Patch Live Blogs the Tea Party Midwest Convention

Bob C October 1, 2011 at 05:38 am

Many people who oppose the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act", also known as 'Obamacare', say the Founding Fathers wouldn't have wanted the Government to make health insurance mandatory for private employees. This is simply not true.
The U.S. Passed Mandatory Health Insurance In 1798 Under President And Founding Father, John Adams In 1798, under 2nd President and Founding Father John Adams, the United States passed a law requiring mandatory health insurance for any private employees working on Maritime vessels. The bill was called "An Act for The Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen" It's safe to assume that John Adams, who was the first Vice President of this country, the 2nd President of this Country, one of the Founding Fathers, and was a key negotiator in the peace treaty between the United States and Britain, had a pretty clear idea of what the Founding Fathers would have been alright with. We should expand Medicare so it's available to all Americans, and reform it to provide even more cost-effective, quality care. The Affordable Care Act is a good start as it removes the pre-existing clause loophole that denies many American citizens care when they have an illness, but it's not enough. It's a windfall for insurance companies and does almost nothing to reduce costs We can save trillions of dollars by joining every other industrialized country -- paying much less for health care while getting the same or better results with Medicare for All..

Denise Du Vernay October 1, 2011 at 05:54 am

Andy,
Actually, the richest members of Congress are Republicans, Rep. Darrell Issa of California who some estimate to be worth over $300 million. The second richest member of congress is ALSO a Republican, Michael McCaul of Texas, who weighs in at an also astonishing $287 million. (Some sources switch McCaul and Issa around). Then comes Kerry, a Dem, at third; the others you mention are not in the top five. Pelosi, at #12, is really freaking rich, but is not the richest. There are no Kennedys in the top 50 (not sure who you're calling out there. Maybe you're just used to having Kennedys in Congress). If your beef is against wealthy politicians, campaign finance reform is an even more logical place to start than term limits. http://www.rollcall.com/50richest/the-50-richest-members-of-congress-112th.html As a newcomer to Illinois I have an outsider's perspective, and I promise you that while Blago is definitely embarrassing, previous Republican governors Ryan and Edgar also caused many a person to question Illinois's integrity. Have you forgotten "L. Ron Hubbard Day"? Have you also forgotten Ryan's accepting of bribes that resulted in the deaths of many innocent people? Blago is super-douchey, but at least no one died because of his actions.

Denise Du Vernay October 1, 2011 at 06:02 am

I do enjoy the idea of kicking libertarian/tea party protesters off the sidewalk. Don't want to pitch in? Then get off the sidewalk and quit using the free Internet at the library! I, too, like things like sidewalks and libraries, plus 911, fire and police departments, roads and freeways (and, soon, snowplows), schools, the military, the FAA, the FDA, even Homeland Security (although they often tick me off) . . . and the list goes on.
The benefits that these people, services, and programs give to me, my family, and my neighbors makes paying my taxes worth it. Now, if only big businesses had to pay their taxes instead of leaching of the infrastructure that we regular folk pay for. Deadbeats.

Denise Du Vernay October 1, 2011 at 06:06 am

I hear you.

David Vancina October 1, 2011 at 06:41 am

Which party's reps are richest? They all have a lot of money, and it's pretty evenly divided.
Crunching the numbers from Denise's "Roll Call" link of the top 50: average wealth: Democrat $39.2M, Republican $28.8M total: D $706.5M, R $920.1M count: D 18, R 32

Ralph Chichester October 1, 2011 at 12:17 pm

I think the number is 26

Madge October 1, 2011 at 12:21 pm

Both sides of the aisle or the establishment are responsible for what has happened to this country. Pitting American against American, black against white, rich against poor, gay against straight, is one of the methods of destroying this country. The Tea Party is a group of nonviolent Americans who have the freedom to assemble and protest big government spending, including the unsustainable, chocked full of unrelated regulations, Obamacare. If government can control education, energy and the economy, then we no longer are what our founding fathers created for us. The Constitution has been usurped for decades. Look at Greece. That is what is coming here if we do not stop our government from spending. Government is not supposed to become multimillionaires because of they are in Congress, or hold any office. They are supposed to be public servants. Crony capitalism is killing this country. Anyone who gets too close to addressing this problem is called a racist, homophobe or crazy. Read Saul Alinsky's book "Rules for Radicals." It's on the NEA must read list. It's the establishment's play book. People need to stop playing into this notion and stand together in addressing this nation's problems before it is too late.

Tom Lewis October 1, 2011 at 12:25 pm

Shows how much you know about the tea party.

scott Intravia October 1, 2011 at 12:42 pm

Very nicely said Madge. I find it ironic that the obvious liberals commenting seem more hateful and disgusted than the "so called" trouble makers. If half of the kool aid drinkers would put their emotions aside and learn from facts and history perhaps there could be a good debate. I am glad to see and hear about this relevant news event in the Midwest. Oh and i am not a tea party fan. I like to make educated decisions based on fact and not driven from fear and emotion like most liberals.

andy skoundrianos October 1, 2011 at 02:11 pm

If you look at the roll call link Ms. Du Vernay posted 7 out of the 10 richest members in congress are DEMOCRATS.. When Ted Kennedy was alive his fortune was worth over 49.7 million dollars in 2009 I'm not against rich politicans , I'm against Democrats who are hypocrites.. Every one in Washington is out for the rich, you can not run a campaign without selling yourself to special interests. Campaign finance reform and term limits for everyone would help clean up Washington.

Mad Dad October 1, 2011 at 02:20 pm

I notice that all of you liberals and liberal media are always quick to blame big banks for the meltdown of the housing market and eventually the entire economy, but you seem to give your buddies Chris Dodd and Barney Frank a free pass. They are the ones who were running Fannie & Freddie and refused to make any reforms when numerous warnings about therir policies were issued. Ignoring these warnings eventually let to the collapse of the housing market and eventually Fannie & Freddie.

OakLawnGuy October 1, 2011 at 02:24 pm

If you really dig in, and take a look at the personal wealth of Illinois politicians over the years (and let's go back to the late '60s, at least). you will find it pretty equally dispersed between the major parties. Evidence shows that the haves are not mainly Republican, nor are they mainly Democratic. They are simply "haves".
As to Andy's contention, in simplistic terms, the last fiscally responsible high-ranking state officials we've had in the last 25 years were Republican. I think the Democrats who have put us in this hole did so not necessarily via public policy decisions, but greed and corruption amongst themselves and their favored cronies. "Government (is) not a career" sums up what should be our electorate policy so well.

David H October 1, 2011 at 03:31 pm

Why is it always the banks fault for giving bad loans. What about those Americans who overspend and buy things they know they can not afford. I don't necessarily think we should save banks, but I also think if you can't make your house payment you should be evicted before 18 months to by. And if you go bankrupt that the credit card companies you swindled should come collect what you charged. To make it even as people say, why should someone benefit from not paying their bills. I guess the banks must be the only one to blame here because all these people were forced to sign their names over a period of hours at a closing.

DJ Morgan October 1, 2011 at 04:52 pm

It is really time politicians started listening to us instead of the other way around.

Denise Du Vernay October 1, 2011 at 05:07 pm

"Pitting American against American, black against white, rich against poor, gay against straight, is one of the methods of destroying this country."
--So true, Madge. They create scapegoats and convinced us that fellow Americans are the "enemy," like what Walker did to teachers and firefighters in Wisconsin. Really! The idea that teachers, firefighters, and other union workers caused this mess! Absurd.

Denise Du Vernay October 1, 2011 at 05:11 pm

I only posted that because someone else brought up the idea that the richest members of Congress are Democrats, which is not true. But what's the difference? Poor people side with the rich, rich people side with the poor. There are good rich people (It's true! I've met some!) Does being rich or poor have any bearing on whether or not you think your taxes should help Wal-Mart put up stores in small towns or if your taxes should go for infrastructure, schools, and medical care for everyone, rich or poor? I can't imagine, no matter how rich I'd ever get, that those core values will change.

David Vancina October 1, 2011 at 05:26 pm

Ummm... Denise... even FDR understood that allowing civil servants (so called) to unionize for the purpose of negotiating wages was a death spiral. The voters in Wisconsin figured it out. Hopefully someday enough IL voters will too.

scott Intravia October 1, 2011 at 05:26 pm

Denise, Walker like many governors are finally standing up to the unions who have been doing a diservice for years. Read the facts of the results. No teachers laid off more money for raises etc. This is smart. Also guess who has been the most frequent visitor to the White House since Obama took office. Hmmmm. Look at the facts and follow the money dear. Respectfully. :)
http://washingtonexaminer.com/politics/2011/06/union-curbs-rescue-wisconsin-school-district

David Vancina October 1, 2011 at 05:44 pm

Liberal "values" are writing checks our economy cannot cash. Ms. Du Vernay puts up a false dichotomy when she suggests it's a choice between "help[ing] Wal-Mart" or "medical care for everyone". Who ever said government should do either?

Genvieve LaChappele October 1, 2011 at 08:50 pm

If the tea party is so racist as they media portrays, then why did they single-handedly vote Susanna Martinez, Marco Rubio, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott and Allen West into office? And why do they Hate John McCain and love Herman Cain? Because they love their messages of limited government and American exceptionalism.

Genvieve LaChappele October 1, 2011 at 09:23 pm

To take it a step further, the tea party will go after big spending establishment republicans before democrats! We tea partiers know that establishment republicans are just as much to blame as democrats are for our debt. Stick to building roads, firefighting, teaching, policing, and national defense with the taxpayer dollar! I will smile ear to ear paying my taxes if the government sticks to that!

Ed October 2, 2011 at 02:11 am

David H, the middle class pays FICA, something that can't be said for any income over $107k!

Ed October 2, 2011 at 02:22 am

Mad Dad, first know I'm not a member of either of the two major parties, but consider myself conservative, and consider myself mad like you. I am sick and tired of seeing one group attack the other, while ignoring what's in their own closet. So, I have to jump in and remind you at the end of the day, the meltdown was the doing of the financial sector not consumers. So it wasn't a party issue. Derivatives, over leveraging, blind/false ratings on financial products, etc, etc. People not able to pay their mortgages isn't what killed the financial sector in 2008, it was financial institutions not able to pay off their bad bets.
So let's talk about mortgages. Used to require a hefty down payment. Then they went to 20%. Then, you could put down less than 20% as long as you paid the lender's insurance premium (PMI) in case you defaulted. Then came along the 80/20, where you could put down less than 20%, sometimes as little as 0%, and you could avoid PMI thus putting a lot of risk on the banks. So all those "defaulted" mortgages that people like to claim caused the crisis, if only the banks didn't screw themselves with the 80/20, they would have had private mortgage insurance to cover them. And also don't forget. The original "tea party" was formed in response to the bailed out banks and at the two party system, and was sadly (yet shrewdly) hijacked by the republican party and the focus shifted drastically to primarily big government and the democratic party.

Ed October 2, 2011 at 02:32 am

Andy, I consider myself similarly aligned as you. But you need to relook at the richest people in congress. Kerry-D is #3 ($193m), Pelosi-D is #12 ($35m), #1 is McCaul-R ($294m), #2 is Issa-R ($220m). Of the top 20, 1/2 are republicans, 1/2 are democrats. Source http://www.rollcall.com/50richest/the-50-richest-members-of-congress-112th.html
Both parties are in it for their sponsors. They are not voting/acting in the best interest of their constituents. How can we compete with all of the perks and money that is thrown at them once they are in Washington? And why do they still goto Washington? With technology today, they should remain in their respective districts. I bet they would vote differently if they had constituents around them every day of the week. It would also make it harder for lobbyists to do their evil work. And I agree with you term limits is a good place to start, it's a GREAT place to start. Maybe full disclosure of ALL funds/perks/etc received by politicians? Maybe disallowing corporations and PACs/SuperPACs unlimited advertising funds to sling their mud?

Ed October 2, 2011 at 02:36 am

Denise, the idea of libertarianism isn't that we don't believe in government, it's that we believe it should be done at a local level. The federal government is far too inefficient and bloated. They are there to ensure we retain our individual rights as citizens, and to protect us from enemies both foreign and domestic. Last I checked, the sidewalks are paid for by local government, and most roads. Ever notice how roads change condition at "county lines"? :)

David H October 2, 2011 at 04:24 am

FICA is social security not income tax. and by the way the $107K people pay FICA. They just don't have to pay after the $107K. And Medicare does not stop at $107K. Those bad people over $107k get away with everything.

David H October 2, 2011 at 04:28 am

Agreed

Ed October 2, 2011 at 06:10 am

David H, I understand taxation all too well. Not sure what you are disputing with your statements. FICA is a tax which everyone pays, including the middle class, and I stipulated the $107k income limit. Not sure what you mean by bad people over $107k get away with everything, unless you are trying to be dramatic.

David H October 2, 2011 at 02:00 pm

To be clear Ed, you stated "David H, the middle class pays FICA, something that can't be said for any income over $107k!". To someone who does not KNOW the tax code, this sounds as if the people over $107K do not pay any FICA. I was just clarifying the situation not being dramatic.

Madge October 3, 2011 at 12:29 am

PS Unions are also part of the power grab and name calling. As a teacher myself, I am ashamed of the NEA, as well as, all unions whose LEADERS are riding and thriving on the backs of their members.