Monday, August 17, 2009

Dear President Obama: A Modest Medicare Proposal

Dear President Obama,

I understand you're thinking of dumping your "public option" because of all the demagoguery by Sarah Palin and Dick Armey and Newt Gingrich and their crowd on right-wing radio and Fox. Fine. Good idea, in fact.

Instead, let's make it simple. Please let us buy into Medicare.

It would be so easy. You don't have to reinvent the wheel with this so-called "public option" that's a whole new program from the ground up. Medicare already exists. It works. Some people will like it, others won't - just like the Post Office versus FedEx analogy you're so comfortable with.

Just pass a simple bill - it could probably be just a few lines, like when Medicare was expanded to include disabled people - that says that any American citizen can buy into the program at a rate to be set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) which reflects the actual cost for us to buy into it.

So it's revenue neutral!

To make it available to people of low income, raise the rates slightly for all currently non-eligible people (like me - under 65) to cover the cost of below-200%-of-poverty people. Revenue neutral again.

Most of us will do damn near anything to get out from under the thumbs of the multi-millionaire CEOs who are running our current insurance programs. Sign me up!

This lets you blow up all the rumors about death panels and grandma and everything else: everybody knows what Medicare is. Those who scorn it can go with Blue Cross. Those who like it can buy into it. Simplicity itself.

Of course, we'd like a few fixes, like letting Medicare negotiate drug prices and filling some of the holes Republicans and AARP and the big insurance lobbyists have drilled into Medicare so people have to buy "supplemental" insurance, but that can wait for the second round. Let's get this done first.

Simple stuff. Medicare for anybody who wants it. Private health insurance for those who don't. Easy message. Even Max Baucus and Chuck Grassley can understand it. Sarah Palin can buy into it, or ignore it. No death panels, no granny plugs, nothing. Just a few sentences.

Replace the "you must be disabled or 65" with "here's what it'll cost if you want to buy in, and here's the sliding scale of subsidies we'll give you if you're poor, paid for by everybody else who's buying in." (You could roll back the Reagan tax cuts and make it all free, but that's another rant.)

We elected you because we expected you to have the courage of your convictions. Here's how. Not the "single payer Medicare for all" that many of us would prefer, but a simple, "Medicare for anybody who wants to buy in."

Respectfully,

Thom Hartmann

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

To the pro union workers at fedex freight WHITTIERR CA be careful with PAUL PREYRE heard that he's watching pro union drivers on the GPS he is going to get those pro union drivers as soon they make a mistake just the way GREG FAITH fired JESSE LOPEZ im sure you guys remember JESSE LOPEZ 20 years P&D WHITTIER CA he never did anything against GREG when he tried to fire JESSE last time for two diferent reasons finaly at the third time GREG FAITH fired him but im sure JESSE is sueing GREG ASS for harassment and discrimination for being a UNION ORGANIZER just like TITO"JACKSON" from ANAHEIM CA was fired by MIKE HUTTON also for being a UNION ORGANIZER also im sure he's sueing MIKE's ASS for wrongful termination now we all know that it is against the LABOR LAW to fire a pro union worker for being part of the LABOR MOVEMENT in 2002 in summit chicago fedex freight terminal TOMMY GLASS a p&d union organizer was fired he sued fedex for wrongful termination in 2005 TOMMY GLASS won the law suit HE GOT HIS JOB BACK ALSO INTEREST ON BACK PAY check the archive change fedex to win TOMMY GLASS VRS FEDEX FREIGHT this was the first pro union wrongful termination law suit was won at FEDEX FREIGHT lets hope that JESSE AND TITO won their case too we all know that fedex don't give a F..K about it they got lots of money to waist on GPS TO SPY ON DRIVERS NASCAR. TV ADDS. POLITICIANS INCLUDING " U N I O N B U S T E R S" we hope that TOMMY GLASS AND THE LOCAL 710 in summit chicago respond to our comments WHITTIERS CA PRO UNION DRIVERS.

irudedog said...

And don't forget we were told that the gps was insalled to track the freight. Yet drivers in Lordsburg N.M. got warning letters in their paychecks saying they took to long on their breaks and another for speeding!
Than Russ in sbo tells a p&d driver that Arkansas was keeping an eye on him while he's doing his route, right Chris C.?
So much for tracking the freight only?
Get a clue people! They lie to you about the gps! They lie to you to come to sbo and keep you full time positions, right Hinkley? They lie to you that your copays for your health benefits will go down because there's more employees so it won't cost more, right Russ? They lie to you road drivers that the dock drivers are there to take the over flow freight. Then send them out on the road and put senior drivers to work the dock.
So don't be surprise when management talks about the Union that its just a bunch of " F...ING LIES!"

Anonymous said...

Also don't forget we were told there won't be lay off or cutting any kind of benefits nor line drivers working the dock im sure you guys remember when Tito Ayala was interviewed by THE L. A TIMES reporter when Tito said that there will be lots of lay off and mayor changes at FEDEX FREIGHT and we all know that Tito was right when he talked to the L.A TIMES reporter and then they took the combo position away and force the line drivers into "COMBO SHUTTLERS DOCKDRIVERS also dock workers forced into part time with no benefits dock workers with 10 15 25 27 years on company seniory while UPS FREIGHT still have part timers working with benefits why BECOUSE THEY HAVE A UNION CONTRACT AGREEMEMT and we should have the same rights if we form a union shame on fedex management and line drivers are force into shuttle/ dock workers and getting 140 miles at night while the p&d are running 480 miles at night with out work the dock that's another K...ING lie right Mike Hutton? lets form a union at ANAHEIM TERMINAL is our future and our family too i don't want to be lay off or fire AT WILL just like those guys on lay off that they use to say F...K the union becouse MIKE HUTTON AND DAVID CHACON SAID SO i wonder what they think now about Mike and David Chacon heard ANAHEIM TERMINAL will be the first fedex freight terminal in orange county to vote and become TEAMSTERS IN THE U. S. A right IRUDEDOG? URF URF URF.THE ANAHEIM PRO UNION DRIVERS.

Anonymous said...

FEDEX will never know what hits them till they are unionized. Poor pay, reduced beneifts, poor safety records now, unjustified employees terminiations will be gone. Time to pay up and manage people who can stand up for themselves. Let us see how good they fare Vs UPS now. Do not think they will make it. Like the post office loosing billions every year but Taxpayers bailing them out. This is a tough business and that is why UPS is the best… by JACK

Anonymous said...

FedEx, I believe this company should be forced to be on the same field level as UPS. I am a driver, and this company has all the say so, but takes no responsablity for there people. They should be forced to go union ASAP!!!!!!!! LARRY

Anonymous said...

Threatening to cancel an order of 777 freighters, seems to be an idol threat at best. 1st it would cost them millions in penalties to cancel. 2nd they need to update their aging fleet. 3rd are they saying the projected increased growth will no longer happen if their drivers join a union? 4th are they saying they can not compete on level playing field? By: MARK

Anonymous said...

We are not trying to kill FedEx business. It’s trying to level the playing field. UPS and Fedex have the same business. Why not have the same regulations.
If Fedex took good care of their employees, they wouldn’t have to worry about them voting in a union. BY U.P.S employee STU

Anonymous said...

Why should Fedex continue to be looked at differently than UPS or USPS? They do the same things. Fedex is in direct competition with these and many other companies.
Comment by Sal Tiberio

Anonymous said...

have worked for UPS for 30 years and retired now. I have always felt that Fedex should be under the same laws as UPS. There are virtually no differences in the two companies. Fedex would like to think so but guess again. The move to remove their regulatory status under the rail act is needed to create better competition and level the playing field in all regards, including the stock market.
RON

Anonymous said...

GREAT JOB, JOE NUNO AND RUDY HERNANDEZ ON THE YOUTUBE VIDEO. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT YOUR PART TIME EMPLOYEES HAVE TO PITCH IN FOR THEIR MEDICAL BILLS, BROTHERS YOU NEED TO FORM A UNION!!! ONTARIO U.P.S HUB "DAVID".

Anonymous said...

Seems to me fedx is real afraid, must not be treating employees right. I know fedx frt west drivers at one time would have never thought about voting for a union now they are behind it all the way. UPS ONTARIO ANTHONY

Anonymous said...

well when fedex frt organize the union in, I think fred smith should award a trophy to the people of harrison ark for being who they are, larry miller you are doing a fine job, keep on screwing the people of the west.

Anonymous said...

Joe and Rudy tell the rest of the FedEx employees that we are getting our Army of Brown brothers together and we are coming to bail you guys out. WE ARE THE MIGHTY TEAMSTERS. (Ontario UPS)

Anonymous said...

Brothers and Sisters of FedEx freight, our feeder drivers or our longhaul drivers at UPS don't work the docks like you guys.We have a bargaining agreement. Why don't you built a Collective Bargain Agreement under the Teamsters. Mike from UPS Ontario.

Anonymous said...

FedEx employees should have the option to go union. My hours were moved around when i was there so they wouldn’t have to pay me benefits or overtime. That’s illegal but i was too young and dumb to know any better. FedEx will do anything for the profit even steal from it’s own employees. The harder the CEO’s at FedEx fight against it’s employees to have the choice to organize the more these brainwashed anti-union people should wake up and realize they need this. This company has some fantastic people working there but management sees employees as a necessary evil. They take and take but giving back is not in their PSP bullshit philosophy. Fred Smith hates union cuz it might take a dollar out of his pocket not because they are bad for the employees. From: an Ex-FedEx Employee.

Anonymous said...

Lets take the Teamsters, FedEx and UPS and move them to side for a moment on this issue. This is about the american workers right to choose. Current legislation that allows FedEx to be governed by the RLA. This limits the FedEx workers right to choose if they want to be represented by organized labor. Under the NLRB the FedEx worker can make a free will choice not limited. This isssue is about Freedom of Choice. Respect it and honor it.

Anonymous said...

Here at UPS Ontario hub, our brothers and sisters unloading the trucks working only 5 hrs a day get medical benefit without paying out of their checks. ONTARIO UPS HUB.

Anonymous said...

All your hard work over the years should never be forgotten!You’ve made your company profitable in all your years of dedication and determination.You should feel proud about the work you do and deserve to be rewarded fairly for it!!!
FedEx employees for Union!

Richard said...

It is unfortunate that Fred Smith has turned his back on his employees and brought this situation to this point.FedEx has a bunch of policies with a bunch of names like PSP(people service profit) or GFT (guarenteed fair treatment),that are just that, names. They do not put their people first and do not guarantee fair treatment. FedEx has created and practices a blantant culture of discrimination with it's policies. If you are older and can't do the same amount of stops as a twenty year old you are targeted and terminated. This is clearly dicrimination! FedEx does not have any policies that can't be changed by the discretion of the immediate Management. They call this "Operational Need", which means that anything your direct management feels would benefit the operation allows them to change any rule that they have. There is no policy at all. It's not question of what Fred Smith started the company for, it;s a question of whether he has to follow legitimate rules. He has spent so much money just to prevent his employees from even having the right to vote to have or not have a union.
If FedEx is treating their people so great then they wouldn't be so worried about whether or not their employees can vote for a union!!!

Patrick said...

As a truck driver for Fedex freight, there is NO guarantee that we would even want a union. But having a union would also keep the company honest when dealing with us too. ExViking or Fedex west was a great job, while the aspects of American Freightways is still being used.

Anonymous said...

ups just wants to run fedex out of business , and the profe is here why are they commenting on there rivals trying to be helpful? dosent make sense to me

irudedog said...

So you say “ups want to run fdx out of business?” Don’t you think somewhere in fdx’s warp business mind they too would wish that ups would go out of business also? I would bet on it they are. These companies are like vultures. Every negative thing that comes out about YRC, fdx is right there telling us all about it.
If you are so bold to put out a statement like this, at least have the balls to put your name and not hide behind “anonymous said...”
RUDY HERNANDEZ 

Anonymous said...

If FedEx and UPS are the same, why does UPS put 80% of their packages on a truck and FedEx puts 80% on the airline. I for one say leave FedEx Express under the NRA, that is where they belong.

Joe Nuno said...

It doesn't make sense to you, cause you never been in a union or you are a manager. UPS is trying to help us because this is a Teamsters community of Brotherhood. Your true colors came out of you, cause you must be in a Gang, what do you mean UPS are our rivals, we are corporation not gangs. Oh I am sorry I forgot you belong to the BROWNBAILOUT.GANG of Fred Smith.

wht guy said...

I am tired of fedex management trying to tell me how to live my life if i had my way i would strike in front of the gates to protest these outrageous conditions. fedex any lessin get your hand out of my pocket. quit raping benefits from my family

Anonymous said...

just remember rudy and joe you are the minority , and workers like me are the majority if ups is tring to help you maybe they should give you a job there estupi

Joe Nuno said...

I want to thank all the Brothers and Sisters of UPS Ontario hub. Thank you for all your inputs and support and I know UPS will be working on FedEx Campaign for CHANGE FEDEX TO WIN. From Joe Nuño and Rudy Hernandez and our FedEx Watchdogs of America!!!

Anonymous said...

Fed-Ex does not have a pension plan. Period. They have a healthcare plan that is more expensive every year for the employees. Raises, get serious! The company takes and takes, that is what happens when you do not have a contract. Purple promises to keep cutting benefits of the blue collar workers as the management salaries and bonuses soar.LETS BRING THE TEAMSTERS!!!

Anonymous said...

I just retired from UPS and now enjoy a check from the Teamsters pension for $4700 dollars per month for the rest of my life. If you work at Fed-Ex you cant ever retire because you dont get a pension. I think Fedex gives you a plaque and a handshake, no thanks ill take my big check instead.

Roxy

Anonymous said...

Do Fed-Ex drivers want to organize with the Teamsters? As a UPS driver(Teamster member)i make $29 dollars per hour with plenty of overtime, i have a pension plan that currently provides $5000 per month for life, and Teamsters healthcare plan (100% paid for by UPS) for my whole family which includes; medical, dental, vision, prescription, disability payments, and life insurance at no cost to us. I get 6 weeks paid vacation, 10 paid holidays, 5 sickdays, 3 personal days, tuition reimbursement, bereavement pay, jury duty pay, 401k, ups stock, yearly raises, respect, and job security. Now lets look at Fed-Ex; Pay cuts, the elimination of pension plans, healthcare costs rising yearly for workers, no yearly raises, no job security, and safety concerns daily. Fed-Ex workers, organize with the Teamsters, and get what you deserve. CHRIS

HOFFA LIFE said...

THIS IS YOUR BRAIN:
UPS= GREAT PENSION/ TEAMSTERS


THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON DRUGS:
FEDEX = NO PENSION/NO TEAMSTERS

IS THERE EVEN ANY QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT TO ORGANIZE?????