Stupid is as stupid does at Newsweek.

I hope Rand runs and I hope we use it to spend the entire campaign pointing out how heartless, inhuman, selfish, nasty, and deplorable a philosophy his namesake has put forth as a good thing. It is the fundamental philosphy that led us to Alan Greenspan and Milton Friedman and the disasters of selfishness capitalism.

Can one be a Randian and a Christian? A Jew? A Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or secular humanist?

No to all of those.

Randian philosphy is the singular philosophy that rejects the Golden Rule as idiocy for the rubes.

Let's go!

I was actually sitting in the waiting area of my Republican congressman Tim Murphy's office in DC waiting to meet with him, with all this on CSPAN 3 on the TV. He was there for part of it, but did not speak. I was to meet with him when he got back. I thought, "Holy crap! He's gonna be fired up and come back here and pick a fight with me."

I was so pleasantly surprised. He didn't even mention it. We had a very good discussion on HC reform and he was very knowledgable and in sync with my goals as a progressive physician to improve health care and expand coverage. He had ideological antipathy to the public option, I surmised, and so said he couldn't vote for the house bill.

BUT, I think there is really room for persuasion for moderates like him and the Blue Dogs. I think the most important thing to do is emphasize the moral case: If we don't do something, another 45K will die next year and the year after that. This is bigger than an ideologic distaste for part of a bill that the large majority of Americans want.

While I was in the office, calls were coming in on HC reform. If you have given up on your Republican or Blue Dog Congress person, DON"T.

Make the call!

Cheers,

KR beat me to it, but clearly the 24 hour news networks had lots of time to cover and cover and cover and cover some more this oh so unimportant event, and yet, on vital national issues, only seems to have a few minutes to "debate", none to actually fct check, and always seems to have to "leave it there."

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-october-12-2009/cnn-leaves-it-there

I was one of the Doctors for America who attended the Rose garden ceremony.

For those of you dismissing our expertise, you are being too reactionary. 8 of the 10 largest physicians membership organizations are backing HB 3200 (more or less):

http://cmhmd.blogspot.com/2009/10/american-psychiatric-association-voted.html

This is huge. You will hear from some of the conservative rank and file of these organizations saying the organization doesn't speak for them, but the tide is now becoming overwhelming, so don't bash all physicians.

Regarding the cardiologists, the American College of cardiology was at the WH too, they are backing reform. The letter from teh cardiologist posted here is complaining of proposed medicare cuts in their reimbursement. That is really a separate issue, and most of the rest of the profession aren't crying too severely about this at the moment.

Finally, doctors want to do the right thing this time:

http://www.newamerica.net/blog/new-health-dialogue/2009/health-reform-doctors-want-do-right-thing-14112

Even thoughwe are not economists, we ARE in the trenches and do see the horrors and tragedies this system inflicts on our patients every day.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/9/1/775411/-A-few-anecdotes-about-medical-care-in-America...

Cheers,

"tens of thousands" as well and quotes DC emergency services saying "upwards of 75K.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125276685577405975.html?mod=rss_Today%27s_Most_Popular#printMode

If so, HB 3200 with a public option should be a done deal:

http://cmhmd.blogspot.com/2009/09/organized-medicine-on-reform.html

Unfortunatley, just as at the town halls, the loudest and those who perceive themselves most aggrieved get the attention.

Cheers,

And, in contrast, from the former British Medical Association Chairman at the time, Alfred Cox, "I have examined the Bill and it looks to me uncommonly like the first step, and a big one, to national socialism as practised in Germany. The medical service there was early put under the dictatorship of a "medical fuhrer" The Bill will establish the minister for health in that capacity."

Conservatives, always so prescient.

PS. I did this on my blog in June, before the Limbaugh Nazi stuff was much on the radar.

http://cmhmd.blogspot.com/2009/06/winston-churchill-comm-symp.html

Cheers,