Thoughts on Pelosi’s Health Care Proposal

My old brain is not working at top performance (I was up too late last night). I did want to comment briefly on the latest Health Care fiasco by Nancy Pelosi and her gang.

Pelosi has come forth with her massive Health Care proposal. You know, the Health Care that will be sure everyone in the United States will be insured, will save all of us money, help the economy, and NOT raise taxes. Yep, that one.

The 1990 page bill (light reading) is now available for all with the fortitude to slog through. I am struck by the stupidity and arrogance of our legislators as they once again prove that they have no clue about how businesses operate. Of course, they have been proving that for years if you look at the stupid business decisions they make for the country. Yes, I do believe the country should be looked at and operated like a business: it is the largest employer in the country, so what shouldn't it adhere to basic business principles? A good article explaining how the bill will negatively affect you can be found on the FreedomWorks website. Info about the GOP's alternative health care proposal can be found here.

It all boils down to the fact that the United States can't afford the bill as it is set forth. My husband and I looked at new cars recently. We came home in the car we have owned for 6 years. We couldn't afford a new one. Why can't our legislators use the same logic as a couple of older folks in Western North Carolina? It was relatively simple for us to say, "We have this much income, this many obligations, can we afford to do this?" Answer, arrived at in a bipartisan manner, "No."

Posting Break

Took a break from posting today to spend time with my hubby. Today is his 66th birthday. See you with many various thoughts tomorrow.

~~Granny

Letter from Kay Hagan

October 28, 2009
Dear Friend,

Thank you for contacting me regarding your concerns about health care reform. I greatly appreciate hearing your thoughts on these important issues.

Each year, costs associated with our current system increase. North Carolinians are struggling to afford insurance coverage, and the unprecedented economic crisis facing our nation has made it still more difficult for working families to manage medical costs while making ends meet. In North Carolina alone, the number of uninsured has risen to approximately 1.8 million, which represents 22 percent of the state's population.

The United States spends more per capita on health care than any other developed nation, over $2 trillion per year, yet this fact is not reflected in our health outcomes. A Commonwealth Fund report compared the American health care payment and service delivery system with that of six other developed nations. The report found the United States to have poorer health indicators and outcomes, as well as a more fragmented and unstable system with substantial delays, waste, and paperwork.

As you know, there are various opposing views within the health care reform debate, and I would like to address a few here. When crafting the Affordable Health Choices Act, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee bill, we went to great lengths to ensure that if you have a health insurance plan that you like, you can keep it. Moreover, no one will be required to participate in the Community Health Insurance Option, including individuals, employers, and health care providers.

I recognize that medical liability reform has the potential to reduce medical malpractice insurance premiums for health care providers and decrease defensive medicine practices. Accordingly, I am in favor of President Obama's plan to implement demonstration projects to evaluate medical liability models being used and implemented around the United States.

In addition, concern has been raised about illegal aliens being able to receive medical services under health care reform. The Affordable Health Choices Act defines an eligible individual as a citizen or lawfully admitted permanent resident of the United States. Illegal immigrants would be explicitly barred from receiving services under the legislation.

Also, some believe abortion services could be covered under health care reform. This is inaccurate, due to a long-standing federal law that includes a broad prohibition against using federal funds for abortion services. Health care reform would not change that prohibition, which is known as the Hyde Amendment.

Furthermore, it has come to my attention that some believe there would be rationing of health care services under health care reform. The Afforable Health Choices Act would not do anything to limit the ability of your doctor to pursue the course of care he or she believes is most appropriate for you. While the bill would fund research into the comparative effectiveness of various treatments, that information will simply serve as a tool for practioners to use as they see fit. The Affordable Health Choices Act specifically states that any recommendations made under health care reform shall not be construed as mandates for payment, coverage, or treatment of health services.

I will continue to work with my Senate colleagues and stakeholders throughout North Carolina to help pass pragmatic, comprehensive health care reform. For the most up-to-date information on health care reform, I encourage you to follow the Senate HELP and Finance Committee websites, found at www.help.senate.gov and www.finance.senate.gov. There you can find the draft legislation and proposals, bill summaries, press releases, amendments, and a variety of publications.
Again, thank you for contacting my office. It is truly an honor to represent North Carolina in the United States Senate, and I hope you will not hesitate to contact me in the future should you have any further questions or concerns.

Sincerely,



Kay R. Hagan

Please do not reply to this email. Instead, if you have further questions, please visit www.hagan.senate.gov and fill out my web form for your inquiry. Thank you.

'A Time for Choosing'

This speech by Ronald Reagan is as relevant today as when he made it. I was only 12 years old at the time; most of my readers were yet unborn. Please watch the whole video. We need a man (or woman) like him now, desperately.

Teenager-In-Chief

Barack Obama rolled into office with the glory and pomp of a victorious Roman Emperor. From the celebration of his nomination to the inauguration itself; it has all been a really big show. Obama likes really big shows. He loves being in the spotlight. Nothing is as important to him as the pomp and circumstance, the glory, of being President of the United States.

Despite his worries about climate change; he rivals Al Gore in carbon emissions with his constant use of Air Force One. After the gigantic panic and rush through of the Stimulus Bill, it waited for his signature until he could fly cross country for the signing ceremony. Almost daily, he flies somewhere to give yet another campaign speech (you won Barack, enough already). His trips may be free for him; but we pay dearly for them with our tax dollars. The fuel used by the massive Air Force One vastly outstrips Al Gore's private jet, which is also in regular use while polluting the atmosphere. If you care about the environment enough to push Cap and Trade, Barry, just have a "fireside chat" from the White House and save the fuel and carbon emissions. Practice what you preach!

When not jet setting off to make another public appearance and speech, Obama likes to play golf. He has, to date, played more golf while president that President Bush did over his entire term. When not playing golf, he likes to play pick-up basketball. He talks and he plays. Meanwhile the rest of us, those lucky enough to have jobs, work our tails off to pay the taxes that make his glorious lifestyle possible.

He also likes music and parties. Did I mention the White House parties and musical events we have hosted (paid for) but did not get to attend? (Source)

The overgrown teenager that holds title to President of the United States has so far only proven to me that he can talk (with the help of a teleprompter), play, fly in Air Force One, and pout like a small child if everyone doesn't adore him and tell him a million times per day how wonderful he is.

The members of our dysfunctional, corrupt, self-serving Congress and Senate are not much better. They are the perfect match for the teenager-in-chief and together they are going to drive us, their parents, into the poorhouse and crazy to boot.

 

Public Option Is Not Dead: Here We Go Again!

Senator Harry Reid announced yesterday that the public option is not dead and will be in the new health care bill he is bringing to the Senate floor.

These power grabbing, electorate ignoring "representatives" of ours still don't get it. They don't understand that the majority of American's do not want their government run health care plan. Or, maybe they do get it and just don't give a rat's ass what we want!

No matter which poll you look at, the majority of American's do not want the public option. However, the Anointed One does, so good old Harry and the rest of the liberals in the Senate and House are obliged to get in line and bow to the Anointed One's wishes. They will cram what they want down our throats whether we like it or not. It's the Liberal Way. We had better just sit down and shut up; because "they" know what's best for us. We, the mere peasants, are too ignorant to know about such things.

If there was ever a time to make our voices heard it is now. Will they listen? Probably not. They will continue on their merry way, taking away each and every freedom we have left while they march our entire country toward bankruptcy.

What am I going to do? I'm going to step-up my individual pressure on my senator (the liberal Kay Hagan) and my blue-dog congressman (Heath Schuler) in my attempt to be heard. Will they listen to me and my fellow Western North Carolinians? I hope so.

Hagan and Schuler: You better listen, because if you don't I will do all in my power both in this blog and in my everyday interactions with others to get you fired come your next elections. And as for the Anointed One: I'll be working to fire him, too.

That is, if they let us vote.

Just Thinking

I know I'm getting older and my mind isn't always as quick to "get" things as it used to be. I should have started paying closer attention to politics when I was younger.

I thought Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State. Why then was John Kerry picked to read the riot act to Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai? True, Kerry was in Afghanistan already, picking up some valuable press time for himself. Maybe he was just there when Comrade Obama made the decision to encourage Karzai to submit to a run-off election since so many of the votes for him had been obviously fraudulently cast.

I also think it strange that our government officials are so concerned about 'fair' elections in other countries while seeking to ignore obvious voter fraud here in the United States (ACORN comes to mind here and the recent fraud allegations in New York).

The more I pay attention to politics the more I see what a tangled mess of interconnections it is. More than my old brain can comprehend sometimes.