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Serving Democrats in Banning, Beaumont, Cabazon, Calimesa and Cherry Valley
Riverside County, California

Health Insurance Plan Information

Misc Diogenez Tuesday 12 May 2009 - 18:08:16

5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OBAMA'S PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION (From Move On.Org)

The choice of a public health insurance plan is crucial to real health care reform. But right now, it's being smeared by conservatives and insurance-industry front groups. Here's what you really need to know:

1. Choice, choice, choice. If the public health insurance option passes, Americans will be able to choose between their current insurance and a high-quality, government-run plan similar to Medicare. If you like your current care, you can keep it. If you don't—or don't have any—you can get the public insurance plan.

2. It will be high-quality coverage with a choice of doctors. Government-run plans have a track record of innovating to improve quality, because they're not just focused on short-term profits. And if you choose the public plan, you'll still get to choose your doctor and hospital.

3. We'll all save a bunch of money. The public health insurance option won't have to spend money on things like CEO bonuses, shareholder dividends, or excessive advertising, so it'll cost a lot less. Plus, the private plans will have to lower their rates and provide better value to compete, so people who keep their current insurance will save, too.

4. It will always be there for you and your family. A for-profit insurer can close, move out of the area, or just kick you off their insurance rolls. The public health insurance option will always be available to provide you with the health security you need.

5. And it's a key part of universal health care. No longer will sick people or folks in rural communities, or low-income Americans be forced to go without coverage. The public health insurance plan will be available and accessible to everyone. And for those struggling to make ends meet, the premiums will be subsidized by the government.

Speak out to make sure we get real health reform. Call our senators and ask them to support the choice of a public health insurance plan.

Senator Dianne Feinstein
Phone: 202-224-3841

Senator Barbara Boxer
Phone: 202-224-3553

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A HISTORY OF RECESSION IN THE UNITED STATES 1950 TO 2008

Misc Diogenez Sunday 22 February 2009 - 02:11:21

A HISTORY OF RECESSION IN THE UNITED STATES 1950 TO 2008 Written by: mike kohr 2/12/2008 in TruthDig blog

There is a pattern here that is plain to all but the most partisan. Nine of the last ten recessions have occurred under the direction of Republican economic policy. And history does repeat itself. Look at the three greatest slowdowns in US economic history, 1929*, 1982, 2008, all three were attributed to poor economic and tight credit policy, all three featured deregulation and lack of oversight of the financial markets, and all three were presided over by a Republican President.

Recession/Depression of 2008   George W. Bush(R) Greatest downturn since 1929, blamed on lack of regulation of financial markets and collapse of credit markets.

Recession of 2001   George W. Bush(R) Began in April of 2001, marked the beginning of greatest deficit spending in all of recorded human history.

Recession of 1990-1991   George H.W. Bush(R) Deregulation of Savings and Loan industry led to a collapse and panic, which led to election of Bill Clinton, who produced the greatest increase in jobs and wealth in all of recorded human history.

Recession of 1981-1982   Ronald Reagan(R) At the time, the most severe contraction of economy since the Great Depression, massive deficit spending/deregulation of markets, and tight fiscal policy in an effort to kill inflation were blamed for this downturn.**

Recession of 1980 2nd & 3rd quarters   Jimmy Carter (D) Shortest and least severe slow down, generally attributed to Iranian Revolution and increase in oil prices, led to the election of Ronald Reagan.

Recession of 1973-1975   Richard M Nixon(R) OPEC’s increase in oil prices and massive spending in the escalation of war in Vietnam led to stagflation, the second economic crash of Nixon’s administration.

Recession of 1969-1970   Richard M. Nixon(R) Credited to Nixon’s escalation of and massive spending in Vietnam War and OPEC’s increase in the price of oil.

Recession of 1960 -1961   Dwight D. Eisenhower(R) Noted for high unemployment, low GDP, high inflation JFK ended the recession by stimulating the economy 10 days after taking office. Recession of 1957-1958   Dwight D. Eisenhower(R) Eisenhower achieved the dubious distinction of achieving a second economic downturn on his watch, a record later matched by Richard M. Nixon, and George W. Bush.

Recession of 1953   Dwight D. Eisenhower(R) Increased outlays to National defense and restrictive credit policies blamed for this downturn.

*The Great Depression of 1929   Herbert Hoover(R) Lasted for 10 years, blamed on Hoover’s economic policy and lack of regulation of financial markets.

**”The Reagan Recession” which ran from the 4th quarter of 1981 through the 1st quarter of 1982 is often categorized as starting under Carter’s watch during the 2nd & 3rd quarters of 1980. By the end of the 3rd quarter of 1980 that brief recession had rebounded. Starting in the 4th quarter of 1980, three of the next four quarters produced increased GDP. Reagan’s tight fiscal policy and massive deficit spending contracted the economy again in late 1981, producing unemployment of 10.8% and prime interest rates that hovered between 15% and 20.5%.

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Obama's significant appointments

Misc Diogenez Saturday 20 December 2008 - 21:03:59

Cabinet Appointments

Agriculture    Tom Vilsack
Attorney General    Eric Holder, Jr.
Commerce   Gary Locke
Defense    Robert Gates
Education    Arne Duncan
Energy    Steven Chu
Health & Human Services    Kathleen Sebelius
Homeland Security    Janet Napolitano
Housing & Urban Development    Shaun Donovan
Interior    Ken Salazar
Labor    Hilda Solis
State    Hillary Clinton
Transportation    Ray LaHood
Treasury    Timothy Geithner
Veterans Affairs    Eric Shinseki
National Security Advisor    James Jones

Other Important Appointments

Chief of Staff    Rahm Emanuel
Director of National Intelligence    Dennis Blair
Director of Central Intelligence Agency    Leon Panetta
Surgeon General    Regina Benjamin, M.D.
Economic Council    Lawrence Summers
United Nations Ambassador    Susan Rice
Office of Management & Budget    Peter Orzag
Energy & Climate Control Advisor    Carol Browner
Environmental Protection Agency    Lisa Jackson
Securities & Exchange Commission    Mary Schapiro
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Admin.    Jane Lubchenko
Science Advisor    John Holdren
Trade Representative    Ron Kirk
Council Science & Technology    Harold Varmus
Council Science & Technology    Eric Lander

Science and facts instead of ideology will be the rule now!

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