John Edwards connects the dots on medicare and "culture of corruption"

[AmericanDream]

Just received the following email from Edwards and thought he did a fantastic job of tying in the republican "culture of corruption" with medicare... I think we need to start showing the connection between lobbyists and real issues that affect people in their everyday life. Edwards is a master at doing that, as he did during the primaries. Leaving aside 08 partisanship for now (as we should!), I think we would be in better shape in 06 if we start using this message as an example of how it is not just enough to talk about the republican "culture of corruption" but to ACTUALLY CONNECT it to everyday issues. I hope our 06 candidates got this message. Here is the email (emphasis all his) and I think everyone should sign the DCCC petition:

Medicare Corruption Taking a Toll on Our Seniors

Dear Friend,

We all know somebody -- a parent, a grandparent, an older friend we talk to around the neighborhood -- who is struggling to make heads or tails of the Republican Medicare prescription drug law. It's just completely confusing, and I know it's not the best that we can do for our seniors. It may, however, be the best we can do for the pharmaceutical industry, which should be no surprise since it was practically written by the big drug companies.

There's a lesson to be learned: bad policy that puts special interests before the American people is the cost of the culture of corruption that pervades the Republican Congress and the White House. It is a lesson we see played out in the newspapers each morning and on the television news each night.

Democrats fought against this Medicare sham at the time, and now we're offering three important solutions that could be implemented NOW: 1) Extend enrollment by six months to allow America's seniors to make sense of the confusing options before they have to select the option that works best for them, 2) Allow re-importation of safe FDA approved drugs from Canada, which should bring down the costs of drugs in this country, and 3) Allow Medicare to bargain for lower prices on behalf of all Americans. It is particularly offensive that the drug company-written Medicare prescription drug law actually prohibits the government from negotiating with those companies for lower prices.

Today, I am asking you to please join my friends at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) by signing their petition to Congress:

http://ga3.org/ct/BdAsoqY1omv1/

Whether it's you, your family, or just an elderly friend, seniors across America are wondering why providing health care cannot be simpler. The reason is clear: the bill was not made for them. It was made for the Republican special interests and, in fact, much of it was even written by the pharmaceutical industry and its legions of lobbyists. It's particularly troubling that this program doesn't do more for the millions of seniors who struggle with poverty every day. Instead of looking out for the people who need our help the most, the Republicans sided with the people they always look out for -- the powerful special interests.

Let's look at a few numbers compiled at the time the bill was passed:

* Estimated increase in Drug Industry Profits: $182 billion
* Washington lobbyists employed by the Drug and HMO Industries: 952
* Amount spent by drug and HMO industries on lobbying in 2003: $141 million
* Political contributions from the drug industry to Republicans in 2002: $21.7 million (74% of total)
* Price of a one-month supply of Lipitor (the drug most frequently prescribed to seniors) with a Medicare Discount Card in 2003 survey: $67.07
* Price of a one-month supply of Lipitor on www.drugstore.com: $62.99

And that doesn't even get to the confusing mess caused by the dozens and dozens of plans. It doesn't mention the fact that while seniors are locked into a plan for a year, the providers have free rein to raise their rates at any time, which is particularly troubling for the seniors who are living below the poverty line. Meanwhile, re-importation of drugs from Canada -- which even a top executive with Pfizer has said is perfectly safe -- has been kept illegal to ensure pharmaceutical industry profits. And if that wasn't enough, Medicare is barred from bargaining for lower prices like the VA does for veterans.

http://ga3.org/ct/BdAsoqY1omv1/

The bill was disgraceful when it was passed, but now the seniors among us are about to start paying the price. We have one last chance to get it right.

Sincerely,

John Edwards

P.S. -- This is about what kind of country we want to live in -- do we want to stand together to make sure our seniors don't have to choose between medicine and food, or will we instead allow the pharmaceutical companies to pad their wallets and to pay their lobbyists to keep Congress in their pockets?

I hope you'll stand with me and the DCCC in telling Congress to do the right thing.

[Mass]

1. Good for him and good letter.

Nothing new concerning the connection, though. Many people including Edwards have said that during the last two years.

[AmericanDream]

2. Yeah, but we need to do that NOW... because the iron is hot...

Edwards made this a big issue in his presidential campaign as he talked about the revolving door of washington and about how McCain-Feingold that he supported doesn't go nearly far enough. However, no one was listening then... the american people are awake right now and it is important to show them this paradigm and offer our own solutions. People like you and I know this, but the American public is still not fully aware of how people like Abramoff affect their daily life... this letter shows them that.

[firefox]

3. Didn't the medicare bill need 60 votes in the Senate?

Tom Daschle himself voted for it. It could not have passed without Democratic support and if it was so bad, which it is, why couldn't the Democrats whip up public opposition to the bill.

Nonetheless, it is law badly in need of reform, especially the part that makes it illegal to negotiate lower prices with the pill companies. What the Medicare Bill is really is the privitization of a government function. Medicare itself is an insurance program and now it is contracted out with subsidies from the taxpayers.

[AmericanDream]

5. Some democrats DID whip up public opposition to the bill, inc. Edwards...

In fact that was my introduction to Edwards as I heard him give a passionate speech on the Senate floor denouncing this bill and he brought it up repeatedly during his campaign. However, I did not know Daschle voted FOR it? What the fuck was wrong with him... no wonder we get rolled over when the leadership of our party is (was) so flimsy.

[firefox]

7. I watched Pelosi on Cspan. She opposed it, but so what?

This legislation passed over 2 years ago. Not only did the Dems not raise public opposition to an untolerable level, they had two years to roll back at least the terrible provisions.

This legislation is a prime example of fascism, because it had provisions of it written by industry and submitted to their representatives in Congress.

Daschle did vote for this Medicare bill, but he also said that it is so bad that the Republicans themselves would be back to change it. And since the seniors have gotten their first dose of this legislation with the first numbers on cost to come in, the water for boiling some politicians is rising quickly.

Daschle made a poetic statement when he said ""we simply can't allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good."- http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030627-120944-8374r.htm

The one figure I would like to see right now, is what this is supposed to cost in the calendar year of 2006. * has succeed in adding $2.5 trillion to the national debt in his first 5 years. Now that the interest bill is growing and the Medicare bill opens up the treasury to the medical industry, we are going to be seeing even more staggering deficits.

[AmericanDream]

9. I'm not getting your point here...

Yes, I agree, many in the democratic party have been foolish and timid enough to not speak up on this earlier. But why not support the ones who have! The solution to the weaklings is to strengthen those who are doing the right things... "Dems" is not some homogenous group that has to get all the blame collectively. There are a few people who've been beating this drum continuously for the past 2 years and while it might be late, but if the DCCC is coming together on this now then I don't see why we have to start bickering about the past and not support their current effort for reform. Your criticism is legitimate, however, since you obviously do feel so strongly about this legislation... then let's get behind the voices that are voicing your and mine concerns... and this is not to excuse those who failed to lead on this issue at the right time, but THIS is the time for dems to be united and give a strong message of reform from all corners (the house, the senate, the governships) just like the republican contract for america in '92.

Btw, if you read the email... edwards is not just explaining why the current bill that is in effect is so bad, but he is asking us to sign a DCCC petition that will push for the reforms that dems are going to introduce... I don't think they'll succeed in reforming with this congress, but standing up is better than sitting on the sidelines in fear of failing. He says "this is our last chance to get it right" ... and that is true.

[jarnocan]

4. this plan is terrible

confusing and NOT worthwhile. Thos that voted against it will of course be labled by repubs - as NOT caring about senior citizens.

[ultraist]

6. The medicare benefits plan IS terrible and CRUEL

There are seniors who are not able to pay the increased deductible and are being denied life saving medications.

snip

http://select.nytimes.com/2005/12/23/opinion/23krugman.html?hp

The Tax-Cut Zombies
By PAUL KRUGMAN

If you want someone to play Scrooge just before Christmas, Dick Cheney is your man. On Wednesday Mr. Cheney, acting as president of the Senate, cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of legislation that increases the fees charged to Medicaid recipients, lets states cut Medicaid benefits, reduces enforcement funds for child support, and more.

For all its cruelty, however, the legislation will make only a tiny dent in the budget deficit: the cuts total about $8 billion a year, or one-third of 1 percent of total federal spending.

[Imagevision]

17. What did you expect? New drug plan was written by Drug companies

why this fails to be brought up in the news as to why those on medicare find it difficult to use. The drug companies designed and submitted to Bushco as the "new drug plan" -- same garbage but getting even more absurd!

[diamondsndust]

8. signed the petition, ....

mailed to everyone in my address book (over 100 people) and saved site to favs.. thanks for the post!

:hippie: PEACE!! It's NOT just for hippies anymore! :hippie:

[flpoljunkie]

10. This bill is poster child for how R's are in throes to special interests,

not the public interest. It is massive giveaway to the pharmaceutical companies which will be an incredible taxpayer burden--estimated to be in the trillions. The public should be up in arms about it, and if we had a functioning media, we would be--but hey, who do you think buys most of the ads for the nightly news--exactly, BIG PHARMA!

Signed the petition. Thanks for the link.

[NoFederales]

11. John Edwards is a damn smart guy, AND he cares about people. That

alone sets him apart from ordinary politicians--and that would be most Dems, unfortunately. John Edwards needs to get back into Congress.

NoFederales

[texpatriot2004]

12. GOP Culture of Corruption and the Cover-up Congress nm

[MichiganVote]

13. Too bad he didn't stay in Wash. Another Dem casualty....

[yodermon]

14. I wish he was still my Senator.

:(

[ddeclue]

15. Edwards for President '08 n/t

[1932]

16. Has everyone listened to Edwards family podcast with Jim Wallis?

Part 1: http://www.streamload.com/oneamerica/podcast/John_Edwards_013.mp3

Part 2: http://www.streamload.com/oneamerica/podcast/John_Edwards_014.mp3

Wallis's God's Politics is one of the best books on politics I've read in the last 5 or 10 years.

This book has changed the way I think...for the better!

[Dr Ron]

18. Good letter, but doesn't go far enough

I agree with Edwards as to the problems, and his solutions would be a step in the right direction, but there is a better overall solution. The current program should be eliminated and replaced by a program within Medicare to provide prescription drug coverage without providing huge government benefits to the pharmaceutical and insurance industries. The current problems with confusion wouldn't exist if there was a single program and Medicare patients didn't have to go thru the hassle of signing up with these plans. Just figuring out how to sign up is a major problem for many seniors.

Incidentally, the problem doesn't only relate to seniors--Medicare also covers many who are disabled before reaching age 65.

[AmericanDream]

19. This is not his own reform package... this is his quick fix for NOW...

He had a much more complex and detailed plan for what he would do if in charge or if the democrats were in the majority. But w/the republicans at the helm, you have to do something before the bill goes into effect this year.... the bill has already passed, these are amendments that will prevent the disasterous effects of the bill or at least stall them. We can't push through a package of our choosing with all three branches of gov't in the Repub. hands.

[Dr Ron]

21. Good short term fixes

They are good short term recommendations--I certainly don't mean to criticize Edwards here. I just hope that Democrats, even if pushing short term fixes, also fight for repeal of the current plan and replacement with a plan within Medicare. That is one (of many) messages I hope to see the Democrats as a party push for going into the 2006 elections.

[AmericanDream]

22. Agreed. nt

[TheFarseer]

20. Brilliant letter

God Bless John Edwards. He needs to talk more like that - tieing in how lobbyists + Republicans = legislation that hurts American people.