IRC log started Thu May 12 19:50:04 2005
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-:- Topic (#pashdown): changed by pashdown: Welcome to the chat. Please ask a question.
pashdown	Hello all
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pashdown	Welcome to the chat Dow
dow	gracias
pashdown	I spent some time this morning at the 4th Street Clinic seeing the remarkable work they do there.
pashdown	I think its a great example of public and private partnership in healthcare.
BAD	. hopefully they'll be able to secure more funding
pashdown	Yes, I think that programs like that should be encouraged by the government.
BAD	?did you see Hatch supporting stem cell research? AFTER he ran polling.
pashdown	I was told that $200M could fully fund all the homeless healthcare clinics around the country.
pashdown	Hatch has been a longtime proponent of stemcell research.  Its one area that I agree with him on.
BAD	. outstanding
pashdown	There is a lot of biotech interest in Utah
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pashdown	Just a clarification on procedure, the "." is not needed to preface a comment, it is just needed to "raise your hand" when there is active discussion going on.
BAD	sorry
pashdown	No problem at all
pashdown	BAD, you are new the chat?
pashdown	"to" the chat?
BAD	very new. Just been reading the logs up till now. I've been working nights
pashdown	Ah, where are you from?
BAD	Denver
pashdown	What interest do you have in this campaign?
BAD	I grew up in Utah, and have friends and family
BAD	and the DMCA
BAD	that's the interest
pashdown	I read an interesting work on copyright this week.  Let me see if I can dig up the URL.
BAD	thanks
pashdown	http://www.garfieldtech.com/copyright/
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dow	Pete, what can you do as senator to address the healthcare crisis in our country?  Single payer, kerry-style congressional insurance?
pashdown	Written by a group of students.
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pashdown	I think single-payer is a solution that will be a ways down the road.  The public needs more information about it.  I think what I would propose is private insurance coops with regulation to ease the transition.
BAD	.
pashdown	That is, businesses in a state should be allowed to pool resources to build an insurance entity that is non-profit, but publically regulated.
pashdown	Yes BAD?
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BAD	there was a lot of talk last year from the right about the healthinsurance savings account. I was on a junket that his up with Cannon in Nebraska. When I asked him "what about the unemployed" he ended the interview
BAD	have you looked into their plan, and if so, how do you feel about it?
pashdown	I think savings accounts for healthcare should be encouraged, but by no means can an average family save enough for something catastrophic.
pashdown	What I contribute to the insurance system as a small business owner is considerable.  About $13K a month for 50 people.
dow	Doesn't all of ERISA need to be overhauled?
pashdown	I would imagine that other businesses are the same.  I wouldn't have a problem with coop helping the uninsured as a side-mission if it was healthily funded.
pashdown	I am unfamiliar with ERISA Dow.
pashdown	BAD, I also don't know what happened with Bush's campaign plan for allowing small-businesses to pool insurance plans.
BAD	It vanished
Web399	Anyway, you'd still have the problem of the unemployed.
dow	ERISA=Employee Retirement and Income Security Act of (74?).  It is the federal law that regulates employer-provided health plans and pension plans.  I will prepare a brief if it is helpful.
pashdown	I don't think the transition to single-payer will happen overnight, but I believe that its the only way in the end to get 100% coverage.
pashdown	That would be helpful Dow.  One thing I don't think is right is the "part-time" loophole taken advantage of by major entities.
dow	You are right on the part time loophole.  My thought is that we need to re-think our reliance on employer-provided healthcare, and that going after ERISA and the trillions of $ in litigation it has engendered.
dow	And I think hatch was involved in its passage (maybe not)
Web399	What about the Kerry plan to allow people to buy into the govt health care plan?
pashdown	Seems reasonable to me.  We should be able to enjoy the same privileges as our elected officials.
Web399	It's also an existing structure, transition costs would be less than any kind of newly created employer pool, wouldn't they?
pashdown	Dow how do you think we can get away from employer-provided healthcare?
pashdown	Most likely.  I wonder though how well it could expand to handle the entire country.
pashdown	I also wonder what the benefits and premiums are for it.
Web399	Expansion shouldn't be too complicated.  It uses existing insurance companies.  Bens and prems aren't cheap, but they aren't prohibitive and could be subsidized.
pashdown	According to what I've read recently healthcare administration has gone up 2500% over the past ten years.
pashdown	Administration accounts for half of healthcare cost and much of that is dedicated to dispute resolution between doctors and insurance companies.
pashdown	I'd like to see a way out of that.
Web399	Yes.  Single payer is the way to go.  I don't want to change the subject if we're deep into it, but I'm wondering how you see your candidacy, how you'd use it to strengthen the Dem party here in Utah, whenever we're ready tochange the subject.
pashdown	The primary focus of my campaign is reaching out the rural voters.  I am really looking forward to seeing *all* of the state and not just staying in Salt Lake County.
dow	Employer-provided healthcare has been the model for 30 years.  The problem is that it is optional instead of being a FICA-style deduction from all paychecks.  You don't get an option to opt-out of social security, you shouldn't get the option of going without healthcare.
pashdown	I think simply being in touch and understanding rural Utah counts for a lot.
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dow	You are right about rural Utah.  You have to meet people.
pashdown	I think the national Democrats aren't going to turn their heads on this race until I get within striking distance in polls.
pashdown	I would imagine the state party, although supportive, is going to concentrate on local races in 2006.
dow	I think the ashdown tour would be a great way to fill up this summer's weekends and next summer's also.  Get a big bus, paint it the campaign colors and head out for the weekend.  Do a work party - show your volunteers know how to work for the community, then feed the people some good food.
pashdown	So I believe that strength can come by taking a different approach to politics than what has been the norm for the past century.
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pashdown	Dow that is a great idea.
dow	sign me up
pashdown	I think everyone likes food, regardless of party affiliation. ;-)
dow	and dems have the best food
pashdown	Now lets not have bias here.
dow	sorry
pashdown	heh
dow	Did you get a chance to meet the county chairs at the convention?  They would be the first to call for what projects will work for them and schedule.
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pashdown	I met the Cache county people at the state convention.  I'll most likely be making calls in the next month.
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Web399	There must be a fair number of people in the hinterlands here who are really looking for someone to articulate the frustrations they're feeling about Democratic timidity in D.C.  Is that something you are interested in addressing?
dow	I know Clarity got to know some chairs on the campaign trail - maybe she has a hookup?
pashdown	I don't want to be a firebrand for the Democratic party.  I'd rather be know for being in touch locally and representing those concerns on a national basis.
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pashdown	That said, I don't understand why RealID was lightly debated, if at all.
Web399	Representing local concerns on a national basis.  Could you give me an idea what that would be?
pashdown	I think infrastructure (roads, internet) in the rural areas is something that is not greatly attended to in DC.
dow	What about alternative energy, biodiesel, real jobs without the environmental impacts?
pashdown	I think a lot of rural revitalization can come through expansion of internet and fast alternative transportation.
xnavman	Just stopping in for a second. Pete, I signed up with xmission way back when you first started it I think in 93 or 94. I've always admired how you've stood up for free speech! I wish you the best with your political ambitions. You need someone like you badly here in Utah.
pashdown	Thank you.
pashdown	Dow, I think biodiesel would also be excellent in farm revitalization.  I don't understand why it is barely considered in our energy policy
pashdown	I also believe the country should get behind fusion research instead of more fission reactors.
BAD	Pete, your "firebrand" comment seems one of more rational things I've read today.
Web399	So, you're in favor of nuclear power?
pashdown	On the fusion side of things.
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pashdown	Fission, I haven't settled on.  Although pebble-bed is promising, I think the waste issue is too big to be hurdled.
pashdown	I understand though that coal-fired plants put out more radioactivity than any fission plant does.
pashdown	Its just not concentrated.
Web902	are you speaking of ethanol?
pashdown	In regards to biodiesel?
Web902	yes
dow	Biodiesel is playing really well with the farmers I have spoken to down south and up north.  It is a huge differentiator for you with OH going along with the oil-laden energy bill.
pashdown	Ethanol and biodiesel, yes.  I also understand there is a machine now that can turn animal waste into oil.
pashdown	ie: crude oil
Web902	isn't there a net loss in the energy produce when you consider the time and enrgy used to produce bio fuels?
dow	Depends on the harvest method
Web902	expand
pashdown	I would like to see how it compares to boating it overseas.
dow	Methane is a byproduct of some biodiesel and can be used in the tractors.
BAD	When you consider that Bush's wammy for an energy policy was to mine more coal, doesn't just about anything seem far more rational?
Web902	how would one package methane or even harvest it
dow	There is also the sonoran desert algae production plan.  The appollo project is a good site for this:  http://www.apolloalliance.org/
BAD	- hey, I'm out of here, thanks for having me, 9 news is on. Good luck, Mr. Ashdown.
pashdown	Thanks for your time.
BAD	thank you
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dow	Methane extractors have been around for more than 50 years.  Bottle it up like natural gas.
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Web399	It is difficult not to sound blunt in this format and that's not my intention, and I know we're getting pretty technical here, but when it's appropriate, could you give a quick idea about how you would see your candidacy as exciting Dems and getting them to organize and work the streets/neighborhoods?
pashdown	I think some of the other "costs" of mideast oil production should be weighed against biodiesel too.
Clarity	install
Clarity	sorry
pashdown	399, making Dems realize that I am viable and committed to this is the primary struggle.
pashdown	I didn't want to see a token candidate thrown out at convention next year.  I wanted to see someone work for this job.
pashdown	Before I declared in March, I did talk to a number of Democrats trying to find out if anyone was interested, and it looked like it wasn't going to happen unless I did it.
pashdown	As far as organizing, much of that will come through my ability to use the Internet.  I think meeting people is what will encourage them to work, then I'll network through the "network".
Web399	I have the feeling that Dems aren't going to get excited about anyone they perceive as a "Republican-lite" candidate.  Many of us in Matheson's district are pretty regularly disappointed by many of his positions.  Given that you're a long shot anyway, if you clearly stand for traditional Democratic values, that could excite and ignite grassroots efforts.
pashdown	There also has to be a considerable amount of cooperation from people I may never meet, especially on the national blogger level.  I'm still trying to crack that puzzle of making bloggers and national techies realize that I am one who is committed to digital freedom and their interests on the Internet.
pashdown	399, I agree with you.  Although I am a businessman, I believe I have run my business in a socially ethical manner not only for my employees, but my customers.
pashdown	I'm trying to do the same as a politician.
dow	doing a pretty darn good job so far
pashdown	Nevertheless, a couple of articles and a few burps on dailykos.net isn't going to get me far.
Web399	Sounds good.  I hope I don't come across as too forward or inquisitive.  I don't know a thing about you at this point.  I do want to see the Dem party grow in Utah and believe a strong Progressive message is the only thing that's gonna make that happen.
pashdown	That is quite alright, that is what I wanted these chats to be fore.
pashdown	for.
Web399	Thanks.
dow	Idea for national media -  Pete hosts a leadership forum next year with all the online rights and FOSS groups -- undo the damage done to FOSS by SCO, whack back the patriot act, open a center for public software.  Pete is already a tech leader, leverage that into national initiatives and attention.
pashdown	That is another good idea Dow.
dow	Oh, and rationalize IP law
dow	OH is weak in all those areas
Web399	I don't know the state dynamics.  I live in Moab, volunteered in Phoenix for the Kerry campaign.  All the energy I saw and see was/is from the progressive or liberal quarter.  A little hard for me to see much to be tapped anywhere else.
pashdown	Maybe inside the Democratic party, but realize that this race can't be won with Democrats alone.
pashdown	I've tried to take an unbiased approach in my business, and I realize that being unbiased doesn't translate well to politics, but I hope I can at least try to understand both sides of the issues.
pashdown	Or I should say "all" sides of the issues.  What I think is wrong with many politicians is that they listen to whoever is lobbying them the most.
pashdown	In that case the minority interests fall under foot.
Web399	I believe I understand and agree but, once you consider all sides, what will  a)woo away voters now more or less happy with Bush and b) energize them into hitting the bricks - without losing the energy
Web399	energy provided now by progressives, the only ones I've seen inthe streets.
pashdown	I think that spending time with them and listening to their concerns counts for a lot.  I personally feel that the letters I've written to my senators and congressmen fall by the wayside and are merely counted as an informal poll, to be responded to with a form letter.
Web399	I know that feeling.  Really, thanks for the interchange, I appreciate it.  I've got to hit some other chores.  I'll be back, I hope, another time.
pashdown	Ok, thanks for your time.
Web399	'Bye.
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pashdown	Any other questions?  If not, I've got to put kids to bed soon.
dow	Will all your staff have to wear cowboy boots?
pashdown	Ha, only if they want to.
dow	thanks pete
pashdown	My dad used to say that cowboy boots originated in Spain because if you had a horse you didn't need proper walking shoes.
pashdown	Ok, thanks to everyone who listened and participated.
pashdown	Night all.
IRC log ended Thu May 12 21:07:08 2005

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