Mr. Brown goes to Washington... It was really great experiencing history (and the eyes of the world on our little corner of it) as the pre-ordained seat was taken back by the people, from the Democrats. Okay, now we move on.
It seems that for the majority in the US, this is all about healthcare or repudiating Obama, or whatever. Well, here is a little healthcare story for you. My (other) business's healthcare insurance has gone up nearly 50% from last year to this year based on a flimsy story by XYZ (provider not to be named - yet) about having made a mistake in pricing last year. Seems they all made the same mistake.
This gives me an opportunity to tell you what I think of Republicans. What I think of Republicans is that they are the party that with its last near-mortal breath killed the 'public option' (PO) segment of the health bill and in so doing, protected a major benefactor, big healthcare insurance providers.
Now, what does this mean? Well, the way I see it it means that the Republicans took care of their pals by eliminating the Utopian competition Obama had in store for them. It was pre-determined to get the PO killed. Meanwhile, their pals in the insurance company board rooms know a windfall when they see one; it was a free 'gimme' to stick it to the little guy under guise of the ObamaCare threat even though the PO was DOA. Touche' boyz!
Never mind that I have had two big corporations try to stick it to me, personally (a major brokerage) as well as my company (a major bank) only to watch them fold like cheap tents when informed by registered mail that I was err, displeased with their incorrect positions. It did not hurt to inform them that I write stuff that is read around the world, and their actions* (which many people would not have the energy or clout to fight) were definitely ON topic for my writing.
I might mull whether or not XYZ needs to be looked at more closely. It will require research that I do not wish to have to do. They are now FREE to set market prices however they want after all. So thanks Republicans, if things had gotten bad enough for my company, perhaps the only thing in the healthcare bill that would have helped in an emergency situation, the PO, was killed.
And thank you too Barrack, as I recall, the sun hadn't even set on the public option's grave before you were out touting that you will be getting the majority of the bill through and all remained well.
I was the small business guy... the dope stuck in the middle set to PAY for this mess and as I said, if things had gone as bad as they had threatened to last year, I would be gone. So would lots of other little guys. It is from these dynamics that talk of corporatocracy, oligarchy and corporate fascism spring forth from the people.
Gee, to my little guy eye, it sure looks like the Republicans got the back of the big corporations and the Democrats play up the unions and other interests. Meanwhile, the segment that both parties pretend to have an allegiance to - all us hard working little guys - take the high hard one.
I guess my innocent feel-good nature lasted not even until Scott could get in his truck and head south. Imagine how I would sound if things were not currently going well for me?
Okay, back to work... and this time I promise, back to regularly scheduled programming for the blog. Time to get unemotional and time to GET THIS RIGHT. And yeah, I still love it.
* The broker 'lost' some shares of a Canadian listed uranium miner I held, and the bank conjured up a mysterious balloon payment at the end of a capital equipment note through dubious wording on the original contract.
