Daily Archives: July 31, 2009
Chris Dodd has Early Stage Prostate Cancer
… and a VERY GOOD FEDERAL HEALTH PLAN.
The Hartford Courant quoted Dodd on the subject of his condition and how it related to his drive for health care legislation:
“I wanted to let you know that I’ve been diagnosed with an early stage of prostate cancer,” Dodd wrote. “Luckily, a routine test allowed my doctor to catch it at a very early stage, and my prognosis is excellent – we expect a full and speedy recovery. I want to assure you that I am feeling fine.”
“After the Senate adjourns at the end of next week, I’ll have surgery to remove the cancer,” Dodd wrote. “After a week or two of recuperation, I expect to be right back to work. After all, as a member of Congress, I have great health insurance. I was able to get screened, seek the opinions of highly skilled doctors, consider all the available options, and choose the treatment that was right for me.”
He added, in a reference to his current work to pass healthcare legislation, “I know you’ll agree that every American deserves the same ability. We have healthcare legislation to pass – and an election to win. And I can’t thank you enough for your support.”
Let’s be clear: we ALL need a great health care plan. too. I hope Dodd gets it through.
Good Luck, Senator.
Krugman: Government Involvement Is The Only Reason Our Health Care System Works
Paul Krugman’s last column hits the nail on the head
At a recent town hall meeting, a man stood up and told Representative Bob Inglis to “keep your government hands off my Medicare.” The congressman, a Republican from South Carolina, tried to explain that Medicare is already a government program — but the voter, Mr. Inglis said, “wasn’t having any of it.”
It’s a funny story — but it illustrates the extent to which health reform must climb a wall of misinformation. It’s not just that many Americans don’t understand what President Obama is proposing; many people don’t understand the way American health care works right now. They don’t understand, in particular, that getting the government involved in health care wouldn’t be a radical step: the government is already deeply involved, even in private insurance.
And that government involvement is the only reason our system works at all.
To read it all, go HERE.
Quote of the Day
“Jefferson taught that every government degenerates when it is left to the rulers alone, because rulers–by the very act of ruling–misuse the public trust. The people themselves, he said, are the only prudent repository of power.”
I love Ramona’s writing… and this quote about Jefferson reflects on our own time.
Cartoon of the Week
Mike Luckovich in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Have a lovely August Recess… don’t worry about taxpayers needing reformed health care.
