Mike Stark

I’m not asking for a kidney. These folks aren’t expected to sacrifice their first born upon an altar to FDL. Hell, we didn’t punish anyone for voting the wrong way in the past on important issues like the war supplemental. In fact, we’ve even rewarded good behavior, and simply asked for answers when we see behavior we don’t understand. In short, we’ve been good, engaged, informed and responsible citizens. What we need are responsive and accountable leaders.

At last night’s town hall in Towson, MD, Ben Cardin sketched out his case for health care reform. Unfortunately, he concentrated on the “Why we need reform” aspect (possibly thinking it would keep the rabid pack at bay? Ha!), and stayed purposefully vague about the “How we’re going to fix it” part of the conversation. I need to go back and watch his presentation again, but I’m pretty sure the words “public option” never escaped his lips. He spoke of an “exchange” in which consumers could shop for health care, but he left more undefined than defined. In fact, throughout his speech and the Q&A answer that followed, he frequently spoke of things he wouldn’t vote for – a bill that didn’t pay for itself would lose his support, for example – but he did not once tell us what he wants in a bill. But to be fair, he never really had the chance.

Last week I attended a couple of town halls: one in Maryland for Donna Edwards, and one in Danville, VA for Tom Perriello. Going into them, I kinda figured that Edwards’ event would be pretty tame, but Tom Perriello’s would be raucous, if not violent. Edwards’ district is urban/suburban and solidly Democratic. Perriello’s district is [...]

Remember these guys?

In a section of his speech, he trotted out an old conservative criticism of government – that it is a bad manager. To highlight the point, he speaks of the fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid. And ya know what? He’s right! Criminal syndicates exist solely to exploit these programs. Unfortunately, our criminal justice system is set up in a way that puts people away for 20 years if they are caught with a coupla baggies of dope, but if you are caught defrauding the government for millions, you may end up at a half-way house for six months. Moreover, if there is anyone responsible for decimating government enforcement and auditing… well, look no further than the Republicans.

The Republcans still haven’t offered their health care bill.