Is your state ready to reject a public option if others get one?

So it appears the public option is gaining some momentum. There is some talk about states having the option of deciding if they wish to participate in the public healthcare option. I love it. I can’t wait to hear how politicians deny this for their states. Moreover I’ll be very curious to hear how all the screaming opponents of a public option feel when they need it, but their state doesn’t provide it.

Where will Fox news be then? Will they be providing a healthcare option for citizens or states that reject the option? Will Glen Beck be offering help to offset private healthcare premiums for those who can’t afford it, but have no choice in their state? I don’t think so.

Why would you support an Insurance CEO over a Public Option?

I can not understand why anyone would be opposed to a public health care option. Why would anyone care more about putting more power and income into the hands of insurance CEO’s and executives than affordable healthcare for all.  Heck,  even if it warms your heart to know the CEO of  United Healthcare, Humana,  Aetna,  Magellan, and so on can have a new jaguar, boat or summer home-how would a public option deny them of such riches?

If you believe they should continue to live a life far superior to yours, then continue to buy insurance from them. But why would you oppose an option for people who don’t give a shit about them or don’t believe in their business practices. If you’re worried that the public option will deny them of their riches, fear not. They will continue to make you or your healthcare provider endure financial hardship before they will.

Repealing “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” could be a mixed blessing

I’ve heard people privately express annoyance that the LGBT community is pushing Obama to follow through on his promise of eliminating “don’t ask don’t tell. I guess the frustration is that many people think the President has more important issues to confront like healthcare, the economy, and war. It is easy to get swayed into thiking that way.

What is a little hard to understand is why this is the issue the LGBT community wants to fight so hard for when we are caught between Iraq and Afghanastan. Sure we need the Arabic speaking gay soldiers who was discharged. We need men and women who want to fight, but were denied because ot their sexuality. But we are also talking about asking commanders who have opposed gays in the military to decide whom to put on the front lines during combat. So on one hand, “yeah you can say you’re a gay soldier!!!….., and boo-your commander has sent you into enemy territory because you’re gay.” Maybe you’ll be remembered as a hero and maybe you’ll be dead.

Michael Moore’s Movie Blames All the Usual Suspects except……….. Us

I saw Michael Moore’s new movie, “Capitalism,a Love Story on Saturday. It was easier to digest than some of his past political propoganda. He seemed more able to express his disdain with politicians and Wallstreet in a more balanced approach than he has in past movies. Specifically, he outed Democrats as well as Republicans. Moreover he showed more of his sense of humor that I remember from past films.

However I’m not sure I would recommend the movie. I’ts  long. It goes to great lengths to prove his points,yet fails to support his ideas. In addition, his recurring use of old stock historical footage combined with current images is interesting once, but  beyond that, feels formulaic . I did find it interesting that he shared more about him and his family than he has in previous films. I couldn’t help but wonder what his dad thinks of Moore. On the surface, he seems like far less of a rebel than Moore. Also  I was surprised that he seemed to make Catholic priests into heroes-especially when their stock value is not that much greater than Wallstreets.

In the end, it might mobilize some to be outraged. But as someone at my table said, “most people aren’t going to care about this once their retirement accounts shoot back up.” I think he’s probably right. Moore points out all the failings of politicians,and wallstreet, but fails to point out, we,  the people are also guilty. As long as it worked for us, we had no need for Michael Moore. And when it picks up again, we ’ll probably ignore him again .

Jon&Kate just another disappointing TV family

Jon, Kate and the 8 are not unique. We had the Brady’s, Cleavers, and Ozzie &Harriet. Since we’ve had tv, we’ve had fake tv families that have set unrealistic standards for American families to strive for. But rarely are those families exposed with all of their flaws while still on the air. The other families usually get to live off of the fantasy for many, many years before we here all of the dirty details.

If you think about it, it is much harder to hear about Jon’s dating while it’s happening. Sure we were shocked to hear Papa Brady was gay and Marcia was a coke head, but was it enough to truly alter our images of them. No. The Brady Bunch brand is as good as gold. I’m not sure the Goselin household can say the same.

But then again, their teen years are coming, so I imagine the saga continues.

While Chicago’s Olympic hopes flame out, don’t count Obama out

Despite the Dream Team of Barack, Michelle, and Oprah, Chicago couldn’t make it out of the first round. So let the pundits have their fun. Many will question Obama for leaving Washington and not coming home with Olympic gold.

This was not about Obama. This was about Mayor Daley and his team. They are the ones who will suffer. Who knows how many building contractors had already spent the Olympic money already. And what about all of those guys who know guys who know guys who work for the city, who promised dem jobs when da lmpics comes to Chicga. They are the ones who are crying today.

The city will go on. The Bears will give us some hope. The Cubs will have us believing that next years the year. And the best part of losing the Olympic bid is Obama will come back more determined to push through the best health care reform plan for everyone (insert theme from Rocky ……now.

Has U2 become today’s Grateful Dead?

Perhaps I’m just not hip enough…In fact, let’s assume I’m not. But has U-2 become the Grateful Dead for a new generation of music junkies? In the last 3 days, I have had several conversations with colleagues, friends, and strangers that began something like this, “I was at the U2 concert. It was so amaaaaaaaaaaaazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzing, I have to see them in another city.” And this is followed up with stories about the “cooooooooooooooooolllllllllllllllllest people I met at the concert.”

Granted much of this is because U2 just performed in Chicago. However I was stunned at the dedication to locate tickets, pay a hefty price, stand for hours to get in and then stand to witness the almighty in person. It’s a good thing Christ didn’t decide to stage a comeback on the same nights as the concert.

Why should the President talk about “race?”

Should the President respond to Jimmy Carter’s assertion that some people can not or will not accept a black man as an equal? I’ve heard some pundits suggest the President must address the role racism plays in his presidency. And yet the President seems to be steering away from it. In fact, he seems to view as a distraction from healthcare reform, and other policy issues. On balance, I think it’s a good strategy. Why?

Without a doubt, to redirect attention on race, when you are so close to some type of healthcare reform would be a distraction. Additionally, what people forget is, this is not the first time Obama has encountered this level of vitriol. I am confident that  every time he climbed another rung on the ladder to success, he  faced racist hurdles that his white counterparts were not burdened with. No doubt, there were similar rumblings within the halls of Harvard law and law reviews around the country, when he was named head of the Harvard Law Review.  So he knows how to be in the spotlight and have people fling racist epitaphs his way.

He will address race. But I believe it will be in the second half of his second term or in a book about his presidency. And sadly, many of these issues will still be topical.

Why is everyone so Angry?

Why is everyone so angry? And when did it become all the rage to rage. Kanye West is upset. Serena Williams is mad. Even the opponents of  healthcare reform are screaming: even though many of them are benefitting from medicare, the closest thing we have to socialized medicine.

What happened to civility, manners, and intelligent debate. Congressman Wilson’s shout out during the President’s address was classless and rude. And most importantly, what do these people tell their kids; after they see mom, dad, and gramps shouting, pouting, hitting, and screaming on youtube? Oh yeah….. “do as I say, not as I do.”

Why do people continue to label Obama Opponents as Racists?

Like you, I’ve heard the rumblings that all of the anti-Obama protestors are simply racists. I’ve heard they just can’t accept a black man as President. Even the President doesn’t believe concerns about him are race based. After all, we elected a black president.

So I did a simple image search to see if there is any evidence that might suggest that racism is an underlying factor in opposition to Obama. As you can see, racism is clearly not at play here. It’s just another case of the liberals being overly sensitive…..Right?

As you can see, this is all about freedom to express one’s self. It is about the President’s decision making, his policies, his adminstration, his academic achievements, his response to healthcare reform, the financial crisis, the automobile crisis, and the mess inherited from the last 8 years. But in no way, is this racist. And it’s certainly not personal. Hell, wouldn’t you be flattered if your kids could see you depicted in this way?

In fact, it appears some think it isjust downright racist to think these sensitve images as racist!

Let the American Public Vote for or against Public Option?

Ok, lets keep this simple. Let the shouting and talking about what will happen or won’t happen end today. I suggest the President definitely include a public option. Perhaps with a timetable “trigger” of 2 years. If , as opponents of a single payer plan and public options have suggested, there is no interest or minimal interest then the President can just take it off the table. If however there appears to be fair, strong, or very strong response to it, then allow it to continue as an option.

I envision us all going to the “exchange,” and checking out the private options and the sole public option available. For the sake of simplicity, I think it should be the same public choice as Congress members have. If you want to create public choice, then one could buy into medicare or the V.A. system. I would think of it as similar to when you pay an out of resident fee to use recreational facilities in a neighboring town or city.

And then over the next two years, the government’s job is to see what people choose. We as Americans will have the data and can decide if a public option seems worth pursuing or should be restructured or abandoned. And we have clearly seen how the opponents of it like to back up their talk with their actions. I mean look at how all the opponents of federal funding, like Bobby Jindal,  refused-to take the mone   oh yeah…they did accept the Presidents stimulus money despite all of the protests.

What is the Worst Line you have to stand in?

After writing the previous blog about standing in line at Starbucks, I went to blogcatalog to post a question. The question was “what is the worst line to stand in?” As I wrote, I realized I really don’t stand in line as much as I used to. I still don’t enjoy standing in line at the grocery store. But with the automated check outs, there is usually far less of a line to deal with.

I used to hate standing in line for a teller at the bank. I can still picture these long ass lines just to deposit some money. Additionally, I was so happy when the public transit authority made it possible to pay for fares to a machine and not to a persona. I despised the feeling of facing up to some monotone, bored, unhelpful clerk who barely looked at me or acknowledged I was doing business with them. As far as I am concerned, computers and machines handle most services better than people. So I am confused when I feel penalized for choosing technology over people.

For example, I still can’t understand why I pay a dollar charge when I use the “convenience” of a gas pump. So my choice is to go into one of those over stuffed, poorly lit gas boxes, wait in line in a space that has no line, suffocate under the smell of multiple tree shaped airfreshners, and hope my sons don’t get put into a pornographic trance from the copies of XXXXX rated magazines behind the attendant. …..I’ll pay the buck.

Starbucks and Growing Up Catholic

This is probably more of a “tweet” than a blog, but since I don’t do as much of either in the fall, I’m going to just write my observation. I was opening the door to Starbucks. I noticed a long line of people standing in line to place an order. I flashed back to waiitng in line for communion. I flashed back to waiting in lines in Catholic elementary school. While lines for confession moved much slower than other types of lines, this is the one that stuck with me.

“Bless me Barista for I have sinned. It’s been a day since I had my last cup of Starbucks coffee.” What could this mean? Am I confessing my deep dark wish for coffee. Is my desire for coffee a sin? At least if the image was communion, I could think of it as I am paying to drink the coffee of Christ.

Should I let me kid ride the “Zipper” at the Carnival?

My family spent the day at a town carnival. Let me state up front, I hate those things. The rides freak me out. And I don’t know how they do it, but they always seem to find guys with missing or damaged teeth and tattoos to run the rides.

Fortunately, my sons are way into going on rides together. Even still, I came prepared with some malox tablets in case I got called into action. My boys are pretty daring, but today I learned there are limits.

Let’s put it this way, as I heard my sons get locked into the “zipper”-a cage like object that  flips and flops upwards, I had some doubts. But this is why God gave us “denial.” And then I heard the shouts from the sky, “get me out of here!!!!” Yes , those were my sons.

The carny reassured me he was bringing them down.(pause-who you may rightly ask-seeks parental “reassurance” from a carny.) He said, “the little one was a bit under height regs, but I planned to keep an eye on him.” And then he pointed out, “this rides been around for a long time, so long. In fact, I remember it from when I was kid…..I just never realized I’d be operating one of these things. “

As our kids came running into our arms, I knew what they were thinking…”WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU_HOW COULD YOU LET US GO UP IN THAT CAGE!!!” And that is when I knew, unlike many teachable moments, this was a therapy moment. One I imagine we’ll be hearing about for many years to come.

Obama, Holder, Sotomayor…next, there goes the neighborhood!

Ok, “just the facts.”

1. Obama and the Democrats want to kill the elderly. We already know they freely kill babies, now they are just getting the ones they couldn’t get at birth.

2. Obama is not a citizen of the United States. He simply pulled a major scam on the CIA, the US government, and the American people.

3. Obama is a reverse racist. He doesn’t like white people. And that includes his mother, grandparents and other white relatives.

4. Obama is a socialist and wants to bring us socialized medicine. He wants us to wait in long lines in smelly disorganized hospitals. And he does not want us to have free choice, or medical treatment.

5. Obama is anti-American. He wants us to turn in our American cars and buy foreign cars.

6.  Barack Hussein Obama is a Muslim. If he gets a second term, he will openly celebrate Ramadan.

7. Barack Obama will put Rev. Wright, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson in Cabinet positions.

8. Barack Obama will put one white guy in charge of defense, William Ayers .

Why? Ask the President!

9. Barack Obama will bankrupt America. This is what he wants his legacy to be.

10. First Obama, then Eric Holder, then Sotomayor, next thing you know……..there goes the neighborhood.

Come on, do you really believe this shit?!

What do you think of the drunk driver on the Taconic?

What is so surprising to me about the Diane Schuler accident on the Taconic highway is that it is so surprising to people. Mothers Against Drunk Driving have been warning us about situations like this for many years.

People that look like her, have families like her, work like her, also drink and drive SUV’s like her. The small difference is they were lucky. They didn’t get into a head on collision resulting in the death and destruction of several families. It’s why people like her sit in AA meetings in some of the best communities in this country.

There is nothing remarkable about her husband’s belief that she didn’t drink. It’s called denial. It’s why there are alanon meetings around the world. It’s not my job to determine if she was an alcoholic or drug addict. However ask yourself, what would it take for you to get in a van and drive children, when you know you’ve been high and had some serious alcohol in your blood stream?

Which is worst, setting up Dog Fights or Homeless Fights?

Will someone help me understand why someone would choose to hurt, humiliate, or kill homeless people?

As I read the NY Times today, I was shocked to hear about people paying homeless to get into fights and then videotaping them, setting them on fire, or beating them up. A report due out this weekend from the National Coalition for the Homeless documents a rise in violence over the last decade, with at least 880 unprovoked attacks against the homeless at the hands of nonhomeless people, including 244 fatalities.

Why-you may ask? Because they can.  How low do you have to be to do this? Will the penalty and outrage over this equal the nation’s response to Michael Vick? I sure hope so or we’re one sick nation.

Buy Tickets now to see the “Michael Jackson” Bust in the Field Museum of Chicago?

Just when you thought the Michael Jackson story had run out of steam, the Field Museum of Chicago discovers it has a statue that looks remarkably similar to the King of Pop. In fact, it is eerily similar. It is a bust of and Egyptian woman created during the Kingdom period,(1550 B.C. to 1050 B.C.). Since this was around the same time as King Tut, will it surprise anyone if people are lining up around museums to see him. Check out the whole story in the Chicago Sun-Times, 1701262,CST-NWS-sneed05.article

What about Medicare for All Americans?

From everything I’ve read, it appears universal healthcare is not on the radar. Ok, then what is so wrong with just going with medicare for all. It is one of the few options that potentially brings the government and private insurers together. It is currently only available to seniors and the disabled. But why can’t we simply build off of this current system and make it available to all Americans. As you will see in this very easy to follow video, created by Humana insurance company, medicare works, and would be a natural next step for this country.

What does “Cash for Clunkers” have to do with Healthcare Reform?

By now, you’ve certainly seen the loud mouthed Republicans whine rudely and interrupt Democratic politicians when they try to inform the American public about Health Care Reform. Didn’t anyone teach these Republicans how to behave in public? Remarkably, they are trying to make the case that the “cash for clunkers program” demonstrates how poorly run a government health plan would be. Huh? Where do they find these people?

Unlike the innovative, “cash for clunkers program” created to stimulate the auto industry and cut down on emissions in the country, the government has experience managing health care programs. Medicare and the VA are two of the most cost effective and highest regarded health programs in the country. Doubt me.? Ask  the elderly or veterans how willing they are to trade their plans in for private health care. They may complain, but will they trade it in for a private insurance  clunker plan? They won’t do it. Therefore it is does not require a huge leap of faith to believe the government could and will operate a health program for all.

If you oppose health care reform, at least listen to what former high ranking Cigna executive , Wendell Potter has to say about the private health care and what it is likely to offer you.