To get universal health care Obama and the Dems should do what Edwards suggested

[rurallib]

I have always felt that decision makers often won't make decisions on problems until the bad consequences directly affect them. As I am sure all of you could, I could site numerous instances where one of my bosses were against a wall before they took on a problem.
With the sudden desire by a couple of the big boy financials suddenly ready to pay back TARP funds we see the effect of cutting salaries on the decision makers. Knowing the feds can't touch their pay if they don't have TARP funds they are using, suddenly they are able to find a few bucks in the old til to pay that back.

This brings me to having the decision makers be affected on the health care front.
As John Edwards suggested he would do if there were obstruction on health care, Obama should find a way to cut insurance and health care for congress until they pass universal health care. A form of health care that treats people like me the same as my congress critter.
Can you imagine how fast a bill would be pushed if Grassley had a heart murmur and had to pay for care out of his pocket? Or if McConnell lost his last chin and needed replacement surgery? Or if Michelle Bachman needed a quick trip to the psychiatrist at $1000/hour? (she's a tough case).

Funny how quickly things can get solved when decision makers are directly affected.

[HillbillyBob]

1. I have made that assertion since runnyraygun was

dithering round the oval office.

[rurallib]

2. I was somewhat stunned by how quickly the big boys could

find money to pay back TARP when they get a hit.
So obviously a similar move would work on congress.

[QC]

3. Proud to be the fifth rec. n/t

[Old and In the Way]

4. That would certainly cut through the BS and hiprocisy on this issue.

Tie future Congressional public healthcare to passing a similar program for all Americans...watch it pass near unanimously.

[Oregone]

5. Are you kidding me?

The operations of Congressmen would be paid for by big pharma and insurance as favors if they didn't have health care. Aside from that, it wouldn't put a dent in their massive wealth. It might be a cool symbolic act for you, but its not about to break their banks

[ThomCat]

7. Exactly. It would be one more way to bribe our politicians.

We would prohibit them from accepting gifts of doctors visits, medical tests, and prescriptions. But if they keep their medical records entirely private and everything is paid with cash there might be no record. So how would we ever know?

[polichick]

6. You bet - look at Goldman Sachs, suddenly dying to pay up!

[bvar22]

8. Similarly, if you want our Public Schools fixed,

...require everyone who draws a paycheck from Uncle to send their children to Public Schools.

[rurallib]

9. yep. Been sayin' taht ffor a long time.

[progressoid]

10. Oooh...

I love to K/R a thread from IA!

[Occam Bandage]

11. That was probably the dumbest thing John Edwards said on the campaign trail.

First, the President does not have anything remotely resembling that authority. The best he could do is ask Congress to please cut its own benefits. Secondly, most everyone in Congress is rich anyway, and ain't nobody poor. They could and would easily buy equally good health care, and it wouldn't bother them in the slightest.

[harun]

14. Unlike the rest of us whose insurance companies regularly don't pay for

care they should, Congress members wouldn't have to deal with that. They would be VIP's and not have to go through what we do.

[cali]

12. Edwards was cynically showboating

the President has zip to do with this and Congress will never cut its own healthcare. And if you think Grassley or the rest of them couldn't pay for private insurance, think again.

[Vinca]

13. Didn't he also suggest a public option that would allow people

to gravitate toward single-payer? I think that's what's got the big insurance-funded politicians in knots. They know if there is a government option that is more affordable, people will run like the wind away from the cherry picking, price gouging, immoral insurance companies.

[jsamuel]

17. yep, that is what we really need, the public option

[Romulox]

15. Pres. Obama opposes Universal Health Care. How many times does he have to say it for it to sink in?

[2Design]

16. kicking up to keep track n/t