OpenGov - Open Government Brainstorm

Whups. Be careful there. You are quoting Obama. He made that comment during the campaign.

HEY EVERYONE. CSRBEV AGREES WITH OBAMA!!!

NEENER, NEENER, NEENER!!!

black, I've never heard Obama say that!!

Well, if he did, then how come it's not done yet? He's not hesitating stepping on all kinds of toes quickly. If Obama REALLY feels this way, then how come he hasn't made it come to pass yet?

And if he did say this, then, yes, I do agree with Obama. But I won't believe Obama REALLY feels this way until I see it accomplished. Other than that, I'm going to figure it's just lip service on Obama's part.

Actually, if the converse were true, that is--if all Americans had access to the health care plan our elected officials have, we'd be much betteroff.

Bob, and I'm figuring if the politicians were forced to have the same health care as us, they'd make it an absolutely fabulous program. Either way it would be a win-win for all of us. Whether we got their Cadillac health care plan or whether they were forced to have our plan and improve it, it would be a win-win for us all.

Said by csrbev:

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If Obama REALLY feels this way, then how come he hasn't made it come to pass yet?

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Because Mr. Obama:

-- has flip-flopped again

-- does not lead by example

-- was hoping people would forget what he stated

-- really didn't mean what he said

csrbev -

Excellent points. Make them eat our dog food, and it improves. I like your thinking!

Well, he definitely said it. Single term congressmen get their health care paid for LIFE by taxpayers. Last week I heard that congressmen and senators get a percentage of their salaries paid FOR LIFE, even after they get voted out of office. Additionally, congress imposes hiring rules on businesses (racial quotas and such) which they themselves are not bound to honor.

I ALWAYS vote against incumbents. The less time they spend in office, the fewer lifetime benefits they accrue.

blackmon, if Obama said -- which I'm not doubting you -- then when do you think Obama is going to put in place for politicians to have the same health care as us and the same retirement plan choices that we have?

csrbev,

He'll never do it. He hasn't mentioned it since. Undoubtedly, his handlers pulled him aside after the speech and informed him of the true costs of giving congressional health care to ordinary citizens.

I personally heard him make the promise live on TV. But I knew it was a lie when it left his mouth.

blackmon, I understand the phenominal cost of having us, the masses, getting the Cadillac deal that the politicians get. As an alternative, I think that the politicians should get the same health care that we, the masses, get and the same retirement options as well.

I'm figuring if that became the case, then our health care and our retirement plans would miraculously become viable for the entire country.

If I had unlimited funds and did not have to be obligated to other things in my life, I would spend my whole life trying to change just THAT one aspect.

I would totally push for all politicians to have the same benefits as the masses.

But I'm not in that situation, so I do the next best thing: I come to a Whitehouse whatever this is called and whine. :)

csrbev,

Congressmen AND THEIR FAMILIES don't have a co-pay or a deductible. They have access to the best doctors at the hospitals of their choice. Major surgery required? Do they have to pay 20%? No. They don't.

These guys vote for their own salaries. They come to work when they want, vote when they feel like it, junket when they feel like it. And they only respond to REGISTERED voters. Before your letter gets answered, someone checks to see if you are registered.

Does that need to be changed? Yes.

Who has enough pull to get Congress to feel the same pain as the rest of us? None of them.

If you birfers REALLY want to change the world, start with Congress. Really, they are the ones who make the laws which you can't cite to bring down Obama.

blackmon, I agree with the politicians ONLY answering to registered voters. If I were a politician, I would do the same. I can only imagine they can get swamped with requests from all over the place. You would need to do a cut off somewhere. And I feel if a person doesn't bother to vote, then I'm not really all that interested in what they have to say, unless they're a young person like James on this board who is 15 and can't vote. If I were a politician, I'd address his concerns the best I could.

All of the other things you've said, I really don't like the idea that they vote themselves raises, bennies, etc. I like Photo's idea that their pay should be connected to how the budget is going.

As far as being a birther, I'm TOTALLY ticked off about Obama's lack of birth certificate and vetting. But that's not for this post.

Csrbev,

If you agree that politicians should only respond to registered voters, then why is it that you don't understand why Obama ignored birfer complaints? Birfers, whether registered to vote or not, aren't going to vote for Obama under any circumstances, even if he personally delivers his BC to their homes.

Why are you incredulous that he ignores your entreaties to see his "real" BC? From his perspective, you're like a bunch of kids who are asking for a cookie. He feels he's given you the cookie, but you want a different brand. And no cookie he provides will be good enough, so why should he address you at all?

blackmon, if I were a politician, I'd check to see if a person addressing me was a registered voter or not. Certainly I would have hoped that they voted for me, but if I'm their representative and they didn't vote for me, I would still feel it my duty to address their concerns.

I didn't mean to indicate that I would only address registered voters who voted for me. I would only address registered voters.

I am very much of the opinion if a person doesn't bother to vote than they shouldn't complain; they should just bounce through life accepting what the rest of us vote for them.

I write to Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer regularly when I feel strongly about an issue. I also see them at some events I've been to. I also call them on the phone. I talk to their aids. I always give my name. I'm not into being anonymous. I'm sure they've looked me up and found out I vote Republican. Both Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer have always gotten back to me in email about what I've addressed. (Feinstein gets back a whole lot quicker than Boxer). lol But be that as it may, at least they get back to me.

I write to Pelosi and I also call her phone numbers. She doesn't ever respond. I write to the Whitehouse and I also call there whenever I feel the need and I leave my thoughts. I never get a return on that. But I didn't get one either during the Bush Administration and I did the same thing. (I always got a Christmas card from the Bushes, though, which I appreciate).

Well, at least you are availing yourself of the political process. That's good.

I never write politicians. Never. I never call. I never attend political rallies.

My main thing in life is to insulate myself against the government. I live off the grid as far as possible.

That way, when they do something stupid, I don't get drowned in the backwash. I don't ever recall seeing any politician do anything I considered to be really "smart".

Blackmon, I admire your tenacity in sticking it to the birthers, but I gotta say you're way off base on this one.

Politicians (i.e., congressfolk) have basically the same benefit, pension, and health care packages that any federal employee gets:

http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa031200a.htm

If you spend less than 5 years in Congress, you're not vested and you get nada...zero...zilch. More than 5 years, and you're like any fed, with pension based on high-3 salary and years of service. And you DO pay into Social Security, and you DO have to pay for your health insurance like any other fed. So your statement:

"Congressmen AND THEIR FAMILIES don't have a co-pay or a deductible. They have access to the best doctors at the hospitals of their choice. Major surgery required? Do they have to pay 20%? No. They don't."

is total crap.

But keep up the good work elsewhere, my friend.

kjheinz,

I stand corrected!! When I'm wrong, I'm wrong.

But are you sure? We had a guy running for Congress here just last year and part of his campaign ads complained about the health benefits congressmen receive. He said just what I said. That was my source...a political ad....

OK. I'll shut up now. Dang. I hate being wrong. But when I'm wrong, I'm wrong.

Its all good.

Yes, I'm sure, and provided a cite. It's very easy to find more online.

Having said that, as a fed myself I have to admit the federal employee health benefits program is very good--a wide choice of PPO and HMO plans, single or family coverage available, employer (the gov't) covers a significant percentage of the premiums, no waiting periods, etc. What exactly they cover, deductibles, co-pays, etc. depends on which plan you pick--like anything else, you get what you pay for.