The folks in the insurance business were very successful back in the 90's in putting down any hope of a national health care program with their slick TV ads featuring Harry and Louise, written by and produced by The Health Insurance Association of America. They spent $17 million to convince America that passage of the Clinton health plan would be devastating. They said people would lose their choice of doctors, that insurance would become so expensive employers would drop it. And on it went... View it again or old time sake [here]
Today on the GlassCityBlog, a comment was posted against both Obama and Clinton, which said: "You can’t pay for the socialist programs that Clinton and Obama want to initiate without taking money from those who have it. Bend over America, your under performing (underserved) neighbors are about to become entitled to the fruits of your labor."
Funny stuff. Typical reactionary, right-wing talking points. Reminds me of that blowhard bloviator, Rush Hisself. Even more interesting, this comment came from a man in the insurance business. Surprise, surprise!
He said to me on the same thread:
Mud Rake:
...you have to understand that the candidates you support will have a serious negative impact on people like me who run businesses and hire professional people for good-paying non-union jobs. I’d be happy to inform you about how a Clinton or Obama administration would hurt businesses across our region and in many parts of the country.
Tell me why you think I should vote for your candidate - I’ll listen and maybe learn something new. Then I’ll ask you to read my point of view and try to understand a different perspetive than yours. Maybe we both can learn something - and that’s not negative sad-sackery.
...you have to understand that the candidates you support will have a serious negative impact on people like me who run businesses and hire professional people for good-paying non-union jobs. I’d be happy to inform you about how a Clinton or Obama administration would hurt businesses across our region and in many parts of the country.
Tell me why you think I should vote for your candidate - I’ll listen and maybe learn something new. Then I’ll ask you to read my point of view and try to understand a different perspetive than yours. Maybe we both can learn something - and that’s not negative sad-sackery.
More funny stuff. I especially like the phrase [right out of the right-wing playbook] "will have a serious negative impact on people like me who run businesses and hire professional people for good-paying non-union jobs."
Serious impact. Oh yes they will, Mr. Insurance Broker. Run you out of business of scamming the people with your high insurance premiums. You ought to get into the preditory lending business-- same talent needed, same sucking sound. They run snake oil salesmen out too--Green River Ordinance.
Here's the part of the Obama plan that really irks the insurance folks:
The Obama plan will create a National Health Insurance Exchange to help individuals who wish to purchase a private insurance plan. The Exchange will act as a watchdog group and help reform the private insurance market by creating rules and standards for participating insurance plans to ensure fairness and to make individual coverage more affordable and accessible. Insurers would have to issue every applicant a policy, and charge fair and stable premiums that will not depend upon health status. The Exchange will require that all the plans offered are at least as generous as the new public plan and have the same standards for quality and efficiency. The Exchange would evaluate plans and make the differences among the plans, including cost of services, public.
That's what scares the hell out of the insurance peddlers. That's why they have their panties all in a knot over these plans. They won't be able to gouge the public like they have. By the way, he's voting for McCain. Another surprise.
