The Healthcare Town Hall Meeting: South Texas Style

This past Friday the healthcare debate came to South Texas when former Mayor Henry Cisneros moderated a townhall debate for Rep. Ciro Rodriguez at the newly constructed performing arts center at Palo Alto College on San Antonio's Southside. While this lacked the faux pas of Representatives Wally Herger and Lynn Jenkins it was quite lively.

Ciro represents a district that was drawn up by the courts to provide a better opportunity at Hispanic representation, though you would not know it by looking at the audience. This audience was very, very white, and it would seem not willing to listen to the remarks of the Congressman. No less than 4 different people brought up government funded abortions. On each occasion Rep. Rodriguez pointed to to the copy of the house bill sitting on a table and said that it is not part of the bill and is not allowed because of the Hyde Amendment. One of the 4 questioners brought up grant money for Planned Parenthood. This is hypocracy at its finest. Planned Parenthood does many things in the community, abortion couseling is only one of them. They are an organization that works to make contraceptives avilible and aid in resposible family planning. If one is against abortion, don't work to outlaw it, use sensible education which takes the stigma off of contraception and family planning so that unintended pregnancies can be prevented.

While we had nobody in the crowd who questioned Obama's citizenship, on more than one occasion the stigma of healthcare for illegal aliens reared its ugly head. I am sure there are families in the area who are decended from the original Tejanos whose claim for citizenship in Texas predates many of the Anglos in attendence. The most outrageous comment came from someone who heard on, I think she said Fox News (suprise suprise) that Obama wanted to outlaw certain internet sites.

On the whole Ciro performed adequately but he could have been much much stronger. He showed brief glimpses of passion and fire to fight for what he know is right, but these were tempered by the hostility he was getting from the largely angry, white people in attendence. This would have been a time where Ted Kennedy would have stood up, outlined his principles, presented his arguments and not be afraid to proclaim himself a liberal. Ciro, stand tall and fight for good solid legislation. The members who came before you saw similar opposition to Medicare and Medicaid, and the Democrats in Congress stood tall and did what had to be done.

I leave you all with a little thought, this was the Dali Lama's definition of the True Meaning of Life, and it described Ted Kennedy and the entire Progressive agenda:

We are visitor on this planet.

We are here for ninety or one hundred years at the very most.

During that period, we must try to do something good, something useful with our lives.

If you contribute to other people's happiness, you will find the true goal, the true meaning of life.

H.H. the 14th Dali Lama

Edward Kennedy, One of the last of the great American Statesmen

Today our nation lost one of its great leaders. Ted Kennedy, the Senior Senator from the great state of Massachusetts passed away at home surrounded by his family. He had his personal faults, as we all do, but he rose above them, and in doing so tried to inspire the nation to achieve its own greatness.

Inspired by her Sister Eunice's work with Special Olympics, Kennedy championed causes such as civil rights, improvements in educational opportunities and raising the standard of living of the poor and downtrodden.

One of his greatest passions was his desire to see America establish universal healthcare. In 1976 he recounted his Father's struggles after suffering a stroke. He was able to see his father recieve the best of care. He stated that this level of care should be availible to all. He said, "If this health insurance is good enough for the President, Vice President and Members of Congress, it should be good enough for all Americans."

He felt so strongly about healthcare and Barack Obama's vision for universal coverage, he gathered his strength and trekked to Denver to rally the troops and pass his torch to the next generation.

As we sit here in debate as to the future of healthcare reform, we must keep Teddy's spirit alive and make this the single piece of landmark legislation that would befit his legacy to public service. WWTD....what would Ted Do should be our battle cry. The bill crafted by Senator Dodd and Kennedy's Health Labor and Pensions Committee delivers this promise. Let this strong piece of legislation go to the President's desk and become Teddy's legacy.

"The Dream Shall Never Die" Edward Kennedy (1932-2009)

Lou Dobbs is Lying to America Again!!!

Lou Dobbs is at it again. First he egged on the "Birther" movement, questioning the citizenship status of Barack Obama, even though that issue has been settled. Now he is falsely claiming that Barack Obama wants to take away everyone's guns. Once again Lou, you conveniently ingnore the facts that prove your assertion false to scare people and egg on the lunatic fringe in this country with baseless accusations.

The treaty in question, CIFTA is aimed at stemming the tide of weapons and explosives from reaching the hands of criminals and drug cartels in the Americas. Many of the weapons used to kill judges, policemen and innocent people in battles to control the drug trade are purchased legally and then shipped on and disappear into the black market. In the text of the treaty, there is no mention at all of a database or registry of gun owners. Article VI states that all firearms bear marks to identify the country of origin, place and time of manufacture and a serial number to identify a weapon. Article IX states that each party to the treaty verify that shipments of arms and ammunition are undertaken by dealers, arms makers and intermediaries who are properly accredited and licensed in their country and that said transactions are being made between lawful entities. Finally Article XIII does provide for the exchange of information. The information is limited to, routes used by criminal organizations in the transport of illegal arms, the names of suspected arms traffickers and their methods of concealing arms shipments. The names of persons engaged and liscenced in the manufacture, transport, distrobutions and sales of arms and ammuntion so that each state can perform its due dilligence under its responsibilities under Article IX. No where in the text of this treaty does it state that private gun ownership will be infringed upon in any way.

In the Case styled DC v. Heller, Justice Antonin Scalia stated:

Like most rights, the right secured by the Second
Amendment is not unlimited. From Blackstone through
the 19th-century cases, commentators and courts routinely
explained that the right was not a right to keep and
carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever
and for whatever purpose.

The only effect on our current gun laws that ratification of CIFTA would have would be the closure of the gun show loopholes, requiring all firearms sales to be documented and ensure that applicable background checks are made. I can't think of anyone who would want persons with a history of domestic voilence easily purchase a handgun, unless you happen to be someone who enjoys pistol whipping your spouse/significant other and likes to have the option of showing once and for all if she really steps out of line. Nobody would oppose laws to keep felons from leagally purchasing firearms, unless you are the person who needs a good shotgun and pistol to rob the corner store and you are pressed for time.

The only thing that most gun laws seek to do is say codify responsible gun ownership. I have no problems with concealed carry except that there are a few places that they do not belong, such as taverns, and schools. Guns and alcohol don't mix well. The only caveat I would lobby for is that in addition to a training class for concealed carry that persons be required to obtain and maintain liability insurance so that any damage or injury they inflict on innocents be fairly compensated for.

Lou, the truth is the only gun law that President Obama has really mentioned is the redrafting of the ban on assault weapons. This is a measure of law, that if enacted properly and not allowed to be weakened by NRA is something that is supported by law enforcement organizations, the American people and just makes plain sense. The 1994 ban was allowed to expire despite the protest from those who put thier lives on the line to protect us and our neighbors. There is no sporting purpose for such weapons, since most states ban the large magazines for hunting and there is really no international sport shooting comptition using such weapons.

Lou, just because CNN gives you a time slot does not mean that you can say whatever you want. Your profession calls for integrity in the manner of how things are reported. Edward Murrow famously said, "Just because your voice reaches from coast to coat does not mean that you are any wiser than when your voiced reached the end of the bar."

Lou report the facts for a change, you might see your dismal ratings improve.

Barney Frank on how to deal with crazies

Congressmen Barney Frank gives all of us a lesson in how to deal with the crazies who seem to dominate the debate. I am not against debate. I encourage all people to press their elected officials on the tough issues. Think about what you are saying when you debate. Debate facts not debunked falacies. In a poll by NBC 91% of Americans favor reform in our healthcare system. Just remember if you hear something about what might and might not be included in the reform go to Fact Check and see if it is true or not. There is nothing in the bill about "Death Panels", nor is there anything in there about healthcare rationing. Let us keep the push on and take this issue to the finish line.

What was McCain Thinking...

Last August John McCain, the self-styled maverick, shocked the world when he named then Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin as his reanimate to appease the fanatical right wing in the party. Since then she has gone from fresh new face of the party, to candidate for an extended run on the Jerry Springer show.

First she had to withstand ethics complaints, that averaged nearly one per month in office. Then she unexpectedly decided to no seek re-election, and based upon this resigned since she did not wish to be a "lame duck" in office.

It is hard to see what the folks in Alaska saw in her. Her answers in a relatively tame interview with Katie Couric were bizarre at best. She could not name a single newspaper that she read daily. She could not name one Supreme Court decision she disagreed with. Then she stated that she had vast experience with foreign policy since she could see Russia from her porch.

Then, after leaving office has been spouting complete lies concerning the healthcare debate. She stated that the House Bill HR 3200 contains provisions for a "Death Panel" to decide the fate of the seniors and the terminally ill. Truth is the passage she quotes on her Facebook page states nothing of the such. The passage mirrors a bi-partisan addition to Medicare, that allows payment for their physician for consultations concerning end of life care. This consultation is to make sure that a person's wishes are stated so that there is no ambiguity over them. A person can state whether or not they wish to be kept on life support for an extended period of time. They can discuss options for care in a nursing home or other skilled facility. All this passage states is that the physician will be paid for his services.

Perhaps we have not seen the last of Sarah Palin. Maybe she can take her show on the road and hit the circuit, Maury, Sally, and yes a weeks run on Jerry Springer. Maybe after she has read, and we hope understand the issues, then maybe she can intelligently engage in the debate of the issues our day.

A day without a union member...

In the last 2o years or so, the term union has come to be associated with many negative images. However that was not always the case, much of what we have come to expect in a workplace, such as safe conditions, fair pay all came as a result of collective bargaining and later codified into law at the Federal level. While companies like McDonald's and WalMart do everything in their power to prevent unionization, it is not because it is bad for the worker, but it would not allow the employer to mistreat their employees, and would force them to provide a living wage and decent package of benefits such as insurance. Truth is we encounter union members in our daily lives more often than we care to admit.

Turn on the TV, just about anyone involved with a program on television, from the actors, camera men, to the electricians all union or guild members. The police and firemen that protect us are all members of a union. The athletes we see play baseball and football, all union members.

These workers did not form these unions to get rich, they formed them to democratize their workplace. To enjoy the same voice in the place of employment that they have in government. The ethos of unions, according to labor historian Nelson Lichtenstein, is to give workers an equity stake in their workplace. The mantra of a fair days wage for a fair day's work. It is about creating a system that gives the employee a say in the workplace, it establishes a list of seniority, and ensures that if both the good times and bad times are shared in a fair manner.

Is the bitterness we see amongst the masses, founded in truth, or is it found in jealousy, that some workers had courage to stand up for themselves and demand fair treatment, while they cowered and meekly took what their employer had to offer, not willing to risk the pittance to achieve something better. It was the strong unions that ushered in an age where our middle class grew strong, and the American dream became a reality. It was organized labor that dealt the fatal blow to the Soviet Union when Lech Walesa and his fellow shipyard workers in Gdansk came together and demanded more and Soviet Union did not roll their tanks in and crush this uprising as they had done in Hungary in the 1950s.

Get involved and tell your elected representatives to support the Employee Free Choice Act and make it easier for the American workers to organize and rekindle the American Dream for all.

Just the Facts Please

It is time that those who continue to spout off lies get a dose of the truth. In the last few months, the tone of discourse in the nation has been shockingly uninformed. Not what you would expect from someone who is apathetic, but someone who listens but does not take the futher leap and determine if what they have heard is in fact the truth.

Take the absurd belief that Barack Obama is not a citizen. Not one court in the land where the challenge has been made has dignified the claim with a hearing of the facts. Since August 2008 an independent website FactCheck.org run by the Annenberg Project and University of Pennsylvania have had images of the birth certificate on the web for all to see.

This group has no interest one way or the other in our political system other than demonstrating the legitimacy or lack thereof of claims made by politicians, interest groups or other individuals as part of our nation's political discourse.

Check out the site, and see who is exaggerating the truth and who is not. They can show you thier analysis, and they annotate it so that you can check the data for yourself and see if you arrive at the same conclusion.

Health Care, Why Call it a 'Right'?

Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, did see Healthcare as a right. He did not want to see the access to a Doctor being determined on status. He saw Healthcare as part of the commons that could be provided for all so that all could benefit.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

It is time to call them out..

The Republican party, under the leadership of the neo-cons is in its death throes and we must be careful that they don't succeed in taking the nation down with them. Look at the rhetoric and their participation in our democracy since Barack Obama took the oath of office and it becomes apparent.

They have criticized every plan, suggestion or policy initiative brought forth by the Democratic leadership in Washington and elsewhere. They voted against the stimulus plan that sought to cut taxes for working Americans. They cried out when consideration was being debated to help save companies that employ blue-collar workers. They are now attacking the plan to overhaul healthcare in this country. Has any of the leaders put forth constructive suggestions of their own? Not one. They still propose the same policies that led to the economic crisis that we are in, and those that caused the last major economic crisis, the Great Depression.

The Republican Party has become the party of no...no ideas, no help to average working Americans, no to anything that doesn't benefit the wealthiest 1%. You listen to their mouthpieces, Rush, Beck, Dobbs, Hannity, and all you hear is hate speech. Rush, when you say you hope Obama fails, you are saying you hope America fails, and I hope that all who care about America choose not so spend any money with any company that sponsors such speech. This is no better than Sarah Palin pandering to the closet racist in an effort to blunt the Obama surge in November.

I am not the greatest supporter of our President. I think he should listen to people like Paul Krugman, Bernie Sanders, and Dennis Kucinich and push his agenda with more vigor. Push for single-payer or a public option with the same enthusiasm that he used in the campaign. It is also imperative that the grassroots movement that swept Obama to the White House get out there and get active and keep on until the job is done. Don't be afraid to point to the hate speech and call it racist. Dare the opposition to stand up and put forth something more than the same worn out rhetoric. Challenge the opposition to put forth their own plans for vigorous debate. On this the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock, we need to harness the passion of the anti-war movement and push our leaders in Washington to do the people's business and usher in an era of change.

Can Anyone Define Hypocrisy

Lately we have seen a racheting up of nasty rhetoric concerning the healthcare debate, particularly from media figures including Rush Limbaugh. Rush has likened the idea of universal healthcare to policies enacted by Hitler during his reign as German head of state. Obama's attempts to bring about meaningful reform in healthcare are much closer to the New Deal programs of FDR or LBJ's Great Society than anything a fascist head of state would propose.

Some on that side would argue that all that is necessary for the system to funtion is less regulation, like we saw with the banks last year. They argue that allowing companies to sell their policies across state lines will help lower costs. All we will see is companies cherry pick the states that have the least oversite and allow them greater latitude in denying coverage. In short it will get worse long before it gets anybetter. I would point out that the same people who advocate this free market approach quickly change thier tune when say the subject is importing perscription drugs from Canada and Mexico, where they will oppose this since it would prevent the Pharmacutical companies from gouging the American consumers so that they can affort the big salaries and corporate jets.

Everyone in America wants to see our economy recover, jobs created, and prosperity to resume. This can not happen, over the long term, without significant changes in how we view and pay for healthcare. The argument for single-payer, is that in the long term it would do the best job of controlling healthcare costs and improving our healthcare system.

Some of the criticism of the proposals being debated in Congress are completely false. The idea of creating a panel of doctors to look into the statistical effectivness of various treatments. The idea is to see if one treatment regime is significanlty more effective than another, and if two are bot equally effective, compare for cost. In Obama's comaprison, we have two pills, each equally effective, the red pill is 10x the cost of the blue pill, anyone here would pick blue if they were buying the pills themselves.

Some would argue that taxes would go up, and they might, but you would end up with a bigger take-home paycheck. If we went to a universal single-payer system, costs could be shared over the widest possible pool of persons. A notional tax for this would be lower than the premiums now being charged by private plans. Some people pay more for health insurance than they do for a mortgage or rent.

Get out there, get vocal and make sure that those who profit from this broken system do not succeed in preventing meaningful change.