Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Quote of the day

It's a shame these town halls on health care are ending, what with everyone returning to Washington to get down to the serious business of fucking us hard. But alas, it's true. No longer will Americans be able to show their creativity in sloganeering and conspiracy mongering and our elected betters will no longer get to show off their best "I can't believe these people can operate cars" faces of disbelief or show their extreme heartlessness in the face of tragedy.

Take Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA), for example. When he was regaled with a story of how a man lost his insurance, got colon cancer, was treated through emergency measures, survived....so far, but was left bankrupt, and how the same thing happened to his friend....who died, Kingston came to one obvious conclusion: that everything was fine and worked out great for the man.
Kingston responded by telling the man that “you did do very well” because he was able to get treated when he arrived at the hospital. Parker responded, “I am functionally bankrupt!” Kingston cut him off and reiterated his point, "But you did get coverage. You didn’t get the insurance, but they won’t turn you down at the door."
Yes because emergency room access and health care coverage are practically the same thing. But in addition to trying to tell this man that he had mistaken a positive event as a great malady, he tried to scare the man with tales of socialism, lines, and rationing. As if bankruptcy and death are preferable to comprehensive treatment and screening if the stench of liberalism is about. Still, I'll miss these events. Where else are you going to get to see Congress members listen to a story of heartfelt pain and desire for change and respond with a "No, fuck you" or a "You seem to have misunderstood your own suffering and pain, here let me explain why it was awesome"? We'll miss you, town hall health care debates, we'll miss you.

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