Stitch on 22/3/2010 at 14:51
Quote Posted by CCCToad
There's been a number of polls taken by the major opinion agencies, and the results are frequently used to mis-represent. A strong majority support healthcare reform, but when asked about the bill in question the opinions are overwhelmingly negative.
As is usual, the Democrats have done a fairly shit job controlling the message and selling the bill. The bill polls poorly, yes, but the contents of the bill actually poll quite favorably on a point-by-point basis. Most people would be for the bill if they actually knew what was in it (although they still probably wouldn't want to pay for it).
I'm for the bill but consider it a very flawed and imperfect first step. I'd like to see more done to address the swelling cost of health care in America--we as a country are addicted to overtreating, for example--but the bill is a start.
A massive start, actually. It's difficult to overstate the importance of all this.
BEAR on 22/3/2010 at 14:59
Quote Posted by Stitch
reason
Pretty much this. The scary and sad thing about this whole affair is how it long ago ceased to have anything to do with the bill itself or any of the issues. To be fair, the democrats ARE shitty at controlling the message, but the republicans are masters of it. When you see that old machine get moving, you really have to respect their organization. Yeah, they just say 1 or 2 things over and over and over but they do it like pros.
karmaKGB on 22/3/2010 at 15:25
OR
They're just pathetically transparent in both the falsity of their message and their goals. I don't give them a bit of credit for repeating the same phrases over and over again without deviation. It's not masterful persuasion, just mindless repetition.
That said, I get your point. Clearly, the brute force approach works, as it has for time immemorial, because most people don't seem capable to discerning the most obvious falsehoods from the most obvious truths. Or, ya know, understanding basic facts.
SD on 22/3/2010 at 15:25
Quote Posted by BEAR
Pretty much this. The scary and sad thing about this whole affair is how it long ago ceased to have anything to do with the bill itself or any of the issues. To be fair, the democrats ARE shitty at controlling the message, but the republicans are masters of it. When you see that old machine get moving, you really have to respect their organization. Yeah, they just say 1 or 2 things over and over and over but they do it like pros.
That's because they're such sodding barefaced scaremongering liars who will stoop to any depth to defend their corporate and religious interests. These people have no principles beyond
Do whatever it takes to get elected. Truly they are the heirs to Goebbels - in more ways than one.
june gloom on 22/3/2010 at 15:25
Quote Posted by SD
Haha, no. This is it. Game over for the Republicunts. Suck it down.
Haha, see you in November I guess.
henke on 22/3/2010 at 15:31
Quote Posted by Renzatic
Does this mean we're communists now? :o
Soon. This is just step one of the 3-part agenda pushed by the red menace.
Step 1: Health Care Reform
Step 2: Trololo Man
Step 3: Communism
Pardoner on 22/3/2010 at 15:41
I had the chance to be in the House galleries last night, and the day before. The protesters crowding the galleries were generally in such grotesque physical states that they themselves constituted a strong argument for preventive care.
The Republicans were very conscious of this audience, and were careful to behave very ridiculously in their presence. Most of the extremist rhetoric seen from Boehner and others was formulated to satisfy them. I think they enjoyed formulating it anyways, though.
Fragony on 22/3/2010 at 16:48
I wouldn't be too happy with this, you are just building another bubble. It reminds me of the Community Reinvestment Act, that is what actually caused most of the the crisis, banks being forced to lend money to people who can't afford it. Now you are doing the same thing with healthcare.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Reinvestment_Act)
DDL on 22/3/2010 at 17:25
I still find it amazing how many Americans seem to be stuck in this "Damnit, I'm rich, healthy and lucky enough to be living a great life! Stop taking my money to make things better for poor, sick unlucky people, you bastards!!!" mindset. Such as the shitpuppet in (
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8580385.stm) this article.
(yeah ok, bbc news perhaps not the best source for US events, but hey)
I also find it hard to believe that taxes in the US are
so crippling that any increase will instantly ruin the already frankly staggeringly decadent lifestyle of millions of Americans.
Just pay the fucking taxes and enjoy actually contributing to civilised fucking society already. The "I'm doing ok, so fuck you" attitude is an unworkable atavism that has no damn place in any society worth the name.
Still, progress eh?
Rug Burn Junky on 22/3/2010 at 17:37
Quote Posted by Fragony
I wouldn't be too happy with this, you are just building another bubble. It reminds me of the Community Reinvestment Act, that is what actually caused most of the the crisis, banks being forced to lend money to people who can't afford it. Now you are doing the same thing with healthcare.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Reinvestment_Act)
You obviously don't know jack shit about what caused the recent mortgage crisis.
