Showing posts with label health care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health care. Show all posts

Good Morning Health Insurance and Apartment Hunting

By Glenn 

Good morning. I want to talk a little about the health care/insurance industry but for once NOT about the recent legislation that passed with no Republican support. As many of you know, I am currently without employment. In the United States that means I also don't have health insurance. Since Blanche Lincoln and I conspired to kill the public option, I am left looking into private plans to see what fits best for me. How many mammograms do I plan to get this year? What kind of Crohn's disease will I inherit? Do I need prescription drug coverage? The best plan I can come up with is $46/month and gives me a $2,000,000 lifetime maximum to use. That's a lot of bedpans. I'm also casually looking for apartments in the greater Los Angeles area. The best one I can find is $46/month and gives me 2,000,000 flea bites over the course of a sixty day period. That's a lot of flea bites.

[I've already been vaccinated for Crohn's disease so don't worry about me getting anything besides autism.]


Today's Weather
Tonight the local news said "there is a huge rain storm in Northern California. What happens when it heads here?" or someone else vaguely threatening yet emotionally resonant. That's how I like the poetry written on my garage and how I like my weather forecasts.
I hope this rain stays away but the people on the local news implied that it wouldn't.


Today's Movie


This was one of those "Oscar movies" I never got around to seeing last year because I was too busy trying to pass health care reform and working on my aerobic endurance. I watched it last night and want to recommend it to you this morning. Do you ever see movies or life around you and think "I wish more incredibly young women would start romantic relationships with older men?" I know I do. This movie has that - and more! Peter Saarsgard is great and one of my favorite actors, but this movie is fundamentally about a young woman's search for meaning in her current and future life. All 16 year old females reading this site should watch the movie and then email me to talk about it.


Today's Prediction
kitten, the famous teen who writes into Hi Katy every week, will watch An Education and realize that she doesn't need a man in her life. Then she'll watch a show on CW that appeals to teens. Meanwhile it will continue to rain in Northern California and never travel south, leaving those of us here with beautiful weather. I will get 2nd degree sunburns and 3rd degree autism, neither of which are covered under the most affordable private plan I can find. Blanche Lincoln will smile at this thought until she loses her primary on May 19th. Go Bill Halter!

Good morning HEALTH CARE

By Glenn 

Good morning. It's so rare I can wish you a good morning in the shadow of such great news. It seems like every time I'm excited to write this column a space shuttle explodes or the Republicans win a special election somewhere in this great land. Now I have the distinct pleasure of telling you that yesterday HISTORIC health care reform passed the US House of Representatives, with some of the writers from this website casting the deciding votes to get us to 219 and secure passage. It should be smooth sailing from here on out, with a simple up or down vote needed in the US Senate and then our President's Kenyan, left-handed illegitimate signature.

[Let's talk about all good things this morning, okay?]


Today's Weather

Online video chat by Ustream
Look at this LIVE STREAM of some sort of self-aware camera staged right at the Red River in downtown Grand Forks. The river, like health care costs, has been contained! The beloved downtown where I spent so many months killing homeless people and artists is free of standing water. Our old campaign office remains along with the painful memories of the artists who perished there. I'm not saying this flood won't ruin lives - and it probably already has - but I just wanted to highlight this bit of good news.


Today's Right Wing Reaction
One of the nice things about health care reform passing the House yesterday is that it also means those opposed to Obama, the Democratic Party and liberalism are very frustrated. This will seem a lot less funny when this frustration turns into violence, but for now let's make some light of it.

First up, the Orange Goblin himself, John Boehner:

This guy becomes manic at the thought of spending money to provide health care to almost all citizens of the United States. I'd say his face is turning red, but he's already orange. That's practically a shade of red.

Next is a lovely message from Dale Robertson – Founder/President Tea Party/TeaParty.org:
What did we expect from national socialists?

Arm twisting, threats, buying votes and political dirty tricks are now the normal operating procedure for the new regime.

The Obama putsch has taken roots and is thriving in the new era of the expanded welfare state. The American people said NO, Conservatives said NO, but it makes no difference when the oligarchy says; ‘Yes we can’ in spite of the will of the people.

First they came for our wellness; our health-care fell into their hands.

If we stop the madness and restore America now we can halt the bleeding of our freedom. However, if we don’t, then keep reading and learn what will happen next.

Next they will come for our sovereignty and our beloved nation will be flooded with millions of illegal aliens further converting America into a socialist state.

Then they will come for our guns, and our gun rights will falls into their hands.

After that they will come for more taxes, collection of healthcare premiums, along with penalties and fees will be heaped upon the American public. A new form of debtor’s prison will emerge, not of walls, bars and cells, but the loss of rights. Privileges will be rewarded to those who obey while the disobedient are punished by privilege banishment.

Subsequently they will come for our money, currency will disappear. Taxes, income and expense will be deemed to volatile and too complicated to manage. America will turn into a cashless and currency less government controlled geographic contained society.

Finally, they will come for our homes. Every house becomes guaranteed and insured by the federal government and by doing so, becomes an asset of the state. Homeownership will be an illusion, home ownership in name only.

The thrill of risk and reward will vanish in a cloud of the greatest good, and free enterprise will become the unwilling slave of the new enlighten order.

Yes America, change is in the wind, for this is what you voted for and this is exactly what you got. Congratulations.

Codicil: To restore our beloved nation from the pestilence of National Socialism and liberal extremism we must rise up, pledge our life, liberty and sacred honor. We must vote them out! We must file law suits to stop egregious legislation. We must march in protest. Most of all, we must build our ranks, recruit, grow, and train our members on how to restore our nation. We must not be afraid of this task, for this is our land; our nation and our heritage, freedom is our national treasure. Our freedom, liberty and self governance have fallen upon our shoulders and it will be our effort that will stop the greatest runway government in history.
I hope you didn't read all of that because I know I didn't. We really don't need that kind of vile nonsense in our lives. I do want to point out that this rambling, paranoid diatribe literally begins with calling the Democratic Party Nazis. You gotta admire the bravery to use that in the first line, but it kind of mutes the outrage of the proceeding lines.


Today's Kitten Picture

This kitten just found out that it could stay on its mother's feline health insurance until it is twenty-six in cat years.


Today's Box Office News

Though no one should be happy that Alice in Wonderland earns millions of dollars, there is some silver lining to be had in looking at this weekend's box office news.
And Jude Law and Forest Whitaker's action thriller "Repo Men" flopped, debuting at #4 opening with just $6.2 million. Law plays a repo man on the run in a future where organs are bloodily repossessed if patients miss their payments.
The amazing Stephanie Zacharek of Salon.com says it better about Repo Men here than I could, but let's just say I was disappointed in the film. It's not worth seeing and it looks like people are learning that without making the same mistake my sister and I did.


Today's Prediction

In the next week THE US SENATE will pass via reconciliation the fixes needed to its original bill. This will cause John Boehner's head to explode, with pumpkin seeds flying all over the Republican House caucus - who had assembled to see a special screening of Repo Men. The team had intended to use the film's dystopian health care vision as a campaign tool against the Democrats, but recoil when the the public says "NO!" to Jude Law. That kitten will be the only casualty in the Red River flood of 2010. Sorry girls, but at least Dale Robertson - Founder/President Tea Party/TeaParty.org- is still around:

What a dreamboat!

Wednesday is for Lovers

By Nate

Mick Foley? I don't know who he is, but since this site is part SBTB fan fiction and part pro-wrestling fan site with a dash of politics, I think this clip will be appreciated by most of our loyal readers:

Crumbums & Fatcats
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HUMP DAY REVIEW

Really, all I want from this week is for health care reform to pass. At the time I am writing this, I have no idea what's going to happen with the bill. Either way, this week will be known for this vote, and Glenn will tell the children he will raise in the future the story of this week as he drives them to Disneyland.

HOLLYWOOD

This month a professional actor has been living in my house while he shoots a movie here. His name is AJ Bowen. Here is his IMDB page. This is what he looks like:



Yesterday he told me he used to live with Brian Burton, AKA Danger Mouse. That is pretty awesome since he just released a new album with James Mercer from The Shins. The album is called Broken Bells.

TODAY'S MUSIC VIDEO:



Not much of a video I guess; just the photo of the album cover.

TODAY'S PREDICTION:

Mick Foley, AJ Bowen, and Danger Mouse will collaborate on a multimedia film and music project that will tell the story of the health care reform battle of 2009-2010 through the thick satirical lens of professional wrestling. Disneyland will commission a ride based off that project, and Glenn's children will be demoralized when they learn that after a 24-hour, cross-country road trip to Disney Land, during which they only listened to Glenn talk about health care, that they can only ride the new health care/pro wrestling themed ride in the park.

Good Morning, Healthcare Reform!

By Ingrid



Thank you also for providing us with that footage of the woman re-enacting the bear sighting:






Really, this protester is dead on: When I broke my ribs in that car accident last summer, I didn't want medical treatment -- I wanted to shed my holiday fat! I wanted leafy greens and yoga! When my uncle, a Vietnam vet, started coughing up black phlegm with traces of Agent Orange in it, the first thing he said when he finally caught his breath was: "Fire up the treadmill! What I need is some exercise!"


Maddie, please transmit this urgent message to the proper authorities!


Annoy a liberal: forget the second N in "annoy" and then squeeze it in last minute. Also, wear a fanny pack.


I forget which side this guy was on. The sign reads: "Jesus will bring universal healthcare in 2012!!"


Hmm, that's not what you said to me when I was protesting Iraq. Remember? You drove by and screamed "LOVE IT OR LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAVE IT, HIPPIE!!!!" and then threw a Hardee's cup at me.

In other, related news, as I rode my bike through campus today I noticed that the College Republicans in the square were holding a sign that said, "Tired of change?" At least the GOP is finally coming out and admitting that they're a bunch of crotchety old fist-shakers.

A not-so-funny Rant: Health Care Reform Pt. 1

By GARY

This article will not be funny. I am just getting really upset at the general public as of late. Maybe its the growing amount of people wearing libertarian shirts or the fact that on my poor people's cable all I get is church channels and Fox News (hmm..seems a bit weird that the only news channel the 5 dollar plan gets you is Fox). Whatever it is, change is coming to public health care reform, and ignorant people all over college campuses, TV, and the internet are letting their voice be heard. This is my answer back to them...FUCK YOU!


I will admit I am not a huge history or politics buff, and frankly I have stopped even listening to NPR when the subject of Health Care reform comes up, because it makes me sick (pun totally intended). To me the answer to whether or not we should a have broad sweeping public health care option is obvious. Yes!

Just as the police, fire fighters, roads, libraries and public schools (k-12) don't charge for their services why should someone have worry about their bank account before they worry about getting their nagging cough checked out? Watching people debate these issue to me is like watching some guy barely hanging on to the edge of a cliff while a bunch of people stand around debating the pros and cons of helping the man not fall.

".. I don't know how did he get in this situation?"

"What if I lose my expensive watch during the rescue?"

"Did he break the rules..was he in area he shouldn't have been?"

"Maybe we should let someone come along and decide to do out of the kindness of their heart."

"That guy from Big Al's Cliff Rescue and Prevention keeps stuffing money in my pockets to not save him...."

"Yeah, Big Al has got a nice rescue crane and he can do it easier and more efficiently and he will just bill him for it."

"Whoa! Hold on you guys. This a human life were talking about. Let's not be monsters here. We should give him the option of how he wants to be rescued."

"No we can't rescue him then he'll expect us to rescue him every time he falls off a cliff or needs to be saved from a burning building."

"uhh...hey guys....he just fell."


Somehow this argument seems less absurd than the current real life debate.



Ronald Reagan once famously said

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'"



Here's the 9 most terrifying words a person can think:
"I need help and no one will help me."


Oh ole Gipper not understanding that even the worst help is better than none at all.








Stay tuned for part 2 tommorow.........