Lets End the War on Drugs !

March 31, 2010 08:38 AM

Let's End the War on Drugs
By: Sting

Whether it's music, activism or daily life, the one ideal to which I have always aspired is constant challenge -- taking risks, stepping out of my comfort zone, exploring new ideas. I am writing because I believe the United States must do precisely that -- and so, therefore, must all of us -- in the case of what has been the most unsuccessful, unjust yet untouchable issue in politics: the War on Drugs.
The War on Drugs has failed -- but it's worse than that. It is actively harming our society. Violent crime is thriving in the shadows to which the drug trade has been consigned. People who genuinely need help can't get it. Neither can people who need medical marijuana to treat terrible diseases. We are spending billions, filling up our prisons with non-violent offenders and sacrificing our liberties.
For too long, the War on Drugs has been a sacrosanct undertaking that was virtually immune from criticism in the public realm. Politicians dared not disagree for fear of being stigmatized as "soft on crime." Any activist who spoke up was dismissed as a fringe element. But recently, I discovered just how much that's changing--and that's how I came to speak out on behalf of an extraordinary organization called the Drug Policy Alliance. I learned of DPA, as they're known, while reading what once might have been the unlikeliest of places for a thoughtful discussion of the Drug War -- the op-ed page of the Wall Street Journal.
It featured an op-ed that dared to say in print -- in a thoughtful, meticulous argument -- what everyone who has seriously looked at the issue has known for years: the War on Drugs is an absolute failure whose cost to society is increasingly unbearable and absolutely unjustifiable.
The author of that piece is a former Princeton professor turned activist named Ethan Nadelmann, who runs DPA. I was so impressed by his argument that I began reading up on the group. Their work spoke directly to my heart as an activist for social justice -- because ending the War on Drugs is about exactly that.
For years, the Drug War has been used as a pretext to lock people in prison for exorbitant lengths of time -- people whose "crimes" never hurt another human being, people who already lived at the margins of society, whose voices were the faintest and whose power was the least. Civil liberties have been trampled. Law enforcement has been militarized. Literally hundreds of billions of dollars -- dollars denied to urgent problems ranging from poverty to pollution -- have been spent. People who do need help with drugs have been treated as criminals instead. Meanwhile, resources to fight genuine crime -- violent crime -- have been significantly diminished. And in exchange for all this, the War on Drugs has not stopped people from using drugs or kept drugs from crossing the borders or being sold on the streets. To me, it all adds up to a clear message of exactly the sort I've always tried to heed in my life: It's time to step out of our comfort zone and try something new. That's where DPA comes in. Their focus is on reducing the harm drugs cause rather than obsessively and pointlessly attempting to ban them. I'm partnering with DPA because they champion treatment, advocate effective curricula for educating young people about drugs -- and from local courtrooms to the Supreme Court, they are utterly relentless defenders of the liberties that have been sacrificed to the Drug War. Now, political conditions in Washington seem finally to be aligning in favor of profound change in drug policy. President Obama has openly said the Drug War is a failure. Legislation to decriminalize marijuana is pending on Capitol Hill. But success is far from guaranteed. Indeed, the echoes of the old politics of intimidation and demagoguery that have long surrounded the War on Drugs can still be heard. We must all work to ensure this issue becomes a priority and is acted upon in a meaningful and sensible way. That's why I hope you'll join me in becoming a member of the Drug Policy Alliance today. We need a movement that will put the team at DPA in a position to take maximum advantage of the political changes in Washington while continuing to fight for sanity in drug policy across the nation.
Everyone knows the War on Drugs has failed. It's time to step out of our comfort zones, acknowledge the truth -- and challenge our leaders ... and ourselves ... to change.

Tom Coburn (R) Oklahoma...Votes Against Middle Class !

Coburn Tries to Deflect Blame for Killing Jobless Aid
by Tula Connell, Mar 30, 2010

Back home in Oklahoma, Republican Sen. Tom Coburn must really be feeling the heat from some of the millions of America’s jobless worked he shafted last week. Coburn, who blocked a short-term extension for unemployment insurance (UI), issued a press release making it look as though Senate Democrats blocked the extension and he was a helpless victim of the vote. He’s also sending out the same info to those who, like some AFL-CIO Now blog readers, sent him scathing letters for his mean-spirited move. In short, Coburn’s spin is: Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. In fact, Coburn blocked the emergency UI extension bill, effectively killing it until after the Senate returns from break April 12. Some 200,000 jobless workers a week will now lose UI support because of Coburn. Worse, Coburn has said he would continue to block UI extension after the Senate returns. Coburn also disingenuously states the best solution for jobless workers are jobs. So why then did Coburn vote against the jobs package passed by the Senate earlier this month? See, Senator, jobs are a great solution. The problem is, there are more than six U.S. workers for every one job. More than two in every five unemployed workers in this country have been unemployed for more than six months. That means jobs need to be created. And because the private sector isn’t creating them, the federal government needs to step in. Until there are enough jobs for workers without jobs, workers desperately need a helping hand like unemployment insurance and COBRA, to get by. One that Coburn isn’t willing to give them. Here’s Coburn’s online contact page. Drop him a line and tell him if he can’t take the heat…

Editorial : Poor ole Tom, he never met a millionaire, he did`nt like ! Like most Republican Senators, he is anti-middle class American ! He gets it alright ! He is just taking care of his millionaire buddy`s ! I`ve been to his site and wrote a disapproving letter from Tennessee`s Underdog !

Questions & Answers on HealthCare !

Listed Below are Links to Answer`s on Healthcare Questions ?

I thought You might be interested ? Just click on the link question and it will take you to the answer ! I hope these help ?

How will insurance for Members of Congress change under the new health care law?

Which religious groups are exempt from the new health insurance mandate?

What is considered a 'Cadillac' health plan under the new law?

Will military benefits be affected?

Does everyone in Congress get a pension — even if they leave office early because of a scandal?

Republicans Block Unemployment Benefits Extension...

Senate Republican Coburn Blocks Aid to America’s Jobless
by Tula Connell, Mar 26, 2010

The Party of “No” gets ready to strike once more against working families. As Congress considers much-needed relief for America’s jobless workers and debates proposals to jump-start the economy, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) blocked a stopgap bill to extend jobless benefits, saying its $9 billion cost should not be added to the national debt. Coburn’s block means the Senate, which goes on a two-week recess today, won’t consider helping jobless workers until at least April 12. From the New York Times: As a result, some people who have been out of work for more than six months will at least temporarily lose benefits. Health insurance subsidies for the jobless will also expire. Republicans said Senate negotiations had produced a compromise that did not pass muster in the House. Coburn is taking up where Sen. Jim Bunning left off in sticking it to America’s workers who, unlike him, don’t have jobs or taxpayer-provided health care and retirement benefits. Bunning, a Kentucky Republican, earlier this month delayed unemployment benefits for 400,000 desperate Americans and forced an unnecessary furlough of another 2,000. But unlike Bunning, an outsider to his own party, Coburn is supported by the majority of Republican senators who are indicating strong opposition to addressing the suffering of the nation’s nearly 17 million jobless workers.
Here’s Coburn’s online contact page. You know what to tell him.

Editorial : These Republican Senators who are so anti middle class America, need to be unemployed !

Health Care for Seniors ~ Hey That`s Me !

Health Care Reform: What's in it for Seniors ?

The Senate-passed health care reform bill dramatically cleared the House on a 219-212 vote Sunday night, and President Obama signed it into law on Tuesday. Please see the Alliance's Special Edition Friday Alert of March 23 at http://bit.ly/dttZ01 for more details of the related votes. The reform phases out the doughnut hole gap in prescription drug coverage, providing a $250 rebate in 2010 for seniors who fall into the hole. Beginning in 2011, seniors will receive a 50% percent discount on their prescription drugs when they fall into the doughnut hole, and by 2020 the doughnut hole will be completely eliminated. To see the Alliance's one-page write-up listing provisions in the health reform law that will affect seniors, along with the time line for their implementation, go to http://bit.ly/9mja6j. To summarize that document, the new law also:
Covers preventive services; in 2011, seniors in Medicare will receive free annual check-ups with no co-payments for mammograms, colonoscopies and other preventive screenings;
Supports early retiree coverage, providing financial assistance to employer health plans that cover early retirees;
Encourages doctors to coordinate care and improve quality, creating incentives for providers to work together and reduce wasteful care like repeated tests;
Removes obstacles to changing Part D prescription drug plans, allowing Part D enrollees to make a mid-year change in their enrollment if their plan makes an unexpected change;
Expands the Medicare Part D low-income subsidy, which will significantly help struggling seniors afford their health care costs;
Enacts the CLASS Act, creating new long-term assistance for seniors and the disabled;
Enacts the Elder Justice Act, authorizing new criminal background checks on long-term care workers who have access to residents or patients; and
Eliminates wasteful overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans while creating incentives for coordinated, high quality care across the health care spectrum, extending the solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund by 9 years and improving Medicare for generations to come.
For a listing of which changes take effect immediately, go to http://bit.ly/ag60lc. In short - in addition to the doughnut hole changes - within the next six months alone, the new law:
Provides a $5 billion reinsurance fund to help employers who provide health benefits to early retirees ages 55 to 64 (goes into effect in 90 days);
Eliminates pre-existing conditions for non-dependent children up to age 26;
Prohibits insurers from placing lifetime limits on coverage;
Restricts new plans' annual limits on coverage;
Provides $5 billion to states to create a high risk insurance pool for those denied insurance due to pre-existing conditions and who have been without insurance for 6 months;
Prohibits rescission, or dropping coverage, when individuals become sick;
Creates a public health and wellness fund and requires new private insurance plans to offer preventive services without co-payments;
Provides up to 35 % tax credits to small business that offer health care coverage; and Creates a new and independent health insurance appeals process for consumers A USA Today/Gallup poll found that 49% of those polled concluded that the passage was "a good thing," as compared to 40% who concluded its passage was "a bad thing." Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance, urged seniors to thank Members of Congress who helped to pass reform with personal visits to their offices during the spring district work period, March 29 - April 9. "Thank you again to seniors who worked for decades to pass health reform. Now, let's give House Members who voted courageously for health care reform in the face of violence some words of appreciation, in person or in writing," said Mr. Coyle. To listen to the audio of Alliance leaders' conference call this week with seniors, click on http://bit.ly/aMadvv. To see the video of Alliance member Bob Meeks of Brandon, FL and Mr. Coyle on the importance of closing the Medicare drug doughnut hole, go to http://bit.ly/a3SPUz.
Misinformation has been spread on how the health care reform will affect veterans' care. President Obama has strongly supported a 16% budget increase in 2010 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, the largest in over 30 years. "TRICARE, the U.S. Department of Defense's military health care program, will continue to be available for all eligible servicemen and women, and their families," !

Banks & Loan Sharks ~ You Bet`cha

Protect Consumers, Not the Financial Industry

It seems that these days, you better watch the Banks as closely as you would the Payday Loan/Shark institutions and that`s a fact.






Older Americans lost billions of hard earned dollars due to the failure of an outdated and compromised financial regulatory system. Now the Senate has unveiled a new financial reform package that makes important strides to protect individuals and their retirement savings. But special interests are fighting hard to water down the bill. Financial reform must focus on the needs of consumers first, not the financial institutions that caused the economic crisis.

Click here to tell your senators to pass strong financial reform that protects consumers!

Stop The Bleeding of Our Jobs to China !

Save Jobs
Write the President and Congress
How Much More Can We Take

· Our trade imbalance with China has cost America 2.4 MILLION JOBS since 2001!

· A big reason is that the Chinese Government deliberately sets its money value up to 40% lower than the dollar. This manipulation means they can sell their products up to 40% cheaper in the U.S.

· The stunning damage to jobs can be seen on a special map that shows each state and Congressional District losses. Take a look at:

http://www.americanmanufacturing.org/china-job-loss/

We Have a Chance to Act NOW Insist that the President formally label China a “Currency Manipulator”
Urge Congress to Pass Strong Legislation with Penalties

We Have a New Quick and Easy Website Letter Writer :

Go to: http://www.americanmanufacturing.org/
Click on: TAKE ACTION: Write to Congress and the President
Fill in: Your Name and Address Information in the Form
Click: “Send Message” an you’ve sent the message

If You Don’t Have Access to a Computer you can fill out the Letter on the Back of this Flyer and AAM will see that the President and Your Congress people get it.

What Health Care Reform Means for United Steelworkers of America...

What Healthcare Reform Means for Us !


Many of us are wondering how the healthcare reforms signed into law earlier this week will impact us. It’s important to know that nothing in the bill changes our right to negotiate our healthcare benefits.

Key Healthcare Reform Benefits Starting THIS YEAR Include:



Ending lifetime limits on benefits.



Regulating annual limits on benefits from 2010-2013 (abolishing them in 2014).



Allowing young adults to stay on their parents’ insurance plan up to age 26.



Banning the insurance company practice of denying coverage for pre-existing conditions for children. The ban applies to everyone in 2014 and provides a subsidized high-risk pool in the meantime for those unable to secure coverage.





Ending gender discrimination in insurance rates.



Stopping the insurance company tactic of dropping coverage for people who get sick.






Benefits for Retirees – Including Early Retirees – Include:

Assisting pre-Medicare retirees with insurance costs. Under the new law, 80 percent of plan costs over $15,000 will be paid through a new program.

Providing assistance to employers and Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Associations (VEBAs) to encourage them to continue coverage for pre-Medicare retirees.

Phasing out the Medicare drug “doughnut hole.”

Eliminating co-pays for preventative screenings.

Extending the life of the Medicare Trust Fund through cuts in wasteful spending.

Other Benefits – With 95 percent of Americans expected to have health insurance coverage under the new law, we can anticipate less cost-shifting of the uninsured’s healthcare expenses onto those of us who have insurance. Cost containment strategies along with other provisions in the bill should help control premium increases from year-to-year. This will ultimately help us at the bargaining table.
In the event that a job is lost, there will now be affordable, quality options for coverage.

Because of our work in opposing the excise tax, we were able to substantially alter its impact on high-cost insurance plans. There will be no tax until 2018. When that goes into effect, a variety of modifications and exemptions will lessen any impact.

Trade ~ Trade ~ Trade ~ Fix It !

Obama agenda would boost exports, creating more jobs in United States

Ron Kirk - 03/18/10

Almost exactly one year ago, I was confirmed by the Senate as the United States Trade Representative.

__________________________________________________________

Opening markets is likely to lead to employment rise

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) - 03/18/10

Even as we slowly recover from one of the worst recessions in recent memory, our nation’s unemployment rate stands at around 10 percent, with some economists saying some of these lost jobs will never come back. The question is, How do we respond as a nation — how do we generate new jobs to replace those that are lost forever ? I believe that a strong, job-creating trade agenda — opening markets around the globe to U.S. products and services — is part of the answer.

_____________________________________________________________
Agreements promise boon for agriculture

Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) - 03/18/10

President Barack Obama says he is eager to create new jobs, and time and again he has spoken to the importance of trade.

____________________________________________________________________ The Trans-Pacific Partnership could prove to be key step in right direction

Rep. Michael Michaud (D-Maine) - 03/18/10

This week U.S. representatives traveled to Melbourne, Australia to proceed with negotiations on a Trans-Pacific Partnership, declaring that they wanted to craft a 21st century agreement that will create a “new paradigm on trade.” I applaud the pursuit of a new paradigm on trade and have urged United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk to seize this opportunity to develop a U.S. trade policy that all members of Congress can support and that benefits all Americans, in blue-collar and white-collar jobs alike.

_____________________________________________________________
Pact between U.S., Panama will further strengthen nations’ ties

Ricardo Martinelli - 03/18/10 05

Last week in a speech before the U.S. Export-Import Bank’s Annual Conference, President Barack Obama made impassioned remarks about the vital role of trade in growing economic opportunity and international cooperation. I share his support for this vital principle, as do members of both political parties in Congress. However, many critics insist on perpetuating a misperception that could actually serve as a barrier to living up to that principle.

Republican`s Enemy`s of Liberty !

Republicans...Enemy of Liberty !
Mitch McConnell-John Boehner-John McCain-Jon Kyl

The Four God Fathers !

If Democrats focus on creating jobs while pushing to curb the financial casino and protect consumers -- and Republicans continue their obstruction -- voters might just decide that the election is a choice between those struggling for change and those standing with the entrenched interests against it. That's a choice that just might arouse the Obama base enough to make a difference. If the jobs don't come back and Democrats decide its easier to cater to the banking lobby than to buck it, then, despite the historic achievement on health care, the Republican strategy of "hell no" might just work. Click here to read more.

Editorial : If you tell a lie often enough, people will believe it ! Thus goes The Republican Party ! Ir seems I read this in my school history book. We were studying WW II and the Nazis !

Senate Republicans fuming over the passage of health care reform are now refusing to work past 2 p.m. -- a tactic they can employ by invoking a little-known Senate rule. On Wednesday, the Judiciary Committee was forced to cancel a hearing as was the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) tweeted today : "Disappointed. Rs refusing to allow hearings today. Had to cancel my oversight hearing on police training contracts in Afghanistan."

Sen. Mark Udall also complained that he had to delay a hearing on the cause of Western forest fires.

Making good on Sen. John McCain's threat to withhold all Republican cooperation from Democrats in the Senate in retribution for the majority party using reconciliation to pass health care reform, the GOP used the rule that states committees can only meet when the chamber is in session with the unanimous consent of all members. That consent has almost never been withheld -- until now.

Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) asked for consent for his panel to operate Wednesday afternoon. He noted, ironically, that his request had the support of McCain."There is objection on our side of the aisle and therefore I object," said Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.).

The GOP objection blocked testimony from Admiral Robert Willard, United States Navy Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command; from General Kevin Chilton, United States Air Force, Commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, and from General Walter Sharp, United States Army Commander, U.S. Forces Korea.

Health Care & Seniors ~ Hey, Thats Me !

Cong. John Tanner, District#8~Tennessee Voted Against Senior`s !

On Sunday, the House passed the bill that will bring meaningful health insurance reform to millions of older Americans by a narrow margin. 220 Congress members stood up and voted YES on critical provisions to improve health insurance reform for older Americans. 211 sided with the insurance industry and their multi-million dollar campaign to block reform and voted NO.
Click here to see how Rep. John Tanner voted and let them know how you feel about their decision! This week, we need your help to make sure each and every representative knows older Americans paid attention to their vote – and are holding them accountable. Though the fight to pass the next stage of health care reform will now move to the Senate, Sunday's vote was a big step forward for reform that will strengthen and improve Medicare, provide relief from unaffordable insurance coverage, and weed out waste, fraud, and abuse. Make sure Rep. Tanner knows that Tennessee's older voters won't forget this vote. Let Rep. Tanner hear from you today about the health care vote. Please take a few seconds to check how your member voted and send them a note to register your thanks OR disappointment.

Editorial : Rep. Tanner, you had an opportunity to help, aid and assist all Americans, you chose to side with the Big Insurance Company`s, I wonder WHY ? Will you lobby for them after you leave office ?

Health Care and YOU !

Better Than NO Health Care Bill ~ YOU bet`cha !

Yesterday, the House of Representatives made history. Even with the bill's flaws, health care reform is the most important piece of progressive legislation in decades. Below is a list of ten of the most important things health care reform will accomplish for everyday Americans—none of which would've been possible without the dogged efforts of grassroots progressives and the support of Representative Alan Grayson. But Republicans are already unleashing their spin machine to target Democrats who voted for reform, so we've got to show that we've got their backs. We've set a goal of making 3 thank-you calls from Mount Dora to Rep. Grayson's office today—can you join in? Here's where to call:
Representative Alan Grayson Phone: 202-225-2176
And after you call, take a moment to check out the list and share it with all your friends. Big Insurance and right-wing extremists are already ratcheting up their campaign to spread misinformation about the bill, so it's critical that we get the truth out as widely as possible.
_____________________________________________________________

10 THINGS EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM

(1.) Once reform is fully implemented, over 95% of Americans will have health insurance coverage, including 32 million who are currently uninsured.

(2.) Health insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny people coverage because of preexisting conditions—or to drop coverage when people become sick.

(3.) Just like members of Congress, individuals and small businesses who can't afford to purchase insurance on their own will be able to pool together and choose from a variety of competing plans with lower premiums.

(4.) Reform will cut the federal budget deficit by $138 billion over the next ten years, and a whopping $1.2 trillion in the following ten years.

(5.) Health care will be more affordable for families and small businesses thanks to new tax credits, subsidies, and other assistance—paid for largely by taxing insurance companies, drug companies, and the very wealthiest Americans.

(6.) Seniors on Medicare will pay less for their prescription drugs because the legislation closes the "donut hole" gap in existing coverage.

(7.) By reducing health care costs for employers, reform will create or save more than 2.5 million jobs over the next decade.

(8.) Medicaid will be expanded to offer health insurance coverage to an additional 16 million low-income people.

(9.) Instead of losing coverage after they leave home or graduate from college, young adults will be able to remain on their families' insurance plans until age 26

(10.) Community health centers would receive an additional $11 billion, doubling the number of patients who can be treated regardless of their insurance or ability to pay.

Editorial : Thanks to Mike Stanley for this. God Bless America !

Michael Moore ~ Health Care - Telling it Like it Is !

March 22, 2010

The Great Thing About the Health Care Law That Has Passed? It Will Save Republican Lives, Too

by Michael Moore

To My Fellow Citizens, the Republicans:

Thanks to last night's vote, that child of yours who has had asthma since birth will now be covered after suffering for her first nine years as an American child with a pre-existing condition.Thanks to last night's vote, that 23-year-old of yours who will be hit one day by a drunk driver and spend six months recovering in the hospital will now not go bankrupt because you will be able to keep him on your insurance policy.Thanks to last night's vote, after your cancer returns for the third time -- racking up another $200,000 in costs to keep you alive -- your insurance company will have to commit a criminal act if they even think of dropping you from their rolls.Yes, my Republican friends, even though you have opposed this health care bill, we've made sure it is going to cover you, too, in your time of need. I know you're upset right now. I know you probably think that if you did get wiped out by an illness, or thrown out of your home because of a medical bankruptcy, that you would somehow pull yourself up by your bootstraps and survive. I know that's a comforting story to tell yourself, and if John Wayne were still alive I'm sure he could make that into a movie for you. But the reality is that these health insurance companies have only one mission: To take as much money from you as they can -- and then work like demons to deny you whatever coverage and help they can should you get sick. So, when you find yourself suddenly broadsided by a life-threatening illness someday, perhaps you'll thank those pinko-socialist, Canadian-loving Democrats and independents for what they did Sunday evening. If it's any consolation, the thieves who run the health insurance companies will still get to deny coverage to adults with pre-existing conditions for the next four years. They'll also get to cap an individual's annual health care reimbursements for the next four years. And if they break the pre-existing ban that was passed last night, they'll only be fined $100 a day! And, the best part? The law will require all citizens who aren't poor or old to write a check to a private insurance company. It's truly a banner day for these corporations.
So don't feel too bad. We're a long way from universal health care. Over 15 million Americans will still be uncovered -- and that means about 15,000 will still lose their lives each year because they won't be able to afford to see a doctor or get an operation. But another 30,000 will live. I hope that's ok with you.
If you don't mind, we're now going to get busy trying to improve upon this bill so that all Americans are covered and so the grubby health insurance companies will be put out of business -- because when it comes to helping the sick, no one should ever be allowed to ask the question, "How much money can we save by making this poor bastard suffer?" Please, my Republican friends, if you can, take a quiet moment away from your AM radio and cable news network this morning and be happy for your country. We're doing better. And we're doing it for you, too.

Yours,

Michael Moore

MMFlint@aol.com MichaelMoore.com

P.S. I'll have more to say on this tonight, live on CNN, at 9pm ET. I'll be talking with Larry King about the health care bill and where we go from here, considering we still don't have universal health care.

P.P.S. In case you missed these photos in yesterday's NY Times Sunday Magazine... That's the results of seven years of madness. The Iraq War began its 8th year this weekend. How can we remove more of those responsible for this tragedy in November?

Health Care Reform at Last !

USW Applauds Historic Step for Health Care Reform
Workers, Retirees Urge Swift Action by Senate
by Leo W. Gerard, President USWA

Pittsburgh – The United Steelworkers (USW) today applauded the historic vote by the U.S. House of Representatives to pass health insurance reform and called on the Senate to act swiftly on the corrections legislation that will help millions of Americans.“Today’s historic vote was a huge step in the right direction. Reform will help get our economy back on track by lowering skyrocketing health care costs, saving jobs and relieving working families and businesses from the crushing medical bills that are causing bankruptcy and heartache,” said Leo W. Gerard, International President of the USW. “It not only makes sense economically, but it’s morally the right thing to do. Our union has fought for a long time for health care for all. We consider it a basic human right. These reforms are desperately needed and move us a huge step towards that goal. We urge the Senate to act quickly to pass the corrections bill and move this historic legislation to President Obama’s desk,” Gerard said.The legislation would extend coverage to an estimated 32 million uninsured, bar insurers from denying coverage on the basis of existing medical conditions and cut federal deficits by an estimated $138 billion over a decade.“The bill isn’t perfect, but it makes progress,” Gerard said. “We appreciate so much the members of the House who had the courage to stand up against the right wing and the insurance special interests and stand up for working families, and we look forward to the Senate doing the same.”

The legislation would:

Extend health insurance coverage to millions of uninsured persons, assuring coverage for 95 percent of Americans;

Ensure that coverage is affordable by providing substantial subsidies for middle income families;

Implement insurance market reforms to outlaw abusive practices by insurance companies, such as denying coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions;

Provide assistance to employers and VEBAs to encourage them to continue coverage for pre-Medicare retirees;

Close the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole” that costs our seniors hundreds or even thousands of dollars in prescription drug costs;

Reduce costs for individuals and businesses by eliminating most uncompensated care, reforming the delivery and provider payment systems, and creating exchanges to facilitate coverage in a cost-effective manner.

The USW represents 850,000 workers in the U.S. and Canada employed in the industries of metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and the service sector. For more information: http://www.usw.org/

Editorial : This was done, without one single Republican Vote ! They have declared themselves to be the party that does`nt care ! And only represent the very rich.

National & State Organ Waiting List...as of 3/05/10

National & State Organ Waiting List as of

> 3/05/2010... <

As most of you know, I`m a Heart-Transplant 8/17/94...I also direct the Organ/Donor Awareness program, for the Masonic Grand Lodge of Tennessee, (The FreeMasons) Nashville Tennessee. Listed below are some stats, you might find interesting ? Click on link below or the title of this artice for more information. > http://www.gmwp.org/vision2013/oda <

National Waiting List :

Kidney---83,904

Liver---15,865

Pancreas---1,474

Kidney/Pancreas---2,210

Heart---3,147

Lung---1,856

Heart/Lung---71

Intestine---239

Total > 106,400

State of Tennessee Waiting List :

Kidney---1,915

Liver---208

Pancreas---14

Kidney/Pancreas---19

Heart---120

Lung---31

Heart/Lung---0

Intestine ---- 0

Total > 2,288

Vanderbilt :

Kidney---727

Liver---124

Pancreas---7

Kidney/Pancreas---7

Heart---26

Lung---18

Heart/Lung---0

Intestine---0

Total > 909

"Give The Gift of Life, Be an Organ/Tissue Donor, It`s the Masonic/Eastern Star thing to Do " !

Health Care to be a Reality ?

Historic House Health Care Vote is Expected on Sunday

House Democrats are “pushing to the brink of passage a landmark, $940 billion health care overhaul bill that would simultaneously deliver on President Barack Obama's promise to expand coverage while slashing the deficit,” according to the Associated Press. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated the total 10-year cost of expanding coverage to be $940 billion. The nonpartisan analysts said the legislation would reduce the federal deficit by $138 billion over its first 10 years, continuing to drive down the red ink thereafter. Democratic leaders added that the deficit would be cut $1.2 trillion in the second decade. House leaders appear increasingly confident of getting the 216 votes they need for passage by following a complicated legislative strategy. First, the House will have to approve – “deem,” in parliamentary terms - a Senate bill passed in December. After that, both chambers will quickly pass a package of fixes agreed to in negotiations with the White House. Liberal Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) announced his support for reform on Wednesday, becoming the first Democrat to declare he would vote in favor of the legislation after opposing an earlier version. On Thursday, the AFL-CIO executive council voted to strongly endorse the bill, and labor group Change to Win is also supporting the bill. Seniors would see the doughnut hole coverage gap in their prescription benefits gradually eliminated. A key point of the bill includes giving Medicare beneficiaries who hit the doughnut hole limit this year $250 rebates. Also, the bill would scale back a new excise tax on higher-end insurance policies so that it would not take effect until 2018; the Senate had wanted it to begin five years sooner. The final piece of the health package will be taken up under rules that protect it from a Republican filibuster, but Senate Republicans can raise multiple objections under a complicated set of rules written by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) more than 35 years ago. “Medicare premiums have doubled during the past 8 years and will double again in the next 8 years unless Congress acts to control health care costs,” A vote in the House appears likely at or after 2:00 PM Eastern Time on Sunday.

Editorial : Cong. Dennis Kucinich(D) Ohio is my HERO of the day !

Allomap Testing for Heart Transplants

Allomap Testing
> http://www.vanderbilthealth.comtransplant/11428 <

AlloMap testing is a noninvasive method for determining the risk of acute cellular rejection (ACR) in heart transplant recipients. The test translates the complex signals of the immune system’s multiple genes and pathways, specifically those associated with heart transplant ACR, into an objective, actionable score. 

AlloMap testing is a safe, convenient and proven new method to significantly improve heart transplant recipients’ satisfaction. Rather than having an invasive procedure in a heart catheterization lab, only a simple and quick blood draw is necessary. The blood sample is sent to the XDx clinical laboratory, a state-of-the-art clinical lab in Brisbane, where complex gene information is extracted and analyzed. Using the XDx proprietary algorithm, the information is translated into a single score that distinguishes rejection from quiescence, or a stable state. Read more. Allomap Protocol

Editorial : How Sweet it Is ! Biopsy`s are not very much fun. Allomap is the way ! Hoo-Ray ! This from a Heart-Transplant patient almost 16 years post ! Hey That`s ME !

I Get Letters ~ Senator Bob Corker (R) Tennessee

Below - Letter From Senator Bob Corker (R) Tennessee - Health Care ? 3/16/10

Dear Don,

Thank you for contacting my office about health care reform legislation. Your input is important to me and I appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts. After the recent health care summit held by the Obama administration, I was disappointed that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle weren't convinced to go back to the drawing board and have a truly bipartisan and transparent discussion about health care reform legislation. I believe we should ensure Medicare remains solvent instead of taking money from it to create a new entitlement. Doing so would have a positive effect on our economy by reducing our long-term debt and strengthening the dollar. I would also support an approach that puts in place strong insurance regulations to force robust competition among insurance companies and ensures that people will have access to affordable coverage. We could cover millions of Americans without adding to the federal deficit by changing the tax code to limit tax advantages for the most costly insurance plans, which are currently subsidized through the tax code, and using those funds to provide advanceable, refundable tax credits giving citizens cash in hand to make monthly payments for health insurance. Finally we should address tort reform because, according to the American Medical Association, liability pressure raises health system costs by $84 billion to $151 billion per year. Perhaps it's not too late, and we can still have true health care reform that actually lowers costs, rewards quality and innovation, and improves access to care for millions of Americans who lack coverage. I hope the President will take advantage of this opportunity to pursue a bipartisan bill that will stand the test of time. Thank you again for your letter. I hope you will continue to share your thoughts with me.

Sincerely,

Bob Corker(R)

United States Senator~Tennessee

Editorial : This letter from Senator Corker, is typical Republican rhetoric. He wants to stop you and I from suing our Dr.`s and hospitals. I can condense this letter to > NO < ! Senator Corker is not for Tennesseans, He has the best that our tax money can buy for him and his family. You want it ? He gives you a band aid ! Wake Up Tennesseans ! I think we should end all Health Care Insurance for our Senators who are opposed to Health Care ! ! ! You can contact Senator Corker > http://www.corker.senate.gov/public <>

Social Security IOU`s Have Come to Fruition ?

Social Security to cash in Uncle Sam's IOU`$
By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER
The Associated Press• March 15, 2010

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. - The retirement nest egg of an entire generation is stashed away in this small town along the Ohio River: $2.5 trillion in IOUs from the federal government, payable to the Social Security Administration. It's time to start cashing them in. For more than two decades, Social Security collected more money in payroll taxes than it paid out in benefits - billions more each year.
Not anymore. This year, for the first time since the 1980s, when Congress last overhauled Social Security, the retirement program is projected to pay out more in benefits than it collects in taxes - nearly $29 billion more.
Sounds like a good time to start tapping the nest egg. Too bad the federal government already spent that money over the years on other programs, preferring to borrow from Social Security rather than foreign creditors. In return, the Treasury Department issued a stack of IOUs - in the form of Treasury bonds - which are kept in a nondescript office building just down the street from Parkersburg's municipal offices. Now the government will have to borrow even more money, much of it abroad, to start paying back the IOUs, and the timing couldn't be worse. The government is projected to post a record $1.5 trillion budget deficit this year, followed by trillion dollar deficits for years to come.
Social Security's shortfall will not affect current benefits. As long as the IOUs last, benefits will keep flowing. But experts say it is a warning sign that the program's finances are deteriorating. Social Security is projected to drain its trust funds by 2037 unless Congress acts, and there's concern that the looming crisis will lead to reduced benefits. "This is not just a wake-up call; this is it. We're here," said Mary Johnson, a policy analyst with The Senior Citizens League, an advocacy group. "We are not going to be able to put it off any more."!

Editorial : This writer has been saying for some years now, stop the Presidents from raiding Social Security. Let`s see, if I understand this correctly ? The President`s borrowed money from my Social Security Fund, put in IOU`s at no interest. Now, I as a tax-payer must pay this fund back, because I borrowed it from myself. If you are not confused by now, you never will be. When there are no jobs, no one is paying into the Social Security Fund. As for borrowing it from myself, no one asked me, did someone ask YOU ?

Wal-Mart & The China Connection !

First Wal-Mart Union Begins in China Thanks to Gov't
By Andrew McLemore
Published: Sunday August 3, 2008

The first Wal-Mart trade union in China was formed after the company bowed to government demands for organized labor in its stores, The New York Times reported Friday. Wal-Mart's reluctance to allow unions, particularly in the United States where they remain banned from stores, has been a point of controversy for many years. But the government-controlled All-China Federation of Trade Unions fought for the right to create branches in the company's 60 outlets. Beth Keck, director of international corporate affairs for Wal-Mart, said she was aware of the reports of Chinese unions forming and said the company hopes to have a "cordial and productive relationship" with the federation.
"We know they have been interested in having a relationship with our company for some time," Keck said. "We will, of course, be looking forward to how this will evolve." Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has operations in 15 countries, many of which have at least some employees that are union members.
The United States, Keck said, is the "clear exception." The change comes at a time when Wal-Mart is already battling the proposed Employee Free Choice Act -- which might allow unionization of Wal-Marts on this side of the ocean -- by attempting to sway its employees from voting Democratic. While the company insists it is not telling employees how to vote, some who attended meetings with Wal-Mart human resources managers that delivered the company's anti-union line scoff at the notion. "The meeting leader said, 'I am not telling you how to vote, but if the Democrats win, this bill will pass and you won't have a vote on whether you want a union,'" a Wal-Mart customer-service supervisor from Missouri told the paper. "I am not a stupid person. They were telling me how to vote," she said. Wal-Mart has fought against unions for years and has many systems in place to prevent them from forming. As soon as Wal-Mart managers see a potential union, they are supposed to call a hotline, prompting a visit from a special team from Wal-Mart headquarters, The Los Angeles Times reported.
Former Wal-Mart manager Jon Lehman told Frontline what he would tell employees regarding unions. "I used to stand up in front of my workers and lie to them," he said. "I used to say the talking points, that the union's a cult: 'You don't want to join a union. It's a cult. Why pay someone to speak for you? You can speak for yourself.'

Editorial : The reason for this article is > I have received notes informing me that Wal-Mart has Union stores in China. Thought I better check it out and see for myself. Ok, let me see, The Chinese Government is sponsoring these so called labor unions and Wal-Mart is ok with that ! SORRY ! These are Communist State Unions run by and for Wal-Mart and the Chinese Communist Government ! NOT UNIONS, as we know and operate in the good ole USA ! Wal-Mart does not have Unions in China !

Health Care ~ Now or Never !

Health Care ~ Now or Never !
By Don Jones...3/14/10

Health Care, Health Care, Health Care. We have been discussing this all important item since before time almost ! We now seem so close, yet the Republicans are fighting it tooth and toenail ! Why ? Big insurance company`s, yes ! Our entire economy is and will be affected by any kind of national health care. Our manufacturer`s are leaving for foreign Country`s to avoid paying for health care for employee`s, and paying livable wages ! Yet, are politicians are not only allowing this, they are through incentive programs paid for by YOU the tax-payer. Have we all gone NUTS ? No, not really. It seems that greed is the main driver for all of these difficult and strange things happening to our middle class ! We tend to want to blame Unions. NOT SO ! It is pure unadulterated corporate greed ! The Republican party has made our free democratic trade unions a thing to be feared and loathed. How ridiculous. Who is to be blamed ? It is us. That`s correct, us ! WE vote for individuals who do not reflect our values as the middle class. The American dream may be lost soon ! We are swayed by hear say, innuendo, and just plain lie`s ! Even some of our church`s have mislead us. Our news media is no longer a news media. They talk 24 hours a day, and talk, talk, talk, is not a good idea. They speculate, they interview each other. Some cable news stations should be prosecuted for calling themselves a news station ! They are kinda like wrestling (rasslin) sometimes entertaining, but never "THE NEWS"! Our economy is in the pits ! Our manufacturing is moving to China for cheap labor and no health care ! I have heard that Big Unions are the fault. Not So ! It is Corporate greed. First of all, there are no longer Big Unions ! It seems that our politicians have sold us down the river ! Our fat cat politicians get fatter, we get poorer. If you vote for Republicans because they stand for your values, better check again. They mislead you with gun control, abortion, free trade and health care ! They say that their party is opposed to all of these things. They do this by convincing you that the Democrats want to take your guns, have abortion on demand, cripple trade and end our health care system. NOT SO ! Those of us who are the most vulnerable are listening to these lies ! Big money is buying our politicians. America`s race to the bottom continues, with the guidance and assistance of those we elect to represent us. BIG UNIONS, what a bad joke ! There are now 400 family's who are more wealthy than 155 million Americans combined. During this time of economic recession, when most middle class Americans are hurting, our very rich are getting richer ! Without a National Health Care Bill there is no recovery or America as we have known it !. Republicans = For The Very Wealthy ! Democrats = For the Working Class !

Better Wake up America ! It is almost gone. One Man`s opinion.

Tennessee`s Alexander(R) & Corker(R)...Feel No Pain !

The Jobs Crisis : Not Everyone is Feeling the Pain

While our nation struggles with a whopping unemployment rate of nearly 10 percent, with four out of every 10 unemployed Americans among the long-term unemployed (more than 27 weeks), there are some people who continue to do just fine: Wall Street paid $20.3 billion in bonuses in 2009. That’s a 17 percent increase in one year. At Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Morgan Stanley – three of the biggest banks – compensation was up 31 percent in 2009. The average taxable bonus on Wall Street was nearly $124,000 last year. The five biggest health insurance companies reaped $12.2 billion in profits in 2009 – a 56% increase over the year before. The 400 richest households in the U.S. saw their income more than double since President Bush’s tax cuts in 2005. These households have more wealth than 155 million Americans combined. The number of U.S. millionaires rose by 16 percent last year. Those worth five million or more jumped by 17 percent. Meanwhile, Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) recently chose to hold up an extension of unemployment benefits and COBRA health insurance assistance for 1.2 million hard-working Americans who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. When confronted and asked to relent by a fellow Senator, his comment was “tough sh*t.”
It’s time for things to change – watch for more information to come !

Editorial : Our Two Senators from Tennessee, Alexander(R) & Corker(R) also Voted NO ! They feel no pain ! They voted against Tennesseans and All Americans who lost their jobs !

Senator Arlen Specter on Health Care !

Specter: Use Majority-Vote rule on healthcare to 'fight fire with fire'
By Michael O'Brien - 03/08/10

Using a majority-vote procedure to pass health reform is akin to fighting fire with fire, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) argued Monday.Specter, the Republican-turned-Democrat who's facing a tough primary and general election challenge this year, took to the the Senate floor to defend Democrats' plans to use the budget reconciliation process to finish health reform efforts. “It would be my hope that we would be able to resolve the issue without resorting to reconciliation. If there is any doubt about the procedure, our institutional integrity would be enhanced without going in that direction," Specter said. "But if you have to fight fire with fire and since it is a legitimate means, then we can use it.” Democrats appear set to use the controversial process to try and finish their long-stalled healthcare bill. In the scenario under consideration, the House would pass the healthcare bill approved by the Senate last December in exchange for both chambers passing a series of fixes to that original bill. That bill would be passed in the Senate using the budget reconciliation process, which allows the majority to eschew filibuster rules and pass a measure with a simple majority of votes.Specter defended the process, which Republicans have derided as hyper partisan and rarely used for a piece of legislation the size and scope of the healthcare bill.“The gridlock that faces the Senate and the country today has profound implications beyond the legislation itself," Specter said.“So it would be my hope we could yet resolve this issue with a little bipartisanship. It would not take a whole lot, but at the moment there is none, with 40 Senators voting no, all those on the other side of the aisle, and 176 out of 177 Republicans in the House voting no," he added. "That simply is no way to govern.”

Editorial : It seems that Senator Specter has changed his mind once again ? For the moment he is on the correct side of the issue.