Comments on: What will Barbara Lee do? http://www.berkeleyside.com/2010/01/21/what-will-barbara-lee-do/ News and notes on our city Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:36:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: John Seal http://www.berkeleyside.com/2010/01/21/what-will-barbara-lee-do/comment-page-1/#comment-890 John Seal Fri, 22 Jan 2010 04:14:56 +0000 http://www.berkeleyside.com/?p=2677#comment-890 One further thought: the desperate need to pass something, anything, no matter how flawed, reminds me of the October 2008 bailout debate. There was one bright shining moment where left and right united in the House and refused to rubber stamp THAT particularly odious piece of legislation. Barbara Lee voted against the bailout the first time; unfortunately the second time around she voted aye. In retrospect, wouldn't it have been better if that awful bill hadn't passed? I am quite certain that if progressives cave again and pass the Senate bill in toto that we'll look back in the not at all distant future and ask ourselves, "what WERE they thinking? Was it really necessary to give the insurance companies their very own bailout--when they're already rolling in profits?" I refer, of course, to today's news story regarding United Health Care, who reported almost $1,000,000,000 in pure unadulterated profit during the 4th quarter of 2009 alone. One further thought: the desperate need to pass something, anything, no matter how flawed, reminds me of the October 2008 bailout debate. There was one bright shining moment where left and right united in the House and refused to rubber stamp THAT particularly odious piece of legislation. Barbara Lee voted against the bailout the first time; unfortunately the second time around she voted aye. In retrospect, wouldn’t it have been better if that awful bill hadn’t passed? I am quite certain that if progressives cave again and pass the Senate bill in toto that we’ll look back in the not at all distant future and ask ourselves, “what WERE they thinking? Was it really necessary to give the insurance companies their very own bailout–when they’re already rolling in profits?” I refer, of course, to today’s news story regarding United Health Care, who reported almost $1,000,000,000 in pure unadulterated profit during the 4th quarter of 2009 alone.

]]> By: John Seal http://www.berkeleyside.com/2010/01/21/what-will-barbara-lee-do/comment-page-1/#comment-889 John Seal Fri, 22 Jan 2010 03:38:28 +0000 http://www.berkeleyside.com/?p=2677#comment-889 Where to begin? The Senate bill is a big sloppy French kiss to the insurance companies from Joe Lieberman, Ben Nelson and friends, with love. No single-payer, no public option, no expanded Medicare, no imported generics...all we get is a tax on middle-class benefits and a bill sent to the poor and working-class to send their hard earned pennies to The Kindly and Beneficient Insurance Company Ltd, who will deign to supply you with sub-standard coverage or a penalty from the IRS...your choice! The bill could hardly be worse if the Republicans had crafted it. I'm a pro-tax zealot. Even though Denis Healey was a typical two-faced Labour Party apparatchik, he coined one of my favourite phrases: "squeeze the rich until the pips squeak." That's the path we should be taking to universal health care. The Senate bill, however, squeezes everyone BUT the rich, and adds insult to injury by funneling the proceeds to the insurance industry. Boy, I'm getting worked up. I think I'd better go and relax with some Isaac Deutscher or some Matthew Josephson. Where to begin? The Senate bill is a big sloppy French kiss to the insurance companies from Joe Lieberman, Ben Nelson and friends, with love. No single-payer, no public option, no expanded Medicare, no imported generics…all we get is a tax on middle-class benefits and a bill sent to the poor and working-class to send their hard earned pennies to The Kindly and Beneficient Insurance Company Ltd, who will deign to supply you with sub-standard coverage or a penalty from the IRS…your choice! The bill could hardly be worse if the Republicans had crafted it.

I’m a pro-tax zealot. Even though Denis Healey was a typical two-faced Labour Party apparatchik, he coined one of my favourite phrases: “squeeze the rich until the pips squeak.” That’s the path we should be taking to universal health care. The Senate bill, however, squeezes everyone BUT the rich, and adds insult to injury by funneling the proceeds to the insurance industry.

Boy, I’m getting worked up. I think I’d better go and relax with some Isaac Deutscher or some Matthew Josephson.

]]> By: Lance Knobel http://www.berkeleyside.com/2010/01/21/what-will-barbara-lee-do/comment-page-1/#comment-885 Lance Knobel Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:57:50 +0000 http://www.berkeleyside.com/?p=2677#comment-885 So you'd rather see 30 million people remain uninsured, in pursuit of a better healthcare reform plan that might not be possible for 15 to 20 years? So you’d rather see 30 million people remain uninsured, in pursuit of a better healthcare reform plan that might not be possible for 15 to 20 years?

]]> By: John Seal http://www.berkeleyside.com/2010/01/21/what-will-barbara-lee-do/comment-page-1/#comment-883 John Seal Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:15:28 +0000 http://www.berkeleyside.com/?p=2677#comment-883 Lee is a good representative, even though she sometimes aligns with the right on issues (she voted a few months ago in favour of sanctions against Iran, for example). I'm hoping this time she aligns with Dennis Kucinich and votes against the abominable Senate bill. It will only take a few 'progressives' to sink this measure. I'm hoping she's among them--in fact, I've just sent her an e-mail right now urging her to vote no. Lee is a good representative, even though she sometimes aligns with the right on issues (she voted a few months ago in favour of sanctions against Iran, for example). I’m hoping this time she aligns with Dennis Kucinich and votes against the abominable Senate bill. It will only take a few ‘progressives’ to sink this measure. I’m hoping she’s among them–in fact, I’ve just sent her an e-mail right now urging her to vote no.

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