The Worst Thing About the Health Care Law That Passed?
It Bootstraps the New Homeless (An Open Letter to Michael Moore):
To Michael Moore, a (former?) champion for the commoners (03/22):
“Thanks to last night’s vote,” an Individual Mandate without even the slightest of a Public Option is a Reality. “Thanks to last night’s vote,”
it will be a Criminal Act if we do not buy a private policy from a corporation – whether or not we can afford one. “Thanks to last night’s vote,” during a Second Depression, we will have to spend 8% of our income toward coverage. But, we are not allowed to call that a new TAX (for those making less than $250,000). Yes, “It’s truly a banner day for these corporations.” As a result, many millions of us who were cheering you on for years are wondering why you are so enthusiastic over the flogging we (regular people/progressives) suffered on Sunday evening? This was not a “Canadian-loving,” “independent,” Victory. As written months ago, this was something the last administration would have rammed through. Remember those “13 problems with the current health care bills” you and Rose Ann DeMoro organized last September? The list remains – unfulfilled. Remember calling this bill a Joke? It still is (while a more proper term would be “Hoax”). What happened to you? Is this the answer? : “Pass it because, if President Obama takes a fall on this one, I don’t know if he’ll be able to get back up.” Now, you toe the party line — for politics’ sake? “A good night it was — important little steps were taken to bring our country into the civilized world.” Mr. Moore, most of the other “steps” within were not “little,” and they set us a major notch toward a total corporate state. Is that (accepting another broad redistribution of the bootstraps-mentality for the commoners by way of fascistic coercion) what you are presently considering as necessary modes of becoming more civilized? Before Rep. Kucinich succumbed, he also had a list:
“If this is the best we can do, then our best isn’t good enough and we have to ask some hard questions about our political system: such as Health Care or Insurance Care? Government of the people or a government of the corporations?”
As opposed to yours, his is only inches away from being fulfilled (“Thanks to last night’s vote”).
Regretfully,
Update: You and MoveOn.org are teaming up to promote “Capitalism: A Love Story.” 03/25: “MoveOn.org is launching a huge new campaign to take back democracy from the corporations and lobbyists.”
Considering the last two posts, and the timing of this letter/association, my head is still shaking.
Awakenings 
Perfect call. I have been feeling very let down and finding Michael Moore take this stand is insane. Does he not realize Flint MI. is not going to able to buy those products, let alone afford to use them. It was robbery.
Thanks, Bruce. Michael Moore has been one of the rare few I have looked up to for a long time. His current stance, after lambasting with truth for many previous months, is quite a shock.
I think Michael Moore just lost me. For months he was saying this bill is a sham profiting insurance companies…..& now he jumps over calling it a win?
WTF?
POLITICS (The Democrats Need to Call This a WIN!):
“Pass it because, if President Obama takes a fall on this one, I don’t know if he’ll be able to get back up.”
I, too, looked up to Michael Moore, Sea. He let us down in a big way. I am so disappointed in him. As always, your blog tells it like it is.
Sometimes the truth hurts but, it has to be told…
Thanks for posting.
Peace~
You always enhance a smile, Lorraine – even in the most trying circumstances or contexts.
I posted 3 entries on the Huffington Post this morning confronting Arianna’s article about health care post-mortem. All 3 on target and without abuse. None were published. The Huffington Post must have become an Obama tool. Truth is a commodity in demand now. If you aren’t going to step up for the poor and sick you need to get out of the way.
Their organization purports to be somewhat alternative and (intermittently) independent. However, the prevailing tone tends toward being a part of the establishment/status quo.
I guess in reality Obama is all they have and don’t like having facts rubbed in their faces while they are celebrating. How inconvenient. Where are my manors.
Chris Hedges: “If they can herd Kucinich and John Conyers, the sponsors of House Resolution 676, a bill that would create a publicly funded National Health Program by eliminating private health insurers, onto the House floor to vote for this corporate theft, what is the point in pretending there is any room left for us in the party? And why should we waste our time with gutless liberal groups such as Moveon.org, which felt the need to collect more than $1 million to pressure House Democrats who had voted ‘no’ on the original bill to recant?”
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/03/22-1
I don’t think Michael Moore supports this bill.. Did you see his interview on the Larry King show and other interviews??
Read the relevant articles from the provided links and quotes, Joe. He may be fighting on to Reform this Hoax. But, he is also celebrating the passage.
The only thing consistent with Michael Moore is the incoherence between his words and his actions.
I agree with almost every public position he takes, but I can not stand him because he consistently contradicts himself with his actions – celebrating the bill’s passing mere days after calling it a joke and (accurately) criticizing it; contributing money to Obama’s campaign while in Capitalism – A Love Story he (accurately) describes the Democrats as slaves to corporations and banks for taking money from them; saying that democracy and dissident voices offering real changes are the most important things ever but kneeling down on TV to beg Ralph Nader not to run (after getting most of his current grassroots/leftist credibility by campaigning for him in 2000)…
Michael Moore is a self-serving, hypocritical coward. And it’s too bad, because his WORDS are usually right.
Like you, Eve, I have agreed with him on almost every stance for quite some time. However, his recent flip-flop reaction on health care has blown me away. He was a “Kill the Bill” preacher (along with Kucinich and Dean) in December. Now, he wants to celebrate this massive corporate sellout, because of a few sprinkles (preexisting conditions) – while grandstanding that we can Reform the Reform. How likely is that second wave of Reform? Wholly doubtful – especially after so many secret deals were exposed. And, every sprinkle was negated by the Individual Mandate: “If a mandate was a solution, we could try that to solve homelessness by mandating everyone buy a house.”
I read your new update about Michael Moore and Moveon.org teaming up to promote his new movie. Hmmm, now, let me see, what is wrong with this picture? I dunno, maybe, making millions of dollars more on his new movie is more important than. . . . Nooo, it just could’nt be. Yes, maybe it is. . . . Hypocrite!
Something is definitely wrong with this picture. After protesting and organizing against people like Rep. Kucinich for drawing a line in the sand over at least a strong Public Option, we are supposed to now take MoveOn as warriors against oppressive corporations and their related lobbyists? In addition, MoveOn campaigned and protested for that same line in the sand last Summer. How ultimately revealing. The Individual Mandate – without a Public Option – resulted in one of the biggest corporate giveaways of all time. Moreover, it’s not just the money that was given away; the people will have no recourse.
It is ultimately revealing, Sea.
Power to the People, (no more…).
I think I’m going to be sick…
: (
Health Bill Included Big Republican Idea: Individual Mandate
A Republican/Conservative idea? Of course. Thank you, President (“Change we Can Believe In”) Obama and all related Blue Dogs.
It would seem that Rep. Alan Grayson’s bill # 4789 may be our only hope, I hope!!
After what has taken place over the last year (mostly behind closed doors), there’s not much realistic hope for something like this. But, it should be the least of an option — since we are being mandated into buying policies (based on 8% of income, enforced by the IRS, YET, it’s NOT a new TAX).
AP Poll: Many think health overhaul should do more
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latest-news/ap-poll-many-think-health-overhaul-should-do-more
Again (ad nauseam), yes, “more than 30 million people [will] [get] coverage” – because they will be forced into corporate policies – or, they will face criminal liabilities. The “aim [was] to increase the number of people with insurance and enable Americans to get . . . care.” Success! Wonder how many of those millions view this type of enablement as Socially Darwinistic, 1890s-style bootstrapping? Let’s go further: “[Since] a mandate was a solution, we [can now] try that to solve homelessness by mandating everyone buy a house.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoSnqofelsQ
And, my Open Letter remains.
Posted by SeaClearly http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2012/03/23-7#comment-2086139
Your reply was appreciated, MinnMouth. Physicians for a National Health Program is indeed the proper “solution.” However, in this Sold Out and Bought Out environment, there is no hope of such uplifting realities becoming Truth (in Action). For that to happen, there would have to be a Progressive (FDR-type) uprising of a percentage enough to make the Blue Dogs and Tea Party/ALEC members of both parties a toothless minority. At this point, the referenced sellouts have reached a level of power where such an uprising is almost (almost: OWS tides/new tides arising) impossible.
In relation to Karen Marlene Rebb’s rosy outlook, it is taken along the same lines as Michael Moore’s turning of support toward this (corporate) sham (Without a Public Option): “Pass it because, if President Obama takes a fall on this one, I don’t know if he’ll be able to get back up.” He also viewed (sold) the “stepping stone” aspect as a road to “Single-Payer/Medicare for All.” What are the Actual chances of that? Review the history of our government since Reagan and (if you didn’t already) you will have the answer.
Further, regarding Rebb’s “positive points” (“acquire affordable health insurance/care” definitely not being one of them, since, of course, it is an outrageous and insulting statement) there was another Humane/Progressive way to achieve many goals: they could have been, and still could be, implemented – Without forcing a Mandate to Buy corporate insurance. The word is Regulation. The insurance companies could have been regulated into those aspects – Without the Mandate. It should also be noted additionally and predominantly: her response was no different than Mary Kay Henry’s PR Release. Spin. Spin. Spin. Orwellian Word and Fact Games (purposely ignoring all alternatives which were, and are, being overridden.)
Example: Everyone will be Forced to “acquire” health insurance from a corporate entity – or face substantial penalties with/from the full force of the government. “Acquir[ing]” will be noted as/relentlessly referred to as “Providing.” And, an “Affordable” New Monthly/Yearly Bill will be sold as/relentlessly referenced as (somehow?) a New Reality – especially to/for those who did not have health insurance before, because they could not spare a single penny further in their bootstrapped lives.
Candidate Obama: “If a mandate was a solution, we could try that to solve homelessness by mandating everyone buy a house.” Period.
Congressman Kucinich: “Government of the people or a government of the corporations[?]” Period.
An Open Letter to Michael Moore https://seaclearly.wordpress.com/2010/03/22/an-open-letter-to-michael-moore/
NY Times Reporter Confirms Obama Made Deal to Kill Public Option http://www.huffingtonpost.com/miles-mogulescu/ny-times-reporter-confirm_…
“These are the stock-in-trade tactics of the ‘power elite’ that C. Wright Mills wrote so poignantly about back in the 1950s.” http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/01/05 Period.
Re: http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mike-friends-blog/more-victory-decision-today-was-mandate-us-act
When you decided to champion forced corporate health care coverage (not provided, but a personally coerced purchase) by way of a Mandate (without a Public Option) in 2010, you Sold Out – and lost a significant part of your credible voice.
How absurd, outrageous, ridiculous, abusive and historically corporate elite (both neo-liberal and neo-conservative) was it? : Candidate Obama: “If a mandate was a solution, we could try that to solve homelessness by mandating everyone buy a house.” Period. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoSnqofelsQ
This was the last chance to turn back the most callously obvious sellouts of common people (middle class to the least) to business hands in the US’ entire economic (and social) record. And, after 2014 arrives, just wait to see a prediction fulfilled: multitudes will receive notices: “Due to the economic environment, we are no longer offering employee health coverage. Further, be aware that, as upstanding corporate citizens, we will also no longer offer employment to those who do not show proof of a (Mandated) health care policy.” That’s one of the open doors – and it will be taken.
Sheepish fools have been led to their various demises since antiquity. Further, as always, after achieving a certain rise, many of the previously wise choose to ally themselves with the very messengers and messages they rose against. Then, they continue leading – while opposing (initial) directions.
http://www.commondreams.org/video/2012/06/29-0
[…] but a personally coerced purchase) by way of a Mandate (without a Public Option) in 2010, you Sold Out – and lost a significant part of your credible voice. And now, after the only chance left for […]