Senate Love Fest: Health Care Reform Another Step Further

It would seem that Reid has the votes to get the proposed senate health care bill on the floor for debate. It would seem that Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-Arkansas) and Mary Landrieu (D-Louisiana) have softened their positions to vote to get this to the floor. It became a real love fest . 


I wonder if Senator Landrieu's change of heart would have anything to do with the fact that she seems to have bigger things to worry about.


Senator Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) of course was a hold out and didn't vote along. No love fest for him it would seem, but why did he go to chat with arch neo-con Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) ?Would he be thinking of crossing the floor to be  a G.O.P.? Or is there some kind of strange deal going on here?


I really hope that health care reform becomes a reality over there. Let's hope they go forward.


Now, time for a cartoon.

Health Care Reform Passed!

It passed by the narrowest of margins: 220 Aye (including one GOPer) and 215 Nay, according to breaking news at Huffington Post. Here is the break down of the votes.


Below is Nancy Pelosi's declaration of the new health care bill passing.


Yes, good the Government will have a tighter noose on the insurance companies and they won't be able to discriminate anymore based on gender or pre-existing condition. It is, however, watered down. How disappointing! What is this?? Subsidizing lower income Americans so they can buy insurance?? Whatever happened to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's Public option?? I did not see anything about a public option in there.  Subsidizing purchasing of insurance will surely be more expensive to the tax payers than the public option would ever be...


I wonder if this will cost Obama a second term?? Surely the more progressive Democrats will no longer have confidance in him and the Tea-baggers will surely have replaced the GOP with Rush Limbaugh at the helm. Oh what a mess!


I'm glad there is reform of some kind. The very fact the insurance companies are going to have to play fair now is already progress, as well as more will be insured, or so it says on paper.


UPDATE: 


It seems there is a public option. I apologize for having jumped the gun. Here are the particulars of this new health care bill. As mentioned, insurance companies will no longer be able to discriminate based on gender or pre-existing condition.  I hope it will be put into practise in all states.

Fox(x) Healthcare Terror

Of all the wingnuttery that has come out about health care reform in the U.S., this, by far, has to take the cake. Apparently, according to some, health care reform is being compared to Terrorism.


Apparently, Rep Virginia Foxx (Redneck-North Carolina) is trying to score points with the tea-baggers and its' cheerleader, Glenn Beck during a time The Tea-baggers are executing their hostile take-over of the GOP, deciding who's batshit crazy enough to stay and who's not. In her little world, she says this about health care reform:


"I believe we have more to fear from the potential of that bill passing than we do from any terrorist right now in any country."





It seems to be working for her. She's now got praise from right wing media morons like Neil Boortz: 


 In a November 3 update to his Twitter page, talk radio host Neal Boortz wrote: "Va. [sic] Rep. Virginia Foxx has it right. ObamaCare does present a greater threat than Islamic terrorism."


Now, let's not forget the Weepy wingnut of all shall we?  Here's Glenn!!

"Ten years ago, I could have shouted every single day about Osama bin Laden and his wacky crazy threats to kill Americans in New York and nobody would have been willing to stand in line two hours while some security officer made grandma take her shoes off. No one would have done it. But don't you see. While the government is still not willing to do these things, today America is different. America has changed. Washington, we're not going to let you get away with it anymore. Look, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Conservatives are awake. 9/12ers are willing to do the hard things. We know what this means! We're taking time out of our busy lives, taking time away from their families, they're attending town hall meetings. Do you think they want to do that? They are calling their representatives. How many times do we have to be yelled at by your people in Washington? They are reading 2,000-page healthcare bills on the weekend. The 9/12ers are willing to stand in line and take our shoes off before the plane actually hits the tower."

Really, Glenn? You mean there are pictures in them  2000 page healthcare bills? I didn't even know they can read anything past two syllables.

As for your Congresswoman: Virginny, clearly it's time for you to go home and continue looking for the Commie Muslims in every nook and cranny on your plantation. Remember that slavery is illegal now.

The sad thing is that this new health care bill, whatever that may entail, will surely be watered down much to the chagrin of the Liberal Democrats, due to Obama insisting on having GOP friends. Really Obama, are those wingnuts more important than your constituents who put you in the White House expecting you to deliver on a promise of health care reform??

What is the Problem? It's a Public Option, Not a Communist Conspiracy

As a Canuck observing the health care debate state side, I've been really shaking my head with disappointment and confusion. Sometimes there's hope of a public option, sometimes something happens for them to all start running scared. Some come up with ideas to replace the public option, like subsidizing lower income families and then they worry about costs. Well, the public option would be alot cheaper. Our single-payer system is cheaper than the American mess of a health care system such as it is.

I read Dammit Janet's and The Galloping Beaver's posts last night about President Obama not only waffling on the public option, but actively discouraging the public option, according to an article at Huffington Post on Saturday. And for what? To please Senator Olympia Snowe? Funny, because she seems to be caring more about what her fellow Republicans are thinking about her and maybe even what Fox News says about her than whatever President Obama is concerned about.


I can't believe I'm going to use this phrase: in the words of Dr. Phil, this is the tail wagging the dog here. Obama is backing out of the public option to please a GOP senator, a senator who is a member of the minority, no less. As the folks in the video below indicate, it's time to show some leadership Mr. Obama, it's up to you to either convince Senator Olympia Snowe to pay more attention to the constituents in Maine who clearly favour a public option and less attention to her fellow GOPers and to Fox News, or just leave her out of the negotiations completely.


Perhaps you would be better served to convince your fellow Democrats like Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana who have doubts.


You are close to getting the 60 votes you need to override a filibuster. Don't back out now.

See, Mr. President? Listen to  your supporters and listen to the members of your party. Keep this campaign promise. Show some credibility. Show some leadership.


In today's New York Times, Senate majority leader, Harry Reid (D-Nevada) announced there will be a public option in the proposed health care bill, however it leaves room for states to opt out  should they so choose. 


“I’ve concluded, with the support of the White House, Senators Dodd and Baucus, that the best way to move forward is to include a public option with the opt-out provision for states,”


YEESSHH!! A step in the right direction, but still pandering to the GOP. Nevertheless, it is believed that this public option presented in this way should pass. According to yesterday's New York Times, John McCain ever so begrudgingly admitted this could fly:


“I think the Democrats have the votes, and in the House, Blue Dogs bark but never bite,” Mr. McCain said on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” using the nickname for conservative Democrats . “So I don’t think they have a problem over in the House side. In the Senate I think the Democrats are very aware that they don’t want a repeat of the Clinton failure in 1994. So I think it’s very likely they will get something through. But it’s not clear to me what it is.”


So, Mr. President, it looks like you could get your 60 votes for a public option. All you have to do his be a mensch and a leader and stand behind the public option. Never mind bi-partisanship, the GOP will never extend the same courtesy; they have made this plain. Even Olympia Snowe is not playing ball, in spite of the fact the state she represents favors a public option. Never mind the insurance companies, they will survive.  Do it because it's the right thing to do. Do it, because it was a campaign promise. Do it, because your mentor, the late Ted Kennedy wanted health care reform and no doubt would have wanted you to push the public option. Health care reform was something he strived for in his 40 year career.  He took time out of his treatments to endorse you: don't let him down. 


UPDATE: According to Huffington Post this afternoon, Harry Reid has announced that a public option of some kind will be in.


According to a CNN report, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has stated that President Obama is now behind a public option: 


"He supports the public option because it has the potential to play an essential role in holding insurance companies accountable through choice and competition," Gibbs said.


Keep going! Every other industrialized country has a government option and covers all of its' citizens; it's about time the United States does the same, once and for all.


Message to Ms. Snowe: Stop being so afraid! It's a public option, not some communist conspiracy. You say you want health care reform? Here's your chance to prove it. Listen more to your constituents and less to fellow GOPers.

More Ironies of the Pro-life movement

I've gotta stop reading SUZY ALLCAPSLOCK's blogs. I know, I really should. Call it morbid curiosity, I guess. Here is her convaluded entry from this morning if anyone is as morbidly curious as I am.


Basically, she is, of course on the Sawah bandwagon saying the U.S. shouldn't reform health care. She says that leaving it to the free market would be patient centred. She says: "Instead of working contrary to the free market, let’s embrace the free market."


Embracing it? More like allowing it to run the country. She opens by giving offering a minor reason for the Global recession. That was how this recession got started. Ronald Reagan allowed Don Regan of Meryll Lynch to run his government; subsequent governments allowed Wall Street to continue governing, right up to Georgie, who was basically the useful idiot for Goldmann-Sachs. The recession was basically caused by the deregulation of the banking industry, allowing them and Wall Street to ride rough-shod all over the country. Unabashed Capitalist greed was the cause  as Michael Moore demonstrated in his last movie.


According to many of  SUZY ALLCAPSLOCK's postings, she claims to be a devout Catholic. Yet, another irony here, she advocates for greed which clearly go against the teachings of Jesus.  As those priests and that bishop in Michael Moore's last movie pointed out, capitalist greed  is immoral. Perhaps she and others are waiting for Andy Schlafly to rewrite the bible to suit their whims


Market-oriented, patient-centered is indeed an oxy-moron. 


Funny how this posting doesn't address the insurance company practises like denying for pre-existing conditions. Even denying for silly ones, like acne. It discriminates against women. Pregnancy, c-sections & being a victim of domestic violence are considered pre-existing conditions as I wrote about in a previous posting. It doesn't cover pre-natal care. Here in lies another irony of the Pro-lifers. How could she and others like her be staunch pro-lifers & yet advocate insurance practises not covering pre-natal care??? If you're advocating Pro-life, shouldn't Suzy and others like her be advocating for Health care reform? That pre-natal care be covered at 100%? I would love to see how the pro-lifers like Suzy justify this one.


I would like to further touch into this irony of Pro-lifers, like Suzy. She has pretty stated in a previous posting that not only attacked women who by mistake get drunk at party, but also stated that the whole pro-life cause must supercede the well-being of a child. I guess we shouldn't be surprised at any cold hearted or misinformed thing she (and of course, others like her)


The Pro-life movement so obviously supports the real death-panels known as the American Health Insurance industry, not the ones living in Sawah's imagination. We all know American Health insurance corporations cut people off the moment they ask for coverage as soon as they're hurt or sick. 
What is their problem with reform state-side? Health care for all should fit with the pro-life modus operendi, shouldn't it? 


Sadly, It doesn't. Just another irony of the pro-life movement. They advocate murder of actual human beings while they have their fetus fetishes. They advocate violence. Hell, on Twitter, I ran into a pro-lifer who goes by the handle, RightGirl who tweets that she's "against humanity". It does indeed summarize their movement and Suzy so shows their true colours.


The rest of the industrialized world covers all its' citizens. Health care is a right, not a commodity. Free markets & capitalism should never even be a factor in health care and in religion.


The real irony about the Pro-lifers is that those on the Pro-choice argument such as myself care more about the sanctity of life than they do.

Now We Get Why Tea-baggers are sooo Afraid of Health Care Reform

(Sigh!) If only that were true!

Picture Courtesy of internetweekly.org

In Canada, We're a Left-wing Fringe Group: In the U.S. we're a Pre-Existing Condition

Again, the left-winged fringe group gets the shaft in the U.S.  According to the criteria for many American Health insurance corporations, certain pregnancies, C-sections and being a victim of domestic violence can refuse are grounds for refusal.


Procedures such as mammograms, pap-smears, and pre-natal care are not even covered under most insurance policies. Yet, women pay 48% more for their preniums than men in the same age bracket; same circumstance, same insurance carrier. Imagine that, women pay more for less service.


The U.S. prides themselves on being a nation that believes in family values? Sorry, advocating the murder of Doctors from women's clinics and bombing abortion clinics don't make you family-friendly!



Here is a hit list of senators (All GOP) who voted against coverage for victims of domestic violence: 
Alexander, Burr, Ensign, Enzi, Frist, Gregg, Hatch, Isakson, Roberts 


According to their dumb rationale, "...covering a victim of domestic violence would be akin to covering “a smoker who doesn’t stop smoking.”


Yeah, whatever! 


How about a man who is a victim of a random mugging or a drive by shooting? Is that also a pre-existing condition?


Take a look at this!



Observe the neanderthal in the above video rationalizing not to have pre-natal care covered! Remind you of anyone, here in Canada?


Something Shona Holmes should have considered before opening her clap trap to the Tea-baggers & Faux News. This is the system she is advocating for here in Canada.  Another reason it's important to make sure we don't have that kind of nightmare of a lack of health care.


Since we're considered a left-winged fringe group in Canada, ol' Stevie would surely advocate for the very same backward and inhumane treatment for us. It will be up to us to do our damnest to make sure this never happens in Canada.


It may explain why GOP senator Olympia Snowe voted with the bill in the senate house committee. It may also explain why GOP senator Susan Collins, also from Maine, may also get on board the pro-health reform express. Ladies, you really should reconsider public option and don't cave into the myths Faux News is pumping, at the very least, think of the sisterhood who can benefit from this change: to have the basic human needs filled. Don't let the media play a part in the decision making or even the real neo-cons in your party.  But kudos to the both of you for not going along with the 'Limbeck' machine!


For those who are American reading this blog: there are petitions to sign for health care reform:
http://action.seiu.org/page/speakout/domesticviolence
and a Twitter petition: http://act.ly/ok.

The Sweetheart of "Faux" News &the Darling of the American Right...The Lies Continue

Well, she's baaack!! That's right America's Right Winged Darling was being interviewed on Faux news. Inspite of the fact no one says she would have died & that Doctors who have been interviewed said that no one dies of the is condition; she still maintains that would not have survived had she waited in Canada.


What's worse (not that I'm surprised) is how biased Faux News (took the nick name from A Creative Revolution) is. They also had T.R. Reid, the author of  The Healing of America-The Search for Better, Cheaper & Fairer Health Care & he must be wondering why they even had him on. Clearly the host wanted nothing to do with him, while not letting him get a word in or interrupting him while he does. An example of this is when Reid cited info from the John's Hopkins School of Medicine declaring that more Americans Go To Canada for treatment, he was dismissed while the host turned immediately to Shona Holmes. Yes, after all, she is their star & they certainly can't have an American of reason stealing her thunder now can they? While T.R. Reid mentions a study done at a reputable U.S. medical school; Shona refutes that arguement citing absolutely no facts & no study, yet she has more credence than Reid. Yah, REAL Responsible media.


You can read an article by T.R. Reid debunking a few myths in the Washington Post  on August 23, 2009.



Shona Holmes also states that it's absolutely untrue that Americans come to Canada for health care. Well, Shona, meet Kathleen & Maureen, two American women living in B.C. who as much as they would like to go back state side, they can't. Gee, I wonder why?? 




What's even funnier is in August, before this little smut fest, I wrote a letter to Shona Holmes (you can find a copy of my letter here), I did send her the link to this second video featuring Kathleen & Maureen. 


I know that at the very least, my letter was read by her husband, David given that he had already attempted to to antagonize me online,  along with Mario Coluccio,  the managing director of CMPI, a public interest group lobbying against President Obama's health care reform.


Another thing that pisses me off about Shona Holmes is that she presumes to speak for all Canadians, particularly sick Canadians. NO, she means Rich Canadians. 


What is ironic is that the American Health Insurance industry that Holmes so vehemently defends would refuse her coverage due to a pre-existing condition.  Had she been living state side, she would still have had to take out a mortgage on  her house. If Canada adapted this American Health Care system, she would still have to mortgage her home. Under both those circumstances, she would never be able to sue her government.


What is hypocritical is that she & her merry band of Conservatives, like Canadian Constitution Foundation don't believe the Government should be involved in health care; that the Free market should take over health care & yet they`re suing the Ontario Government. Well, isn't this lawsuit essentially asking for Government to get involved??


You can hear an interview done on CBC's The Current with Kathleen Kelly yesterday here. It's under the heading Medical Exile - Patients First. 


Apparently, a hearing is supposed to begin soon in the Shona Holmes' law suit & let's all hope & pray that OHIP & the Ontario Attorney General have their shit together. A  win for Holmes & CCF would indeed be very damaging to Canada's Universal Health coverage whether or not ol' Stevie ever gets a majority government as I`ve already illustrated in a previous posting. 


Affordable & quality health care should & must be available for ALL. This is one thing where Capitalism should play no part in.

Smart & Stupid Media: Fun Map Games: YAY Socialism! Sunday Brain Drain Fun

Now For Some Sunday Brain Drain Fun

Well, I was going to start a series stemming from last Saturday night's blog & call it Saturday night Brain Drain Fun, but due to other obligations, I had to put it off to today & make an exception & call today's second week, "Sunday Brain Drain Fun". Where I would collect some really silly quotes, videos & pictures & accompany it with some commentary.

Speaking of which, the American Right wing movement seems to be the gift that keeps on giving to progressive bloggers. So today's posting will continue with the American Right.

Remember the Tea-bagger's hit parade where they were protesting Gov't run programs, taxes & everything else that stands for any improvements??

Well, as Congressman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) as their spokesman, they were whining about the Government run Washington Metro system just wasn't up to their standards. Ed Schultz from MSNBC's The Ed Show had something to say about this one in the video below:

 

Oh, & there is the sighting of the first Black woman in this  Tea-Party. Of course, she may well have been hired by any one of those same PR firms that sent plants to instigate riots at those town hall meetings over the summer to show everyone they're really not racist.
As anyone can see, Ed Schultz is certainly on the right track here.
Let's go further & have these tea-baggers & other Neo-Cons sign this pledge, courtesy of PZ Myers of  scienceblogs.com

The Teabagger Socialist-Free Purity Pledge

I, ________________________________, do solemnly swear to uphold the principles of a socialism-free society and heretofore pledge my word that I shall strictly adhere to the following:

I will complain about the destruction of 1st Amendment Rights in this country, while I am duly being allowed to exercise my 1st Amendment Rights.

I will complain about the destruction of my 2ndAmendment Rights in this country, while I am duly >being allowed to exercise my 2ndAmendment rights by legally but brazenly brandishing unconcealed firearms in public.

I will foreswear the time-honored principles of fairness, decency, and respect by screaming unintelligible platitudes regarding tyranny, Nazi-ism, and socialism at public town halls. Also.

I pledge to eliminate all government intervention in my life. I will abstain from the use of and participation in any socialist goods and services including but not limited to the following:

•  Social Security 
•  Medicare/Medicaid
•  State Children's Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP)
•  Police, Fire, and Emergency Services
•  US Postal Service
• Roads and Highways
• Air Travel (regulated by the socialist FAA)
• The US Railway System
• Public Subways and Metro Systems
• Public Bus and Lightrail Systems
• Rest Areas on Highway
• Sidewalks
• All Government-Funded Local/State Projects (e.g., see Iowa 2009federal senate appropriations--http://grassley.senate.gov/issues/upload/Master-Approps-73109.pdf)
• Public Water and Sewer Services (goodbye socialist toilet, shower, dishwasher, kitchen sink, outdoor hose!)
• Public and State Universities and Colleges
• Public Primary and Secondary Schools
• Sesame Street
• Publicly Funded Anti-Drug Use Education for Children
• Public Museums
• Libraries
• Public Parksand Beaches
• State and National Parks
• Public Zoos
• Unemployment Insurance
• Municipal Garbage and Recycling Services
• Treatment at Any Hospital or Clinic That Ever Received Funding From Local, Stateor Federal Government (pretty much all of them)
• Medical Services and Medications That Were Created or Derived From Any Government Grant or Research Funding (again, pretty much all of them)
• Socialist Byproducts of Government Investment Such as Duct Tape and Velcro (Nazi-NASA Inventions)
• Use of the Internets, email, and networked computers, as the DoD's ARPANET was the basis for subsequent computer networking
• Foodstuffs, Meats, Produce and Crops That Were Grown With, Fed With, Raised With or That Contain Inputs From Crops Grown With Government Subsidies
• Clothing Made from Crops (e.g. cotton) That Were Grown With or That Contain Inputs From Government Subsidies
• If a veteran of the government-run socialist US military, I will forego my VA benefits and insist on paying for my own medical care
• I will not tour socialist government buildings like the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

I pledge to never take myself, my family, or my children on a tour of the following types of socialist locations, including but not limited to:

• Smithsonian Museums such as the Air and Space Museum or Museum of American Histor
• The socialist Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson Monuments
• The government-operated Statue of Liberty
• The Grand Canyon
• The socialist World War II and Vietnam Veterans Memorials
• The government-run socialist-propaganda location known as Arlington National Cemetery
• All other public-funded socialist sites, whether it be in my state or in Washington, DC

I will urge my Member of Congress and Senators to forego their government salary and government-provided healthcare.
I will oppose and condemn the government-funded and therefore socialist military of the United States of America.
I will boycott the products of socialist defense contractors such as GE, Lockheed-Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Raytheon, Humana, FedEx, General Motors, Honeywell, and hundreds of others that are paid by our socialist government to produce goods for our socialist army.
I will protest socialist security departments such as the Pentagon, FBI, CIA, Department of Homeland Security, TSA, Department of Justice and their socialist employees.
Upon reaching eligible retirement age, I will tear up my socialist Social Security checks.
Upon reaching age 65, I will forego Medicare and pay for my own private health insurance until I die.

SWORN ON A BIBLE AND SIGNED THIS DAY OF ____________ IN THE YEAR ______________.___________________________ ___________________________
Signed Printed Name/Town and State

I'm wondering if I should have made the font red when I copied & pasted this? Speaking of the colour red,  anyone ever notice the colour of the Republican party is exactly the same colour that represents communism? Makes one think, doesn't it??


 Remember on Friday, CNN's Rick Sanchez confronting Fox News? Here's the video from   Unrepentant Old Hippie's Blog

Notice how Rick Sanchez says CNN  reports the news & not promote it? Well, it appears a producer from Fox News was caught on camera leading the tea-bagger rally on!

Isn't this an example of Promoting the event rather than reporting it? The girl in the green sweater with her arms up in the air is an assistant producer of Fox News. 
The picture is from Huffington Post. Two videos are also available on their page.


Now, Joe Wilson (R for Redneck from Sath Carolanee) who is REALLY lying now?? 
Rachel Maddow points out that it is the great liar's state who can stand to benefit from health care reform the most in her little game of :"Magic Map trick"

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Poor Doggy! You could probably read the stimulus better than your master! Hey! Isn't forcing stupidity on a dog cruelty to animals??

R.I.P. Norma Rae & The REAL Death Panels

Crystal Lee Sutton, A.K.A. 'Norma Rae passed away last Friday of not only of Meniginoma, a usually slow growing brain cancer but she was also killed by....the REAL 'death panels' known as the American Health Insurance industry; NOT the one invented in the imagination of Sarah Palin.


Crystal Lee Sutton, a working-class mother of the three struggled to keep her family afloat with only 2.65$ an hour folding towels at a textile mill in her home town of Roanoke Rapids, N.C.  fought in 1973 to organize a union & was fired for it. She didn't leave without one final moment of defiance:


"I got a piece of cardboard that we used to put in our towel gift sets," she said. "I just grabbed (a magic marker), and I just wrote the word 'union' on that piece of cardboard and climbed on the table. I don't even know how I got up there. And I held that word 'union' up — that cardboard — and turned it around. And people — they finally all shut their machines down."


 The story of her fight was portrayed by in the Oscar winning film,  Norma Rae in 1979 starring Sally Field. 


Later, Crystal Lee Sutton would have two  fights of a different kind; brain cancer & her insurance company that didn't want to pay for her treatment, which in her view was another abuse to the working poor. After two months of fighting with them, she finally started receiving treatment which would prove to be too late.  Her husband had to work two jobs & the AFL-CIO took a collection on her behalf to help pay for her treatments. 


"How in the world can it take so long to find out (whether they would cover the medicine or not) when it could be a matter of life or death," she said. "It is almost like, in a way, committing murder."


Well, it IS essentially, committing murder of the legal kind just like what  Dr Linda Peeno confessed to before Congress.


Here is another example of the REAL death panels.


The irony of Crystal Lee Sutton's story is she represents the American working class in her fight for unions & later, the health insurance industry. She is someone who is much like those marching on the tea-bagger hit parades. Health care reform would serve to help that comical group the most.


Here are some links to a biography of her life:


http://aflcionc.org/blog/2008/07/11/crystal-lee-norma-rae-sutton-is-battling-cancer/


http://www.thetimesnews.com/news/rapids-15070-sutton-roanoke.html

Sally Field & Crystal Lee Sutton, the real Norma Rae

When asked how she would like to be remembered, here's what Crystal Lee Sutton had to say about this: 

"It is not necessary I be remembered as anything, but I would like to be remembered as a woman who deeply cared for the working poor and the poor people of the U.S. and the world," she said. "That my family and children and children like mine will have a fair share and equality."


That means even largely in part, the Tea-baggers from the hit parade. Instead of parading around with their mis-spelled signs & toting their guns, they should be stopping to think why President Obama is fighting so hard for health care reform. But, that would require a brain capable of logical thinking.

Remembering 9/11 with Health Care Reform

I know, I'm a day late. I didn't forget 9/11. I read about the happenings all over the U.S. & the world for that matter to commemorate that horrific day & as well it should be, but what about honoring the surviving rescue workers & volunteers who did survive 9/11? The only one who honored them was "America's most feared film maker", Michael Moore with the help of three of those uncovered rescue workers: Reggie Cervantes, William Maher & John Graham in the movie Sicko. 


Many of them chronically ill with lung damage & other conditions related to being exposed to the toxicity of the smoke & debris at Ground Zero. They seem to be the forgotten ones. Most can't work anymore due to their mental & physical problems. What did the Bush administration do to 'honor' them?? "...cutting health care funding for Sept. 11 first responders by 77 percent and in December when he canceled a health monitoring and treatment program for Ground Zero workers."  Georgie & his administration seemed to have no problem spending trillions on both wars in Afghanistan & Iraq, but decided to cut the budget to care for these workers here at home? How obscene is that?


About 90% of Ground Zero rescue workers don't have access &/or health care coverage according to Healthcare-now.org. Talk about hypocrisy: the tea-baggers, Birthers & other neo-cons including that bungling red neck, Joe Wilson from Sath-Carolanee whining about coverage for illegal aliens, they have forgotten about these heroes who can no longer work due to their health issues & thus have no health coverage.


Obama made a great point when he said the best way to remember 9/11 is through volunteerism & Cervantes, Maher & Graham are doing just that by "fighting for social justice and access to humane medical treatment for all Americans."


Let 9/11 be a reminder as to why health care reform in the United States is so necessary.  
ALL Americans (as well as all humanity deserve to be covered). Anything less than that would be just : 

SICKO!!!!