Baby Denied Health Care Coverage For Being "Too Fat"

The problem are those risks people talk about are people's lives. They're your friends, neighbors, and family. They are the people you love and care about who may one day be denied health care because some guy in an office somewhere looks at that person's chart and says, "Well, we can't cover them anymore because of this or that." This situation is horrific to our basic humanity and to the spirit of being an American. Americans have focused so much on individualism that we have forgotten it was our cooperative nature that built the nation. When the settlers went out west, they did so in groups and protected each other. When towns were formed, people helped each other in times of need because they knew that help would be reciprocated. And Americans still carry those values. But somewhere along the line, greed for money became more important than anything else.That's why insurance companies are an unnecessary evil. They thrive on the suffering of others. Their profit comes at someone else's loss. The job of the insurance companies is to find every way to get your money while finding every not to pay. And they get fat while good Americans, from Republicans to Democrats, go bankrupt in order to pay for operations that are provided for in other developed states. And this is the system that people want to defend? Why? How can we allow anyone to profit from the suffering from a fellow American and still say that Americans stick together?Americans need to wake up and realize that the system needs to change and needs to change now. Americans need to realize that the next person to suffer from the greedy health insurance companies might be someone close to them, or even themselves. They need to wake themselves to the reality that the health insurance companies are not in it to save the person when the person needs to be saved, but to take the person's money and leave that person in a ditch when the person needs help from the health insurance company.We take care of each other - there is no better reason for universal health care than that. No other reason should ever take precedent over that reason. If ever there is a reason that becomes more important than taking care of each other, then we as a nation have failed.Edited by Izanagi, : No reason given.Edited by Izanagi, : No reason given.

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It's just some things you never get over. That's just the way it is. You go on through... best as you can. - Matthew Scott
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Marge, just about everything is a sin. (holds up a Bible) Y'ever sat down and read this thing? Technically we're not supposed to go to the bathroom. - Reverend Lovejoy
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You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair, and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them? So, now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe. - Marcus Cole

That's not the point, You are not getting all the money from someone else. You are getting the money from many people. This transfer the burden from one to many thereby easing the burden on the one and slightly increasing the burden on the many.Think about it this way: If someone needs a million dollar live-saving operation, all you would need is for 300 million Americans to give 1/300th of a penny for that person to get that operation. You save the person and the burden on any single American is 1/300th of a penny. That's the trade-off - 1/300th of a penny and I'm sure you've thrown away a few pennies in your lifetime. No one is advocating taking all of it from one person, but if you have ever argued Americans stick together, then this is the ultimate expression of that argument.Edited by Izanagi, : No reason given.

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It's just some things you never get over. That's just the way it is. You go on through... best as you can. - Matthew Scott
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Marge, just about everything is a sin. (holds up a Bible) Y'ever sat down and read this thing? Technically we're not supposed to go to the bathroom. - Reverend Lovejoy
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You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair, and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them? So, now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe. - Marcus Cole

But that's the way most things are set up in the US. We have public schools, but you can send your children to private schools. We have private universities, but you can send your children to public universities. We have police, but you can hire a security company. We have public transportation, but you have the option of driving your car. No one has advocated abolishing insurance companies. Certainly the public option should not be the sole provider but when you are talking about the basic health of every American and the life of every American, why would you deny your fellow Americans? Isn't the basic form of Christian charity to love your neighbor?The ugly truth is not that we have limited resources. That's a fact of life and why we rely on a free market. The ugly truth is that we are willing to let other people suffer and die simply because we can say that there isn't enough. That is not good enough. If we can allow that, then why not have people pay for firefighting insurance so that whenever your house is on fire, perhaps the fire department will save your house. After all, water is a limited resource in many areas. Or maybe security insurance so that people who have it will receive police protection but those that don't will not. Would that be acceptable? Americans should help each other by providing for each other's basic survival, shouldn't they? But that's the ugly truth. Americans would just as soon step on you as help you up.That there are areas in the US that have conditions on par to the poorest countries is something to be ashamed of. That we can allow our fellow citizens die just so we can save a few more pennies, is something to be ashamed of. That we can see starving children on the streets looking in dumpsters for food is something to be ashamed of. That we can allow our so-called heroes, police and firefighters and all those citizens who risked their lives after the attacks of 9/11, be denied treatment for the debilitating conditions that they acquired in service of their fellow Americans is something to be ashamed of. That we can allow our men and women in uniform to return from serving our country in combat, be honorably discharged, and be summarily forgotten is something to be ashamed of.Many Americans talk about being faithful to Christ and his teachings, but when it comes time to put their words into action, they balk and make excuses like "limited resources" and "it's not my problem." How Christian of them.That's the ugly truth that I see.

Well, Ben Franklin was pretty intelligent. But I think if the fire departments today were run like the health insurance companies, then there would be a claims department that would try to find ways of justifying not putting out a fire and old houses would have a higher risk of fire and therefore wouldn't be insured.Isn't it good our fire departments aren't run like insurance companies?

The reason is this:

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We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare (emphasis added), and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

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The government of the United States of America was founded by the people of the United States to promote the general welfare of the people of the United States. How can we say we are upholding the ideals of the Constitution when 40 million Americans are uninsured and at least 25 million Americans are underinsured? Is it promoting the general welfare when at least 20% of Americans are without adequate healthcare coverage? When will you say it is a good idea? When 30% are without adequate healthcare coverage? 40%? 50%? When does an American say a person's life is worth more than the price of a single latte?That's your reason and it's probably the best reason in the world. You do it simply because the life of every person is equally important and just as you expect your fellow citizens to help you out in your time of need, so should you help your fellow citizens out in their time of need. It is upon that principle, that social contract, from which the US was founded and exists to this day. Can you give me any reason more important than that for not allowing healthcare for those who need it to live?Edited by Izanagi, : No reason given.

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It's just some things you never get over. That's just the way it is. You go on through... best as you can. - Matthew Scott
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Marge, just about everything is a sin. (holds up a Bible) Y'ever sat down and read this thing? Technically we're not supposed to go to the bathroom. - Reverend Lovejoy
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You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair, and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them? So, now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe. - Marcus Cole

But no one is arguing for healthcare to be solely in the hands of the government. People need basic healthcare to ensure every American can stay healthy so we can reduce the number of people who use the emergency rooms as their primary source of healthcare and who go when their situation reaches a tipping point.By keeping every American in good health through preventative healthcare, we lower the costs associated with emergency room care. And by providing life-saving healthcare for those who need it, we ensure that no American will have to go bankrupt in order to pay for healthcare. Think about that. The number 4 reason for bankruptcy are medical bills. If our healthcare system is so great, why are people going bankrupt to pay their bills?But perhaps there is no hope. When a Christian can argue against caring for others, I mourn for America. When Americans can allow their fellow citizens to sink into poverty, I mourn for America. When greed and wealth outweighs the life of a person, I mourn for America.Maybe you're right. Perhaps we should let greed tear our nation apart as it has torn apart other nations and allow the rich to get richer and the middle class and poor to get poorer. And we will allow it in the name of personal liberty.But remember, just as the extreme of control is tyranny, the extreme of personal liberty is anarchy.Edited by Izanagi, : No reason given.Edited by Izanagi, : No reason given.

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It's just some things you never get over. That's just the way it is. You go on through... best as you can. - Matthew Scott
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Marge, just about everything is a sin. (holds up a Bible) Y'ever sat down and read this thing? Technically we're not supposed to go to the bathroom. - Reverend Lovejoy
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You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair, and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them? So, now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe. - Marcus Cole

Thank you for the sentiment, but I think you deserve the credit for bringing what happened to baby Alex to light. Sometimes it is easy to forget that many of the people who suffer from our healthcare system are people who haven't done anything to deserve such heartless treatment.

And of course, our public universities are why Harvard is now out of business. Isn't that the point. They are a large, unexpected expense. Medical bills can't be planned for and they often require huge amounts of money. A regular doctor's visit requires more money than what many families can afford. Even a simple prescription for eyeglasses can run a couple a hundred dollars. That's why Remote Area Medical, an organization created to help those in Third World countries get the medical care they need, go to various places in America to treat people who otherwise would have no recourse for medical care, places from Los Angeles to Virginia. Is that something to be proud of, that an organization created to bring medical care to Third World countries has to come to the US? Then you don't know what it's like to go through bankruptcy. It is not a safety net. Bankruptcy is rock bottom. Not many people go out of their way to want to declare bankruptcy. That's why many families would rather struggle with bills and find a way through than go bankrupt. It's because bankruptcy isn't the solution to a person's financial troubles - more often than not, it can have consequences for years after. A person who declares bankruptcy has it on their financial record, so it becomes difficult for them to establish a good line of credit, it is more difficult to take out a mortgage, finding a job might be harder with a bad credit record, a person may still be required to pay back the debts by having their wages garnished are only some of the few consequences of declaring bankruptcy. That's why it is a terrible thing to do. For you to say it is a safety net or even to allow someone to go through something like that is reprehensible. What you don't seem to realize is that the middle and lower class are not getting richer.Currently, the top 7% account for a third of all income. The share of the total earned income of the upper middle class is declining. Median household income has barely kept pace with inflation. Income inequality is growing. The US Gini Index is highest of all industrialized nations. And upward mobility is a dream of the past.Some economists say that a rising tides raises all boats. The problem is, as you said, limited resources. As the rich take more of the pie, there is less pie to go around to the rest of America. Wealth, I am afraid to say, is a zero-sum game. There are going to be winners and there will be losers. The question is how we deal with this as a society. Do we allow the wealthy to continue to increase their share of the pie at the cost of the rest of the country's ability to make a living. Do we continue to suffer this delusion that America is still the land of opportunity when it is harder than ever to rise from the ranks of the poor? Do we continue to believe that somehow things will work out by themselves because someone says that the wealth will trickle down to the rest of the people?Or do you wake up and realize that America is facing a serious problem. The wealthy have the money, they control the reins of the country. They are the ones with the money and time to lobby Congress. They were the ones who benefited most from Bush's tax cuts. Them and corporations. And every time another piece of the pie goes to the rich, every other American gets less.So yes, maybe I am greedy. Maybe I am greedy because I want to survive, to not worry about whether my paycheck will cover my expenses, to know whether I can afford to see a doctor for an illness.But I am not greedier than those at the top who only look to see how they can wring more money from the American people. Those people who have enough money for themselves but constantly want more and more. Those are, in my opinion, the greediest people of all.Edited by Izanagi, : No reason given.Edited by Izanagi, : No reason given.

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It's just some things you never get over. That's just the way it is. You go on through... best as you can. - Matthew Scott
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Marge, just about everything is a sin. (holds up a Bible) Y'ever sat down and read this thing? Technically we're not supposed to go to the bathroom. - Reverend Lovejoy
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You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair, and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them? So, now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe. - Marcus Cole

To be honest, I think the way Obama has been approaching this debate has been wrong. The guy is great and intelligent, but he's being too political. I know he wants to be Lincolnesque, but even Lincoln was wont to do his own thing. I remember a story of Lincoln where his generals told him that Grant was a drunk and should be removed from command. You know what Lincoln said?

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I can't spare this man; he fights

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But to address your concern, preventative care does help. If Americans went to the doctor and found they had high blood pressure, perhaps the doctor could put them on a diet and exercise regimen that would reduce their blood pressure. Reduced blood pressure means a reduced chance for a heart attack. Or as per your example, a person who has diabetes could easily have it treated, depending on the type. Regular insulin injections and a nutritional regimen could work wonders to prevent that person from suffering an emergency later. Preventative care, in order to prevent future illness and problems, is a more efficient and often less expensive way of dealing with problems than waiting until the last minute. I find it is similar to getting an oil change every 2 - 3 thousand miles. The oil change is preventative care. It's a hassle to do and pay for, but if you don't, the repairs to your engine when it finally goes could cost you a lot more.I will says this too. While I don't like the Pharm companies pushing drugs as the cure for all our problems, they at least do research and provide a product. Health insurance companies are just middle men. That would be what the doctors have to decide. Typically, the doctors are the ones prescribing medication. Doctors prescribe medication because, like most people, they feel obligated when the Pharm company takes them out to lunch, sends them to Bermuda, or are otherwise lobbied by the Pharm companies. If we get the Pharm companies out of the doctor's office and let the doctors do their work, then perhaps they'll prescribe less.But that is another problem. Every society changes. My hope is that society changes for the better. That is true. This isn't easy because corporations are an indelible part of politics. I have to check on the decision, but a case was heard before the Court where one side argued that corporations should be allowed to participate in campaign finance, since they count as "individuals." Judicial history has said money counts as speech, and if the corporations are allowed to participate, then you'll find the political landscaped irrevocably altered. Corporations would be the most the powerful voices in government simply because they have the money to sway voters one way or the other. And we know how easily swayed Americans are.

I know why you are arguing that way and I've heard that argument before. Your argument is similar to the one about why people should never split the bill evenly because someone inevitably orders a steak dinner while everyone else orders light meals. It doesn't seem fair. And you're right; there will always be people who will take advantage of the system. The problem is, that's always true, no matter what. You, at this moment, are being taken advantage of. Your insurance company's overhead runs roughly 30% of the administrative costs. Compare that the systems in other countries with a hybrid system where the costs are generally lower ranging from 20% to 10%. In 2004, that overhead cost was $400 billion out of $1.6 trillion. Think about the savings if we only paid 20% overhead. That would be a $100 billion savings. Per year. But the only way we can get the health insurance companies to lower their costs is by introducing competition. Otherwise, those insurance companies will continue to raise your co-pay, shrink your benefits, and when you need it, find some way out of paying your medical bills. But it's your choice - perhaps getting fleeced by the company you rely on to help you in your time of need is much better than having the security of knowing your medical bills will never bankrupt you even though some people will take advantage of the system.But for me, the costs of allowing some people to take advantage of the system are much less than the benefits of having a universal healthcare system.

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It's just some things you never get over. That's just the way it is. You go on through... best as you can. - Matthew Scott
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Marge, just about everything is a sin. (holds up a Bible) Y'ever sat down and read this thing? Technically we're not supposed to go to the bathroom. - Reverend Lovejoy
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You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair, and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them? So, now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe. - Marcus Cole

I don't know how easy it is to call liberals to arms, but it seems to me that it isn't easy. It could be that liberals are just like the Democrats - each have their own issues and interests and focus on those rather than jumping onto every bandwagon that comes along. Conservatives, on the other hand, are a well-oiled machine. Just looking at the tea-bagging thing and the town hall debates, you can see how easy it is to get conservatives out there to cause a ruckus despite it not being helpful to the debate. Even Wilson, a congressman, shouted out "you lie" during a speech the President was giving.When you look at the parties today, the Republican party has become increasingly homogeneous, focusing on having a single point of view for almost every issue. Think about it - you never hear from the pro-choice Republicans even though they are out there albeit increasingly rare. That's probably why many former Republicans have switched parties or have become independent. The Democrats, however, suffer from the increasing heterogeneity because it becomes more difficult to form a consensus (think Arlen Specter). In fact, despite the super-majority, the Blue Dogs are what is keeping meaningful reform from happening.Anyway, for people to have productive debate, the issues need to be talked about and people need to learn the facts of the debate. Otherwise the ruckus just prevents the rational people from begin heard.

That's not necessarily true. Remember Proposition 8, a Californian constitutional amendment which limited marriages to a man and a woman? California is a heavily Democratic state and African-Americans are typically Democrat supporters. Well, it passed in California because of the African-Americans who went out to vote for Obama. Even though African-Americans traditionally vote Democrats, on this issue where they sided with the conservatives simply because those African-Americans were church-goers. You'll find this often - liberal issues that resonate with one group of Democrats don't resonate with another group of Democrats. Environmentally conscious Democrats will often clash with pro-logging Dems. Dems who support welfare often clash with Dems who don't support welfare. Blue Dogs will just as often vote with Dems as against.Compare that party disunity with the Republicans and conservatives in general. Conservatives are extraordinarily good at walking lock-step.Even look at the news for this past weekend. Which news organizations covered the gay rights march in Washington this past weekend? I'm willing to bet not many. Compare that to Fox News, which provided coverage for the tea-baggers' march which was also this past weekend. Conservatives walking in lock-step. You'll have to show me an example of an interruption at a town hall meeting during Bush's Administration. Remember too, protesters were bringing guns to Obama's town hall meetings. I don't recall that happening at any of Bush's town hall meetings. I'll grant you the media isn't helping matters, but speak to any pro-choice, or even moderate republicans and most will tell you the same thing: they feel increasingly left out of a party that they feel has been taken over by the more extreme faction. The worst of it is that if the moderate Republicans don't toe the party line, they are called traitors to the cause, called RINOs and punished for having views that conflict with the ultra-conservative view. Arlen Specter switched parties because the guy who was going to run against him in the Republican primary would've beat him because that guy is more conservative than Specter. Specter said so himself. The Democrats, on the other hand, had in their ranks Zell Miller, a guy who consistently ran as a Democrat but almost always sided with his Republican colleagues in the Senate. And don't forget Lieberman, a Democrat who campaigned for his pal McCain in 2008. And what did the Democrats do to Lieberman? Gave him a committee chairmanship. If a Republican had done for Kerry what Lieberman did for McCain, the Republican Party would've never been so kind. And that's what happened to Colin Powell, a moderate Republican who supported Obama. Colin Powell was rejected as a member of the Republican Party, called a traitor and a RINO.There's a big difference to how Democrats operate and how Republicans do.Edited by Izanagi, : No reason given.

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It's just some things you never get over. That's just the way it is. You go on through... best as you can. - Matthew Scott
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Marge, just about everything is a sin. (holds up a Bible) Y'ever sat down and read this thing? Technically we're not supposed to go to the bathroom. - Reverend Lovejoy
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You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair, and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them? So, now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe. - Marcus Cole

I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiments. The strength of a community lies in the willingness of the people to stand together for the common good, to help each other in times of need, and to work together to solve our problems. When a community stands as one, works as one, and acts as one, there is very little that can stand up to the combine strength and determination of that community. But once the bonds of community are broken, once the self becomes more important than the neighbor, once a person becomes willing to stand upon the backs of his fellow man to grab the fruits for himself, the community weakens and crumbles under the assault of the world.By helping the less fortunate members of a community, the community potentially gains more than if it did nothing at all. Perhaps one of those individuals will go on to contribute much to the community, either through intelligence, creativity, or strength that the person wouldn't normally would not have been able to contribute had the community not provided help. The community also gains the dedication of the individuals, for if the individuals know that the community is there for their benefit, then the individuals will do what they can to make the community better.But if the community chooses to ignore its members, what reasons do the individuals have to help the community? For what reason should an individual be dedicated to a community if the community has no interest in the individual?We find ourselves divided and our own self-interests are dividing us against each other. How long do you think the US can survive as a divided nation?

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It's just some things you never get over. That's just the way it is. You go on through... best as you can. - Matthew Scott
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Marge, just about everything is a sin. (holds up a Bible) Y'ever sat down and read this thing? Technically we're not supposed to go to the bathroom. - Reverend Lovejoy
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You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair, and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them? So, now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe. - Marcus Cole

I don't want to believe that they are a dying breed, but they are becoming increasingly harder to find. Sometimes I think most are becoming Libertarians. I shouldn't say that all Republicans are the same, but the Republican Party is being hijacked by extremists in the party who support the likes of Limbaugh and Beck. Can you find anyone on the left who has the same influence within the Democrats that Limbaugh or Beck has in the Republican Party?There was a time that I respected the Republican Party for its ideals. After all, fiscal responsibility is a worthy goal for any person or government. The problem is, sometime down the line, the actual values that the Republicans stood for became a front for something else. I even have a friend who stopped siding with Republicans and decided to be a Libertarian.That's what you are won't find in the Democrats - a Limbaughesque figure who can convince the people into believing certain things on certain issues even if what is being said is far from the truth.That's what is happening with the Republican Party - it is becoming increasingly homogeneous. The fact that the GOP can agree on a party platform and keep members of Congress in line should speak volumes of the power of the Republican leadership. The Republicans during the Bush Administration barely had a majority and they passed things through the Congress because Republicans knew they needed to toe the line. The Democrats have a supermajority and they can't get anything done. I don't know how much of that can be attributed to Democrat incompetence, but I do know a lot has to do with the way Republicans close ranks. The Democrats are just too diverse.Edited by Izanagi, : No reason given.

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It's just some things you never get over. That's just the way it is. You go on through... best as you can. - Matthew Scott
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Marge, just about everything is a sin. (holds up a Bible) Y'ever sat down and read this thing? Technically we're not supposed to go to the bathroom. - Reverend Lovejoy
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You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair, and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them? So, now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe. - Marcus Cole

That's not exactly true. If you track Limbaugh's influence over the years, it has grown. Now I can't speak for what will happen twenty years from now, but I will tell you right now that if speakers like Limbaugh, Beck, Coulter, and others that share similar views are people who are being slotted as guest speakers at conservative functions, it says something about the current state of conservatives. And I am just talking about the American public, not the politicians. When politicians who have criticized Limbaugh quickly apologize for their statements, that says something about the influence that Limbaugh has over American conservatives. And if Beck was on the way out, he wouldn't be the talk of the town.I think these two articles prop up my point very well. This New York Times Op-Ed Columnist explains that Limbaugh and Beck have no actual power. And that I do believe. Their power comes from capturing the attention of the people they are talking to. If people don't listen, people like Beck and Limbaugh have no power. But people DO listen and that's the problem. Beck, Limbaugh, and others are given power by the people. Just read Time's article on Beck to see how much power Beck is getting from the people who listen to his show. He has become a media sensation precisely because people listen.And illusory or not, power is still power as long as people believe. Fifty years ago, the GOP was filled with the likes of Nixon and Eisenhower and William F. Buckley. That Buckley considers the current conservative movement to be different from the conservative movement of the 60s and 70s speaks volumes of what the current conservative movement is.I will agree that the current conservative movement has it roots in the 80s, but didn't come to head until the 90s with Gingrich's Contract with America. From that, it took off full steam and has since evolved to what it is today. So you are mistaken when you argue that Republicans today are of the same opinions as Republicans of 30 years ago. Republicans, like Eisenhower, didn't believe in military spending. Republicans today are big hawks. Nixon believed in realpolitik, understood that China was different from the USSR, and treated China friendlier than how his predecessors did at a time when China and the USSR were distrustful of each other whereas Bush lumped three countries together in an Axis of Evil. Even Buckley changed his views on drug legalization and came to support the very thing he once opposed. Conservatives today are not the conservatives of yesteryear. Those guys are comedians. They have a following, but they don't send people out on crusades and I doubt people would go through with it even if those three asked their followers to go out on a crusade (except for, maybe Colbert.)What people like Beck and Limbaugh do is speak to the basic fears of the American people which is why they can draw such a large following and command such influence. When you manipulate the fears of others, it becomes easier to control them. That's why Stewart, Colbert, and Maher, could never command such influence (well, maybe Colbert could.) Those three (maybe just two) are comedians and serve more to inform than to catalyze. Eisenhower declared race relations a national security issue. After Brown v. Board of Ed, Eisenhower wanted DC schools to be desegregated. Eisenhower championed the Interstate Highway System. He continued or expanded all major New Deal programs, like Social Security, and rolled them into a new Department, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Eisenhower nominated Earl Warren and William Brennan to the Supreme Court and the Warren Court was perhaps the most progressive Court the country had ever seen, dealing with issues like racial segregation, civil rights, and separation of church and state. Brennan was an outspoken progressive, opposing the death penalty and supporting abortion. And Eisenhower, upon leaving the White House, spoke out against the military-industrial complex. Does that sound like a modern day Republican?If you need more references, I'd be happy to supply them to you.The point is, that Beck and Limbaugh have increased in popularity and influence. Stewart and Maher couldn't get their audience to go out and protest mainly because they are comedians. They serve to inform through comedy, not instigate through fear. That's what Beck and Limbaugh do. That's why Stewart and Maher could never have the influence that Beck and Limbaugh have. Colbert can get people to vote on naming things after him, but everything done has been online. He has grown in popularity, but it ultimately comes down to who Colbert is - a comedian and a satire of Bill O'Reilly. Colbert's audience will vote to name a bridge in Hungary or a space station module after Colbert simply because it is a hilarious thing to do. But Colbert's audience wouldn't go out and protest in the streets because it isn't funny. And Colbert, like Stewart and Maher, is all about the funny.That's why it is easier to mobilize the conservatives - Beck and Limbaugh play on their fears. When a person fears, and their fears are justified by someone else, it is easier to get them to do something they would never do.

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It's just some things you never get over. That's just the way it is. You go on through... best as you can. - Matthew Scott
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Marge, just about everything is a sin. (holds up a Bible) Y'ever sat down and read this thing? Technically we're not supposed to go to the bathroom. - Reverend Lovejoy
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You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair, and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them? So, now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe. - Marcus Cole