Friday, February 26, 2010

Health care summit...or bottom?

The Health Care summit was held yesterday in the Garden Room at Blair House in Washington DC. The summit discussions were based around four themes: controlling costs, insurance reforms, reducing the deficit and expanding coverage.

Now, the reason for my catty subject line is simple: are we just talking about this or is this an actual precursor to serious action?

From the research I've done on yesterdays meeting, I can't really say. I can tell you that the partisan hectoring is still alive and well. And I can tell you that Obama does seem to be at least trying to bring left and right a little bit closer to the reality of America's middle ground.

"My hope had been there might be enough areas of overlap to realistically think about moving forward without a situation in which everyone just goes to their respective corners and this ends up being a political fight," Obama said.

Unfortunately, there was a lot of going into their respective corners, particularly from the Republicans. Many on the right suggest that the bill just get scrapped and that we start over. The only trouble is that there are many other issues that need a place on the senate and house floors. Republicans know this. If this doesn't go through, we won't see another try for a long time, leaving the Health Care issues abandoned and still broken.

"There is a reason we voted no," Eric Cantor (R) - Virginia, said to Obama. "It does have to do with the philosophical differences you pointed out. It also has to do with our fear that Washington can define what are essential health benefits."
So, Representative Cantor, it's better to have private investors in the top 1% decide what are essential health benefits? Ideally speaking (now this may not be the case), but ideally speaking, our representatives are chosen by us to make choices, not to throw that responsibility onto a private company. Again, as I've said before, the government is there to GOVERN, not to hand it off to folks like Proctor and Gamble and say, "Hey, you figure it out. Oh, and while you're at it, there's a lovely place in the Hamptons I've been looking at."

George Miller, (D) - California, brought some personal flare to the proceedings, confessing that he had two artificial hips, arthritis and a kidney stone. In other words, he'd be dead in the water in this insurance market pool, having pre-existing health issues.

Tom Harkin (D) - Iowa, made a plea to not segregate health care on the basis of one's health status. He also made the point to not try and reform health care incrementally. Simply nitpicking one health issue at a time will lead to sky-rocketing premiums, as states have seen in the past, for example the 90s in states like New Hampshire and Massachusets. He said that the whole system needs to be changed at once, otherwise it will never change.

Also on the table were the possibilities of reconciliation and filibustering. Of course, Republicans, in particular Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky warned Democrats of consequences if reconciliation were to be used.

So, what does this all add up to? You tell me. Does it look or sound like we're getting anywhere? It looks to me like Democrats are making a case and Republicans are just shooting it down on the sheer principle that it's from the left.
The way I see it? Here you go.
The US is the most unhealthy industrialized country in the world. Our health care system is based off of the thinking that the sicker you are, the more money pharmaceutical companies make, so keep popping those pills, buddy!
And those pharmaceutical companies have their lobbyists filling politicans' pockets with the lovely money we spend on their poison...mmm, what a tangled web we weave.

So, what to do? I believe Rockefeller says it best:

"This is a rapacious industry that does what it wants, unknown to the people of America except on an individual basis," Democratic senator, Jay Rockefeller said.

Exactly. "Unknown to the people of America..." That's the biggest problem of all. Bigger than the right and left, bigger than the he-said, she-saids of Washington politics. If the people don't know what's going on, don't care, there is no pressure on Washington to get anything done. It's our job, not theirs to make sure we get what we need.

March 6th @ 5pm - reminder

Something is very wrong, don't you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyTHxOUPF48

Monday, February 22, 2010

86% in poll say government is broken

CNN released results from a poll stating that 86% of people questioned believe that the government is broken. Of that 86%, 81% say it can be fixed and 5% say it's beyond repair.

The survey was conducted over the phone, questioning 1,023 American adults.

Now, I'll be the first to say that surveys irritate me, not only because of the badly timed phone calls or emails but because the results are often quite fallible and can be used to support whatever agenda it is that is being pushed.

That aside, even if 50% of those 1,023 Americans thought the government was fucked, wouldn't that be enough to say, "Whoa! There's something seriously wrong here!?"

I know I'm not the only one who's pissed off about the government, about how our country is run. Even if these numbers are skewed, I know I'm not the only one.

So, what's the deal? Why are we all just standing by then? Why are we all just answering phone calls, emailing each other and bitching over beer about the state of the union?

Let's do something about that overwhelming sense of distrust and disappointment.
It's not enough to say you're mad as hell, you have to act, and refuse to take it anymore.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

March 6th @ 5pm

For those of you who read this and feel that there is something that needs to give, something that needs to change. Your money is not your own, your rights are not upheld, your country is not for the people, of the people or by the people.

Please join me on March 6th @ 5pm on skype for a video and chat conference discussing the future of our country and the organization and mobilization of the only people that can change it...you and I.

If you don't have skype, it's free to download on skype.com
Please leave a comment with your skype name, and I'll add you to the list. Mine is rooftoprevolutionary.


See you there.

Here's the youtube video invitation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=553M--wDZCM

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Nuclear

So, Obama guaranteed new loans (from what I don't know) for nuclear power plants yesterday. He said that he hoped the creation of a new nuclear power plant, the first in 30 years, would help the US to ween itself off of foreign energy.
Before we all jump up and wave the flag and chant Obama, let's think about what this entails. Here's the basic rundown: after uranium has been used in a nuclear reactor, the spent fuel remains radioactive for thousands of years. It is taken out and put into a pool of water, or above ground in canisters made of concrete, steel, and lead. Nuclear power plants aren't the green energy we should be focusing on. Last I checked we have a surplus of other options that don't create radioactive waste.
I'm not here to say that every nuclear power plant will turn into Chernobyl, but is it not possible? I fail to see what cataclysmic disaster can befall the world if a windmill breaks. We currently have 70,000 tons of radioactive waste stored at more than 100 nuclear sites around the country, and 2,000 tons are added every year. And we are not coming up with any answers as to how we can reduce our waste and protect future generations from radioactivity.
Obama also said that the building of this plant would mean thousands of construction jobs and circa 800 permanent jobs. Job creation is a current necessity, granted, but so is making advances in clean, sustainable energy, which would, just as helpfully supply jobs to those in need.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Sunday, February 14, 2010

What do Palin supporters sound like?

A video I found on youtube. Some of the commentary is a little leftist but the main point is a good one. Why do you support what you support? Do you think for yourself? Do you know who your government is and what they're doing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27QTX46XNLM

Really? A trap?

Did you hear? Apparently there's an evil plot afoot to give Republicans exactly what they asked for...shhhh, don't tell anyone!
That's right. Republicans have been bitching and moaning now since Obama released news of the Health Care summit, where he intends to invite members of both parties to an open dialogue on the controversial issue. Not only that, but it will be televised. Here's the catch. It's exactly what Republicans asked for.
Now I know that Democrats are awfully sneaky, what with their bipartisan talk, their endless wishy-washiness on key issues and juvenile need to impress and please the right. But here they are (or at least he is) taking a stand while simultaneously acquiescing to Republicans requests on Health Care. Holy shit!

Now, as you know, I'm not the Obama poster waving child of hope that believes he can do no wrong. But as of late, I have been a bit impressed with his moves to...shall we say...govern!? The Democrats are notorious for cha-cha-ing around issues, not moving forward unless Republicans say it's ok. However, Republicans are notorious for pushing back. Like some of the southerners I went to school with, or my next door neighbor in good ole North Carolina who claimed American cars had been going down hill ever since n%$#&rs started working on them, Republicans don't want to move into the 21st century. To their credit, they have more than 200 filibusters in three years, they haven't passed or helped pass any major legislation since the Patriot Act that could now potentially jail me for life for writing this post.
They excel at making loads of cash for doing nothing. Washington is stagnant and now some of the rust MIGHT just be coming off the wheels that move this nation forward. Meanwhile the Republicans pull hard on this tug-of-war crying "Trap!" and "Terrorists!"

C'mon. Really?
Put down your bible and your stogie and go do what you were voted to do, get shit done.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

A patriot concerned...

Please watch this video and be moved, to act, to fight and to be heard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e-6qh9Mnko

Video #7

Here's the link to my video #7, discussing the crumbling infrastructure of our country.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXXP6wTtpZg

Monday, February 8, 2010

Shock Doctrine

From a great book, comes a great short film. Take a look. It's truly shocking.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPTBZrBmlfI

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Oh how true...

Extremist Ideologies NOT what we need

Here's the link to my next video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgpApiKLCV8

I discuss extremist ideologies and their adverse effect on the US, using Palin and the Tea Party Nation as examples, since the convention and her keynote speech are still fresh news.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Correction for Tea Party video!!!

It was two Congresswomen not Senators who pulled out. Marsh Blackburn and Michele Bachmann.
Sorry for the mistake.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Tea Party

Here's my latest video blog entry. This one is on the Tea Party Movement which is currently convening in Washington DC.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnfboemxoJk

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Obama talks the talk...

...but can he follow it up with powerful legislation aimed at fixing the issues at hand? That's how that saying goes, right?
The CNN headline from yesterday said "Obama rips Republican obstruction." Now before you get images of the full-of-fight Sumner and Brooks in the halls of Congress, Obama's "rip" was far less injuring or physical.
Obama did, however, lash out at GOP tactics of filibustering and throwing insults rather than pushing for change and reform.
And like his State of the Union, Obama didn't shield Democrats from criticism. He said that the Democrats' strategy to "do nothing" about the Massachusets Massacre is a terrible idea. "We should do more and we should do so without delay," Obama scolded.
He complained that Democrats have been very compromising while Republicans continue to do the old, fingers-in-ears-not-listening routine.
He mentioned, with applause from me, that most people don't give a flying fuck (not his choice of words) who has a majority, what processes are necessary for bills to be passed, they just want them passed, according to what they voted for! They want to know what the elected officials are doing FOR them.
Having read this article on CNN, I momentarily let out a cheer in my head, but the skeptical twin meandered into my brain and reminded me that there is a big difference between scolding people, talking on a podium and getting down and dirty and pushing for change. I myself, have to admit that writing this blog is a lot easier than actually going out there and doing the work.
So, Obama, let's do this. The people want it, you say you do, so what the hell are we waiting for?

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

1 Minute Mission: Washington's stalemate

Here's the second installment of the one minute mission. Again, posting the youtube link until the video issues here are resolved.

Thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N3kjNUdPRU

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

One minute mission

Here's the link for the newest video...trying something a little different...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThYXgHScDEc


*I won't be posting videos here until the issue is solved, so look on youtube till then. Sorry for the inconvenience

Monday, February 1, 2010

Videos!!!

So, apparently blogspot has their heads up their ass and the videos won't play.
Please go to my youtube and type in "Rooftop Revolutionaries" and it should get you to the videos.
Sorry for the trouble and happy viewing.

Here are the urls for the two videos that are up. From now on, I'll post the urls along with the video blog entry, just to make sure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmSGsb995uI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZUfwuh1Slk