Open Thread
August 4, 2009 archive
Aug 04 2009
Late Night Karaoke
Aug 04 2009
They’re only numbers … the Unemployed, the Uninsured, the Unnecessary Deaths
Medical bills prompt more than 60 percent of U.S. bankruptcies
By Theresa Tamkins — CNN, June 5, 2009
This year, an estimated 1.5 million Americans will declare bankruptcy. Many people may chalk up that misfortune to overspending or a lavish lifestyle, but a new study suggests that more than 60 percent of people who go bankrupt are actually capsized by medical bills.
Bankruptcies due to medical bills increased by nearly 50 percent in a six-year period, from 46 percent in 2001 to 62 percent in 2007, and most of those who filed for bankruptcy were middle-class, well-educated homeowners, according to a report that will be published in the August issue of The American Journal of Medicine.
1.5 million Americans x 60% = 900,000 Americans
that’s about 2500 more people per day
… going bankrupt from medical bills, which were NOT covered by our broken Health Insurance system
Aug 04 2009
Keith Olberman YELLS LOUDER in the Class War!! FIght Back!!!
Though Keith Olberman’s performance here on the matter of Corporate greed and sold out politicians has already been covered here at DD by our own talented author Edger, I thought it was imporatant enough to repeat with video and my own take on the matter.
In comparing the current state of Corporate America to that of the early 1910’s-20’s Keith is dead on. Not since then has the class war been so obvious, never have the Have’s had so much, never have the Have Nots had so little.
Aug 04 2009
Done With the Lesser of Two Evils
I won’t get fooled again.
I voted for Kerry, and I voted for Barrack Obama.
But I won’t ever do it again.
And I of all people should’ve known better.
See, back in 76, I was a 12 year old kid during the Gerald Ford / Jimmy Carter election. I’d seen the Watergate movie, and I had a pretty good grasp of what was going on.
Probably most here have forgotten or never even knew that in ’76 there was also an independent run by Eugene McCarthy–the actually semi-leftist guy the Dems screwed way back in 1968.
Despite strong showings in several primaries – indeed, he won more votes than any other Democratic candidate – McCarthy garnered only 23 percent of the delegates at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, largely due to the control of state party organizations over the delegate selection process.
Emphasis: mine. From http://www.answers.com/topic/e…
Anyway, in 76, since I was 12, I couldn’t drive yet, but I had a cool bike with a blue banana seat, and I cruised all over town handing out literature for Gene.
When election day came I too young too vote, but old enough to canvass, and I witnessed an amazing phenomena:
The Democrats were bringing in carload after carload of scared old people from old folks homes. In return for a nice dinner, they would vote a straight Democratic ticket. That was the deal–the other poll watchers informed me– I was incredulous at first, but they brought them in by Lincoln, they brought them in by vans, they came and they came and they came.
And they didn’t look left. They didn’t look right. Not one took any literature from me or anyone else. And there was fear in their eyes when they saw me–real fear. I assume from hunger, but I don’t know.
They voted, they ate. Or, they ate they voted, I’m not sure which–but I’ve always wondered–since if they were fed first what were they worried about?
I bet they hadn’t eaten yet. And now 33 years later they’re all dead anyway.
Well, 33 years from now I’ll likely be dead too, or at least I’ll be getting pretty damn fragile.
And, I’ll still look left, when asked, even if I have to forgo supper.
Aug 04 2009
Women Need to Run the Future-World
Crossposted from The Wild Wild Left
Emotion is strength. Love is both giving and tough. Pain is a teacher, sorrow is a guide. The converse, that emotion is weakness, is the biggest lie ever told.
Ultimately, our very essence is about keeping ours alive and well, we are the caretakers, the life givers, those who never give up on our children, who always find a way.
Its not that men are inferior. They are just wired differently, and trained by society to be about impressing and garnering power over others. They think that’s how they attract women, mistake admiration (jealousy) of other men for friendship. Alliances are based on using someones strengths to their benefit, what is in it for them.
Men are about power and sex, and the power to get sex.
Women are about sustaining the species.
Women love people more for their weaknesses, their humanity, are more forgiving.
Women don’t war for “stuff”… they will only fight to protect their own, or someone they see as in need in of protection, the weak.
The famous saying goes, “Those who seek power don’t deserve to have it.”
Who has sought power? Who has not?
Look to us, who have sat in the background, quietly running things so our men could seek the glory they need. Propping up their egos, when they don’t attain it. Fixing things, healing bodies and hearts, and always, always taking the shadows.
Kind of stands to reason, yes? “Those who don’t seek power (for powers sake, especially) surely do deserve it.”
The World can only be saved by Love. Our kind of Love.
Aug 04 2009
Tax The Rich!
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 – Families earning more than $1 million a year saw their federal tax rates drop more sharply than any group in the country as a result of President Bush’s tax cuts, according to a new Congressional study.
The study, by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, also shows that tax rates for middle-income earners edged up in 2004, the most recent year for which data was available, while rates for people at the very top continued to decline.
Based on an exhaustive analysis of tax records and census data, the study reinforced the sense that while Mr. Bush’s tax cuts reduced rates for people at every income level, they offered the biggest benefits by far to people at the very top – especially the top 1 percent of income earners.
Aug 04 2009
Olbermann: Legislators For Sale
From Michael Moore via email:
Keith Olbermann to Expose Congressional Opponents of Universal Health Care Tonight!
Monday, August 3rd, 2009
We’ve just received an advance transcript of tonight’s Special Comment by Keith Olbermann on his MSNBC show. It is nothing short of brilliant — and if all of America were to hear what he is going to reveal tonight, we are certain the vast majority of Americans would be on the phone to their elected representative immediately, calling for an end to the private, for-profit, rip-off health insurance companies who have wrecked our country.
Here’s a brief section of Keith’s editorial tonight:
Aug 04 2009
Progressive Democrats Take A Stand On Health Care
An amendment introduced by representative Anthony Weiner, which would have created national single payer, has been traded in for a vote on the House floor in September, as a part of the deal between liberal and conservative members of the Democratic Party. The case – in support of single payer – made by some Democrats during the mark-up echoed the speeches given at a rally, which took place in the Upper Senate Park on Thursday, July 30th. That same day a number of members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus held a press conference on the Capitol Hill where they announced their intent to fight for a robust public option. The Real News spoke to David Swanson from Democrats.com who attended both the rally and the press conference.
Real News Network – August 3, 2009 – 9 minutes
Some members of Congress are going to fight for a robust public option and a single-payer amendment
David Swanson is the creator of ImpeachCheney.org, co-founder of AfterDowningStreet.org and Washington Director of Democrats.com A writer and organizer, Swanson has worked for ACORN, the International Labor Communications Association, Dennis Kucinich’s 2004 presidential campaign and many others.
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