We have to keep our health system around or the leaders of the world won’t have any place to get healthcare.

National Post – N.L. Pemier Williams Set to Have Heart Surgery in the U.S.

Very simple. It was the promise of transparency. Even a devout libertarian like myself had fleeting interest in Obama. The choice was between two big government types, he and McCain, so that was a wash. After 8 years of behind-closed-doors, I was somewhat inspired to hear all the promises of transparency. It was the only part of that change I kinda believed in.

If I had to have big government, at least I wanted to be able to keep an eye on them.

Unlike most of Obama’s vague, grandiose promises..he was pretty specific on transparency. Especially when it came to healthcare. I saw its passing as inevitable…but when you take over 1/6th of the economy I hoped the “other side” could at least kill a few of the freedom and economy killing provisions, and make it simply a big expansion of Medicaid or something.

There were many more promises of transparency that have come and disappeared into the black of government night just as Bush did, but this one has caught up to him. Back room deals, big insurance, 100 million dollar payoffs, secret meetings. Hats off to C-SPAN for having the guts to fight for open government when each penstroke behind closed doors moves around billions of our money. As we reach the final stages before the bill is passed, they’ve taken it behind doors so closed even other congress members don’t know what’s going on.

Here’s the history. In glorious video. Again, Al Gore, thank you for the internets. The last video shows what happens when you get called out on it.

The sad part, it was a great idea. Of the failures to date, this one will hurt the worst.

The promises of transparency. 8 separate times.

C-SPAN says those open debates did happen..to the tune of 1 total hour.

Background – The head of C-SPAN wrote a letter, asked Congress to — quote — “open all the important negotiations, including any conference committee meetings, to electronic media coverage”

Jack Cafferty Lays into Obama on FoxNews. Just kidding, CNN. via Hot Air.

President Obama hasn’t even made a token effort to keep his campaign promises of more openness and transparency in government. It was all just another lie that was told in order to get elected.

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs Bombs when Responding to Yet Another Reporter’s Calling Them Out.

When (he) was asked whether the administration would support televising the negotiations, he refused to answer, instead mumbling something about, well, I haven’t seen the letter. That wasn’t the question, Mr. Gibbs.

Fail?

With today’s revelation that there will be a vote this Saturday (yes, that’s less than 72 hours to read the bill for you hope and transparency hounds) I wanted to weigh in this 2,074 page monstrosity with some of the latest news. If you’re checking CSPAN for that open, public debate Obama promised, even your TiVo has finally given up.

And my opinion is that, if it did pass (and it likely will) we’d get used to it. Yes, Europe and Canada have it. It isn’t all that good, but they’re still ticking. That’s not really the point, though. People have dealt with a lot of things throughout history because you can get used to pretty much anything.

The list of things that are wrong with this bill is immense, but it starts with it not really even being constitutional, and ends with you taking pain pills instead of getting that expensive surgery (says Obama). Just because it’s good for Canada, why do we care what Canada does? Who do they think invents all those drugs that countries around the world are paying for?

And no, I don’t think the healthcare system is in good shape now. But the straw man says to do nothing, and no actual person is saying that aside from the people that are acting like people are saying that. There’s plenty of other ideas and plans around that would do much good. Those will not be tolerated for debate.

I admit, big business can be fairly evil. But government has the force of law and compulsion behind them and are made up of the same level of evil that big business is. When WalMart starts forcing you to shop there, then perhaps I will buy into the fact that government is a better answer. And also when they start a single program that gets remotely close to its budget, and that actually works.

And if nazis, haters, racists, and righties are the only people that could be against such a caring policy to give free healthcare for all, then the country is by far mostly them all of the sudden.

Here’s today’s rundown:

A quick video explaining that “public option” that’s all about choice and competition. And one of those competitive players is also the referee. Good luck being able to keep up. From HotAir.

So what if it does pass? George Will weighs in on the state’s rights angle on the government’s ability to force you to do something just for existing, with penalties if you don’t. No, it’s not like car insurance. WaPo Full Article

When asked whether any compulsory insurance purchases are constitutional, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was genuinely astonished: “Are you serious? Are you serious?” In 1803, in Marbury v. Madison, Chief Justice John Marshall wrote, “The powers of the legislature are defined and limited; and that those limits may not be mistaken, or forgotten, the Constitution is written.” He was serious.

Gonna need all 60 of those Dem votes to push this one through. A few are wavering. The payoff needed to convince the moderates to see things a bit more clearly? Only 100 million. via WaPo

And if you’re against the bill and you’re black, well….according to Jesse Jackson you’re just against the bill because you certainly can’t be black. Health Care supporters only at this table, you need not apply. FoxNews Link

And those “death panel” claims that were so outrageous and wrong…well, they’re already starting. New guidelines say you don’t need a breast cancer examination until you’re 50…a reversal from the age of 40 recommendation just a few months back. Most everyone knows the tragedy of this disease from someone who wouldn’t have lived had they waited that long, so as you can imagine outrage ensued. So the administration now backpeddles. If you believe this reversal that says it wasn’t going to be their official policy, you haven’t been following this story at all, and that’s what they’re counting on. via WaPo

Finally, from beyond the grave, the crazy radical speaks on healthcare. In his day a Democrat, then a Republican, would now have to run as an independent. The world lived without Freedom of speech, religion, and owning property for thousands of years, so the world wouldn’t be much different if we lost it. Since they don’t teach what America did for the world anymore, most people will never notice the difference.