Saturday, October 31, 2009

Health Care Reform: Pelosi Style?

My friend Joe has posted an excellent, succinct article on the newly revealed House Health Care Reform bill. He has boiled it down to the most salient points of concern; and believe me, we ALL should be concerned.

Now, Joe is a smart fella. He does his research & doesn't post based on knee-jerk emotion, but on cool, level-headed reason. Any time you visit his blog, you can depend on quality, thoughtful writing, even if you're on the 'other side' of an issue. This time is no exception.

PLEASE go visit this post. You won't be disappointed.

~~~

19 comments:

Heli gunner Tom said...

Europe is already lost. America is usually a few years later,and we are well on our way to Socialism and about to implode $$$ economically, etc, from Greed and Corruption.

'God made a Covenant with ISRAEL, not America.'

Take care,
Tom S
Disabled Vietnam Veteran: 68-70
Jesus is Lord

Jim said...

Your friend Joe has written an inaccurate and misleading article that not surprisingly is designed to feed you the crap that you continuously hunger for.

Joe quotes a section of the bill supposedly "proving" that bill will among other things reduce benefits and establish waiting lists.

What he doesn't say is that this section pertains only to a temporary high-risk pool program that will exist ONLY from January 1, 2010 until the time that the Health Insurance Exchange is established.

By the way, "including reducing benefits, increasing premiums, or establishing waiting lists." You don't think all these things don't occur in the private insurance system TODAY?

"Any time you visit his blog, you can depend on quality, thoughtful writing"

Um, not so much.

Here's more:

"1. Speaker Pelosi's 1,990- page bill is going to raise the cost of health insurance for most American families. President BO said IT WOULD NOT, but he lied (as usual)...IT WILL."

Jo can't prove that, only pull it out of his butt. And he certainly can't prove that the bill will raise cost more than the status quo would.

"2. The "Public Option" is there to compete with private insurance companies. Insurance companies can compete with other private sector insurance companies, but there is no way they can compete with the government. This bill will drive every private health insurance company out of business."

Can't prove that either. Ask FedEx and UPS.

"3. This bill is nothing less than a complete government takeover of our health care system."

Bull crap. There are rules about insurance companies not denying coverage. There are rules about caps of total coverage. There is a public option that will actually only cover a small portion of the population. To say it's a complete takeover is utter nonsense.

"5. This bill will add to the deficit. President BO said IT WOULD NOT, but he lied (as usual)...IT WILL!"

Nope. The CBO says the bill will reduce the deficit in the first 10 years by $104B, and continue to reduce the deficit in the second decade. Joe is lying again.

"6. There are $500 million worth of Medicare cuts over the next 10 years. The most significant is the $162 billion cut to Medicare Advantage. According to the Congressional Budget Office, about 80 percent of Medicare enrollees would lose their coverage under this proposal."

According to the Boston Globe "The cuts would fall on the government reimbursement rates for a broad variety of providers such as hospitals and home health agencies, which could probably absorb them without affecting the services elderly Americans receive, many specialists said in interviews.

Though some industry groups complain the spending reductions are too severe, adjustments could be made if problems arose because they would be phased in gradually. Most are aimed at making the programs more efficient.

“We think the proposals actually will improve access and quality,’’ John Rother, a leading lobbyist for the AARP"

"If you liberals think you're getting free health care out of this..."

There are no liberals who think they are getting free health care out of this. Only the extremely ignorant or misinformed or liars like Joe think say this. Liberals understand that health care reform is essential to financial future of our country and the well-being of its citizens.

Joe probably does too but he fears that his political enemies may accomplish it and that would make him look bad. But he cares more about that than he does about America's future.

Anonymous said...

Both Obama and Pelosi, Reid and those within his party rather than accepting the fact that the American people are opposing this blatant attempt to take over one fifth of our economy by the government, are actually orchestrating a spin campaign designed to discredit THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. Why ? Because these arrogant liberal elitists cannot accept that not only do they NOT speak for the people but the people DO NOT want control of our lives and our pocket books by a liberal socialist government of their creation. One has to go no further than some of these liberal blogs who we all know so well and see the arrogance that is dripping from their brainwashed mouths. Their ignorance in thinking that the American people are stupid enough to just sit back and let them continue this AND take over health care forcing it down our throats without freedom loving Americans rising against this tyranny will also be their ultimate undoing in 2010.

Susannah said...

Tom~ Great to see you here. I hold the same fear about our future as you. Keep speaking up, friend.

God's covenant is, indeed, with Israel - which is why we had better stick by her side, as we have heretofore. BHO's tone on Israel is very, very dangerous.

Finally, Jesus is absolutely Lord! No government or kingdom holds any hope or fear stronger than that one fact. Thank you for bringing that into these comments.

Jim~ I emphatically stand by my assessment of Joe & his presentation of facts. I read everything on his blog, & have yet to find him manipulating or 'lying' about anything. Further, he cares more about the true foundation of this country than anyone I've ever read over on the 'other side.' Your final statement just doesn't stick.

"To say it's a complete takeover is utter nonsense."

You are believing only what you wish, Jim, not considering the history of government involvement in 'business,' the current context, climate of this administration & its stated goals (wealth redistribution, etc.).

If you actually think BHO is NOT trying to usurp "over one fifth of our economy" (as our friend RisR says) so that they re-distribute its wealth - toward the fruition of his socialist utopian dream, a la Chavez, etc. - you are indeed willfully blinding yourself, my friend. I am sorry about that. Nothing I can say will change your mind.

I will continue to post here & you're welcome to read, comment, challenge. My hope & prayer is that America is not, as Tom said, following the path of Europe. If so, we are in HUGH trouble.

Heaven help us.

Susannah said...

RisR~ Excellent comment.
"orchestrating a spin campaign designed to discredit THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. Why ?"

Because they know we're used to 'rolling over' & not fighting for ourselves. They figure if they can just beat us down psychologically, they can take what they want. They aren't counting on resistance, b/c we're used to being 'fat, happy & complacent.'

I'm not complacent anymore...are you? Keep up the good work, sweet girl!!

Jim said...

"I emphatically stand by my assessment of Joe & his presentation of facts."

I don't know about the rest of his blog, but this post has few if any facts, just rambling anti-healthcare reform talking points that can't be proved.

Call 'em facts if you like.

"its stated goals (wealth redistribution)"

Stated where? Only in anti-Obama talking points. We've had a progressive income tax system for years. Under your definition, that would be income redistribution. That said, instead of repeating this tired meme, show us the quote that says Obama goal is "income redistribution".

Here are some quotes for you from the Washington Post.

Susannah said...

Re: stated goal of Wealth Redistribution ---

"When you spread the wealth around, everybody's better off..."

(BHO to Joe the Plummer, October 2008)

"We've had a progressive income tax system for years."

Yes, we have.

"Under your definition, that would be income redistribution."

Yes it is.
And it's not right. Flat Tax is worth revisiting.

Jim said...

"When you spread the wealth around, everybody's better off..."

That can mean "socialism" if you hate the President. Or it can mean that if lower income people have jobs, better jobs, or higher paying jobs and more opportunities, they'll have more purchasing power and will purchase more goods and services which will further stimulate the economy and everyone will benefit.

Susannah said...

Jim~ Your interpretation here is waaaaaay stretching the context of this quote. Our friend, Joe W.(you know, the Plummer), had asked Candidate BHO why he was willing to take Joe's hard earned $$ through confiscatory taxation & give it to somebody who hadn't worked for it (or some such).

That was the context, & we all know that. (It's why Joe went on the campaign circuits - b/c BHO had spilled the beans on his own very well-kept socialist secret.)

Your mis-interpretation of BHO's answer is something akin to the Reaganesque "a rising tide lifts all boats" - which I understand to be a liberal Democrat's worst nightmare. No?

Is there no end to the lengths you'll go to defend this guy, Jim? Even to the point that he has you twisting your own political philosophy into conservative ideals just so BHO can 'seem' correct?

I didn't figure you for a pretzel, Jim.

Anonymous said...

Susannah said...

RisR~ Excellent comment.
"orchestrating a spin campaign designed to discredit THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. Why ?"

Because they know we're used to 'rolling over' & not fighting for ourselves. They figure if they can just beat us down psychologically, they can take what they want. They aren't counting on resistance, b/c we're used to being 'fat, happy & complacent.'

I'm not complacent anymore...are you? Keep up the good work, sweet girl!!
----------------------------------
Thank you for the kind words Suz..complacent? Me, it will take a lot more than a handful of Idiotic Libs to make me complacent.

Susannah said...

RisR~ I was actually referring to the 'collective' WE when I made the reference to complacency...you know, 'silent majority' & all that. We're used to things going okay, even when we're silent. WE cannot be silent anymore.

As for you & me? I don't think we've ever fit into the 'silent' part of that majority! Do you? ;)

BetteJo said...

I haven't gotten to Joe's post yet, I took most of the weekend off - haven't watched any news, etc. But from everything I've seen - Joe is a stand-up guy and isn't going to "lie" about anything.

If liberals cannot see what is really happening in this country, and are willing to lay down and let Reid, Pelosi, and Obama tell them what's good for them, that's just sad.

As a conservative - I am not able to do that. I will continue to fight this administration and it's radical agenda until we can vote them all out of office.

Jim said...

"Is there no end to the lengths you'll go to defend this guy, Jim?"

Is there no end to the lengths you'll go to smear this guy, Susannah?

Susannah said...

BetteJo~ It's nice to take a few days off from this stuff every once in a while. Glad you're back, though. And you're right, Joe is certainly a stand-up guy.

As for BHO, "I will continue to fight this administration and it's radical agenda until we can vote them all out of office."
Amen, sister! My kinda gal, as usual!

Jim~ "Is there no end to the lengths you'll go to smear this guy, Susannah?"

Oh boy...
Jim, you've been to other right-wing-ish blogs, I'm sure. Surely you've seen other blogs who are FAR better at smearing BHO than I am.

When you lift a direct quote "When you spread the wealth around, everybody's better off," use it in the context in which it was said, and interpret it to mean EXACTLY what was intended by the speaker, that's called ELUCIDATING, not smearing.

Interesting, you ignored my 'elucidating' your reference to Reaganesque thought...

Jim said...

"Jim, you've been to other right-wing-ish blogs, I'm sure. Surely you've seen other blogs who are FAR better at smearing BHO than I am."

No, actually, of the 5 private blogs of this sort that I regularly read, you pretty much keep up with the pack.

Susannah said...

Jim, dear~ Not much I can say to that...We have one of those "When did you stop beating your wife?" moments, don't we?

Maybe I can spin this right:
I'm glad to be among the 5 conservative blogs you read, though you clearly don't like what I have to say. You'll note that I'm not always about politics. So, maybe (just maybe) there's more here than just that drawing you back...?

Compliment accepted; thank you!

;)

Tapline said...

Susannah, I have read many of your posts and you have a way with words...Great Blog keep plugging...stay well...

Anonymous said...

Maybe some of these demcraps have discovered that if they lose their seat after voting for this, they and their families lose their Golden Umbrella health plan and are stuck with the socialized medical plan they want the rest of us to suffer with.
Great post Suz..

dmarks said...

Jim said: "What he doesn't say is that this section pertains only to a temporary high-risk pool"

Since when is anything "temporary" in a government proposal really temporary?

"Can't prove that either. Ask FedEx and UPS."

FexEx and UPS are banned from doing regular mail service, so they don't really exist in that section. A great example of government controlling an industry and banning competition.

""3. This bill is nothing less than a complete government takeover of our health care system."

That is completely true, not "bullcrap". The public option is a Trojan horse for a government monopoly (single payer).

There are no liberals who think they are getting free health care out of this."

Then these liberals are fools. This is bill is all about expanding the idea of free healthcare for the needy and disabled into a program of free healthcare for the rich and middle class. People who can afford it.

Joe has the facts on his side.

---------

We should realize that the reason the Dems are so much behind it is backing from union thugs. Follow the money. The SEIU has diverted millions dollars in money stolen from workers to go to lobby and campaign for this.

Why? If there is a new healthcare bureacracy, it will be stuffed with new workers who will be forced to join the unions (such as SEIU) against their will.

If a simple workers rights provision were added to the bill (proclaiming that each government worker would have a choice of whether or not to give any dues to a union), Dem support would vanish. It's all about robbing worker,s not healthcare.