaigns. If you think politicians are going to turn around and put these industries out of business, you have much to learn about politics.
[...] gunshot to the heart) as straightforward truth and rumors of detainment and torture abound. Health care “debate” highlights need for campaign finance reform – pulse.ncpolicywatch.org 08/10/2009 Sometimes the most obvious take on current events is so [...]
Meet “we the people”…the brains behind Conservative Americans sudden urge to rise up against health care reform. They give the people a ‘protest by numbers’ guidebook, even instruct them on how to disrupt a town hall meeting and what slogans to write on their home-made signs (home-made = more authentic grassroots looking):
“It will be“…a large scale, widely promoted and unified stance against this dangerous healthcare legislation (describing the Recess Rally). Michelle Malkin has joined the coalition along with Smart Girl Politics, American Liberty Alliance, American Majority, the Sam Adams Alliance, Americans for Limited Government, Freedom Works, and RedState.com…Now is the time for all good tea party activists to get out on the streets and tell Washington to keep its grubby hands off health care…These Government thugs think they can slip socialism into America. We think it’s time to prove them wrong.” http://www.americanlibertyalliance.com
These guys are raking in over $1,000,000 a day to stage this fake peoples’ revolt during August. Then it’s back to Big Oil (got to keep USA dependent), Big Beverage (Just say NO to a soda tax). You know how the story goes.
Throw The Healthcare Obstructionist Out!
More than two thirds of the American people want a single payer health care system. And if they cant have a single payer system 76% of all Americans want a strong government-run public option on day one (85% of democrats, 71% of independents, and 60% republicans). Basically everyone.
We have the 37th worst quality of healthcare in the developed world. And the most costly. Costing over twice as much as every other county. Conservative estimates are that over 120,000 of you dies each year in America from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don’t die from. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Insured and uninsured. Men, women, children, and babies. This is what being 37th in quality of healthcare means.
I know that many of you are angry and frustrated that REPUBLICANS! In congress are dragging their feet and trying to block TRUE healthcare reform. What republicans want is just a taxpayer bailout of the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry, and the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare industry. A trillion dollar taxpayer funded private health insurance bailout is all you really get without a robust government-run public option available on day one. Co-OP’s ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION. They are a fraud being pushed by the GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry that is KILLING YOU!
YOU CANT HAVE AN INSURANCE MANDATE WITHOUT A ROBUST PUBLIC OPTION. MANDATING PRIVATE FOR PROFIT HEALTH INSURANCE AS YOUR ONLY CHOICE WOULD BE A DISASTER. AND UNETHICAL, CORRUPT, AND MORALLY REPUGNANT. AND PROBABLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL AS WELL.
These industries have been slaughtering you and your loved ones like cattle for decades for profit. Including members of congress and their families. These REPUBLICANS are FOOLS!
Republicans and their traitorous allies have been trying to make it look like it’s President Obama’s fault for the delays, and foot dragging. But I think you all know better than that. President Obama inherited one of the worst government catastrophes in American history from these REPUBLICANS! And President Obama has done a brilliant job of turning things around, and working his heart out for all of us.
But Republicans think you are just a bunch of stupid, idiot, cash cows with short memories. Just like they did under the Bush administration when they helped Bush and Cheney rape America and the rest of the World.
But you don’t have to put up with that. And this is what you can do. The Republicans below will be up for reelection on November 2, 2010. Just a little over 13 months from now. And many of you will be able to vote early. So pick some names and tell their voters that their representatives (by name) are obstructing TRUE healthcare reform. And are sellouts to the insurance and medical lobbyist.
Ask them to contact their representatives and tell them that they are going to work to throw them out of office on November 2, 2010, if not before by impeachment, or recall elections. Doing this will give you something more to do to make things better in America. And it will make you feel better too.
There are many resources on the internet that can help you find people to call and contact. For example, many social networking sites can be searched by state, city, or University. Be inventive and creative. I can think of many ways to do this. But be nice. These are your neighbors. And most will want to help.
I know there are a few democrats that have been trying to obstruct TRUE healthcare reform too. But the main problem is the Bush Republicans. Removing them is the best thing tactically to do. On the other hand. If you can easily replace a democrat obstructionist with a supportive democrat, DO IT!
You have been AMAZING!!! people. Don’t loose heart. You knew it wasn’t going to be easy saving the World. :-)
God Bless You
jacksmith — Working Class
I REST MY CASE (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/why-markets-cant-cure-healthcare/)
Republican Senators up for re-election in 2010.
* Richard Shelby of Alabama
* Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
* John McCain of Arizona
* Mel Martinez of Florida
* Johnny Isakson of Georgia
* Mike Crapo of Idaho
* Chuck Grassley of Iowa
* Sam Brownback of Kansas
* Jim Bunning of Kentucky
* David Vitter of Louisiana
* Kit Bond of Missouri
* Judd Gregg of New Hampshire
* Richard Burr of North Carolina
* George Voinovich of Ohio
* Tom Coburn of Oklahoma
* Jim DeMint of South Carolina
* John Thune of South Dakota
* Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas
* Bob Bennett of Utah
The people at the town hall meetings are not rent-a-mobs, they are citizens of the United States expressing their free speech right to disagree with their elected representatives.
Obama says if I like my health insurance I have I can keep it … THIS IS THE BIG LIE!!!
I like the health insurance that my employer (worked there 29 years) offers currently … but I do not decide what health insurance they will offer in the FUTURE!
If the Public Health Care option come to fruition, and my employer decides to cease my current insurance plan, I’ll be forced into the public option I WILL NOT HAVE A CHOICE TO KEEP MY CURRENT INSURANCE! It is not just “up to me”!
I do not want my US Federal Government in the Public Heath Care business.
Do not allow Obama & the Democrats to get their Public Heath Care “FOOT IN THE DOOR”, or it is “game over”, and we move to socialized medicine, which has failed everywhere it has been tried!
Citizens of the United States of America, WAKE UP NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!
Stop the Public Health Care option by expressing your opinion at a town hall meeting held by your elected representatives.
Government has no business running our health care!
The runaway premium similar to the peak fuel price last year and left so many folks in despair insists on staying the course with the attitude ‘unchanged’, clearly this trend could bankrupt individual, business, and government. Now the government subsequently is tasked with these two main assignments, first, to address premium inflation, second, to expand coverage to all in urgent need.
In order to cover all and not to add to the deficit, the public option can not set the same rates of private market, rather, it needs to have the function to keep it in check in terms of inflation, too. Unfortunately, this ‘unavoidable’ direction is aggressively being accused by the runaway premium, citing government ‘take-over’ .
Under the circumstances the energy bill to determine human future and the other major issues is presently piled up, who wants to waste time making enemies ?, which also does not benefit the forthcoming election.
On the other hand, to make things worse, critics say the savings from the proposed public option is not enough to meet the revenue goal. Furthermore, on another hand, some say ‘hands off’ . Where do these No tax, No saving and the like intend to force this reform to go ? The conclusion by ‘just-say-no’ is no doubt. Ironically, the Deficit-sensitive groups have a distinctive common ground, they all have a Deficit-driven background out of question.
Of all choices, the best thing would be savings through efficiency. Considering the wasteful structure, the highest premium in the world, and the most expensive part of medicare, with the prevention / wellness program in place, an American style innovation, an ‘outcome’-based payment founded upon IT system may be enough to save more than 50 billions per year (500 / decade), both ‘improving quality’ and removing the unnecessary procedures (as pay is dependent on patient’s outcome). Young folks and advocates need to explain the notion of a pay for outcome agreement to the elderly misled by the disinformation.
Unlike private market, this public option includes large-scale investments, these large investments still does not get the fair score, instead seem to become a source of acute conflict, even so, this common sense-based program needs to develop further as early detection goes beyond monetary value.
In short, with the heartbreaking tears in mind (Nearly 11 Million Cancer Patients Without Health Insurance), private market also needs change and should join together to complete this reform , as promised, if not, the runaway premium only has itself to blame. Job-based coverage (indirect payment), mandate code, and ample capital might be favorable to the private market. And It can be said that fair competition starts with fair market value.
Over time, supposedly, the public plan will concentrate more on basic, primary cares, and the private insurers will provide their clients with differentiated services.
Thank You !
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I couldn’t agree more. Health Care “Reform” is the Poster Child of our broken political process by which The Industry manipulates public policy for profits. On Sept 8, Oregon PNHP is going to embark on the “Mad As Hell Doctors” road tour, wending our way to Washington, telling the truth about both our political process and the sham of health care reform that appears to be giving us more of the same: a health care non-system that is better at producing profits than health.
More info? http://www.MadAsHellDoctors.com
Be well. Being otherwise is very expensive.
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Susan
http://projectgrant.info
Watch Rachael Maddow interview Tim Phillips of Americans For Prosperity @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2Mo9d-dqB8
The criticism that somehow a public option would put private insurance out of business is
NONESENSE
We live in a country where public and private options have coexisted side by side for years…giving Americans more options.
Has the Post office put Fed Ex and UPS out of business? Of course not.
It just gives all Americans another choice of how we want to send our packages.
That’s good for everyone.
We have:
public education and private schools
public universities and private universities
public roads and toll roads
public transportation and private transportation
public property and private property
public libraries and private book stores.
pubic hospitals and private hospitals
medicare and private insurance
In every case the public option exists right alongside the private option
Rather than drive private options out of business, the public option
gives all Americans another choice
Time for a public option in private insurance to give us ONE MORE CHOICE.