David Sirota: The health care tyranny

[toymachines]

David Sirota: The health care tyranny
SDNN

For those still clinging to quaint notions of the American ideal, these have been a faith-shaking 10 years. Just as evolutionary science once got in the way of Creationists’ catechism, so has politics now undermined patriots’ naive belief that the United States is a functioning democracy.

The 21st century opened with a handful of Supreme Court puppets appointing George W. Bush president after he lost the popular vote - and we all know the costs in blood and treasure that insult wrought. Now, the decade closes with another cabal of stooges assaulting the “one person, one vote” principle - and potentially bringing about another disaster.

Here we have a major congressional push to fix a health care system that leaves one-sixth of the country without coverage. Here we have 535 House and Senate delegates elected to give all 300 million of us a voice in the solution. And here we have just 13 of those delegates holding the initiative hostage.

In the Senate, both parties have outsourced health care legislation to six Finance Committee lawmakers: Max Baucus, D-Mt.; Kent Conrad, D-N.D.; Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.; Mike Enzi, R-Wy.; Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine. The group recently announced it is rejecting essential provisions like a public insurance option that surveys show the public supports. Meanwhile, seven mostly southern House Democrats have been threatening to use their Commerce Committee votes to gut any health care bill, regardless of what the American majority wants.

This, however, isn’t about the majority. These lawmakers, hailing mostly from small states and rural areas, together represent only 13 million people, meaning those speaking for just 4 percent of America are maneuvering to impose their health care will on the other 96 percent of us... Read more

http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2009-07-31/news/david-sirota-the-health-care-tyranny#ixzz0Mrgn4PRa

[WCGreen]

1. There are more people in New York City than in all those states combines...

I'm not sure, just making a point that Conrad represents about 750k while my senator, Sherrod Brown, represents 12 million. Where is the representative democracy in that...

And out side of Albuquerque, what other cities over 1 million are in any of those states...

It pisses me off that because of the relative ease of holding onto Senate Seats in small states compared to large states, most major committees are chaired by states that are mostly rural. How can the urban interests even get a shot at representation?

[lyonn]

2. Those are some interesting statistics

And disgusting. Need to fix how we elect and retain our leadership in Congress. Seniority ain't workin'.

[iverglas]

3. thanks for the insight

Useful info to have in mind when watching CNN from this side of the border. ;)