America the Jaded: Healthcare, Short Men, Emigration, and Like That!

[puebloknot]

(I posted this last night in another thread, and was urged to post it as an OP. So here it is. This was in response to the continuing "Kucinich can't win" drumbeat I keep hearing. It branches out into much more than the Kucinich candidacy, and is a kind of "musing at midnight" piece.)

It's a sad commentary on the "values" of this country, and even the values of "Progressives" that the way Dennis looks, the misperceptions about his personal life, are more important than his very "spot on" message.

I support him. I've worked for him. Perhaps we should all be required to vote with blinders on, and listen to all media presentations for all the candidates with the voices disguised, and just pick a candidate on what he or she proposes to do for the country. I'm dreaming, of course.

In spite of the mistake he made about the war (at least he has apologized), I like Edwards, and can envision an Edwards/Kucinich team in some configuration.

My concern about Edwards is his stance on healthcare. He says, "Do you want the same people that handled New Orleans handling your healthcare?" I haven't thoroughly dissected his plan, but as I understand it, he still allows the insurance companies to have major sway.

As an army brat as a child, I recall going to military clinics and hositals, and it wasn't fancy. But there was some level of medical care without the worry of paying. Kucinich says we are already spending the money to institute a major single-payer healthcare-for-all program, by redirecting the funds and cutting out graft. I do wish Kucinich would stop referring to his plan as "Medicare for all" because I'm *very* concerned about the fate of Medicare in this country. I think that terminology may scare some people off.

I've met Dennis Kucinich and I find him very charming and intelligent. And he's a straight arrow, too. There is *no* feeling that he's on a 30-second delay so he can spin his responses. Neither Winston Churchill nor FDR (their pictures and movie appearances) do a lot for me. I wouldn't pick them out of a catalog based on personal appearance. But they got us through World War II.

I am giving heavy thought to leaving the country over just the issue of healthcare. I do have health insurance at the moment, but I live in constant stress over the month when I can't make the premiun payment, they cancel me (with glee), and then I can't get another insurance plan, or go back to the old one, because I have established PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS on my record. America, America, this is the shell game of all time. Why are we not in the streets over this very issue? We're conditioned to feel that our medical problems are a drag on the upstanding inurance companies that make this country what it is (well....), rather than understanding that it is our right as human beings and citizens of the United States to get help when we are ill, or in an accident. We have to be the most gullible collection of citizens ever cobbled together that we've let this go on for this long. None of our Congressional representatives have to worry like this. (Of course, they aren't exactly stepping up to the plate to take care of their own children and grandchildren!)

Of course, there are other major issues, and they'll all roll together to give us a country we don't want to leave, but fear to live in. A part of me says I should not leave, but stay and fight. I don't want to leave. But I have certain personal issues which compel me to think about how my staying here will affect not only me, but my daughter, as well.

And then, there is the matter of the North American Union. I agree with an article about that which says that those fleeing the U.S. might be like the German Jews who "escaped" to Amsterdam, only to have Hitler follow in hot pursuit.

Pardon the stream-of-consciousness musing I've veered into here. The healtcare issue is the one that is causing the most immediate trauma to all of us, but it's the foot in the door to other tyrannies.

In short, :) Dennis Kucinich is the man with a plan to cover all the bases. For those who say they would hold their noses and vote for the Dem, no matter how displeasing, I'd like to suggest putting aside potshots at how Dennis Kucinich looks (and wondering *how* he managed to attract that red-headed babe he's married to), and vote for his platform -- not his personal attributes. We've put up with seven years of having to look at George Bush. Dennis Kucinich is a lot "taller" than George Bush by a mile.

Let me also say that my support in this message for Kucinich and/or Edwards is not a "bashing" of Hillary or Obama. I listen, and I give them both credit on certain issues. I just feel that there are serious deficiencies in both their messages. Anyone who takes on a campaign for the presidency is giving a lot of energy to the country, and contributing to the dialog.

[Mythsaje]

1. I really like Dennis

but Edwards is the one I think with the best chance to reach across the aisles. Dennis is actually just about where I am on the political compass, but I just don't think he can win the GE... he's barely on the map with regards to the primaries.

The last thing I want to see is a President Nineelevenilani, or President Mitt. If either of those two make it into the WH, the world is screwed beyond recognition.

I prefer DK's healthcare initiative. But I can tell Edwards isn't fooled by the corporate bullshit either, and he has the experience to tell when they're trying to play a game on him. But the real reason I'm supporting him is that his populist message CAN reach across the aisles and pick up a lot of low-level Republican voters--assuming, of course, that the Corporate Media whores allow his message out.

[puebloknot]

2. The scuttlebutt is that Dennis, John, and their two Elizabeths are good friends.

I don't care who wears which hat, as long as they're allowed to bring back our civil rights as they existed circa 1999.

[Mythsaje]

3. I can believe it...

If so, that's great news in itself.

[bonito]

12. Wow makes sense though n/t

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. But if you have a chance in the primaries, vote for the one who

really IS where you are on the political compass, not where you think other people might be on the political compass.

How will the powers that be know what you really want?

I got some wonderful advice twenty years ago: "Never say no to yourself. Let the other person say no." In other words, don't refrain from asking for something simply because you imagine that you won't get it. You may not, but let the other person say no. (And sometimes, to your surprise, the other person says yes!)

[Mythsaje]

8. If I decide to vote in the primaries

(not a certainty by any measure, since I'm STILL pissed off that they dumped our open primaries), I'll probably vote for Kucinich. But as I'd much rather see Edwards in the WH than Obama or Hillary, I might go that route too. The old 'vote against rather than vote for' refrain.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Kucinich has my vote, too

Can you imagine who might have been elected President in 1860 if people were as shallow then as they are now?

"Lincoln is too tall and ugly. I hear that he doesn't get along with his wife, who is a shrew. Do we really want someone who can't wear a suit properly in the White House?"

"Stephen A. Douglas is very handsome, and wears his clothes nicely. He'd make a much better President--either him or that handsome John C. Breckenridge. Who cares if either of these men's policies would lead to a slavocracy? They are good looking--isn't that the only thing that matters?"

[Breeze54]

6. America has been brainwashed by TV and the rich, young and famous!

It's sad, to me. I have a little brother, who is short (shorter than me @ 5' 3" and I'm a woman)
and he has dealt with rejection all of his life but he's the guy that would give you the shirt
off his back in an instant. He's a very caring, intelligent, empathetic man. I think you are right!
I think Kucinich is being marginalized by people who want to vote for the winner so they can
say they did and have forgotten principle or never met it. Dennis Kucinich did not vote for the
IWR, that, in and of itself, tells me that he is a man of intelligence and integrity and that he
does his homework, unlike many Dems who did vote for it! At the very least, DK read it before he
voted! He did what he was hired/elected to do! He did his job and I think he'd be very vigilant
concerning protecting citizens rights, safety and welfare.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. It's amusing that so many men are amazed that DK attracted

"that red-headed babe."

DK is not my type, but I know that most women like bright, funny, good-hearted men, and we don't really care whether they could be cast as James Bond or not.

[puebloknot]

9. That "babe" is no slouch in her own right, and from all appearances...

...the two of them are very much on the same page with regard to trying to create a more peaceful world!

[Desertrose]

10. What a beautiful post Pueblo Knot

I am glad you reposted it as its own thread.You've made some very good points.

I love the line about looking at bushie for seven years...and you are right, Dennis is taller better brighter and more handsome than that fake cowboy any day of the week!!

:)DR

[bonito]

11. Kucinich has my support as well

And thank you for this!:thumbsup: