Yesterday, I missed the entire 7-hour
                                                                   Healthcare Summit with the President
                                                                   and members of Congress but luckily, I
                                                                   was able to catch tidbits on Hardball
                                                                   with Chris Matthews.

                                                                   On the part or parts I did see, I did not
                                                                   need to take notes as I will never forget
                                                                   but was reminded again just how
                                                                   separated from the people some of our
                                                                   government officials really are.  

My jaw dropped when Eric Cantor told the President that if people really wanted
healthcare, then all they had to do was just buy it.  Luckily, I was able to pick my jaw
back up when the President reminded Mr. Cantor that people work.  He said, “Some
of them even work two jobs and still can’t afford it.”  The President again reminded
Mr. Cantor that while Congressional leaders make $176,000 a year, the average
person cannot afford to just “pill off a few dollars” as if it’s nothing.  The President
said people make a choice of what they need verses what they can afford and that
many people need healthcare but forgo it because of the lack of affordability.  

I agree with the President that people will realize their need for healthcare when it’s
too late.  …when they’re seriously ill.  The President said that on average, a person
makes $40,000 per year and perhaps he is correct.  However, in MY world of
averages, that salary is way too small as I know too many teachers, restaurant cooks
and blue-collar men and women whose salaries are not that general.  Yes, I'm aware it
depends on location...

Another comment I will NEVER forget, is the one made by New York
Congresswoman Louise Slaughter mentions that one of her constituents is so broke
that she can’t afford her own dentures so now she is forced to wear her dead sister’s
teeth!  Congresswoman Slaughter stated how uncomfortable it was for the woman to
wear her dead sister’s dentures, because they did not fit!  “Do you believe that in
America that's where we would be?” asked Congresswoman Slaughter.

No, Congresswoman, no I certainly did not.

When Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander debated the President whether our insurance
premiums would increase, it made me wonder if either of their statements were
factual, so I checked online and visited the Congressional Budget Office.  I certainly
had no idea what CBO meant.   I mean, I have heard our government officials say
CBO and I only assumed it had something to do with the budget, but I didn't put two
and two together and fully understand it until now.  (DUH!)

Anyway, after visiting their website, today, I read that they “cannot provide a cost
estimate for the proposal without additional detail, and, even if such detail were
provided, analyzing the proposal would be a time-consuming process that could not
be completed this week.”

So, I guess I’ll just have to wait, as that is one of my concerns.  (Our premiums have
been increasing each year for the past 7½ years.)  However, if every single American
is offered some sort of healthcare, my concerns would be little or none.  Both my
spouse and I have healthcare insurance and together, totals a little more than $8,000
per year.  I wonder, on an "average," how many people can afford that along with
prescription costs.
Keeba's Commentary
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Evan Bayh
   Health Care Summit  2010
February 26, 2010
Filed under Commentary, Video
This entry was posted on Friday, February 26, 2010 and is filed under Keeba’s Commentary and Video  
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Keeba Smith is a published writer and desired screenplay artist.  She is the author of “Shades of Bright Pale,” and many other
unacquainted writings. Please visit www.Keeba.org to find out more about Keeba Smith, read additional critiques and her
unpublished autobiography, “Spirit in the Dark.”
© 2010
I could care less if the person who is reading this, or my Mother-in-law, my spouse, his siblings nor my
own family and retinue of relatives, have the best healthcare insurance in the world.  I really don’t!  In
fact, I don’t believe that either of us, myself included, deserves the best healthcare insurance in the
world.  No, I really don’t as I don’t believe we are deserving of the best healthcare.  However, what we
DO deserve is to receive the exact same healthcare as our government of more than 535 officials
currently have.  We deserve that and if not, then we deserve and SHOULD have the exact same
healthcare insurance as former VP, Dick Cheney.  Cheney is no longer an active government official,
he's the FORMER VP and that makes him one of us now.

I am NOT a bleeding heart liberal!  I’m just merely asking for what is fair for the American People.  Oh
and speaking of Mr. Cheney, I cannot help but cite one of my favorite journalists who said that the
average person would not be able to keep their health insurance if they were 69 years old and had 5 heart
attacks.  (Heart attack, myocardial infarction (MI) or angina.)

The only thing I was able to take away from this Healthcare Summit, was that it forced me to learn more
about the CBO and what they do not have or currently know.  Other than that, I already knew how the
majority of Republicans would respond.  I already knew that John “Orange” Boehner would say scrap the
bill and start all over as he was already playing Goldilocks:
"Mr. President, this one is too long."
"Mr. President, this one is too short."  

The only bill that will be just right for Boehner, is the one that scraps the entire plan - the same plan that
"generally" allows The People to continue to suffer.  I mean honestly, as long as he’s not suffering, than
who cares, right?

Oh how could a Party be so impudent, bad, foul-mouthed, ugly, dirty and devious!  SIGH!!!  (Sounds a lot
like the original story of Goldielocks and the three bears.)

Personally, I was agitated when the President hugged senator Tom Coburn, but I guess Obama still has to
play nice while moving on about The People’s business.  However, it did make me wonder.  It made me
wonder if the President will actually work in the best interest of The People.  

Now, don’t get me wrong, as I’m not abandoning our President.  Yes, I often change my mind and often
contradict myself – I’m not a politician - but let me explain.

First of all, I do not know if the President’s healthcare bill is in the best interest of The People, however,
I believe and feel that his heart and mind is in the right place.  I don’t crunch numbers nor am I certain of
the average cost to insure all Americans, so I can only guess that it would be a substantial obligation on
this Country.  However, I KNOW for sure and am FULLY aware that the way the healthcare is currently,
it is hurting and unjustly killing innocent Americans.

                                               Harry Reid said that it is factual that there are over 45,000 Americans
                                               dying every year due to lack of health insurance.  (That's 1,000
                                               Americans per week and that is just way too many!)  Senator Reid also
                                               quoted facts about bankruptcy and that of the 750,000 bankruptcy
                                               claims filed, 70% of those were due to healthcare costs.  

                                               Secondly, I still cannot know for sure if the stimulus package is working
                                               for all of America.  However, I have heard with my very own ears that it
                                               has and is currently working for Florida Republican governor Charlie
                                               Crist as well California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.  So it  IS
                                               working for all those two-faced Republicans who publicly accept those
                                               large checks yet deviously reports to Fox News that it’s not.

Lastly, I wonder why, if the President truly wanted his bills passed, he continues to pussyfoot around with
crazy obstructions from some Republicans.  I wonder why he has not gone with the Reconciliation Vote
and/or Nuclear Option.  

I truly wonder if the President actually believes Boehner, McConnell, Grassley, McCain, Enzi or any of
the obstructionist when they tease that they desire bi-partisanship and is willing to work with him.  As an
outsider – an average American - I could see that some Republicans were not sincere months ago.

It has to get better and I believe it will, but I will be devastated if the President keeps putting off his plans
and not pass anything.  I will be even more devastated if he does not win re-election.

                                               Perhaps, and I certainly will not be surprised if I'm missing something,
                                               but I believe ALL of them belong in the "penalty box."

                                               I know that it’s not a perfect Country and by what others tell me who
                                               have lived in any other Country other than Barbados, it is the best
                                               system there is.  

                                               I found it baffling that in Arizona, 40 of the 90 legislatures have voted
                                               that Obama must produce his “real” birth certificate if wants to be on
                                               the ballot for re-election.  The vote has passed the House committee
                                               already.  

I know we will always have the likes of Republican Steve King of Iowa who compares Mexicans to cattle
and Obama to al Al Qaeda and furthermore, believes that slavery was good for building America.  He will
never support SCHIP, yet enjoys the thought of dog and cock fighting.

Additionally, we will always have the Trent Franks of the world who said:
"Far more of the African American community is being devastated by the policies today being
devastated by the policies during slavery.  How much better off we were during slavery…you
know, because of the abortion and stuff."

Between King and Franks, I just don’t know who is worse.  It’s disgusting as well as upsetting.

It’s too bad we don’t have more Anthony Wiener’s and/or Alan Grayson’s and that makes me even MORE
disgusted!  …because the Dems REFUSE to stand up for us – The American People.  

I watched as California Senator Barbara Boxer thanked Rachel Maddow for pointing out the truth
between both the Democrat and Republican Parties - no matter which body was being supported.  
However, I have to wonder if Senator Boxer has shown that she too has the hutzspa to stand against those
that want to impede on The People’s rights.

Oh and yes, it is a right to have affordable healthcare as it is written in the Declaration of Independence.  
Notwithstanding, it is up to The People to make sure it is enforced.  We should be firing all of them!...
make a stand!  And with all this nonsense of taking back our Country, we The People should be doing just
that: Taking back OUR Country from these greedy political procurers.

After watching and listening to these videos, I am skeptical that anything was accomplished during this 7-
hour sit-down.  It was certainly a free trip for them, food, drink etc., all the while, I wasted my time.  Of
course, no one forced me to watch but as usual, I’m a gluten for punishment.

While our government officials enjoy basking in luxuries of having a job, healthcare and other delicacies,
The People suffer.  Either pass a healthcare bill that will aid and assist all Americans, or use MINE,
which is comparable – in my own uneducated opinion – to Medicare.
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