This is exactly why we need career politicians out and successful citizens in the office for a limited term.

No Fred, Like Pelosi, spector, reid, frank, shumer, wienner, and every other Democrat on the planet. In fact I have blogged about a new "Stimulus Bill" called "Cash for Clowns" where we fly "ALL" Democrats to cuba on a "One Way" ticket! Mackey's plan is good and just about an exact copy of Paul Ryans "People's Choice Act".

Mackey is absolutely right. Why all the garbage about "death panels" and such when we have such good material like this to use. Republicans/conservatives have failed when it comes to this debate. The core of the issue "there is no right to health care" is what we should be focusing on with good solutions to the problems that do exist, like what Mackey lists. Scare tactics, exaggerations, and falsehoods should be left to the lefties. Isn't socialism scary enough?

If John Mackey was a sitting Republican Congressman, the GOP leadership would marginalize him exactly the same way they have Ron Paul. Doctor Paul has presented his own plan to overhaul our healthcare system, and in spite of his plan being rooted in practicality and common sense, the GOP has supported him with a chorus of - - - - crickets. My guess is that in a few weeks our GOP Congressmen will be beating their chests that they forced a "compromise" on healthcare and the end results will be as disastrous as anything we've seen so far. And - - - when we replace the evil Democrats with Republicans next year we'll get the same results we got when we replaced them in '94 and '04. We do not have two political Parties in America; only one.

Unfortunately, the Republican leadership has been taken over by "Neo-Cons". They have destroyed the term "conservative" and they are scared to death of libertarians and Goldwater conservatives. Just look at the way they treated Ron Paul last year. Even today they can not bring themselves to recognize Dr. Paul. They will not forgive him for sticking to his conservative principles and not voting for the previous administrations deficits, bailouts, federal takeovers of education, etc. For the Neo-Cons who run the Republican party, party loyalty is absolute. They are addicted to power, they only support candidates who bow down before party leaders. They care little for principle.

It's about time someone discovered that mere opposition to Obama's textbook fascism without a positive agenda of one's own equals: a corrupt, evil plan vs. ...nothing. So guess which one wins, regardless of how impassioned that opposition? The GOP "leadership" - wherever such may be found - are powerless in terms of Congressional votes. Therefore the one thing they *can* do is to state their opposing position clearly, unequivocally, uncompromisingly, and hammer away at it relentlessly. What should that "opposing position" be? => A complete separation of medicine and state. How should that position be presented to the American people? In the form of three questions - and here I have to acknowledge the wisdom of philosopher Leonard Peikoff's 1985 article "Medicine: Death of a Profession." Q1: [paraphrasing Peikoff] Why was it possible for a person of modest means to afford good health care [forty-five] years ago, but not today? Q2: What, specifically, was done to the American medical industry four decades ago, which precipitated the upward cost spiral, culminating in the cost crisis we see today? Q3: Given the context indicated by the answers to the preceding questions, what is the logical, ethical and practical course for policymakers to take at this point? It is GOVERNMENT INTRUSION that is the root cause of the spiraling medical costs and bureaucracy we see today (along with the Litigation Lottery, which is a secondary factor.) Prescribing as a solution not just more government intrusion but *a complete government confiscation* of the medical industry, is not just lunacy, it's evil. My analogy: There is a stone drunk, lying face-down in the gutter with a broken liquor bottle beside him. Standing on the sidewalk are two groups of people trying to decide what to do. One group is suggesting (or, ideally, *would* be suggesting,) a good 12-step program and cold-turkey sobriety. The other group is demanding that the nearest liquor store send the man a truckload of better whisky. The drunk is American medicine; the broken bottle is the Medicare/Medicaid entitlement; the first group are the rank-and-file Republicans; the second group is Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Ted "hold my drink MaryJo while I drive across this bridge Kennedy and the Democrat-Socialist Party. The American people are the man's liver. Every American outraged by Obama's massive, retro-fascistic power grab need to avail themselves of some essential reading: - Peikoff's article "Medicine: Death of a Profession," also "Health Care is Not a Right," which latter is a speech he gave at a town hall meeting on Clinton's health care putsch, in Costa Mesa, CA on December 11, 1993; - Pepperdine University economist George Reisman's 1994 essay titled "The Real Right to Medical Care Versus Socialized Medicine," posted in full and linked at http://www.capitalism.net Both of these articles should be legally-required reading for every single Congressman before any vote on any health care "reform" bill is cast. On second thought, they should both be engraved in carbide steel plating and affixed to the front of the U.S. Capitol building. The GOP had better start hammering away at the goal of a complete separation of government and medicine, or this battle is already lost. We won't get it, of course, or not likely in our lifetimes, but that must be our stated goal, so as to lay bare the stark difference between the ethics and politics of individual liberty vs. the frothing, power-crazed evil of the present-day Democrat Party and its policies.

Conservatives began their rise to power when some conservatives realized that a principled philosophy, by itself wouldn't win elections. Political organizing as well as plans based on solid conservative principles were necessary. The balance has drifted way too much toward political fundraising at the expense of policy formulation. Too often, we even think in liberal 'group-think' terms, talking about 'energizing our base' instead of energizing our policies with the faith that the 'base' will follow. Without the policy base, the political base has little reason to be 'energized'.

There have to be other areas like ours. We have two Democrat senators and a Democrat representative. There is no conservative voice available to represent those of us who are deeply concerned about the proposed legislataive and administrative threats to medical care. The Democrats insist any disagreement is all lies. Tha's besides the name calling they have thrown about freely. Interesting that they work for us but there's nothing too bad for them to say about the citizenry. The bills are lousy as quoted, flip flops are the favored exercise, but those of us who do not believe all we hear are the bad guys. I think they need to start ofer and rather than rushing toward disaster just take the time to get it right. And that doesn't meaan just changing terminology. The government can't run the postal service, nor get payment out in a timely manner for medicare, nor to cash for clunkers. I don't trust them to decide on mass medical care.

Here is my post on the topic. see http://adisgruntledrepublican.blogspot.com/2009/08/john-mackey-my-hero-of-day.html Outraged Left Calls for Boycott of Whole Foods Where will the balding, pony-tailed, Birkenstock-wearing, upper middle class proletarian buy his tofu and organically grown, unbleached cotton, $27 pair of socks now? Like the customers of Whole Foods, I am also quite surprised that the founder and CEO of Whole Foods is a person who quotes Margaret Thatcher and opposes socialized medicine. I admire his courage in taking a position that most likely counters that of most of his customers. By doing so, he may reach people who would otherwise never consider the merits of a view that counters their preconceived opinions. Unfortunately, it may cost him financially. The left wing of the blogosphere has gone ballistic at being betrayed by one who they thought was one of their won. CounterPunch called for a boycott and essentially called John Mackey a murder when it said; “the problem with Mackey’s campaign is that it results in the deaths of 60 Americans every day due to lack of health insurance. Mackey is responsible for these deaths as much as anyone.” (read more) Wow! I thought liberals disdained inflammatory language. Is this a call for an assassination? Is this hate speech? Pro-life advocates are soundly condemned by progressives when an abortionist, who thousands of times performed the procedure that terminated the lives of unborn babies, is called a murderer; yet, a grocer who opposes socialized medicine is accused of the death of 60 Americans a day! In a year that would make him responsible for 21,600 deaths! In the last ten years he is responsible for 216,000 deaths! Daily Koz and hundreds of other lefty bloggers have joined the call for a boycott. A growing facebook page is devoted to the topic. Many of these vegetarians sound like they are so enraged they may commit violence. I know vegetarians have a reputation as peace loving harmless, sensitive people. Don’t buy it. Don’t forget; Hitler was a vegetarian. For taking an unpopular stand, speaking the truth, risking financial loss, possibly risking his life, or possibly being hit with an overripe organically grown tomato, John Mackey is my Hero of the Day.

I agree with the person who talked about sen collins snowe mccain and spector. with repub like those what has happened to the party. the new york times and other libs. indorsed mccain thats when I new this was a lost election and it will happen again if we are not careful. I am retired and have ss and medicare but everyone who has a brain knows that it will not be able to continue as in the past. when Bush tried to reform ss the dems were scared that a rep would get credit for saving it and the rep are not willing to go to the public and talk about medicare in a honest and trueful conversation I am a vet and could not support mccain I did vote reb ticket but I had to hold my nose the stink was so bad thanks for the chance to vent Lee

healthcare is not a right; it has to be earned. if you pay for insurance, you receive the benefits. unfortunately, the government programs in place cost too much, and the premiums paid are too small. phase them out, and then scrap them. but no, granny has to stay "plugged-in", even though she paid so little to get so much. as in the Weimar Republic, our economy will fail due to entitlement payments. i wonder what cuold happen next? just musing

Obama blithfully promises that you can keep your healthcare if you like it. Yet he hasn't even read the BILL! So HOW then does he know that what he says is true? I too am retired. We had an excellent prescription plan that was part employer funded and we paid a premium. Then the Bush Administration offered Medicare Part D. IMMEDIATELY after that program was launched we were notified by the EMPLOYER that they would cease to cover prescriptions and they "suggested" that we join Medicare Part D. Savings to them, but not to us. Where we paid $20 per RX for 90 days, now that is $99 for 90 days. Presently I am in the donut hole and my three months RX is $557. What a great deal the Government gave us. Those who believe the Government can promise and keep it, better look at history. But then there literally millions of Americans walking around with their eyes up their posterior. Prof Alexander TYler of Edinburgh Univ. wrote in 1787 that when the people find they can vote themselves good handouts from the public treasury, they will always vote for those who promise the most. That then results in loose fiscal policy and ultimately TYRANNY. (paraphrased) It can't happen here, is what I hear. Oh YES it can and... it is happening RIGHT NOW. Wake up America - protect your liberty.