Liberal Values Defending Liberty and Enlightened Thought

5 Comments

1. 1

   

   Mike's I.P. alter-ego says:
   

   August 21st 2009 at 8:05 pm  

   Trust- that is a key word I simply don’t have for pretty much anyone on the Federal level. Some on another Blog I visit (GTL’s) are starting to call me a liberal because among other things, I’d be for the health care bill IF it would deliver what it says it will. Specifically “The public option will operate on a level playing field.  It will be subject to the same market reforms and consumer protections as other private plans in the Exchange and it will be elf‐sustaining – financed only by its premiums.” This is from:http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090714/hr3200_summary.pdf

   The official summary has a whole bunch of other things I would like too, but if someone calls me up on the phone and says I can get coupons that will cut my food and food costs in half for only $5 a month, I’m not buying it. Because I simply don’t believe them. I don’t believe this government, what evidence is there that they can be trusted to deliver what they promise? Their high degree of personal integrity? Their track record of wise money management? How much did the $400 billion on that pharmacy bill in 2003 help? Sure it was “Bad Bush” as president then rather than “Benevolent Bama”, but there is a whole lot of incumbants now that where there in 2003. Congress isn’t full of spring chickens. Same old folk making pie in the sky promises, now instead of helping a part of the population for a mere 400B- they are going to help the entire population and it is all going to pay for itself. Yeah right! Sell me a bridge while you are at it. Sorry for shouting, didn’t want to disturb your town hall meeting.

2. 2

   

   aulp says:
   

   August 21st 2009 at 10:30 pm  

   krugman is far left?

3. 3

   

   Ron Chusid says:
   

   August 22nd 2009 at 12:48 am  

   aulp,

   “Far” is relative. He is to the left of Obama in some areas, but there are certainly many further to the left than Krugman.

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   Ron Chusid says:
   

   August 22nd 2009 at 12:50 am  

   Mike,

   All the talk about the public plan is partisan bullshit from both the left and right.  As currently discussed only a small minority will be eligible for it and  it is one of the least important aspects of health care reform.

   Both the right wingers who claim it will force out private insurance and the left wingers who claim that we cannot have reform without a public plan are wrong.

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   Eclectic Radical says:
   

   August 22nd 2009 at 2:50 am  

   “Both the right wingers who claim it will force out private insurance and the left wingers who claim that we cannot have reform without a public plan are wrong.”
    
   The fact that the public plan as currently discussed is a lot less useful than it should be doesn’t change the fact that a good public plan is a pretty damned good idea. I agree that it’s wrong to say we cannot have reform with it, especially as the current plan is written.