For some, the pain of the shutdown isn't over...
By Thom Hartmann A...
The government shutdown may be over, but that doesn't mean that life has returned to normal for many people around our nation. Federal workers, who were furloughed during the shutdown, will receive backpay for the time they weren't able to work, but many others won't be so lucky. And, many businesses, research projects, and government contractors are now struggling to make up for the lost time and income.
For example, small businesses that rely on federal clients, like the consultant group Business Management Associates, will likely be paid late on outstanding invoices, and forced to finish projects in much less time. NASA researchers who were conducting experiments may have to re-do preliminary work, which means they may miss their scheduled time to use important equipment. Private contract employees, like line-cook John Anderson, were temporarily laid off during the shutdown, and they now find themselves short on much-needed income.
The list of stories like these goes on and on, as we learn about Americans who were hurt during the economic standoff. These are real people, and real businesses, who are suffering because the Tea Party held our government hostage – and they could be hurt even worse if a small faction in Congress is allowed to do this again. The debt limit deal provided a temporary solution to long-term political gridlock, and Congress is tasked with agreeing on a larger deal by December. For the sake of our nation, and for the thousands of Americans suffering because of the Tea Party, our leaders must find a way to prevent this from happening again.
Comments
#2
I would like to point out that my post did not call any specific person an ape. I was speaking in generalities. But if the Foo Sh!ts? ;-}
#3
DAnneMarc: re: #48..Yes, Bonner was a Bush flunky along with all the others like brown-nose Brownie..."heck of a job, Brownie!". Want some MJ in your Brownie, Brownie? It might help you think better. There are also a number of videos on the strange deaths of Brittany Murphy and her husband. I only know of just what I've heard on these videos and what I've read about the July 4th, 2004 Intel barbeque scandal. Terrorists? What terrorists? To hell with that...let's barbeque!
"But being this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful barbeque spatula in the world and will blow your mind, you've gotta ask yourself a question: "Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya' spunky?"
I think that if the "heightened terrorist alert" was anything but either just another propaganda ploy or another inside job to be...that real "Intel" would not have been just barbequing that day. I think, that mostly, Julia's patriotic and responsible action was an embarrassment and a threat to the criminal propagandist organization that has hijacked democracy in the US. The actions of the government cement the conviction that the government (or at least those who have hijacked our government) have been hoodwinking the people over much of the so-called terrorist threat in order to frighten us all out of our freedoms and liberties and ability to fight those criminal elements while they continue to steal every last bit of wealth and dignity that we have left.
#4
I never really knew much about Bonner but have just watched a video of a 60 minute segment where Bonner has expressed his opinion that the CIA was actually dealing in drugs and this, of course, is very true. So, the guy can't be all bad...perhaps changed? But, again, I know very little about the guy.
#5
Quote Palindromedary:The actions of the government cement the conviction that the government (or at least those who have hijacked our government) have been hoodwinking the people over much of the so-called terrorist threat in order to frighten us all out of our freedoms and liberties and ability to fight those criminal elements while they continue to steal every last bit of wealth and dignity that we have left.
Palindromedary ~ Well said! I agree!
#6
Quote Kend:With all due respect DAnne, you are doing what the left always does. You are twlling me how you got there. What I am saying is what do we do now, moving forward. What is the solution. I agree everyone should have health care. How to you manage our money to get it to every one. I hear nothing from your government. Doesn't that bother you guys.
Kend ~ When has money ever been an issue with the Reich Wing? Star Wars? The first invasion of Iraq and the second one? The War on Drugs? The War on Terrorism? The invasion of Afghanistan? The creation of the DHS or the DEA, or the NSA? I don't ever hear anyone on the right asking, "Wait! Exactly how much is this going to cost us? Can we afford it? How are we going to pay for it? I want to know right now how every dime is going to be spent or I'm going to throw a big hissy fit and shut down the government if you don't account for any of these disastrous wastes of money." No you don't hear that. You know why? Because the Reich Wing are a bunch of lying, self-serving, self-righteous, pretentious, paranoid, selfish, greedy, hypocrites who actually don't give a damn about the debt--or anything else--and only bring it up to serve their own interests when it is convenient to do so. Just like when they bring up humanitarianism, family values, freedom, human rights, equality, unemployment, and job creation--they don't actually care, give a damn, or intend to do anything about it other than use the issue as a means to advance a hidden agenda--namely the acquisition of power, control and wealth. They have no desire or intent to empower or help anyone other than themselves.
For the third time I'm going to ask you, why does the Reich Wing never complain about how much it is going to cost to kill people in other countries, but complain like a bunch of grade school nitwits when money is spent to save American lives?
What's the matter Kend? Don't have an answer? Unless you are willing to accept my answer above, you owe me a better answer.
#7
Quote DAnneMarc:When has money ever been an issue with the Reich Wing? Star Wars? The first invasion of Iraq and the second one? The War on Drugs? The War on Terrorism? The invasion of Afghanistan? The creation of the DHS or the DEA, or the NSA? I don't ever hear anyone on the right asking, "Wait! Exactly how much is this going to cost us? Can we afford it? How are we going to pay for it?
Very good points! This needs to be emphasized over and over again...at least every time the reich wing tries to point out the cost of ACA or any other social service. The biggest "Welfare Queens" have always been corporations and other white collar criminals bilking the taxpayers out of their money.
#8
Quote Kend:DAnne I don't mine being compared to a ape. A ape is a strong hard working animal. It doesn't need anyone to feed it or its family, it doesn't need any one to pay for its housing. It is proud and hardworking. Not all humans can say that.
Kend ~ By the way, that wasn't a comparison to an Ape in the wild. I believe that was an Ape in the Zoo. You know, behind bars. Such a creature does not work or feed his family. That Ape is feed with handouts all day from the Zoo Keepers. The taxpayer pays for its shelter. The only thing it has to do all day is fling $h*t at the people who visit it in it's publicly financed habitat. Why? Because it can't even clean up after itself. In fact, If Curators weren't paid to go into it's cage with shovels periodically, that Ape would eventually be swimming in it's own excrement. I guess that would make you proud?
Of course, like always, you read what you want to read and leave out everything else. How typically, Kend.
#9
DAnne. . I don't know much about Star Wars At the time the soviet union was spending a lot on space and i think they thought they better catch up. I mentioned earlier they went into Iraq to stabilize oil prices. War on drugs are you saying they should just let everyone sell it freely. I don't know any parent who doesn't believe in putting drug dealers away. The war on terrorism all Americans where scared and not sure what was coming next, at the time no one was against it. Afghanistan? that was part of the terrorism thing and don't forget it was Obama who sent the 40,000 troops in there. DEA, DHS or NSA I don't know to much about. I will try to look into It.
We both shouldn't generalize when it comes to right and left. I am sure a lot of conservatives didn't agree with all of the above.
#10
Kend, as much as you like harping on economic issues, it instills no faith in your grasp on economics; not for me anyway. If you sincerely want to check out this subject and get real facts, a good place to start would be hearing or reading the perspective of a real economist. Like, if you sincerely want to know about global warming and if it's real, you don't go to FOX "News" sound bites for the answer; you ask a climate scientist (or two...). Same principle. Now, on the subject of economics, I suggest you check out Thom's interview of the great economist, Dr. Ravi Batra. To find it, click on the "Radio Show" button, right over "Reply To Comment" at the top of this page. Then when it appears, again at the top area of the page, click on "Transcripts" and when that page opens, pan down to the third article/video and there it is: "The Coming Economic Crash", dated March 13, 2013. Read it, Kend, then we'll talk. Until you do, it's all just hot air. Tah-tah. - Aliceinwonderland
#11
Jackels, Hyenas, Wolves, Sharks, Vultures...they all go after the easiest prey. Be sure to watch the next episode of Jack Hanna's Wild Kingdom where we can observe these predacious creatures devouring little baby birdies still in their nests. Yes, it's a mean cruel world, thank Zod "civilized" man is there to set the example.
Switching, now, to a scene from inside a helicopter flying over a rice paddy in Vietnam...Pilot to shooter..."Hey, dude, you just blew that guy's head clean off! Nice shot!"
Switching, now, to a helicopter gun ship flying over a group of men in Iraq..two of which are Reuter's reporters..."Light em all up! Come on, fire!" "Oh, yeah, look at all those dead bastards! Nice! Nice! Good shootin'! Thank you." And after they shot up the van with two kids in it wounding the kids..."Well it's their fault for bringing their kids into a battle." "That's right."
Switching, now, to the yellow brick road:
"Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! I don't think we're in Kansas anymore, Toto!"
#12
Quote Kend: I don't know any parent who doesn't believe in putting drug dealers away.Yes, but how many of those parents know that our CIA was the major drug pusher? How many knew that many of our banks were laundering drug money?
Oh, and it was never about the US catching up to the Russians. The US was always way ahead of the Russians. There was always a major disinformation campaign to make people very afraid of the bogey man that US capitalist pigs created to justify stealing from tax payers. Just as they are doing now...they've created the war on terrorism. And just like the drug wars...where they were actually the biggest drug lords....they are now the biggest terrorists around the world.
So, you think that we think Obama is without sin? Definitely not! Obama should have done a lot of things that would have won us over..including immediately pulling out of the Middle East, immediately dismantling our torture chambers in Cuba and the other places, stopped prosecuting and then praising whistleblowers, putting people into his cabinet that would have reversed the deregulation, fully supported single payer healthcare..and more. In short, he should have drawn a distinction between him and his predecessor. But he is all too much just like his predecessor albeit better spoken.
We would have reversed the financial down slide that is now wrecking our country. Reagan started it and Bush pushed it to new levels of severity. Obama could have been a big asset in really changing things but he just went along with the Republican agenda for way too long. It was a big political bait and switch ploy that everyone fell for. Just like they fell for all of the evildoer menace bogey men all through history.
Obama is only just now putting on a big show just preceding the 2014 elections...that is supposed to convince everyone not to riot in the streets but to, once again, be fooled into believing in yet more false hope that we can really stick it to those nasty Republicans by voting in all Democrats. Problem is that the Democrats are owned by the same people that the Republicans are. Nothing will change unless people start to realize that, en masse, and act accordingly. When are people going to wake up and decide to not be played for fools over and over again?
#13
Quote Kend:DAnne. . I don't know much about Star Wars At the time the soviet union was spending a lot on space and i think they thought they better catch up
Kend ~ FYI. The Soviets did not put any weapons in space. Unlike the US under President Ronald Wilson (666) Reagan the Soviets honored the terms of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty of 1972 and even complained when they learned of the US plans for the Star Wars anti-missile floating platform in orbit. So did We the People. It was first and foremost a blatant violation of the treaty. We believed that such an effort would be a waste of money and a provocative gesture that could lead to a nuclear exchange. The Reich Wing didn't listen to We the People or the Soviets. They didn't care about the cost and even ignored a large segment of the scientific and engineering community that said the project wouldn't even work. It didn't. Why we asked would we spend so much money on an untested program that in a best case scenario would never be needed; and, in a worse case scenario could destroy the human race? Reagan insisted on pushing the agenda even to the point of implying in one famous speach how we would forget our differences if we were invaded by another planet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJt6KHIX0-Q
Of course, he never reasoned that any planet capable of an invasion of our planet would not be hindered by a puny primitive deterrent like his project. The man never had both oars in the water. Henceforth, since the project entailed using laser guns, the nickname he had earned back in the '80's--among others--was Ronald Ray Gun. Read all about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Defense_Initiative
You are right about not generalizing when it comes to right and left to the extent that their are always exceptions to every rule. However in the case of military action or domestic oppression, the vast majority of the Reich Wing always approach the table with a blank check and no budget questions. That has been my observation since the Nixon administration. I'm sure that some on the right stood up and objected because quite frankly most of their agendas have been crazy. I'm also sure that they were then drummed out of politics or chased into another party. Some may have even been silenced forever. There is little room for decent in a totalitarian group. You're problem is you are trying to relate to them remotely through their lying media spokesmen. Your perspective of the party and lack of solid information allows you to misjudge; and, be misled. Most Americans don't have that handicap. We lived the truth. We see the Reich Wing GOP for exactly what they actually are--a bunch of crazy Neo-Nazis.
You are also right to point out that it was Obama who ordered the invasion of Afghanistan. However, you are not realizing that whenever a Democrat suggests military action the GOP always applauds like a bunch of toy monkeys with cymbals. The only criticism they are ever allowed is to complain about is not moving fast enough and not using enough force. You won't catch them talking cost unless it is to badger a Democratic President about the ACA or any other social initiative. Simple fact. The GOP are a one trick pony. Was it not the GOP who swept $4.7 Trillion under the carpet so that We the People didn't know the total cost of the Gulf Wars? Why did they lie about that? Now that is in the open, they are trying to pin that bill on Obama too in order to discredit the ACA. Yet they swept it under the carpet in the first place.
Therefore, I suggest to you that We the American People do the same thing. What is good for the goose is good for the gander, no? Let's just sweep the cost of the ACA under the carpet--just like the Reich Wing did with the Gulf wars. Let's pretend it won't cost a cent and let the next Administration deal with it. Hell, let's even start spreading the lie that it will pay for itself. Isn't that just what Bush and Cheney said about Operation Iraqi Liberation. (OIL) You are wasting your time Kend worrying about who is going to pay for it. It worked back then, it should will work again, right? That's a play right out of the GOP, Reich Wing, Neo-Nazi play book. I say we throw their BS right back in their face. At least this time we have a cause. The Gulf wars were unnecessary war crimes that killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people, helped no one, and ruined the United States world wide reputation. Health care is a necessity. All Americans will benefit from the ACA. Many lives will be saved and improved. Who cares how much it costs? Not me!!
#14
Ok Alice I read it and I believe there is a lot of truth there but just like most Librerals you are taking a theory and calling it fact. Dr Batra says it himself. It's a theory.
Most countries have just spent too much. So now they have to pay the piper. It's that simple. Never before in history have countries being in this much debt so of course a crash is coming.
interesting our Prime Minister is a economist and Canada is doing very well. Your President is a community organizer and unfortunately you are not. Maybe Obama should start listening to economists like Dr Batra instead of movie stars.
#15
DAnne, I think I am going to quit well I am behind. I will leave you with this.
"I am all in favour of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Lets start with typewriters."
Frank Lloyd Wright
#16
Dan -- Bravo
#17
Palin -- Do you know what the magazine "The Nation" or the newspaper "The Guardian" had to say about these events?
#18
Quote Kend:Ok Alice I read it and I believe there is a lot of truth there but just like most Librerals you are taking a theory and calling it fact. Dr Batra says it himself. It's a theory.
Kend ~ Great point! It is just a theory, isn't it? Therefore we should ignore it, right?
Guess what? The notion that we can't afford the ACA is also just a theory. Let's just ignore that too.
#19
Quote Kend:DAnne, I think I am going to quit well I am behind. I will leave you with this."I am all in favour of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Lets start with typewriters."
Frank Lloyd Wright
Kend ~ Your quote, not mine. Although, very true! Good night, buddy!
#20
Kend -- I think I said the wrong thing when I said no one knows what is in the ACA. I think the Heritage Foundation (which originally wrote it) and Faux News knows the ACA very well. They know it very well and the best they can come up with is nobody knows what it will do and it will cost it lot. All the evidence, like in Massachusettes, seems to be that it will cost less. The US is in a unique position (awful but unique) that our healthcare costs are twice more than anywhere else in the world. Something like 200 million people are covered at this high cost. If we add 30 million more and reduce the cost by 15% we will save money. I have already mentioned how the ACA could reduce the cost of healthcare in the US by more than 15%. The unfortunate part is the US will have all this extra money to buy aircraft carriers with.
#21
I sincerely hope your numbers are right Chuck. But Americans paid more but you received better healthcare dont be surprised if the quality of care drops to our level. Which isn't that great.
#22
Quote Kend:I sincerely hope your numbers are right Chuck. But Americans paid more but you received better healthcare dont be surprised if the quality of care drops to our level. Which isn't that great.
Kend ~ Health care quality. Now that is something we haven't yet explored. In the long run, that is the most important topic in health care, isn't it? In my opinion, who pays for the health care has no effect on the quality; unless, that payer is the Federal Government. As Thom mentioned an a show not too long ago the surgery his wife had compared to his was dramatically different. The difference was that he went to a "for profit" hospital and his wife went to a "non profit" one. Her operation was a success. He, on the other hand, was rushed, and consequently almost suffered a fatal complication. Personally I know of others who experienced the same life threatening scenarios from "for profit" health providers--including my mother and best friend. I learned the hard way that profit is the enemy of quality health care.
By removing the middle man and replacing it with the Government--an entity also capable of regulating, licensing and negotiating with providers--you remove a major obstacle from quality health care. You also insure that the final result, a healthy patient, takes priority over profit. You insure provider payment and cap health costs at the same time. One of the main reasons recipients of Medicare are so satisfied. I don't believe the ACA will adversely affect quality of care. That is, and always has been, a result of the bureaucracy of the providers. I only foresee improved quality of care as a result.
I agree with Chuckle8. I think that the ACA will lower medical costs across the board and increase the quality of care at the same time. From the perspective of someone who has received medical care in the "for profit" world of the US and the Universal Health Care System world of Mexico I can say I prefer Mexico. I think the critical factor is that the physicians there are paid on a salary basis and make no extra money on a patient basis. Perhaps that is what makes for real quality care. Remove the initiative to see many patients and to provide expensive treatments by paying Doctors a flat salary per day. That frees them up to take their time with each case and do their job right. The final effect of course is a tremendous savings in care cost, and much healthier patients. Just ask Louise or Thom Hartmann.
#23
Chuckle8: #68...You got me..what did they say? Got any links?
#24
Kend, it's a helluva lot more than just a "theory". And you don't come across like you're into learning much of anything, pal. Guess we needn't wonder why we keep getting the same old comments and same old rhetorical questions from your posts. If ignorance is bliss, you must be in nirvana! Anyway, I'm done with this part of the discussion. Have a happy week. - AIW
#25
Oh yeah, Kend; we get better healthcare for all that money! Right. That's why nearly fifty thousand of us die each year from preventable causes, while hundreds of thousands more Americans succumb to hospital errors annually! Yep, great system we have! God bless America. - AIW
#26
Palindromedary/Chuckle8 ~ I tried searching The Nation, The Guardian US, and The Guardian UK websites for "Julia Davis" and all I found was a comedy writer by the same name. Then I tried a Google search of "Julia Davis DHS" and I found this:
Prison Planet - Alex Jones http://www.prisonplanet.com/dhs-whistleblower-censored-by-60-minutes.html
The Examiner - http://www.examiner.com/homeland-security-in-los-angeles/julia-davis
The New York Times - http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/29/movies/top-priority-focuses-on-julia-davis.html?_r=0
The Freedom Outpost - http://freedomoutpost.com/2013/05/dhs-whistleblower-says-war-on-terror-is-a-charade-real-targets-are-american-patriots/
Boiling Frogs Post - (Audio Interview w/ Sibel Edmonds and Peter B. Collins) http://www.boilingfrogspost.com/tag/julia-davis/
There are many other links but I think these are the best.
#27
Quote Aliceinwonderland:Oh yeah, Kend; we get better healthcare for all that money! Right. That's why nearly fifty thousand of us die each year from preventable causes, while hundreds of thousands more Americans succumb to hospital errors annually! Yep, great system we have! God bless America. - AIW
Aliceinwonderland/Kend ~ Here is a little true story about my best friend's health care here in the good 'ol USA. He originally had been diagnosed with Diverticulitis. A minor bleeding of the Colon. Something you probably have Kend. Most older people have it to some extent or the other. He had a rare version of the condition where a fracture opened up over a vein in his colon. The bleeding wouldn't stop. He went into emergency at Kaiser. (He had full coverage at Kaiser--considered the Cadillac of Health Care coverage where we lived at the time.) He was seen and made to wait on a gurney in a hallway. A pan was placed under his bed to catch the blood while he waited for emergency surgery. Meanwhile, through complete incompetence or a deliberate attempt at murder by the head Doctor on duty at the time--possibly to avoid an expensive surgery--he was placed on liquid restriction. No water. As you might have guessed without water, or a transfusion, a person who is bleeding to death will die quickly. You are right. Fortunately for him, his sister and a good friend who was a EMT (Paramedic) showed up shortly in the emergency room with him. When they learned the situation they called the nurse to complain. The nurse agreed and questioned the Doctor. The Doctor got mad and refused to put my friend on any liquid. That is when his friend, the EMT, and his sister, started to raise hell and threaten legal action. The nurses also joined in to gang up against the Doctor. Only then did the Doctor comply and save my friends life.
But wait! There's much more! During the surgery, the team determined that stopping the bleeding alone would be too involved and simply removed the entire large colon. That's right, they removed the colon. They attached the small colon to the rectum and sewed him back up. Now you might think that is the beginning of a lengthy hospital stay and recuperation, right? Wrong! Two days later he was released, disregarding the natural concerns of the patient and the family. Bye Bye. That's nothing new with "for profit" insurance. Kaiser did the same thing to my 76 year old mother after open heart surgery. Back on her feet in a week. You're on your own. She, like my friend, didn't stay away for long. In my friends case, within a few short hours, several of the stitches began to burst and he found himself right back into the emergency room waiting for yet another emergency surgery. His second brush with death due to "quality care." This time, they had to remove fecal matter from his bowels as well as repair two hernias that popped up. At the end of the surgery it was learned that he had acquired a so called "super bug". An infection you can only catch in a hospital. That caused a massive internal infection and pneumonia. To treat the infection the Doctors had to put my friend in a drug induced coma for a month to save his life. His third brush with death due to "quality care."
As a result of the coma the "super bugs" were cured. However the coma left my friend with permanent Kidney damage and nerve damage in his leg. He then spent a year in rehab before they could schedule his final surgery before he could go home for good. Fortunately, the last Doctor he got was the best Kaiser had to offer. It was the tireless work of his sister on the outside that arranged for that little miracle. No thanks to Kaiser. In all honesty, the final Doctor he got was a God send. A fantastically talented professional that confidently promised him from the beginning that she would put him back on his feet. She delivered too. The cost, he had to do a year in rehab to wait for her. And, just look at all he had to go through before he got any quality care. Since then, he has been on permanent disability; though, for the most part has recovered.
My mother? She ended up back in emergency too within 24 hours. After that she held on for about 6 more months with weekly ambulance rides to emergency before she finally lost her fight to her botched surgery and general incompetence provided through "for profit" quality health care.. The hospital insisted on releasing her before she completely stabilized, right up to the end.
Not to knock Kaiser in general. Three that I know of have a terrible reputation. One that is also near by has a wonderful reputation. I personally had two surgeries at the good one myself and can attest that it is a wonderful Kaiser. It is the experience of my mother and best friend that made me seek out that other hospital. Nevertheless, 1 out of 4 sucks. That ain't good. And keep in mind at the time we had the best Corporate insurance money can buy. My friend was a Federal employee and his Kaiser was funded through his job.
Well that is it in a nutshell, Kend. My miserable experiences with the "for profit" health care system. Still envy our system? You're more than welcome to try it out anytime if you get a chance.
#28
Kend -- I think the thing the US is really good at is PR. We have a $600 billion (annual) industry to prove it. I think when you talk about quality of care, you are repeating what the ad agencies are saying. I remember the studies back from a couple of years ago when healthcare was being ranked on outcomes, the US was the 3rd or 4th from the bottom of the OECD nations.
#29
I was asking you for links to the Nation or Guardian; that is, organizations less likely to controlled by the 1%.
#30
Thank you Marc, for sharing your stories. How "uniquely American"! I rest my case. (QUACK! QUACK! QUACK!)
Comrades, friends, one and all... pump weights! Drink more water, watch your waistlines, throw out the cigarettes and the sodas, eat your veggies, avoid transfats and high-fructose corn syrup as if your lives - and wallets - depend on it! And pray. - AIW
#31
DAnneMarc: Thanks for those links...I checked them out...some, I had already checked out before. I was trying to find some stories in those web sites that Chuckle8 mentioned but I couldn't find anything from them on that subject.
Chuckle8: Yes, I know those two news sources are more left than most. And I couldn't find anything on that subject at those web sites.
One thing that had me wondering about is that one web site that had Julia Davis' interests....include Fox News. If it wasn't for all of the supporting information...evidence...it would sound almost too incredible to be true...but the Davis' did win their legal suit against the government and they do have a lot of video to back up their stories.
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Funny how some people think that it is alright for a rich and powerful corporation like AT&T UVerse to charge the same to their customers despite the disparity in actual services those customers are getting. And then, turn around and have right winger convictions that they shouldn't have to pay for what others are getting when referring to health care.
In the case of AT&T UVerse, the actual part of that "up to ??Mbps" speed they advertize depends upon many factors... many of which emanate from existing AT&T problems (like old noisy copper wires, distances from the central office, etc). Most people will not see anything close to that "up to speed". And AT&T never emphasizes, just as prominently, that most people will not see any speeds close to those "up to speeds"...they put that in small print hoping you won't notice.
So the result is that some lucky customers with actual fiber to the home or premises will have the greatest speed. Those who still have newer copper lines and who live close to the central offices will have the closer to advertized speeds. But those who have old noisy copper lines and/or greater distances to their central offices will have much less than the advertized speeds. And they will all be charged the exact same prices for the "up to speed" package they buy.
They also are very deceptive about "upgrading to fiber". They make a big marketing ploy about upgrading to fiber but...unless they do fiber to the home (FTTH) or fiber to the premises (FTTP), you will still have the same old noisy and attenuated copper lines to your home that you always had before. AT&T UVerse is only putting in fiber to the homes in some newly built housing projects. They claim, if you press them, that they are doing fiber to the nodes (FTTN)..ie: to that metal box on the curb which could be many thousands of feet from a person's home.
The thing is that AT&T could very well charge based upon actual average speed/bandwidth for every individual customer. They know how far a particular customer is from their central offices and even their remote terminals. They also know how noisy a copper pair is and how that would adversely affect speed/bandwidth. So, most people...the many...are subsidizing the lucky few who have close to advertized speeds. And, I guess that is ok? But it is not ok for the wealthy to pay their fair share of keeping their potential present or future customers healthy and wealthy enough to buy their products? But they are now charging for how many gigabytes you use in a month. So if you download a lot of movies you will end up paying more for going over the limit.