31 August 2009
Republican End-of-Life Care
An open letter to America's seniors and soon-to-be seniors:
I understand that you're upset because a bunch of G.O.P. yahoos have been running around the country and telling you that Obama's health plan includes "death panels," when, in fact, it doesn't. I understand that you're upset because you think that money's going to be shifted out of Medicare, when in fact, the mentioned reductions in Medicare spending come about through real cost savings, not shifting money around.
What I think you don't understand is what the G.O.P. has in store for you instead. What is it they really want?
Two words: Terri Schiavo. That's right. What the G.O.P. and their insurance company and long-term care friends want for you, instead of your right to leave this world through terms of your and your closest-ones' understanding and legal directive, is to put you into rooms hooked up to machines until one after another of your organ systems should fail, possibly years later. They're not interested in your human dignity, your decisions when you're of sound mind, or your God-given rights as an individual to control your own destiny. Instead, they just want to get you into situations where the cash flows from the government and those paying insurance premiums into their filthy pockets.
They'll exploit every trick in the book to do this, telling you you're going to Hell should you choose not to plug into the machines in their "care facilities," telling you that they know what God wants for you. They don't. They just want the money.
With them, it's always about the money. Have you forgotten so quickly?
So, every time they tell you that Obama and the Democrats want to do this or Obama and the Democrats want to do that with your Medicare, your private insurance, or your own very personal end-of-life decisions, watch your wallet, because twenty-to-one, one of their consortium of wealthy interests benefits from that opposition, at your expense.
See also: G.O.P.-care II: Medical Payment Roulette
I understand that you're upset because a bunch of G.O.P. yahoos have been running around the country and telling you that Obama's health plan includes "death panels," when, in fact, it doesn't. I understand that you're upset because you think that money's going to be shifted out of Medicare, when in fact, the mentioned reductions in Medicare spending come about through real cost savings, not shifting money around.
What I think you don't understand is what the G.O.P. has in store for you instead. What is it they really want?
Two words: Terri Schiavo. That's right. What the G.O.P. and their insurance company and long-term care friends want for you, instead of your right to leave this world through terms of your and your closest-ones' understanding and legal directive, is to put you into rooms hooked up to machines until one after another of your organ systems should fail, possibly years later. They're not interested in your human dignity, your decisions when you're of sound mind, or your God-given rights as an individual to control your own destiny. Instead, they just want to get you into situations where the cash flows from the government and those paying insurance premiums into their filthy pockets.
They'll exploit every trick in the book to do this, telling you you're going to Hell should you choose not to plug into the machines in their "care facilities," telling you that they know what God wants for you. They don't. They just want the money.
With them, it's always about the money. Have you forgotten so quickly?
So, every time they tell you that Obama and the Democrats want to do this or Obama and the Democrats want to do that with your Medicare, your private insurance, or your own very personal end-of-life decisions, watch your wallet, because twenty-to-one, one of their consortium of wealthy interests benefits from that opposition, at your expense.
See also: G.O.P.-care II: Medical Payment Roulette
Labels: care, crooks, GOP, GOPcare, health, health care, liars, schiavo, theives
16 August 2009
Five Songs: Get Off My Lawn You Pucking Funks!
- Gorillaz, "Punk"
- The Ramones, "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker"
- The Tubes, "I Was a Punk Before You Were a Punk"
- Weather Report, "Punk Jazz"
- Minutemen, "History Lesson, Part 2"
Labels: five, five songs, punk, songs
03 August 2009
Five Songs: Parts Is Parts
- The T-Bones, "No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)"
- The Guess Who, "These Eyes"
- Phish, "Weigh"
- Parliament, "Big Footin'"
- Radiohead, "My Iron Lung"
Labels: five, five songs, parts, parts is parts, songs
01 August 2009
Five Songs: From the 45s
These are songs I ripped from 45s, which I think means I have license to share with my friends, this afternoon. I would link to appropriately licensed online versions of these, if they were available, but they're not. I'm not thrilled about that, since I could make each of you a CD or cassette tape of these songs if I wanted to, but I don't have $675k to spare if those bastards should be able to prove in court that I'm "a distributor."
I admit being deflicted about this: Artists clearly have a right to earn income from their creations. Whether the RIAA and its international co-conspirators represent or have ever really represented those artists is another question, but I'm not looking for a fight with them. Mongo only pawn in game of life.
I admit being deflicted about this: Artists clearly have a right to earn income from their creations. Whether the RIAA and its international co-conspirators represent or have ever really represented those artists is another question, but I'm not looking for a fight with them. Mongo only pawn in game of life.
- Kraftwerk, "Dentaku"
My 45 is a chartreuse vinyl promo copy, not for sale (as retail), in a rice-paper sleve with English text on the "Pocket Calculator" side and Japanese on the "Dentaku" side. - Ian Lloyd, "Slip Away"
Written by Ric Ocasek. This song has such a thick sound. I was hoping it would be a big hit. - Robert Ellis Orrall with Carlene Carter, "I Couldn't Say No"
I'm glad this one was a hit. - Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Keep It, Part Two (Inferiority, Part One)"
The several years later follow up to the original. Who knows what Kevin was thinking. Best line is rushed, buried: "Just like Jon Voight in 1969." Yeah, the mp3 artifacts are annoying. Think I recorded it a little too hot. May try again on this one. - Billy Vaughn and His Orchestra, "A Swinging Safari"
For the Cloverbottom guys. And Mr. Gene Rayburn. Yes, the audio is poor, but, please, someone in my family has been carrying this around since 1962, so be gentle.
Labels: 45, 7", five, five songs, rpm, single
Five Songs: Five Course Meal, Redux
Let's try this again. I have a feeling that Mr. Fripp and his minions had something to do with my previous post of the same name disappearing.
- Radiohead, "Packt Like Sardines in a Crushed Tin Box"
- Weather Report, "Cucumber Slumber"
- Tony Joe White, "Polk Salad Annie"
- Phish, "The Mango Song"
- King Crimson, "Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part II". King Crimson being indisposed, the part of King Crimson will be played by Dream Theater
Labels: course, five, five course meal, five songs, meal
