jim's op/ed

No stinkin' Health Care Reform.
That's right, was there ever any doubt, I mean really, after watching this dog & pony show go from the House to the Senate, what did you expect?
The Republicans didn't contribute anything meaningful to this extravaganza just their usual attempt to obstruct. On the other hand the Democrats have screwed this up quite well all by themselves. Sometimes I can't tell the difference between them as things play out in a 'dumb & dumber' scenario.
We really need some election reform too. This two party system is fixed.

Last week even Dr. Howard Dean was ready to give up on this turd of a health care bill.
Yeah that's right even former Governor and former Chairman of the DNC couldn't stand the stench of this turd.
He says that he still wants to see REAL reform but this ain't it so "Kill the Bill"..
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Keith Olbermann has a great special comment and some advise.
He addresses the mandates and the penalties that we will face if this bill makes it.
It is amazing how these so-called representatives could take a heath care system that is so broken and perverted by corporate greed and profit and make it worse.

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Jane Hamsher from firedoglake has summed things up nicely.
And there is a petition to sign!

10 reasons you will want to "Kill This Bill"

" #1)Forces you to pay up to 8% of your income to private insurance corporations -- whether you want to or not

#2)If you refuse to buy the insurance, you'll have to pay penalties of up to 2% of your annual income to the IRS

#3)After being forced to pay thousands in premiums for junk insurance, you can still be on the hook for up to $11,900 a year in out-of-pocket medical expenses

#4)Massive restriction on a woman's right to choose, designed to trigger a challenge to Roe v. Wade in the Supreme Court

#5)Paid for by taxes on the middle class insurance plan you have right now through your employer, causing them to cut back benefits and increase co-pays

#6)Many of the taxes to pay for the bill start now, but most Americans won't see any benefits -- like an end to discrimination against those with preexisting conditions -- until 2014 when the program begins

#7)Allows insurance companies to charge people who are older 300% more than others

#8)Grants monopolies to to drug companies that will keep generic versions of expensive biotech drugs from ever coming to market

#9)No reimportation of prescription drugs, which would save consumers $100 billion over 10 years

#10)The cost of medical care will continue to rise, and insurance premiums for a family of 4 will rise an average of $1000 a year -- meaning in 10 years, you family's insurance premium will be $10,000 more annually than it is right now

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The CBO is reporting they were off in some of their previous estimates and this Senate bill won't save people any money or reduce the defict. They said that the gross cost would be roughly $23 billion higher (than the original estimate of $871 billion) over the next 10 years.

Again, is this the change you were hoping for?

>>> added 12/22/09

If you don't believe me, Dr. Dean and Jane, how about 17,000 physicians that have joined together, written a letter to the Senate stating this bill does more harm than good and is NOT the single payer health care REFORM they want.

more details and the letter @Common Dreams.org