Day: October 21, 2009

“Commercial Elite” Will Seize Control

Professor’s Classroom

Subject:  American History

Recently there has been a wealth of bitching about the control that Wall Street has over the politics in this country…everyone sees them as the enemy, but no one ever warned us of the extent that this would have to the country……well that is not completely accurate.

From the very beginning of this great nation, some people saw what was coming and what it would do……

[I] shall rest satisfied with observing that our European manners which, probably, are, at this period, too common in America, will enable money (or, in other words, the rich) to usurp and to maintain an absolute dominion throughout the several states. To prevent it from striking root, some weak and feeble efforts will arise; and, perhaps, it may not prove impossible, by a multitude of precautions, to prevent this empire from becoming actually tyrannical. If feeble laws have not the power to hinder the commercial bodies from seizing upon all authority; if the public morals present no succors to the people; but, strive, in vain, to set some limits to the rage of avarice, I must tremble at the prospect of the final rupture of all the bonds of your confederation.

Who was that masked man on such foresight?

Those words were written to John Adams by Frenchman Abbe de Mably in 1785.  Some saw into the future and if you look at it he was CORRECT in his prediction….Wall Street, i.e. the wealthy, run this country as it always has from the very beginning.  And how good was this guy…he also predicted that the government would do little to stop the seizing of power by the “elites”….all the efforts would be anemic and the wealthy would always control the government.

Oh you think I am mistaken?  Then look at the “Founding Fathers”…….name one that was not wealthy….okay Sam Adams was in debt to his ears….but he is seldom mentioned in most history books…even though he was a pivotal character in the movement for independence.  They, the “patriots”, were trying to break the bonds of mercantilism…… and they did……I will repeat that…..it was more about breaking the bonds of mercantilism…..not necessarily freedom…..that took the pen of an idealist.

Keep in mind that….it was seldom about what was best for the people….but rather what the founders thought was best for them and their commercial endeavors….and that has seldom changed through the decades and centuries of the American experience.

Why Do Democrats Crap On Each Other?

Damnedest thing you have ever seen….a majority and still cannot get anything done….where do we find these people?

We have all heard the clap trap coming from the Right when health reform is mentioned…they are fighting Obama and the boyz with all they got….grant that ain’t got much….but they still try and try…all the misinformation…the lobbyists…..the media….few on the Right are for a substantial reform…the problem is that is not exactly what the figures show the American people want…..but when has government ever been about what the people want?

All that is not the problem….Nope, not the problem at all…..the Dems are negotiating with themselves….they long realized that nothing was ever going to come out of trying to negotiate with the Repubs so they set about crapping on each other…..they have a majority in two houses and yet they cannot come together for something that is much needed…health care.  That leads one to question just how successful they will be with any other type of legislation?

You wonder just what I mean by all this….thinkprogress.com has a perfect illustration:

The Hill is reporting that Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR) — who led a group of seven centrist Blue Dogs who objected to a public option that reimbursed providers based on Medicare rates — is floating a proposal to open-up Medicare to Americans under 65, “but at a reimbursement rate much greater than current Medicare rates“:

I — speaking only on behalf of myself — suggested one possible idea could be that instead of creating an entirely new government bureaucracy to administer a public option, Medicare could be offered as a choice to compete alongside private insurers for those Americans eligible to enter the national health insurance exchange, but at a reimbursement rate much greater than current Medicare rates.

The last sentence is key: reimbursing providers who treat the new enrollees at market rates satisfies the provider community and conservative politicians from rural states who argue that their hospitals would close if they were reimbursed at Medicare rates. This scheme preserves the integrity of a single national program and takes advantage of Medicare’s administrative efficiencies to lower costs and spearhead delivery reforms. Still, Ross’ solution will likely save less money than a robust public option that uses Medicare-like rates and leverage.

What to do?  How about one simple thing….open Medicare up to every one…now was it that hard to come up with a plan?  Rep. Ross statement is nothing more than his pay back to the industry that bought him as a person.

The Dems will negotiate with themselves until there is nothing left of value or substance to any health reform bill sent to Obama for his signature.  Once again, I ask, are you happy with the choice you made last election?