Health Care

Okay, I'll dive into the health care issue.

And here's the website to report me, since I disagree with President Obama on his health care proposal: flag@whitehouse.gov

First of all, it's very difficult to know where to start--there are five different proposals for health care reform, all hundreds of pages long. When President Obama states that there are misconceptions about his health care ideas, which bill is he referring to?

Next, please go to http://money.cnn.com/2009/07/24/news/economy/health_care_reform_obama.fortune/

for a summary of problems with the health care proposals. Also, take a look at this article by Senator Coburn from Oklahoma on 10 Questions for your elected representative: http://article.nationalreview.com/q=ZDM5NDJkMDA2ODJlNmMxY2VhYmI2NGJhZGEwZGFlNjU=

My take on health care?

1. There are problems with the current health care system.
2. There are several ways to improve health care in America. But government take-over of our health care system IS NOT THE ANSWER! See Number 5.

3. The current health care proposals are abominable:

~~The government will mandate what all, even private, health care plans will cover. This can include everything from ear piercing to the kitchen sink, if that is what the government decides (and whoever lobbies the hardest). States that have legislated this kind of coverage have seen medical insurance skyrocket. (DUH!)

And PS, abortion IS covered by the plans proposed thus far.

~~You will be forced out your private insurance plan, within 5 years

~~You will not be able to choose your doctor. See above.

~~Illegal aliens will effectively have access to medical insurance, paid for by American citizens. Democrats in the House Way & Means Committee voted down an amendment proposed by Rep. Heller R-Nevada to prevent illegal aliens from participating in the government proposed health care plan. What's more, there is no method eludidated in the House or Senate health care plans to prevent illegal aliens from obtaining government health care.

~~There will be rationing of health care. The stimulus package (possibly the part of the bill that the Congress folks didn't read) has already established a cost-effectiveness board. And proposals to reduce Medicare spending include paying for fewer services to patients--that's less care, my fellow citizens. And one way Congress is proposing to reduce the cost of health care is to expand Medicaid. Why is Medicaid cheaper? There's less access to services, as well as reduced reimbursements to provideers. Face it, the only way to reduce health care costs is, basically, to reduce health care.

~~And there is a lot of stuff about end-of-life issues in these bills. The bill mandates discussion of these issues at the first Medicare exam--and pays the doctor to do so--and supplies the script (about end of life directives, living wills, and hospice, etc). Democrats insist this little talk will be purely voluntary. My goodness, it doesn't sound so voluntary.

4. The figures of 47 million people who are without health care coverage are skewed (I hate to say "lying"). If you take out illegal aliens (who are not citizens) and those who do not want health insurance (for whatever reason), you get about 10 million people, give or take a bit.

The federal government could subsidize private health coverage for those folks for a pittance compared to the proposed health care plans.

5. Medicare and Social Security, run by our federal government, will be bankrupt in a few short years.

I submit that our elected representatives have done a lousy job thus far; do you trust them with more programs?

What can you do?

1. Read the above articles to have some basis for discussion.

2. Write your Representative and Senators!

3. Go to any town hall meetings.

4. If your congresspeople do NOT support government-mandated healthcare, write them of your support. Go to their town hall meeting and support them. Consider putting together a petition of like-minded people and sending it to show your support of their position in opposing the proposed health care reforms.