FREEDOM WITH CIVILITY MISSING IN ACTION

FREEDOM OF SPEECH HAS BECOME ANARCHY...

West Wing was one of the best written, relevant, best acted USA network television series. Not HBO, but one of the three original TV networks. I feel the second term of George W Bush may have happened because some people thought the fictional President Jed Bartlett on the West Wing was our President.

You can still catch the West Wing on Bravo weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. with back to back episodes, with an occasional disruption in the scheduling. The only thing is I can't stand when Bravo goes to commercial - their resident announcer is intolerable. Just beyond any scale of good taste. I have to mute the sound immediately to bear it.

Youtube has many great scenes for those of you who aren't familiar with this wonderful series.

I picked the one below to post because I feel it is relevant in a way to the off-the-rails behavior of the bigots in the United States of America who seem to have highjacked the media and the decency of leadership in the Republican party that could exercise...well, some leadership. Not the sick kind that we have been subjected to over the last few months. But political leaders who say with clarity that the bigots are wrong - that the calling our President "The Joker", Hitler, and on and on with the sick hurling insults, bigoted and incendiary statements - need to stop and be replaced with some uncommon common sense. These people aren't patriotic. They are ignorant at best. They have sucked the life out of any semblance of honest debate about the health care issues. At worst, our President's life is made more likely to be taken by the polluted environment that they have put into motion. And you don't hear Republicans say anything to help reign in the lies, misleading rhetoric or steer the conversation to civility. This started during the Presidential campaign. And now it is even more blatant. Scarcely veiled "pretend" facts are racists' remarks and behavior. They might as well all be wearing sheets.

Freedom of speech has become anarchy of speech.

President Obama is not admitting the racism that is at the root of the behavior. But that is what is at the root. These insecure people feel empowered because the Limbaughs, the Glenn Becks, the Joe Wilsons, etc. make them feel they have legitimate principles. But it is hate's vile bile.

swastika-painted-outside-office-of-black-congressman

Boehner dismisses talk of race
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Uploaded by sarahkatheryn

Fictional President Barlett "You'll denounce these people, Al. You'll do it, publicly. And until you do, you can all get your fat asses out of my Whitehouse..."

"Two Cathedrals"
Uploaded by Cath1888

"Let Bartlett Be Bartlett"
Uploaded by chochanga

"Young Jed Bartlett and Mrs. Lanningham"
Uploaded by sarahkatheryn

"Brothers in Arms"
Uploaded by hanley55

"Homeless Veteran - In Excelsis Deo"
Uploaded by ksol1460


"Posse Comitatus" ending Part 1
Uploaded by DanthemaN9199

Click on post title for another West Wing youtube:
The speech President Bartlet gives about the judiciary, term limits, and campaign finance reform. Josh and the team refuse to be stared down by Republican Senators.

"...WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL" - AND PUBLIC OPTION WITH HEATLH CARE REFORM

Free Speech Comes With Responsibility

What is happening at these Health Care Reform "Shout Outs"
is Crazy-Making

That is a psychological term ~ Crazy-Making

Sheldon Whitehouse (U.S. RI Senator):

Why a public option matters in health reform

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Source: http://www.projo.com/opinion/contributors/content/CT_whitehouse28_07-28-09_1LF4IEP_v22.3f8b6ba.html#

SHELDON WHITEHOUSE

WASHINGTON

FEW THINGS are as important in every family’s life as good health care. Knowing that when you get sick, you can see a doctor; that when your child needs a checkup, she or he can too; that if something goes wrong, you’ll have the very best care; and that the bills won’t force you into bankruptcy or out of your home. All of this is vital, not only to physical health, but to peace of mind.

Many in America have this kind of health care. But too many don’t.

Rhode Islanders have shared their stories with me about how the health-care system has failed them. They’re going without health insurance because it costs too much, or because they have a pre-existing condition and private insurance is out of reach. They’re fighting to keep the coverage they have, battling claims denials and insurance-company bureaucrats who seem to care more about the company’s bottom line than a customer’s health. They fall ill or are injured, and costs pile up until they become simply too great to bear. They’re taking it day by day, hoping things don’t get worse.

It shouldn’t be this way. That’s why, for the last several weeks, I have been working with my fellow members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, including my senior colleague, Jack Reed, on new legislation to make sure every American has access to affordable, high-quality health care, and to reduce the overwhelming costs of our current system. It’s a big goal, and it won’t be easy to reach. But we’re confident that with the landmark bill our committee has passed, we’re on the right track.

In particular, the bill puts unprecedented focus on improving our quality of care in ways that reduce costs, and on preventing illness so as to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations. This effort, supported by our previous investment in improved health-information technology, positions the health-care system to achieve larger savings that are an ultimate promise of health-care reform.

When President Obama spoke about health-care reform a few weeks ago, he made a very important promise: If you like the health-care coverage you have now, you’ll be able to keep it. But for the many Rhode Islanders who don’t have health insurance, or whose coverage isn’t meeting their needs, we offer a new choice: a clear, straightforward, affordable public-insurance option that will compete with the private plans, helping keep costs down and private insurers honest.

Our public plan, called the Community Health Insurance Option, will be a truly comprehensive benefit package. If you need financial help to buy your coverage, it will be there. If you’re a doctor, choosing to participate in this plan will mean less paperwork, less red tape and fair reimbursement rates. Local advisory councils will work with the plan to make sure states and communities with good ideas are heard.

Our plan will be a new kind of health insurance that works with you and for you, not against you, to make sure you get the very best care. It will invest in prevention, in efficiency, in care management and coordination, and in strategies that improve health-care quality. And it will never deny you a policy based on your health status, or exclude certain coverage because of a pre-existing condition.

Isn’t this the way health insurance should work?

My temporary appointment to the HELP Committee has ended, but I’m going to keep working hard in the Senate to send this plan to President Obama’s desk. I’m so grateful to those of you who have already been in touch with me to share your experiences and your ideas about health-care reform, and I hope you’ll continue to reach out in the days ahead. This is an important fight, and we’re going to give it everything we have.

Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat, is the junior U.S. senator from Rhode Island.

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An email I received today - regarding Heath Care Reform public forums for Rhode Island:

We have a once in a lifetime opportunity in American politics to win universal health care.

The right-wing is doing something about it; whipping up a frenzy around the idea of "socialized" medicine (you know, programs like Medicare and the VA that are great health care programs for the elderly and veterans) and, in the process, the Obama administration is showing signs of weakening on the public option.

You can do something. You must do something.

There are 4 "town hall" meetings with our Congressional delegation. The whole schedule is below.

PLEASE SHOW UP. Bring your friends, your family, your coworkers. This is a ONCE IN A LIFETIME chance to make change. Bring signs. Bring your voice. Ask questions. Demand that our delegation support a public option. Ask this question: "if I lose my job and I am mandated to have insurance under the new reforms, how will I afford to buy it without a public option? Can we really trust the insurance companies to lower their costs after decades of refusing to do so?"

Here's what Sen. Russ Feingold recently said about the public option:

"A public option is a fundamental part of ensuring health care reform brings about real change. Opposing the public plan is an endorsement of the status quo in this country that has left tens of millions of Americans uninsured or underinsured and put massive burdens on employers. I have heard too many horror stories from my constituents about how the so-called competitive marketplace has denied them coverage from the outset, offered a benefit plan that covers everything but what they need or failed them some other way. A strong public option would ensure competition in the industry to provide the best, most affordable insurance for Americans and bring down the skyrocketing health care costs that are the biggest contributor to our long-term budget deficits. I am not interested in passing health care reform in name only. Without a public option, I don't see how we will bring real change to a system that has made good health care a privilege for those who can afford it."

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Here's the schedule of events for Rhode Island:

Wednesday, August 19, 6pm
Warwick City Hall, 3275 Post Rd., Warwick (hosted by Langevin)

Thursday, August 20, 6pm
West Warwick Senior Center, 145 Washington St., West Warwick (hosted by Whitehouse)

Wednesday, August 26, 5pm
Johnston Senior Center, 1291 Hartford Ave., Johnston (hosted by Whitehouse)

Thursday, September 3, 4:30pm
The Bandstand at Wilcox Park, 44 Broad St., Westerly (hosted by Langevin)

There are petitions to sign to support the public option of Health Care Reform:

Here are a few:

http://standwithdrdean.com/

http://citizensforapublicoption.com/

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/publicoption_bo/?rc=tw

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Part 1

U.S. MA Reresentative Barney Frank speaks in front of a raucous crowd at a town hall meeting in Dartmouth regarding health care on Aug. 18, 2009.

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Part 2

Part 1 and 2 uploaded by stvideo

Some typical examples of crazy making

Link: http://ezinearticles.com/?Crazy-Making-and-Living-With-Personality-Disorders&id=1494417

Suppose for a moment that your adult son, who still lives at home, owes you some money. You politely, but firmly ask him for the money, which is past due. This should not be a complicated matter, he borrowed it and promised to pay it back on a certain date.

One favorite tactic is what I call smoke and mirrors. He brings up numerous semi-relevant topics to distract you, all the while appearing like an honest person. He has developed a refined ability to cloud the matter and eventually bring it back on you! Now you might even owe him money!

He might tell you of his hardships, your hardships, your relationship to the other children and how you favor them, and on and on and on. Next thing you know, you actually should have given him this money anyway, somehow he is entitled to it.

The worst thing is that you might fall for it, at least a few times. Eventually though, you begin to realize that you are being manipulated very skillfully. It it when you put your foot down that the sh*t hits the fan.

Another example is when they tell you (and everyone else within earshot) how you think, feel and act. Never mind that it is not true, they are telling you anyway. In fact, they have the uncanny ability to make five hens out of a feather any time, day or night!

Even when such a person is shown to be wrong and they acknowledge this, soon they are back to the original embellished story that protects them from reality. Their show simply must go on, in spite of the facts or feelings of other people.

What can you do to avoid crazy making?

The first thing is to recognize it. If you live with somebody who has a personality disorder, you will see it all the time. It becomes entirely predictable, once you learn the signs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Randy_Hough