In a continuing sign of the times (here, here), Dems are bringing out the astroturf to create the illusion of support for socialized medicine, er.. national health care, er.. health care reform, I mean health “insurance” reform. Yeah, that’s it. Health Insurance Reform.
According to Chris Frates at Politico, Democrats are planning hundreds of rallies and phone banks to show that despite the polls and overwhelming “actual” grass roots displays against it, Americans still hope for change.
I’m sure there won’t be any underhanded methods of keeping opposition out of these rallies. I’m sure the president and his staff will stay out of the fray. I’m sure there won’t be any union thuggery going on. I’m sure there won’t be any misreporting on what’s actually happening.
And I’m glad I recently bought some new undies and pants because I’m sure that monkeys are about to fly out of my…
Bob Greene postulates about the possibility of stopping Saturday mail delivery at CNN Commentary and it brings up an obvious question. Well a few obvious questions, not the least of which is “if competition is good for the health insurance companies, then why don’t we allow true competition for the Postal Service?” But that’s for a different post.
The question I have is “and what does this tell us about the possibility of government control of health care?” Now, you left wing nutjobs can espouse “it’s not government control, it’s just an option” and the ridiculous “it won’t be taxpayer subsidized” all you want. The goal is as - it has always been - single payer, universal, required healthcare. Because it’s a “right”. Right?
So what happens in a government program when it runs out of money? You either cut services or you go out and get more money from the taxpayers. But just the “rich” ones. And then you adjust what is “rich”. One thing you certainly don’t do is trim the fat. Especially when that fat is unionized inflated salaries that don’t have any competition to keep them market-based. No, you go get the government to steal more of what other people have produced. What happens when other people’s money runs out, as the great Margaret Thatcher once said? But that’s for another post as well.
The problem I have is envisioning this government option and what happens when it is run like everything else government run - Medicare, TARP, IRS, the “Stimulus Plan” that has hardly seen a “shovel-ready” shovel lifted, Amtrak, and most notably the US Postal Service.
Now USPS is considering the end of Saturday delivery to cut $3 billion out of their $7 billion shortfall. After all, Saturday services aren’t essential.
So what happens when (not if, when) the government-run bureaucracy ends up with a billions upon billions shortfall in the providing of health care services? It doesn’t take a big leap forward to reach the possibility of the cutting of services. God forbid they reduce the workforce or wages or find inefficiencies to eliminate. There will always be some political reason to keep employees on and fat right where it is. So get ready for “no non-essential care on weekends or government holidays” with Obamacare. Oh, or after work hours on those other days either.
If you look on the upper right, you’ll see a new “Notable Quotes” section. We’re gathering some of our favorite quotes about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as envisioned by the great leaders of this country (and others as well).
Please join and help us by posting your favorite quotes as comments here.
Pictures are worth a thousand words. OK, maybe we need to change that. Since “trillion is the new billion” maybe a picture is now worth a million words.
“FedEx increased its revenue and earnings against the backdrop of a sluggish U.S. economy,” said Frederick W. Smith, FedEx Corp. chairman, president and chief executive officer.
The U.S. Postal Service ended its second quarter (Jan 1 – March 31) with a net loss of $1.9 billion, as the economic recession and longer-term financial pressures, such as the diversion of letter mail to electronic alternatives, continued to reduce mail volume and revenue. Despite aggressive actions to reduce costs and grow revenue, the Postal Service will likely face a cash shortfall of over $1.5 billion at the end of the fiscal year.
Yeah, please gimme some o’ that good old gubment healthcare. I’m sure it will be really, really good…
And so the government isn’t going to subsidize this? Oh, cool! So that whole CBO stuff about it costing a cool quarter trill was a gaffe of some sort? That’s good to know. Then please, do go on!
I don’t have the time or resources to raise my own cows for beef or milk, or to get the leather from them for my belt or shoes. So I buy them from someone who does. But what if I just got them for free? What would happen to those that spent the time and resources to bring those things to market? They would likely go away, or at least, not spend as much time and resources creating the goods I need.
The same is true for information. I can’t track down all of the issues of the day, so I get them from others like Michelle Malkin, RedState, NewsBusters and others who spend their time and resources. How are they paid? With book deals and sales, or with web advertising. Where’s George Soros’ evil conservative twin brother when you need him right?
But I’m getting more and more of this information via twitter and other outlets that don’t generate any revenue for these vital sources of information. And they need support.
So what can we do? We’ve made an initial ceremonial deposit of $9 (three times their asking donation of $3) just to kick things off.
But here’s where it gets fun.
First, go donate your own $3. Secondly, we’re giving away all profits from any of the “Angry Mob” designs at our CafePress and Zazzle stores for the next week to Caleb Howe’s efforts. Spread the word by sending your like-minded friends to this post. Deadline for purchasing a qualifying product is August 18th at midnight U.S. Pacific time.
RightWingSwag Mob Gear at CafePress
RightWingSwag Mob Gear at Zazzle
Caleb
And we are challenging other conservative apparel shops to do the same!
Update:
Thanks to your purchases of 13 stickers, 11 buttons, 4 shirts and 4 caps we have just dropped $60 in Caleb’s kitty (rounded up for good measure). Thank you all for your patronage and most importantly, for people like Caleb and the folks at RedState.org for doing what they do!
I’ve never really liked “Astroturf” in the first place. Why mess with God’s green earth, just so you didn’t have to play ball in actual mud? So it would be nice and green and consistent?
Well, the world isn’t nice and green and consistent, no matter how much you pay for it. And you can pay for it all you like on the left but you’re not going to put a pretty color on top of the real world. The mud isn’t so bad. Especially when the alternative is fake.
But let’s not put down poor Astroturf. It sure doesn’t deserve to be put in the same breath as Pelosi, Reid, Durbin and Soros. I’d sue.
With a straight face, Steve Cohen made two comments at Saturday’s Town Hall that were flat out lies.
“If you like your coverage, you can keep your coverage.”
Wrong Steve. Well, technically right. You can keep it for now. But change jobs and you’re in the government plan. The one that Steve isn’t going to be on. The one no government employee is going to be on.
I’ll give you the short version. In the BEST scenario, we’re only out about a quarter of a trillion dollars. That’s $239,000,000,000. It makes you think about it when you write out the actual zeros. Here’s the actual quote from the CBO blog on the subject:
According to CBO’s and JCT’s assessment, enacting H.R. 3200 would result in a net increase in the federal budget deficit of $239 billion over the 2010-2019 period. That estimate reflects a projected 10-year cost of the bill’s insurance coverage provisions of $1,042 billion, partly offset by net spending changes that CBO estimates would save $219 billion over the same period, and by revenue provisions that JCT estimates would increase federal revenues by about $583 billion over those 10 years.
Oh, and there’s this little nugget:
In addition, the figures do not include certain costs that the government would incur to administer the proposed changes and the impact of the bill’s provisions on other federal programs…
We all know what happens to government programs. They grow. Especially when it’s free money for so many. The reason you were booed is because you flat-out lied to our faces. Let’s have an honest debate, which means truth. Perhaps YOU should be taking the aspirin instead of drinking the koolaid, Mr. Cohen.
It was also very interesting to note that we saw one homemade sign supporting Obamacare. Every other one. EVERY OTHER ONE was a printed out sign, most of which were the same as others in the hall. Some of which I saw being handed out outside the hall. Yeah, you look real spontaneous there on the left. On the other hand, ever anti-healthcare cramdown poster or sign was made by hand.
Hmm… sounds familiar. Those that want from the government getting a handout, those that want to provide for themselves doing the work by hand.
The Constitution shall never be construed… to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms. — Samuel Adams
