Yet that's what you might have expected given the rhetoric coming from some quarters. The rhetoric has gotten well beyond ridiculous, and it's time to stop engaging in bizarre fantasies and the shrill invective and start talking seriously about the healthcare reform debate in California.
When it comes to debating the merits of AB 8 and SB 840, it's easy to bash insurance companies and it's easy to believe that politicos are about to sell us out on something so vitally important. But none of that deals with the fact that large elements of the progressive movement are supportive of AB 8 for very legitimate reasons.
Reasonable people can disagree. Nobody is compelled to support AB 8. But to ignore these stakeholder groups and their legitimate interests in seeing healthcare reform this year (much less to demonize them as some have done) is not only bad politics, it's wrong.
The state legislature is down to its final days of the session and Blue Cross alerted their list of insurance agent supporters that current reforms on the table are "unhealthy." (And the status quo isn't?)
The fact of the matter is that Blue Cross, and like-minded groups, are adamantly opposed to real healthcare reform in California: creating astroturf front groups (with a laundry list of insurance agent supporters) and running print and radio advertisements stressing "responsible" reform as part of a scare-tactic campaign.
But what's really irresponsible is standing in the way of meaningful healthcare reform.
Below is a video parody of the Monty Python's The Life of Brian, specifically, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life."
With that, I give you Blue Cross' "Always Look on the Bright Side of Death."
The hearing gave Californians a great opportunity to hold the state's largest for-profit health insurer accountable for dangerous business practices such as only covering the healthy and denying coverage to the sick. Blue Cross is also notorious for raising rates however and whenever it chooses.
Find out more and see pictures of Mr. Sick of Blue Cross below the fold...
(I love me some liveblogging. Just so everyone is clear: SB 840 is Keuhl's single payer bill and AB 8 is the Nunez/Perata bill that stays within the private insurance model. - promoted by juls)
Things are about to get underway as It's OUR Healthcare! will be liveblogging from the John L. Burton Hearing Room where the Senate Health Committee chaired by SB 840 author, State Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica), will meet at 1:30pm.
Senator Kuehl is setting the ground rules for the hearing. (No cheering, clapping or booing.)
Scheduled to speak are the Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles) and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland).
(Cool new site, even though the graphics make my eyes freak out. - promoted by juls)
For far too long, Blue Cross of California's standard operating procedures of policy cancellation and denial of coverage have gone on unchecked and unregulated. With healthcare reform a top priority in Sacramento, Blue Cross dropped $2 million on an astroturf "coalition of one" to stifle necessary reform this year.
Today, It's OUR Healthcare, a coalition of consumer advocates, seniors, health advocates, communities of faith, and labor comprising more than 10 million, says no more and is asking Californians everywhere to stand up and fight back.
We are launching an aggressive online, public information campaign to uncover the real Blue Cross at www.SickOfBlueCross.com.
