Be Quiet! We’re Watching Theatre of The Absurd

Robert: Thanks for your comments. For the record, I downloaded the Bill (HR3200) and spent several hours reviewing the language in the more controversial sections. Since it is obvious that facts won't change your opinions, let me ask you three questions. If you add millions of participants to an already over burdened health care system but do not expand the infrastructure (e.g. hospitals and supply of doctors) how do you avoid more extreme rationing? Second, if, and this is a big if, our leaders were serious about health care reform, why wouldn't they include provisions for tort reform since defensive medicine is a significant cost driver in health care? Third, when you look at the Post Office, or the fact that Social Security is going broke, or that Medicaid is one massive unfunded entitlement program, can you tell me why you or anyone else should have any confidence in the ability of our government to take over and run 1/6th of our economy? After all, the President himself noted that the Post Office has huge problems. Why don't we let them figure out how to deliver letters on a breakeven basis, before we turn over the keys to our health care system. Hope you feel better.

Robert: Thanks for your comments. For the record, I downloaded the Bill (HR3200) and spent several hours reviewing the language in the more controversial sections. Since it is obvious that facts won't change your opinions, let me ask you three questions. If you add millions of participants to an already over burdened health care system but do not expand the infrastructure (e.g. hospitals and supply of doctors) how do you avoid more extreme rationing? Second, if, and this is a big if, our leaders were serious about health care reform, why wouldn't they include provisions for tort reform since defensive medicine is a significant cost driver in health care? Third, when you look at the Post Office, or the fact that Social Security is going broke, or that Medicaid is one massive unfunded entitlement program, can you tell me why you or anyone else should have any confidence in the ability of our government to take over and run 1/6th of our economy? After all, the President himself noted that the Post Office has huge problems. Why don't we let them figure out how to deliver letters on a breakeven basis, before we turn over the keys to our health care system. After you answer those three questions, then perhaps you can take a stab at why taxpayers should be funding elective abortions (before you attack me on this point refer to the Capps Amendment)? Hope you feel better.

You are wrong. You have not read any part of the bill. I was watching CSPAN when they agreed to the ammendment for living wills and counseling and it was introduced by a republican. The ammendment only establishes legislation to handle counseling for living wills, which is something we should all have anyway. For over a decade the hospitals have offered this counseling and the forms to put your life choices together before they put you under. Most people just blow it off and leave the survivor to make the choice. So there is no kervorkian deal here. With regard to rationing. Have you used your insurance lately? Do you know how badly hospitals ripoff the insurance companies. A week ago I did not realize it but I had a bad anxiety attack. The ER went right for all the heart treatments and tests and 24 hours later told me nothing was wrong with my heart. I checked myself out and got away from those idiots. They never did give me anything to calm me down. If I had been counseled by a doctor he may have picked up on the anxiety thing and just given me a tranquilizer and sent me home. Instead they scored thousands of dollars in testing and got their 10000 dollar night by dumping me in a room. Out of over 24 hours I spent less than 10 min with a doctor and the underpaid staff acted like I was a bother. You need to use your insurance and visit a hospital where all they do is blame the insurance companies for not allowing them to do every expensive test they can think up. You are just parroting mainstream media. Get really sick once and then tell me how you feel about our wonderful free market health care system. The people who are sick and use thier insurance and have to fight over every claim and pay $40.00 copays for a 4 min doctor visit welcome cheaper premiums and the peace of mind that their insurance cannot be dropped if the payment is 2 seconds late. Read the bill. I will bet that you have never read an insurance policy.

What makes me the most upset, is that our "Legislative Leaders" don't see the issue about: of course, I'm not reading the bill. They haven't even thought about how ludicrous they sound, when they say that outloud. Scary isn't it that THESE people are supposed to be representing "The People's" best interest? Well, I am one of "The People" and I object.

A very good Doctor friend of mine has read the bill and has offered these addition obamanations that HR 3200 would mandate: Pg.425 every medicare patient MUST agree to "end-of-life counseling" every five years. The suggested "choices" include assisted suicide and euthanasia. Pg.29 specifies a $5,000 annual deductible for an individual, $10,000 for a family (how does this compare with what you now have?) Pg.30 a government committee will decide what treatments and benefits you get. And there is NO appeals process as currently with private insurance plans. Pg.42 the Obama-appointed czar "Health Choices Commissioner" will decide health benefits for you. You will have no choice. None. Pg.50 all non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with free healthcare services paid for by - you guessed it 'we the people'. You think we have an illegal immigrant problem now - just wait till word gets out on this. Pg.59 the federal government will have direct, real-time access to all individual bank accounts for electronic funds transfer. Pg.170 non-resident aliens are exempt from individual taxes (Americans will pay for them.) I read over this, and I think that is what the cryptic language means. Pg.195 officers and employees of Government Healthcare Bureaucracy will have access to ALL American financial and personal records. And last but certainly not least - -abortions would be freely available and paid for by the Government (wait no - we the people.) HR 3200 will create an abortion clinic mandate. It will require plans that use a provider network to ensure the “adequacy of such network” so enrollees have access to the services covered. Once abortion becomes a federally mandated “essential benefit,” networks will need to take steps, including establishing new abortion sites in the service.

For Mike or others who choose to get the Wahsington Post's view on this matter, please check out this link: WWW.WASHINGTONPOST.COM/WP-DYN/CONTENT/ARTICLE/2009/08/07/AR2009080703043.HTML It appears that anyone who oppposes this legislation is immediately grouped with Rush Limbaugh. Certainly, the Washington Post would be at the opposite end of the spectrum. I happen to agree with their position on the end of life issue.

Thanks for your thoughtful response. I also read the info posted at the link. Unfortunately, when you read HR3200 (pages 425-430)you will see that this is the first time that it has been explicitly spelled out in Federal legislation. Coupled with the comments/thoughts of other thought leaders such as Tom Daschle or Ezekiel Emanuel, a noted bioethicist, who is advising the Obama administration on health care reform,there are those who are concerned that in an environment where rationing is a fact of life, those who have lived a "full life" will be on the short end of the stick. I appreciate your input.

In 2003, under G.W. Bush, the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality published a report recommending Advance Care Planning, with detailed guidelines for practitioners. Nobody called that euthanasia. Advance Care Planning is legal in almost every state; the bill in question merely allows health care providers to be paid by Medicare for counseling patients on this matter, should the patient request this service - it would not be mandatory. See: notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/08/07/obama-wants-to-kill-your-grandma/