In today's Chicago Tribune, columnist Eric Zorn reports how one Democratic congressman got his Republican colleagues to admit something they've been trying desperately to hide... that Medicare is a hugely successful government-run healthcare plan. http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2009/08/gop-doesnt-dare-challenge-this-government-health-care.html)
Zorn writes: "As the House Energy and Commerce Committee was marking up health-care reform legislation, the New York Democrat offered up an amendment to abolish Medicare.
"His point? Not to get rid of the program that provides insurance for America's seniors on the 44th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson's signing of the Medicare Act of 1965, as he explained in his speech. But "to clarify one of the great, enduring mysteries." 'Where do "my Republican friends stand on the issue of government-run health-care?' "
"Members of the GOP do carry on quite a bit about how awful it is, he observed, quoting several of them arguing that publicly funded health plans such as those now being proposed will lead to inefficiencies, rationing and the breaking of the doctor-patient bond.
"But Medicare -- along with comprehensive coverage for active military, veterans and American Indians -- " 'is not only government-run health care, but it's remarkably efficient,' " Weiner said. Imperfect in some ways, of course, but "a pretty darn good model of what a public plan [covering everyone] might look like."
"His voice moist with sarcasm, Weiner addressed Republicans on the committee: "This is your opportunity . . . to eliminate the Medicare Act. Once and for all, stamp out the scourge of public, government-run, government-administered, single-payer health care. This is your chance. . . . I dare ya. I double dare ya. Vote 'yes' on this and then go home and explain to your constituents, how you're so philosophically opposed to publicly funded health care that you voted to eliminate Medicare." (Read or watch his whole five-minute speech here)"
"Lacking a triple-dog dare, the Republicans on the committee -- along with the Democrats -- unanimously voted no on Weiner's amendment."
Comments
You've got to be kidding.
The only "reform" needed for healthcare (or anything else) is to get the government OUT of it.
Government, and ever more government is NOT the solution... it is the problem!
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