The health care bill: why bother?

[Monkeyleg]

I've called both my senators (Kohl and Feingold) about the health care bill, the stimulus bill, the bailout of GM and Chrysler, and other controversial issues this year. I've noticed, especially on the health care bill, that the staffers aren't particularly interested in what I have to say. In fact, they don't even take my name.

It's pretty obvious that they don't care what their constituents or the opponents of the bill think. Their minds are made up.

So, why call them? I'm beginning to think it would be better to let them pass some godawful bill and have the public screaming mad next year, and force congress to repeal it.

[MicroBalrog]

Re-peal? What is this re-peal you speak of, Earthling?

[longeyes]

Make the honorable gesture; sometimes, even implausibly, it avails.

Are things likely to get worse before they get better, on health care and a slew of other issues? Probably.

[Standing Wolf]

Make the honorable gesture; sometimes, even implausibly, it avails.

Maybe. I make it so I can face the guy in the mirror every morning.

It's pretty obvious that they don't care what their constituents or the opponents of the bill think. Their minds are made up.

If you could call those "minds."

[Sergeant Bob]

Dick, I'm pickin' up what you're throwin' down. My senator is Debbie Stabenow and she just sends out the standard form letter "All Americans are entitled to health care"
Same kind of thing with everything else, but I keep calling and mailing, for the same reason as Standing Wolf.

[Waitone]

Play the game by the rules.

[Monkeyleg]

Play the game by the rules.

Yeah, well right now the rules are "we don't care what the voters say, we're going to do what our party bosses say."

It's time we changed the rules and send them all home.

I think it would be interesting to have a Republican introduce an amendment that requires all federal employees, including presidents, members of congress, civil servants, etc, who have ever worked for the .gov to be covered for the rest of their lives under Obamacare. Whatever they come up with, they won't have any choices. They'll have to live (or die) with it.

They'll vote the amendment down, of course, but it should be given such fanfare that the public can't help but see what happens.

[charby]

Yeah, well right now the rules are "we don't care what the voters say, we're going to do what our party bosses say."

It's time we changed the rules and send them all home.

I think it would be interesting to have a Republican introduce an amendment that requires all federal employees, including presidents, members of congress, civil servants, etc, who have ever worked for the .gov to be covered for the rest of their lives under Obamacare. Whatever they come up with, they won't have any choices. They'll have to live (or die) with it.

They'll vote the amendment down, of course, but it should be given such fanfare that the public can't help but see what happens.

Call their asses out at the next town hall meeting. I've been wanting to call out our local state rep, but she didn't have one last year and the year before she was absent for one and the other one I was out of town at a family function.

This year I'll skip a family function to get to the meeting. I'll even wear a suit and look as professional as I can before I question her.

[Regolith]

I think it would be interesting to have a Republican introduce an amendment that requires all federal employees, including presidents, members of congress, civil servants, etc, who have ever worked for the .gov to be covered for the rest of their lives under Obamacare. Whatever they come up with, they won't have any choices. They'll have to live (or die) with it.

They'll vote the amendment down, of course, but it should be given such fanfare that the public can't help but see what happens.

Actually, one did.  My representative, actually.  Surprised the hell out of me. And yes, it was voted down, pretty quickly.

[Standing Wolf]

It's time we changed the rules and send them all home.

That may not be the tradition, but firing the buggers is the rule.

[Desertdog]

That may not be the tradition, but firing the buggers is the rule.

The big problem is that so many peaople don't play by our rules.  If they did, the bugger would have been out a long time ago.
Watch what the incumbent starts doing when things get tough for them.  They remind the voters of all the money they have brought to their districts , and how much more they will bring into the district if they are re-elected.

[sanglant]

The big problem is that so many peaople don't play by our rules.  If they did, the bugger would have been out a long time ago.
Watch what the incumbent starts doing when things get tough for them.  They remind the voters of all the money they have brought to their districts , and how much more they will bring into the district if they are re-elected.

that is when we need to remind the voters who the money is stolen from in the first place

[slingshot]

If the Democrats pass the health care bill as it has been publicized, there will be such a strong public reaction that the Democrats will loose control of both houses of the government.  I'm guessing that they expect to loose control anyway in the mid-term election and want to get what they can NOW.  Once it is passed, much of the damage is done.  But it really doesn't go into effect for a couple of years, but the funding starts immediately.

[Scout26]

It could be worse, you could have my senators:  Durbin and Burris.   :|

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vlZk1ZaslA

[MechAg94]

If the Democrats pass the health care bill as it has been publicized, there will be such a strong public reaction that the Democrats will loose control of both houses of the government.  I'm guessing that they expect to loose control anyway in the mid-term election and want to get what they can NOW.  Once it is passed, much of the damage is done.  But it really doesn't go into effect for a couple of years, but the funding starts immediately.

It doesn't go into effect until after Obama's first term is finished.  It is so important we need to pass it RIGHT NOW, but we don't need it to go into effect until 2113.