Make no mistake about it, our system is under siege. Forget about the speeches, the cleverly crafted press releases, just follow the money. Facing the biggest challenge they've ever seen, the health insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and other health related industries have dug deep into their fat wallets and bought their defense. It's our elected officials in Congress and the Senate. That's their safety net. The very people that should have their focus on what's good for their constituents and our nation, have accepted the money, many of them receiving tens of thousands of dollars, some millions, and our elected officials are now shills for the health care industry, frequently even using the same verbatim language given to them by the health care industry.
While the millions of dollars that have already flowed into elected officials accounts is public record, it doesn't yet represent what the collective health care industry is paying now to defeat a public option for all of us. They've assembled a virtual army of lobbyists that are camping on the doorsteps of members of Congress and the Senate. They're spending a staggering $1.5 million a day to block any change in the system. They make that much money. They're finding an ample supply of members of Congress and the Senate willing to take the money. Once they've sold out, our representatives have shown a shameful willingness to engage in outright lies to justify the monies they've received. Frequently you'll hear Republicans, and a few Democrats, cite statistics from The Lewin Group, referring to them as "a non-partisan research firm". That's a lie. It's not subject to any other interpretation, it's a lie. The Lewin Group is wholly owned by United Health Group, one of America's largest health insurance companies. How unbiased do you really think a research firm owned by a giant insurance corporation is about health care reform? It's reminiscent of the the doctors previously employed by the tobacco industries that used to present "research" showing their products were safe.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/22/AR2009072203696.html
The distortions are intentional, usually enhanced to rise to level of actual lies. Keep in mind our representatives are being paid to lie. You can find actual speeches on the floor of Congress where Republicans claim the proposals being debated involve a government plan to actually kill senior citizens, and force poor people into having abortions. The health care industry actually has produced, and is airing a series of televisions ads that also make this absurd, and false claim. They're that afraid of having competition, even for the 47 million Americans that can't afford to purchase health insurance from them, or the Americans they refuse to sell to because of a pre-existing condition. A public option is just that. It's an option, not mandatory, an option. It would be virtually identical to the federal insurance program members of Congress and the Senate currently receive. Have you heard even one Republican that opposes this option announce they're withdrawing accepting their insurance coverage for the reasons they cite would be bad for us? You're not likely to either. They're not being paid to do that, just work to deny the same coverage to you they're currently receiving.
Monday, August 3rd, MsNBC addressed that subject. Bought and paid for lackeys were named. The amount they've been paid to lie to us was revealed. Who paid them was stated. They won't feel shame, few prostitutes do, but maybe they'll feel a little heat after being exposed for what they are. Many were exposed as outright liars.... "Sen. John Thune of South Dakota? You gave the Republican rebuttal to the President's weekly address day before yesterday. You said the Democrats' plan was for '...government run health care that would disrupt our current system, and force millions of Americans who currently enjoy their employer-based coverage into a new health care plan run by government bureaucrats.' That's a bald-faced lie, Senator. And you're a bald-faced liar, whose bald face is covered by…your own health care plan run by government bureaucrats. Nobody would be forced into anything; and the Public Insurance Option is no more a disruption than letting the government sell you water, and not just Poland Spring and Sparkletts. But, as corrupt hypocrites go, Senator, at least you're well paid. What was that one statement worth to you in contributions from the Health Sector, Sen. Thune?"
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/vp/32277034#32277034
Beyond the issue of doing what's right for America and our citizens, this is a test. We're going to know the answer in the next few weeks and months, but it is a test. We're going to learn if our elected officials really represent us, or is their only loyalty to their own personal gain. Is our government for sale to special interest groups with deep pockets? Is the function of our government now to aid and abet, and protect the enormous profit margins of giant corporations at the expense of our citizens? The answer to this test will have far reaching impact for all of us individually on a host of future issues.
While the millions of dollars that have already flowed into elected officials accounts is public record, it doesn't yet represent what the collective health care industry is paying now to defeat a public option for all of us. They've assembled a virtual army of lobbyists that are camping on the doorsteps of members of Congress and the Senate. They're spending a staggering $1.5 million a day to block any change in the system. They make that much money. They're finding an ample supply of members of Congress and the Senate willing to take the money. Once they've sold out, our representatives have shown a shameful willingness to engage in outright lies to justify the monies they've received. Frequently you'll hear Republicans, and a few Democrats, cite statistics from The Lewin Group, referring to them as "a non-partisan research firm". That's a lie. It's not subject to any other interpretation, it's a lie. The Lewin Group is wholly owned by United Health Group, one of America's largest health insurance companies. How unbiased do you really think a research firm owned by a giant insurance corporation is about health care reform? It's reminiscent of the the doctors previously employed by the tobacco industries that used to present "research" showing their products were safe.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/22/AR2009072203696.html
The distortions are intentional, usually enhanced to rise to level of actual lies. Keep in mind our representatives are being paid to lie. You can find actual speeches on the floor of Congress where Republicans claim the proposals being debated involve a government plan to actually kill senior citizens, and force poor people into having abortions. The health care industry actually has produced, and is airing a series of televisions ads that also make this absurd, and false claim. They're that afraid of having competition, even for the 47 million Americans that can't afford to purchase health insurance from them, or the Americans they refuse to sell to because of a pre-existing condition. A public option is just that. It's an option, not mandatory, an option. It would be virtually identical to the federal insurance program members of Congress and the Senate currently receive. Have you heard even one Republican that opposes this option announce they're withdrawing accepting their insurance coverage for the reasons they cite would be bad for us? You're not likely to either. They're not being paid to do that, just work to deny the same coverage to you they're currently receiving.
Monday, August 3rd, MsNBC addressed that subject. Bought and paid for lackeys were named. The amount they've been paid to lie to us was revealed. Who paid them was stated. They won't feel shame, few prostitutes do, but maybe they'll feel a little heat after being exposed for what they are. Many were exposed as outright liars.... "Sen. John Thune of South Dakota? You gave the Republican rebuttal to the President's weekly address day before yesterday. You said the Democrats' plan was for '...government run health care that would disrupt our current system, and force millions of Americans who currently enjoy their employer-based coverage into a new health care plan run by government bureaucrats.' That's a bald-faced lie, Senator. And you're a bald-faced liar, whose bald face is covered by…your own health care plan run by government bureaucrats. Nobody would be forced into anything; and the Public Insurance Option is no more a disruption than letting the government sell you water, and not just Poland Spring and Sparkletts. But, as corrupt hypocrites go, Senator, at least you're well paid. What was that one statement worth to you in contributions from the Health Sector, Sen. Thune?"
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/vp/32277034#32277034
Beyond the issue of doing what's right for America and our citizens, this is a test. We're going to know the answer in the next few weeks and months, but it is a test. We're going to learn if our elected officials really represent us, or is their only loyalty to their own personal gain. Is our government for sale to special interest groups with deep pockets? Is the function of our government now to aid and abet, and protect the enormous profit margins of giant corporations at the expense of our citizens? The answer to this test will have far reaching impact for all of us individually on a host of future issues.
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