Misinformation is creating tremendous confusion concerning the Democratic led effort to provide Healthcare reform. Some call it Healthcare reform while President Obama called it Insurance reform. Are we being “Bamboozled?” I think we are. Why? The targeted 47 million people can’t be identified. Taking 1.6 trillion dollars and wasting it on a new program could bankrupt the current system. No public option is a reward given to the status quo for the current failure. Where is the accountablity and quality of care in any new system? How much money will be wasted? If we build it, is it dumb? You betcha! If Congress writes a bad bill are we stuck with it?
I think supporting a bad bill is stupid so I’ve been adding some misinformation to this healthcare debate. I’d like us to reach some clarity before finalizing the process. Invitations to the official debate seem to be impossible to get or by “Invitation Only?” Getting into an Obama meeting appears to be more difficult than getting into one of former VP Dick Cheney’s “Double Top Secret Energy Meetings?” What actually changed if everything is still being done under the vail of secrecy in smoke filled rooms? The process is not healthy for America and how can this administration be trusted if it is guilty of the same crimes committed by the Bush administration in violation of the public trust?
What misinformation have I suggested? I suggested we try to provide “Equal Access to Penicillin.” Healthcare is a national security issue if you remember the Anthrax? I suggested we expand coverage to the 47 million uninsured by creating an exception in the existing military healthcare program. Specifically, I want the VA to expand coverage to include the unidentifiable 47 million people. Funding for the VA is predetermined and this fact alone saves the 1.6 trillion dollar price tag proposed. The VA system is up and running, can be easily expanded with technology, and can account for the additional workload. Doctors could supervise cases as they permit Physicians assistants to accept more responsibility in a teaching environment. These teaching opportunities would expand the pool of potential future Dr’s and never jeopardize the quality of care from day one. A VA exception would be the public option. It’s nationwide, good enough for our veterans, and already in place. How does this idea get into the mainstream debate?
In short, I believe we are being “Bamboozled.” If all ideas aren’t considered, what happens if what is offered fails? There is no excuse for failure. We can only conclude the process was designed to fail. In troubled times, we can’t afford to throw away trillions in a hit or miss effort. Creating a VA exception is a go slow approach that expands coverage to an unidentified growing group. A VA exception provides accountability, and addresses training. Any additional money invested in the VA System would be a good expenditure because it would improves the current system providing increased technology and efficiency. The VA system can be closely monitored and regulated without changing anything. I see it as a “Win-Win.” Democrats get “Equal Access to Penicillin” and the GOP gets some accountability without creating a new government care program. I don’t forsee America ever cancelling healthcare for our Vets. If the system cannot handle the influx, we have some controls over the quality of care offered as we go. We can also ask this group to pay something. It’s managable, forward thinking, and saves 1.6 trillion dollars. How can anyone argue against it? Why isn’t a VA exception on the table? Are we being “Bamboozled?”
September 6th, 2009 at 10:34 am
The defeaning silence in this room on this proposal means I’m right or something is very wrong with this room. Is this room afraid I could be right so talking about it is wrong? I’m being “Bamboozled?”
September 10th, 2009 at 8:42 am
I think people are just afraid to comment because the whole idea is shrouded in polarized disinformation. I agree that there is a bamboozle at work here, we just need the ENTIRE bill laid out plain and translated from legalese so that people can actually have a point to make on it beyond the bi-partisan rhetoric. Republicans and others are just concerned with what will happen if too much government control is given over in the interest of health care. It seems that many democrats want health care reform NOW and are unwilling to concede that maybe the whole idea needs some work. This is all part of the show, as I have pointed out many other times. Keep them divided, we can conquer them once they are divided.
September 11th, 2009 at 1:48 am
I deliberately waited before commenting to give the story time to marinate. What happened? President Obama’s opposition came to his rescue by calling him a “Liar?” Using a “Childish Thing” made the debate and Obama’s “Awe Schucks” style more effective. The bill hasn’t been presented and we are arguing over “Respect for the President.” We aren’t focused on what’s being offered in the bill. President Obama doesn’t want to create a new system and he shouldn’t. Grant access to what works? Use the VA System to bridge the gap. Grant an exception to those denied or those who can’t afford care? Save the trillion dollars and don’t change anything? Let the people pay something to make the program revenue neutral? Granting equal access to care doesn’t require much effort. How is the new law Obama is suggesting going to be enforced? The American’s With Disabilities Act is about as toothless as a crystal meth addict. A law with no teeth is worse than doing nothing! Let the VA System cover the unknown amount of people too young for medicare and not eligible for military service? Let those who need it serve in some way or pay? We are getting closer to the answer.
September 15th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Instead of writing an article on Freedom of Speech and Anger Management, I decided just to comment on the obvious. Calling Kanye a “Jackass” throws the President under the bus with the rest of the verbally wreckless, insensitive, celebrities angry at the world lashing out in need of anger management. Obama acted “Stupidly” on race. He refuses to support and defend the Constitution. He treats Hollywood and Sporting events like real news. I’ve got news for you. We can’t have it both ways. Free Speech doesn’t give every angry person in the world the right to go on Jerry Springer or Oprah. Celebrities, Congressmen, Sports Stars and even the President can get angry, but what scares me is…over what and why? It tells me something more about their personality and that’s scary.
September 16th, 2009 at 9:24 am
MANDATED HEALTHCARE? The chances for Hillary to be elected President just died with this proposal. Mandating care is absolutely the wrong thing at the right time. Republicans couldn’t have gotten a better bill if they wrote this themselves. Democrats should be ashamed of the Party and this Czary-Leadership!
September 21st, 2009 at 1:04 am
President Obama just did the “Big Lewinsky” on Health Insurance Reform. Let me be clear and relevant here? Let me keep it “Digestible?” Paying for Mandatory Insurance is a service charge on a service to be rendered later. This is a tip for the Goons watching the door to the speakeasy. This is a tax because we must pay it for absolutely nothing. If we get healthcare we have to pay for that too. President Obama just did the “Big Lewinsky.” He delivered a flaming bag of crap and he refuses to step on this political prank…Trick or Treat? It’s a trick. I’m throwing up.