Free at Last!

As the Great One delivered his sermon unto his followers, a great silence fell upon the land.  "I will show you the way!  This land will be made whole again, if only you bow to my will."

Yes, it would certainly be a wonderful world if everyone had insurance.  It would be even better if, along with that insurance card, everyone had the money to pay the monthly premiums, the co-payments, the deductibles, the 40% that insurance doesn't provide for, and all the other out-of-pocket expenses that must be accounted for in our health care system.  In other words, the reality of health care that Obamacare fails to talk about.

All I hear is what a great day, health care is free at last, free at last!  All of America will now have the opportunity to purchase an insurance policy.  Unfortunately, a laminated Obamacare insurance card does not mean that the poor will have their health care needs provided for.

Simply put, this bill is a cooperative effort between the federal government and the insurance companies to force the uninsured to purchase another 43 million (is this the number that they are using now?) policies.

I fail to see how forcing insurance companies to accept 43 million new customers will teach "those evil, profit-driven insurance CEO's" a lesson.  Yet all the while, the bleeding heart idiots still think the poor are being helped by Obamacare.

Every wonder why there are so many people without insurance?  Sure, there are many who honestly cannot afford it.  This is where the state government steps in - it's called Medicaid.

Did anyone ever consider that perhaps not having insurance was by choice?  You remember choice, right?  That thing we used to have before Obamacare?

A young man, with no health concerns, might choose to put his $14,000 a year towards something else.  Obama thinks this is not the American way, and is determined to force this young man the error of independent behavior.

And where are the cost controls for actual health care?  Does forcing everyone to purchase an expensive insurance policy suddenly make open-heart surgery cost $499.95?

Now, that the left has gotten its way, and the insurance mandate is upon us, we must all increase our contributions to provide for those who must accept welfare.

But, wait - what will happen to the poor people who once used the emergency rooms because they had no money?  Reality check:  they will continue to use the emergency room, because they still have no money.  We now have a greater debt, and costs will climb even more.

I am worried about the path this country has now turned down, I am terrified at what the future holds for my children, and I am bewildered at how many support this move towards a welfare nation simply at the empty promises of another lying politician.

Is There a Fix?

Medicare and Medicaid, the soon-to-be insolvent social experiments put in place to care for the elderly and the poor, need only a good enema to accomplish their purpose. Through classic government bureaucratic inefficiencies of mismanagement, fraud, and waste, these noble programs have been kicked to the curb. The fix? Obamacare, the newest, largest, and, as we are supposed to now believe, the one government entitlement program that is going to give us "free" care.

Where would all the money come from to keep Medicare and Medicaid in place while concurrently funding Obamacare? Washington would have us believe that nearly one half will come from a newly-found sense of fiscal responsibility. Their idea is to squeeze $500B from the already failing programs it is intended to fix. How could anyone of sound mind and reasonable intelligence swallow this lie?

Could these savings be possible? Of course not, or they would have done this years ago.  But, just suppose it were true, then why is this magical source of income not redirected back into the existing programs? Cutting expenses by one-half trillion dollars could inject new life into the failing programs. Add another half-trillion in new taxes (the ones slated to begin in 2014) to Medicare, and you have a great start to help those 32 million people Obamacare promises to care for. At the expense of the other 85% of the country, of course.

I guess I just don't understand the progressive's belief that the answer to any and all evil is more and bigger government. In any case, the repeal of the Obamacare mandate should be of utmost priority to anyone who believes that a bigger government is the heart of the problem, and not "the fix" at all.

The Art of Deception

How is it that Obama, Reid, and Pelosi can look directly into a television camera and lie with such impunity?  Is this something they are taught in Politics 101, or it this simply a gift, a natural ability, a talent that sets people into a successful career of politics.

As Obama said last Wednesday, everything has been said.  With that thought in mind, he now sets forth to sell his turd sandwich.  This poor one-term loser still thinks America respects him, his huge ego refusing to let him believe otherwise.

I cannot understand his claim that "this is what the American people want."  I wonder which poll Obama follows:

 This could be the largest Ponzi scheme ever perpetrated upon the American people. Obama and his minions openly admits that his plan will only work if everyone participates, and he will mandate this participation whether we like it or not.

To see the outcome of Obamacare, look towards Massachusetts and see how this "great plan" will work. Yes, the state has provided coverage for all but 2% of the population. However, within four years, premiums have almost doubled, costs for care have steadily risen, and waiting times are now the longest in the country.

And, once again, our government "experts" have underestimated the true costs of another massive piece of social legislation. In truth, if they were to be completely honest, we evil "obstructionists" would no longer be the Party of "No", but would be known as the Party of "Hell, No! Have You Lost Your Damn Minds?" 

Massechusetts is now facing a severe budget crisis, and are planning to once again raise taxes while dropping coverage for the 'non-documented' people. Ironic how the humanitarian goal of covering this group was the strongest reason to impliment the program in the first place.

Now Obama wishes to serve up his turd sandwich to the entire nation.  Using some phony Clinton Surplus-like accounting, Obama plans to collect taxes/penalties for three years prior to begin paying out any substantial benefits.  This slight-of-hand is the only way he can claim deficit reduction until after the 2012 elections.  Bernie Madoff would be proud, but I can't help but wonder why he's in jail and Obama is in the White House, as Madoff's $60B is a mere 0.2% of Obama's scam.

Full speed ahead, Mr. President, as you seem so determined to ignore the American public, by all means reconcile away. Spin it however you wish, O, but this is simply a poorly disguised wealth redistribution, an expansion of Medicare and Medicaid, and a giant stride towards single-payer system.

Add this new enormous entitlement program to the unfunded liabilities of the other two (Social Security and Medicare), and you are looking at disaster, both politically and economically. Remember, the problem with Socialism is that, sooner or later, you will run out of other people's money.

The Lesser of Two Evils?

 So Pelosi wants her troops to fall on their own swords, and to pass  Obamacare at any cost.  Meanwhile, Republican leaders denounce the upcoming cram-down as a travesty.  This seems to me as a battle between village idiots.

The health care debate is a strongly debated topic, with both sides claiming to hold the moral high ground. I believe that neither side actually cares one way or another, as both are simply battling for control of congress and using us as pawns in their political infighting. It is time for this to stop.

These elitists, who have been elected to represent the will of the people, seem to have only their own interests in mind. Most are extremely wealthy, a neat trick considering their salaries, and have are far out of touch with the majority of Americans.

Washington is indeed 'broken', and if either party is able to claim victory after all of this, it will be purely a political victory. The real losers in this fight will be the American people, especially the generations yet unborn, for they will bear the ultimate brunt of this battle of hypocrisy.

Why does the 'solution' to rising health care cost have to be a total reconstruction and federal takeover? If I remember correctly, the entire reason we are in this situation is the unsustainable nature of entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare.

I fail to understand why we cannot examine our current system, and simply repair what doesn't work using small but powerful and directed steps. I suppose the reason is that these programs are, by nature, unsustainable. Without massive infusions of cash, we cannot cover the cost to treat an aging and ailing population.

We all agree that some type of 'reform' is necessary. The health care debate can be summarized as agreeing on the best method to pay for the inevitable increase in cost. While Democrats wish to disguise the true costs and the hidden tax increases, the Republicans claim the right thing to do is to reduce spending and allow free market principles to control costs. While the Republicans wish to allow people to make their own decisions on health care, the Democrats feel the answer is more government.

I do not pretend to know the answer. Perhaps there is no answer. I only know what I can see, and from where I sit it is an ugly sight. I have nothing but disgust for the members of congress and, judging from their actions, they feel the same about the common citizen. We are apparent;y too ignorant to understand the complex intricacies of government. They are determined to expand their control over our poor, miserable lives, if only for our own good.

However this all comes out, whether we continue to have the best health care money can buy, or whether we adopt a government-run system, I can only hope that someday we come to our senses and legislate for the good of the people, and not for the political party.

The New Speed of Health Care Reform

Obama says "What's the Hurry?"




Promises, promises, and yet nothing changes. When the cameras are rolling, Obama plays the Great Moderator. Once the cameras are off, however, its business as usual, at it's backstabbing finest.

Behind closed doors, Reid and Pelosi are being instructed to pass something, somehow, and as quickly as possible, regardless of the upcoming mid term elections.

With this latest bit of campaign rhetoric, our great Liar in Chief can pretend his only wish was to "get it right". He cares nothing about the long-term, or about the congressmen who he would have fall upon their swords.

The worst part of this whole mess is that there are ways to actually reduce costs. Obamacare is not one of them. Simply applying more deceptive government-style accounting practices, such as the "Clinton surplus", falsely show savings where there are none.

For a glimpse of the disaster that Obamacare will inflict upon our entire country, all one needs to do is observe the failed system in Massachusetts. While achieving their goal of increasing coverage, the system is proving to be unsustainable and is imploding.

Costs have doubled while waiting times are the longest in the country. Insurance premiums have skyrocketed, and now the huge state deficit is unmanageable. This means higher taxes, providing less benefits, and federal assistance.

Well done, legislators! You have taken a serious problem and, through poorly written legislation using fantasy-land logic, you have made it into a bigger problem.

Hats off to Obama for playing the brainless against the clueless. Regardless of his inexperience, he certainly knows how to play one side against the other. A true politician if there ever was one.

Victory!

What a fantastic victory for the American people. We can now all sleep easier, knowing that Obama and his bought-and-paid-for Democratic congress has our best interests in mind.

Our current system is broken, and Medicare is facing impending insolvency. So our greatest minds came up with an idea to expand Medicare coverage to those 55 years old. I'm rather sorry they abandoned this idea, for if eliminating waste and fraud from the current system comes $60B a year, imagine the imaginary savings imagined by incurring expenses for covering those as young as 55! I have no dollar amount, but it is probably a lot.

No public option? The importance of "keeping the insurance companies honest" was apparently not as important as buying the votes of the morally corrupt.

The hypocrisy of championing fiscal responsibility while adding record amounts to our debt has become almost comical. Not add one dime to the deficit? The misdirection of the 10-year window to claim savings seems to have worked quite well. Ten years of revenue against 6 years of expense should be enough to bend any cost curve - temporarily.

Obviously, a government-run health insurance system is what we really need. If we can only get hundreds of bureaucrats to get involved in every aspect of health care finances, we can no doubt save billions. No, it's true! Honest!

Obama claimed a victory over the "special interests" which have fought health reform for decades. Yet wasn't it Obama himself that made deals with the "big three" (hospitals and doctors, insurance companies, drug companies) of the health care industry? Can anyone deny the fact that met with all of them behind closed doors in the true spirit of "transparency"?

Perhaps the most ridiculous aspect is the mandate to all Americans to either purchase a "qualifying" plan (roughly $12000/year for family coverage) or pay a paltry $750 annual tax (yes, a tax, because the IRS is responsible for its assessment).

Our elected representatives actually believe that a healthy family will elect to spend $1000/month, when all they need is $60/month to pay the "fine". I don't know, but they want you to believe it, as well as trust this revenue stream to remain 'deficit neutral'.

With this new mandate, and the pre-existing inclusion, the only time anyone will purchase "insurance" will be when they need hospitalization.

This is not "insurance", as it only ensures constant and massive expenses with huge reduction in revenue. Since insurance companies cannot charge more for the sick, everyone's cost will rise.

The end result will be the end of private insurance companies, and the birth of government insurance. The path is so clear, it is hard to deny that this was the goal all along.

Obama alluded to his goal of single payer, nationalized health care as far back as 2004, although "Mr. Transparency" denies he ever said this. Although thoroughly documented, he now claims that he didn't mean it or his remarks were taken out of context. As Robert Gibbs might put it, he wasn't lying, but merely bending the truth curve.

Thanks for the Christmas present, Washington! And we didn't get you anything.....unless you count another slice of our freedom.

Obama's Affair with Miss Information

Our beloved president tells us again and again that we are all being lied to about health (insurance) reform. Obama assures us that those who are spreading this misinformation are simply lying. He preaches to us that there are certain people who are spreading vicious lies, spreading fictitious claims that Washington wishes to take control of the health care industry.

A fictitious takeover? Hmmm...the federal government wants to sell health insurance, set the price for insurance, force insurance companies to offer the same coverage but without subsidy, determine what care will be allowed, dictate compensation for allowable care, set penalties for non-compliance...that sounds pretty much like a government takeover to me. I cannot see how any reasonable person could arrive at any other conclusion.

Obviously, anyone who doesn't agree that government health care is the only way to restore America to prosperity simply doesn't understand how Obama's vision of a new world order works. And don't forget that anyone who fails to march lock-step with this man's ideology only reveals my obvious hatred and racism, as well as the desire to see America fail.

When did not blindly following the government become such a heinous crime? Last time I checked, this sort of thing did not apply to free countries. How many can say they worshiped Bush in the same way, regardless of his idiotic policies? I can't imagine many willing to make that claim, yet I also find it hard believing so many can remain starry-eyed over this inexperienced junior senator from Illinois with his unrealistic fiscal ideology.

As far as health care reform, I can only believe what I can read in the proposed legislation, as well as Obama's recent address to congress, which echoed the government's hidden deceit almost to a tee. It's all there, for anyone who wants to put down their glass of kool-aid and read it.

Everyone should read it, but more importantly understand it, before they stand up and give one more \"Yes, We Can\" or \"No, We Won't\". Learn for yourselves how Team Obama has been \"less than honest\" as he speaks about relieving the poor, ignorant people of this country of the impossible burden of intelligent choice in the world of insurance, doctors, and government.

There is no denying we need reform. There must be a way to fix what is broken with our system. To be fair, sometimes things just wear out and need to be replaced. Like the way Washington works, with bribes from special interest groups and corruption rampant throughout. But it never hurts to try first.

If Obama believes he can wring $600 billion from Medicare without slashing benefits, then by all means go right ahead. Use this money to provide for people who cannot provide for themselves. That, after all, is the ultimate role of our government, is it not?

From the legislative drafts out of Congress one can easily discern the true intent of health care reform, which is to swing entire system to a government-controlled, Euro-socialist, single payer system. Those who moronically believe the government will provide better health care to more people and for less money will no doubt deny the ridiculously impossible nature of this claim.

In order to garner support, the Democrats have tried to demonize the private insurance industry as the root of soaring costs. So why do the Democrat plans require everyone to purchase insurance from these ne'er-do-wells? If profit-driven insurance companies are the root of our problem, why the mandate to purchase their products at all?

The government plan will regulate what is covered by new health insurance policies. Ask yourself how long a private insurance company can stay in business, without being able to raise premiums, when the government forces them to provide full coverage to all people regardless of risk? More people will

Private insurance companies will find other ways to seek profits required by their shareholders, and stop selling insurance, then what we have left is a government monopoly. Obama's lie about the government providing insurance "just to keep insurance companies honest" will eventually drive

The normal method of government expansion is incremental; a small piece here, a little piece there, the end game being to take it all. But this massive undertaking is a bit frightening, especially considering the radical changes and massive spending over recent months, and I cannot see why people are surprised by this apprehension.

Remember that, once we hand over the reins, there is little chance of going back. Perhaps a bit less emotion, and a bit more intellect, would be helpful in deciding the outcome of this massive reform proposal.

Also remember that, no matter who is holding the reins, it is the Congress that yields the power. And most of them have been seated for decades. How many of them are offering to accept the same health plan that they wish to force upon us? At last count, it was zero. What should that tell you?

Liberals, driven purely by emotion and the desire to interfere in all things, need to stop thinking that everything is fixed now that Bush is gone and Obama is in. This is exactly what they want you to think. I know it is hard to imagine, but liberals do not have a monopoly on the truth. There are lies and misinformation on both sides. Think for yourselves for a change, and quit listening to all the propaganda. It is every bit as poisonous coming from the left as it is from the right.

Private v. Public: WTF?

Don't cry for the 47 million in America who are uninsured. They are not all lying on the ground, balled up and ready to die at any moment, although this is the picture the Democrats try to paint.

First eliminate the illegal immigrants, if you actually have a way to count them all. Now eliminate the young people, who are strong, healthy, and consider themselves bulletproof, and have no insurance by choice. Next, eliminate the chronically ill, who cannot obtain insurance of any type, without paying through the nose for high-risk policies. You are left with about 10 million people. For an estimated $2 trillion cost, we can add these to the ranks of the insured for a mere $200,000 each.

Private insurance is a business and, as all private business, has one purpose: to make a profit. As of 2007, some 2.5 million people are employed in the insurance industry. Most of the people who work for these companies demonstrate human compassion. They are not all the cold-hearted, miserly curmudgeons they are portrayed to be, but the bottom line here is still money. Last I checked, this is what makes the world go around, people. A company that loses money doesn't stay in business very long.

Seems to me there are zero competitors to private insurance, unless you count a secondary policy to Medicare. You either have insurance or you don't.
Private insurance companies compete with each other. The one's that can offer the best plans at the best prices are the one's which succeed. The rates you pay are calculated upon how many people pay into the pool versus how much money is spent for services rendered.

Let's assume for a moment that I run an insurance company. I charge one rate for healthy people, and another rate for sick people. This is a benefit to the healthy people, for the amount paid out in services will be much less, and their policies will be less expensive.

Now, since I know that the money I must pay for services to care for people who are sick will be much greater, I have two choices. I can charge them more for their policy, or I can charge both pools, healthy and sick, more. This is the way Obamacare will work. By forcing everyone to have coverage, and by ensuring that sick people can sign up, we will all have to pay more. Sorry you took good care of yourself, ate health foods, exercised regularly, because you still have to cover the cost of the fast-food, chain-smoking pool.

I certainly enjoy comments from people who believe the government wants to help you, that the government is going to provide your new kidney for free, or remove your gall bladder for nothing. These poor, ignorant fools believe that "rich people" should pay for your poor health. All they understand is that somebody else needs pay for their $500,000 procedure so they can buy insurance at $100 a month.

Candidate Obama was in favor of a single payer system. There is no doubt of this fact. Yet President Obama denies this, and only wishes to establish a "public option", just to keep the private insurance companies honest. Another term for "public option" could be "government subsidized". How on earth can any private company compete with this? The creation of a public option will mean the loss of private insurance as they go out of business one by one. Suddenly, the government option is the only option, which creates the single-payer system that Obama wanted all along.