I am for healthcare for all. 

Unfortunately there is a large number of people who are against it.  Thus the battle.  Some people don't want to pay for someone else's health care.  There are most likely people out there who don't want the libraries either. 

Those who have should share  a bit with those who don't.  Egaliteranism = share the wealth.  I abhoar I've-got-mind-now-you-get-yours attitudes.  Kate

be careful with the egalitarianism -

i was once attacked verbally (and nearly physically) by one of these self-proclaimed do-gooders with the line of:

"Oh you're soooooo egalitarianism.  Don't go Gandhi on me."

not kidding.  the egalitarianism word always makes me laugh for that reason.  (had to conclude my attacker was mentally ill and not worth bothering with)

be careful skd0333 - you may not have witnessed the level of lunancy that exists on these boards and in these hoods.  though i suspect you have.

and i do still find egalitarianism a reasonable position in matters of community and working towards tolerance of others.

peace  

Public libraries, public fire departments, public streets, public schools, public sewers, sidewalks...this is the issue here.  Who here would call this WELFARE????

Don't buy into the scare tactic words like WELFARE AND SOCIALISM, and when you think of those words, think: the fire department, the socialized, welfare fire department.  I mean, say that out loud and you'll get laughed out of the room.

What a ridiculous notion, and yet here we are giving Sarah Palin all the air time she desires to spread copious amounts of disinformation and mass paranoia.

Why have we allowed the anti-human, psychotic, blood-thirsty, violent, ultra-right to beat our psyches to a pulp, to such an extent that Americans equate civility with being lazy, cowardly and bad?

Are you lazy because you aren't a fireman, a librarian, a street paver?  This is the psych-op of the WRONG party; drawing the mental equation that welfare = lazy...because public healthcare is welfare.  Right?

Get it...when people think public healthcare, they've been trained to be humiliated and feel ashamed...mind-fucked into believing they will become communist, welfare queens.

What do you hear when you hear someone being called socialist???  Welfare criminal???  How does it feel to be called those things???  Isn't it kinda like being called a fag or homo or lesbo or nigger or white trash???

Remember Bush's Freedom Fries?

But the message is clear, America supports public fire departments and libraries because it's the sanest approach to the survival of civil society.  Thus, abundant access to healthcare for all is the logical next step toward restoring this nation to it's former glory.

How good would it make you feel to know that we are a nation that takes care of it's people; that we stick together as a family!?!?!?!

Yes, I agree.  But it all starts at the local level.  Thus my outrage at the use of the words 'dependency kick' by someone opposed to my view about the noise barriers.

See, it all depends on whether or not YOU want or need the service.  If you want it or need it, if it somehow benefits you, such as roads, firefighters, police protection, etc. then it is okay for everyone to pay for it,  if you don't need it, or have enough money to pay for it without any help, then it is welfare or socialism.  Could the key to change be cognizance of the needs of others besides ourselves?

I agree that medical care is a basic human right.  But, there are many who don't.  Thus, the debate.  I just wish Obama would stop trying to be so diplomatic and stop trying to please everyone and do what he knows must be done. 

Obama won by not wavering and repeating his message. The reaction to the health care debate is being fueled by the insurance and related interests. The difference here is that he has to get congress to agree with him and they are being lobbied heavily against passage of reform. 

He is such a real change from 8 years of GW. I am still in awe of a president that can not only speak in complete sentences but walk while doing so. 

He is a politician, none the less, and he is fair game as that is how he is playing it. 

While I must confess, having a person in the White House who is handsome, articulate, digitally saavy and non-White, is rather refreshing.  It's certainly different, if nothing else.  However, for as much as President Obama's supporters, myself included, like to champion his attributes (and there are plenty) we must not allow ourselves to be seduced into compliancy, complacency, complicity and silence.

Obama is certainly a smooth customer, who is most in his element when sweet talking--calming the masses.  That said, is that always the medicine we always need?

It is my opinion that being sedate 24-7 is not the ultimate panacea.  For as an artist, I can promise you this, passion, force and laser focus are essential tenents for success.  Yet, let's not confuse this with being a wild-eyed fool.  Because one can be passionate, without being violent, while also being sane; living a healthy, productive, sustainable life.

Is it taboo to criticize President Obama?  Am I a heretic for implying that he might be a typical, card-carrying demo-corporate-crat?

The Democrats may not be as greedy as the Republicans, but they are notorious for being cowards.  And looking at Obama's track record thus far, he seems to fit right in; never missing the chance to cave to the big money interest and power-elite.

He caved on the bank issue, giving trillions of taxpayersd dollars to private interests...cowardice.  He caved on releasing all the Abu Graib photos...cowardice.  He caved on providing relief to families struggling with forclosures...cowardice.  He caved on mountaintop removal--the coal industry...cowardice.  He caved on warrantless wiretapping...cowardice.

Need I continue?

Obama wrote a book about audacity and hope.  Sure sure...I feel the hope.  I even feel the love.  But where's the audacity?  Is this man really practicing what he preaches.

Obama promised his supporters some home runs, but as far as I can tell, the Bush crowd is still getting every thing they want, while the rest of us are privy to yet another pep talk from Obama, all the while he fumbles and fails to catch yet another pop-up ball in the outfield.

Come on butterfingers, get with it!

Popular content--check the sidebar at REALNEO and you will know the content drawing the most visitors to this site.  We don't rig the numbers.  The PD uses the Most Comments feature to direct viewers attention.  Where are the numbers according to the PD?  All sports, all day, all night?  What about Connie Schultz's recent articles on healthcare reform with a 322 and 443 comments? 

Does this not trump the 287 comments on who wins the Browns QB competition?

Issues that matter? 

In my prior comment, I was talking about how President Obama seems to mask his cowardice with charm and diplomacy.  Perhaps that analysis is a bit oversimplified, but I stand by it.  And it seems that Robert Reich, former Labor Secretary, shares in my belief.  From an commentary he wrote today, in part he says:

"The President's centeredness, calm, and dignity inspire trust but also suggest a certain lack of combativeness, a reluctance to express indignation, and an unwillingness to identify enemies -- resulting in a tendency toward compromise even at the early stages of controversy."

Yep, that pretty much sums it up.  Hey...look, I'm all for keepin' the peace and warm fuzzy hugs, but when you've got a cabal of feral bullies on your hands, a warm fuzzy hug is just going to get you a black eye, which in the end, might be what it takes to wake you up to the real importance of healthcare for all.

Reich is so fired up about the healthcare fiasco, he's now calling for a march on Washington.  I'm willing to let the President slide from time to time, but on this issue, all I know is, he better bring home the bacon or I might have to put my marching shoes on and join Mr. Reich. 

So forget the hemming and hawing, and shirtless pictures of Obama on the beach.  I voted for a winner; someone who would stand up to the likes of Cheney-Palin.

I voted for YES WE CAN. 

I voted for some accountability too.  Somthing that Obama was all about once upon a time, as Allison Kilkinney reminds us of in here recent piece where she quotes Obama saying:

Back in 2005, Obama wrote a diary entry over at Daily Kos where he wrote "In order to beat [the Republican Party,] it is necessary for Democrats to get some backbone, give as good as they get, brook no compromise, drive out Democrats who are interested in 'appeasing' the right wing, and enforce a more clearly progressive agenda."

  What's next?  No ugly people need apply?  What constitutes "fat?"  The Clinic's Toby Cosgrove wishes the law would allow him to discriminate in hiring based on weight.
 

 and lets not even get into all the surveillance he has allowed to continue, UNABATED, despite his campaign promises - totally and completely within his purview.

as for single payer - they didn't even allow them to sit at the table - they were kicked out and arrested at the hearings because the only way they could get their voice/opinions heard was to disrupt.

give me a fricking break - call your congressman.... the people AREN"T taking the lead on this - the industries are - with a stranglehold.