We shouldn't rush through fixing the healthcare system. Why James are you saying this, you voted for Obama, right? Yes I did. But when you're going to change the face of our medical system and how it pays, we need to make sure we're doing this right.
There are two sides that are making things worse. It's the healthcare lobbyists that are trying to get this thing completely shut down. Those people are disgusting and I don't know how they sleep at night.
The other group is the elitists who lobby for reform but don't practice what you preach. Sort of like Al Gore and going green. Carbon credits won't take away the crap your private jet and mansion put off. Sorry.
What pisses me off is stars who cry "Oh look at (name) who does (job title) on our (tour/set/etc) who got sick. They couldn't pay for health care. It's so disgusting. Blah blah blah." Last time I checked, you are the one who has the contract riders, headlining the tour/movie/show/etc. and could probably pay without problem the $100 or so a month easily for the person who cooks your food, walks your dog, or other task.
This is what ticked me off. It's from @petewentz on Twitter: sorry to repost but this one is important to us: http://tinyurl.com/yfxj9mm how healthcare (lack of) reform affects our friends. Some friends you are. You are no better than Walmart and it's push for reform. Their employees are largely on Medicaid, food stamps, and other public assistance. Who wouldn't like to have responsibilities pushed off.
Stars AREN'T small mom-and-pop businesses. I feel sorry for your employees. You make all that money whoring yourself for endorsements like Yahoo and their shitty little AOL-era promotions. "I'm sorry you got sick on our tour. Well I'm off in my $100k car to my huge house while you worry about your bills and if you're gonna eat."
I'm not saying all of this just because I don't want higher taxes or because I want to feud. Here's the extended cut of my healthcare system battle. My parents earned too much for state aid but my dad's company didn't offer insurance. Both of my parents ended up getting cancer from BP/Amoco (allegedly) that put off pollutants in the air and ground that it shouldn't have. I have to say allegedly because BP/Amoco never was found guilty, paid off the City of Sugar Creek, Missouri, MO DNR, and a few victims' families.
My Mom diagnosed in the middle of my Senior year of high school in 2001 about 2 weeks before my 18th birthday. The night of graduation instead of going to any parties or events I spent it with my family. I knew that she didn't have long and that any time I had left with her would be short. She couldn't walk and could barely eat. Instead of living it up the summer after Senior year and gearing up for college I ended up having to help plan the cremation of my mother and trying to keep my Dad from sinking into a deep depression.
My Dad was misdiagnosed with a bladder infection that turned out to be cancer (urinating blood constantly isn't an infection). He ended up losing his bladder in 2004 as the cancer spread. We were never close when I was growing up. This brought us together in an unintentional way.
Then it was taken all away the morning of December 16th, 2007, about a week before Christmas. I went to see if he wanted anything for lunch after I had returned from running a few early errands. I can't ever forget it. It took me 6 months at least to build up the courage to even think about getting rid of anything in his room.
On top of that I've had my own health issues that I won't go into.
My point is that we don't want to rush because we'll end up with a duct-taped piece of shit that will turn out to be worth less than the Made in China paper the cards will be printed on. We need to hold those accountable for paying their share for their employees. My company does it and we are dwarfed compared to Walmart. And those who have personal employees should have to pay out of their pockets.
No mercy for fake activism.
