Healthcare in America

A forum at Shepherd University’s Robert C. Byrd Center for Legislative Studies (adjacent to the Scarborough Library), held on March 24, explored solutions to a healthcare system that leaves 50 million Americans uninsured. Eastern Panhandle Single-Payer Action Network, one of the forum organizers, cited data that healthcare-related costs are the leading cause of U.S. bankruptcies. It also has been called an impediment to job mobility and business creation because surveys show that workers, afraid of losing healthcare, often stay in stale jobs rather than move to better opportunities or start businesses.

West Virginia Belly Dancers to Protest for Single Payer Outside Home Office of Congresswoman Capito

US Sen Baucus: Insurers Have To Negotiate On Public Plan

Sen. Max Baucus said Friday the health insurance industry may have to compromise on a public insurance option to cover uninsured people or risk losing a spot at the bargaining table.

Disgrace: 45 million left out

Why does America's system cost twice as much, yet result in poorer health? This situation is outrageous. The cheapest, best, national insurance format is a Canada-style "single-payer" operation run by the government. We hope that President Obama and the new Democrat-dominated Congress move America swiftly toward that goal.

This is HUGE! If you live in West Virginia, please send this to your Senators and Representative.

I have been thinking about this old article in The Hill:

Dems hedge on healthcare

...“We all know there is not enough money to do all this stuff,” said Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), a Finance Committee member and an Obama supporter, referring to the presidential candidates’ healthcare plans. “What they are doing is … laying out their ambitions.” ...

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There's a good reason for the recent Obamabot psyops, pundit declarations, general wailing and at times cajoling Clinton supporters have been subjected to since her recent Indiana victory was spun into a loss: Clinton still has a very good chance of securing the nomination.

What's more, the next few days are absolutely critical for her and her supporters. The end is only here if we allow the latest round to depress morale and turnout for the upcoming WV and KY primaries.

Jay Cost at RCP lays out why Clinton's down but not out. First some numbers and demographics:

Two things are holding me back: West Virginia and Kentucky.

--SNIP--

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Coal Boss: If You Take Photos, 'You're Liable to Get Shot'

"If you're going to start taking pictures of me, you're liable to get shot," the chairman of one of the country's biggest coal mining companies, Don Blankenship of Massey Energy, told an ABC News reporter before grabbing the reporter's camera.

The incident this week, in the parking lot of a Massey Energy office in Belfry, Ky., is just the latest chapter in the saga of Blankenship's controversial relationship with the West Virginia Supreme Court, which is hearing appeals that could cost his company hundreds of millions of dollars.

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Michigan Messenger

Sen. Hillary Clinton came to Michigan Wednesday and publicly urged Sen. Barack Obama to get on board plans for a proposed do-over Democratic primary.

Clinton visited the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees building in downtown Detroit in a last-minute appearance designed to pressure Obama and state lawmakers who have said they don't think the do-over proposal, which calls for a privately funded state-run primary on June 3, can or should pass the Legislature.

"I believe the families of Michigan are just as important as the families of any of any other state," The Detroit News quoted Clinton saying during her visit.