1 Waterboard, 1 Cheney, 1 Hour = Admittance To ANY Crime

Conservative09 keeps coming back for more and to argue that his “water boarding” that he received by his friends at his home was not torture. That all the people in SERE, the CIA and whatever reporters who have actually taken the water boarding technique have not been tortured. Basically, it is like a refreshing dip in the pool.

The dude is so wrong on so many levels , but has apparently convinced himself that what he “experienced” was no big deal and that the water boarding that has been done to the “terrorists” in our charge is not torture. Somehow there is this vast disconnect that he has with reality if he believes what happened to him is the same thing that happened to our prisoners.

My argument is that asking your friends and trusted companions to water board you is not the same thing as has been done to the prisoners in our and the secret jails we used for torture. That he didn’t experience weeks or months of fear and stress positions and bug boxes and threats to rape their wife and whatever horrible tactics are used on the REAL prisoners before he wet his head.

Sorry, but it takes a total sycophantic idiot to not get it. And Conservative09 certainly don’t get it. No more than Bush, Cheney, Yoo, Bybee, Pelosi or anyone who knew about the practice gets it.

But I asked him to allow me (or better yet, some people that I know) to grab his ass and do the water baording and I gauranteed him he would sing his heart out, begging to stop the real torture.

So, when I watched this at Dandelion Salad, I knew I had to post it for Con’s own education purposes.

This clip is from a guy who experienced the SERE water baording and his opinion is quite different than Con’s. I wonder if Con would argue with this man over the water boarding issue?

How can I get close or admire someone who killed my father?

From Gorilla’s Guides I read this article and felt that if the shoe were on the other foot, we, as Americans, would feel exactly the same way. The exhilaration of being around mighty military weaponry and those cool fatigues with grenades and machine guns. But, after time, the “coolness” wears off and you are faced with the reality of the situation…

Those military men are in our country and no matter how many pictures we see of them holding Iraqi kids, their job is NOT to coddle and take care of children (as I wrote earlier this year about John Gebhardt shown above). Their job is to kill people. THAT, Mr and Mrs America, is precisely what we train, arm and pay them to do.

So, when they realize that they are endangered, they stop protecting and holding the little kids and start blasting (as is told in the story below).

In so many words, those pictures are very short snap shots of men who have a moment of humanity. But believe me that they know their job and role. When it comes to the nut cuttin’, they will drop those little kids and start blowing shit up. And the children get caught in the middle and suffer.

When someone go through any internet searching machine, pictures of US soldiers playing with children and exchanging gifts, is a very common image that brings out the question: Is that a normal behavior or just an isolated propaganda?

Since the US-led invasion in 2003, Iraq suffered from a serious economic crisis but it never took away the hope of thousands of Iraqis, mainly children countrywide.

An Image of Freedom

Iraqi children previously saw the US military image as a perfect freedom symbol during   Saddam Hussein’s regime. Foreign movies always depicted American forces as the most structured and strongest among all military troops worldwide.

When the US troops first arrived in Iraq, a relationship started to shape between them and kids, mainly in Baghdad, but after a couple of months, this nice and friendly relation gradually started to disappear.

Exchange of candies and flowers was a nice way found to alleviate the tense conditions that was ongoing in the occupied country. Before the US fighting against resistance groups in Fallujah in 2004, families were keen to let their children get closer to the American soldiers, exchange gifts or play football.

Reasons Why Kids Get Closer

“Nowadays, kids get closer to US soldiers either because they are too afraid to run away when they are approaching them or because they feel excited when seeing military equipments like tanks and so on, and these tanks weren’t probably the reason why someone at their family was killed,” said Abbas Jomaa, an aid worker working with children rights in Iraq.

“US soldiers weren’t able to build a nice relationship with the Iraqis because they lack knowledge in how to deal with human beings rather than the ones living in their own country. It strongly differs from British troops that are withdrawing from Iraq without leaving too many destructive memories among southern residents,” he added.

According to children and parents, when Iraqi kids get closer to US troops there is a hidden interest. Either because they are just looking for candies or because they have been sent as spies by resistance groups but not because they see them as heroes.

“The Idea of Seeing Them Again Gives Me Fear”

“When US troops invaded Iraq I was seven-years old and it was a fantastic feeling to get close to them, try to speak and laugh at their funny jokes and the couple of Arabic words they knew but today, the idea of seeing them again gives me fear, especially after looking behind and seeing how many people they killed since they invaded our country,” Teif Omar Al-Mishahda, 13, a student in Baghdad, said.

“My youngest brother gets excited when he sees an American soldier but he is too little to understand what they have done to us and it is better to let him think it is a good thing rather than destroy his dreams in a so early period of his life,” he claimed.

Parents say that directly after the US-invasion, they didn’t feel any kind of danger towards the proximity their children were trying to build with the US soldiers but by time, they realised that they weren’t what they had promised and so, they preferred to keep their children away.

“US soldiers try to be nice and I believe that many of them really are, but I can’t really take the risk because when they feel in danger, they wont care if my son is close to them and will leave him in the middle of the cross-fire. That exactly is what happened to my nephew who was getting some candies from them and when they felt threatened by a car passing by, they started shooting and my nephew ended handicapped,” said Ranuah al-Gayyara, 38, a housewife and mother of two.

“They were supposed to bring peace and democracy but what they gave us was just suffering, misery, pain and hunger,” she noted. “I don’t think it is clever to leave your kid close to someone like that.”

An Artificial Relationship

Maruan Jahnoon, one of the few psychologists who remained in Iraq, said that the relation between Iraqi children and US soldiers has always been artificial as well as with other country residents.

“American soldiers weren’t clever since they invaded Iraq. They had a chance to gain the trust from the majority of Iraqis. Children wanted to be close to them all the time and when they were passing by any street, children could be seen running and smiling after them. Where is that now?” he asked.

“In less than one year, US soldiers destroyed all the remaining kindness Iraqis were having towards them. If they knew how to get those childrens’ trust, families would have followed their kids’ confidence and would not have taken them away. When I ask any patient aging below fifteen years old, 95 percent of them say that they are afraid from the Americans and hope to see them out of Iraq,” he added.

“That’s what they will leave as a memory from Iraq beside death and the incapacity to help building a better life for the ones they said that had came to help improve their living conditions or build democracy,” Jahnoon said.

US soldiers aren’t allowed to speak with the press without their superiors’ authorisation, but in an anonymous conversation, an American soldier said that he carries true feelings for all Iraqi children and that he is sorry if another colleague one day was responsible of takng away the smile of an Iraqi child.

“Today I Just Wish to See Them Away”

Khalid Abdullah, 14, is one of the hundreds of children that one day fell in love with the US soldiers but today, it’s just a different story.

“On the same day, two years ago, I was playing with the soldiers and got some candies, I came home happy to tell my mother. When I entered the house I saw her crying and hitting her head and soon realised that my father had been killed one hour before by American troops while he was driving his cab. How can I get close or admire someone who killed my father?” he asked.

“The candies they gave me that day turned into something bitter. Today I just hope to see them away and never would dare speak with them again,” he added.

Source: US Soldiers and Iraqis, Friends? – By  Afif Sarhan in Iraq  – IslamOnline.net

About: Afif Sarhan is a Brazilian Lebanese freelance writer and reporter, specialized in covering humanitarian issues, politics, gender discrimination, and minority rights. He is also an IslamOnline.net correspondent in Iraq.

Guess Who Doesn’t Live In The Happiest Place In The World?

That would be YOU, America.

YOU are NOT living in the Happiest Place In The World.

Does it make you wonder where the happiest places in the world to live are located?

Gosh, could it be in all those  “Commie Pinko Countries with Universal Health Care (Socialized Medicine)“?

1. Denmark
2. Finland
3. The Netherlands
4. Sweden
5. Ireland
6. Canada
7. Switzerland
8. New Zealand
9. Norway
10. Belgium

The answer is a resounding YES. It is those very same countries. Even those Canadians…

Hmmm

h/t Neatorama

On another note, do you supposed that America is not happy (blessed) because of God. As in God Bless America?

The Rush To Protect Rush From His Rush

My aren’t the right wingers up in arms about Wanda Sykes disembowelment of Rush, the Hillbilly Heroin Addict. “The public will view this badly” (pretty much what that bastian of right wing ideology, Pat Buchanon said). Joe Scarborough was all tore up about the unfair treatment. I bet Fox will have a field day.

But you know who won’t make a big deal about it? The addict, himself, of course.

Rush may be on coke now, or may be even busting some speed balls (a little coke mixed with the Oxy’s), but he has tried desperately to avoid addressing his arrest and illegal possession of this heroin substitute. He will not want this to be brought up, at least in any uncontrolled way, because he knows that once the idiot listeners realize that the man is a crazed “heroin” addict (albet a pharmaceutical type) they cannot, in Jesus’ Name (heh) support him.

So keep it up right wingers. Keep addressing his addiction and illegal drug use. This should make for another good laugh as we watch the fat bastard fall from your ignorant graces.

Happy Mother’s Day

Originally from Lynda, this is the height of mothering. A lesson humans need to learn.

B’Man’s Sabbath Watch: Who Wrote the Bible?

more about “StumbleVideo – Who Wrote the Bible?“, posted with vodpod

Puked In My Mouth

more about “Puked In My Mouth“, posted with vodpod

Richard Noggin’ Saturday: Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN)

Lamar, you know an elephant is scared of mice…

“It’s a big problem,” Senate Republican Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander (Tenn.) said. “It’s like putting an elephant in the room with some mice and saying, ‘Okay fellas, compete.’ There wouldn’t be any mice left after a while.”

But seriously, Senator. Are you so indebted to Big Insurance and Big Meds that you are blind to your own constituent’s lack of adequate healthcare and the fact that Remote Area Medical is serving your very own fellow Tennesseans?

Have you no decency, Sir?

Surely not. But you do have Money.

h/t ThinkProgress

Follow The Money, Please! The Fed Sure As Hell Isn’t!

In follow up to Lynda’s post this morning, asking everyone to write the congressperson to support “The Federal Reserve Transparency Act”, HR 1207, I found some interesting dialog from a “Blue America” standout, Florida’s Alan Grayson (he has been honored here before as a Patriot), when addressing the Federal Reserve’s Inspector General, Elizabeth Coleman.

You know, the person at the Fed who:

“… leads a staff responsible for promoting economy, efficiency,and effectiveness within Board programs and operations. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is also responsible for preventing and detecting waste, fraud, and abuse at the Board, among other duties.”

No matter how partisan John Amato has become at Crooks and Liars, he still publishes some decent videos. It is sad that his focus is Blue State/Red State and not more related to simply what is right, honorable and what is best for this country. Supporting Dems for Dems sake is a mistake, but some people are more enamored and enriched when they choose their side. Shoot, John gets to rub elbows with the Blue Elite (how nice).

Even as that may be, the fact that C&L shared this video is great because it contains key information about just how we, as Americans (not just democRATS) are being fleeced.

I wonder how much money this cluelesslying bitch makes? 7 or 8 figures?

She is being paid way too much for being such a shitty liar.

Transparency HR 1207

Please email your representative in Congress
[email directory of Congress http://www.webslingerz.com/jhoffman/congress-email.html ]
and ask them to co-sponsor HR 1207, “The Federal Reserve Transparency Act.”
Use the sample letter below or craft your own.
Dear Representative [            ],
I encourage you to cosponsor H.R. 1207, “The Federal Reserve Transparency Act,” which would eliminate the restrictions on U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) audits of the Federal Reserve.
Since its inception, the Federal Reserve has operated without sufficient transparency or accountability to the American people. In fact, current law specifically excludes the Fed from a thorough audit or real congressional oversight. No government agency has such an utter lack of sunshine.
The Federal Reserve has created and dispersed trillions of dollars in response to our current financial crisis. Americans across the nation, regardless of their opinion on the bailouts, want to know where that money has gone and exactly how much has been spent.
H.R. 1207 would open up the Fed’s funding facilities, such as the Primary Dealer Credit Facility, Term Securities Lending Facility, and Term Asset-Backed Securities Lending Facility to congressional oversight.
Additionally, audits could include discount window operations, open market operations, and agreements with foreign central banks, such as the ongoing dollar swap operations with European central banks.
By opening all Fed operations to a GAO audit and calling for such an audit to be completed by the end of 2010, H.R. 1207 would achieve much-needed transparency of the Federal Reserve.
Sincerely,
Your NameAddressPhone number

UPDATE by BuelahMan: List of Reps that have cosigned this transparency bill thus far up to 143. There are 435 Representatives with 218 votes needed to pass.  We are just 73 votes shy in the House.

We are very close and it is almost time to start working on the Senate.

Rep Kagen, Steve [WI-8] – 2/26/2009
Rep Bachmann, Michele [MN-6] – 2/26/2009
Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. [MD-6] – 2/26/2009
Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] – 2/26/2009
Rep Rehberg, Denny [MT] – 2/26/2009
Rep Posey, Bill [FL-15] – 2/26/2009
Rep Broun, Paul C. [GA-10] – 2/26/2009
Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] – 2/26/2009
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] – 2/26/2009
Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] – 2/26/2009
Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] – 2/26/2009
Rep Garrett, Scott [NJ-5] – 3/5/2009
Rep Chaffetz, Jason [UT-3] – 3/6/2009
Rep Kingston, Jack [GA-1] – 3/6/2009
Rep Young, Don [AK] – 3/6/2009
Rep Rohrabacher, Dana [CA-46] – 3/6/2009
Rep Stearns, Cliff [FL-6] – 3/6/2009
Rep McClintock, Tom [CA-4] – 3/6/2009
Rep Heller, Dean [NV-2] – 3/6/2009
Rep Duncan, John J., Jr. [TN-2] – 3/6/2009
Rep Taylor, Gene [MS-4] – 3/6/2009
Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] – 3/9/2009
Rep Alexander, Rodney [LA-5] – 3/10/2009
Rep Price, Tom [GA-6] – 3/10/2009
Rep Petri, Thomas E. [WI-6] – 3/10/2009
Rep Foxx, Virginia [NC-5] – 3/10/2009
Rep Grayson, Alan [FL-8] – 3/11/2009
Rep Marchant, Kenny [TX-24] – 3/11/2009
Rep Wamp, Zach [TN-3] – 3/16/2009
Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] – 3/16/2009
Rep Buchanan, Vern [FL-13] – 3/17/2009
Rep Castle, Michael N. [DE] – 3/17/2009
Rep Fleming, John [LA-4] – 3/18/2009
Rep Akin, W. Todd [MO-2] – 3/19/2009
Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] – 3/19/2009
Rep Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] – 3/19/2009
Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] – 3/19/2009
Rep Lummis, Cynthia M. [WY] – 3/19/2009
Rep Burgess, Michael C. [TX-26] – 3/19/2009
Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] – 3/23/2009
Rep Deal, Nathan [GA-9] – 3/23/2009
Rep Franks, Trent [AZ-2] – 3/23/2009
Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] – 3/24/2009
Rep Blunt, Roy [MO-7] – 3/24/2009
Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13] – 3/26/2009
Rep Culberson, John Abney [TX-7] – 3/26/2009
Rep Paulsen, Erik [MN-3] – 3/30/2009
Rep Gingrey, Phil [GA-11] – 3/30/2009
Rep Terry, Lee [NE-2] – 3/30/2009
Rep Carter, John R. [TX-31] – 3/31/2009
Rep Capito, Shelley Moore [WV-2] – 4/1/2009
Rep Wittman, Robert J. [VA-1] – 4/1/2009
Rep Fallin, Mary [OK-5] – 4/2/2009
Rep Smith, Lamar [TX-21] – 4/2/2009
Rep Westmoreland, Lynn A. [GA-3] – 4/2/2009
Rep Lucas, Frank D. [OK-3] – 4/21/2009
Rep Lamborn, Doug [CO-5] – 4/21/2009
Rep Ehlers, Vernon J. [MI-3] – 4/21/2009
Rep Bilbray, Brian P. [CA-50] – 4/21/2009
Rep Pence, Mike [IN-6] – 4/21/2009
Rep Manzullo, Donald A. [IL-16] – 4/21/2009
Rep McCaul, Michael T. [TX-10] – 4/21/2009
Rep Cole, Tom [OK-4] – 4/21/2009
Rep Roe, David P. [TN-1] – 4/21/2009
Rep Herger, Wally [CA-2] – 4/21/2009
Rep Bishop, Rob [UT-1] – 4/21/2009
Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] – 4/21/2009
Rep Olson, Pete [TX-22] – 4/21/2009
Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] – 4/21/2009
Rep Luetkemeyer, Blaine [MO-9] – 4/21/2009
Rep Doggett, Lloyd [TX-25] – 4/21/2009
Rep Rooney, Thomas J. [FL-16] – 4/22/2009
Rep Massa, Eric J. J. [NY-29] – 4/22/2009
Rep Johnson, Sam [TX-3] – 4/22/2009
Rep Thompson, Glenn [PA-5] – 4/22/2009
Rep Brady, Kevin [TX-8] – 4/22/2009
Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] – 4/22/2009
Rep Shimkus, John [IL-19] – 4/22/2009
Rep Graves, Sam [MO-6] – 4/22/2009
Rep Jenkins, Lynn [KS-2] – 4/23/2009
Rep Gohmert, Louie [TX-1] – 4/23/2009
Rep Inglis, Bob [SC-4] – 4/23/2009
Rep Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9] – 4/23/2009
Rep Johnson, Timothy V. [IL-15] – 4/23/2009
Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] – 4/28/2009
Rep Biggert, Judy [IL-13] – 4/28/2009
Rep Pitts, Joseph R. [PA-16] – 4/28/2009
Rep Tiahrt, Todd [KS-4] – 4/28/2009
Rep Myrick, Sue Wilkins [NC-9] – 4/28/2009
Rep Putnam, Adam H. [FL-12] – 4/28/2009
Rep LaTourette, Steven C. [OH-14] – 4/28/2009
Rep Tiberi, Patrick J. [OH-12] – 4/28/2009
Rep Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [FL-18] – 4/28/2009
Rep Hoekstra, Peter [MI-2] – 4/28/2009
Rep Miller, Candice S. [MI-10] – 4/28/2009
Rep Granger, Kay [TX-12] – 4/28/2009
Rep Simpson, Michael K. [ID-2] – 4/28/2009
Rep Barrett, J. Gresham [SC-3] – 4/28/2009
Rep Goodlatte, Bob [VA-6] – 4/28/2009
Rep Smith, Adrian [NE-3] – 4/28/2009
Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] – 4/29/2009
Rep Hall, Ralph M. [TX-4] – 4/29/2009
Rep Kline, John [MN-2] – 4/29/2009
Rep Bono Mack, Mary [CA-45] – 4/29/2009
Rep Murphy, Tim [PA-18] – 4/29/2009
Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] – 4/29/2009
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] – 4/29/2009
Rep Upton, Fred [MI-6] – 4/29/2009
Rep Bachus, Spencer [AL-6] – 4/29/2009
Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] – 4/30/2009
Rep Neugebauer, Randy [TX-19] – 4/30/2009
Rep McHenry, Patrick T. [NC-10] – 4/30/2009
Rep McCarthy, Kevin [CA-22] – 5/4/2009
Rep Barton, Joe [TX-6] – 5/4/2009
Rep Hensarling, Jeb [TX-5] – 5/4/2009
Rep McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [WA-5] – 5/4/2009
Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] – 5/4/2009
Rep Moran, Jerry [KS-1] – 5/4/2009
Rep Cassidy, Bill [LA-6] – 5/4/2009
Rep Walden, Greg [OR-2] – 5/4/2009
Rep Crenshaw, Ander [FL-4] – 5/4/2009
Rep Campbell, John [CA-48] – 5/4/2009
Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] – 5/4/2009
Rep McHugh, John M. [NY-23] – 5/4/2009
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] – 5/6/2009
Rep Linder, John [GA-7] – 5/6/2009
Rep Aderholt, Robert B. [AL-4] – 5/6/2009
Rep Davis, Geoff [KY-4] – 5/6/2009
Rep Dent, Charles W. [PA-15] – 5/6/2009
Rep Radanovich, George [CA-19] – 5/6/2009
Rep Schock, Aaron [IL-18] – 5/6/2009
Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] – 5/6/2009
Rep Austria, Steve [OH-7] – 5/6/2009
Rep Adler, John H. [NJ-3] – 5/6/2009
Rep Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [WI-5] – 5/7/2009
Rep Lungren, Daniel E. [CA-3] – 5/7/2009
Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] – 5/7/2009
Rep Shuster, Bill [PA-9] – 5/7/2009
Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] – 5/7/2009
Rep Conaway, K. Michael [TX-11] – 5/7/2009
Rep Shadegg, John B. [AZ-3] – 5/7/2009
Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] – 5/7/2009
Rep Guthrie, Brett [KY-2] – 5/7/2009

Yes, Mrs Marsha Blackburn, I give you credit for your co-sponsorship (but I would be lying if I didn’t think you have an ulterior motive). Please prove me wrong, but I only have your past votes and pressers to go by. Thus far, you have little credibility, but dangit, I wish it would change.

The Blagojevich Committee Chaired By Max Baucus

Follow the money, honey, to see why Sen Max Baucus (Dungheap: Montana) will not allow Universal Healthcare “on the table”. Do you think that this corrupt, bought and paid for Insurance water boy will fight against his MAIN financing that gets you local Montana dumbasses to vote for him?

The “Pay to Play” Senator is clear about his intentions on his own site:

Universal Coverage: The first principle is universal coverage, every Montanan and American has a right to affordable health coverage. Universal coverage is essential if we are to make meaningful progress on the other four principles. We cannot address the health care system, if we leave a growing portion of the country behind. The solution, however, must build on the current system and must involve a public and private sector mix.

It MUST? Really? Wonder why it MUST?

Like I said, follow the money. His invitation was to “Stake Holders”. No real consideration of American workers or the public, in general. Pay to Play.

Now then, I saw a video at Dandelion Salad which continues the gist of my post from yesterday regarding the heroic 8 people who demanded that Universal, Single-Payer Healthcare be “PUT BACK ON THE TABLE“. The Real News Network’s video illuminated the lies that these corrupt, deep pocketed pawns say (and the American Sheople take as truth and “Gospel”) and offered the truth in answer to those lies.

The video quotes from a Harvard School of Public Health Feb 2008 Press release and shows poll results of how Americans feel about “Socialized Medicine”, broken down by Party affiliation. From the poll (just to show you that a majority of those who believe they understand what “Socialized medicine” is, feel like it would IMPROVE our system). Sorry to take away the lying MSM meme of “Americans are against it” (no I’m not).

To begin…
Q1 Politicians sometimes talk about “socialized medicine”. How well do you understand what this phrase means? Would you say [READ LIST]?
67% VERY/SOMEWHAT WELL (NET)
34% Very well
33% Somewhat well
31% NOT VERY/NOT AT ALL WELL (NET)
15% Not very well
15% Not at all
2% Don’t know/Refused
(Asked of those who understand what socialized medicine means “very well”, “somewhat well” or “not very well”; n=886)

Q2. So far as you understand the phrase, do you think that if we had socialized medicine in this country that the health care system would be better or worse than what we have now?
45% Better
39% Worse
4% About the same (volunteer)
12% Don’t know/Refused

When Sen Jim Bunning of Kentucky weighed in (heavy laden with his largest campaign contribution coinage in his pockets from Big Insurance), he told what is termed down here in Tennessee, “A Damned Lie” when he said that when he looks at “Government Single Payer” healthcare in other countries like the UK, Canada, Sweden, etc that he sees MUCH higher tax rates on workers (“60% and Higher”). In other words, government run, “socialized medicine” causes very high tax rates for the workers of those countries compared to us.

But what is the truth about that claim?

The truth is found in the OECD Fact Book.

Canada 33.3%

UK 32.6%

Sweden 50.1% (but they also get free college for everyone and many other “social services” that we pay for out of our pocket, or double the unemployment insurance protection than our own government provides).

NONE are the Big Money’s (or the “Owned” Sen from Kentucky’s) lie of “60% or higher”.

But just what IS the American tax rate (before our expensive health care, college and other “social services” we pay for are factored)?

30.4%

Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a tax burden of ALMOST as much as they do, but we STILL pay for our healthcare in premiums, out of pocket and the cattle train mentality of our extremely lucrative medical industry (and the health insurance companies that control it via their high dollar campaign contributions to the very ones who keep the only viable option OFF THE TABLE).

Now what does our 2-3% “savings” in tax rate get us? Besides the $.31 of every Healthcare Dollar going to the Big Insurance Company’s overhead and outrageous salaries and bonuses?

Well, it gets us more dead babies on arrival. Yes, that’s right… the American infant mortality rate is higher than all of these “socialized medicine” controlled countries. (On a side note, Cuba beats us, too) Along with France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Denmark, Austria, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Japan, S Korea, Israel, The Czech Republic, Portugal, Australia, (do I have to go on)…

US 6.26 out of 1,000 births

Canada 5.04

Sweden (that monsterous “Socialized Medicine/College/Worker Friendly” country?

2.75 infant deaths out of 1,000

(Do you understand what this means? That those bastards in Sweden have twice as good an infant mortality rate, get all their college paid for and are very well treated as workers and citizens, while we… well, you know what you are going through)

These scumbags are liars and well paid for it. Sen Baucus can giggle about “needing more police”, but if you ignorant sheep herders from Montana would just wake up to his bullshit, we could rid ourselves of another Big Money crony set to protect his coffers and fuck his fellow citizens. I’m working on my sorry assed Senator Alexander. Step up and do your part.

We need to rid our country of these slimy assholes enriched by ill-gotten gain that leaches off of you and your families’ health.

Soothe Your Pain

Don’t like beatbox music? Try again, please?

DubFX

h/t Chycho

B’Man’s Patriot Watch: Kevin Zeese

In follow up to the post yesterday (Ralph Nader’s letter) discussing Disruption of Congress, I wanted to show you what a true Patriot does. He kept calm, cool and collected… even as they hauled him away. He let them know exactly what the MAJORITY of Americans want… Single Payer, Universal Health Care. And it is NOT acceptable to keep the majority view from being discussed and debated. It is who paid the Senate who get to play. It cannot be any easier put than to say that those entities bought their way to that table and the desire of the majority of Americans is being disregarded.

Mr Zeese, Thank You!

Thanks to all 8 of you who stood up and stood in for us all.

Pay to Play Politics is Unacceptable for Health Care ReformBy Kevin Zeese

Yesterday morning, eight doctors, lawyers and other activists stood up for single payer health care. We stood up during a hearing before the Senate Finance Committee. The hearing was only to hear from the insurance industry, pharmaceutical companies, HMO’s and business interests. They did not want to hear about a real national health care plan.

I was one of the eight.

We stood up to the private health insurance industry, to the corporate power in Congress and demanded a single payer national health care plan where everybody is in and nobody is out. We want a plan that ensures the peoples right to choose their own doctor, hospital and health care treatment. We want a plan that will control costs – something that cannot be done unless the insurance industry, HMO’s and pharmaceutical companies are challenged.

The Senate Finance Committee which has taken millions from the insurance industry, HMO’s, pharmaceutical industry – those that profit from health care in America only scheduled their donors to speak. It was pay to play on display in Washington, DC before the corrupt Senate Finance Committee.

We stood up and told the truth. The Emperor Has No Clothes we said. We were arrested and charged with “disruption of Congress” a euphemism for telling the truth in Congress.

You can see the C-SPAN and other video on our new website ProsperityAgenda.US. You can see the news reports from The Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, Politico, Democracy Now and National Public Radio which all carried stories about the protest. Prosperity Agenda is an economic justice project of the Campaign for Fresh Air and Clean Politics. You can help us develop an economy for all, including a health care system for all, by participating – share your comments, ideas and strategies. Join our effort.

Chairman Baucus, invited his major donors to the table: the health insurance industry was there, so were the Chamber of Commerce, the right wing Heritage Foundation, the Business Roundtable, Blue Cross Blue Shield and corporate liberals who have sold out the people like Andy Stern, Ron Pollack and AARP.

But the most popular and efficient health care reform was not at the table. It was not mentioned even though it is the one favored by a majority of doctors, nurses, economists and the American people. Only those who paid to play were included.

For the last few weeks people have been calling and emailing Senator Baucus and other Finance Committee members urging them to include single payer advocates. We were told – no, no one for single payer would be allowed to speak.

So, yesterday, at 10 a.m., the Baucus Eight, led by Prosperity Agenda and other single payer advocates, took to the Senate Finance Committee. We confronted the committee in front of a room filled with their campaign donors, in front of the American people watching live on C-SPAN and we told the truth. Three doctors joined us, spoke up and got arrested. The effort was endorsed by Physicians for a National Health Program – doctors are standing up for their patients saying “single payer now.”

I focused on corporate corruption of the senate and told the senators we need them to put the necessities of the people before the profits of their donors. We do not need a pay to play Blogojevich committee with a Blogojevich Chairman putting on phony hearings to fool the public…

Read the rest at AfterDowningStreet

Disruption Of Congress

Yesterday morning, eight doctors, lawyers and other activists stood up to Senator Max Baucus.

And the private health insurance industry.

And the corporate liberals in Congress.

The eight activists demanded that single payer – everybody in, nobody out, free choice of doctor and hospital – be put on the table.

And as a result they were arrested.

And charged with a so-called “disruption of Congress.”

The Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, Politico, Democracy Now and National Public Radio all carried stories about the protest.

C-Span carried it live.

And it was widely disseminated on the Internet.

Baucus crafted a hearing to kick off the health care debate in the Senate yesterday where 15 witnesses would be at the table to discuss health care reform.

The insurance industry was at the table.

The Business Roundtable was at the table.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce was at the table.

Blue Cross Blue Shield was at the table.

The Heritage Foundation was at the table.

And corporate liberals like Andy Stern, Ron Pollack, and AARP were at the table.

But not one person who stood for what the majority of Americans, doctors, nurses, and health economists want – single payer – was at the table.

Not one.

When I heard about this corporate line-up last week, I called the office of Senator Baucus.

And politely asked that, as a matter of fairness, a single payer doctor be allowed to testify.

I was told -  no way, Ralph.

The deal is done.

So, yesterday, at 10 a.m., the Baucus Eight, led by Single Payer Action and other single payer groups, took to the Senate Finance Committee.

And directly and respectfully confronted a room full of corporate lobbyists.

And corporate controlled Senators.

And again asked that a group of doctors who were in the room to support Medicare for all be allowed to testify.

The answer again – no, no, and no.

Remember what Senator Richard Durbin said last week?

Durbin said that the banks “own” the Congress.

To which we might add – the health insurance industry and the drug industry own the Senate.

Faxing, writing, and e-mailing is not getting it done.

Enough is enough.

Time for action.

This is a winnable issue.

But the American people need to focus on 535 members of Congress.

And get mobilized.

Single Payer Action is at your service to get the job done.

So, donate now — $8, $18, $80, or $800.

To honor the Baucus Eight – who all wore black yesterday in memory of the more than 20,000 Americans who – according to the Institute of Medicine – die every year from lack of health insurance.

And to fuel a citizen action movement that will deliver single payer to the American people – sooner not later.

Together, we can break the corporate stranglehold on Congress.

And deliver health care for all.

Single payer.

More comprehensive. More efficient. More humane. More peace of mind.

Let’s get it done.

Onward to single payer,

Ralph Nader

PS: Remember, if you donate $100 or more by May 14, 2009, we will send you two galvanizing books that concisely detail the case for single payer in America.

• Health Care Meltdown by Robert LeBow, MD, revised and updated by Dr. C. Rocky White – a Republican doctor so fed up with the needless suffering caused by the insurance industry that he become a leading advocate for single payer.

  and
  
  

• Ten Excellent Reasons for National Health Care, Edited by Mary O’Brien and Martha Livingston.
  

This two-book offer ends 11:59 p.m. May 14, 2009.

So don’t miss out. Donate now.

We’re building one million Americans strong for single payer.

Please share this e-mail with friends and family.

Urge them to sign up and donate at singlepayeraction.org.

Jesus Loves The Little Children… Some Of The Children Of The World

Americans stand back and allow the children of the world to die mercilessly… in the name of democracy or freedom. It is as if we have lost all morality as a nation when we would turn our heads and act as if nothing is wrong with our collective disregard.

I saw a post of pictures at AttendingTheWorld called Israeli Children vs Palestinian Children that made me pause to consider the mindset of people who bring their children up in a world that is primarily focused on raising them to be killers (America is guilty, as well, but maybe not quite as “in-your-face” militarism as the Israelis are). Sure, we have Armed Forces gatherings where our fly overs are rejoiced as some sort of thrill gathering. Yes, we have gun shows and I am sure there are the radicals who bring up their children with guns made solely for killing people (I, myself have never owned an assault weapon and I have one weapon designed solely for killing people, a 9mm pistol… otherwise, I own hunting weapons). But when I see such pictures as these, I can’t help but think that they are intentionally bringing their own very children up to kill other human beings… what other reason is there for this?

or this?

or this?

Can you imagine letting your daughter sign a bomb that you know is heading to kill other people, especially children in a closed up barrel shoot scenario as the Israelis had the Gazans? Can you imagine the touchy feely of your son or daughter as he feels up a machine gun or a sniper’s weapon that may be used to take out a pregnant Palestinian woman and child. I have never even allowed my daughter to see any gun I have, much less handle them in any way.

Can you imagine the hatred associated with a picture like this below, where school kids are harassing and terrorizing a woman? Can you imagine YOUR child acting in this behavior (my Mom would slap the piss out of me if I didn’t say “Yes, Ma’am” or “No, Ma’am” or not hold the door open for a lady). If my daughter so much as has a cross word with an adult, she is punished (she responds quite well to “time outs” at this point, so hitting her is unnecessary and foolish).

I can tell you this about my household, I teach my daughter to respect any person, regardless of religion, color or whatever “funny” head gear they have on. If I were to ever catch my daughter treating ANYONE like this, time out wouldn’t be enough and I would wear her ass out and seek some sort of mental help in all likelihood, for this simply ain’t right. (I would note that these children’s parents are the ones that need mental help)

There is no end to photos of Palestinian kids being splattered across school yards and even in their homes. If not killed outright, they lose their homes and families and are left to fend for themselves in many cases (can you imagine a 6 or 8 year old being forced to deal with his dead parents and then try to live going forward)? Can you imagine what this does to their mind? How the murderous activity of the Jewish hatred towards a Muslim is only causing even more enemies?

What is really ironic is that neither of these folks will be “saved” and “go to heaven” (according to the mainstream Christian tenants) so to many torture loving “Christians”, it is all canon fodder that matters nothing. A dead Jew or Muslim is hardly worth a tear or sympathy, right?

America has lost her morality. The past 8 years of complicity and lackadaisical attitude towards these “rag heads” proves this beyond any shadow of a doubt, but it is much older and sadder than  that. We have, ourselves, been inundated with war cries and got our Patriotic juices flowing from lies and deceit. We ok’d the very same killings of Muslims in Iraq and elsewhere, but here, we seem to like to keep the death at a distance (preferring to use drones and missiles and keep the personal nature of murder at arm’s length… at least until they are teens).

We should be ashamed, but the truth is that we are just like them in many ways.

I am ashamed that we allow it, that we furnish the weapons and money for them to carry it out and that we are not American enough anymore (but more Zionist than American) to stand for what is just and decent in the world.

I am ashamed that you are NOT ashamed.