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March 6, 2009 at 22:39:46

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Socialism as Real Insurance for Everyone

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By Bia Winter (about the author)     Page 1 of 1 page(s)

opednews.com     Permalink

For OpEdNews: Bia Winter - Writer

What is this big bugaboo about "Socialism", anyway? The Rightwingers are now raising hue and cry about it as if it were the same as old world Communism, but the only analogy here is the same insideous use of Propaganda to herd the sheeple!
 
Socialism works great in countries where it is administered properly!
Germany, and France,and even our neighbor Canada, have excellent systems, where people really GET SOMETHING for their hard-earned tax dollars besides Endless WAR!  Where it has failed, like in Britain, it was because they couldn't stick to the program and mixed Capitalism in,,,like here, when they 'borrow" from Medicare and  Social Security to pay for other government programs. 
( Aren't we glad we didn't "privatize" Social Security back when Bush wanted to; That would have tanked with the stock market!)

When the first of my eastern German cousins came to visit after the Wall came down,  they loved it here, and would have liked to emigrate, but, they said they could never afford college for their son here, or our exorbitant health care costs. In Germany people have the RIGHT to health care, as well as to education, right through college or trade school for those that qualify...no football needed! THEY do not have an upcoming shortage of qualified workers in any field!
 
When we hear the old refrain of "Tax and Spend", we should first ask, "Spend on What?"  Big difference, whether it's for tax cuts for the rich and a bloated defense budget (necessitating yet more wars) or spent on what will help working people and society in general. And foremost in our present financial instability right now is the skyrocketing costs of healthcare, and that odious middle-man, the insurance industry. Catastrophic illness or injury is still the single most frighteningly unpredictable insecurity in the working person's life: the one that could strip them of everything including their home and life's savings. THAT is what Socialized Medicine is for. We shouldn't have to pay into the Insurance bloodsuckers' scam instead, forced to pay good money betting against our own best interests! It is they and their lobbyists who are most ardently blocking the health reforms we need. Let them stick to Car and Home insurance...for those that still trust them after Katrina!
 
Just because Socialism, a form of real insurance for everyone, hasn't been done right yet here in the USA doesn't mean it can't be! Until the Republicans neglected it so badly, our Public Education system was one of the best in the world: a prime example of a successful socialist program. Why not right through college or trade school? (surely a much better investment for society than prisons...and cheaper!) 
  
And with the present financial meltdown, we see clearly now where run-amok Capitalism has gotten us (What's "trickling down" on YOU, these days?) Are we to believe we can "afford" 800 billion to bail out banks, trillions for wars of empire that just make us less safe,  but not a small fraction of that for Universal Healthcare? (where, again,  should that money come from?)

It seems to me there are some things that can be left to the "Free Market" (Again we must ask, "free" for whom?) if it is properly regulated (we see where DE-Regulation has gotten us!) and then there are some things, things properly considered a Human Right in more enlightened  societies, that should be socialized for the common good, like Healthcare, Education, and it seems, probably also Banking, since our bailout money would imply some kind of ownership!  Instead we have a "socialist" welfare system for the Banks and big Corporations, and taxation without representation for the rest of us!
 
This "Great Recession/Rip-off" is the legacy of the Neocons' failed policies, starting with Reagan and we hope, ending with Bush/Cheney, that Obama must change, and he is right to start early on Healthcare as the single biggest issue that will help working people and small businesses weather these hard times, and allow our economy to renew itself.

 

Take action -- click here to contact your local newspaper or congress people:
We need Socialized Medicine!

Click here to see the most recent messages sent to congressional reps and local newspapers

www.RealityChickComix.com

Bia Winter is an Artist/Writer from Maine, and has been an activist and letter-writer since the 60's. In 2004 she received the Roger Baldwin Award from the Maine American Civil Liberties Union for furthering Democracy after she got a Resolution (more...)
 

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.

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not by William Whitten on Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 at 9:19:24 AM
Not necessarily! by Bia Winter on Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 at 1:28:18 PM
William and Bia by Elizabeth Molchany on Sunday, Mar 8, 2009 at 10:01:19 PM
simple as that by William Whitten on Monday, Mar 9, 2009 at 11:02:02 AM
Thank you, William by Elizabeth Molchany on Monday, Mar 9, 2009 at 12:21:23 PM
What should you be regretting, Elizabeth? by Bia Winter on Monday, Mar 9, 2009 at 12:36:11 PM
Socilized medicine by shannon taylor on Wednesday, Mar 11, 2009 at 12:51:45 AM
William and Bia by Elizabeth Molchany on Sunday, Mar 8, 2009 at 10:09:40 PM
Ron Paul was your candidate? by eric dynamic on Wednesday, Mar 11, 2009 at 6:24:26 PM
Universal Health Care is rather obvious by eric dynamic on Wednesday, Mar 11, 2009 at 6:17:44 PM
Capitalism and Monarchy by Philip Dennany on Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 at 9:52:59 AM
whitten wrong as usual by liberalsrock on Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 at 10:01:08 AM
isms my a$$ by William Whitten on Sunday, Mar 8, 2009 at 1:25:36 AM
You can't be serious by sommers on Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 at 2:21:38 PM
Please! Don't be silly! by Bia Winter on Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 at 4:11:22 PM
Democracy V Republic by William Whitten on Sunday, Mar 8, 2009 at 1:44:53 AM
It seems to me by Bia Winter on Sunday, Mar 8, 2009 at 11:26:54 AM
Bia looking for Spring... by William Whitten on Sunday, Mar 8, 2009 at 11:50:16 AM
Socialism by shannon taylor on Friday, Mar 13, 2009 at 1:42:16 AM
Reference by eric dynamic on Wednesday, Mar 11, 2009 at 6:52:56 PM
You can't answer questions by quoting from crossword puzzles by eric dynamic on Wednesday, Mar 11, 2009 at 6:39:28 PM
William Whitten by sommers on Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 at 2:29:16 PM
Good luck! by Bia Winter on Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 at 4:16:51 PM
Hero William Whetton! by ConSion on Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 at 3:10:34 PM
What, exactly by Bia Winter on Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 at 4:20:32 PM
Principles by William Whitten on Sunday, Mar 8, 2009 at 1:30:55 AM
Principles are fine by Bia Winter on Sunday, Mar 8, 2009 at 10:57:31 AM
What? by William Whitten on Sunday, Mar 8, 2009 at 11:04:41 AM
SC by Elizabeth Molchany on Sunday, Mar 8, 2009 at 4:48:44 PM
I Have No by shadow dancer on Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 at 4:19:30 PM
And I'll bet they practiced a form of Socialism by Bia Winter on Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 at 4:22:37 PM
REPUBLIC V DEMOCRACY by William Whitten on Sunday, Mar 8, 2009 at 1:55:20 AM
Capitalism is the culprit here, not Democracy. by Bia Winter on Sunday, Mar 8, 2009 at 11:59:31 AM
reason by William Whitten on Sunday, Mar 8, 2009 at 3:55:11 PM
Socialist Propaganda? by Bia Winter on Sunday, Mar 8, 2009 at 7:01:04 PM
this is not government this is predation by William Whitten on Sunday, Mar 8, 2009 at 8:11:15 PM
I "get it William", but I have to wonder if you do! by Bia Winter on Monday, Mar 9, 2009 at 9:58:01 AM
Not "capitalism" but "Capitalism" by eric dynamic on Friday, Mar 13, 2009 at 8:21:01 PM
Bia, you're beautiful. by GLloyd Rowsey on Sunday, Mar 8, 2009 at 11:07:27 PM
You're right about words by Bia Winter on Monday, Mar 9, 2009 at 9:31:36 AM
Why concede anything to the know-nothings? by eric dynamic on Wednesday, Mar 11, 2009 at 7:13:42 PM
Lol... by William Whitten on Monday, Mar 9, 2009 at 10:49:01 AM
Giving a Damn by Bia Winter on Monday, Mar 9, 2009 at 12:25:22 PM
From my Redneck Girlfriend in Georgia... by Bia Winter on Monday, Mar 9, 2009 at 10:52:34 AM
"...without her I'd be Homeless now" by Bia Winter on Monday, Mar 9, 2009 at 2:42:57 PM
Nonsense? by Bia Winter on Monday, Mar 9, 2009 at 10:56:35 AM
Sorry, comment should have gone up under WW's by Bia Winter on Monday, Mar 9, 2009 at 11:00:08 AM
Good Luck by William Whitten on Monday, Mar 9, 2009 at 11:17:37 AM
From a friend in New Zealand... by Bia Winter on Monday, Mar 9, 2009 at 11:07:53 AM
Get a look at the reality of this number: by William Whitten on Monday, Mar 9, 2009 at 11:23:35 AM
And your point is...? by Bia Winter on Monday, Mar 9, 2009 at 12:41:23 PM
wooden nickels... by William Whitten on Monday, Mar 9, 2009 at 2:35:43 PM
Your "Position"? by Bia Winter on Tuesday, Mar 10, 2009 at 11:40:53 AM
??? by ConSion on Tuesday, Mar 10, 2009 at 3:20:23 PM
ConScion and killers by Elizabeth Molchany on Thursday, Mar 12, 2009 at 9:15:09 PM
America's Stupid Health Care Debate: Lindorff by Bia Winter on Monday, Mar 9, 2009 at 1:47:16 PM
Single-Payer FAQ by Bia Winter on Monday, Mar 9, 2009 at 2:33:12 PM
Spot on... by ConSion on Tuesday, Mar 10, 2009 at 3:07:36 PM
Yeah, go shoot yourself in the foot ! by Bia Winter on Tuesday, Mar 10, 2009 at 4:15:51 PM
At least... by ConSion on Tuesday, Mar 10, 2009 at 10:12:16 PM
I rest my case! by Bia Winter on Wednesday, Mar 11, 2009 at 8:30:44 AM
You have no case. by ConSion on Wednesday, Mar 11, 2009 at 8:55:06 AM
(From my Georgia friend again) by Bia Winter on Wednesday, Mar 11, 2009 at 8:12:00 PM
More... by Bia Winter on Thursday, Mar 12, 2009 at 8:38:51 AM
Eric re Ron Paul by Elizabeth Molchany on Thursday, Mar 12, 2009 at 9:36:37 PM
Flip side of a bad coin by eric dynamic on Friday, Mar 13, 2009 at 5:09:48 PM
Socialism by shannon taylor on Friday, Mar 13, 2009 at 5:15:34 AM
Let them demonstrate by Bia Winter on Friday, Mar 13, 2009 at 8:15:43 AM
Jefferson, Eisenhower and Obama by Bia Winter on Friday, Mar 13, 2009 at 9:18:30 AM

 
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