Even NPR portrays a public insurance plan as...

[SHRED]

..."Should government take over health care?".

Why aren't they asking, "Should our government protect us from private health insurance?"

Many here don't like Ed Schultz but he is the most outspoken "mainstream" talkinghead for single-payer I have yet seen on TV or heard on the radio.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30031533/

[ejpoeta]

1. so... protect us from the socialist fire department!!! yesterday the socialist

fire department in buffalo rescued a construction worker. wouldn't it have been better to have a private fire department handling that??!! and how about that socialist police department!!! wouldn't a private police force better handle our crime problems!!

[Buzz Clik]

3. Nice try, but it's a different issue.

Not everyone believes that socialism is the answer to everything.

[ejpoeta]

18. i was being sarcastic. it's a ridiculous argument, just like the argument against

a single payer or even a public option is ridiculous. we take for granted that the fire department or police are there... imagine if we had to have some kind of insurance for them to come and help us.

[John Q. Citizen]

24. Do you believe socialism is the answer to fire protection? I do.

i also believe it's the answer to health insurance.

Making shoes, no. Private enterprise works well for shoes. But not for health insurance. It works very poorly for helath insureance.

[Orrex]

6. Nice post, comrade

In a recent conversation with a guy who lives down the street, he informed me that the 911 system is set up to generate a profit for the fire department. That's why they send three trucks and two ambulances when a four year old bumps his knee. So they can change you hundreds of dollars for the service.

I said "I know that you believe that, but it's still not true."


The default anti-socialist view in everyday America is really weird. If you ask anyone why they object to Socialism, they can't come up with anything other than a vague reference to godless communism and a suggestion that it's bad for the economy.

[SHRED]

11. They also refer to...

...the old Soviet Union as their example of the dreaded "socialism".

[Orrex]

13. Of course!

After all, it was the Union of Soviet SOCIALIST Republics, so Socialism must be evil.

[ejpoeta]

19. that's funny... i don't remember ever getting a bill for the fire department coming and

putting out the fire when our house burned down. but then, we have a volunteer fire department. the buffalo one is a genuine paid fire department. i have been billed for an ambulance from an accident i had several years ago... and mercy flight. but nothing from the fire department that came and got the car off of me.

the reason their replies are so vague is because they believe what someone else told them. they don't really have experience with it, or not that they view as socialism. which it really isn't. it's just a word that gets people riled up. like saying 'you people'. they have such a reaction to the word that they just don't hear anything else after it. it's sad, because my brother would rather starve and live in his car than get any sort of help if he needed it.

[YewNork]

26. The average person couldn't tell you what socialism is, they just know it's bad.

And they equate it with communism. Socialism runs the the full spectrum from
our current system of publicly funded police, fire departments, schools, Medicare,
and Social Security retirement pensions, all the way up to the government owning
everything.

But, most Americans only associate the word socialism with the most extreme
version and don't realize that many of the things that they take for granted
and would never get rid of are, by definition, socialism.

And, of course, the opponents like to take advantage of this by referencing
the word socialism as often as possible.

[YewNork]

25. Not to mention our socialist public schools and libraries.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

27. There are private for profit Fire Departments, Rural/Metro Corporation is one of the largest.

Here is an old story if you are interested.

http://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/13/nyregion/experiment-in-private-fire-protection-fails-for-a-westchester-village.html?pagewanted=all

[tularetom]

2. I'm not sure what you mean by "Even" NPR

I don't know this for a fact but my guess is that if you were to delve into the funding structure of NPR you would find significant involvement by the insurance industry.

Just because gasbags like rush limpballs constantly condemn NPR as a "liberal" media outlet, doesn't mean they actually are. NPR is among the worst. They basically whore for whoever pays the bills.

I'm a big fan of Ed Schultz. He makes more sense on most issues than any other radio or TV commentator.

[SHRED]

4. I said "even" because...

...a lot of the time NPR is fairly well balanced when compared to the rest of the MSM.

I don't have my head in the sand on this however.
I do realize that public media, like NPR, are not truly "public".


---

[ellacott]

9. They used to be much better

When there were threats to defund them through Congress they moved more to the right in their coverage.

[SHRED]

12. They spend a lot of time on fluff BS

[Orrex]

16. Their short-form pieces are pretty much worthless

I like Nina Totenberg's courtroom coverage, and Claudio Sanchez does a lot of very solid pieces on education. Also, NPR often does extended reports on international subjects; these can border on human interest fluff, but I appreciate any US media coverage of average citizens in Fallujah, for example.

When they take the time to run a fifteen minute segment, it's usually quite good, but even these tend to shy away from major issues, and there simply aren't enough of them.

[sandyd921]

5. Ever listen to Thom Hartmann?

He's not only for single payer but provides a completely cogent and logical case for it just like he does on all the issues. Absolutely the most honest and fact-based program there is. I learn so much from him but also find him compelling and easy to listen to. As for Ed, I've been pretty impressed lately with his advocacy for single payer. I like that he doesn't appear to be "on the payroll" so much anymore.

[SHRED]

7. I was referring to mainstream media

Thom is my favorite but I cannot even hear him on the radio nor see him on TV in San Diego.

I was referring to mainstream as reaching the masses.

[rurallib]

8. Yep - NPR that great bastion of liberalism shills for the pugs again

I caught the tail end of something that sounded like a couple of AMA doctors saying a public option won't work. And the host asked basically no questions, just let it go unchallenged.
I seldom listen to NPR anymore. Mostly in the car when the choice is Xtian radio, NPR and RW radio. Our local radio choices are right wing to far right wing.
Thought I would email them today and waste some time.
Sadly I am old enough to remember when NPR sought out the truth. It was refreshing. Should have known it would never last.

[Buzz Clik]

10. I'll never understand people who run in fear from differing opinions. It's disappointing when...

... they are Dems.

[rurallib]

14. Is that aimed at me? I am not running from differing opinions

NPR has this totally undeserved reputation as the "liberal" radio home. I get so tired of their putting on experts from AEI or letting neo-cons supply commentary with no questions asked. There are a few good programs left, but for the most part they seem to think their job is to not upset a guest.
FYI - I even listen to some Limbaugh and Hannity every day plus a local winger who is way out there. So i fear not RW opinions. Sure as hell would be nice to have the air waves available to a wide range of opinion not just A to B like it is now. And I would put NPR as leaning right these days.

[Buzz Clik]

21. Listening to Limbaught, Hannity, Olbermann, or Maddow is a waste. There's nothing to be gained.

They present pure porn for the ultrapartisan.

If you truly want an understanding of today's events, you allow all sides to present their points of view with questions. There is no requirement for journalists to get red-faced and start screaming at their "guests" simply because some people might disagree with their comments. If you are well informed, all you need is to hear all the views and put the analysis together yourself. I don't care if NPR is right leaning or not, their presentation is unbiased, balanced, and endlessly informative.

[rurallib]

22. Well, I disagree mightily on NPR

having listened to it since it is a shadow of its former self. Oddly I made that evaluation together myself.
NPR often has analysts from RW think tanks give an analysis of a situation. They allow these people to babble on often without comment. The lack of comment or questions serves to give a stamp of approval from the NPR host. Since NPR is supposedly the liberal option, by inference a 'liberal' stamp of approval is given.
I enjoy Tom Ashebrook and Diane Rehm in particular. I know not what their politics are, but at least they question. I also enjoy Maddow and Olbermann because they question. As does Amy Goodman.

[Buzz Clik]

23. I can give you hundreds of examples of guests who are given deep, probing questions.

I'm sure you're not interested.

You don't know Diane Rehm's politics? And you claim to listen to her show? Okaaaaay.

[izquierdista]

15. Even NPR?

Where have you been for the last decade? That whore has been for sale for so long, her first customers are sending their teenage boys to her.

[Botany]

17. NPR now is under republican control as per spin on a story

they are shameless whores for the republicans in many cases ..... a professor @ Ohio State has been tracking
their slide down into whore-dom

[madrchsod]

20. big ed started when the north dakota blue cross blue shield raised his rates...

he called the main office and found out the management went to the a caribbean island to celebrate their record breaking profit. he started the show with his rant and has`t stopped since!

the bc/bs folks cut their "vacation" short and flew back to north dakota.