“The Doctor Won’t See You Now”

At the time of this writing there seems to be a reprieve on ObamaCare. Thank God! At first, President Obama said that Healthcare Reform would be pushed through before the August recess. Now, all of that has changed thanks to some Blue Dogs and some very angry constituents.

Washington phone lines have been melting down with calls opposing this latest attempt to socialize our Health Industry that represents 1/6 of our overall economy. Obama remains adamant about achieving his reforms before the year is out. The good news is that more time means more truth will come out to undermine this horrendous 1,018 page health care bill that few in Congress have actually read.

If you are uncertain about this issue, take a few moments to consider the following:

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has analyzed the price tag for this Nationalized Health monster and has determined a cost of $1.5 trillion over 10 years. That’s on top of our current debt and deficit already skyrocketing out of control.

In 1966 Medicare cost $64 million, now it’s $500 billion. The Council for Affordable Health Insurance estimated that the administrative expenses of Medicare and Medicaid last decade were 66% higher than those in the private sector. That’s hardly a trustworthy track record that warrants more federal involvement. In fact, maybe the politicians should fix these programs first, before demanding more from the taxpayers?

The brave new world of ObamaCare will create 31 new federal programs with a Healthcare Czar and a Bureau of Health Information. This red tape will increasingly make all health decisions a political matter where even euthanasia will be mandated in order to help save resources for those who are more fit.

The bill will add costs in other ways. There’s a pay-or-play provision that would require businesses to provide health insurance or pay a fine equal to 8% of payroll. By the White House’s own estimates, this would be a $300 billion cost to employers, eliminating 5 million jobs. Income taxes, also, would be increased by $583 billion with more than half of those affected being small businesses- the provider of most jobs in America. The CBO notes that for those businesses able to survive, these costs will be passed on to the workers in the form of lower wages. Douglas Elmendorf, chief of CBO, predicts “the health care bills that congressional Democrats have proposed would likely make the nation’s already gloomy budget prospects even worse.”

If you think you have a choice in this matter, forget it. Opting out of this government behemoth will bring down the wrath of Obama with various tax penalties. We must all assimilate under Big Brother’s plan even though polls show that as many as 90% of Americans are happy with their current health care.

Another big lie, is the number of uninsured. Proponents of Socialized Medicine say that there are 47 million uninsured Americans. The truth is: 20 million can afford health insurance but don’t voluntarily choose it. Most of the other 27 million, according to a CBO study conducted by former director June O’Neill, are single, under 35, or illegal aliens. Why should we destroy a system that a majority of Americans prefer just to cover those who either don’t want it, or shouldn’t be here?

Critics say our health care is bad compared to the rest of the world. This is yet another lie. Countries who have nationalized care have far worse catastrophic outcomes due to rationing and long lines. Breast cancer mortality in Germany is 52% higher than the U.S. In the U.K. it is 88% higher. Prostate cancer mortality is 604% higher in the U.K. and 457% higher in Norway. If you take out the anomalies in the U.S. statistics, like the homicide rate and driving deaths, studies find that Americans actually live longer than people in other countries.

Proponents of Socialized Medicine say the poor need more coverage. Well, this also belies the facts. America has 37 million people living in poverty, but Medicaid covers 55 million at a taxpayer cost of $350 billion per year.

So, how do we make health care better? Nearly half of our Health Industry is already socialized with government, third-party intrusions. This system needs to be cleaned-up and privatized with medical savings accounts. With more consumer choice, insurance plans that can go across state lines, medical tort reform and other free market principles the industry can improve without a total government take-over.

ObamaCare is dangerous on many fronts. It’s aiming to tax health insurance plans for the first time in history. Physician-owned hospitals would likely go out of business. And, perhaps worst of all, ObamaCare would force all health insurance plans to cover abortions. To compel someone to fund this immoral practice is the height of tyranny for an arrogant Administration that has gone way out of control. (send comments to: WFC83197@aol.com, or mail to POB 114, Jacksboro, TN 37757)