What about Healthcare in other countries?

Change.org has a great blog post by Tim Foley, who had done work for Obama for America and SEIU. He makes a point that has been ignored for far too long. What does healthcare look like in other countries besides Canada and Great Britain? We hear so much about how bad their "national healthcare system" is in both these countries, but what about France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, etc...?

It is disingenuous for Conservatives and the Health Insurance Industry to only focus on the two, yes two, examples of bad national healthcare systems from the world's industrialized countries. Any changes away from the status quo will cost the US Health Insurance Industry billions. I guess they think the more they beat the government run, government controlled healthcare drum the more they can scare us into not taking action. Time's up. We can't wait any longer.

No one has said that healthcare reform in the United States has to look like Canada's or Great Britain's. United States Healthcare Reform can be totally unique and incorporate the things that work in other countries' versions of national healthcare. Visit the link above to read more...

Delegate Morgan Griffith and the traveling Seal Show!!!

While at the Salem Fair this weekend, I came across this scene. I'm not quite sure what Delegate Griffith (R-Salem) had in mind by hanging his campaign banners at a traveling Seal Show, but there they are. There's gotta be an appropriate metaphor that fits this image. Regardless, if the Republican Majority Leader for the House of Delegates is looking for applause from the crowd for being one of the leaders in the House that voted down extension of Unemployment Benefits to struggling Virginia workers, the only ones clapping are the seals.

Traveling carnivals are notorious for rigged games, lame sideshows (Bearded Lady, Smallest Horse in the World, Monkey Boy), shaky rides and P. T. Barnum. I guess the message here from Delegate Griffith is "There's a sucker born every minute." In stead of throwing him a fish, maybe voters in the 8th House District should just throw him out of office.

If you want to suggest a good, bad, witty, or lame label for this picture, feel free to comment. Who knows, we can make a contest out of this and see where it goes.

4th of July Open Thread

Happy 4th of July to everyone. This 4th of July marks some key events and turning points for our nation. The United States has pulled out of the major cities in Iraq and turned over those responsibilities to the Iraqis. The largest military operation in many years is going on in southern Afghanistan with 4,000 Marines in their efforts to root out Al Qaeda.

Iran is still grappling with a disputed election, and in the United States we have resolved a disputed election (finally) in the Minnesota U.S. Senate Race between Democrat Al Franken and now former Senator Norm Coleman.

North Korea continues to threaten the world with war if the international community does anything to reign-in it's nuclear threat.

We have a surprise resignation by Alaska Republican Governor, Sarah Palin, and another Republican Governor, Mark Sanford of South Carolina, that is being called on to resign because of his Argentinian Mistress, by his own party. U. S. Senator John Ensign has resigned as Chair of the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee over the revelation of his infidelity, as well.

Many other things going on in the entertainment world as well. Most notable is the death of Michael Jackson. A lot has been going on, so feel free to openly discuss these and any other topics.

Picture found on: http://www.norcalblogs.com/post_scripts/archives/DC%20Fireworks.jpg

BREAKING NEWS: Sarah Palin QUITS as Governor of Alaska

This is no joke. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has just announced that she will not be seeking re-election and that she will be resigning as Governor in a few short weeks. Here is the report from Fox News:





More to follow...

Private Health Insurance industry doesn't want the Federal Government to take away their right to come between you and your doctor

I wish I could say that the arrogance and gal of the Private Health Insurance industry surprised me. But, it doesn't. A former Cigna executive says that he can't defend the private health insurance industry any longer and confirms what we already knew. They are "beholden to Wall Street."

One of the latest pro-private health insurance industry ads has a nerdy "Government" bureaucrat in the doctor's office standing between a patient and their doctor, interfering with the choices and decisions being discussed. In the CNN.com article link above, Wendell Potter (now a Fellow at the Center for Media and Democracy), describes the last straw for him:

Potter started thinking about leaving Cigna in 2007 after he visited a
medical charity event at a Virginia fairground.

"It was almost like an electrical jolt," Potter said. At the
event, Potter took pictures of doctors offering free health
care to the uninsured.

"The volunteer doctors were seeing patients in barns, people in animal stalls," Potter said. "It changed it for me."

He says he finally decided to quit in 2007 after Cigna's controversial
handling of an insurance claim made by the family of a California teenager, Nataline Sarkysian.

The Sarkysian family made repeated appeals at news conferences for
Cigna to approve a liver transplant for the 17-year-old, who had leukemia. Cigna initially declined to cover the operation, then reversed its decision.

Sarkysian died hours after the company's reversal.

As Cigna's spokesman during the controversy, Potter had no role in the decision to deny coverage. But he was inundated with angry phone calls.

"After she died, my voice mail and my e-mail inbox were just filled
with messages from people who were just outraged, " Potter said.

Private Health Insurers are our friends (snark!). They don't want the big, bad, Federal Government coming between you and your doctor (just as long as they can). This is exactly why we need to reform the current Health Care system. To be completely fair, I don't want the Federal Government doing anything remotely similar to what is described above, so it's important that this message is heard, loud and clear, by our Federal Elected Representatives. There needs to be some form of a public option because it is clear that Private Health Insurance has failed to keep premium cost affordable and they are the ones guilty of coming between the doctors and patients.

Oklahoma Legislator blames Gays and the Immoral for the Econmic Crisis

This clip speak's for itself. I've done political work in Oklahoma, and not everyone there share's this Legislator's views:



When I was in Oklahoma back in 2002, I was there for a small piece of history. A very sharp, intelligent, well rounded candidate by the name of Jim Roth won a Oklahoma County Commissioner seat as an openly gay candidate. I just wanted to mention this to prove the point that not everyone in Oklahoma thinks like this Legislator. We don't have elected officials like this in Virginia, doooo weeee? Hummmm...

Deeds for Governor Media Call: DEEDS ANNOUNCES “BUSINESS LEADERS FOR DEEDS”

ARLINGTON -- Democratic candidate for governor Creigh Deeds today announced the formation and leadership of “Business Leaders for Deeds,” a broad-based group of bipartisan, statewide business leaders who have agreed to advise and promote Deeds’ candidacy. “Business Leaders for Deeds” will be led by Ted Leonsis of McLean, the majority owner of the Washington Capitals and Washington Mystics. Leonsis also is a former AOL vice chairman, a venture capitalist and philanthropist.

U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner joined Deeds and Leonsis at today’s announcement. Warner is a former telecom executive who’s pragmatic approach during his term as Virginia Governor (2002-06) resulted in Virginia’s designation as the nation’s “best managed state” and “best state for business.”

“I appreciate the support and the expertise these business executives will bring to our effort, because these men and women recognize that their businesses are only as strong as the people who power them,” Senator Deeds said. “Our administration will be working hard every day to create opportunity and jobs for Virginians, and these business leaders will be a key part of our bipartisan efforts to better position the Commonwealth to emerge stronger from our economic challenges.”

“I am impressed by Creigh’s focus on quality education, technology and innovation as the cornerstones of Virginia’s economic future,” Mr. Leonsis said. “’Business Leaders for Deeds’ will bring together leading executives from across the state to advise Creigh during the campaign – and, more importantly, after his election this fall.”

“I have known and worked closely with many of these community and business leaders, and I appreciate their willingness to step-up and support Creigh’s bipartisan focus on producing real results that move Virginia forward,” Senator Warner said. “We cannot leave any region of Virginia behind as we work together to strengthen our economy and position the Commonwealth to compete in this global economy.”

Other members of “Business Leaders for Deeds” so far include:

Douglas M. Adams of Maiden, Retired President of The Country Vintner, Inc.;

Jane Inskeep Barrell of Culpeper; Co-Owner of Culpeper Management, LLC;

Robert M. Blue of Richmond, Senior Vice President of Public Policy & Corporate Communications for Dominion Corporation;

The Honorable Sandra Bowen of Richmond, former Senior Vice President of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, former Virginia Secretary of Administration and Commonwealth;

William M. Camp, Jr. of Franklin, principal of Holliknoll Farm;

James K. Candler of Lynchburg, Chairman of Candler Oil Company, Inc.;

Judith P. Carter of Orange, Principal of Germanna Title Company;

Laurie C. Crigler of Madison, Vice President of L&D Associates, Inc.;

Edward C. Dalrymple of Mineral, Vice President of Chemung Contracting;

Charlotte B. Dammann of McLean, Associate Broker of Faulconer Realtors Inc.;

Joseph R. Daniel of Culpeper, President of Jefferson Homebuilders;

Joshua P. Darden, Jr., of Norfolk, President of Darden Properties Inc.;

Carlos Del Toro of Stafford, President & CEO of SBG Technology Solutions, Inc.;

Susan Y. “Syd” Dorsey of Mechanicsville, Director of Sales & Marketing at Astyra Corporation;

G.S. “Sandy” Fitz-Hugh, Jr., former President of the Bank of America – Virginia;

David Goode of Norfolk, former Chairman, President and CEO of Norfolk Southern Corporation;

Mark Goodwin of Richmond, former Senior Vice President of UPS Freight;

William C. Hall, Jr. of Richmond, Vice President of Corporate Communications & Community Affairs for Dominion Corporation;

Robert D. Hardie of Charlottesville, Managing Director of Level One Partners, LLC;

Cabell S. Harris of Richmond, President of WORK Labs;

Jimmy Hazel of Oakton, principal of Angler Environmental;

John T. “Til” Hazel, Jr. of Broad Run, founder and former chairman of the Virginia Business Higher Education Council;

William R. Hedrick of Bluefield, President of Fort Chiswell Construction Corporation;

Ted Hontz of Stafford, Vice President of Basic Commerce and Industries, Inc.;

Kenneth Jones of Richmond, Owner and President of Prestige Construction Company;

James L. Keen of Vansant, CEO of Keen H.R. Services, Inc.;

Austin Ligon of Richmond, co-founder and retired CEO of CarMax Inc.;

Mark C. Lowham of McLean, Senior Vice President of WEST*GROUP;

Charles H. Majors of Danville, President & CEO of American National Bank & Trust Company;

John F. Malbon of Virginia Beach, CEO of Papco, Inc.;

Mark R. Merhige of Richmond, President of Shockoe Properties;

Bittle Porterfield, III of Roanoke, President of Rice Management Company;

Richard S. “Major” Reynolds III of Richmond, Managing Director of Reynolds Trust;

Gilbert “Gil” Rosenthal of Richmond, retired owner of Standard Drug Company;

Tom Rosenthal of Richmond, CEO of Med Outcomes, Inc.;

Walter Rugaber of Meadows of Dan, former President and Publisher of The Roanoke Times;

The Honorable Elliot Schewel of Lynchburg, Former President of Schewel Furniture Company and former State Senator;

Ranjit K. Sen of Richmond, President & CEO of CXI;

R. Chris Walters of Abingdon, financial advisor;

Naomi Weathers of Chester, Owner and President of Weathers Engineering Inc.;

Blair K. Williamson of Charlottesville, President of S.L. Williamson Company, Inc.;

Alan S. Witt of Newport News, CEO of Witt Mares, PLC;

Linda Zecher of Charlottesville, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Public Sector of Microsoft Corporation.