Yes-23 » healthcare reform

Personal responsibility: Yours or the Governments?

RodZ — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:46:41 +0000

Yesterdays blog seemed to stimulate some controversy. It seems that my liberal friends think that I am lucky and have an “I got mine you get yours mentality”. The blog was about personal responsibility. It was about making decisions in our own lives that place us where we are today. I used healthcare reform as an example of personal decision making. I was described as lucky, interesting.

Continuing with the premise that we are responsible for where we are in life because of the decisions we make. I have no debt, no credit cards, I have a savings account that will pay my bills for a year, I drive a 10 year old car, paid for. I pay cash for things I buy by saving for them, I chose a career that would provide me a job security, a pension and medical benefits for the rest of my life. My responsibility for others ended when my wife of 40 years past away this year. I am thankful for the decisions I made to secure health insurance and savings to cover 3 years of cancer treatment and her funeral, I am thankful that I had a savings account that allowed me to pay the share of costs incurred over 3 years and not go bankrupt. This was not luck, this was because I made a decision in my life to prepare for these things.

The reality is that most people in America will not delay gratification. They will use credit to buy the new car, TV or whatever. They live in the moment and do not prepare for the future. There are other people who use drugs, participate in criminal activities or are just to lazy to work for anything. Why should I pay for their healthcare or anything else for that matter?

Anyone who buys into revolving credit, adjustable rate mortgages, credit cards is spending their future. If you can’t afford it, don’t buy it. Decisions you make in life will dictate where you will end up.

Why am I against all these noble social programs? It is simple, the debt we are incurring is putting at risk of losing everything I worked and planned for.

Does this sound selfish? I don’t think so. Look to yourself and make your own life better, don’t depend on me, I already raised my children, who by the way, have all the benefits I have because they have taken responsibility for their decisions.

The path this administration and congress is taking will bankrupt this county. I don’t feel that I should lose everything I worked for to provide for somebody’s socialist agenda. To my liberal friends, we are not all entitled to everything everyone else has, your must earn it.

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Poll: With the new Healthcare Reform will you be?

Lady Kathleen — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:10:07 +0000

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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Personal Responsibility: Part 3

RodZ — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:30:23 +0000

This is the last in a 3 part series of my opinions describing how personal choices affect where we are in life.

It is my belief that we as individuals could have mitigated some of the serious economic problems we are experiencing by managing our spending and responsibly borrowing money. The housing crisis could have been lessened by prudent borrowing of the individual. We should not have purchased mortgages we could not afford. We should not have 20 credit cards in our wallet. We as a community should have made personal choices to live within our means.

Having said that, what has happened to the moral compass and personal responsibility of corporate America. The personal decisions they made affected each and every one of us. Their decisions coupled with the lifestyle of millions of Americans have brought the greatest economy in the world to its knees.

Where is the moral compass and personal responsibility of individuals within the government agencies tasked with regulating industries? Where is it in our politicians? It is true the object of any business is to make money. It is true, government should have laws and regulations in place to protect us from unscrupulous business practices. The problem is that our business leaders, regulators and politicians have become “cozy” with one another. The American people are at their mercy.

It seems to me that our politicians are tied to the money they receive from corporate America and other lobbies. How can they make good decisions for we the people? It seems to me that a moral compass and personal responsibility have taken a back seat to advancing a career, staying in power and perhaps lining a pocket.

I wonder about the enormous salaries and bonuses CEO’s and executives within these corporations make, regardless of whether the company is doing well or not, again “cozy”. It has been reported that they all sit on each others boards and guess what? Your right they all get big paydays. Again where is the moral compass? Personal choice to disregard anything resembling the good of the collective seems to be the order of the day.

We are in the middle of a national debate on healthcare reform. We should reform a system that is clearly to expensive and growing out of control. I am tired of my premiums and co-pays growing beyond inflation every year. I don’t know what the out come of this debate will be but I am sure that with no moral compass in sight it won’t be what we expect. I do know that the personal choices of our government leadership will affect all of us and we will be where we are tomorrow because of that decision.

The only thing that I think I can do is make personal decisions that will shelter me from as much of the fallout of current situation as I can and prepare me for the future. I hope you all make a personal decision to do the same.

The weapons we all have, our vote, voice and our dollars. If we let the government know what we want, if we vote our conscience perhaps they will listen. Our dollars can be withheld from corporate America, I know that will get their attention.

In the first two installments I spoke of individual choices and how they affect where we are in life. As you can see I recognize that the choices of others will affect where we are in life also. I do hold to the idea that we as individuals are responsible for where we are in life because of our own decisions. Decide now, to get involved contact your representatives, let them know you are tired of a system that disregards we the people. Decide now, to put your personal finances in order and live within your means. Decided now, to not buy anything from or invest with those corporations that are unscrupulous. Perhaps we the people can make a difference because of our personal decisions.

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Health Reform Scare Tactics

Lady Kathleen — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:05:55 +0000

I couldn’t help but post this after I saw it! I got it in my e-mail but it looks like it originally came from USA Today.

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New Healthcare Reform

Lady Kathleen — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:17:52 +0000

This is the new symbol that is floating around in light of the new healthcare reform package. I thought it was so good I had to share it!

What really gets me with this healthcare reform is, when it first came out there were so many promises to make it better for the people that could not afford healthcare. And now that it is getting closer to being pushed through, all I see is nothing to make it easier to afford and a lot of extra special interest group benefits and a big penalty if you don’t sign up for it. How is this better?

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Healthcare Reform: Stephen Fraser Letter Controversy, More Truth Than Fiction?

RodZ — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:14:51 +0000

Ok folks the Stephen Fraser letter has made it’s way to factcheck and they have decided that it is not accurate. In addition they claim to have traced the originator through twitter and determined that a conservative blogger constructed this letter and there is no Dr Stephen Fraser. Now the liberals have debunked the letter and they can move on and continue to support this terrible bill.

But wait a minute why don’t we look a the full context of what the bill is saying? Is this letter truly inaccurate? First this letter is about HR3200 but the contents are in HR3962 so it is relevant.

Lets look at one of the letters claims about HR3200: Claim: Page 30: A government committee will decide what treatments and benefits you get (and, unlike an insurer, there will be no appeals process). This in now found in HR3962 page 111.

Factcheck determination: False: Actually, the section starting on page 30 sets up a “private-public advisory committee” headed by the U.S. surgeon general and made up of mostly private sector “medical and other experts” selected by the president and the comptroller general. The advisory committee would have only the power “to recommend” what benefits are included in basic, enhanced and premium insurance plans. It would have no power to decide what treatments anybody will get. Its recommendations on benefits might or might not be adopted.

This is true, but if one looks at this section of the bill in full context one might wonder if there is more truth than fiction here.

While it is true that the committee will make recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services concerning benefits, one should ask the question where else will the benefits be decided other than the committee? While it is true that they are not empowered to decide what benefits you will receive, their recommendations will certainly carry a tremendous amount of weight and will probably be accepted. The bill states that the Secretary of Health and Human Services SHALL adopt the benefit standards through a process governed by section 553 of title 5, United States CodeS, which reads as follows:

“This section applies, according to the provisions thereof, except to the extent that there is involved – (1) a military or foreign affairs function of the United States; or (2) a matter relating to agency management or personnel or to public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts. (b) General notice of proposed rule making shall be published in the Federal Register, unless persons subject thereto are named and either personally served or otherwise have actual notice thereof in accordance with law. The notice shall include – (1) a statement of the time, place, and nature of public rule making proceedings; (2) reference to the legal authority under which the rule is proposed; and (3) either the terms or substance of the proposed rule or a description of the subjects and issues involved.

Except when notice or hearing is required by statute, this subsection does not apply – (A) to interpretative rules, general statements of policy, or rules of agency organization, procedure, or practice; or (B) when the agency for good cause finds (and incorporates the finding and a brief statement of reasons therefor in the rules issued) that notice and public procedure thereon are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest. (c) After notice required by this section, the agency shall give interested persons an opportunity to participate in the rule making through submission of written data, views, or arguments with or without opportunity for oral presentation.

After consideration of the relevant matter presented, the agency shall incorporate in the rules adopted a concise general statement of their basis and purpose.

Page 118 of HR3692 clearly states that the Secretary SHALL adopt an initial set of benefit standards and provide for period up dating of those standards.

So, given this would it not follow that the committee will determine your benefits? Worse yet would it not follow that the Secretary of Health and Human Services will determine your benefits? THE GOVERNMENT will determine your benefits period.

Lets look at the us of the terms treatments/benefits used in the context of this letter. Isn’t the term benefits a word used to describe the collective treatments, surgeries, prescription drugs, out/in patients services and other things you will receive through your plan? If so then the committee recommendations and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (GOVT) will determine the “treatments” and other services you will receive.

If carry this logic further you will see that they will also determine the price of these services via what they are willing pay as compensation for these services. If you take the next step you might ask yourself if this will also control the salaries of our medical professionals. Medicare already sets the limits of compensation for services, the insurance companies use the Medicare model to negotiate the benefit compensation with their preferred providers. Logic dictates that if the Government controlled healthcare program is the only one in town the medical professionals will have to settle for these limits.

I would say there is more truth in this letter than one would suspect. I will leave you to make your own decision on that subject. I have read the bill and have my own interpretations and opinions on what I have read. I will leave you to make your own.

I post these chain letters once in awhile to stimulate the debate in order to get people discussing the issues, to read the bills and determine on their own if these laws are to our benefit. I would hope folks would use things like Factcheck as a starting point and determine on their own whether a bill or and issue is good for the citizens of the United States. Please folks read the bills and formulate your own opinion.

Finally, It is well documented that there is a Dr. Stephen Fraser, Did he write the letter? I don’t know, if he did at least he is engaged in the debate. If it was written by the conservative blogger: I condemn your actions, you are undermining the argument and all of our credibility when you hide behind a false identity. If you read the bill and these are your concerns stand behind them and identify yourself as what you truly are. Stop the crap and man-up.

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Progressives Self-destruct? Healthcare all or Nothing!

RodZ — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:24:16 +0000

Wow, I was worried! The Progressive’s are going to finally unite and put out one of the most terrible bills in the history of the United States. I guess I didn’t have to really expend all that time and energy. History shows that when you have an inclusive party and the tent is full of radicals there will be no compromise. What is wrong with you people? This is the time to fulfill your dream.

The issue now seems to be government funded abortion. There is already a law that prohibits the use of Federal dollars for an abortion. The various pro-choice groups in the Congress are just going insane. They refuse to vote for the final bill if it does not allow the insurance companies to offer abortion coverage through the exchange. Their argument is, there would be no Federal dollars going to the purchase of the policy or the abortion, the only Federal dollars involved would be to set up the exchange and run it.

I don’t want to get into the abortion debate, this is a healthcare reform bill isn’t it? Perhaps the pro-choice folks should consider passing the healthcare reform bill and letting the women who want an abortion pay for it out of pocket. You know just like a face lift.

I just cannot believe these pro-choice folks would sacrifice the sacred cow of government healtcare for one issue confined to a small portion of the population. Oh yes I can. Keep up the good work.

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Presidential Blame Game

RodZ — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:56:09 +0000

Being the President of the United States has to be the hardest job on the planet. When you take office you are briefed on world affairs and domestic affairs. It must be frightening considering every Presidents hair starts turning grey within months of taking office. The intelligence information the President receives is never known the the American public.

The President must deal with 425 congressmen/women and their agenda’s, he must deal with the American voter, he must deal with strong lobby influences and until he is in office he has no idea what this entails. It is always the President who gets the blame for whatever is going wrong at the time. The President never gets credit for anything until long after he is out of office. The President inherits many problems incurred from the previous administration and decades of programs, deals and world issues. Why anyone would want this job is beyond comprehension.

The President of the United States is the leader of this country and as such he will always get the blame or credit for whatever happens during his tenure. If we the american people were to look at who is really responsible for the many problems we now face we would probable vote out Congress and force the new members to throw out the large lobby groups and do the peoples business. There are just to many long standing deals.

The current President seems to have delegated healthcare reform and most other progressive agenda items to Pelosi, Reed and the extreme left. These folks are not concerned with the American people, I say this because they are not listening, they are forging ahead with every program they have ever envisioned while they now have the power to do so. The President should represent all of us and he should moderate these programs in a manner that brings us all together. He is the leader or is he? I don’t want to join the blame game but, isn’t he guilty of the same thing?

The real issue is the economy of this country, why in the hell are we burying ourselves in debt? Why are we focused on domestic social reform before we fix the banking industry?

I don’t know where you all stand but I know that this president and his current path are not good for this counties financial well being. The government cannot create jobs but it can create an environment where investment and jobs will not be created. It is the Presidents job to make sure a healthy economic environment exists and quit blaming Bush, it wasn’t just Bush. There is plenty of blame in the congress, Wall Street and even the American people to go around, now is the time to fix the problem not the blame.

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House Healthcare Reform Bill: Just Plain BAD

RodZ — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:03:11 +0000

Let’s be clear, I am for healthcare reform, I am not for Republicans, Democrats, Liberals, Conservatives or Progressives. I am for reform that will benefit the American people. I am definitely not for this bill, it is a terrible bill. It is very costly and does nothing to improve the system.

Yesterday we looked at several specific things that were clearly not beneficial to the American people. There are so many moving parts to this bill it will be difficult to get to all of them so I will try to highlight several that should concern the American people.

The big lie is that the insurance companies have a larger overhead than a government equivalent. I wonder how that is possible considering the 111 to 119 commissions and boards that will be established by this bill. I wonder what the increase in federal employees, necessary to support the requirements of this bill, will cost in payroll.

This bill is a grand experiment that provides for demonstration programs because no one has any idea how to build the new healthcare system. I can only imagine the hidden cost associated with this provision. I know that the government has done many demonstration programs in many other areas over the years. This generally leads to a patchwork of programs that continue to be demonstration programs for years. No one ever analyses them or implements the best one.

This bill contains language that provides for preventive care. Wonderful concept but one wonders why we continue to try to legislate the behavior of the American people. What is hidden in this bill that will force people to stop personal harmful behavior. What are the consequences for not changing that behavior. You think there are none? I don’t believe for one minute that this administration or progressive driven congress will miss a chance to add controls to the American people. Just wait for it, it will become clear in time.

The Medicare/Medicaid reform portion of this bill are just to difficult to review. They way bills are written requires the reader to go to a multitude of existing laws and compare the changed references. I just don’t have the resources to look at all of them, however, if the news media is to be believed there will be large cuts in these programs. I am sure these cuts will affect most of our senior population in a negative way. I believe the Medicare Advantage program will not exist in it’s current form or at all.

One humorous part of the bill concerned electric driven wheel chairs. In the future they will be called “Complex rehabilitative devices” and only government certified doctors will be able to write a prescription for these devices. I imagine this is a shot at controlling the sales of the “Scooter”.

This bill provides monetary aid to education to help more people enter the medical field. Nice gesture, they are still loans. I am not sure if this will really increase the number of doctors but the loans do have to be paid back.

I found it humorous that this portion of the bill provided the same benefits to veterinary doctors. I guess the animals need a revised healthcare plan too.

This bill is just to much government control and spending. It will raise the taxes and insurance costs to the American people regardless of your income. Please don’t support this bill, they can do better than this. Contact your representative. NOW!

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Another Step Towards Socialism: House Healthcare Reform Bill

RodZ — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:19:48 +0000

HealthCare and the Capitol

The Progressives are moving in lockstep towards health care reform. The House bill is being debated, the Senate bill is classified top secret. What are we the people going to get?

I read the house bill, I found it very frightening. Speaker Pelosi and her cohorts have crafted a bill that will revamp the healthcare in this country. If this bill passes it we will all be forced into a system that raises taxes and increases our insurance premium costs. This bill puts the government in control of our healthcare and large sums of our money. This is the most extensive, expensive, do nothing for the people, healthcare bill in the history of the United States. It is more costly and complicated than medicare. If you don’t believe me read the bill yourself.

After months of calling the insurance companies thieves and liars the writers of this bill have created a wonder and profitable place for them, “THE EXCHANGE,” where all of us must go to purchase insurance unless we meet the new poverty levels and qualify for Medicaid. We will find all the familiar names waiting for us in the exchange. Do you think cheaper insurance because of a larger pool of customers? Think again, the bill allows a 25% increase in premiums for the insurance companies. Nice! Seems to me the champaign contributions will continue to roll in while Congress rolls over and we get screwed.

We get to keep what we have huh? We are grandfathered in. Do you know what grandfathered in means in government speak? It means the people who are currently in a program can stay, but did you know this bill prohibits insurance companies from issuing policies to individuals at year one of the start up. They have to go to the exchange. What does this tell us? It tells me that if you stay in your old program you can but, as soon as all of us in the program have died or quit, the program will end leaving only the exchange.

The medicaid portion concerns me greatly. I know that under any government assistance program there are income and ownership limitations. If you are one of the folks that qualify for Medicaid you have to accept it, you have no other options. On the surface this sounds fine but what of the people under this new qualifying level who own a house? A house is an asset. They may not qualify and be forced into the exchange. These folks are struggling to make ends meet and they will be forced to absorb a monthly health insurance premium payment, they might be forced to sell just to get Medicaid or make a premium payment. You think that these kind of folks don’t exists, think again I know several.

You may be asking yourself, how does this lead us to socialism? My opinion is the government is forcing me to purchase something I may not want or already have, they are telling me where to purchase it. Progressives make the case that the government already does this in many forms. I agree! Each one of these mandates costs me more personal choices and liberties. Each one of these mandates is another step towards socialism. It is my opinion that we as citizens have an obligation to pay taxes to support many important government functions for the benefit of us all. It is my opinion that there is a fine line between these obligations and government control. The policies of this administration and congress are crossing that line.

There is just to much to discuss in one blog so I will have to continue this later. Please get involved, make your voice heard. Indications are Pelosi won’t listen but your rep might!

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