Reply #51: Thank you for your very detailed and incisive .... [View All]

[gleaner]

answer. I think I am understanding more clearly what you intend. I do know what you are saying, and I think you know what I am trying to say. This is good for both of us. We have communicated.

Just a couple of points I need to clarify. I asked if you were supporting a single payer. I didn't conclude that you were against it. Often during discussions like this I have had people tell me what I felt and thought when they didn't know and didn't ask, so I asked. You don't have to answer. That is your privilege. But if you had wanted to you could have made your own answer instead of having it made for you.

I know about the senate rules. I thought they sucked when Bush's Senate put them into place, and I think they should be revamped now. I'm surprised that the Democrats have not done so. They have the committees and it is in their power.

I think, though that you have the impression that I believe a single payer bill would go slamming through. I don't. I would like to see who opposes it on a vote and then I would have a better idea who to target efforts of opposition against in the primaries. The bill they are running now is not acceptable to me and I think it will do more harm than good. I would like to see it dumped and then have the Democrats start all over again without Republican input. That probably wouldn't have an easy time passing either, but at least it would get some better ideas out in the open than this version has.

I don't believe that Joe Lieberman has anyone's ear. He changed parties and people have difficulty trusting a turncoat with such an obvious agenda to obstruct. I was listening to a news commentator who basically said that Lieberman has shot his wad and lost whatever tenuous influence he had. I'm thinking about it, and it sure sounds constructive, but it remains to be seen.

We both know that I have no way or influence to poll senators. But I think that would still be the best way to get them on the record. How it would be done, I can't tell you. Middle class individuals like me count for nothing anymore in this country.