Evolution of Consciousness

Congress is mustering another attempt to investigate the abuses of power of the Bush Administration. This investigation is critical to the legitimacy and perpetuation of our government and the rule of law.

The previous administration ran the executive branch, not as public servants, but more like renegade CEOs. While in office, any attempts at investigation or oversight were dismissed with claims of “executive privilege” or “national security.” This ploy, when abused, can lead to dictatorship.

Thus, an important task for this 111th Congress will be to restore some balance of power between the branches of government. Toward that goal, the House Judiciary Committee released a report last month titled “Reining in the Imperial Presidency: Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the Presidency of George W. Bush.” The 486 page document is available online, and goes into good detail on the subject. It’s worth a look.

Also worth a look is Vincent Bugliosi’s recent book The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder. Here the famous Manson prosecutor focuses on just one aspect of the many Bush crimes: starting a war under false pretenses. Be forewarned, the author’s tone can drift toward bombast at times, but don’t let that scare you away, it’s mostly the voice of righteous indignation. Personally, I found the reading of this book to be a rather cathartic experience, a soothing balm to years of pent-up frustration.

A thorough investigation of the past eight years is sorely needed, to determine exactly what happened, how it happened, and to serve appropriate justice. Let your congress people know where you stand on the subject (and a short note to the current administration, at whitehouse.gov, might also help). Progressive government won’t occur by itself, it takes an active citizenry to really make it happen.

“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.”

That was Martin Luther King in 1967. 42 years later, I would say the approaching part is over. America is not only at spiritual death’s door, we’ve let ourselves in, gotten comfortable on the couch, helped ourselves to beer and pretzels, and have that glazed-over look we get when the Superbowl goes on too long.

At the time, King was addressing not only the Vietnam War but also the underlying reasons for America’s misguided foreign policy. He recognized that unless we grappled with these deeper motivations, there would be many more Vietnams to come. And he wondered whether America was mature enough to do it.

Well, the good news is that America is finally mature enough to elect itself a black president. This is certainly cause for celebration, but racism was only part of the problem King spoke of. He also identified materialism and militarism, and noted how America’s violence-prone foreign policy was often guided by naked concerns of wealth and investment. 

Naomi Klein’s recent book The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism does an excellent job of looking at America’s international meddlings and illuminating their base economic interests. Assimilating the truths of her work will be America’s first step away from the spiritual death that King warned us of so many years ago.

A look at the “Health Care” section of the “Open for Questions” feature at change.gov reveals a powerful desire from American citizens for single-payer healthcare. An overwhelming majority of the comments on healthcare, numbering in the thousands, asked for essentially the same thing: single-payer (or HR 676). The ratio of yes/no votes on these comments ran about 20 to 1 for single payer. This indicates that the disinformation machine from the insurance/pharma industries is losing its grip on the public. I credit the movie “Sicko” for much of this awareness (if you have not seen “Sicko,” now is a good time). 

I think we are on the cusp of a great battle, essentially between the ascendant plutocracy (governance by the wealthy) and that silly old dream of democracy (governance by the people), and I see the healthcare crisis as representative of this larger struggle. 

For more than seventy years, base money interests (currently in the guise of health insurance and big pharma) have prevented us from adopting the vastly superior single-payer system. The rest of the world has benefitted from this simple concept, but America has not. We lag behind — paying more, getting less, becoming sicker — so a greedy few can continue enriching themselves at the expense of the many others. It’s been an obscene development in this country, and is a direct result of the ideology that puts profit before people.

The majority of American people (and physicians) want single-payer but an extremely wealthy, self-interested minority does not, and thus far they have managed to have their way, because big dollars mean big influence in government. Many Americans have suffered, and many have died, as a result. The for-profit “health” industry continues pumping vast sums from their ill-gotten gains into government, and HR 676 continues to languish — stuck “in committee” — in the House of Representatives.

For those of you in California’s First Congressional District, you should know that your representative, Mike Thompson, has not yet co-sponsored HR 676 (93 reps have, and he’s had years to do it). A quick look at his campaign finances (opensecrets.org) reveals that the “health” industry was a major contributor to his recent re-election, which most likely explains Mike’s reticence to support HR 676. PACs usually have candidates sign “position papers” before the money passes hands, and it is easy to imagine this one saying something like, “I will not support the single-payer solution.” This all-too-common example of concentrated wealth wielding disproportionate influence in government is probably the single greatest impediment to true democracy in this country, and we need to eradicate it from our system.

Tell your representatives (House and Senate) to support HR 676. Tell Obama the same thing (change.gov). Speak up. Join the millions who are trying to turn this ship around. It will take a lot of voices to overwhelm the money interests, but the numbers are in our favor — we only have to use them. 

Let’s take this country back.

Single Payer Now!

Healthcare in America is headed for reform, but the quality of it will depend on you.

Americans currently pay the most for their healthcare, by far, but receive inferior coverage and service. Why? Because the profit motive sits between us and our providers. The medical ethos in this country has become “first, maximize thy profit.” Corporate greed must be removed from our healthcare, and adopting single payer is the best way to do it.

Health insurers and big pharma do not want the gravy train to end. They have money, lobbyists, and clout. So, unless a lot of us insist on single payer, we won’t get it. It’s as simple as that.  

The windows of opportunity for healthcare reform don’t come around all that often. FDR made initial attempts in the 30s, Harry Truman tried in the 40s. Lyndon Johnson managed to push Medicare through for seniors in 65. Nixon tried in 74, the Clintons in 93. Special interests usually kill the effort. The years go by, and more Americans suffer and die, needlessly (while others get richer). Now, we have another chance.

Everyone has three congresspersons: one representative and two senators. Rattle their cages! Tell them you want single payer healthcare in this country, now. Go to the website change.gov and send Obama the same message. If enough of us speak up for single payer, right now, I think we have a good chance at it.

For more information…

• Physicians for a National Health Program
• Ralph Nader on Single Payer

How pathetic, listening to the Bush gang prattle about their legacy. The answer, like their man, is simple: worst president ever. What began as illegitimate has ended ignominious. Bush will stand amongst his rubble forever.

Now, at the close of this shameful epoch, there is talk of presidential pardons. Not a good idea. Think about it. The presidential pardon provides the means for a criminal administration to operate outside the law with impunity. We should not be encouraging this sort of behavior.

It is time to revisit this highly abused appendage, the presidential pardon, along with the Electoral College, gerrymandering, and many other impediments to a true democracy.