August 15, 2002

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The BuzzFlash Mailbag is updated on an ongoing basis, with the newest material and comments on top. Again, we can only post a small percentage of what is sent to us. The opinions expressed in the Mailbag are the not necessarily those of BuzzFlash. Thanks again for your email and your patience.

Dear BuzzFlash,

Wonder where our National Surplus Went? Offshore of Course!

This is from the 8/14/02 BuzzFlash World Media Watch:

3//The Dawn, Pakistan--EXXON BIGGER THAN PAKISTAN ECONOMY: UN (Twenty-nine of the world's 100 leading economic entities are companies, with the largest - Exxon Mobil Corp - bigger than the economy of Pakistan, a United Nations survey showed on Monday..."In general, the top companies are growing at a faster rate than countries," Unctad spokesman Miguel Perez-Ludena said.

..."In general, the top companies are growing at a faster rate than countries,"

Cynthia B

Dear BuzzFlash,

How will Americans get "access to high-quality and affordable health care"? Not from the Compassionate Conservative Agenda and not from Mr. Bush's Economic Forum.

What will it take for the American public to realize what the Compassionate Conservative agenda has done to the American people's access to high-quality and affordable health care? American citizens' voices are not heard. If the rhetoric at the "Waco Economic Forum" is any indication of listening to any voice that does not agree with their own, the Bush Administration does not seem to care that ordinary citizens are not heard. We do not have a voice in either the type of health care or health care insurance options that are available. And our options are shrinking daily. With each new report of "cutbacks and layoffs" comes the collateral damage of loss of heath insurance coverage for people who never thought that their option of health care would ever be in jeopardy. How will these voices be heard? When will the media take up this battle cry for the American people? Who speaks for us in these times? Mr. Bush's spokesperson, Mark McClellan stated, "In the president's vision, all Americans should have access to high-quality and affordable health care." But this is empty rhetoric

These are some questions that American citizens need to ask Mr. Bush and his administration about health care. The following is just one of the areas that Mr. Bush's Waco "Economic Summit" did not address in a meaningful way. Their PR efforts fall far short of what is needed to provide "access to high-quality and affordable health care."

American voters must ask questions and demand answers at the voting booth.

Sara DeHart
Democracy Activist

[excerpt from "President Bush's Economic Forum in Waco Should Forgo Public Relations and Examine the Real 'Fundamentals' of the Economy..." http://www.ourfuture.org/readarticle.asp?ID=1477

Health Care

"In 2000, 14% of Americans were without health insurance. (17) In 2001, almost one in three Latinos and one in five African Americans lacked health insurance, compared with one in 10 whites.(18)

The uninsured are predominantly low-income working families: over half (58 percent) of the uninsured who are poor have at least one family member who works full- or part-time outside the home. Eighty-five percent of the uninsured who are near-poor (below 200 percent of the federal poverty level or an annual income of a little more than $30,000 for a family of three) come from families with at least one full-time worker.(19)

2 million Americans lost their health insurance when they lost their jobs during the past year, pushing the number of people without coverage to more than 41 million. That number exceeds the aggregate populations of 23 states plus the District of Columbia.(20)

From Spring 2000 to Spring 2001, monthly premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance benefits rose by 11% -- more than three times the rate of inflation over that time period (3.3%).(21)

Prices of the 50 drugs most commonly prescribed to seniors rose by nearly three times the rate of inflation last year. (22)

In Waco President Bush and his allies will undoubtedly talk about their commitment to passing a prescription drug benefit for seniors. They will play down the fact that, like corporate accounting reform, a new prescription drug benefit was originally a Democratic idea, forced on the Republicans by strong public support. They will also obscure the fact that the President's idea of a such a benefit represents a lot less than most people think they need. American voters need to ask questions and demand answers at the voting booth.

Questions for President Bush on Prescription Drug Benefit:

Would the President guarantee coverage under Medicare? House Democrats say yes. All 39 million Medicare beneficiaries would be guaranteed the same benefit at the same price. House Republicans' plan says No: Seniors and the disabled would be forced to rely on private insurance companies and HMOs to offer a drug benefit. The benefit offered by these companies would not be uniform -- premiums and benefits would vary by company. The House Democratic plan says Yes: The drug benefit would be provided by Medicare, a reliable government program that has been serving American seniors for over 35. All 39 million Medicare beneficiaries would be guaranteed the same benefit at the same price.

Does President Bush support a serious plan that would comprehensively cover drug needs? House Democrats say Yes: Equivalent to high quality prescription drug coverage enjoyed by federal employees. House Republicans say No: 41 percent less generous than the Democrats’ proposal according to the Congressional Research Service.

Does Bush want a plan that's only for the poor, or one that covers all retirees? Ask him about it.

Does Bush's plan control drug prices? If we don't get control of prices, we'll just shift higher prices to the public sector. House Democratic plan would require the Medicare program to negotiate price discounts directly with drug companies, helping to assure that the proposal will be financially responsible. House Republicans say No: Gives authority to negotiate drug prices to multiple private plans, as is currently done by private insurance. This fragments Medicare's buying power--reducing the program's ability to achieve deep price discounts.

Have you ever heard Mr. Bush talk aggressively about improving health care for Americans? Others speak for him, with not much detail forthcoming: "In the president's vision, all Americans should have access to high-quality and affordable health care." Mark McClellan, a member of the Council of Economic Advisors at the White House, April 2002 (23)." (Roger Hickey, Co-Director, Campaign for America's future.)

Dear BuzzFlash,

Re Bush's FAKE Forum. Of course this article is 100% correct when it talks of this administrations fear of the American people. An appropriate time maybe to reflect on a quote from President John F Kennedy -- "We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people."

D.M. Reid(NZ) (Longing for the days when you had a President the world could aspire to)

Dear BuzzFlash,

I had lunch today with an old friend plus a friend of hers, who happened to be the US Representative from our district (a Democrat) I asked her what on earth is the matter with the Democrats and why don't they speak up loud enough for the people to hear. She said they do all the time, and proceeded to tick off all the things the Democrats are upset about, they are the same things we have been screaming about on this website.

Constitution
Election
9/11
Tax Cut
Women's and Children's issues including education
Welfare
The War on Iraq
Social Security
Corporate Crooks
Bush
Lies
Ashcroft
Civil Liberties

It's a long list. She went on to say that they cannot get coverage by TV, Radio or mainstream print media and that they have done everything they could think of to get their word out. Even if they are covered it rarely makes the front page or nightly news. She says the Democrats are not oblivious to how dangerous this administration actually is, and a main concern of Democrats and Republicans alike is the "Shadow Government." There has not been provision made within this secret government for the Legislative Branch, it is only made up of the Executive and Judicial Branches. Personally, as little as Bush consults Congress these days, I am wondering if he is getting the American People ready to accept not having a Congress.

I did ask her if she thought the German people realized that they were being led down the path of totalitarianism, she stopped eating lunch with that question.

I would rather not say who she is because of the election and I would not like to give the Republicans even the tiniest sniff of fuel for them to attack. I'd rather the Republicans in this state not go after her like they are going after McKinney.

We need to really get the vote out in this country and we need to vote Democrat, at least this year. They are going to be the best chance we have.

Sally McDonald

Dear BuzzFlash,

Madeline Kane was right. Every time our "nation's CEO" opens his mouth, the stock market tanks. What a stupid speech. He has confidence in the future of America. What, pray tell, does he plan to do about all the laid off workers now? Is he going to tell us to get used to that, too, and do absolutely nothing to get Americans back to work, and I mean with a living wage? Or is he just going to do nothing just like he did nothing by refusing to sign the Kyoto treaty, telling us to just get used to global warming, shark attacks, record temperatures, flooding, fires, and pollution? Get this creep our of our White House now! Every nation hates us, thanks to that idiot. He wasn't elected and everybody knows that.

a BuzzFlash reader

Subj: we must contact representatives and say NO to H.R. 2391

Breaking News and Commentary from Citizens for Legitimate Government August 15, 2002 http://www.legitgov.org/

H.R.2931: Attorneys for televangelist Pat Robertson have crafted a bill in the U.S. Congress that would change more than 200 years of law and tradition in the U.S. -- and which would allow churches and houses of worship not only to endorse candidates for political office, but also to organize "political action committees" to raise money for political candidates. Details: click here.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Dear BuzzFlash,

I just don't get it. Very shortly after September 11th, we, the taxpayers of America gave the airlines a tremendous amount of money - if I remember correctly it was 20 Billion dollars. The key word there was give - it was a grant, free of charge, they didn't have to pay it back.

Now they are all declaring bankruptcy? This does not make any sense to me - how on earth can this be possible? I am very, very worried for America - for the people of America. I am wondering when they are actually going to wake up. Why do they continue to believe every word that comes out of the Bush Administration? Are they all being brainwashed by watching TV or something? Are we unaffected because we don't watch TV? Seriously, something is very wrong.

Linda

Subj: The economy is 'sound' - Say What??!

Dear BuzzFlash,

"The fundamentals of our economy are sound"

- president Idiot Boy at a Cult gathering in Waco Texas.

I don't know what is more disturbing, if Dim Son believes that or if anyone who heard it believes that.

Well, lets see what is Really going on in our economy..

* Ames announces plans to Close All Stores (22,000 Americans will lose their job)

* IBM is Cutting More than 15,600 Jobs

* Agere Plans to Cut 4,000 Jobs

* Johnson & Johnson to Eliminate TX Jobs, 180 jobs lost

* Flextronics to Cut 5,261 Jobs

* Charles Schwab Announces Plans for More Major Layoffs, 375 jobs (for starters)

* American Airlines to Cut 7,000 Jobs

That is 54,416 jobs lost in the last THREE DAYS!

And at the same time, US Airways files for bankruptcy, United Airlines announces bankruptcy is more than likely. Oh yeah, and the stock market tanked (again) after Idiot Boy made his remarks.

To say the economy is 'sound' is either completely idiotic or a bold faced lie.. take your pick.

But don't take my word for it, take a look at the Consumer Confidence report issued the same day that the Moron in Chief made those remarks..

(notice that the highest ever confidence level was in the last month of Clinton's eight years, and the lowest ever was in the last year of Bush I)

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Poll Suggests Consumer Confidence at Lowest Level Since 1996

"Consumer confidence has slipped to its lowest level since 1996 in the ABC News-Money Magazine consumer index, a 15-year-old tracking poll.

The index, based on Americans' ratings of the economy, their personal finances and the buying climate, was released Tuesday - the same day that President Bush convened his economic forum in Waco, Texas, to discuss the current health of the economy.

Consumer confidence in this survey was highest in January 2000 and lowest in February 1992."

More here http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAQIROEU4D.html

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President Gilligan has got to go!

Help put an end to this nightmare, you can start by getting everyone you know to VOTE for Democratic candidates on Nov. 5 !!

Thanks Kelley
Spin Resistance
http://www.kelleykramer.blogspot.com/