The Republicans Respond

Only hours after President Barack Obama signed one of the most sweeping pieces of health care legislation in American history, U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint filed a bill to repeal the controversial new law.

On Tuesday, DeMint introduced a bill to reverse the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed into law the same by Obama.

DeMint blasted the $1.2 trillion law for imposing an unconstitutional federal mandate and said it will increase the federal debt and impose new taxes.

“All of this was done in the face of overwhelming public opposition and bipartisan opposition in Congress,” DeMint wrote in a USA Today guest editorial. “This process has been an insult to our democracy.” Source

Are Republicans really this insane?

If it’s not already apparent to just about everyone, Republicans have responded to the passage of the bill with fighting words. The kiddie gloves have been removed and an all out brawl is on the horizon.

In one corner we have “Mormon Mitt” Romney, the GOP challenger who is poised to run against Obama in the 2012 Presidential election. He’s calling for the repeal of the heath reform law by calling it a “historic usurpation of the legislative process.”

Yes, folks, the same asshole we haven’t heard a peep out of during most of the health care debates decides that now is the time to speak up. Perhaps it’s because he is the former governor of Massachusetts who mandated universal health care to all MA residents at the risk of a tax penalty. This mandate is similar to one implemented by Democracts and Republicans while crafting the health care law.

In recent days, former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) has tried to simultaneously tear down President Obama’s proposals to reform healthcare, while defending his own legacy of reforming healthcare in Massachusetts. Romney’s health plan includes an expansion of Medicaid using $385 millionin annual Federal money, as well as an individual mandate and a sliding scale of subsidies. Today, 98% of Bay State residents have quality, highly regulated coverage. Defending his plan last night, Romney told Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren that the only way the Massachusetts “system can work” is by having an individual mandate.

Romney’s got balls like Sarah Palin, i.e., he has none, but that doesn’t stop him from pretending that he does. He’s trying to take the leadership role way late in the game with no coherent vision, no concrete philosophy and no political ideological mettle with which to lead his party any damn where. Basically, he’s a spineless hypocrite with neither principle nor substance. I’m not sure how he expects to be taken seriously in 2012. He’s given his opponents all the ammunition they need to stick a fork in him if he makes it that far.

In the other corner we have the “demented” Senator Jim Demint, whose name is surely as misspelled as his priorities.  He’s the one that introduced legislation to repeal Health Care shortly after the bill was signed into law. The appeal has been co-sponsored by 12 Republicans leaders and aims to fully repeal while replacing the law with their own version. These are the same politicians that turned down bipartisan cooperation long ago by vowing to vote no, then making good on that promise by voting no on all of the changes they (Republicans) lobbied to have included in the final version. 

They didn’t get the memo which clearly states that they are no longer the majority party and presently retain very little power in Congress. Not only does John McCain need constant reminding of his disastrous loss, the remaining members of his distinguished party of dingbats need them as well.

Demint had this to say in 2009:

“If we’re able to stop Obama on this it will be his Waterloo. It will break him,”- Sen. Jim Demint

His own state of South Carolina sees 670 people lose health coverage every week, according to data gathered by Families USA, yet he’s more concerned with ensuring the president’s failure than ensuring that all of the people in his state have health insurance. He isn’t just a douche-bag, he’s a dangerously demented one.

For starters, the bill is constitutional. Secondly, the majority of Americans understand that health care reform needed to be addressed by Congress, without further delay. This bill threatens neither our freedoms nor our prospective prosperity, unless we happen to own stock in the pharmaceutical industry. Abortions will not be funded, although Viagra and Cialis will still be covered, as should abortion. 

If Senator DeMint is truly worried about the Constitution then he should draft legislation that affect laws that are actually unconstitutional, such corporations being granted personhood status, since those matters resonate so strongly with him and his cronies.

The repeal will prove to be nothing more than a time waste, further displaying that Republicans have nothing of substance to bring to the table. If not for the health bill I do believe they would not know what to do with themselves otherwise.  

‘We the people’ have long sought decent health care for all, and this has been promised by many in the past, but never delivered on until now. One of the bonus benefits of this legislation is that Republicans have shown their true colors. As imperfect as this bill is, it will become a major part of American life and will improve the health and hope of so many who previously had neither hope nor quality care.

Not one of the following laws were passed without major opposition, yet who in their right mind would take a serious stand against any of them today? In fact, some were issued by executive order because the presidents in power knew the bills would not pass through Congress.

- The Emancipation Proclamation
- Women’s Right To Vote
- The desegregation of the US Armed Forces was the first time a president used an executive order to implement civil rights legislation, and it was a major victory for black Americans. At the time of the signing 82% of Americans were in disagreement with integrating the armed services.
- The desegregation of public schools took a MILITARY armed with GUNS to protect the safety of black school children while they marched into previously all-white schools and sealed their place in history.
- The Civil Rights Act was signed into law by Lindon B. Johnson and was a massive undertaking on his part because of the violently racist atmosphere gripping the country at the time.

How Will Republicans Explain Themselves In 2010/2012?

If Republicans want to hold onto the minuscule amount of intellectual integrity they might still have hiding somewhere, they must understand that lies and fear breed hate and anger, but only for so long until something must give. Most intelligent people understand that this bill is flawed, but it is a necessary first step. Most intelligent people understand that while it may be a sacrifice for some to be required to purchase insurance, it’s just like owning a car; we’re all required to have it. Why should the same not be expected for our bodies, our most precious cargo? We can’t continue to wonder why public hospitals are being shut down due to financial strain when the reason for this lies in the fact that they are required to provide medical care for everyone, regardless of ones financial situation or lack of insurance. Who do they think pays these excess costs in the long run? The working, middle and upper class; we all do.

I saw my fair share of senior citizens weighing in on the debate, and it leaves me to wonder just how many seniors over 65 who are opposed to “Obamacare” would stop using their Medicare provisions today. I’d wager a guess that not even 1% of them would do so.

The GOP is doing what they’ve always done best. Putting their quest for power over their care for country. The argument that the government will be able to make decisions about patient care fails to differ from an insurance representative deciding what, when, where, why and how a doctor can and cannot provide care based on company policy or cost effectiveness. In both situations there lies a common denominator. That is, someone telling the doctor what the insurance company is or is not willing to pay for. 

How is this any different than pre-authorizations for procedures insurers do not consider standard? It’s a moot argument. What people need to understand is that insurance companies have always dictated what procedures they will pay for. The insured have always had the option to pay out of pocket for non-approved expenses; most simply do not have the cash on hand to afford the high costs of health care. Despite these costs being out of reach, I’ve yet to see any physician or Attorney General step forward and sue an insurance company for refusing to pay for a service or procedure that was needed to save a life, yet they’re quick to sue the government for wanting to enforce our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Do they understand that insurance company CEO’s make millions of dollars off of sick people every day? People are human beings, yet Conservatives continue to focus on the costs of health care to the government, which only serves the interests of insurance companies, physicians and lobbyists (the people with the money) over ordinary American citizens (the people they are all supposed to be working for.)

They claim to care so much about the shortage of doctors, yet fail to mention that the current shortage lies not with specialist doctors, but with primary care physicians, the kind of doctors we will all regularly visit when we reach retirement age. These doctors have been getting the shaft for years, but with the current health care law there should be a power shift amongst specialists and primary care physicians. The doctors with the big bucks don’t support health care reform and those with the small change do. Big surprise there.

If we want more affordable health care we must keep fighting for the public option. Nancy Pelosi has earned my respect for her courageous efforts in all the wheeling and dealing that took place in the House and Senate over the weekend. Whatever she did, God bless her for getting it done. We, of course, reserve the right to criticize and critique Congress’ further efforts following the signing of the bill into law, but in return they deserve support for the dedication invested that has helped clear a path to real reform.

We need leaders that aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo while best serving the national interests of all Americans.

©2012 The Swag Report. All Rights Reserved.

Related posts:

1. Obama’s Health Care Victory Leaves Conservatives Stuck On Stupid… Again
2. The Opposition To Health Care Reform
3. Say It Ain’t So Senator Joe

You see, in the midst of all the B.S. and back and forth bickering, they forgot about the little people who stand to benefit the most. Conservatives and Republicans are so wrapped up in fairy tale land that they lost sight of the fact that there are millions of working class and poor people in America that have been forgotten about for far too long. They complain about the rising costs of this and that by pretending to care about government spending, but they don’t give a damn about the rising costs of individual taxpayer insurance plans that rose almost across the board this year alone. My own insurance saw a 30% increase which goes into effect in April.

Republicans had over 8 years including control of both the House and Senate to do something to fix health care and they did nothing, NOTHING, the entire time yet now they’ve found a “unified” voice after the Democrats decided enough was enough. Well, let me retract and revise that statement.

Republicans are best known for their failure to give a damn about the millions and rising of uninsured Americans. They did nothing to curtail the rising costs of health care in the midst of it all. They vehemently refused to expand eligibility for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, which Obama quickly reversed upon coming into office, and last but not least they tried to cut Medicaid spending.

They were against their very own President Bush’s expansion of Medicaid’s prescription drug program, which was probably one of his single greatest achievements in health care while still a sitting president. He installed about 1500 additional clinics  in urban neighborhoods and enclaves and we saw a push to spend 50 billion dollars to fight AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis around the world over the course of 5 years. A Conservative-Republican, despite being wayward, did some things to improve health care, but with staunch opposition from his very own party every step of the way.

This current liberal congress included measures that Republicans lobbied for and insisited be included in the health bill, yet the wayward rascals voted against it anyway. And they voted as one which cannot be said for Democrats who had a few dissenters in the mix. This doesn’t prove that the bill was wrong by any stretch, but what it does show is that Democrats, at the very least, retain the ability to think for themselves when it comes right down to it. I can somewhat respect that.

I’m sure I join very few Americans when I say they have shown just how much they care not only about America as a country, but its most important resource, its citizens.  /tongue in cheek

Abortion was a big deal in the earlier health care debates and all the way to the end, but it’s becoming an even bigger deal with the passage of the health reform bill. I guess no one has advised them to not pay for an abortion if they don’t want one.

These lackeys are so against “big” government, which employs the lot of them, yet they’re quick to turn to the government to legislate someone else’s body. They have no problem using government legislation to regulate what is supposed to be a private, personal decision. Apparently, since minding your own damn business is way too productive there’s nothing to do but be against that too.

I have no problem with the government making it mandatory for all who should have health insurance being required to purchase some. Hospitals shouldn’t be used as doctors offices, and besides, requiring all who need it to purchase it will help drive down costs across the board and ultimately make America a healthier nation. If we spent more time on preventive care, we’d spend less money on chronic and life threatening conditions and treatments that could have been prevented had they taken advantage of some of the greatest benefits of having health insurance.

Republicans can lie all they want, but they cannot deny that health care in the US is at a critical state. They beleive the pracitcally unregulated free market can provide workable solutions, but cutting corners to cut costs is not only not cost effective it is likely to reap long-term disastrous repurcussions.

A Couple Of Points Before I Go

1. The bill that just passed will ensure 32 million Americans who previously had none or couldn’t get insured because of pre-existing conditions.

2. If you’re against it because of costs why aren’t you also against the war in Iraq or Afghanistan or wherever else we decide to stick our noses internationally with regard to costs and expenditures? We spend massive amounts of money on wars and don’t hear a peep from conservatives about the sacrifice of American lives.   

3. Some of the same fear laden arguments against Health Care were used against Social Security and Medicare when legislation was being proposed.

4. Conservaties survived women winning the right to vote AND blacks and minorities winning civil rights and civil liberties, and guess what… America did not fall apart.

5. President Obama accomplished a feat I don’t recall many presidents doing within the first 2 years in office. He made GOOD on a campaign promise. Like, whoa.

6. Although the bill does not include a public option… yet, I think it’s a start. It’s not perfect, but what piece of legislation has congress ever passed that could be deemed perfect or anywhere close?

7. The Republican party did nothing to advance health care when they were in power and they’ve done nothing to advance it now. Their new motto should be “Every Man For Himself” because that’s the only platform that truly defines what they stand for in this country.

8. If Democrats are liberal loonies Republicans are useless “no” bodies who refuse to think for themselves. Threatening to repeal the bill would mean revoking 30 million plus Americans insurance coverage, denying coverage for pre-existing conditions and illnesses and denying coverage for 22-26 year olds who cannot afford it through any means other than being covered by parents or guardians.

9.  Rep. Jeff May, a Monroe Republican. “Nowhere in the constitution are you entitled to health care.”  

Nowhere in the constitution are you entitled to an education either, genius.

“Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was quoted Sunday as saying that President Obama and the Democrats, by passing comprehensive health care legislation, “will have destroyed their party much as Lyndon Johnson shattered the Democratic Party for 40 years” with the passage of civil rights legislation.”  Source

This is the same Newt Gingrich that divorced his wife when she was in the hospital with cancer. Yeah, here’s a well meaning people person. He meant exactly what he said and no amount of backtracking will do his backtracking any justice. What a piss poor excuse for a human being.

10. Republicans and Democrats and ObamaCare, Oh my! Be afraid, be very afraid, unless of course you’re Liberal, Progressive, Independent or just don’t give a damn either way.

It’s staggering the number of people who call themselves Christians yet are against health insurance being made available to all. If calling themselves God fearing and going to church every Sunday makes them sleep better at night after voting no on health care reform, then so be it.  

Read More About The Health Reform Here

©2012 The Swag Report. All Rights Reserved.

Related posts:

1. The Opposition To Health Care Reform
2. 20 Things To Consider About Health Care Reform
3. In The Words Of Joe Biden, “This Is A Big Effing Deal”

Although we strongly support the important reforms made by the Senate-passed health reform package, including a strong public option would improve both its substance and the public’s perception of it,” Bennet wrote to Reid in a letter cosigned by Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio).

Saying Americans don’t want health care reform with a public option is like saying we don’t want private schools without a public school option. It makes little sense. Odds are, even if you don’t want it, you’ll make good use of it when it’s implemented, just like other Americans who desperately need it. 

Three months ago I wrote a blog called 20 Things To Consider About Healthcare Reform with the intention of bringing to light some of the most glaring detractors that stand in the way of health care reform from my limited point of view. I’m talking about true health care reform. I won’t consider it true reform unless it includes a public option. With the unregulated flow of false information clogging the political grapevine, most people are too far gone to understand that even with a public option the majority of health care provisions will remain under private ownership. Private insurers will retain their stock and those against the public option can opt to stay with their current insurance providers. Insurance companies may even feel compelled to raise costs while lowering premiums for the sake of competition, which points to the root of the problem. 

The majority of Americans that stand to benefit from a public option are the working and middle class. Republicans in general seem to have great disdain at being painted as poor or working class even when their particular demographic suggests so. It’s not that there are no poor or uninsured Republicans, they simply won’t admit to it. As if considering oneself Republican immediately raises you above the social bar. It speaks to an imaginary wealth that only comes with conservative inclusion into its elite “good old boys” club. There is a false sense of singular importance among [some] working and middle class Republicans that trickles down from [some] of the self-serving, corporate interests that pollute the disgruntled, extreme, conservative upper class, i.e., Palin & Co. 

When the party with the least members not only threatens to, but through alternate means carries out the obstruction of highly important legislative measures filtering through Congress, then there are serious problems. Where there’s a threat to filibuster a reform bill of this magnitude, then it should be done in the standard way. Legislatures have every right to endorse the plan they believe works in the best interest of their constituents. However, we already know the public option is supported by the majority of the house, the majority of the senate, the President of the United States and a majority of his constituents. So what’s the problem?

There exists an incredible lack of bipartisanship in Washington. Another issue of concern is the Republican use and abuse of the filibuster in ways never before seen. A filibuster is an effective way to obstruct or prevent a vote from occurring on what is normally considered an important or standard piece of legislation. They threatened to filibuster the health care bill unless certain aspects were revised, removed or reinstated. In response, Democrats should exert their power by way of a process known as reconciliation, which is a severely restrictive means of circumventing a filibuster. It only requires a simple majority to pass, however that could cause some key things to remain out of the bill, such as requiring insurers to accept people with pre-existing conditions. In essence, it would shut out the minority party – Republicans - but it would likely invoke increased negative reaction.

Sadly, fewer and fewer politicians care more about the will of the people than they do about maintaining their jobs. There is a broad range of corporate money and power that comes along with politicking which makes each vote a political opportunity rather than a show of strength and leadership on behalf of ones constituents. 

And then there are statements like this, which are all too common now.

“There is absolutely no moral imperative for the gov’t to provide health care to its citizens.”

I beg to differ. They just don’t want all Americanas to have health care. They’re more okay with giving government handouts to small to large corporations than giving it back to the people that are supposed to effect the greatest change and progress. Obama stated that if you like your health insurance, you can keep it. Health care reform isn’t about whether or not conservatives like or even love their health insurance anyway. Every single year there are thousands of people who have paid their insurance premiums yet are denied medical coverage for any number of reasons. Insurance premiums are set to rise across the board this year, 2010, and it’s already happening, yet competition is bad? Some people are seeing their private insurance premiums rise up to 33% increases yet their typical response is to express anger at the government instead of the insurance companies.

The majority of Americans are not wealthy. Not even the majority of Republicans are wealthy. They’re hard working middle class Americans just like their Democrat and Independent counterparts. Sadly, many Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and cannot afford insurance, but there is great resistance on the part of Republicans and a few Democrats (In Name Only) to extend provisions to all. It doesn’t help that insurance companies have an unofficial army of regular, unpaid citizens who passionately lobby on their behalf. Politicians from both sides do the same thing except they’re paid quite well for their efforts on the hill. 

What’s worse are conservative talking points generated by miscreants like Limbaugh and Beck whose arguments against health care reform and a public option begin to spread like fire through the conservative ranks, thus creating a whole new crop of unfounded fear. The arguments the conservative working and middle class make against a public option are a result of irrational fear and crass political tactics aimed at spreading lies and misinformation such as the dreaded death panels. 

To get the public option reinstated, Democrats will have to have to rely on sheer mental will power, an imposing show of strength and leadership that goes beyond just the idea of hope and change and capitalizes off of the massive support from the American people who have entrusted them to actually implement that hope while keeping the change.  The party that shows the least amount of courage receives the least amount of respect. And If there’s one thing Republicans have that Democrats do not, it’s a potent and virile base that respects the party line way more than the party politician. With that said, there’s nowhere for the Democratic party to go but up, however they must grow a pair of cajones first. If they fail, health care reform dies.

image courtesy of aidsconnect.net

©2012 The Swag Report. All Rights Reserved.

Related posts:

1. 20 Things To Consider About Health Care Reform
2. Obama’s Health Care Victory Leaves Conservatives Stuck On Stupid… Again
3. In The Words Of Joe Biden, “This Is A Big Effing Deal”

www.hacer.org

“If you don’t like your health coverage or don’t have any insurance, you will have a chance to take part in what we’re calling a Health Insurance Exchange. … You will have your choice of a number of plans that offer a few different packages, but every plan would offer an affordable, basic package. And one of these options needs to be a public option that will give people a broader range of choices and inject competition into the health care market so that force waste out of the system and keep the insurance companies honest. … What I am trying to do – and what a public option will help do – is put affordable health care within reach for millions of Americans. And to help ensure that everyone can afford the cost of a health care option in our Exchange, we need to provide assistance to families who need it. That way, there will be no reason at all for anyone to remain uninsured. … But what I refuse to do is simply create a system where insurance companies have more customers on Uncle Sam’s dime, but still fail to meet their responsibilities.” -Obama’s speech to the American Medical Association, 6/15/09

1) Not one person in the White House, Democratic Caucus or otherwise has given clear-cut examples of the numerous tragedies and personal loss that have resulted from our current health care system or the glaring lack of care for so many Americans. Florida congressman Alan Grayson is the exception.

2) Republicans present a doomsday scenario to the public that’s not only harmful, but also patently false. They have loudly proclaimed that Death Panels will send their aging grandmothers off to their graves. They also claim that faceless bureaucrats will deny them much needed medical care. They failed to mention to their fledgling audience that Medicare already provides pretty damn good universal health care to Americans aged 65 and older.

3) Democrats are being let off the hook. Allowed to remain anonymous if they join in filibustering the health care bill. Democratic leadership is not stepping the fuck up and shooting down Republican scare tactics that work.

4) Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t take 60 votes to pass a bill. It takes 50 senators voting yes and the Vice President’s attendance in case of a tie to pass a bill. 60 senators voting yes are needed to cease the debate on the floor and bring the matter to a vote. The Democrats need 60 votes to prevent a filibuster. I say, if that means bending over backwards so the Republican (minority) can get rid of the public option, let them filibuster until the cows come home, then pass the bill anyway.

5) Republicans are presenting us with data sheets showing how detrimental it would be to our country and economy if the senate were to pass the health reform bill. Where are the Democrats with their fact sheets and data projections and plethora of real life examples to show how unfair the current health care system has become?

6) What frustrates most Independents in support of the measure is that the Democratic Caucus is handling this in the same manner they’ve handled other important matters that have come across the senate. Clearly, congress is dysfunctional. When the party with the least members can obstruct highly important measures and the strategy actually works, then there’s a major problem. When it comes to filibustering a bill of this magnitude, it should be done in the standard filibustering way. Legislatures have every right to endorse the plan they believe works in the best interest of their constituents. However, we already know the public option is supported by the majority of the house, narrowly, and the majority of the senate, narrowly, the President of the United States and a majority of his constituents. So what’s the problem?

7) A few rogue Democrat senators get to secretly express their dissatisfaction with the bill by privately threatening to join with Republicans in the filibuster, yet they do not have to go public so the voters may never know which of the Democrats are taking part. Meaning, not only do they get to not support the bill that the majority of their voters support, we don’t get the privilege of knowing who exactly they are because they can do this secretly. Again I say, what gives?

8 ) Most Americans are fucking fed up. They don’t trust the government yet Democrats are supporting secrecy within the ranks. The same kind of political hogwash that should have been kicked out of the White House along with the Bush administration. The Democrats seem to be more concerned with catering to a few centrist and Independent Democrats then to the people who got them elected; us.

9) Corporate extremism, and capitalistic excess is doing more damage to this country than anything else. There is no mandate to follow, no rule of thumb. The American people are competing with wealthy, corporate lobbyists so in turn our legislatures get to pick and choose who their “true” constituents they will represent that day/week/month/year depending on the issues and whatever bill is up for vote. We, the people, have to compete for coverage in Washington against none other than the major health insurance companies.

10) Democrats are going to have to start calling each other out on the bullshit. Insurance reform without a public option and insurance exchange will lead to increased costs in health insurance. Why wouldn’t it? With no real incentive to lower costs and no real competition to speak of, what motivating factors will cause private insurers to lower prices? Without competition the health insurers won’t do anything drastic, like reduce their rates so that people can actually afford insurance. Getting rid of pre-existing conditions without making health care affordable is not conducive to getting the job done. In fact, it does just the opposite.

11) Health insurers will be forced to accept people who have pre-existing conditions, yet their coverage will not be affordable and may negatively impact your costs. Why? Because they’re considered high risk and insurance companies would have to actually pay for their care instead of deny, deny, then you die. With a public option, the government can essentially create a continual flow of cash from taxpayers to the insurance companies regardless of conditions that previously made working and middle class Americans ineligible.

12) People are of the mindset that health insurance reform is only to the benefit of the low-income, non-working, and those with pre-existing conditions. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Those making up the middle-class with middle incomes who are unable to obtain insurance is not because of any pre-existing conditions, but because it’s not affordable.

13) We need a public option.

14) For those whose insurance companies enjoy high profit margins, where do you think your money is going? A percentage is going straight into the pockets of corporate shareholders and top executives. The more services that are denied, the higher the paycheck bonus for the denier. This is skewed as hell but it is also no secret.

15) Anyone who has worked for a small-medium size company can tell you one thing about the costs of insurance; the more the merrier, the more people in the group plan, the lower the premium. The same is true across all boards. Insurance costs are most cost effective when you have a large, diverse pool including those who fall within the risk category.

16) What has become clear to me while keeping up with the reform debate is that there is no clear way to win Republican support. Independent Democrats need to either put up or shut up, and back a plan that works. What’s interesting is the number of Americans who would rather continue putting their complete trust into huge for-profit corporations masquerading as insurance companies instead of allowing the government to do what they’re there to do. It’s the governments job to regulate.

17) We see what happened when the government decided to listen to lobbyists with congress members in their back pockets. The economy took a nosedive and 10% of the country is out of work as a result.
Do we not learn from mistakes? Why should your health care be based on cost-benefit analysis? We’ll take care of your illness if you don’t cost us a certain amount in the long run. A lot of Americans are running scared of what they consider “socialized” medicine, when the truth of the matter is that when it comes to capitalism health insurers are sort of self-serving.

18) People honestly believe that PRIVATE INSURERS care more about their health than they do about making a profit. Your doctor cares about your health. The insurance company cares about profit. The premiums we pay not only go toward our health plan, prescriptions drugs, etc, they also go toward paying LOBBYISTS who in turn pay legislatures to vote their pocketbook instead of their conscience.

19) How is universal health care an attack on free-market capitalism when capitalism in a free society should breed competition and competition should breed capitalism? How is it that this model works for mass produced goods and services but not for health insurance? A public option makes the system cheaper, more efficient, more comprehensive and far more viable. For the people who are uninsurable, what good is health care reform without the public option? Absolutely none. What good is it for someone with pre-existing conditions to purchase health insurance at a drastically increased cost because of the condition, yet they must omit that condition from being covered by the insurer because they don’t cover pre-existing conditions? It’s absurd.

20) The public option is essential. Those who believe in capitalism, yet do not support a public option are only fooling themselves. We can see right through you. While I don’t agree with big government as it relates to a lot of things, I do believe that its involvement is necessary and essential in regulating and providing health insurance for all Americans.

bonus) The current bill that passed the House is virtually dead on arrival when it reaches the Senate. The Senate is working on it’s own version of the health care bill to put up for vote. If/when it passes, both houses will likely merge aspects of each bill to suit the others purpose. Liberals seem to be united on including a public option no matter what revisions are made. It all remains to be seen.

©2012 The Swag Report. All Rights Reserved.

Related posts:

1. The Opposition To Health Care Reform
2. Obama’s Health Care Victory Leaves Conservatives Stuck On Stupid… Again
3. In The Words Of Joe Biden, “This Is A Big Effing Deal”

According to factcheck.org there is nothing in the proposal that will allow illegal immigrants to receive health coverage under the national plan. They would not be entitled to any public subsidies, which are public grants and benefits. Per federal regulations, it’s illegal to ask someone for proof of status. So, technically, illegal immigrants must be treated if they have private healthcare or if they need emergency treatment at a hospital. This is the way the system already operates.

In any case, this outburst is another example of how denigrated the office of the president has become since Obama took the stage. The people who support and are in agreement with Wilson’s outburst are more than likely some of the same idiots who protested Obama’s education speech.

Senator Wilson issued an apology, which Pres. Obama accepted.

“Shame on you!” shouted someone from the Democratic side. “Throw him out!” shouted someone else. First Lady Michelle Obama, seated behind and above Wilson, seemed to mouth a drawn-out “damn” at the scene unfolding before her.

Following Obama’s speech, Joe Wilson was criticized by both sides of the aisle. It seems to be a character flaw of his. The New York Times pointed out that “Jackie Calmes points to the biography of Mr. Wilson in CQ’s “Politics in America,” which includes this line: “Wilson’s sharp and careless remarks sometimes land him in hot water.”

Sen. John McCain, (R-AZ), said the outburst was disrespectful and demanded an apology. He told Larry King, “No place for it in that setting or any other, and he should apologize for it immediately.”

Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.) said, “I’ve never seen anything like that before. We do not invite the president of the United States into the House of Representatives and hurl insults.”

Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), the longest serving member in House history, said: “Well, you’ve got to understand: They’re Republicans. They’re just doing what comes natural.”

Not long after the speech ended, Joe Wilson issued an apology.

“This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the President’s remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill. While I disagree with the President’s statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the President for this lack of civility.”

Joe Wilson also phoned the White House to apologize. However, he did not reach Obama, but spoke to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who accepted the apology in Obama’s stead.

Meanwhile, Joe Wilson’s web site crashed, his Twitter page took a beating, and Democrat Rob Miller raised thousands of unexpected dollars online for a possible rematch with Wilson in next year’s midterm elections.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3thOPw7etI[/youtube]

©2012 The Swag Report. All Rights Reserved.

Related posts:

1. Obama’s Health Care Victory Leaves Conservatives Stuck On Stupid… Again
2. The Opposition To Health Care Reform
3. In The Words Of Joe Biden, “This Is A Big Effing Deal”