Private Insurers Are The Death Panels

Those people protesting the "Obamacare" health insurance reform probably understand one thing. The private insurers such as UnitedHealth make money by denying treatment. Simple as that.

Here's a story from a syndicated, professional writer, Froma Harrop.

Hers is a heartbreaking story. I'm sure there are other wrenching tales from our neighbors here on the central coast, in San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria and Santa Barbara. Big towns, little towns.

The public option must be part of the legislation. Give people the choice to keep their own private insurance--or choose the option. Just ask yourself--can I really afford my health insurance now? Could I afford a 20% rise in cost next year?

You know the answer, the only one, must come from what we pass into legislation this year.

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Together We Can Have Better Health Insurance!

Show this YouTube clip to all of your friends. Then show it to any "tea-bag protesters" you also might know or be, ahem, related to.

Why we need Government-run, universal, socialized health insurance. Since "we" are the government, we can have this, but we have to work for it.

There's a bit of effort involved...much like it took effort to elect Barack which gave us this first chance to improve our life and world. There will be many other opportunities for improvement.

First, this test. Then the lesson follows. Welcome to the big school room of life.

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Lois Capps Is Where The Action Is!

Some central coast conservatives question where Lois Capps is in the health care reform debate. Lemme show you:

Little more than ten days ago, on the 13th, Lois and her supporters were gathered at the intersection of Reason St. and Health Care Reform Avenue. Actually the address is in the 300 block of East Carrillo Street, where Capps' office is located.

Demonstrators showed they cared about their neighbors and family members by supporting President Obama's healthcare reform efforts now taking shape in Congress. Those supporting the president outnumbered those opposed.

When will Lois actually meet with the "teabaggers" and other protesters? Capps has stated she intends to hold a community forum in early September, preferably in a church where health care opponents presumably might be less rowdy and boisterous.

Heck, they might even bring their ability to reason and act like adults!

Just ask your parents or grandparents if Medicare and Social Security assistance is something they would prefer to live without. Oh, if your loved one is a veteran, ask if they would care if the Veterans Administration stopped all their health care treatment and prescription drug supply.

Not likely that any of the people you love would give up these successful programs that the governed--you and I and our parents or grandparents--voted to create.

In my case, I'm alive and have post-stroke medication and doctor's appointments at my central coast veterans clinic. Beats pushing daisies!

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Does Lompoc Need A Walmart "Superstore?"

Another question to pose: how many Lompoc grocery stores will close if Walmart expands its own grocery department and creates a "superstore?"

History shows us that's the among the possible consequences if the expansion is allowed. WalmartWatch puts it this way: "...the factor that Lompoc officials have ignored is that another big grocery store will lead to one or two empty grocery stores anyway. The “saturation” in Lompoc is not just liquor licenses---its grocery stores as well, and adding the new supercenter brings no added value to the Lompoc economy."

According to the Lompoc Record, the proposed expansion to a Super Walmart would add 47,000 square feet to the building by growing to the west and the north. Essentially expanding toward the airport. The automotive section would be rebuilt into store space, and the grocery section expanded to offer a wider variety of products.

Take a look at the project information and draft version of the Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) available at the Lompoc Public Library, at City Hall, and on the city’s Web site for review. The public review period ends Sept. 14. Review comments can be sent to Lucille T. Breese at the address shown above or l_breese@ci.lompoc.ca.us.

A scoping meeting, to identify the potential categories of environmental impacts the store expansion might cause, will be held at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday the 26th, at City Hall.

If enough Lompoc residents respond, the expansion can be stopped.

According to a list released this week by SprawlBusters.com, Wal-Mart Stores has abandoned a record-shattering 45 proposed projects over the past 10 months and another 19 Wal-Mart projects have been killed by local citizen's groups. In total, the world's largest retailer has suffered an historic loss of 64 projects.

During the early 2000s, Wal-Mart had as many as 350 “dark stores” on the market. The number of dead stores today is around 200.

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Welcome Lompoc's New Mayor Siminski!

Now I can stop holding my breath because the Lompoc City Council has named one of its own to fill the empty Mayor's office. On a 3-1 vote, they selected five-term councilman Mike Siminski for the post.

Siminski made it clear during the replacement process that he would not run for mayor in 2010.

The runner-up by (80 votes) in the last mayoral election, John Linn, said he'd continue to seek the city's highest elective office next year.

The tally for mayor last election shows 61.78% of the voters wanted someone other than Dick DeWees for the office. DeWees garnered 38.03% of the vote.

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Newsstand Greg with Dave on KVEC 920AM

From time to time, Dave Congalton invites me to be a guest on his afternoon talk show on AM 920, KVEC. He invited me this week to provide counterpoint to the volatile town hall meetings across the country this month.

The topic: how does using inappropriate language in a public forum affect the discussion of how to reform our current expensive health care system?

This also gives me the moment to introduce replays of my radio call-in comments and later, my own produced podcast episodes, right here!

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Does Local Talk Radio Speak For You?

What do you think of local AM radio? Is there a "hometown" host you listen to? Is there a philosophical spin to the type of talk you prefer? How important is it that listeners can call in? Do facts really matter?

According to published program schedules, with few exceptions*, the central coast has four or fewer hours each weekday anchored by informative, local listener call-in talk show programming. Total: little more than 20 afternoon hours a week.

The Central Coast of California has no local, call-in talk shows scheduled before noon. The out-of-town, big name, nationally syndicated programs are the morning rule on central coast AM radio. Does this really serve your public interest on the public (FCC regulated) airwaves?

Today's talk shows consist of a personality relating his/her own conservative or liberal philosophy. They may or may not take calls. You already know which is more often heard on local radio. Our stations in San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria cannot seem to find a way to have a local talk show host for more than four afternoon hours a day.

Santa Barbara has even less--one weekday hour a day--on 1490AM KIST, "The Nick and Paul Show." Ventura county has it four times better with a four-hour local morning show on 1520AM, KVTA.

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*Ed note: San Luis Obispo has it better than most--but in the afternoon. While Dave Congalton is on 920AM KVEC from 3 to 7pm, Bill Benica is talking on 1340AM KYNS from 3 till 5pm.

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