Yes To Democracy

Are you really trying to tell me we can't do better??

(crossposted to Bad Fiction)

The Insurance companies are spending $1.4 million dollars a DAY to try and defeat health care reform.

Where are they getting the money? By defining the term "Obscene Profits". In this case, denying people the health care they need. It's obscene to be making profits off the pain and suffering of people needing health care and being forced to jump though hoops to get it.

Think about it. They're spending money they made from denying people medical care, to try and preserve their grossly dysfunctional system.

Critics of health care reform like to use the scare tactics of "socialized medicine" and the bogeyman of long lines for rationed care. What they miss is that even in their scariest claims, it STILL means that everyone has some form of health care. Which is NOT the case right now.

From an economic perspective, health care reform makes a good deal of sense. One of the areas we're not competitive in a global industrial economy is that we're competing against countries that have single payer or other forms of government-managed health care. Whereas in this country the employer has to bear those costs, in a insurance market that rates go up and coverage goes down. And what it also means is people working additional low-paying or abusive jobs simply for the health care coverage.

How much more productive can that company be without having to worry about such things??

How many small businesses can open up if the owners aren't worried about health care coverage for their employees??

How much money is saved for a company when HR doesn't have to juggle plans or cover an increasing amount of costs - or reduce worker benefits?

How much is the economy helped when people can find better and less stressful jobs because they don't have to worry about health care coverage?

From an economic perspective, it makes more sense to keep people healthy by making health care easily available. By reducing the number of sick days and catching illnesses when they're more easily treatable, it increases productivity across the board. It makes more sense to catch things when they're small and more easily treated, than when it's gotten to the point that requires hospital visits and more aggressive treatment. It makes more sense to let people stay in hospital under the doctors care until they're well enough to go home, rather than have some hospital Insurance Reviewer or Coordinator make medical decisions for the patient against the doctors advice.

From an economic perspective, it makes more sense to manage health care costs across the board, reducing administrative costs and allowing doctors and hospitals to focus more on being doctors and hospitals, and less on being cogs in the insurance industry machine.

From an economic perspective, it makes more sense to encourage people to get treated without the fear of having to declare bankruptcy due to medical bills. It makes more sense to encourage people to get treated without the fear that this will be the illness or visit that causes their insurance company to drop them as a risk.

The irony is that we already have rationed medical care in this country, where people have to wait for extended amounts of time and jump though hoops to get the quality and type of health care and treatment they need. Because that's exactly what the insurance industry does to American citizens now - rations out and substitutes lower quality or inappropriate types of care to the patients. Get sick, find out what "insurance covers". The lists of exclusions are endless, the definitions decided by faceless drones in windowless cubicles NOT the health care professionals that have been trained to make these decisions..

Sleepless in Stupidity - Birther Update

Things are running about the same for all the little birthers in birtherville. The courts are still going "nope!", the fantasy tiddlywinks league are still screaming "any day now, just wait, you'll see, honest!" Dr. Orly is not only a few french fries short of a happy meal, but missing the burger, drink, and little toy surprise as well. Berg seems to think his lawsuits are going to somehow be mysteriously accepted after almost a year of rejection, and the not-so-thinly veiled racism of many of the birthers remain a constant.

Over all, the sound of the birthers bleating seems to have as much legal weight as the sounds from the campfire scene in "Blazing Saddles" does. Only more noxious.

From libradio.com

(Note - I am not saying all conservatives are in the birther camp. Indeed, many conservatives have rightfully complained about how the birthers are HURTING the right-wing, not helping)

And a note from the future:

August 27th, 2013

The drumbeat of history continues, as the SuperDuperGrandeSizedUltraMegaKingSizedRedWhiteAndBlueStar-SpangledAllAmericanUberPatrioticGodBlessAmerica Grand Jury presents it's latest set of presentments against the foul usurper illegally occupying OUR White House for the last 5 years.

All 17 of our brave patriots rubberstamped YES to indite Barry Soetoro on Treason, Illegal occupation, Violation of the Constitution, and being a Big Poopie Head that we don't like. After 25 minutes of deliberation, votes were called and we dug in to our celebratory Grand Slams.

We have 12 new jurors waiting in the wings, plus Bob's new dog "Skippy"! Skippy thinks he can create a canine "Americas Best Friend Grand Jury" of brave patriotic dogs at the local park. At least Bob thinks that's what he meant when he was in the backyard eating his own poop.

The momentum is growing, we have 807 identical boilerplate presentments already done, with more in the wings. Sooner or later the court system is going stop filing "stimulation of legal process" charges against us and will finally act on these "presentments" against Obama. SOON we'll see the ARREST of the usuper! Maybe in time for Labor Day! Or Arbor Day! Or some other National Holiday! (Except for Martin Luther King day, ick!)

But we need your help, so sign up for three or five more juries now! And remember, for each jury you serve on, you earn free OrlyPoints you can trade in on a variety of Chinese-made patriotic items! Double points for serving as a foreman! Join today!

17 June - I'd like to welcome "Barackryphal" back

"I've had a few blogs over the years, and during the first month of this year, I posted more often on this one than I ever had on any other. But after the inauguration, I found my verve lacking a bit. The President had taken office, Dr. Conspiracy and the folks over at Yes to Democracy were doing a bang-up job of taking on the conspiracy theories, and I naively thought that the controversy would soon die away.

Plus, given the fact that I'm not actually a political supporter of Obama himself or his policies, I didn't feel much political compulsion to keep writing.

But the rumors haven't ceased, the lawsuits haven't stopped, and the conspiracy-mongering has only grown in the last four months."

and ends with:

"I don't do this because I'm a Democrat, because I'm not one. I don't do this because I support Obama's policies, because by and large, I don't. I do it because I'm a patriot, and because I'm a conservative. If conservatism is to have any future in this country, it is not down the road of conspiracies, lies, and a refusal to accept facts and listen to reason.

And in that way, the Birther movement is the opposite of everything conservatism stands for. That is why I do this. "

Glad to see you back - and glad to see you standing up against the extremists infesting the Conservative movement.

Robert Strange McNamara dies.

Thanks for Vietnam, Strange.

Robert McNamara, the brain behind the other war diametrically opposed to this country's principles died today in his home, reports the AP.

"We of the Kennedy and Johnson administrations acted according to what we thought were the principles and traditions of our country. But we were wrong. We were terribly wrong."

Loni Anderson Syndrome

High School in the early 80's was a time of big hair and the usual hormonally-driven lust for the pin-up du jour. But occasionally one would see someone get a bit too wrapped up in such.

So it was with one classmate who was firmly convinced that when he would turn 18, he was going to marry Loni Anderson. He planned his classes around he thought Ms. Anderson would want in a husband. He talked about he all the time. He even made up a dream wedding and honeymoon for when he would marry Loni Anderson.

No amount of discussion, of facts, of reality would convince him otherwise. Pointing out that Ms. Anderson would be 38 when he was 18 didn't phase him in the slightest.

His worldview had condensed down to this conviction beyond rationality that he was going to graduate high school, and then marry Loni Anderson. Anything to the contrary was instantly rejected as meaningless - or worse, jealousy from those who also wanted to marry Ms. Anderson.

A Garden of Stupidity - Birther update

In the wake of the shootings at the Holocaust museums, the birthers have been trying to do damage control, or (surprise surprise), blame Obama for something one of THEIR supporters did.

11 June - Final judgement in the Keyes v Bowen case has been rendered.

(Scribed here)

End result:

"IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED:
1 . That the First Amended Petition for Writ of Mandate is dismissed;
2, That respondent Secretary of State Debra Bowen shall recover costs in the amount of $350.00 pursuant to Government Code section 6103.5;
3 . That respondent President Barack Obama shall recover costs in the amount of $520.00;
4. That respondent Vice-President Joe Biden shall recover costs in the amount of $520.00;
5. That respondent Joe Perez shall recover costs in the amount of $___."

Kreep and Taitz - fail.

Observations on Health Care

One of the hallmarks of the right wing in this country (okay, not just the right, as some Democrats are against the idea as well), is the screams about "socialized medicine" and "government-run health care"

This is a good attitude to take - for someone who GETS "government-run health care" and doesn't have to worry bout catastrophic health care loss or a medical emergency. But for those of us in the real world, it's a lot more dire.

Now I have a good job with a good plan for myself with a health co-op. I pay extra to have my daughter covered as well. So far I have not been unhappy with it. And I realize I'm in a minority, because health care in this country sucks. We pay more for less than any other industrialized nation, and the results are sickening.

When I was a young adult, I suffered 2nd and 3rd degree scalds on my hand and wrist. I suffered though the pain for three days before I was forced to go to the doctor, (and pay money I didn't have) and get treated for it. I didn't have insurance at the time, and was more worried about affording the health care than I was about the pain and risk of infection.

Note to Mr. Walter Fitzpatrick

How can I explain this to you.....

You are a *civilian*. Not an officer any longer, and not bound by UCMJ for anything you have done as a civilian.

The chances that you will ever be recalled out of retirement are slim to none, particularly with your record.

So, your claim that you're going to be yanked from retirement simply to be court-martialed for your little nastygram you wrote on your alma mater's stationary is absurd. (though it shows rather well just how much you're STILL clinging to your identity as a serving Naval Officer.)

As for a civilian court arresting you over that little snit you threw in print, well, there is that whole "freedom of speech" thing in this country. And considering how many people screamed "traitor" or worse about Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, etc., etc., etc., well, the only difference with your letter and those in the past is that your letter was published on the internet and that your alma mater might be annoyed over the fact you made it look like you were speaking for them or under their authority, rather than as a private citizen. Kinda tacky that really.

Should you do anything to break the law in the future, you will be tried in a civilian court as a civilian. This should make you happy, considering how much you hate the UCMJ system.

Oh, and I will point out the president when you were court-martialed was not President Obama. You were court-martialed in 1990, while President George HW Bush was in office. You were retired as an Lt. Commander in 1994.

Which means you have been claiming this deep dark conspiracy for 15 YEARS now. Why are you suddenly trying to hitch your star to the birther wagon train, when you've had 15 years to try and get your court-martial reversed??

In any case, I will remind you again. You are a civilian. You will rise or fall based on your actions as a civilian. Should you find yourself in a courtroom having broken the law, you will be in a civilian courtroom confronting the real US legal system, and not your friends with their pretend super-duper fantasy grand juries' idea of a legal system either.

A civilian courtroom. As is proper, due to the fact you are a civilian.

Hate Mail tickles.

This weeks hate mail is funny and ironic.

Name: Cinnamon Kinnaman
Email Address: nnyob@hotmail.com

What is on your mind? You need to get over the fact that Obama is now our president.  Hillary has a job in the Obama camp and you should let them do their jobs.  And, oh yes, pay your fucking bills!!!!

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I was there when Obama won.
I was there when he was sworn in.
I was elated both times.

I can't keep any promises on the bill paying, sorry.
Thanks for reading (but not really comprehending).

Weekly Yack Fest / Open Thread.

If you hadn't seen, YtD was mentioned in the OCweekly this week. Yes, we're obsessed with Orly, but more so with her hair and the amount of drugs she is getting (or NOT getting) into her system.

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And then there was this. A transcript of the President's Answer to Harry Smith about Iran:

Q    Let's move on to the news of the day.  The Ayatollah Khamenei gave his speech today, gave his sermon.  He said that the election in Iran was, in fact, legitimate.  He said, "The street demonstrations are unacceptable."  Do you have a message for those people in the street?

THE PRESIDENT:  I absolutely do.  First of all, let's understand that this notion that somehow these hundreds of thousands of people who are pouring into the streets in Iran are somehow responding to the West or the United States, that's an old distraction that I think has been trotted out periodically.  And that's just not going to fly.

What you're seeing in Iran are hundreds of thousands of people who believe their voices were not heard and who are peacefully protesting and seeking justice.  And the world is watching.  And we stand behind those who are seeking justice in a peaceful way.  Already we've seen violence out there.  I've said this throughout the week, I want to repeat it, that we stand with those who would look to peaceful resolution of conflict and we believe that the voices of people have to be heard, that that's a universal value that the American people stand for and this administration stands for.  And I'm very concerned, based on some of the tenor and tone of the statements that have been made, that the government of Iran recognize that the world is watching.  And how they approach and deal with people who are -- through peaceful means -- trying to be heard will I think send a pretty clear signal to the international community about what Iran is and is not.

 But the last point I want to make on this -- this is not an issue of the United States or the West versus Iran; this is an issue of the Iranian people.  The fact that they are on the streets, under pretty severe duress, at great risk to themselves, is a sign that there's something in that society that wants to open up.  And, you know, we respect Iran's sovereignty and we respect the fact that ultimately the Iranian people have to make these decisions.

But I hope that the world understands that this is not something that has to do with the outside world; this has to do with what's happening in Iran.  And I think ultimately the Iranian people will obtain justice.

Q    People in this country say you haven't said enough, that you haven't been forceful enough in your support for those people on the street -- to which you say?

 

THE PRESIDENT:  To which I say, the last thing that I want to do is to have the United States be a foil for those forces inside Iran who would love nothing better than to make this an argument about the United States.  That's what they do.  That's what we're already seeing.  We shouldn't be playing into that.  There should be no distractions from the fact that the Iranian people are seeking to let their voices be heard.

What we can do is bear witness and say to the world that the incredible demonstrations that we've seen is a testimony to I think what Dr. King called the "arc of the moral universal."  It's long but it bends towards justice.

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Yack away.

Walter Francis Fitzpatrick III - Oathbreaker

(Update - 21 June - Well, Mr. Fitzpatrick responded to my offer by further attacks and lies. His choice, but it leads me to suspect I may have hit too close to the mark. Though his comparison of his critics with the British commanders at the Battle of Cowpens speaks more for his ego than anything else. And I have to thank him for introducing me to a couple more blogs I didn't know about.

I don't think "offering someone a place to air their side of something" is somehow self-doubt. And I suspect it's more than he would offer on his blog either.

And it does say a lot about Mr. Fitzpatrick that he has to sign off with "United States Navy Retired" and "United States Naval Academy Class of 1975". It confirms my theory that a lot of his sense of self-worth and self-identity is still tied up in something that is no longer his.)

(Update - 20 June - A note to Mr. Fitzpatrick's friend "Tim". If you wish to comment and present your side of things, you are welcome to do so.

On the other hand, sending me email along the lines of "Looks like he wants to play................stupid man. His pals are not going to like what this will come to." doesn't do your side any favours.)

(Update - 19 June - I just got an email from Mr. Fitzpatrick. All he did was repost my bio in the YtD writers section.

In the interest of being fair, I welcome any further information from Mr. Fitzpatrick as to his behaviour and his side of the story. He is also welcome to comment here as well, as YtD does not censor comments.)

One of the "rising stars" in the fantasy tiddlywinks league is Walter Fitzpatrick. A Naval Acadamy graduate who became popular with the birthers and the pretend grand "jury" sect for a nasty letter sent to Obama claiming treason, Mr. Fitizpatrick is now a hero and "patriot" among the birther tribes.

I wonder how many of them know who he really is though? Some seem to think he's still a serving officer, others believe he's retired, but subject to recall.

It would be a cold day in hell before he was recalled though. Why? Well, what he doesn't talk about is why he's not in the Navy - or why his blog is called "JAG hunters". Seems Mr. Fitzpatrick doesn't have a very squeaky clean record. From all indications, Mr. Fitzpatrick's naval career was a good one, with rumours of the fast track to Admiral's stars. Executive Officer of a ship is usually seen as the last step before being placed in Command of a ship.

And all that was sunk by Mr. Fitzpatrick's own hands. You see, he was relieved of his position and court-martialed.

"Fitzpatrick is struggling to clear his name of a court-martial conviction that left a career-destroying letter of reprimand in his personnel record.

Navy records state that Fitzpatrick failed to properly supervise the spending of his ship's ``morale, welfare and recreation" money - nongovernmental money raised for the crew's use through proceeds from the ship's retail store - and while he did not personally gain from the money, his decisions violated Navy policies.

The money is usually used by the crew to pay for items such as TV and audio equipment, recreational supplies and other nonmilitary gear."