Friday
Jun292012
Bill Moyers: 'Look Who's Really Writing the Healthcare Bill - Big Pharma & The Insurance Lobby'
Outstanding clip.
Video - PBS Bill Moyers Essay, The Health Care Lobby
A look back in the wake of yesterday's SCOTUS decision.
Who is actually writing the healthcare reform bill? Lobbyists for Big Pharma and the insurance industry, of course. The last time we saw massive healthcare legislation on Capitol Hill, it was for Medicare Part D, the prescription drug benefit. As a result of this legislation and the work of former Congressman Billy Tauzin, Medicare is not allowed to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies. David Walker called it the single most fiscally irresponsible bill in the last 50 years.
Jun 29, 2012 at 1:25 PM
Reader Comments (28)
I can't imagine that any helalth care reform package will be anything but GREAT for existing insurance companies...
Oops, I mean campaign contributions.
Agreed...but it also spelled out the huge lobbying effort which is what we were emphasizing...find us another clip and post it here...if it makes the same points about the lobbying control over the process then we'll put it up...
I think the type of reform we're doing will simply make things worse...i choose no change over what is coming from the Senate...and i don't think it's prospects are good for passage.
This could be the tipping point for a lot of people. You've got so many people already riled up about the health care "reform" anyway, this could just piss people off enough that they'll have to back down. I mean, what the fuck!? They can't MAKE us give our hard earned money away to some giant corporation that's been ripping us off for decades, can they? It's time we tea-party on their front lawns. Seriously. I don't believe in any of the "Illuminati" conspiracy theories, but you can't blame anyone for thinking that way. First they get their bailout trillions. Then the economy collapses. Then they pass the porkulus...er "stimulus." Then they sucker people back into the markets. Then they plan to take over health care and put us all into a medical database and control our lives. To say nothing of the Homeland Security State.
Come on, Daily Bailers, if this mandate stuff goes through, here's your chance to give 'em the Dick Cheney one-finger salute. Tell them NO! Jim Bunning style: NOOOO. Tell them you're opting out of Obamacare.
Bastards. Somebody deserves an ass whoopin' over this.
Let's hope so. But neither is nationalized health care.
Medicare is unconstitutional?
That was my point, that the Constitution has been irrelevant for a long time, and that even if insurance mandates are un-Constitutional, pointing it out was cold comfort.
"supersedes" constitutional law. Rape was illegal once, but is justified by many in the Senate, because of a contract. Yet the parties can do no wrong in the minds of many people.
James, might want to rethink your position on those who would want to rule the world, that mindset is a natural extension of the mental state of people who have the level of greed that the people responsible for all this have. They truly believe, "why be happy as a big fish in the little pond, when with a little manipulation, you can be the big fish in the big pond."
Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Meanwhile the majority are just wondering what is on tv.
It's not a matter of "mis-underestimating" human powerlust, it's just I've seen no evidence of a discrete group of people secretly conspiring to rule the world, Alex-Jones fashion. I wouldn't say it's impossible, but who are "they" and why hasn't one of them let the cat out of the bag? Certainly there are systems and power structures that produce a certain advantages for certain groups of people, and lead to certain kinds of control mechanisms, but the makeup of the group of people who both control and benefit from these conditions seems pretty fluid to me. Further, if you were a busy-body people pusher and had some smarts, you could be one of the managerial elites, too. Look at Geithner. No obvious talent. No extraordinary intelligence. Just a bureaucratic, busybody mindset and a penchant for kissing ass on the way up -- it's a time-honored formula for "success." I just don't see the overarching conspiracy to rule the world stuff. (Notice, mind you, that I'm actually willing to entertain the idea and discuss it rationally. Most people would just automatically say "conspiracy theory" and imagine that they had thereby given the matter some thought.)
"If Obama wants a health care plan that compels every American to carry insurance, he will have to persuade the nation to adopt a constitutional amendment creating a right to health care. You might have better odds of getting struck by lightning."
But yeah, "the Constitution has been irrelevant for a long time." ... :(
I get your point Polish but aren't you allowed to opt-out of medicare?...it isn't a punishable mandate...like there would be in the Senate plan...that's the affront...the absolute mandate to purchase very expensive insurance...young people will revolt when they learn they'll have to shell out 3-4K annually or pay a fine...the under 40 crowd who works in teh service industry will not be happy...
Ratigan's recent editorials on health care...both are EXCELLENT...
Why Would We Let Them Rig the Game?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dylan-ratigan/why-would-we-let-them-rig_b_302480.html
Health Care: Let's Liberate the Masses
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dylan-ratigan/health-care-lets-liberate_b_294234.html
James, I have lead men very sucessfully, but I never put myself above them. You are right, I guess groups of men , especially from both parties, working together, to strip civil liberties, antitrust laws, to work hand in hand with organizations such as the WTO, etc., to consolidate power and profitability globally, is a little far fetched...
Conspiracies are when there is no evidence, all of our leaders have spoken very publically on the new world order, etc., for many years.
http://www.sonomacountyfreepress.com/bohos/bohofact.html
Anti-trust is really a non-issue though, and not even because it may or may not exist, but because its such a bad theory and a failed policy. But nice closing...
"How much longer must we live in a country where the citizens are subservient to the banks, health insurance companies and any other special interest able to control our government at the expense of our the most basic principles of fairness, our future as a nation and, as a result, our freedom?"
But I suspect, especially with the IMAC provisions, that the Foundations and Think Tanks that perpetuate the globalist ideology which crept into our administration through the Trilateral Commission had some hand in it as well. WM
Clips like this just strengthen my belief that the whole system is just too far gone. They do not care about America or its citizens, period. They are not working for our best interest, only for their own self interests. We need a total start over. Practically nothing in our federal government is salvageable. Secession seems like a good alternative. I'm looking into Texas these days--Alaska is too cold for me.
But I suspect, especially with the IMAC provisions, that the Foundations and Think Tanks that perpetuate the globalist ideology which crept into our administration through the Trilateral Commission had some hand in it as well. WM"
Yep...not much to add..well said...
"Clips like this just strengthen my belief that the whole system is just too far gone. They do not care about America or its citizens, period. They are not working for our best interest, only for their own self interests. We need a total start over. Practically nothing in our federal government is salvageable."
I struggle with this as well...
This is a good thing....
I doubt you will find anyone surprised...did you see 60 minutes tonight on medicare fraud...?
http://presstv.com/detail/2012/06/29/248603/obamas-healthcare-reform-against-youth/
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JC, I logged in for the privilege of issuing this warning. Jerks come in all colors, races, sizes, creeds and otherwise. This mess was caused by all of the above. Trying to single out anyone will be useless and not tolerated. Your comment proves that you have much to learn and I hope that you will keep an open mind from from now on and look at all of the facts. Yes, humanity will have their cliques but as I have said before and will again, they come in all shapes, sizes, colors and creeds.
The well is already poisoned and adding more will be useless. Please stick to ALL of the facts. We need to be constructive. Fairness to all is very important and critical if we are ever to resolve this disaster.
DB, I hope you don't mind this intervention.
john