On AirAmerica, David Sirota talks about the senators holding up health care

representing the "small, square states", and further, that they are overwhelmingly white.

I found this to be an interesting part of the issue, and found the article in print:

http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2009-07-31/news/david-sirota-the-health-care-tyranny

Here we have a major congressional push to fix a health care system that leaves one-sixth of the country without coverage. Here we have 535 House and Senate delegates elected to give all 300 million of us a voice in the solution. And here we have just 13 of those delegates holding the initiative hostage.

In the Senate, both parties have outsourced health care legislation to six Finance Committee lawmakers: Max Baucus, D-Mt.; Kent Conrad, D-N.D.; Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.; Mike Enzi, R-Wy.; Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine. The group recently announced it is rejecting essential provisions like a public insurance option that surveys show the public supports. Meanwhile, seven mostly southern House Democrats have been threatening to use their Commerce Committee votes to gut any health care bill, regardless of what the American majority wants.

This, however, isn’t about the majority. These lawmakers, hailing mostly from small states and rural areas, together represent only 13 million people, meaning those speaking for just 4 percent of America are maneuvering to impose their health care will on the other 96 percent of us.

Census figures show that the poverty rates are far higher and per-capita incomes far lower in the 13 legislators’ specific districts than in the nation as a whole. Put another way, these politicians represent exactly the kinds of districts whose constituents would most benefit from universal health care. So why are they leading the fight to stop - rather than pass - reform? Because when tyranny mixes with legalized bribery, constituents’ economic concerns stop mattering.

than those states combined.

i've been noticing the same "small square states" thing. it's bullshit. i'm so tired of this institutionalized system of bribery.

This shows some flaws in that concept.

:(

Think about this sentence:
Because when tyranny mixes with legalized bribery, constituents’ economic concerns stop mattering.

As long as campaign finance reform exists, there should be no ability of anyone in Congress or at the WH to get a good night's sleep for themselves. This tyranny is killing 18,000 of us each year.

Yes, that is the quote that stood out to me, too.

LEGALIZED BRIBERY.

Until we STOP this, we don't have our system of government!

I have my problems with David Sirota, but I thought this was a very good article, and I was intrigued with it when I heard him talk about this on the radio this week.

Lots of food for thought!

:kick: