Video showing why we shouldn't be lumping ourselves in with Republicans at town hall

[BenIsForRon]

YouTube - Real Time With Bill Maher - Dana Gould reports on health care protests and Remote Area Medical (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht_W5_Ogh0U)

[silverhandorder]

I don't understand.... Republican stance is pay for your own shit. Why should we distance from that? Anyone can splice irate protesters. Problem is that even if these people don't know why they are right they are.

[BenIsForRon]

I'm saying that a good portion of America sees the protestors from this point of view. Many of these protestors do not have coherent arguments. A good portion of them are on medicare. The level of debate is so low much of what these people are yelling about is hear say.


Because we're the ones with the more nuanced and legitimate arguments, we should try not pursue the same strategy. Hope that made sense.

[silverhandorder]

Well obviously we should present an argument. From a practical standpoint staying neutral helps us the most. Denouncing these type of protesters would be just stupid. They are mad for the right reasons. If some of them are idiots and are mad about specifically obama's government healthcare then so be it. However having a mob behind you can lend some weight.

Often dems on other forums dismiss uprising against big government. Maybe that changes their mind.

[Epic]

I'm saying that a good portion of America sees the protestors from this point of view. Many of these protestors do not have coherent arguments. A good portion of them are on medicare. The level of debate is so low much of what these people are yelling about is hear say.


Because we're the ones with the more nuanced and legitimate arguments, we should try not pursue the same strategy. Hope that made sense.

I agree that principled (radical) libertarians such as myself should entirely dissociate from the Republican party. Most of the protesters have poor arguments, even though they are correct in acknowledged that liberty is slipping away.

One note though - it is not hypocritical for people to accept Medicare, just as it's not hypocritical for me to breathe even though the EPA regulates air quality or drive on roads even though the government paved them. The protesters may not advocate Medicare, but if it is in place, they are forced to pay for it, and they might as well attempt to reclaim some part of their money back.

[tonesforjonesbones]

Benis...wh;y are you still watching bill mahr? the only reason that socialst punk was nice to Ron Paul is that he was at odds with Bush. Bill Mahr is NOT on our team whatsoever. He is a communist hater of America, our COnstitution and liberty.

These republicans or whoever the dissentners are (we really don't know their party affiliation) seem to know pretty well why they are against socialism.

Benis...you are obviously a Huffington poster. tones

[james1906]

I don't have health insurance and I'm opposed to Obamacare. Thanks for putting words in my mouth Bill Maher.

Also, if the lines are that long for free health care now, how long will they be if everybody is on it?

[max]

when the opposition is controlled, the arguments used are the weak ones.

whats amazing is that the two simplest arguments of all has been ignored...that is,

1. the fact that ambulance chasers are driving up costs
2. You cannot buy health insurance from states where it is cheaper

These two points are HUGE ...very easy to understand...and everyone (even liberals) can agree with them....We need serious tort reform and state portability.

So why arent the Repubs attacking Obama from these angles?

[KAYA]

when the opposition is controlled, the arguments used are the weak ones.

whats amazing is that the two simplest arguments of all has been ignored...that is,

1. the fact that ambulance chasers are driving up costs
2. You cannot buy health insurance from states where it is cheaper

These two points are HUGE ...very easy to understand...and everyone (even liberals) can agree with them....We need serious tort reform and state portability.

So why arent the Repubs attacking Obama from these angles?

You hit the nail on the head my friend! And this is exactly why this government healthcare plan is NOT about improving our healthcare system but about handing over more control to the government. That's it.

All these arguments about the unsustainable of our current system, the need for reform, etc are irrelevant when the only solution coming from Washington is even more government involvement and replacing one unsustainable system with another even more unsustainable and inefficient system. Yet not a single line in these 1,000+ page bills do anything to address tort reform or breaking up state monopolies.

Once again, IT IS NOT ABOUT REFORM, IT IS ABOUT CONTROL.

[SooperDave]

the radicals have only one approach to win over the people- fear and emotion. the facts mean nothing, the constitution means nothing, liberty means nothing and the free market means nothing.

they try whatever they can to prey on fear/ emotion and avoid discussing empirical evidence, statistics and facts. just like the climate change debate

[angelatc]

[url=/url]

Piss off and stay the fuck home with Hamadah.

[pcosmar]

I'm saying that a good portion of America sees the protestors from this point of view. .

This is because a good portion of America are ignorant, mindless idiots. Add to that a media that is manipulating the stories, and it does not matter what the FACTS are.

This will be imposed.
Just as gun control has been.
Just as drug laws were.

They do not care if you don't like it.

[Bucjason]

I'm saying that a good portion of America sees the protestors from this point of view. Many of these protestors do not have coherent arguments. A good portion of them are on medicare. The level of debate is so low much of what these people are yelling about is hear say.


Because we're the ones with the more nuanced and legitimate arguments, we should try not pursue the same strategy. Hope that made sense.

What the hell are you talking about ??

Have you seen the polls lately ?? The majority of Americans are against this plan , and the opposition grows everyday another one of these town-hall meetings is held.

It is working , and these people are on our side and HELPING.If you are sitting around watching Bill Mauer , holding your nose up at average americans who are just concerned about losing more of thier liberty , then something tells me you are NOT.

[NYgs23]

Remember the media, especially guys like Maher, will focus on the worst-behaving and least-informed opponents of ObamaCare, no matter what you do.

[Flash]

I'll repeat this again-- EVERY single Republican talk radio host or TV host is on our side. Most Americans agree with us. Where is the problem? People keep saying it's going to hurt our reputation, it's obvious it's not. The only ones opposing us is the state-sponsored propaganda network known as NBC.


Remember the media, especially guys like Maher, will focus on the worst-behaving and least-informed opponents of ObamaCare, no matter what you do.

I would bet the same people don't report on the black conservative that was beaten, or MSNBC calling us hezbollah/hamas-like organizations and Klansmen.


I'm saying that a good portion of America sees the protestors from this point of view. .

These are the same bunch of idiots on the internet that knew Ron Paul opposed Bush's policies and still decided to attack him. Even if it was for ad-hominems like him being 'racist.' They have a Socialist agenda and don't want to change.

[revolutionisnow]

The people showing up with the Hitler signs are most likely leftists supporting a single payer system downloading their signs and with talking points from La Rouche PAC.

[Bucjason]

Remember the media, especially guys like Maher, will focus on the worst-behaving and least-informed opponents of ObamaCare, no matter what you do.

Of course . Of the town halls I've watched , 90% of the people have sounded VERY well informed.

The biggest idiots are seen at the staged and fake Obama Town halls.

[Sandra]

The morning news shows today have been focusing on interstate competition of health insurance. Maddow was strangely quiet on that one, but most of the other round table guests were in agreement that forbidding insurance across state lines was a major obstacle in lower premiums. i couldn't believe my ears.

[Flash]

The morning news shows today have been focusing on interstate competition of health insurance. Maddow was strangely quiet on that one, but most of the other round table guests were in agreement that forbidding insurance across state lines was a major obstacle in lower premiums. i couldn't believe my ears.

Ann Coulter said it on Geraldo's show last night too. May be Rand Paul's interview with Glenn Beck was a big influence.

[angelatc]

Ann Coulter said it on Geraldo's show last night too. May be Rand Paul's interview with Glenn Beck was a big influence.

OK, in the interest of spirited debate....what about state's rights?

And.....the banking industry grew massively more powerful after the states lost their rights to individually regulate that industry. Does that example apply here?

[Bucjason]

OK, in the interest of spirited debate....what about state's rights?

And.....the banking industry grew massively more powerful after the states lost their rights to individually regulate that industry. Does that example apply here?

I dont think it would be unconstitutional due to the commerce clause.

[iddo]

The people showing up with the Hitler signs are most likely leftists supporting a single payer system downloading their signs and with talking points from La Rouche PAC.

The Hitler sign at 0:10 in this video has "LarouchePAC" at bottom.

[BenIsForRon]

Ok, well if these protests are swaying public opinion against the plan, then I guess that's a good thing. I'm just worried about this becoming a big wedge issue, that will make it harder for us to reach BOTH republicans and democrats, because they will be so distrustful of the ideas of the "other side".

Anyways, for all the people attacking ME, I just posted a fucking video. I have said many times that I despise Bill Maher, this post was just to show how many Americans may potentially view this debate. Seriously, back the fuck off, I don't read Huffington Post.

[ShowMeLiberty]

OK, in the interest of spirited debate....what about state's rights?

And.....the banking industry grew massively more powerful after the states lost their rights to individually regulate that industry. Does that example apply here?

I've asked myself the same question about state's rights and I think it would be very wrong for the Federal gov. to arbitrarily repeal state laws concerning health insurance.

On the other hand, I can't see any reason that the Feds can't open up the option for insurance companies to offer only high-deductible, HSA eligible policies across state lines and not subject to the various state laws. A very specific sort of coverage, available to individuals (at better rates than they can get state-by-state) that would be completely portable.

I'd even go so far as to say the "price" to the insurance compainies of being allowed to offer such coverage would be that they cannot deny anyone who wants one of these plans.