A Big Mistake In Obama's War on Medical Marijuana

And FWIW, whether it's the energy cartels that have Obama jumpstarting new nuclear plant starts or his shelving environmental regulations of air and water, Americans are getting sicker and will be in more need of costly pharmaceutical and healthcare products in the coming years.  

Kids Living Near Nuclear Power Plants Have Much Higher Rates of Cancer


Child Leukemia Rates Increase Near U.S. Nuclear Power Plants


Leaked Docs Reveal 'Off the Charts' Damage at US Nuke Plant


'Breast cancer rates higher near nuclear plant'
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Read more...

A Big Mistake In Obama's War on Medical Marijuana

Let me exemplify the problem that I, as an old liberal Democrat, have with the state of our government and elections.

You would think that Democratic politicians would be for the same things that I, as a liberal Democrat, am for -- Smart, progressive policies.  Even just the basics, what might be called "compromises", like leaving marijuana illegal, but just rescheduling it.  Or leaving it illegal for recreational use, but leaving medical marijuana dispensaries alone.  Like (on another topic), forget about stopping GMOs from getting into the food supply (oh how I wish), but at least allowing states to permit the labeling of GMOs on food so that I can make a choice whether I want to put GMOs into my body and my children's and grandchildren's bodies.  

Here is the roll call vote on the 6/21/2012 US Senate vote on a bill to permit states to require any food, beverage or other edible product offered for sale have a label on it indicating that it contains a genetically engineered ingredient.

Guess who else voted against this?

Democratic senators Al Franken, Sherrod Brown, Chuck Schumer, Dick Durbin, Ben Cardin, Jeff Bingaman, Tom Harkin, Debbie Stabenow, among other Democrats. Monsanto has bought and paid for them.  I'm told they're referred to as "The Monsanto Senators".

Al Franken, fercrissakes.

Unless and until there is drastic and uncompromi­sing change to our campaign financing system, until corporatio­ns are no longer 'persons' and are prohibited from participat­ing in elections and politics, all efforts to reform government are useless. But that is NOT going to happen under Obama or the DLC-contro­lled Democratic Party as we'd hoped when we put them in power in 2008; it's not even on their 'To Do' list.  Both parties are corrupt to the bone.

This liberal Democrat is done with the Democratic Party.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Read more...

A Big Mistake In Obama's War on Medical Marijuana

Legalizing marijuana isn't my #1 concern, but all of these issues are interconnected with the top issue we are constantly being told by the media is the only concern of the electorate, and determinant of the outcome of the election (the economy).

FWIW, I don't partake, but others who do can't get their medical marijuana without the risk of running afoul of the law and resulting in everything from incarceration to fines, all costly.  The cost to me as a citizen (diverted law enforcement from real crimes, violent and other, court resourses, prison costs) is huge.

Neither Obama nor Romney will deliver on any issue important to the 99%.  This is just one of many issues where Obama's hypocrisy and deceitfulness is apparent for all to see.

How Obama has handled the massive problems is EXACTLY how Republican­s would've handled them (and how BushCheney was handling them).  Obama's not governing as he had promised or as a real Democrat would've.

The real shame, the real tragedy for all of us is that Obama could have been a transcende­nt president, good for both business AND the People.  It would've answered just about all of the problems Obama found himself facing, left to him by BushChene­y.

Job creation possibilit­ies were lost when the real reform proposed by SinglePayerUniversalHealthcare advocates was eliminated from even getting a seat at the table, and Obama chose to preserve an anachronis­tic, expensive and failed insurance industry and employer-p­rovided system for medical care, which is government­-sanctione­d racketeeri­ng.

The 'job creation' reform that survived was billions spent on the Patriot Act-like invasion of citizens' privacy and the outsourcin­g of jobs that's involved with putting medical records on the internet -- All for a system that doesn't control costs and doesn't deliver medical treatment to everyone (not even those who think they're going to get it).  

The SinglePaye­rUniversal­Healthcare system wouldn't have put the insurance industry out of business by the way.  It would've been a two-tiered system: Basic coverage for everyone and boutique coverage for those willing to pay for it. So nobody had to worry about poor Big Insurance and Pharma -- There would've been work for all. Big Insurance and Pharma would just had to have made smarter gambles, with no taxpayer bailouts.

Whether it's shelving environmental regulations or amping up executive powers to where presidents can kill American citizens with no due process, Obama hasn't done jack for me or any of the 99%.  Hoping he'll deliver to us after the election is too late; before the election is when the deals are cut, the alliances forged.  That's why I keep telling Obama's 'most ardent supporters' that by assuring him that they're with him no matter what, they let him dismiss their issues and them.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Read more...

Sherrod Brown Vs. Josh Mandel: Senate Race Shaping Up To Be Most Expensive In State History

Let me exemplify the problem that I, as an old liberal Democrat, have with the state of our government and elections.

You would think that Democratic politicians would be for the same things that I, as a liberal Democrat, am for -- Even just the basics, what might be called "compromises".  Like, forget about stopping GMOs from getting into the food supply (oh how I wish), but at least food labeling of GMOs so that I can make a choice whether I want to put GMOs into my body and my children's and grandchildren's bodies.  

Sherrod Brown voted against it.

Here is the roll call vote on the 6/21/2012 US Senate vote on a bill to permit states to require any food, beverage or other edible product offered for sale have a label on it indicating that it contains a genetically engineered ingredient.

Guess who else voted against this?

Democratic senators Al Franken, Chuck Schumer, Dick Durbin, Ben Cardin, Jeff Bingaman, Tom Harkin, Debbie Stabenow, among other Democrats. Monsanto has bought and paid for them.  I'm told they're referred to as "The Monsanto Senators".

Al Franken, fercrissakes.

Unless and until there is drastic and uncompromi­sing change to our campaign financing system, until corporatio­ns are no longer 'persons' and are prohibited from participat­ing in elections and politics, all efforts to reform government are useless. But that is NOT going to happen under Obama or the DLC-contro­lled Democratic Party as we'd hoped when we put them in power in 2008; it's not even on their 'To Do' list.  Both parties are corrupt to the bone.

This liberal Democrat is done with the Democratic Party.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Read more...

Health Law Costs, Benefits Can Add Up To A Win For Young And Old

you have just been deceived. You can't help it. You are an idealist, not a realist.

====================

I've yet to see you offer anything to these discussions but insults.  The old lawyers' adage:

When the law is on your side, argue the law.
When the facts are on your side, argue the facts.
When neither the facts nor the law are on your side, make an ad hominem attack. 


You're in violation of HP policy:

The Huffington Post promotes a receptive, transparent and civil atmosphere for comments and users. Critical, in-depth and intelligent discussions and debates are encouraged and the best of these are highlighted in various ways, such as through the Community Pundit program. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to voice their opinion regardless of identity, politics, ideology, religion or agreement with other community members, the author of the post or staff members as long as those opinions are respectful and constructively add to the conversation. However, this community does not tolerate direct or indirect attacks, name-calling or insults, nor does it tolerate intentional attempts to derail, hijack, troll or bait others into an emotional response. These types of comments will be removed from the community where warranted. Individuals who consistently or intentionally post these types of comments will be warned and, if necessary, excluded from the community.

If you disagree, provide an argument on the subject with facts and citations.  Get with the program, discuss the issues and not the commenters, or get out.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Read more...

Quote Approval Becoming The Norm Between Journalists, Campaigns

Even cable talking heads are nothing more than ventriloquists' dummies, regurgitating what the White House Communications' Office and Congressional leaders press offices dictate to them.  Cable news anchors question their reporters on camera as if the reporters are the politicians, and the reporters are left defending what they were told by the politicians, in the reporters' own words.  Nobody bothers asking politicians questions on camera anymore.  
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Read more...

Health Law Costs, Benefits Can Add Up To A Win For Young And Old

Public Option will never sell, because it sounds like communism.

=====================

Washington Post - Most support public option for health insurance, poll finds

Reuters - Most in U.S. want public  health option: Poll


New Poll: 77 Percent Support "Choice" Of Public Option


In a NBC News and The Wall Street Journal poll, almost three-fourths said it was important to have a choice between a public plan and a private plan.

A CNN poll included a question very similar to the NBC News-Wall Street Journal’s:

“Now thinking specifically about the health insurance plans available to most Americans, would you favor or oppose creating a public health insurance option administered by the federal government that would compete with plans offered by private health insurance companies?”

In the CNN survey, 61 percent said they favored a public option.

Don't quit your day job.  That is unless you're a political operative.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Read more...