Charlie Bicycle » debate

Happy Holidays!…yep, I said it.

Charlie — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:51:10 +0000

I’m not trying to be politically correct. I’m not trying to elbow out Christians (some of them can be so sensitive about getting their due this time of year). I’m trying to be respectful to everyone that shares space with me and that has ever buddied up with me. They’re not all Christians or Jews or Muslims or Black or Humanists. They’re a variety pack of interesting and diverse people that all have differing ways of celebrating the holidays. Therefore, I’m sorry if I don’t blanket you with a Christian holiday greeting. There’s just too many great people out there that deserve their due as well.
Happy Holidays!

Why healthcare at hyperspeed?

Charlie — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:08:34 +0000

If you don’t have concerns over this healthcare bill, check your pulse. While discussing it the other day, I finally conceded that I just didn’t know what was happening. This bill is so complex, and so involved, if you know exactly what’s in it, you’re lying. I’ve been asked by several people recently why this has to rushed through? Why does it have to happen right now? As many misgivings as I have about how this bill was formulated and picked to death, I’d still have to put my support behind it. It’s a bit of a leap of faith. But the alternatives have been laid out in front of liberals in very dramatic fashion. Historically speaking, healthcare has been dead in the water before it’s even grown legs. It’s indicative of how powerful healthcare insurers have become. This has been going on for a century. Democrats attempt to provide real change to a broken system, and the powers that be use their money and influence to make sure that it never happens. This is why we now face a watered down bill that offers some important regulations, but little true reform. Conservatives have legitimate points of disagreement. Unfortunately, those points have been overshadowed by the dog whistle that was blown by congressmen like Jim DeMint. What progressives face is an opposition that wants nothing more than to see this bill killed. Some on the right would actually be very open to working for a true healthcare reform bill, but the people on the right that see this as a black and white issue have destroyed any opportunity for moderates to be heard and forced Democrats to take action on a bill that’s far from perfect. The truth be told, if the far right and the insurance lobby are allowed to continue to misrepresent, vilify and lie about this bill, they’ll succeed AGAIN. And then the American public is left exactly where we left off with no opportunity in sight to reintroduce change to healthcare. I’ve watched commercial after commercial after commercial recently scaring viewers of a looming government takeover of their healthcare. This after the public option and anything vaguely resembling one, have been stripped. Most people in this country feel the same way about this bill. It would be great to debate it’s merits for an extended period of time, but I’m beginning to think that’s not even important to many conservatives. It has been stalled over an over again. And yet, many conservative lawmakers still have nothing more to add to the bill than “kill it”. If nothing else, this bill has put a chink in the armor of the healthcare monopoly and given an opportunity in the future to amend and improve what’s about to be passed. Unfortunately if this is they way business must be done, then so be it. It will anger many, but I ask everyone to look at your role in this process and recognize that both sides have acted like spoiled children.

The Socialism Excuse

Charlie — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:49:28 +0000

So you think this healthcare debate is about healthcare? There’s a growing movement of disenchanted and further marginalized fringe that would like debase and demonize a President not for policy, but for heritage and greed.

The dark side of conservative fringe opposistion

#1: Barack Obama is black. Unfortunately, racism is alive and well is the U.S. and the country’s first black president has uncovered a deep seeded resentment and mistrust by many whites. It’s an ugly fact, but Americans are getting a first hand look at the dark legacy of minority rights and many are using the fact that they lost an election to a black man as a reason to oppose his every move.

#2. Many whites feel as if they won’t be able to run roughshod over minorities rights. With a growing population that rejects racism and a younger generation that looks to change the attitude of government and politics as usual, many whites are faced with the fact that they’ll have to accept blacks as their equals. A pill many are finding hard to swallow.

#3. A growing hispanic population threatens a white majority. The idea of illegal immigration contributing to less jobs for whites, a non-white majority and a population that is steadily growing less anglo, many whites are terrified of the consequences. Insecurity too often leads to irresponsible policy and hate filled rhetoric.

#4. The elite corporatocracy will be called more into account. If Obama succeeds, business will be held into account for raping the American public for decades. Business usually supports conservative, pro-business politicians that will support policies that promote profit-taking above consumer protections. With Obama significantly weakened, the threat against their bottom line is alleviated.

#5. It’s about an economy that has been pumped full of garbage by Wall Street and now has unleashed it’s fragility on everyday Americans. When the American worker feels pinched, history has proven that many look to others to blame for their lack of opportunity. Insecurity in the state of the economy means anti-immigrant/minority sentiment runs rampant. The banks that caused the downward spiral of 401k’s and home values seem almost untouchable to ordinary Americans and , therefore, cast light on easy targets.

Remember this guy? His whole story reeks of the same fear we’re hearing today.

It seems no matter what Obama does, these whack jobs will continue to fight him. Obama could lay golden eggs on their lawns and they’d bitch about the divot it made. Change is hard. People didn’t like it too much when blacks were allowed to sit beside them on the bus either.-CB