priorities

UPDATE #2:Copied from Tom Paine dot com, I get their daily newsletter and you can, too.

Can't make this stuff up
Submitted by Rick Perlstein
October 4, 2007
As everyone knows by now, our president declared yesterday, Wednesday, to be "National Veto Child Health Day." What you may not know is that the president declared Monday a very special day too:
For Immediate ReleaseOffice of the Press SecretaryOctober 1, 2007
* Child Health Day, 2007 *
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
Our Nation is committed to the health and well-being of our youth. On Child Health Day, we reaffirm our commitment to helping children develop good nutrition habits and active lifestyles, so that they can grow into healthy and productive adults....Goes on like that for another five paragraphs. Then:
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Monday, October 1, 2007, as Child Health Day. I call upon families, schools, child health professionals, faith-based and community organizations, and State and local governments to reach out to our Nation's young people, encourage them to avoid dangerous behavior, and help them make the right choices and achieve their dreams.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.
GEORGE W. BUSH

No, you can't make this stuff up.
Comments included:
Do you think this may have something to do with October being National Sarcasm Month.
Nothing new here folks.
He's been doing this kind of thing since January 2001.
If he visits your factory for a photo-op, get ready to start looking for a new job, because there is always some back-room deal being worked out to screw you.
Same with the school kids. Photo-op on Monday. Wednesday your special ed programs get cut.
Outrage? Certainly. Surprise? Nah.

My comment:
This week's headlines on the American Medical Assoc. News: "Health Insurance premiums up 6.1%, fast outpacing inflation and wages."

The cool graphic is a chart that shows that over the past 6 years health insurance premiums have seen a cumulative growth of 78%* !!! Extrapolate that, folks!*

source: Kaiser Family Foundation Sept. 2007

The Kaiser spokesman said "we are witnessing a slow but certain long-term erosion of our employer -based system." Only 59% of firms with under 200 employees offer health benefits of any kind, down from 68% in 2001.It's a race to the bottom. Trickle down economics is drowning the middle class, and God know what the poor are going through. Page 2 gets worse, as comparisons are made between the increasing premiums for workers and employers using different plans as examples. Of course low wage workers and small business employers are feeling the most pain in trying to meet the rising costs. But, but, but insurance corporation PROFITS are up!
This is criminal, America.

When 'Sicko' comes out on DVD, please get it.Michael Moore may have made you mad in the past, but this time he will make you weep. And, to warn you in advance, in this movie he wasn't even addressing the needs of the uninsured. The things you will see are happening to the insured. This health crisis in America is not the fault of hospitals or doctors, it is the fault of the private insurance corporations and our elected politicians.

By the way, the AMA news writes: "The AMA, as part of the Health Coverage Coalition for the Uninsured, supports offering tax credits for buying health insurance and improving enrollment both in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program." It's a start.

UPDATE #1:Well, The Compassionate One vetoed the bill. He punishes little children for the sins of their parents ... Being born without a tax free inheritance is just not de rigueur, is it, bunkie?Here's a hint to the Democrats: don't use the language of the Republicans. When they deride socialized medicine, tell them you don't want THAT, but MOST parents would like a little help with their medical INSURANCE. Here's for socialized INSURANCE. It's the least we can do for the least among us.

Both the U.S. House and Senate have voted with overwhelmingbipartisan majorities to give 10 million children health care.
This was welcome news to hard-working families across thecountry who simply can't afford insurance--and can only prayeach night their kids don't get sick or hurt.
President Bush is set to veto the bill, calling this necessaryinvestment in children's health "excessive."
Yet, as he was threatening to kill the bill, Bush announced an additional $200 billion in spending for the war in Iraq.
The president wants to spend as muchin about one month of the war in Iraqas it would cost to cover 10 million childrenfor one year.
Click this http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/md1u3l619ci1/ link to tell President Bush to get his priorities straight.
The overwhelming majority of the House and Senate--not tomention the American public--understands that the StateChildren's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is vital forchildren and families here at home.
Children enrolled in the SCHIP programare much more likely to have regular doctor visits and have lower rates of unmet needs for medical care.The choice for Bush is simple: veto the bill or give 10 millionchildren a better chance for a healthy life.
Tell Bush to get his priorities straight and sign this bill to provide health care coverage to 10 million children.