Right Wing Scare Tactics on Health Care

Get ready to be scared! That is the message the right wing is rolling out about health care. They are trotting out a pack of lies to convince us that having the government oversee our health care system will bring disaster. Here is the truth: THEY ARE LYING!

American health care is already a disaster. We are suffering under one of the worst health care systems in the industrialized world. The bottom line governs all aspects of our health care in this country and that is just plain STUPID.

Right now I have two very close relatives in the hospital. My aunt who is in her 80's needed surgery, and her insurance/Medicare supplemental tried to force the doctor to shove her out the door in a "day surgery" scenario. That would be fine for a healthy 40 year old, but a woman who has had multiple heart attacks and myriad other health problems needs to be monitored after surgery, plain and simple. Why the bums rush? Bottom line concerns not doctor's advice is behind it.

I was visiting Canada recently and I asked the group I was speaking to for a satisfaction rating on their health care. They all said it was just fine. Yes they had to wait sometimes, but it was better than what we have...no coverage for millions of Americans, and high deductibles and pencil pushers making health care decisions not doctors. So, I know it was an informal poll, but at least it was a real answer, not just a bunch of scare tactics.

We need government provided or at the very least overseen health care in our country. It is painfully obvious to everyone except the insurance companies who are making a killing, and that pun was intended, in profits! How about turning most of those pencil pushers into civil servants whose prime concern is the health and welfare of citizens, not corporate profits. That makes so much sense I feel sure most of the GOP and the right wing corporate mouthpieces will be screaming "socialized medicine". Socialized Medicine would be a quantum leap from the lousy care we have now.

Think about it.

Alec Baldwin Defends Gay Marriage Rights

I always liked Alec Baldwin as an actor. His stint on 30 Rock has confirmed his ability to play both drama and comedy, but I didn't think much about him as a columnist until recently when reading Huffington Post.

Baldwin's piece on Gay Marriage really hits back hard at the supporters of Prop 8 who use the "marriage is between a man and a woman and for the purpose of creating a family" argument.

It is very good and worth your time to read.

Civil Disobedience in San Francisco - 175 Arrested In Anti-Prop 8 Demonstration

From the Mercury News:

San Francisco police arrested about 175 protesters who were part of a group that blocked a major intersection for hours today in response to the state Supreme Court's ruling upholding Proposition 8, the voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage.

Hundreds of people filled the intersection of Grove Street and Van Ness Avenue late this morning after word spread of the ruling. The court also ruled that roughly 18,000 existing same-sex marriages in California remain valid.

It's moving to the streets. Unfortunately, that kind of action is what finally moved Civil Rights for African American's into the national limelight. It may take more protests and many more arrests to get our civil rights!

California Supreme Court Upholds Prop 8!

The California Supreme Court has upheld Prop 8 but stated that marriages already in place can stay. They have essentially created two classes of LGBT citizens, those who have the right to marry and those who don't. That in itself should seem unconstitutional, but hey, it's California!

Now the protests begin and a fight for a new ballot initiative in 2010 to toss out Prop 8 or at least make it legal for same sex couples to marry.

Rallies are being held in cities across America. Dallasites can gather at Oak Lawn and Cedar Springs for tonight's rally and protest.

California Supreme Court Decision on Prop 8 Due Today.

The California Supreme Court's decision on the constitutionality of Prop 8 is due out today. LGBT organizations are standing in wait with plans for either celebrations or protests. The decision seemed like a sure thing for Prop 8 proponents a while back, but since the Iowa ruling some observers are wondering if it might not be overturned. We will see soon enough.

If you are available at 7:00pm today, join the rally at Oak Lawn and Cedar Springs.

More info here.