The War is Over!

[JackLuis]

Congressman Denis Kucinich made the announcement today.


Were you on the winning side?

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I appear to be and I don't work for Wall Street, play games on the stock market or gamble with other people's money. Yet I am comfortable and about to retire with a comfortable income. So I guess I'm a winner. Funny thing about that.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

It really does look like he's right. I think this really might be the beginning of the accelerated disappearance of the middle class. It just seems like for more and more people it's just no longer possible to make it, and one by one, they're falling under the wheels of the cart and won't ever get up again.

Time magazine recently had a little article calling the Oughts the worst decade since WWII, and in some ways worse, because we emerged from the 40's weary but victorious, with a glorious future in front of us, battered but justifiably optimistic. These are the Oughts, the gateway to the new century, the decade that sets the tone for what is to come. Where'd we go so wrong?

We started the decade with the Fall of Communism and the end of the Cold War and the world was our fucking oyster, the sole Superpower on the planet, the indisputable Economic Heavyweight Champ. And in ten years we now find ourselves on the skids, our army's power wasted and apparently futile, our economic thunder silenced, the economy in tatters. Our giants of industry have gone belly-up through incompetence and greed, the guardians of our wealth have proven to be thieves, our leaders are shills, and the great middle class--always the bedrock source of America's strength--has been bled white and destroyed. They can't afford to live in their own nation anymore. Their fellow citizens just shear them like sheep at every turn, so if your gas station doesn't get your last dollar, your cell phone bill does.

Meanwhile your job goes to India, and when your leaders get together and try to do one thing to reduce the financial pressure on you, like passing a comprehensive health care act, the movement's taken over by the insurance and pharmaceutical industries who use their clout to turn it into an instrument for their own profit, ripping you off once again.

Kucinich is right. The war's over. Who do we surrender to?

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

The jokes on us, we're not allowed to surrender. Prisoners of War have rights and protections, so we're not going there. The plan is to send very large men to your home to grab you by the cuffs and shake change out of your pocket....maybe move some nice Mexicans in with you.

 

[rgraham666]

I lost the war years ago.

 

[sr71plt]

War? What war?

 

[DeeZire]

War? What war?

It's linked in the first post.

Or are you inferring your financial situation places you above it? Good for you. You are one of the lucky few.

 

[sr71plt]

It's linked in the first post.

Or are you inferring your financial situation places you above it? Good for you. You are one of the lucky few.

I'm comfortably cushion from it, yes, thankfully (largely by not being greedy earlier), although not blind to the situation.

Just being contrary. There are a whole lot of wars going on.

 

[Liar]

maybe move some nice Mexicans in with you.

Good, I need someone to split the rent with.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Good, I need someone to split the rent with.

I dont think thats the plan. What Obama told me is: Mexico sends us its poor and we send Mexico our best jobs.

 

[Liar]

Can they at least help me with the fucking dishes, and make a decent chipotle once in a blue moon?

 

[Edward Teach]

It really does look like he's right. I think this really might be the beginning of the accelerated disappearance of the middle class. It just seems like for more and more people it's just no longer possible to make it, and one by one, they're falling under the wheels of the cart and won't ever get up again.

Time magazine recently had a little article calling the Oughts the worst decade since WWII, and in some ways worse, because we emerged from the 40's weary but victorious, with a glorious future in front of us, battered but justifiably optimistic. These are the Oughts, the gateway to the new century, the decade that sets the tone for what is to come. Where'd we go so wrong?

We started the decade with the Fall of Communism and the end of the Cold War and the world was our fucking oyster, the sole Superpower on the planet, the indisputable Economic Heavyweight Champ. And in ten years we now find ourselves on the skids, our army's power wasted and apparently futile, our economic thunder silenced, the economy in tatters. Our giants of industry have gone belly-up through incompetence and greed, the guardians of our wealth have proven to be thieves, our leaders are shills, and the great middle class--always the bedrock source of America's strength--has been bled white and destroyed. They can't afford to live in their own nation anymore. Their fellow citizens just shear them like sheep at every turn, so if your gas station doesn't get your last dollar, your cell phone bill does.

Meanwhile your job goes to India, and when your leaders get together and try to do one thing to reduce the financial pressure on you, like passing a comprehensive health care act, the movement's taken over by the insurance and pharmaceutical industries who use their clout to turn it into an instrument for their own profit, ripping you off once again.

Kucinich is right. The war's over. Who do we surrender to?

The Oilmen commeth.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Can they at least help me with the fucking dishes, and make a decent chipotle once in a blue moon?

No way, theyre your guests...forever.

 

[Liar]

No way, theyre your guests...forever.

So I get to bore them to death with my holiday photos? Awesome.

 

[lance gt]

So I get to bore them to death with my holiday photos? Awesome.

Tell them toilet cleaning duty is their permanent job.

 

[JackLuis]

I guess the working class can't afford internet service anymore. Only us that have provided for our retirement can waste our time on the Porn boards.

Obama is starting to take flack from the left now.

I thought this a classic example of how popularity of an Unknown Pol can plumet when people find out he's just another Lying Pol.

 

[DeeZire]

I thought this a classic example of how popularity of an Unknown Pol can plumet when people find out he's just another Lying Pol.

I don't see him as a "Lying Pol", at least not with the same connotation we associate with the Bush/Cheney crowd. Obama is stuck in a dysfunctional system. He is not a king. He can not proclaim healthcare for all with the flick of his pen. If 60 votes existed in the Senate, we'd be looking at a public option. Those 60 votes don't exist, so what's he supposed to do? Hire a hit man to take out a couple of R Senators?

There have been many theories floated - that the progressives should have fought harder for a single payer, enabling the moderates to compromise with a public option. As we know, nobody fought for a single payer system, which moved the compromise position closer to the center, or right, depending on how you look at it.

Another theory is that Obama stayed above the fray so he could claim a victory regardless of what actually got passed. If he had fought hard and lost, he would have had to admit defeat. As it is now, he can blame the defeat to Congress and walk away unscathed. But, as the link you provided illustrates, he will not get out of this boondoggle with a free pass.

I think the Dems in the Senate should reinstate the filibuster, instead of just settling for the threat of a filibuster. If they did that, the Cons would actually have to stand up there on CSPAN and talk for hours on end, enabling the grassroots to protest outside the senate chambers, perhaps delivering coffins to the steps - one every twelve minutes - to represent the 45,000 who will die this year because they don't have access to healthcare. 62% of the American public still want a public option, a fact that should lead to a public option if we actually lived under a truly democratic system.

 

[JackLuis]

DeeZire
Maybe I was too harsh and I agree he is posturing to avoid the failure. It is just that I thought he had more stones than that. Howard Dean has the the guts to tell the truth about the issue, of course he is on the sidelines and doesn't face reelection.

The Liberal/Progressive Press has to rise to the occasion and speak the un-spun truth, not only to the American people but to the posturing brown nosed Government! But alas they get distracted by Shaun, Bill and Fux Gnues' latest "Outrage", instead of ignoring it and focusing on their own outrage at Corporatism run rampant.

"I knew in the beginning, the table was crooked, I had nowhere else to play!"

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

You guys have majorities in both Houses of Congress and a President, and blaming the GOP cuz you cant get socialized medicine. Giggle.

 

[JackLuis]

You guys have majorities in both Houses of Congress and a President, and blaming the GOP cuz you cant get socialized medicine. Giggle.

I presume you're talking about Democrats, you should realize that You also have the same slippery crew and they are going to be coming for you. You are at the age where it cheaper to let you die rather than waste the costly medicine.

Don't get sick JB, the cost accountants will be watching.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I presume you're talking about Democrats, you should realize that You also have the same slippery crew and they are going to be coming for you. You are at the age where it cheaper to let you die rather than waste the costly medicine.

Don't get sick JB, the cost accountants will be watching.

Dont wanna ruin your day but I come from people who live forever and almost never go to the MD.

 

[JackLuis]

Dont wanna ruin your day but I come from people who live forever and almost never go to the MD.

Maybe that is a good thing. More people die in hospitals than in bars.

 

[DeeZire]

You guys have majorities in both Houses of Congress and a President, and blaming the GOP cuz you cant get socialized medicine. Giggle.

Last I heard, it takes 60 votes to pass anything controversial in the Senate. There are 58 Dems in the senate. That does not comprise a voting majority.

 

[jacks4u]

Hmmm

I recently went to an emergency room, for stitches, the night I tripped outside in the dark. There (the emergency room) I got 3 Xrays of my noggin, a tetanus shot and 3 stitches at the bridge of my nose.

Anyone want to guess the cost of the tetanus shot? let me just explain what's involved there:
1) the doctor types into a computer "this guy needs a tetanus shot."
2) a Pharmacy tech gets the order and pulls a bottle off the shelf, along with an appropriate syringe/needle combo.
3) a Pharmacist draws the prescribed dose from the bottle to the syringe.
4) A 'runner' brings the shot to the ER and gives it to a nurse, along with the appropriate paperwork.
5) The nurse swabs your arm with an alcohol wipe and administers the shot.

The bill for that little ballet was - brace for it, you all know it's coming!


$680.24


Just for the tetanus shot. $680.24. And that doesn't include the charges for the Xrays. Or the Doctor's fees. Or the Emergency room fees. Just a shot in the arm. $680.24

And y'all wonder why it's such a big deal! 'fucking socialists want to take over the U.S. of fucking A' My ass!

Perhaps we're just tired of greedy bastards fleecing us out of our hard earned ca$h. Personally I think the 'public option' and 'single payer' arguments are/were distraction tactics to keep genuine reform from succeeding.

Now, I'm not one to begrudge a person or corporation their profits. 5%, 10%, even 18% to 20% I can understand. After all, a reasonably competent stock trader can manage 15% to 20% profit. And many business people have the mindset - "If I can't do better than the stock market, I'll sell my business and put my cash in stocks." But c'mon! $680 for a fucking tetanus shot? And that's not even a 'tier 3' medication!

And, by the way - no one at the hospital ever EVER discussed costs with me before 'doing it'. I know when I take a dog to the Vet, the doc looks at the critter, then discusses costs and options. Only then does s/he do anything. Yet when we go the a people doctor, they just do it, then spring the bill on you after the fact. Fuckers!


Jacks

 

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