Introduction to the Debate
Most Americans have access to health care — not bad for a nation of 300 million. Improving access to health care should alway be a core value for both the client and the provider. Government can be most effective by removing the barriers encountered, or creating opportunities for better service.
Health Care Reform By Any Means Necessary
No matter what my opinion or yours happens to be, nothing will change the fact that President Obama wants a Health Care Reform Bill passed, and as quickly as possible. To be fair, it is branded as a health care bill but so overreaches simple reform that percentage-wise, it may have little to do with the actual health care delivery. In fact Obama can’t even maintain a singular focus, beginning with his campaign for Health Care Reform, then switching his banner to Health Insurance Reform after polling numbers showed better marks with the latter.
The point remains that Obama is going to pass a bill no matter what, and once in place, he will see to it that it is amended to come into congruence with his Single Payer Plan. Of course, you may also have seen Obama also say that “single payer is off the table”. Interpretation: “I haven’t changed my mind, but I need to do whatever it takes to get something passed so that the government is in charge of this sector.” Also known as “health care by any means necessary”. [Malcolm X Video] [Wikipedia Citation]
Two Faces of Obama: Elites vs. Citizens
Although Obama is especially articulate with a teleprompter (as I used to be when I read the news on the air), he fails to communicate his plan because he appears to have two statements on many issues. I refer to this as the “Two Faces of Obama.” One set of speeches is aimed at his core supporters, the special interest groups and organizations that got him into office. This includes speeches to the AFL-CIO and Planned Parenthood. To them he promises Single Payer Health Care and fully funded abortions.
However, when it comes to selling to the voters, that sea of citizens in red and blue states, he unashamedly tells us the opposite. Why? Because it’s more important for him to pass this bill that for him to display any congruence between speeches. He tells the teeming masses that Single Payer is off the table and abortions are not covered, a complete contradiction of other recorded speeches!
Apparently there are enough star-struck citizens out there that will believe whatever he says, even when confronted with evidence to the contrary. While we can’t do anything about those infatuated with a cult-like figure, we can hold Obama and our elected representatives accountable. Perhaps some day the media will join us in our quest for reclaiming America, but for now, it looks like the press corps brought softballs to the revolution.
Report Me and Other Bloggers to the White House
By the way, it’s important to note that if you think there is something fishy about my opinion on Obamacare, you may report me at the flag@whitehouse.gov website, yet another tactic to chill democratic debate on a very personal issue.
Health Care Reform Strategies – Deficit-Neutral
However, being inflicted with eternal optimism, let me share other strategies which help us achieve the goal of improved health care access, but are deficit-neutral.
- Tort Reform (cap medical malpractice lawsuit awards as has been done in CA)
- Medical Savings Plan (MSP) or Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
- National Competition for Health Care Plans (no artificial barriers to competition)
- Portability without constraint by employer (a.k.a. affordable COBRA)
- Allow individuals to join insurance pools (no requirement to be part of employer/association plan)
- No taxation of medical plans
- Serious Engagement with Medicare/Medicaid Fraud (est. $80 billion annually)
- Encourage Private Insurance Cooperatives with no government ties or funding
- Do not require the self-insured to purchase health insurance.
- Do not pay for health care for illegal aliens
- Assist the 10 million elegible for existing government programs to successfully participate.
Health Care Reform – Non-Deficit Neutral
Three additional goals are not deficit neutral but would be considered in any health care reform plan:
- Create additional access and subsidy for approximately 10 million underserved
- Fulfill treaty obligations and fully fund Indian Health Service
- Create a high risk insurance pool fund that creates full access to health care via established plans, but with government subsidy.
How to Force A Bad Plan into Law
Several tactics have been used on both lawmakers and citizens to get this disastrous bill passed:
- A September deadline was set for a vote, before the legislation had been finalized and way before even a few of our elected representatives had read through it.
- Obama’s shaming speeches chastise those who disagree with him as unpatriotic and various other aspersions cast upon our character.
- Attempting to rally religious leaders arguing a moral imperative for his plan to be passed immediately. (So much for separation of church and state: the state telling leaders how their churches/synagogues/assemblies should vote?)
- Using the event of Senator Kennedy’s death to make him into a martyr figure for Obamacare.
- Setting up the White House Snitch Website to intimidate those who either oppose all or parts of the Obamacare bill (or one of the seven extant versions).
- Town Hall vilification of conservative participants with various labels, including, but certainly not limited to: brownshirts, angry mobs, Nazis, and racists.
- Media attacks including name calling as above, but also including attacks on public figures such as Sarah Palin, conservative talk show hosts, and anyone connected with the previous administration.
- The “Lying Statistic” of 47 Million Uninsured! [VIDEO] This implies that 47 million Americans are denied health care, but the truth is: it just means they don’t have insurance coverage. Half of those regain coverage within 4 months – they aren’t permanently off. Of that 47 million, only about 10 million have issues with health care access. The remainder includes
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- illegal aliens,
- people with incomes over $75K incomes who self insure,
- the unenrolled but elegible for healthcare programs,
- younger adults and families who choose not to insure.
Nothing shouts “weak argument” like strong-arm tactics. Welcome to Chicago, the USA’s new political epicenter.
