This country has been in the stranglehold of corporate interests for almost 50 years - it's been rising and rising, and with the rollback on consolidation of the media by a few (conservative) owners, the stranglehold is complete. It's like Alien with a facelock on us.

One of the prime reasons that Obama was "electable" - other than winning the popular vote of course - and has had relatively positive press coverage, is that the powers that be recognize that we were in a death spiral. The Bush era was killing us, ignoring massive problems was killing us, incompetence was killing us - and Wall Street (and Main Street) know this.

They also know that Obama is bottom-line a pragmatist, not a revolutionary. Hence his modest progress in healthcare, and probably in every other legislation he tries for. Ideology aside, he is correcting an extreme imbalance - the weight of the monied few is ready to topple into the ocean, for lack of a solid, healthy, middle-class base. It's simple economics as well as geometry. If we hadn't gotten an inclusive, reasonable, smart, and enormously positive influence into leadership, we would have died as a force in the world. McCain - the ultimate angry white man - would have killed us, and Palin is a step toward the same white man's death wish. An inexorable death of the US as a power - job drain, brain drain, disappearing middle class, worthless money - isn't in anyone's best interests of course. So we will find a way, with Obama as our great inclusivist, to use our resources more effectively.

The only issue of substance in opposing healthcare reform is the loss of runaway corporate profits, i.e. the tripling of CEO salaries, the doubling of average costs. But those corporate "losses" are more than offset by, on the other hand, the specter of more and more bankruptcies rendering our bank-owned housing stock useless. Healthcare for all makes sense, it makes sense to pay for it sensibly (to spread the risk as widely as possible) and to not have CEO's bonuses and perks and such bring down our way of life. It makes sense to take care of the country - its people - so we don't disappear as an entity. Therefore it will pass.

However - while it makes perfect (Wall Street) sense to take a little of the sheen off the corporate hide for the good of the many, there's no way in hell that we will be able to dismantle one of the world's most voracious institutions in one fell swoop - the American corporate healthcare system. Single Payer means completely chucking the system, and as much as I'd like to see that, it ain't wimping out to know your enemy.

If you want to dismantle that you've got to bring some dynamite, not a gavel. But I will definitely bring the fuse. Deal?

With you on that. Wrote everyone I could right after I read Sebelius' comments. Calling in the morning. Everyone has to use real fingers and dimes.

Time for zero tolerance on healthcare mis-info subterfuge.

How can something embarrass you if you don't care about it?

and keep the Public Option. Howard Dean is right, and as the only doctor among us, he should know.

Here's the Dean petition again. Thanks -le_chat_rose.

"Sign the Petition

If you want a public option, please sign this petition to let your representatives know: http://standwithdrdean.com/

Let's do this.

-- le_chat_rose"

Nice little message from Dr. Dean when you sign too.

1. White House Comments (always busy, keep trying):

1-202-456-1111

website for emails: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

2. Secretary Sebelius' Comments:

(toll free) 1-877-696-6775

website for emails: http://www.hhs.gov/ContactUs.html

Speak up or we get what we get.

You've lit a fire. Keep the hard truth coming.

No Public Option is a dealbreaker.

1. White House Comments (always busy, keep trying):

1-202-456-1111

website for emails: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

2. Secretary Sebelius' Comments:

(toll free) 1-877-696-6775

website for emails: http://www.hhs.gov/ContactUs.html

3. Dr. Dean's Petition (thanks -le_chat_rose!):

http://standwithdrdean.com/

You get a nice message from Dr. Dean after signing.

No Public Option is a dealbreaker. Speak up or we get what we get.

Wall Street is getting healthier, the stimulus IS working, just not across the board. But it's started, whether people know it or not. Large construction projects are starting up, but individual homeowners are still strapped. It's going to be a different economy, but something is happening.

Also - France, Germany and Japan are all climbing out of recession this month (BBC NEWS). Not a function of our stimulus, but everything is connected.

(Pardon for the multiple posting)

1. White House Comments (always busy, keep trying):

1-202-456-1111

website for emails: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

2. Secretary Sebelius' Comments:

(toll free) 1-877-696-6775

website for emails: http://www.hhs.gov/ContactUs.html

3. Dr. Dean's Petition (thanks -le_chat_rose!):

http://standwithdrdean.com/

You get a nice message from Dr. Dean after signing.

No Public Option is a dealbreaker. Speak up or we get what we get.