Lorraine's Talking Stick News

[Talking Stick]

I doubt there will be another Talking Stick e-mail soon as I have lost energy to pursue a positive outreach at this time. The proximate reason is personal. I see an emerging pattern in the politics of  President Obama,in particular in his Wednesday night's speech.

If there is any accuracy to the pundits proclaiming the President has achieved the goal of unifying the Democrats, my views represent a minority.

I respect those who continue to believe support of whatever health insurance legislation comes to fruition will bring increments of success in promoting human rights,in particular in respect to adequate health care. I don't desire to, if not offend, to not bore folks whom I respect with repetitive polemics. This I promise is a one timer intended to explain.

I will however likely be posting on the web log http://talkingstick.gamountains.net/news as thoughts seem to merit it.

In the terms of the great Frank Rich; (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/09/opinion/09rich.html)We've been punked.

In spite of still some obfuscations President Obama's speech Wednesday night and his website http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hcsignon/?district=&returnlink=false in my view make clear that coming legislation will not reform a failing system for delivery of health care.

The problem has been posed that an unsustainable large percentage of our population cannot afford adequate health care, directly or through insurance.

The question to consider while evaluating the Obama proposals: Will and how will this benefit the poor and near poor whose job if they have one is marginal and tenuous.?

The primary solution proposed is to mandate all to purchase insurance from private companies?

This simply criminalizes and stigmatizes the poor and the becoming poor. Making it illegal to be too poor to afford health care is as obscene as the Taliban makes it illegal to be raped!

These mandates will, without even passing through as taxation, turn over a huge pool of the citizens' money to private insurance companies. Yes. there are tax breaks and tax credits as incentives. But they only apply to the moneyed. The proposed fines apply to those most desperate in need of adequate health care or those small businesses already operating on marginal cash flow.

Yes there are a few, to be better defined, regulations on health insurance practices proposed. They should have been applied 40 years ago.

Waste fraud and abuse commissions are code for more cuts in Medicare and Medicaid funding.

Holding out "triggers" or the possibility of some form of "public option" to be considered in 4 or more years is an insult. Though it may be after 4 more years of declining quality and incomes it's need may be so obvious as to be unavoidable.

A deeply personal disappointment, to those who have been his most ardent supporters, his defenders and workers, is the President's virtual pleading with Republicans who sat on their hands, with one notable exception.

Ten minutes of Ted Kennedy quotations may secure our continued defense of him and his policies, but I doubt it will be enduring. Those who are committed to liberal aims informed by a moral sense of social responsibility will not abandon them lightly. It is a movement, and yes an ideology. Ideology may be a dirty word in the political world. For better or worse, it springs from the place where the human heart beats. Ted Kennedy understood that.

My purely personal political assessment is that he has sown the seeds of failure of his tenure in office. The passionate liberals will continue to advocate for democratic principles and oppose the government by business. I do feel many will lose hope that this man Obama is worthy of activism in his defense.

[Bette Hinesley]

Lorraine, I hope that you will reconsider after a night of 'sleeping on it'. It's true that many of us were energized by Obama's speech. He refused, to the extreme disappointment of Republicans to take the public option off the table. We finally have a President who is out there with his sleeves rolled up, fighting for us. Now is the time, if ever there was, to accept that even though the liklihood may be that it will be a trigger rather than a full option, this will be a tremendous victory for the Left. It's true that it's not what it could or should have been. But we have to swallow our disappointment that Obama is not what we thought he would be and continue working for the people who deserve to be worked for. And celebrate our victories. This will be a momentous step in history and we cannot allow ourselves to become anything less than Ted Kennedy would want us to be. He's up there, cheering for us, and counting on us to complete the job for him and for all who deserve better in our nation. We can do this and you are one of America's great fighters. Thanks for all you do. It will all bear fruit completely someday.  

     Keep up the good work! It always feels better to keep on fighting, knowing that someday in the near future we are going to win the complete victory for which we are fighting.

     God Bless!

Bette Hinesley.

 

----- Original Message -----

[Talking Stick]

Bette,

Thank you so much for your feedback.  You are so genuine and always so eloquent.  I treasure your opinion, ideas and commitment to liberal causes.  I certainly am open to a change of mind if the evidence calls for it.  And I apologize for not handling this very well  by letting my personal feelings become too prominent on the list. I do not want to dissuade others, all wiser than I,  from following their conscience and judgment. 

What I would hope is that liberals and progressives will continue to be distinctly visible in their advocacy for genuine change that represents our democratic values.  If the President truly believes his rhetoric he should welcome that as support he can take to the negotiating.   I don't believe it will be helpful in promoting our liberal principles or his assumed liberal agenda if we just accept that he is doing the best he can. I personally would like to see the effort to examine and expose the ramifications of the various proposals continue.

The evidence I see now of what the President will accept and is expecting his most ardent supporters to accept in my opinion will not improve and perhaps will worsen the conditions of living in this country. According to his website there are also some features likely to be included that are counter to my conscience personally and as a physician.

And Blessings to you,
Lorraine