I know it has been said before, but I will say it again.
I doubt it very much if there is one democrat who would not love to see Sarah on the republican ticket in 2012.
__________________
I believe that man will not merely endure. He will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance.
William Faulkner
"As more Americans delve into the disturbing details of the nationalized health care plan that the current administration is rushing through Congress, our collective jaw is dropping, and we’re saying not just no, but hell no!
The Democrats promise that a government health care system will reduce the cost of health care, but as the economist Thomas Sowell has pointed out, government health care will not reduce the cost; it will simply refuse to pay the cost. And who will suffer the most when they ration care? The sick, the elderly, and the disabled, of course. The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama’s “death panel” so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their “level of productivity in society,” whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil.
Health care by definition involves life and death decisions. Human rights and human dignity must be at the center of any health care discussion.
Rep. Michele Bachmann highlighted the Orwellian thinking of the president’s health care advisor, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, the brother of the White House chief of staff, in a floor speech to the House of Representatives. I commend her for being a voice for the most precious members of our society, our children and our seniors.
We must step up and engage in this most crucial debate. Nationalizing our health care system is a point of no return for government interference in the lives of its citizens. If we go down this path, there will be no turning back. Ronald Reagan once wrote, “Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth.” Let’s stop and think and make our voices heard before it’s too late."
- Sarah Palin
Liberal Obama supporters may not like what Sarah has to say...but they know every word is true.
"...details of the nationalized health care plan..."
Even Sarah knows that the plan is out there (and this statement was made months ago).
Its pretty sad when an aborted-term rogue governor is more tech-savvy than some forum members here.
__________________
We cannot control the evil tongues of others; but a good life enables us to disregard them. - Cato the Elder
The sad truth is that excellence makes people nervous. - Shana Alexander
Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength. - Eric Hoffer
Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear. -Thomas Jefferson
Now that the Senate Finance Committee has approved its health care bill, it’s a good time to step back and take a look at the long term consequences should its provisions be enacted into law.
The bill prohibits insurance companies from refusing coverage to people with pre-existing conditions and from charging sick people higher premiums. [1] It attempts to offset the costs this will impose on insurance companies by requiring everyone to purchase coverage, which in theory would expand the pool of paying policy holders.
However, the maximum fine for those who refuse to purchase health insurance is $750. [2] Even factoring in government subsidies, the cost of purchasing a plan is much more than $750. The result: many people, especially the young and healthy, will simply not buy coverage, choosing to pay the fine instead. They’ll wait until they’re sick to buy health insurance, confident in the knowledge that insurance companies can’t deny them coverage. Such a scenario is a perfect storm for increasing the cost of health care and creating an unsustainable mandate program.
Those driving this plan no doubt have good intentions, but good intentions aren’t enough. There were good intentions behind the drive to increase home ownership for lower-income Americans, but forcing financial institutions to give loans to people who couldn’t afford them had terrible unintended consequences. We all felt those consequences during the financial collapse last year. Unintended consequences always result from top-down big government plans like the current health care proposals, and we can’t afford to ignore that fact again.
Supposedly the Senate Finance bill will be paid for by cutting Medicare by nearly half a trillion dollars and by taxing the so-called “Cadillac” health care plans enjoyed by many union members. The plan will also impose heavy taxes on insurers, pharmaceutical companies, medical device companies, and clinical labs. [3] The result of all of these taxes is clear. As Douglas Holtz-Eakin noted in the Wall Street Journal, these new taxes “will be passed on to consumers by either directly raising insurance premiums, or by fueling higher health-care costs that inevitably lead to higher premiums.” [4] Unfortunately, it will lead to lower wages too, as employees will have to sacrifice a greater percentage of their paychecks to cover these higher premiums. [5] In other words, if the Democrats succeed in overhauling health care, we’ll all bear the costs. The Senate Finance bill is effectively a middle class tax increase, and as Holtz-Eakin points out, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation those making less than $200,000 will be hit hardest. [6]
With our country’s debt and deficits growing at an alarming rate, many of us can’t help but wonder how we can afford a new trillion dollar entitlement program. The president has promised that he won’t sign a health care bill if it “adds even one dime to our deficit over the next decade.” [7] But his administration also promised that his nearly trillion dollar stimulus plan would keep the unemployment rate below 8%. [8] Last month, our unemployment rate was 9.8%, the highest it’s been in 26 years. [9] At first the current administration promised that the stimulus would save or create 3 to 4 million jobs. [10] Then they declared that it created 1 million jobs, but the stimulus reports released this week showed that a mere 30,083 jobs have been created, while nearly 3.4 million jobs have been lost since the stimulus was passed. [11] Should we believe the administration’s claims about health care when their promises have proven so unreliable about the stimulus?
In January 2008, presidential candidate Obama promised not to negotiate behind closed doors with health care lobbyists. In fact, he committed to “broadcasting those negotiations on C-SPAN so that the American people can see what the choices are. Because part of what we have to do is enlist the American people in this process. And overcoming the special interests and the lobbyists...” [12] However, last February, after serving only a few weeks in office, President Obama met privately at the White House with health care industry executives and lobbyists. [13] Yesterday, POLITICO reported that aides to President Obama and Democrat Senator Max Baucus met with corporate lobbyists in April to help “set in motion a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign, primarily financed by industry groups, that has played a key role in bolstering public support for health care reform.” [14] Needless to say, their negotiations were not broadcast on C-SPAN for the American people to see.
Presidential candidate Obama also promised that he would not “sign any nonemergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House Web site for five days.” [15] PolitiFact reports that this promise has already been broken three times by the current administration. [16] We can only hope that it won’t be broken again with health care reform.
All of this certainly gives the appearance of politics-as-usual in Washington with no change in sight.
Americans want health care reform because we want affordable health care. We don’t need subsidies or a public option. We don’t need a nationalized health care industry. We need to reduce health care costs. But the Senate Finance plan will dramatically increase those costs, all the while ignoring common sense cost-saving measures like tort reform. Though a Congressional Budget Office report confirmed that reforming medical malpractice and liability laws could save as much as $54 billion over the next ten years, tort reform is nowhere to be found in the Senate Finance bill. [17]
Here’s a novel idea. Instead of working contrary to the free market, let’s embrace the free market. Instead of going to war with certain private sector companies, let’s embrace real private-sector competition and allow consumers to purchase plans across state lines. Instead of taxing the so-called “Cadillac” plans that people get through their employers, let’s give individuals who purchase their own health care the same tax benefits we currently give employer-provided health care recipients. Instead of crippling Medicare, let’s reform it by providing recipients with vouchers so that they can purchase their own coverage.
Now is the time to make your voices heard before it’s too late. If we don’t fight for the market-oriented, patient-centered, and result-driven reform plan that we deserve, we’ll be left with the disastrous unintended consequences of the plans currently being cooked up in Washington.
- Sarah Palin
Excellent points and a very good alternative suggested.
Zoltan
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Last edited by Zoltan Cobalt : 10-20-2009 at 06:05 PM.
The perfect storm:
This is the situation we have now - people can't get or afford insurance, so they opt out of having any. When they get sick, they go to the emergency room causing an increase in costs for what may have been a preventable illness.
The result? The rest of us pay for the health care costs of the uninsured. This horrible "perfect storm" that has been described it already here. Does the author not recognize that?
The solution? Get as many people to pay into the system as possible. This will not create more sick or injured people. The idea that the system would be overburdened by more sick or injured people because they'd have coverage is nonsense.
Unintended consequences:
Housing? That has nothing to do with the health care debate. Can't the author stay focused?
However, since you included it, its worth noting that the problems were not generated by the low income people defaulting on loans. Look at the homes being foreclosed upon. The low income housing issue is a smokescreen to hide the real problems that were generated by those at the top of the pay scale.
The cost:
The CBO estimates recently released show that the current plan under consideration would LOWER the deficit. If you disagree, talk with the CBO about it.
Its amazing that when the Democrats try to cut waste from a government program (Medicare and Medicade) the Republicans are the ones rushing in to preserve the inefficiencies of a government program. A few years back the Republicans wanted to kill it entirely. But now they must protect it at all costs?
I saw a sign from one of the protests - "Keep the government out of my Medicare". Honestly. That's the sort of folks that are against reform.
Open meetings:
How is it there can be a debate over elements of the various proposals if they are all secret? They aren't secret. Period.
Free market:
What free market? The health care industry has an exemption from anti-trust regulations. The choice of insurance providers has dwindled, not increased under free market conditions.
If you are in favor of a free market, then let's add another competitor to the mix. May the best run company win in a free and open market. Anything else is protectionism and is not capitalism.
I don't have a problem with insurers selling across state lines, provided they abide by the laws of the states in which they operate.
Sarah Palin:
Seriously, she's your spokesperson? The governor that aborted her term? Seriously?
__________________
We cannot control the evil tongues of others; but a good life enables us to disregard them. - Cato the Elder
The sad truth is that excellence makes people nervous. - Shana Alexander
Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength. - Eric Hoffer
Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear. -Thomas Jefferson
The perfect storm:
This is the situation we have now - people can't get or afford insurance, so they opt out of having any. When they get sick, they go to the emergency room causing an increase in costs for what may have been a preventable illness.
The result? The rest of us pay for the health care costs of the uninsured. This horrible "perfect storm" that has been described it already here. Does the author not recognize that?
The solution? Get as many people to pay into the system as possible. This will not create more sick or injured people. The idea that the system would be overburdened by more sick or injured people because they'd have coverage is nonsense.
Who are the people who go to the emergency room and cause an increase in costs for what may have been a preventable illness??
AND
Why are we paying for it?
This practice will not end with the passage of the government health care bill.
Although pres Obama has stated that illegals will NOT be eligible for government health care insurance there is no provision preventing them from obtaining FREE health CARE from any hospital.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dragon Fyre
Unintended consequences:
Housing? That has nothing to do with the health care debate. Can't the author stay focused?
However, since you included it, its worth noting that the problems were not generated by the low income people defaulting on loans. Look at the homes being foreclosed upon. The low income housing issue is a smokescreen to hide the real problems that were generated by those at the top of the pay scale.
I think it has everything to do with the health care debate. It is a perfect example of how government agencies and government intrusion into private sector/business will turn into a disaster.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dragon Fyre
The cost:
The CBO estimates recently released show that the current plan under consideration would LOWER the deficit. If you disagree, talk with the CBO about it.
I do not disagree...I do not accept. No one can really accept the last CBO report. It was based on an "outline" not the actual bill (No one has seen the actual bill yet)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dragon Fyre
Its amazing that when the Democrats try to cut waste from a government program (Medicare and Medicade) the Republicans are the ones rushing in to preserve the inefficiencies of a government program. A few years back the Republicans wanted to kill it entirely. But now they must protect it at all costs?
I saw a sign from one of the protests - "Keep the government out of my Medicare". Honestly. That's the sort of folks that are against reform.
IF (Big IF) the liberal democrats want to cut waste from Medicare/Medicade why not start right now and show us how it can be done. They do not need a government takeover bill to pass before they do something...(Or do they?)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dragon Fyre
Open meetings:
How is it there can be a debate over elements of the various proposals if they are all secret? They aren't secret. Period.
Who said anything about secret??
The promise was that meetings would be broadcast to the American people.
And I remember something about "no more lobbyists"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dragon Fyre
Free market:
What free market? The health care industry has an exemption from anti-trust regulations. The choice of insurance providers has dwindled, not increased under free market conditions.
If you are in favor of a free market, then let's add another competitor to the mix. May the best run company win in a free and open market. Anything else is protectionism and is not capitalism.
The Health Insurance Industry is one of the MOST regulated industries in America. 51 different government agencies control health insurance companies. There are over 1300 companies offering health insurance to Americans. If those numbers are dwindling it is due to over regulation.
Another competitor would be great.....as long as it is NOT the U.S. government.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dragon Fyre
I don't have a problem with insurers selling across state lines, provided they abide by the laws of the states in which they operate.
It is the laws of the states that limit the number of companies that may provide services within their borders.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dragon Fyre
Sarah Palin:
Seriously, she's your spokesperson? The governor that aborted her term? Seriously?
Now, now Dragon. Sarah may have stepped down as governor, but she sure knows bad legislation when she sees it.
Zoltan
__________________ [
Last edited by Zoltan Cobalt : 10-21-2009 at 02:22 PM.
Who are the people who go to the emergency room and cause an increase in costs for what may have been a preventable illness??
AND
Why are we paying for it?
Thispractice will not end with the passage of the government health care bill.
Although pres Obama has stated that illegals will NOT be eligible for government health care insurance there is no provision preventing them from obtaining FREE health CARE from any hospital.
I think it has everything to do with the health care debate. It is a perfect example of how government agencies and government intrusion into private sector/business will turn into a disaster.
I do not disagree...I do not accept. No one can really accept the last CBO report. It was based on an "outline" not the actual bill (No one has seen the actual bill yet)
IF (Big IF) the liberal democrats want to cut waste from Medicare/Medicade why not start right now and show us how it can be done. They do not need a government takeover bill to pass before they do something...(Or do they?)
Who said anything about secret??
The promise was that meetings would be broadcast to the American people.
And I remember something about "no more lobbyists"
The Health Insurance Industry is one of the MOST regulated industries in America. 51 different government agencies control health insurance companies. There are over 1300 companies offering health insurance to Americans. If those numbers are dwindling it is due to over regulation.
Another competitor would be great.....as long as it is NOT the U.S. government.
It is the laws of the states that limit the number of companies that may provide services within their borders.
Now, now Dragon. Sarah may have stepped down as governor, but she sure knows bad legislation when she sees it.
Zoltan
Sounds like you sure have a lot of Free Time...Maybe we don;t need Folks with a lot of Free Time....Maybe they're a strain on the overall picture....
Get It...
You could be the new target......
But I'm Cobalt....
May not Matter.....
Sounds like you sure have a lot of Free Time...Maybe we don;t need Folks with a lot of Free Time....Maybe they're a strain on the overall picture....
Get It...
You could be the new target......
But I'm Cobalt....
May not Matter.....
Roady, old sport, Zoltan knows that you are trying to make a point. Whatever it is....is beyond human comprehension.
But you go ahead and enjoy yourself. Zoltan is here for you.
I don't know how anyone can make a point when the bill hasn't been written yet and probably won't be finalized in detail until AFTER it is voted in
The one thing you can be sure of is that Emergancy room abuse will stay the same or increase with the increase of illegal aliens regardless of what any bill says. If you show up at the ER you will be cared for and recieve follow up care.
__________________ Life's journey is not to
arrive at the grave safely
in a well preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways,
totally worn out, shouting
"...holy shyt ...what a ride!"------------------------------------
Colombo Club Life member
Monster Garage Alumni
Sarah In 2012 Go Sarah Go!!!!!
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