Healthcare solution. I think I stumbled onto something.

[ColbertWatcher]

In a response to the thread about Tommy Douglas, I posted,

We just have to do to profiting from suffering what MADD did to drunk driving.

For me, the most powerful scene in SiCKO was when the Canadian boy who blew off both his hands playing with firecrackers was told that an American man had to pick which finger to re-attach.

His look said everything.

For those of us old enough to remember what it was like before designated drivers, driving drunk was not really considered as serious a crime as it is today. Especially after the work MADD did.

Maybe what single-payer needs is it's own version of MADD?

Americans Against Carnival Healthcare? (based on an idea by DUer Historic NY)

[nightrain]

1. good idea. Let's run with it.

[yourout]

2. Republicans are members of ASSHOLE.

A-Americans
S-Supporting
S-Shitty
H-Healthcare
o-Offering
L-Little
E-Else

[ColbertWatcher]

3. BWAHAHAHAHA! n/t

[Quantess]

18. Did you make that up?

I like it!

[yourout]

28. I did.....I think I will post it by itself.

[Quantess]

36. I think that's a DUZY!

[Sebastian Doyle]

37. Oh yeah, that works!

From now on, all these insurance whores shall be known as ASSHOLEs! :yourock:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

4. I just got "Sicko," and,

to my shame, I'm almost afraid to watch it.

But I'll watch it.

I think your idea is great, given what MADD did. The only problem - alas - is that the beer and wine industry had nothing in terms of resources compared to the medical/pharmaceutical groups. Not to mention all the IOUs that they hold over the heads of so many members of Congress.

At this point in my long life, being reminded that Harry Truman wanted health care reform, having to instruct someone earlier today that, until recently, no, health insurance companies were NOT not-for-profit, and watching with trepidation and horror as the August recess draws closer, giving the other side the necessary delay, I am not optimistic that anything will get done.

I am afraid that Ted Kennedy will die without seeing his life's work fulfilled.

I am afraid of what kind of catastrophe The Powers That Be will dream up to divert attention away from this bill and its passage.

I'm afraid of a lot these days, and I fear my fears are well-founded, which just makes me sad.

I'd rather be nuts...........................

[ColbertWatcher]

5. There's a lot of people on DU; we can figure this out.

As far as SiCKO goes: watch it ASAP! At the very least you'll know what everyone's talking about.

And as far as how big the insurance syndicate/carnival is compared to the beer/wine people, I doubt that will matter when we start showing how many people die/are injured/suffer directly from the insurance syndicate/carnival's greed.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

8. We have to put faces on the stories -

statistics are meaningless.

Stories and faces are what change things. Remember that iconic photograph of the burned girl in Vietnam? The self-immolating monk?





Pictures are powerful.

So we want to find a vehicle that will make the stories come alive. Show the people to the people.

I'd be glad to do the writing, my share, if something like that came about. It's the least I could do.

But, the PR people will have to figure out the campaign, and that means more BIG money. I don't know anything about that.

I'll watch it tomorrow, thanks .............................

[Oregone]

7. "Ted Kennedy will die without seeing his life's work"

With all due respect, based on Kennedy's bill, he shouldn't much be uttered in the same conversation as the courageous Tommy Douglas.

Im not even sure he is even pro universal, redistributive, full-access, non-profit health care. If he is, his proposal is way outta left field.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

9. With all due respect,

I'm talking about the United States, about our Congress, and about our Senator Edward Kennedy.

Tommy Douglas was, indeed, a great man, and Canada should be very proud of him.

But he is of no matter here in this thread..........................

[Oregone]

10. "But he is of no matter here in this thread"

Cept that the OP posted this in response to a thread about Tommy Douglas and in the context of single-payer.

Although some may lament about Kennedy's work, his current proposal is put to shame by already existing systems in the rest of the world, which are referenced in the OP.

Talk about the United States all you want, and its "uniquely American" system and its quest for "uniquely American" solutions. Until you start looking elsewhere, you are just going to be shoveling a whole new load of cow shit outta a fucked boat up-river with no paddle.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

11. Listen,

I posted about my opinion of things, including Teddy Kennedy.

Now you're doing what? Telling me that my opinion is wrong?

Please. You keep quoting me, so why not respect my opinion?

Do you honestly think you're changing my mind?

I respect your opinion and your strong feelings on the subject, although I said nothing about the US and its 'uniquely American' system, or any of the other claptrap in your final lines.

You would be well-advised please to respect mine..................................

[Oregone]

12. I'm just pointing out...

That maybe you ought take him off the pedestal and set your sights a tad higher. In fact, much of the civilized world has done so already.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

14. You don't approve of my regard for Senator Kennedy?

Let me point out that you should go fuck yourself.................

[stuball111]

17. He is of no matter?

Because he came from a different country? I think we could all learn fro his story, and apply it to what needs to be done here. He is of every matter! We think we can do things the "American Way" but look where it has gotten us... the man was very shrewd and knew he couldn't bring things in overnight, so he was patient and brought them in gradually with a lot of patience. Ted Kennedy, on the other hand, is also a very great man, and they are both virtually saints in my book. One does not diminish the other by citizenship. Ted had a lot more hill to climb than Tommy, he had more people to face in his struggle, and an industrial military complex that is almost
insurmountable. We need to get some damn humility down here and take a look around the WORLD for leaders that we can learn from, Gandhi, Tommy Douglas,Churchill as well as our own greats from the past.

[ColbertWatcher]

20. Well said. n/t

[stuball111]

21. Thanks...

:toast:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

22. Not to me,

not now. No, he is of no matter to me.

Senator Kennedy has my huge affection, and contemplating his passing saddens me, now more than ever. I've lived through the murders of his two older brothers, and the grief is ongoing. History can sometimes be a lousy damn burden. What he's done with his life since then has been nothing short of heroic.

We're rapidly running out of heroes, and have been for a long, long time. Simon and Garfunkel sang about it a lot of years ago.

But, at least our political party has a leader and we have a President with vast potential.

If only Americans could get over ourselves and quit thinking we're all that and a bag of chips. There are cultures and countries all over the world from whom we can gain much. I think part of Obama's genius is that he recognizes it, and honestly does see himself as a citizen of the world.

Unlike the bellicose thugs who hijacked our country from 2001 to 2008.

I heard a Churchill speech today, and then part of one by FDR. With Walter Cronkite underscoring them both, and, I must say, I came close to tears, longing to have someone like that again. People of stature, intellect, courage, and a clear sense of their duty to their countries, to their people, to the world, to generations to come.

Yes, Tommy Douglas was a great, great man, and he did brilliant, wonderful thing. His life made a huge difference in millions of lives, and will continue to do so.

But, for the purposes of this thread, for now, he is of no concern to me. I'm sure you understand....................

[stuball111]

24. I came from Canada originally..and

Martin Luther King, Bobby, JFK, 911, they all affected me AS MUCH as you, my friend. We are not Americans, Canadians, Iranians... Brits, etc...we all live on an orb floating around in space... I think I do understand you though... and agree with your choice. Ted Kennedy is A truly great man.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

26. It's not a contest -

but having our young President ripped out of our lives just as we were beginning our own adult lives - I was a freshman in college - changed us in ways that we'll never completely understand. No, I don't know how that murder affected you, but I doubt it had the impact on your life that it did on mine. And I like you enough to hope it didn't.

Every time we tried to make progress, another hero was torn away from us. Bobby, Martin, and we had Vietnam through it all - the spectre of the draft hanging over my boy buddies - the one best friend I lost in Vietnam. That separates a certain segment of the population from the rest of the world, and it always has. I regret it, but it's my reality.

Ted, though. When he goes, I'm down to one last hero, and that's a situation I've never contemplated.

Who are your heroes, stuball?

[stuball111]

33. I understand..

Which is a trait seemingly of most liberal minded people, not like some who are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes! ( reffering to the "right"... I always liked that analogy!) And I suppose you are right, the loss of JFK affected some more directly than others, kinda like a shock wave that spread out around the world, starting with his immediate family. You have to understand that living in Canada at the time, we lead a very sheltered life. Not much happened up there, and when the JFK thing happened, it was very upsetting. We always looked to the US as this big awesome place, the epicenter of the western culture. I was fortunate enough to have a Father who was very left, and in tune with things, and he taught me how to think "outside the box" as it were. I guess you could say he is my first hero. We watched the Vietnam war on TV every night, My Lai,Tet, and the people escaping off the US embassy roof. These are pictures that are burned in my memory. I met draft dodgers who came to Canada and told me stories of what they went through, the friends they lost and the family they missed. I empathized with the whole scenario, and felt the fear. And yes, I don't look at it as a contest at all, I am simply sharing my experience with you, and telling you that I understand what you must have felt. I am sure that some of these events that happened back then didn't affect me as hard as they did you, and I am fortunate that they didn't. Sure, we had our share of events in Canada, but none as earth shaking and violent as here, which is why I was affected. My favorite RFK quote: "There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why... I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" as well as the Dante one, I can't remember. Who are my heros? Can I borrow yours? MLK, JFK, RFK, Tommy Douglas, Pierre Trudeau, John Lennon, Benazir Bhutto, Gandhi, Churchill, Sir William Stevenson (look him up).. these are all people with vision, courage and who changed the course of history for the better. And we here humbly follow in their footsteps trying to pass the torch on a simple website, and for that, I am grateful!:hi:

[stuball111]

19. And I look forward to the day when Ted Kennedy will be

Americas greatest man, because of what he has accomplished in health care and other things, and He and Tommy Douglas can sit together in the big place and have a beer!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

23. That's sweet, stuball,

and I know you meant it kindly, but the idea of losing Ted Kennedy is, right now, more than I want to contemplate.

I'm old enough to have lived through the JFK and RFK assassinations, and to have watched Ted grow and evolve and turn into a giant in our government. His history has been one of the most astonishing.

He's done so many wonderful things.

Did you know that, until he got sick, he went to a local elementary school in SE Washington, DC once a week to read to kids there? No fanfare, no publicity, he just slipped away for an hour or so every week to do it. It is a very, very poor neighborhood.

That's heroic...................

[stuball111]

25. Yes it is...

I recently saw the assassination of Bobby again, It hurt. I lived through that era too, and I was in grade 2 in Canada when I came home for lunch and saw on the noon news that JFK was shot. I went back to school in tears,and when the teacher asked what was wrong, I told her our president had been killed.( Didn't know much about politics back then) We are all affected by the loss of great men, (and women) and as a race of people, it changes our course on this planet whether we like it or not, and wherever we live. JFKs loss affected the politics here and around the globe. As for 911, I was working in Canada at the time, on a job with a bunch of Americans. When we saw what happened, we were all stunned. My now ex wife is American, and I drove home the next day and saw at almost every home on my 2 hour journey, an American flag flying at full mast. Where the hell people got that many American Flags in Canada, I don't know, but when I tried to buy one for my flagpole, there were none to be had, so my son and I made one. Yes, Ted will be missed for sure, and I understand what you are saying now... please disregard my previous posts. I think what you are saying is.. It's Teddies moment...

[Tangerine LaBamba]

27. You know what?

I really like you ............

[stuball111]

32. Awwwww!

And I like you too..I've seen your posts here, and I like what you say.:pals:

[Mojorabbit]

6. I despise MADD

I blame them in part for police checkpoints where people being made to get out of their cars to walk a line without probable cause, and for a range of other losses of freedoms. They took a good idea too far and made it acceptable to lose those freedoms with their pr campaign.

[ColbertWatcher]

15. MADD didn't create the authoritarian crap checkpoints.

They merely changed the way we view driving drunk.

The rest of it (checkpoints, etc) came from the overzealous and power hungry.

[Mojorabbit]

29. No they have actively advocated for them

google MADD police checkpoints for a plethora of articles.

[ColbertWatcher]

34. Well, that is dumb then.

Regardless, the work they did to change Americans' perceptions of driving drunk was what I was concerned with.

[Cleita]

13. That and the fact that every American family who had a loved one who died

because of lack of health care should be able to level a charge of manslaughter, negligent homicide, or murder against every Congressman and Senator who didn't rise above politics to make a workable and humane plan for all Americans. Also, the insurance companies' Boards of Directors and Executive Officers should all be in prison on the very same charges. I think a community like MADD would work very well for this quest. We could call it Americans Against Death by Denial or AADD.

[ColbertWatcher]

16. I don't know about the group name; people might confuse it for something else. n/t

[Cleita]

31. Er...see my post #30. It was meant for you.

:blush:

[Cleita]

30. It's just an off the cuff suggestion. I'm sure a real group that forms could

think of something much better. :-)

[ColbertWatcher]

35. OK. DUer "yourout" suggested a great name for the GOPers in post #2! LOL! n/t