Kucinich: Why I voted NO

the real cause of american health issues are polluted air, fluoride-laden water supplies, genetically modified and processed foods, all the chemicals, bpa and the overall sedentary lifestyle..

We have infinite money for war because that's all humanity knows how to do is constantly fight and argue over petty shit.

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/11/06-3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2009
10:41 AM

CONTACT: Congressman Dennis Kucinich
Yes, been pondering this same question for a long time, why indeed do we have seemingly endless resources for mass destruction but very little for healing and taking care of people....
And then, well, then there is the wall street bankers who had plenty of our money to pay their executives how much?

Kucinich: Why Is It We Have Finite Resources for Health Care but Unlimited Money for War?

WASHINGTON - November 6 - Following a statement on the Floor of the House of Representative, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today made the following statement:

"Why is it we have finite resources for health care but unlimited money for war?

"The inequities in our economy are piling up: trillions for war, trillions for Wall Street and tens of billions for the insurance companies. Banks and other corporations are sitting on piles of cash of taxpayer's money while firing workers, cutting pay and denying small businesses money to survive.

"People are losing their homes, their jobs, their health, their investments, their retirement security; yet there is unlimited money for war, Wall Street and insurance companies, but very little money for jobs on Main Street.

"Unlimited money to blow up things in Iraq and Afghanistan, and relatively little money to build things in the US.

"The Administration may soon bring to Congress a request for an additional $50 billion for war. I can tell you that a Democratic version of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is no more acceptable than a Republican version of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Trillions for war and Wall Street, billions for insurance companies... When we were promised change, we weren't thinking that we give a dollar and get back two cents

Thanx Janforgore.

Again, shittacular POLITICAL BIAS is what's driving the country apart. I hate the way the government is today...hell, I hate the way the world is today. Mainly because it's always one day closer to the day that humanity will destroy each other.

No room for dissent in the party that can't be bothered to actually read the bill before holding a vote?

GREAT, so instead of actually working towards progress, no matter how small that may be, he instead decides to fight against it because it doesn't agree with what he feels is right? Guess what Kucinich? The majority of American's don't agree with every whim of yours. How likely do you think it would be to push major sweeping change all at once? When fighting a systemic parasite you need long term treatment. Politics doesn't make for sweeping major changes all at once, it's something that has to be worked on, if you've ever sat down in front of c-span you'd know how gradual all the changes are and the actual reasons why they're so gradual. For every new change proposed you have a floor full of republicans gutting each measure with their own amendments and any actual progress must go through this each step meaning that any ground gained is a severe uphill battle against people who are actually doing what they were elected to.

No this isn't the plan we all wanted, but it IS a step in the right direction. It is an actual foundation with which we can build a healthy future for this country. Dennis instead would just be happy staying with things severely broken until everyone magically comes around to his way of thinking (won't happen, see: global warming national opinion).

I wish there were more politicians like Kucinich. I saw my liberal friends supporting the new health care bill and I almost cried when I read this article and realized that all the new bill does is force more people into the broken health care system. Kucinich puts it best when he says its "a bail-out under a blue cross."

There is no point in REQUIRING people to buy healthcare unless you have a single payer system. Why should we be forced to buy into a private, for-profit system? This is ludicrous and I hope to God it does not pass in this state.

When they asked Kucinich why he voted NO for the patriot act his reply was....because I read it.

He had my vote from that point and on.

LOL, HE's grandstanding? What a joke. He is actually STANDING UP for those in this country who are tired of having special interests running this country with milquetoast whimpy representatives afraid to really stand up to them. I fear your own political bias is standing in the way of your clear judgement. "Politics is about compromise." Now THAT is cowardly.

While I like Nancy Pelosi and I am greatful we have Democrats in the majority, I do not completely trust their judgment. They were there when we were taken to war with a country, which had not killed one American and was not openly threatening us. Had Iraq been openly threatening America, the Bush administration would not have resorted to using fixed facts, and forged documents to make their case. They went along, to get a long and that has cost us dearly. Once again, they have gone along to get along, trying to win over Republicans and I think it will cost us dearly once again.

Others such as neocongo have basically said what I would say. I will however add that Kucinch pulled the single-payer amendment from the floor, he wasn't forced to, he chose to. He basically gave a no vote to single-payer and a no-vote to reform.

In addition, here is a list of what the “Affordable Health Care for America Act” will do (among other things):

* Create a national public option (no triggers or state opt-outs)

* Strip health insurance companies of their anti-trust exemptions

* Bar health insurance companies from denying coverage, and raising rates based on pre-existing conditions

* Decrease the federal deficit by 100 billion dollars (CBO statistic)

* Extend coverage to about 30 million Americans

* Mandate that most companies offer health insurance (exemptions will exist)

* Mandate that every citizen buy health insurance (exemptions will exist for those who can’t afford health plans)

* Create a National Health Insurance Exchange which will allow citizens to buy plans at lower rates

* Increase taxes for those making over 500,000 dollars

* If parents have offspring and a health insurance plan, the plan must cover those children until they are 27.
----------------

This is the beginning of the end of a 97 year old battle (Teddy Roosevelt started it). This is progress. This is hope being fulfilled. This is change I can believe in.

Notes:

* I am for single-payer.

**All of this information comes from the Congressional Budget Office, a non-partisan group of experts who have criticized Democratic bills, republican bills and bi-partisan bills.

Kucinich is grand standing, and placing his own interests above the interest of the party and the nation. Politics is about compromise.

Kucinich may enjoy stroking his ego by being a maverick and a purist, but his vote was cowardly and egotistical.

Our American Government leaders are just plainly obscene. We should empty the prisons of lesser criminal put there by an injustice justice system and incarcerate corrupt rich corporate politicians no mattter who they are. Do your country a favor and fire all present politicians and replace with all new blood and desroy the rules of congress and Washington established by the good ole boy system and create a new set of ethical rules and laws of the people for the people. Reealizing that our base is filled with ignorant and illiterate people our new system should also look oout for the ignoorant but not like our present two party system does.

Thank you Dennis Kucinich and thank you Jan for posting this!

I fully agree with Dennis. I am proud of him. If only Joe Lieberman used this rational for blocking the vote in the Senate.

A single payer option will never pass the Senate. Look at how much trouble it had passing the House where Democrats had an OVERWHELMING majority. The only hope IS for individual States to introduce Single Payer. Kucinich was right on to vote no on this joke of a Bill. Why should individuals have to pay for insurance, and then those who can not afford it get a tax CREDIT (which would still make it impossible to get insurance as no one can afford to pay out of pocket and then wait for the credit) which would then ALSO go to the insurance companies. This will only RAISE rates like the Government issuing student loans through BANKS did. This Bill is a joke, and let's not forget how much money Pelosi has been paid by the Helath industry. Kucinich is not a Democrat, and I am fine with that since the Democrats do not care about the people.

I think if the word 'mandate' was to be included into the health care bill, it should have been used to 'mandate' accountability for the insurance industry. 'Mandate' participation for ordinary Americans, once accountability has been brought to bear on the insurance industry. They should be 'mandated' to spend our health care premiums on our health care, not politicians and lobbyists. I truly believe the 'mandate' against the industry should have been the starting point for mandates, then when they get the health care industry healthy, think about mandating participation.

The House bill has all kinds of good provisions in there - I don't think had the votes to pass single payer - the House bill is the closest they can come - if they pass this it will be a milestone - don't throw the baby out with the bath water!

They have Jan, in Washington state. It was expected to pass before the combined force of every health insurance agency in the country spent millions on an ad campaign to bring it to a screeching halt. Good luck with that.

Kucinich is the real deal. Democrats-- why do you always chicken out and fail to nominate this guy for president?

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Why-is-it-we-have-finite-r-by-Dennis-Kucinich-0...

More truth.

Right now attitude? Talk about placating. We have been waiting for FORTY YEARS. This isn't NEW.

I can also see Dennis being a major role player in bringing a true single payer system into place the fight continues and our society of instant gratification will never be truly satisfied with it's right now attitude. We are the government and we need to always remain ever vigilant if want to change anything.

This man should be our president. But he doesn't play the "empty rhetoric" game.

If you remember when Medicare or Social Security were first passed they were mere shadows of what they are today! Getting the huge ship this country is turned in the right direction takes years but the steering wheel has been turned. Laws forbidding special interest lobbying are needed as soon as possible, and that fight could truly bring change faster than any election. Banning Corporate personhood is long overdue that system has corrupted our politics to the point of no return. Sorry things are what they are but any start is better than no start at all, and we have to keep fighting for real change in the system to make government work for citizens. I can envision people demanding mandatory insurance be a thing of the past before it becomes law and we end up doing what the French and many other civilized society's have done and just add a tax too pay for healthcare. It may be the answer in the long run for this too happen as quickly as possible.

Maybe you should respect others' opinions instead of constantly pushing your own BS and labeling here.

Maybe you purists would be wise to wait for the final combination of both a Senate and House bill before you begin your incessant criticisms. And while you're waiting, ask yourself "who is really behind this reform's weakness?" It is the money and propaganda of the insurance industry, Blue Dog democrats from conservative states who rely on that money, and Republicans who will go down on their knees in a heartbeat to kiss the ass of any industry in range. Given all that, we will be truly lucky to get any reform at all.

Let's see if you say that in a year's time. If it continues the same status quo it isn't progress. Voting for a bill just for the sake of having one to say it was a "victory for Obama" is BS. This isn't about him anymore than it was about Bush, and I'm sick of it. No pun intended. Insurance care is not healthcare. And if you do not address the root causes of the health concerns and illnesses we have in this country, you will never have a truly progressive and comprehensive HEALTHcare bill.

This is the problem with the Democratic party. They all have there own definenition of "the only right answer" and are willing to watch the whole program fail if they don't get their way. I understand why people think the health care reform bill doesn't do enough but how would killing the bill help that. I feel like this was a shortsighted and childish move on Kucinich's part.

Agreed, a bill that has an individual mandate but with out a strong public option is almost laughable as reform. I admit it is a step, a small one anyway. But at the same time that step is a bailout for the insurance companies.

Thank you for being real Congressman. Thank you for doing your job and representing the people. The people of Ohio should be proud to have you.

Absolutely. A REAL Democrat who puts people instead of party first. Republicans and Democrats in Congress alike could learn something from him..

We need more politicians like Kucinich !

And this also begs the question: how will they be able to pass any climate change bill now? And this is truly ironic since our environment is the cause for much of our health ills.

For OpEdNews: Dennis Kucinich - Writer

Washington D.C. (November 7, 2009) – After voting against H.R. 3962 - Affordable Health Care for America Act, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today made the following statement:

“We have been led to believe that we must make our health care choices only within the current structure of a predatory, for-profit insurance system which makes money not providing health care. We cannot fault the insurance companies for being what they are. But we can fault legislation in which the government incentivizes the perpetuation, indeed the strengthening, of the for-profit health insurance industry, the very source of the problem. When health insurance companies deny care or raise premiums, co-pays and deductibles they are simply trying to make a profit. That is our system.

“Clearly, the insurance companies are the problem, not the solution. They are driving up the cost of health care. Because their massive bureaucracy avoids paying bills so effectively, they force hospitals and doctors to hire their own bureaucracy to fight the insurance companies to avoid getting stuck with an unfair share of the bills. The result is that since 1970, the number of physicians has increased by less than 200% while the number of administrators has increased by 3000%. It is no wonder that 31 cents of every health care dollar goes to administrative costs, not toward providing care. Even those with insurance are at risk. The single biggest cause of bankruptcies in the U.S. is health insurance policies that do not cover you when you get sick.

“But instead of working toward the elimination of for-profit insurance, H.R. 3962 would put the government in the role of accelerating the privatization of health care. In H.R. 3962, the government is requiring at least 21 million Americans to buy private health insurance from the very industry that causes costs to be so high, which will result in at least $70 billion in new annual revenue, much of which is coming from taxpayers. This inevitably will lead to even more costs, more subsidies, and higher profits for insurance companies — a bailout under a blue cross.

“By incurring only a new requirement to cover pre-existing conditions, a weakened public option, and a few other important but limited concessions, the health insurance companies are getting quite a deal. The Center for American Progress' blog, Think Progress, states “since the President signaled that he is backing away from the public option, health insurance stocks have been on the rise.” Similarly, healthcare stocks rallied when Senator Max Baucus introduced a bill without a public option. Bloomberg reports that Curtis Lane, a prominent health industry investor, predicted a few weeks ago that “money will start flowing in again” to health insurance stocks after passage of the legislation. Investors.com last month reported that pharmacy benefit managers share prices are hitting all-time highs, with the only industry worry that the Administration would reverse its decision not to negotiate Medicare Part D drug prices, leaving in place a Bush Administration policy.

“During the debate, when the interests of insurance companies would have been effectively challenged, that challenge was turned back. The “robust public option” which would have offered a modicum of competition to a monopolistic industry was whittled down from an initial potential enrollment of 129 million Americans to 6 million. An amendment which would have protected the rights of states to pursue single-payer health care was stripped from the bill at the request of the Administration. Looking ahead, we cringe at the prospect of even greater favors for insurance companies.

More at the link.

Thank you for speaking truth, Rep Kucinich.