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Congressman Dennis Kucinich

Dennis Kucinich


Last Updated: 7/22/2009

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Gender: Male
Status: Married
Age: 63
Sign: Libra

City: Cleveland
State: Ohio
Country: US
Signup Date: 2/8/2007
August 20, 2009 - Thursday 

Category: News and Politics
HEALTH CARE WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE

The masquerade is over! The "public option" is ... dead.

Health care reform is now a private option: WHICH FOR PROFIT INSURANCE COMPANY DO YOU WANT? You have to choose. And you have to pay. If you have a low income, under HR3200 government will subsidize the private insurance companies and you will still have to pay premiums, co-pays and deductibles.

The Administration plan requires that everyone must have health insurance, so it is delivering tens of millions of new "customers" to the insurance companies. Health care? Not really. Insurance care! Absolutely. Cost controls? No chance.

You will next hear talk about "co-ops." The truth is that insurance company campaign contributions have co-opted the public interest.

I need your help to spread the word and rally the nation around true healthcare reform which covers everyone and maintains fiscal integrity without breaking our nation's bank! Your contribution will empower our efforts to continue to fight for the single-payer, not-for-profit health care bill, HR676 "Medicare for All," which I co-authored with John Conyers.. The bill now has 85 sponsors in the House.

The hotly-debated HR3200, the so-called "health care reform" bill, is nothing less than corporate welfare in the guise of social welfare and reform. It is a convoluted mess. The real debate which we should be having is not occurring.

Removing the "public option" from a public bill paid for by public money is not in the public interest. What is left is a "private option" paid for with public money. Why should public money be spent on a private option which does not guarantee 100% coverage nor have any cost controls? A true public option would provide 30% savings immediately which would then cover the 1/3rd of the population who presently have no healthcare.

Unfortunately, under HR3200, the Government is choosing winners and losers in the private sector; proposing to spend public funds on subsidizing insurance companies who make money not providing health care. This process wil insure only one thing - the expansion of profits. Gone is the debate over cost.

As a result of current negotiations, the Medicare Part D rip-off will continue for another decade, further fleecing senior citizens. Drug importation has been dropped, so no inexpensive drugs can be accessed from other nations.

Instead we are told the pharmaceutical companies will accept a 2% cut in the growth rate of their profits - this they call cost control!

If the matter were not so serious, it would be farcical: The executive branch pretends that the proposed health care reforms are something they are not. The legislation is being attacked for something it is not. Congressional leadership and the White House defend the legislation, pretending it actually is the very proposal that is being attacked. But it is not.

A commonsense government health care reform policy would insure that every single American has full access to healthcare by expanding Medicare to cover everyone under a Single Payer System. We are already paying for a universal standard of care, it is just we are not getting it.

I need your help to spread the word and rally the nation around true health care reform which covers everyone and maintains fiscal integrity without subsidizing insurance and pharmaceutical companies and breaking our nation's bank!

My voice in Congress will continue to challenge the special interests who do not want single payer to succeed. I need you to join me in combating the special and corporate interests who spend millions to try to win this Congressional seat. With your help WE will win again. With your help I will continue to represent your concerns, be YOUR VOICE in the United States Congress, and be the voice for health care for all Americans!

Please contribute $25, $50, $100 in support of my campaign.  Please contribute now.

With your help, we can accomplish ANYTHING in America. Persistence, dedication, truth and courage will lead the way and win out in the end.
Justin Hanes

 
the public option MUST happen!

 
Posted by Justin Hanes on August 20, 2009 - Thursday - 4:02 AM
[Reply to this
Andrew Bayuk

 
Kucinich On Health Care...
Current mood:Concerned

In my humble opinion, Congressman Kucinich always get to the bottom of a matter and tirelessly does the real job of looking to protect the interests of the American People. He never stops working on our behalf and he never plays games with political smoke and mirrors. Here is his recent statement on the state of the Health Care Bill.

If you're happy with the current state of health care in America, you like your insurance company, you don't mind upward spiraling costs, declining quality of care and reduced coverages: please DO NOT read this, it does not apply to you.

But if you want a change, read this and begin to use your voice with your representatives. And by all means, help Dennis to continue his work on your behalf by donating, even a small amount helps...

Think Peace!
Best Regards,
Andrew

 
Posted by Andrew Bayuk on August 20, 2009 - Thursday - 4:02 AM
[Reply to this
Dildo T. Baggins

 
First the bailouts, then the "Clean Energy" act, and now this: no public option, but MANDATORY health insurance.  You want to drive?  Mandatory insurance.  You want to live in the U.S.?  Mandatory payments to corporations.  One "reform" after another, described as "progress," but not for us.  Not for the ones who need it.  Your fellow members of congress have already seen to that...
....Dennis, Dennis, Dennis.......Are there truly so few honest politicians on the hill?  For now, it looks like you're on your own.....
....Obama has become another Jimmy Carter (well meaning, but his actions are too little and too late), and he's refusing to honor the liberals who put him in charge in the first place...
 
Posted by Dildo T. Baggins on August 20, 2009 - Thursday - 4:02 AM
[Reply to this
HooliganEhren AKA Micro (One Blood KCHC)

 
They're chickening out if they drop a public option. Another case of the people at the top selling out the citizens. Public Healthcare for all or we're just kidding ourselves. We're just lucky we have you looking out for us, Rep. Kucinich!
 
Posted by HooliganEhren AKA Micro (One Blood KCHC) on August 20, 2009 - Thursday - 4:02 AM
[Reply to this
Daniel Yount (factor)
Daniel Yount

 
Go get em Kucinich , what HR3200 is , is a bunch of private options not really a public option at all.  If they just placed single payer in its place, then I would think other wise , but this is just more of the same mess we are dealing with right now. The republican health care accounts is no better, it cost more by giving everyone a tax credit and keeps the same old private insurance companies. 

If they want to keep the private options fine , but give us a real public option.

 
Posted by Daniel Yount (factor) on September 17, 2009 - Thursday - 4:02 AM
[Reply to this
shobbs
Steve Hobbs

 
Kucinich and Ron Paul for Pres 2012
 
Posted by shobbs on September 17, 2009 - Thursday - 4:02 AM
[Reply to this
Delirious Vision
Delirious Vision

 
I am sorry to say, I cannot contribute  because I am paying a bill I recieved from the ER in Wisconsin.  My Ohio Medicaid won't cover it.  As someone who has an incurable disease, and I know a lot of family members and friends who have neurological diseases as well, we could all benefit from a public health care option.  It sickens me to hear people say this will turn us into a socialist nation.  They have socialist things in their life and do not even realize it.  *public national parks* 
I'll get off my soapbox now.  I just wanted to cheer you on

 
Posted by Delirious Vision on September 17, 2009 - Thursday - 4:02 AM
[Reply to this
Simonds

 
Paul & Kucinich 2012!!!!!!

 
Posted by Simonds on September 17, 2009 - Thursday - 4:02 AM
[Reply to this
nancy.... STRENGTH THROUGH PEACE

 
Kucinich is the only one who speaks factual info on how and why! He is relentless, I have faith he will not let this reform die. America is in dire need of health care reform.
I love this man!

 
Posted by nancy.... STRENGTH THROUGH PEACE on September 17, 2009 - Thursday - 4:02 AM
[Reply to this
Aaron

 
Thank you Dennis, for everything you are. If only we had more Democrats like you...
 
Posted by Aaron on September 17, 2009 - Thursday - 4:04 AM
[Reply to this
democracy, anyone? (G)

 
Thanks again, Congressman Kucinich!

 
Posted by democracy, anyone? (G) on September 17, 2009 - Thursday - 4:04 AM
[Reply to this
Dana

 
So reassure me that under either a single-payer system, or one that has a public option, I will continue to have near complete choice of what doctors I see, how many doctors I see for a given condition, how many times a month i want to see them etc. I have a serious and debilitating, and also not-yet-well-understood medical condition. So far I've seen multiple doctors for it, including 2 specialists. I've gotten only partial help from the doctors I've seen, due, I believe, to an insufficient amount of knowledge, and ..I believe that I will eventually find a doctor better able to treat me *IF* I CAN CONTINUE TO SEE WHO I WANT TO AND HOW OFTEN. ..

Also, I'm self-employed and my health care plan with Anthem, while not cheap, is really not that outrageously expensive considering my several pre-existing conditions. It is a PPO, and aside and apart from the high deductible i choose in order to keep my premium low, ..the amount of money saved on various medical and dental office visits and special procedures BECAUSE OF THE MEDICAL PROVIDERS AGREEMENT WITH ANTHEM AS TO ALLOWABLE CHARGES....IS ENORMOUS... So is my savings on prescriptions

In addition to my concerns because of my above-mentioned condition, I get a yearly vaginal ultrasound just to make sure everything is normal, because my mother died of ovarian cancer, and because I am prone to unresolving ovarian cysts. This is not "standard medical procedure" and is pretty much at my request, though originally suggested to me originally by my mothers oncologist (because of my own concern). And, though the charge would be $650 some if i had no insurance, it is less than $150 because of the (hospital) providers agreement with Anthem as to allowable charges. ..I want to be able to continue to get these yearly vaginal ultrasounds..
..
I want health-care to be available to all, but I don't want my choices to be narrowed...

Also, in the state of Virginia, anyone willing to do a minute to moderate amount of "paper-work" can receive an enormous reduction in the cost of treatment (or free treatment) if one is treated at Medical College of Va, and anyone who resides in the state and is low-income is eligible. I have a friend who was in ICU there for a week recently and paid NOTHING. I have another friend who is going to have major surgery there at cost VASTLY less than what it would be had she not applied for financial aid from them, in spite of the fact she owns a house.

So, I am unconvinced of the beneficence to the majority or even the minority of either a single-payer option, or a public health option (which I believe might eventually supplant private options altogether as employers switch over to save money)

 
Posted by Dana on September 17, 2009 - Thursday - 4:04 AM
[Reply to this
Dana

 


So reassure me that under either a single-payer system, or one that has a public option, I will continue to have near complete choice of what doctors I see, how many doctors I see for a given condition, how many times a month i want to see them etc. I have a serious and debilitating, and also not-yet-well-understood medical condition. So far I've seen multiple doctors for it, including 2 specialists. I've gotten only partial help from the doctors I've seen, due, I believe, to an insufficient amount of knowledge, and ..I believe that I will eventually find a doctor better able to treat me *IF* I CAN CONTINUE TO SEE WHO I WANT TO AND HOW OFTEN. ..

Also, I'm self-employed and my health care plan with Anthem, while not cheap, is really not that outrageously expensive considering my several pre-existing conditions. It is a PPO, and aside and apart from the high deductible i choose in order to keep my premium low, ..the amount of money saved on various medical and dental office visits and special procedures BECAUSE OF THE MEDICAL PROVIDERS AGREEMENT WITH ANTHEM AS TO ALLOWABLE CHARGES....IS ENORMOUS... So is my savings on prescriptions

In addition to concerns due to the above-mentioned condition, because my mother died of ovarian cancer about 5 years ago, and because in the past I
ve been prone to unresolving ovarian cysts, I get a yearly vaginal ultrasound just to make sure everything is normal. This is not "standard medical procedure" and is pretty much at my request, though originally suggested to me by my mothers oncologist (because of my own concern). And, though the charge would be $650 some if i had no insurance, it is less than $150 because of the (hospital) providers agreement with Anthem as to allowable charges. ..I want to be able to continue to get these yearly vaginal ultrasounds..
..
I want health-care to be available to all, but I don't want my choices to be narrowed...

Also, in the state of Virginia, anyone willing to do a minute to moderate amount of "paper-work" can receive an enormous reduction in the cost of treatment (or free treatment) if one is treated at Medical College of Va, and anyone who resides in the state and is low-income is eligible. I have a friend who was in ICU there for a week recently and paid NOTHING. I have another friend who is going to have major surgery there at cost VASTLY less than what it would be had she not applied for financial aid from them, in spite of the fact she owns a house.

So, I am unconvinced of the beneficence to the majority or even the minority of either a single-payer option, or a public health option (which I believe might eventually supplant private options altogether as employers switch over to save money)
 
Posted by Dana on September 17, 2009 - Thursday - 4:05 AM
[Reply to this
Country Lisa
Lisa Renae Holt

 
..Thanks, Dennis.  Knew you could (and would) pull the curtains on what the clowns up there by and in large are trying to pass off as "healthcare reform".  Meanwhile, those of us who are facing bankruptcy because of this very debacle feebly attempt to stop the inevitable slide into the ditch, while the ones who supposedly represent us play their games and water down true reform to the point it is now which is a total waste of time and distorted to the point that it does not represent anything remotely similar to reform at all.
  Because, there will be no healthcare reform unless and until these representatives stop selling us out to the health insurance, pHarma and the like so that they can get into office to begin with. 
I suggest that another bill is introduced that exempts all those congressional members who have campaign contributions be disqualified from being on these deciding committees due to conflict of interest.  Oh, wait a minute...that would pretty much empty out the Halls of Congress.
Never mind.
Keep up the good fight, Dennis!..
 
Posted by Country Lisa on September 17, 2009 - Thursday - 4:05 AM
[Reply to this
nofunctionart ©

 
oh why is it dead? ..

 
Posted by nofunctionart © on September 17, 2009 - Thursday - 4:05 AM
[Reply to this
MARIA - Fight the NWO

 
How about giving every single citizen Medicare and taxing Wall Street for it, instead of the "rich", because believe me the real "rich" don't pay for anything !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Posted by MARIA - Fight the NWO on September 17, 2009 - Thursday - 4:06 AM
[Reply to this
Heart Warrior
Heart Warrior Chosa

 
So sorry to hear that the PUBLIC could not have put up a better fight!
 
Posted by Heart Warrior on September 17, 2009 - Thursday - 4:06 AM
[Reply to this
alice

 
i wish you'd link your blogs on twitter! it would widen your audience, give people the opportunity to retweet the link, and it would be easier for me to know when to log in to myspace!

 
Posted by alice on September 17, 2009 - Thursday - 4:07 AM
[Reply to this
Brian

 
..Dennis,.... Thank you for bringing this to our attention! I hope you can continue to be the voice of sanity, in a morass of diluted, self-serving, scum. ..
 
Posted by Brian on September 17, 2009 - Thursday - 4:09 AM
[Reply to this
peanut butter jelly time
Jordan Black

 
forget the public oprion, why are we not fighting for single payer and just eliminate all of the insurance companies?
 
Posted by peanut butter jelly time on September 17, 2009 - Thursday - 4:09 AM
[Reply to this