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For the past few weeks, many members of Congress attempted to hold public meetings to discuss health insurance reform proposals with their constituents. The Republican National Committee and the health insurance industry, and their paid agitators, have been destroying those meetings. This is just another example of the inadequacy of the Republican Party. Now I like a good debate as much as anyone. And I firmly believe in the right, and the value, and the power of a good public protest. But these incidents are none of those things. They are temper tantrums staged by a bunch of spoiled brats, organized and paid for by the corporations that will profit from the status quo. I don’t know why their parents didn’t teach them any manners.
AFL-CIO research found that from 2002 to 2006, health insurance companies’ profits rose 1,084 percent. And that’s during a time when more than eight million people lost their health insurance. Like all companies, their goal is to make a profit. They make profits by reducing costs. They reduce costs by preventing all of us from getting health care. And THAT is why they’re obstructing civilized public debate.
As usual, their primary weapon is the lie. Every public statement made by the GOP and the medical-insurance complex about health insurance reform is a lie. Yes, really. Specifically:
· The government will not control your health care. The government will not stand between you and your doctor. The health insurance companies stand between you and your doctor right now.
· There is no such thing as a “death panel”. The proposal will simply pay for your doctor’s time when you have a conversation about preparing a living will and other final directives. It will not control what those instructions will be.
· The public option is exactly that – an option. You can keep your doctor and your health insurance if you are satisfied with them. If not, then you have the choice to change. And that choice is yours, not the insurance company’s.
· There will be no change to veterans' health care.
· They moan and whine about “socialized medicine” and “government-run health care”. If you have Medicaid, Medicare, or Veterans health care, you have government-run health care now. Most people are very happy with it. So how’s it working out for you?
This debate is about more than the 47 million Americans who have no health insurance. It’s about all of us.
· If you’re afraid you’ll lose your health insurance if you become too sick, or lose your job, or change your job, it’s about you.
· If your parents’ insurance will soon stop covering you, it’s about you.
· If you own a small business and have had to lay off employees or reduce their coverage because of the health insurance cost, it’s about you.
· If you’ve been denied health coverage because of a pre-existing condition, or an expensive condition, it’s about you.
· If you have to choose between buying food and buying medicine, it’s about you.
Health insurance reform concerns all of us. We must all work to make it happen. And we cannot tolerate any more tantrums. Don’t assume that the problem will be magically fixed. Contact your senators and representatives today. Tell them you want a plan that includes President Obama’s three principles:
· reducing costs
· guaranteeing choice
· ensuring quality care for everyone.
Tell your friends. If you’re afraid of socialism, read my article We are all socialists.
Health care and health insurance are two different things, but they are connected. The Affordable Health Choices Act was introduced on July 14. Since then, 392,000 of our neighbors have lost their health insurance. That means that they have also lost their health care. Since then, 1,388 Americans have died because they couldn’t see a doctor.
We can design the system any way we want to. We can avoid the mistakes that other countries made. If, as the companies say, the public option won’t work, then why are they so afraid of it? Gee. I guess they really don’t believe in a free market economy. Do they?
For more information
· White House Office of Health Reform at www.healthreform.gov
· Pennsylvanians United for Single-Payer Health Care at www.healthcare4allpa.org
· National Coalition on Health Care at www.nchc.org
· AFL-CIO at www.aflcio.org
To read the entire text of the bill
• Go to www.thomas.gov. Enter HR 3200 in the search box.
To contact your legislators:
Comments
Tell 'em Pat!! And while we're at it, let's put everybody in Medicare -- young and old. I don't mind paying a few more dollars in taxes for that, so my uninsured younger brother doesn't call me every time he has a doctor's bill he can't pay. If you are lucky enough to have insurance, look at the statement from a hospital stay, and see how much the insurance company pays. Nobody without insurance can pay this. So they go without, and die, as you pointed out. Thanks again, Pat.
I tried to voice an opinion with my congressman by taking a poll on his website. First question was the only one on the page: Are you for or against health reform. I clicked on For, and that's as far as I could get. No other questions came up. It was over. I tried it again and clicked on Against, and up came the questions.
I handwrote a complaint which will probably be filed under "F" for "Fat chance anything will be done."
I wonder why people become cynical.
Finally some rational discourse. Good job.
First, how many town hall meetings have you personally attended? What was the atmosphere? Have you personally witnessed any irrational behavior OTHER than the examples prominently displayed by CNN, MSNBC, or the big 3? Have you read ANY PART of the health care reform package yourself, or simply believed what others have said about it? I attended such a meeting this week and saw no uncivil behavior. It is my assertion the liberal Democratic Propaganda Machine is using a few bad examples to label an entire group, and you have played right into their hands. This makes you more a part of the problem than the solution. I challenge you to first read some of the document, preferably part which are in dispute. Second, attend some of these meetings and see if the unruly behavior is as rampant as they say. Third, begin to think and speak for yourself. The DNC already has enough mockingbirds. Just something to think about.
WILL -
Yes, as a matter of fact I HAVE read the bill.
Have you?
And yes, everything that your handlers say is a lie.
Have you personally seen the Eiffel Tower, or the Great Wall of China, or the Mariannas Trench?
If not, then I guess they're not really there.
And what part of the word "option" do you people not understand?
I have also skimmed through the huge document suggested by Democrats and a very brief summary I found by the senate. And these are only suggested proposals. Why are people saying these are to be voted into laws??? Not there yet!
Enjoyed your article. A simpler explanation of what is being considered.
Thank you.
Do you have any idea how stupid this statement is:
"AFL-CIO research found that from 2002 to 2006, health insurance companies’ profits rose 1,084 percent. And that’s during a time when more than eight million people lost their health insurance.
Here is a lesson in percentages that you must not have been in class the day it was taught!
Year
2003 .4% net profit
2004 2.0 500%
2005 2.5 125%
2006 3.5 140%
2007 4.5 128%
2008 5.0 111%
Total 1,004% increase in profits over 5 years!!!
Do you understand?
Thanks Pat! Great article!
JIM
Do you have any idea how stupid you are?
1. I did not do the math. I reported on someone else's research.
2. You are comparing apples and oranges.
3. The AFL-CIO figures are for 2002 - 2006. Yours are 2003 - 2008. And you don't say where you got them.
4. And even if BOTH are correct, you apparently don't think it's a problem to tolerate such gouging of the public while people are dying.
It's too bad your parents didn't teach you to be a decent human being.
Pat,
You claim to be a fan and believer in the Constitution. You remember the Constitution don't you? The document that is the supreme law of the land? Ring a bell? Can you tell me where congress (I don't care about parties so don't start that path with me) or the president has the right or power to legislate this "option"? Also, Medicare, Medicaid, the VA, Amtrak, etc...are all broke (and broken) so quit citing them as examples of Govt success.
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