Hey there Quark -

I have this link but it looks like they want us to send snail mail - that'll take two months to pass- we need a fax number or an email [ I am at work and so not fully able to do the research, maybe between us all, we can figure something out. Perhaps our congresspeople can help us out http://www.supremecourtus.gov/publicinfo/comments.html

Food Fascist,

LOL!

MY congressman is one of the Republican crazies. No traction there... (He's FINALLY getting around to having a town meeting. Go figure...)

Garrison Keillor of A Prairie Home Companion had a stroke today. I am looking for how to lv a comment for him as well! Here is a link to contribute to Prairie Home Show https://contribute.publicradio.org/contribution/public/contributor.do?re...

Many blessing Garrison, you have enlivened our lives and enriched them dearly.

Many of us, I suspect, wrestle with the question of how & where to apply whatever talents we possess to advancing our political interests. For some, this is for self-interest(s), for others, it's more public spirited by nature. More often than not, it is a combination of motives, both selfish and altruistic at the same time. Consider a candidate and a volunteer; No matter how public spirited the intent, most of us stand to gain personally in additional ways. Some public servants serve mostly for selfless reasons, (a rare bird), but all seem to love the attention and praise they receive. (Think: Paul Wellstone) Few if any volunteers really know if the candidate, or, even the movement they choose to support will represent their true values. Once elected most grow deaf to our voices unless we sing in a choir of their making and under their batons' direction.

We still don't know what kind of bird Barack is. We can see that he is elegant, and dazzling, but we still can't make out if he is an eagle, peacock, or a turkey. He sure has been doing an elaborate kind of "Fan Dance" during this health care debate. Bit by bit he reveals a little more leg trying to keep all interested if not entranced but never willing to stand and deliver the whole goods. It occurs to me that my description sounds more like a stripper than anything else.
We came to this place expecting to see single payer, but were soon told that public option would substitute, now her little sister is trotted out. I don't want to be cruel to lil sis, but I think it's time to start chanting for single payer again. That way the management might book her sooner.

If I attend Obama's visit here this weekend, perhaps the best thing I could do is try and get people to stand outside with signs supporting universal, comprehensive,single payer, health care. Medicare Part E!! or Medicare for Everyone! or Taking Profits from Suffering is IMMORAL! As usual another brilliant idea from Thom. Almost all informed and compassionate people understand that some form of single payer is the only rational choice. What kind of reaction would there be if Barack arrived at the Target Center in Minneapolis and found as many people standing outside respectfully supporting single payer as inside chanting and snapping photos? It's just another silly pipe dream unless people make it real.

I'll show up with signs if you do. How many could we get?

By the way- Joannie Greggins of KGO radio reported one of the fed departments - FDA? was watch dogging to make sure that no herbal supplements made claims that they could rid the flu -

I wrote an article about what was used in the past before penicillin had been invented http://foodfascist.blogspot.com/2009/07/swine-flu-what-has-been-tried-in...

Quark, let me share with you my one third theory. 33% are the GOP (we are talking hardcore), 33% are the Dems (we are talking the hardcore), and 33% are in the middle. The 33% in the middle are fluid in their backing of politicians and issues. As crazy as the reichwingers are, they will have 33% of their base backing them on the issues. We see it in the polls. Some polls will say 25% or so but the question may be the problem in answering it. A real good article to read is written by Ray McGovern, "Christians are largely mum on torture." Torture is one issue but there are other issues where the Christians do not follow moral principles, such as health care. There is a divide on global warming, alternative energy sources, expansion of our empire, being stewards of our environment, etc.

Quark, if 25% were only the crazies, we would have many reforms in this country beside health care, as an example. We would also be less quick to go to war.

I loved President Obama's speech last night. I think he definitely hit the home run that we needed. Put the Republicans back on their heels. Thanks to Joe Wilson, the Republicans have not been able to immediately resume their scare tactics and instead have to deal with this issue now.

However... I am a bit concerned, as well, about the Presidents description of the Public Option. I agree with Thom that this option would not be available for all Americans and I think that this defeats the purpose of the option. It needs to be available to everyone. I should have the choice to choose my employer plans, as well as the Public Plan.

But, based on one of the house bills that I read, on day one all grandfathered plans would be required (within a certain time period) to adjust their plans to meet the minimum requirements that would be set forth by the United States. This means that any plan you are in must meet the minimum standards that the Public Option would provide. This could be good or bad depending on the details and minimums that are set.

So with the above understanding anyone who is forced to stay in their plan because they cannot choose the public option, that plan will have to be brought up to meet the new minimum standards. So that would imply hope for those that may have sub-par plans today that they may be forced to keep.

The other catch-22 that I can see is for those 95% of Small Businesses that will not be required to provide Health Insurance and/or be required to pay the mandate fee. Those individuals that work for those companies should be available to buy in to the public option. With Small Businesses being the primary creator of new jobs in the US, this may be a boon for the public option.