HEALTHCARE, you order it.

We have a wonderful system. We, the people have the power to throw out the politicians who do not support the will of the people. I have yet to see it work. An impending issue: the healthcare reform (reform?) likely to pass will not be what the large majority of the people want.  The insurance companies, the cause of our problem, will continue to flourish by continuing to gouge the public. You can threaten 2010 and 2012, but when that time comes we will be divided on multiple issues and most politicians will be reelected as we have seen in the past.

The politicians have been well paid by the insurance companies. The politicians need this money to advertise and convince your fellow constituents to vote for them. They in turn enrich their donors to keep the money flowing. Of course this money comes out of your and my pockets. Will your tiny little vote amount to much? THE INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL REELECT THE INCUMBENTS.

If I was a politician I would be counting the donated money and planning the advertising campaign, and creating a powerful message that would skew my opponent and of course I would take care of my benefactors. But if I got inundated with letters, e-mails, telephone calls with some message like the following, it would give me grave concern.

“I, your constituent, consider healthcare as my main issue of concern. In cooperation with your other constituents we have agreed to make it the only issue. I want a single payer system but I would accept the availability of President Obama’s public option plan. Let me remind you, I voted for you and if you help provide a good healthcare program I will eagerly continue to do so. IF YOU FAIL ME, NOT ONLY WILL I NOT VOTE FOR YOU BUT WILL ALSO CAMPAIGN AGAINST YOU, IN THE PRIMARY AND IF YOU ARE NOMINATED IN THE FINAL. I HAVE NO QUALMS OF CROSSING PARTY LINES.”

May be I am dreaming but any way I am sending this thought to the many groups I belong to. The multitude of my total contacts will support and act on this concept. They will copy this material and transmit it through their extensive lists. Hopefully it will also reach some programmers, who will set it up for convenient transmittal to respective congresspersons.

If Congress passes a bill and throws us a bone, such as removing the donut hole for seniors, but maintains the prosperity of the insurance companies, the large dividends for their stock-holders and the massive pay and bonuses for their executives, they will establish a congressional rule: the real rulers are the large corporations (all industries). In the future they will raise prices for various goods and services. There will be further diminishing of regulations and oversight. Expect poorer quality and inferior service. Competition, which was the engine of our prosperity, has been dulled and will deteriorate further. One glaring example: in spite of antitrust laws, the oil industry alone, mergers were freely allowed between Exxon and Mobile, Conoco and Phillips, Arco and BP, Chevron and Texaco. These large companies in turn have bought up many small oil companies across the U S. With so much competition removed is it any surprise that the price of gas reached $ 4. The price could go higher, except competition from incentives for alternates started to kick in. So keeping the price under $ 3 kills the alternate scene but still maintains record profits. With corporate power growing in the Congress, expect the oil companies to push for legislative restriction on alternatives, and watch the price of gas rocket up beyond the $ 4 boundary.