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To care or not to care
By Roger Haley
Contributor
Published September 14, 2009
The president gave a very compelling speech to Congress. It was reported that some even had tears in their eyes at times. I didn’t. My eyes were wide open and clear.
Which bill was he talking about? If it was HR 3200, then he was disingenuous at best. At worst, Congressman Wilson was correct, if out of order.
Twice, Republicans have submitted amendments saying illegal immigrants would not be covered; twice, democrats voted down those amendments in committee. The president says illegal immigrants will not be covered, but his party refuses to confirm that statement by law. The same applies to his statement about abortions being funded. If not specifically precluded, it will happen. Besides, any clear thinker will conclude the courts would strike any denial of coverage.
The Republicans have consistently requested tort reform; the Democrats have just as consistently refused to make it a part of the bill. Why? It surely could not be that trial lawyers give a huge amount of money to Democrat campaigns. The president did offer a small bone to Republicsans on this one, saying his administration would “look into” some trial balloons on reform. How nice.
Republicans have only themselves to blame for this mess. The GOP had the power, and probably the votes, to institute some kind of health care and tort reform in years past, and they failed miserably as leaders.
I, and most Americans, agree that some type of health care reform is needed. Republicans want insurance reform, which would open all markets to all insurers. Then, the companies would have to compete nationally, bringing down costs. For some reason, the Dems don’t even mention this solution to lower costs.
As for cost, there are widely divergent estimates but none of which, except the president’s, say it would be deficit neutral. If, as President Obama says, there are $500 billion to be found in Medicare /Medicaid fraud, why hasn’t the fraud, waste, and abuse department already been funded with enough personnel to stop those abuses?
Ask yourself these questions, and then ask them of Washington. Why aren’t those laws enforced? Why not fund the enforcement? Why can’t I buy health insurance from an Oklahoma company with better coverage and lower rates? Why did the number of uninsured drop from 47 million to 30 million? Why is tort reform such a sticking point with Democrats? Why must this bill be so massive and unintelligible that the lawmakers themselves don’t even read or understand it? Why must we totally transform the world’s best system, the one people from around the world come to access? Why can’t we ask people to support a more simple, less intrusive bill? What’s behind the push that this huge undertaking must be done now, today, this year, or else? Or else what? Why can’t Congress take the time to read, understand, and explain it? Will that many more Americans die tomorrow without passage? If so, then why doesn’t the bill take effect before 2012?
Do the research on this legislation, ask the questions, and make up your own mind. I just want you to THINK!
Roger Haley, USN (ret) is a Arthur City resident and occassional contributor to The Paris News.
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