> The last time Duane attacked the Democrats’
> health bill (as usual, with perfectly valid
> criticisms) I asked him and his
> fellow-traveller Henry Duke what THEIR
> big plan is to bring the US to a single-payer
> system that will save the most money and lives

In answer to your question, I’ve always been of the opinion that the only way a universal, single-payer health care system will ever come to the United States is if states like California are allowed to adopt it through the ballot initiative process. That’s how single-payer was adopted in Canada: province by province.

Although the Democrats in the California state legislature, to their credit, voted twice to establish such a system here, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, vetoed it every time it came to his desk. And I’m not convinced that a right-wing Democratic Governor like Gray Davis would have voted any differently.

By the way, what do you think about the fact House Democrats voted to kill off Congressman Dennis Kucinich’s amendment to their phony, baloney “Multi-Billion-Dollar-Taxpayer-Subsidy-of-Private-Health-Insurance Company-Profits” legislation, which would have given states an option to switching to a single-payer system?

> Personally I’ve chosen the long, frustrating,
> unglamorous, incremental process we see
> starting today, and the equally long and
> frustrating process of Progressive takeover
> of the Democratic Party.

A strategy, of course, that has proven to be a complete and utter failure every generation it has been revived, usually by Democratic Party operatives who earn a living keeping the “left” clinging to baseless illusions that a political party that has *always* been owned, dominated, and controlled by Wall Street Investment Banks, Big Business Interests, and the Military-Industrial Complex will someday be miraculously transformed into this mighty “peoples party”.

> I think they might instead be dreaming of some
> spontaneous mass revolution.
>
> I think (pace Lenin) they may think things need
> to get a lot worse before they can really get
> perfect.

But that’s not my position.

> I think they may think hundreds of thousands
> of more people need to die before Americans
> are really good and angry enough to take
> on the insurance industry and other corporations.

Are you trying to tell me with a straight face that the phony, baloney “Multi-Billion-Dollar-Taxpayer-Subsidy-of-Private-Health-Insurance-Company-Profits” legislation that the incredibly corrupt Democratic Party is touting as so-called “health care reform” is going to improve things?

So far, it seems to me that you — not me — is being an apologist for a rotten scheme that basically will end up costing millions of average Americans *more* money in taxes, insurance premiums, and out-of-pocket-deductibles for *less* quality health care — if they even get any at all.

And the big private health insurance companies, huge pharmaceutical conglomerates, and major for-profit hospital chains — thanks to the Democrats — are going to be laughing all the way to the bank as they earn hundreds of billions of dollars in profits from all of this.

Get real, Vern.

The last time Duane attacked the Democrats’ health bill (as usual, with perfectly valid criticisms) I asked him and his fellow-traveller Henry Duke what THEIR big plan is to bring the US to a single-payer system that will save the most money and lives? Personally I’ve chosen the long, frustrating, unglamorous, incremental process we see starting today, and the equally long and frustrating process of Progressive takeover of the Democratic Party.

I think they might instead be dreaming of some spontaneous mass revolution.

I think (pace Lenin) they may think things need to get a lot worse before they can really get perfect.

I think they may think hundreds of thousands of more people need to die before Americans are really good and angry enough to take on the insurance industry and other corporations.

Although, sarcasm and anger aside, I’ll give them the beginning of an answer – there’s a lot of good constructive progress going on at the STATE level.

(Back to my HUGE Fairgrounds post… almost done)

The whole health care reform discussion was removed from the party of “NO!” and we finally have some legislation developing after decades of being denied relief.

Your vindictive little party is pathetic. But go ahead and cheerlead, “Yay, GOP!”

“It’s frustrating that we have to take baby steps, but we have an entire party, the Republicans, DEDICATED TO DOING AND ACCOMPLISHING NOTHING and a media that amplifies their IDIOCY and that “frightens” the chickens in the Democratic party.”

Anonster. Accomplishing nothing? Obviously we are accomplishing something. If not why are so many Democrats in Congress opposing Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid? Perhaps we are in agreement that this universal health care plan is flawed.
It’s OK for your side to twist arms of Democrats for support of the Bill but according to your logic our side cannot engage in the same practice? Why don’t you run for and get elected to Congress. Than you can demonstrate your skills in getting other elected officials to follow your plan. I might even give you a campaign donation just to watch you in action rather than listening as you fire rounds from behind a dark curtain.