COMMENTS FROM WOOLSEY HEALTHCARE MEETING

[HowHasItComeToThis]

WHY DIDN'T I SEE THIS TOPIC. I WAS THERE ARE 445 FOR MEETING TO START AT 6PM. LEFT AS THERE WAS NO SPACE.


Comments

I was there at the event and the crowd seemed evenly divided, but those for a public option were scattered in the crowd, quiet and seemed alternately bemused and saddened by their fellow citizens who oppose a public option.

Too many of the dissenters were: red-faced screamers, not there to listen, only venting fear and selfishness.. and hate. How easily they insult with name-calling, how glibly they like to pump fingers, bully and bray, how smugly they talk of how hard-working and independent they are, as if others don't work hard, as if they don't take "handouts" like social security and benefit from "government interference" like public education.


I think they are dupes of the insurance companies and hypocrites. They weren't concerned about murder and waste in Iraq, the massive Bush debt or the Republican Party campaign to poison our democratic process of governing. This shouting match called a public debate doesn't seem to be about health care at all, but a health insurance industry that spends 1.4 million dollars a day on lobbying must be pretty pleased with what their money has wrought.

Posted by: cheetah | Tuesday, September 01, 2009 at 11:58 AM

I was there, and all anyone who opposed the health care reform did was taunt, laugh, name call, boo, and criticize during peoples speeches and questions. It is easy to ridicule and taunt when you know nothing other than what fox news tells you, there should be peace and order, or at least respect for all the people of America, but alas the people who believe mail, education, libraries, and other such programs are a waste of time, drowned the room with hate and prejudice. I talked personally to some of these people and found nothing but closed doors! its sad to think such people have a say in my future.

Posted by: Brandon Karns | Tuesday, September 01, 2009 at 01:09 PM

this whole manufactured dissent just breaks my heart... to think that it is happening here in Northern California makes me realize just how incredibly successful the corporatization of our MSM has been in the mega-brainwash of America.

Posted by: Deborah Phelan | Tuesday, September 01, 2009 at 01:29 PM

I am a disabled American taxpayer, whose long-term private disability was terminated by the Hartford insurance company (recipient of $17 billion in taxpayer bailout.) Thanks to a government program called Social Security, I have disability coverage and health insurance. My father, a veteran of World War 2, Korea and Vietnam, was covered by another government program called the Veterans Administration. Don't listen to the insurance companies, Rush Limbaugh and the right wing kooks: we can have health coverage for everyone without increasing the Bush-Cheney deficit - it will lower healthcare costs, provide all Americans the coverage enjoyed by Congress and our military and retired, and it won't kill Grandma or drive insurance companies out of business. Yes, we can do this - together!

Posted by: Marc Matheson | Tuesday, September 01, 2009 at 02:53 PM

of course the further north you get from the golden gate bridge.... the more angry and illiterate the people get...

Posted by: wagon | Tuesday, September 01, 2009 at 03:49 PM

Too bad some of those staunch opponents to a public option aren't revealed for what they really are: they are lower-level insurance company employees (not the famous, fat cat insurance CEOs). Yes, they're panicked, middle income insurance employees and their relatives-maybe, who are afraid a public option will eventually wipe-out their jobs. I'd bet on it.

Posted by: Regi Naomi | Tuesday, September 01, 2009 at 03:51 PM

I was there yesterday too but only made it to the outer room where I experienced many red faced anngry people shouting talking points about communism, illegal immigrants , and anything else to shut down talk about the bill. I wanted to tell my story of losing my group insurance 3 years ago which left me with the 'option' of paying a $1700. a month COBRA or going without insurance. I am a quadriplegic I couldn't go without so a home equity line paid my ins for 3 years. Under the proposed plans I would have had real options as I couldn't be denied individual plan. Don't believe the deathers, the plan would help the disabled like me.

Posted by: Nicole Leschinsky | Tuesday, September 01, 2009 at 04:28 PM

Why people are so threatened by a public option is beyond my comprehension. Maybe it's because THEY can't comprehend the public option. I'll help; It's called medicare! We can continue down this path of gouging the consumer while 14,000 people lose health insurance a day. Or we can provide a public option and reform private insurance so that quality care is available to everyone at a much lower cost. It's that simple.

Posted by: Bill Orally | Tuesday, September 01, 2009 at 07:00 PM

I was there yesterday. I had a question i wanted to ask about Prevention. i was so frightened by the crowd, that all i could say when I had the chance was, thank you Lynn for your bravery.

Posted by: genevieve foster | Tuesday, September 01, 2009 at 10:59 PM

We need comprehensive reform that attacks healthcare costs. An all-in government solution needs to be a last resort. We need to be able to provide individuals with co-op options, multi-state insurance options etc. The current discussion is a last resort and I'm currently against the single payer plan. Most of my counter parts seem to think the Healthcare system is fine and dandy - that is false. I pay a ridiculous amount of money for my individual insurance compared to an equally healthy individual at a business which buys corporate/business health plans with large subsidies.

I think the country should take a hard look at John McCain's proposal which give dollars back to the public and attacks the healthcare costs versus raising taxes and taking more money out of the pockets of Americans. However, these real issues won't be discussed as long as people are yelling and screaming and carrying guns to rallys.

Posted by: Green Elephant | Wednesday, September 02, 2009 at 06:56 AM

The whole insurance industry needs to be revamped. We do not need to have a government healthplan as we are not a Socialist Country but a Republic - not the USSR.

Since the 1990s this has been addressed in the last years of President Bush (papa). When the deregulations affected the Insurance companies - their rates, etc. started increasing and what they were covering would decrease.

I am against this health plan wholeheartedly. I believe a plan like the VA plan would be ideal and cost-effective.

Posted by: Hinda Blas | Wednesday, September 02, 2009 at 09:38 AM