dagblog - Comments for "Olbermann's Hour Long Special Comment"

Actually, the concept of

San Fernando Curt — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 23:23:12 +0000

In reply to Olbermann's Hour Long Special Comment

Actually, the concept of treating others as you'd have them treat you is universal - virtually every culture on earth has it as a tenet, and one not so much of moral commandment as practical social compact. If we all lived by it, the problems of crime and poverty would pretty much disappear. We'd save live, save money. Practical. ...No?

I don't see why we couldn't

trblmkr — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:40:09 +0000

In reply to Olbermann's Hour Long Special Comment

I don't see why we couldn't do what you describe AND march.

Wow is right! What kind of

oleeb — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:56:05 +0000

In reply to Olbermann's Hour Long Special Comment

Wow is right! What kind of scummy organization does this to people? And why do our elected representatives dance to their tune? It is appalling.

I don't dispute the economic

oleeb — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:51:04 +0000

In reply to Olbermann's Hour Long Special Comment

I don't dispute the economic advantage at all. That's one of the reasons we should have single payer. But the self evident morality of making sure everyone has health care is every bit as important as the economic argument. For example, in my case, I would be for single payer whether or not it was the most economical alternative simply because I believe we should make healthcare available to every human being.

As for abortion, I see that as being a very different question and one where there are some very sincere, intelligent people who believe that abortion is morally wrong. There are also a whole lot of people who see abortion as morally wrong who are ignorant fools. The test, in my opinion, of what qualifies as a self evident truth is how broad a consensus there is on such a question, not that there is unanimity.

I don't think Olbermann's arguments were shallow nor do I see his proposal as shallow. I found his arguments compelling and believe many, many other people will too. His argument was intended to reach people at a different level than simply a dry, wonkish presentation. You can take either route, but I see Olbermann's effort as having a much broader reach and effect. I think we should embrace not only what is intellectually sound but also those arguments that are highly persuasive to a much broader audience.

RR, I think the positions

one_wilson — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:16:37 +0000

In reply to Olbermann's Hour Long Special Comment

RR,

I think the positions you contort yourself into
to DENY a moral claim for HCR tend in my mind to reinforce exactly the OPPOSITE position. Without overly explicating Jesus, Buddha, or Mohammed, is there ANY ethical or moral system that doesn't include "caring for the sick" as one of its core values? Isn't that simply a LIFE value, reflected not only in all major global health care centers, but equally powerfully in huts in Africa or Indian teepees in the Old West, or in wolf packs in Alaska?

As I've said previously, morality is certainly not the ONLY claim for HCR, but it remains at heart one of the two STRONGEST claims. If we ignore that claim altogether in favor of ONLY basic nuts-and-bolts accounting, we leave at least half our argument on the sidelines - probably the half that has a chance to prevail among the multitudes among us who don't yet reduce EVERY public debate to basic financial self-interest.

With respect to perhaps the LAST great public morality debate, could someone tell me whether or not racial integration was COST EFFECTIVE? No, I don't know either, and don't recall the question ever coming up at the time.

People have to wake up. What

latinotxdem — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:13:40 +0000

In reply to Olbermann's Hour Long Special Comment

People have to wake up. What do they think they're paying into for years and years of "good" health only to be shocked out of their minds to find out that when you DO need your insurance to kick in they'll come out with all types of excuses to NOT pay. My wife (the Primary holder of the health plan) and I paid for years on our HUMANA health plan, and rarely used it except for yearly physicals. Last year I had 2 heart attacks and was in the hospital for 2 days (that's right TWO days), a month later she gets a letter saying that I am not covered because she FAILED to prove I am her husband. It didn't keep them from charging her to add me to the plan for 5 years though and NOT asking if I was her husband then. So we sent IRS documents, checking accounts, utility bills that showed both our names on it as they requested. They sent back a letter saying that they needed our marriage certificate, WOW now I now what President Obama feels at the being asked of his birth certificate. So we had to get a copy since we don't have the original and sent it to them. Well as of last week, I am still not on the plan that we paid into for 5 years. So I guess I'll have to hire a lawyer to see where this goes. I write this so that others can see that if they have insurance not to be lured into thinking everything is OK.

I rec' this comment.

leftyloosey — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:56:54 +0000

In reply to Olbermann's Hour Long Special Comment

I rec' this comment. Brilliant, Gregor!

Hope we hear more about

Overreach THIS! — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:16:30 +0000

In reply to Olbermann's Hour Long Special Comment

Hope we hear more about Keith's initiatives and this takes off into something. Rec'd.

It's a wackaloon talking

Overreach THIS! — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:12:43 +0000

In reply to Olbermann's Hour Long Special Comment

It's a wackaloon talking point BTW that nobody watches. They say, for example, that he doesn't crack 200,000 and slap one another's back confidently laughing at that falsity.

Real number is over 1.5 million.

Wow. Good health to you!

Overreach THIS! — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:09:40 +0000

In reply to Olbermann's Hour Long Special Comment

Wow. Good health to you!