Bill in Sammamish
On the public option for healthcare, why can't we make it simple? Figure out how much it costs annually per patient for Medicare (I think it's around $8000?), age-adjust that via actuarial tables (i.e., a 40-year old might be $4000), and then allow people to buy into Medicare, with a little profit built in. I pay around $20,000 a year out-of-pocket for my family's health insurance, so I gotta think buying Medicare would be cheaper and better. The profit would help to save Medicare as well.
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Janelle in Bothell
Can you talk about this fear of socialism of the right-wingers - I even got this quote recently from a "Christian" right-wing FB -Sir Winston Churchill on socialism - June 4, 1945, before losing the election to the Labor Party which offered peace and socialism: "No socialist government conducting the entire life and industry of the country could afford to allow free, sharp, or violently worded expressions of public discontent..." and the responses get crazier from there. A lot of paranoid hysteria basically. Can you talk about this and how we can address this (if we can) :-)
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Patrick in Kent
My number one issue in this country is the problem with our media. I get really upset when people get misinformed by the Fox News Channel's of the world and with the information they get from them, they keep voting a bad Republican for president when this happen. How are we supposed to level out the playing field in order to have strong democracy in this country? Thanks.
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Belinda in Renton
What can progressives do to help futher public option/private payer health care? AND - please prepare this panel for nutcase teabaggers disrupting this forum. Thx.
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David in Burien
Every one thinks that if the economy is bad in 2010 (i.e., double dip recession or another market crash), that it will help the GOP. But is it possible that instead of lurching predictably back to the GOP - who got us in this mess not that long ago - that the electorate might actually swing in a MORE progressive direction, as increasingly desperate Americans DEMAND that government do more to help out?
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Sean in Federal Way
It is clear our neo-con opponents to progress feel no shame. What other tactics can we use against them?
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Andy in Vancouver, BC
I hope you all know how important all of you are to our lives. Thank you for articulating so clearly, all of our frustrations and pain over what is going on. My question: When Obama was elected did any of you think that there may not be enough to talk about once he got elected. There would be no controversy. He'd just get everything right. How disappointed are you in, unfortunately, his inability to really live up to his expectations. Again thank you being there for us, on the air.
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Rick in Rhode Island
Why aren't you guys having a meeting like this in the Boston area, where WWZN just came online and needs support. Please consider the Northeast for your next gig!! We wanna see you guys
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Alexis in Bellingham
A new report from The International Energy Agency in Paris (as reported by Thom H), says that most of the major oil fields on the planet have passed peak production, and that the middle east controls 40% share in the market. As Thom submits, what will we do when talk of climate "change" proves to be climate "chaos"? How will our culture deal with this very real and very urgent problem? How will we handle losing our way of life becuase of our refusal to change the way we view the world?
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Lou in Buckley
I have tickets for the event and I'm looking forward to this immensely. Anyway, how can a system of justice exsist when people who are above the law (such as failure to apppear in front of Congress after being subpoenaed by Congress). I know the good old boy system is well and alive, but Rove, in particular, is frustrating. Eric Holder has a chance to be a voice to call the shots. Will he or won't he?
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Kirsten A in Aberdeen
Given what we know about the Discovery Institute and Blackwater, do you feel it's possible we are looking at a second inquisition? Thank you...Kirsten
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Steve in Arlington
We need to have election reform right now to stop these lobbyists from controlling our elected officials. How can we get this done?
With 70 to 80 percent in favor of health care reform, why doesn't the President just say screw the Republicans and just do it? We know the Republicans would do whatever they wanted if they had the numbers that the Democrats have. As for the Blue Dog Democrats, Obama should sit them down and say start acting like Democrats or I will not support you in the mid-terms and will do whatever it takes to get a Democrat elected that will back the administration. Also I would like to point out that in France when the people don't like what the government does, they take to the streets and the government snaps back into shape. The government of France is afraid of its people, but here the people are afraid of the government. When are we going to get some backbones as a people and take to the streets? It would only take one time of we the people to call a general strike or something like that to send a message to our government that they work for us and not the other way around!!!!! How would we go about doing that?
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Judi in Madison, WI
How can we speak out on the urgent need for health care without stooping to the level of the opposition attending Congressional town hall meetings?
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Greg in Kirkland
The neo-cons and the Republicans are masterful at managing "talking points", and this talent threatens out vitally important agenda of reforming healthcare in a way that moves us to single payer. Are there ways the Progressive Dems and other healthcare reform advocates can excercise some talent for managing talking points?
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Kurt in Federal Way
My question is similar to the one posed by Scott in Puyallup, though a bit more explicit. The progressive radio hosts thoughout our Great Nation generally do a great job at keeping us informed about what is happening in the world around us, and the attacks we workers are facing from the corporations. No one, however, seems to be discussing the potential solutions, nor holding on-air discussions with organizers. Given both the dire circumstances our Great Nation is facing as well as the tremendous organizing potentials being handed to us through the Health Care Reform debate, it would seem to me that now is precisely the time we need to be not only discussing potential solutions, but acting on those discussions. What I'm talking about is not the online organizing that a multitude of progressive organizations are attempting to do. What I'm not talking about is sitting around and waiting for people to find us, come to us, and join us. All of the modern technologies are not a replacement for the organizing methods that have proven successful in our past. What I am talking about is good old fashioned community-based organizing but on a scale not yet attempted. The modern technologies are but a tool that would permit us to organize at levels not yet attempted. Such a wider scale of organizing would seem necessitated by the circumstances we currently face in our great nation. Let's face it, the corporatists are kicking our butts in precisely the type of organizing that I'm talking about with the Tea-Baggers although there are fundamental weaknesses in their methodologies that we should be able to overcome IF we begin launching the appropriate counter-offensives. Why is it, then, that there are no such discussions occurring at any but the smallest levels of organization? Have we forgotten our history, and how to organize? Or, are we so enamored with attempting to organize via the Internet that we've forgotten the fundamentals of organizing? How is it that, with so many progressive organizations of national stature, that these organizations “ along with organized labor “ can't come together, combine their resources and mailing lists, and begin implementing tactics, strategies and goals appropriate to the situation? This stuff isn't rocket science, it's all been done before though never at a level necessitated by our present circumstances. What is holding is back? Why is there no discussion regarding the creation of such potential solutions? Why are there no corresponding actions being presented?
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Steve in Renton
WHAT MAKES A CONSERVATIVE OR NEOCON INSTANTLY TURN INTO A PROGRESSIVE? Answer 1: With a family member requiring periodic medical treatments e.g. kidney dialysis, his company suddenly informs the rightie they can no longer afford to pay for his health insurance. Answer 2: The righties insurance company decides they can no longer insure him because he is cutting into their profits due to chronic health care requirements.
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Greg W in Everett
The U.S. is becoming a Fascist State. Health Care policies are decided not by our doctors but by C.E.Os. of health insurance companies and the companies bottom line is the concern not the lives of the people that are covered not to mention the uncovered. Real reform looks near impossible. Health Care is a Right. What can be done to put Single Payer Health Care back on the table?
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Alexis in Bellingham
Where is the outrage from progressives regarding the state of our goverment... the war, healthcare, taxes, etc... why have we not taken to the streets, and what will it take for that to happen? Our voices are heard loud and clear within our "group", but what about organizing, like the republicans are so good at, and getting our voice heard?
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Scott in Puyallup
Why don't liberals start organizing like the nut bag right, to go to representatives town hall meetings?
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Chad S. in Idaho
Why won't the democrats loudly recapture the middle class. They seem to have lost touch with the new deal principals and are allowing the repubicans to define the culture war. Why don't they ever fight back ?
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Einar J. in Federal Way
Isn't it time ads and catalog descriptions of foreign-made goods require a statement that INFORMS "no Americans were used in producing the product", like the popular "no animals were harmed" statement now in use?
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Chris C. in Bellevue
How can we who are long time supporters of DNC and Democratic candidates let the party know if bipartisanship is the goal at the expense of meaningful healthcare reform and better consumer and workers' rights protection, we are ready to drop out? For almost 40 years I have volunteered for, and contributed to, various liberal causes and candidates and have had it. Republicans were able to stick together and drag us into a horrific war and the Democrats can't pass healthcare when over 70% of citizens want it. Blue Dogs have to get the message there is a large group of us that will simply withdraw from politics. They will have special interest money, but not the party's mainstay's votes.
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Pat in Kirkland
Who can you get to do an in-depth analysis of the western industrialized nations' universal healthcare programs and how we could morph the best of all those into one for the US?
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Bob in Tacoma
To any of you who want to answer: As an out and proud gay man, the issue of GLBT rights is very important to me and has taken center stage in the past year with the unfortunate passage of Prop 8 in California. Over 2 years ago, in April of 2007, Gov. Gregoire signed Washington's first Domestic Partner bill into law, thereby giving same-sex couples the same legal rights and responsibilities as married couples on issues relating to the health care, incapacity and death of their loved ones. We all know that, in this particularly hostile environment, there is no way that President Obama can pursue full marriage rights for members of our community, at least not in this term. However, do any of you think that he may pursue a National Domestic Partner Bill similar to the one our Governor singed into law 2 years ago, and why should he or not?
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Peter in Bellevue
A native Californian and Baby Boomer, I attended K-12 there, including 7 summer sessions. I also spent 11 years at UC campuses and have a PhD from UCLA. Previous generations paid for my education. Today the State of California has a budget crisis and is slashing education funding, depriving today's youth the opportunities I had. Meanwhile I have a high-paying job, and should be repaying California. But my present state, WA, does not have an income tax. How should I and other successful graduates pay our fair shares to CA?
Obama wants money for high-speed rail. Current plans call for several isolated corridors such as Vancouver BC -Eugene, OR and southern California-Bay Area / Sacramento, without any inter-corridor connector trains. When will we have long distance HSR, such as an 18-hour train trip Seattle to Phoenix?
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Malcolm M in Bainbridge
Why do all you allegedly smart hosts bury thew 9-11 issue? Anyone who has studied the evidence knows it was an inside job.
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Chris in Oak Harbor
How can we put the spotlight on all of our elected representatives with conflict of interest issues such as when we clearly see such apparent conflict of interest in Congress, such as Senator Max Bachus chairing a comittee on health reform when he receives such large financial support from industry lobbyists?
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Rewinn in Belltown
Credit unions - why aren't progressives pushing them as an engine of economic democracy? In WA State, everyone is eligible to join one or several of them, they're always a better deal than banks, their deposits stay in state and they're owned & run by depositors! So why not make them a lead element in economic democracy?
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Steve E. in Renton
Proposal to Make Congress Members Advertise Their sponsors During Sessions: I have an idea that can make the members of Congress more transparent. The problem is, I don’t know how to go about making my idea mandatory. You have all seen those cool looking racing jackets the stock car drivers and support crew wear during a race. Those jackets are loaded with sponsor labels e.g. STP, Penzoil, Fram etc. Well, I propose that during Congressional Sessions, it should be mandatory that the members of Congress wear similar jackets that advertise all of their sponsors that gave them corporate bribe money, er, I mean corporate campaign contributions. The more money they received, the bigger the label. It would be so exciting to see these advertisements on C-span during their sessions. The overhead camera could zoom in on these racing jackets and you’d see, Pfieser, Monsanto, Group Health, Baxter, Go to Hell Health Insurance, and much more being advertised. To make it more exciting, we could hear the crescendo roar of engines when the camera zooms in on a Congress member with mega labels on their jacket. Congress should wear the names of their sponsors proudly since they are working for them and not for ‘we the people.’
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Sheri in Shelton
It is now more evident than ever that we need campaign finance reform, real campaign finance reform. Should the progressive movement focus our energies there, or is it simply not a feasible goal?
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Phebe in Tacoma
I listen to AM1090 daily, usually up to 6 hours a day. Why do so many of you select the same topic to discuss? The exceptions to this seem to be Thom Hartman and Mike Malloy. I would like to know how you select your daily topics. Like Ramona mentions in her question, I would appreciate less "reaction" to right wing commentators like Hannity and Limbaugh.
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Scott in Seattle
Do you think we're witnessing the end of the Republican Party?
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David in Everett
How can we stop Corporate Power's plan to break the back of American Labor through outsourcing?
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Laura in Seattle
In my opinion the biggest threat to America today is the unbridled power of corporations. If we don't solve the disparity of power between them and the citizen soon, it could be too late. What shall we do?
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Robert in Kent
How do we get lobbyists and corporations out of our government?! It is criminal for congress to sell their time/vote to multi- national corporations! In fact it subverts the will of the American people!
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Legena in McMinnville, Oregon
Why can't they leave the seniors and the disabled alone when it comes to budget cuts for services, that we need. It is wrong.
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Dan in Buckley
As most of our Congress-people are spineless Weenies, does the panel have any useful suggestions about how we can kick enough Weeniebutts hard enough to get some actual work done - instead of selling and buying hankies?
As most of our leftie Congresspeople are Weenies with no backbone, how can we in the great unwashed kick enough Weeniebutts enough times to get some actual progressive movement? Bear in mind 70% of the American people wanted single payer health insurance and got ignored, even arrested.
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David in Covington
Why do we care about Iraq when America is close to bankruptcy?
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Jim S. in Burien
I need encouragement to help me to keep going and I don't think I'm alone. We have the White House, the Congress, and theoretically, the required 60 senators, yet it still feels like the Republicans are continuously framing the debate no matter what it is, be it health care, bailouts, corporate compensation, climate change, the list goes on. I call my senators, I call my congressman, I talk to as many people as I can... most are of likely mind. We see the corporate media continue to drop the ball with regards to facts and continues to give relevance to things like birth certificates and Sarah Palin. I can't help but feel that the only thing we have left is to get in the streets. I remember the Vietnam protest and the "Peace ins" and the "Love ins", I think it will take that kind of pressure to work again, but for some reason it seem different now. I feel like time is running out, and if not now when. Maybe because I am older, but I feel for my children, I think that I am not leaving the world in better shape than when it was handed over to us from our parents. Can you all talk in generalities and perhaps specifics about what you think may be required for meaningful change? Thanks, Jim
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Tom in Tacoma
OK, everything is buzzwords, slogans, tweets and twits... short attention span. How do we grab the health care debate? At the moment "single-payer" as a phrase is poison. "Medicare-for-all" (which I want) might work; it exists in our midst and not in some far-away foreign country like Canada... well, it does, but let's bring it on home. How do we make "public option" = "Medicare-for-all". Or find an equation that becomes an ear-worm like so many right-wing catch phrases.
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John in Puyallup
Why did the writers of the Constitution think it was necessary to have a qualification of a president be native or natural born. I can see how they might have wanted to establish an American identity but think it's obsolete now. What would be the justification of such a requirement now? It seems to me that we should consider an admendment to strike that requirement out. I would hate to think that a brillant statemen might be barred from the presidency just becasue he was not 'natural' born
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Tom in Tacoma
How do we get some audacity from our President? For that matter, how do we get it from ourselves? What is missing in the Democratic majority?
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Nelson in Port Angeles
The majority informed citizens know that Single Payer is the only health care reform that will work. When is the media and our Congress persons going to admit thgis and stop saying it's "off the table."
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Mark in Bothell
My $15 donations are pretty small potatoes! How do everyday progressives stand up to big money corporatism?
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Joel in Lacey
Health care reform needs a true single-payer public health care option. This is the only way we will reduce health care costs and achieve universal coverage. Huge savings can be achieved through prevention, computerization, standardization of records, smart cards, full access to generics, etc. A single-payer public health care option should not have to be subsidized by taxpayers. Insurance companies make enormous profits from health problems of the American people by charging more, cherrypicking and denying claims. They have devastated the American people with bankruptcy in record numbers. Special interests such as insurance companies, hospitals, drug companies have made obscenely large contributions to corrupt Republicans to maintain the current dysfunctional system that will soon destroy our country. We cannot trust the insurance industry to cut costs without a public health care option providing some honest competition. Will we pass health care reform with a public option?
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Martin in Seattle
What will it take to get the congress to act like they have a majority and get the peoples business done not the corporate donors?
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Rick in Bremerton
I have a list of hundreds of drugs here that cost less then ten dollars for a thirty day supply...that the drug companies are charging hundreds of dollars a month for. Why isn't that in the news non stop as a pro single payer ad?
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Raymond in Roy
Congress passed a Credit Card bill that has cost myself and other Americans, things like higher interest rates, lower credit limits, and higher minimum payments. MY fear is that a similiar poison pill with a Health Care reform bill, which will favor the Insurance Companies and force more people into medical bankruptcy. That a mandatory clause will see a large increase in fees, co-pays, and higher premiums.
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Martin in Rainier
What is an effective way to talk to the right wing fringiots everywhere to help them see the error of their ways? They may not be growing in size, but they are getting much louder.
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Steve in Everett:
In the book The Long Emergency, James Kunstler describes the converging catastrophes of the 21st. century, Have any of you read this incredible book?
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Phyllis in DuPont
Instead of spending time complaining about companies that are not doing right by their employees, wouldn't it be helpful to hold up examples of companies who are doing right by their employees. For example, my old company REI. Starbucks, Microsoft, Yahoo. All the republicans who say companies cannot afford to have good benefits and succeed could be confronted by these positive progressive companies.
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Lillian in Shoreline asks:
Washington state's current tax structure relies heavily on the regressive sales tax. Because of this regressive tax, some law makers have introduced a state income tax, but the voters just see it as another tax. How do we refute the stigma of a proposed income tax?
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Carol from Burien asks:
Why can't the Democrats get on the same page TOGETHER the way the Republicans do?
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Matt in Friday Harbor asks:
What are the chances we will ever have public financed elections?
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Jim from Hoodsport:
If big business can squelch the health care bill we all know is good for america. Then what is it they can't squelch? Fox news maybe!
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Doug in Renton asks:
Is discussion of 9/11 truth forbidden on television?
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Nancy in Seattle asks:
For Thom: Your past equality trust topic - are elected officials aware of studies like this, and, if so, do they ever care? So much that I read & hear makes me feel defeated for change.
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Rob in Seattle asks:
Were our legislators, meaning Progressive or Democratic Senators and Representatives, ever as publicly mean to Bush as the current right-wing congressmen are now to Obama? I tend to think not, so, here's part 2: Why weren't we and why aren't we now verbally abusive to the right? I wish we were!
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Karyn in Olympia asks:
Most, if not all, of the states are having some degree of financial difficulty. Of course the economy is one reason. However, it seems to me that the larger issue is that the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy must have significantly reduced the amount of federal taxes that typically go back to the states. I have never heard anyone mention this as a root cause rather than mismanagement by governors and/or their legislatures. Our governor, Christine Gregoire, was blamed by the Republicans for the Washington budget deficit. What do you think about this?
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Rob in Shelton asks:
This question is directed mainly at Thom but anyone can consider it: I would submit to the panel that we as Americans are living in a Oligarchy and the Oligarchs are firmly in control, the contempt Congress shows to the constituency only reinforces this feeling - what are your thoughts on this?
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Esther in Auburn says:
We love AM1090 and this Forum so much we're spending our 1st yr. wedding anniversary with our AM 1090 family! Thanks for all you do!
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Skip in Edmonds asks:
I am a progressive. I helped elect Barack Obama. However, I have a hard time thinking he owes Progressives something special. Thom Hartman is constantly trashing my President because he is not living up to Thom's far left positions. Progressives did not elect President Obama. Moderates did. Even some conservatives. The progressives could not have done this alone, and did not. We have a President, for once, who is the President of ALL the people. I will not get everything I want, but I love my President. Thom, why do you continue to trash my President on a daily basis because you are "disappointed". Please stop. This is not about you.
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Steve in Everett asks:
Why do you think people are not discussing important issues like Peak Oil and the effects it will likely have on our way of life in the next few years?
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Shawn in Gig Harbor asks:
Do you think the Democrats will ever have the spine to renegotiate the free trade policies with China so that we could bring back manufacturing and help spur innovation in this country and more union growth?
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David from Everett asks:
Doesn't it make sense to end the war on drugs? By legalizing drugs, regulating and taxing them, wouldn't we eliminate a major reason for gangs to exist? The drug killings in Mexico and this country would cease, and law enforcement would be free to pursue more important criminals.
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Ramona from Everett asks:
Why do you spend so much time responding to the radical right commentators like Limbaugh, etc.? I'm really tired of hearing about them. I never listen to them. I think more time should be spent educating listeners about the issues, like health care reform, and providing more information about how to influence our elected Representatives and Senators.
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Kathryn From Bellevue Asks
why aren't our prescription prices negotiated nationally like the rest of the developed world? 2. Why can't the Democrats be a FORCE to pass health care legislation as the Republicans were a FORCE to get us into war? 3. What plans do the Senate and COngress have and why don't we have the same--how could they vote AGAINST THAT? 4. Does the party and President Obama ealize that unity is all or it will be a one term presidency? 5. HOw to make them udnerstand that removing health care from the employers' table : 2. more mobile workforce = more productivity=happier, healthier workers. 5. JUST DO IT!!! the time for nicey-nice is over. Get the phrase ENOUGH is ENOUGH back into speeches. ON THE MORTGATES: so the banks are hugely profitable again. GIVE back the pmortages you foreclosed on, NO FEES and lower rate and eat it! HERE is agreat pace for a special commision run by Volcker. ON WAR CRIMES. It's simple, there's an accusation which needs to be proven or disproven. the justice dept. MUST investigate. It's the law, stupid.
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Kono From Normany Park Asks
To entire panel: Why do you think it's so hard for Republicans to tell the truth & speak to the truth? Were they always like this? And is there anyone that can take their party out from the basement of the "base"? Thank you:)
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Greg from Seattle Asks
HR 1207 and S 604 are bills authorizing an audit of the Federal Reserve and I think they are very important in light of the current financial crisis. Why do we not more about these bills on progressive radio?
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