federal government to take over all of health care

On MSNBC, Rep Anthony Weiner (D-NY), a supporter of Mr. Obama's health care plans, finally state's the ultimate goal of "health care reform." Ed Morrissy of Hotair.com has the link to the interview by Joe Scarborough on Morning Cup of Joe.

During the interview, Weiner actually states several times the goal is to eliminate private health care. When you tie this into the fact that the creation of Center for Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation, the board that will decide whether or not you deserve health care once you reach a certain age, or if you have a terminal illness (this board was created under the "stimulus" bill signed into law last spring).

(copy & paste this http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/hentoff081909.php3)

This admission, along with what Rep Barney Frank (D MA) said last spring, is a naked attempt of the government to directly control 15% of the economy. I'm not wholey certain that this is constitutional. Under the 10th Amendment, I have come to the conclusion that this is something that should be reserved to the states, as in TennCare (Tennessee), and MassCare (Massachussetts), both of which are in severe financial straights. Neither of which actually reduce costs. In fact, In Mass, costs have risen almost exponentially.

This is what we have to look forward to, higher costs, immense deficits without end, and eventually bankruptcy as a nation. The alternatives are tax rates above 50% of gross income, something which will wipe out our way of life. Now is the time to put a stop to the madness and get some fiscal responsibility out of Washington.

Sarbanes, Again, Dodges the Question

My Congressman, John Sarbanes, (D MD3) once again dodeges the simple question I asked. Here is my reply to his longwinded non-answer:

Mr. Sarbanes,
You have yet again dodged my question. If your health care plan is so good, WHY is Congress, all their employees, all federal employees, and employees of the Executive branch specifically exempted from coverage? If you want to screw around with health care, then YOU MUST ACCEPT FOR YOUR FAMILY THE SAME PLAN YOU ARE FOISTING ON THE REST OF AMERICA.

To do less is to be hypocritical. When you can answer this that you personally will accept this plan for your family, then I will do so for mine.

Sincerely,

Richard A. Vail
Pikesville, MD 21208


“Pray that you will never have to bear all that you are able to endure.”
Jewish Proverb


In a message dated 8/14/2009 9:35:52 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, md03ima@mail.house.gov writes:

August 13, 2009

Dear Dr. Vail:

Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns about the "public option" health plan proposed in health reform legislation being considered in the Congress. As a member of the Health Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I have been fully engaged in this debate since the beginning of the year and I appreciate the opportunity to address this issue.
First, I want to be clear that this proposal is not a radical attempt to eliminate private health insurance in favor of a government run system. If you like your doctor and your current plan, you can absolutely keep them if this proposal becomes law. Members of Congress will receive no special treatment under the bill and will be afforded the opportunity to retain the health plan they share with two million other federal workers if they choose to do so.
For those who do not have health insurance, are looking to change plans, or are worried that they will lose their coverage because of their job, there will be a new framework in place to give you options. The bill creates a health care exchange where individuals can choose from multiple plans and benefit from access to the kind of group rates that only large employers can offer now. This approach will also make health insurance more "portable" and give Americans the assurance that they can continue to receive health care if they change jobs, are laid off, or simply don't like the plan offered through their employer.
Along with the many plans offered in the exchange by familiar private insurers, there will also be a public health plan option that will offer some long-overdue competition for the private health insurance industry that currently has a stranglehold on the system. Enhanced competition in the health care market will reduce cost, promote innovation and provide recourse for those who are currently without coverage. The "public option" makes a lot of sense. Unfortunately, it has been wildly mischaracterized as a "government takeover." This has been flatly refuted by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, which projects that the public plan will draw approximately twelve million participants by 2019. That's large enough to help influence best practices and push private insurers to provide consumers with quality service, but at 4% of the total population of our country, it's about as far from a "government takeover" as you can get.
It is natural to feel anxious about these reform efforts because health care policy touches every American family in a very personal way. That is why this dialogue is important. But I believe we have a good bill. It is a measured approach that will preserve what works about the current system and fix what doesn't.
The proposed reform will ensure that you get what you pay for when you commit your hard earned money to pay premiums every month. For example, the bill will prohibit insurance companies from increasing your rates for pre-existing conditions, gender, or occupation. It will cap annual out of pocket expenses and do away with lifetime limits on how much insurance companies will pay to cover. It guarantees affordable oral, hearing, and vision care for children. And it will do away with co-pays or deductibles for preventive care.
I hope this information is useful to you as the Congress continues to make progress on health care legislation. I believe it is possible to make intelligent reforms to our health care system that expand coverage and improve quality of care. I also believe there are many areas where we can reduce cost by eliminating wasted and making our system more efficient. The status quo is unsustainable for our economy and I am convinced that long term security will be elusive until we find out health care system. If you have access to the Internet and would like additional information about the health care reform bill, please visit the Energy and Commerce website at www.energycommerce.house.gov. If you have specific questions, feel free to contact my office at 410-832-8890.

Sincerely,
John Sarbanes
Member of Congress

As you can see, he just doesn't want to answer. Nor, interestingly enough is he going to hold any town halls. He is only going to hold "virtual" or teleconferences. I guess that he is afraid of actually talking to his constiuents. Imagine that, a public servant who doesn't want to face his voters.

Is Dissent Still Patriotic?

Is Dissent still patriotic? David Harsanyi asks that very question and quotes Pen Jillette. While I often disagree with Mr. Jillette, I will as an old USMC slogan says:

"First to Go, Last to Know, We will defend to the death your right to be misinformed"

In otherwords, I don't have to agree with what you say, but you do have the right to say it. Here is the link to the youtube page for Mr. Jillette:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqJ_Yp3tw74

Needless to say, I was rather surprised to hear what he had to say. It wasn't at all what I expected. I too have evolved my political views over the past 30 years, from a rebellious, knee jerk Republican, (in 1970's NW Fla, being Republican WAS rebellious--it was until Reagan a staunch Dem area) to a Libertariann outlook has been a gradual process, that has speeded up in the past few years (but I digress).

I firmly believe that it is your right to dissent from the ruling party. Comments?

Pelosi/Left "Desperately Seeking Nazi's"

Now CNN and other news organizations have jumped into the fray...CNN has been showing a poster of Mr. Obama with a photo shopped Hitler 'tache. To quote the Wall Street Journal,

"to illustrate the supposed extremism of ObamaCare critics"

Q: Do you think there’s a legitimate grassroots movement going on here?
Pelosi: I think they’re AstroTurf. You be the judge. They’re carrying swastikas and symbols like that to a town meeting on health care.

After all, if you're not a supporter of Mr. Obama, you have to be an extremist, and therefore must be a NAZI. That's forgetting that the basic tenets of National SOCIALISM are inimical to conservatives. After all any party that's called "National Socialist Workers Party" ain't gonna support limited government intervention in either the economy, or anything else for that matter. But first and foremost, to label anyone who is in opposition to the Democratic Party in general and Mr. Obama in particular, as a NAZI and an extremist, is in itself, hypocritical.

Additionally, if you look at the "posters" themselves, you easily see that they are from Lyndon LaRouchePac...who is a perpetual candidate for the presidency and a serious idiot, but under the 1st Amendment, we DO have the right to be idiots when we feel like it. Come on CNN, MSNBC, et al, if you did a little fact checking, you'd see this stuff yourselves!

SEI Workers Assault Man Protesting Health Care Reform

Follow the link for video of the actual assault, and copies of letters from the attorney for the victim. Here's the letter from the victim's attorney, via the link:

"August 7, 2009
Dear Mr. Hennessy:
I am Kenneth Gladney’s attorney. Kenneth was attacked on the evening of August 6, 2009 at Rep. Russ Carnahan’s town hall meeting in South St. Louis County. I was at the town hall meeting as well and witnessed the events leading up to the attack of Kenneth. Kenneth was approached by an SEIU representative as Kenneth was handing out “Don’t Tread on Me” flags to other conservatives. The SEIU representative demanded to know why a black man was handing out these flags. The SEIU member used a racial slur against Kenneth, then punched him in the face. Kenneth fell to the ground. Another SEIU member yelled racial epithets at Kenneth as he kicked him in the head and back. Kenneth was also brutally attacked by one other male SEIU member and an unidentified woman. The three men were clearly SEIU members, as they were wearing T-shirts with the SEIU logo.

Kenneth was beaten badly. One assailant fled on foot; three others were arrested. Kenneth was admitted to St. John’s Mercy Medical Center emergency room, where he was treated for his numerous injuries. Kenneth was merely expressing his freedom of speech by handing out the flags. In fact, he merely asked people as they exited the town hall meeting whether they would like a flag. He in no way provoked any argument or altercation, as evidenced by the fact that three assailants were arrested.
We hope that Kenneth fully recovers from his injuries; however, he is in great pain at this time. We will be pursuing legal action at our discretion. This was a truly senseless hate crime carried out by racist union thugs. Regretfully, Representative Carnahan’s statements blaming Kenneth for being a disruptive force are wholly untrue and slanderous. We would like to think that an elected official in Representative Carnahan’s position would gather accurate information before carelessly rushing to judgment.

Kenneth supports conservative ideals, although he subscribes to no particular political party. We are calling on the SEIU, Representative Carnahan, and President Obama to condemn the racist actions of these union thugs. In the days to come, we will be investigating whether these thugs are working at the behest of Representative Carnahan and how strong their alliances to various organizations–such as ACORN–may be.

We hope the St. Louis Tea Party and tea party organizations around the country will protest Representative Carnahan’s offices and also protest SEIU offices in every major city across the U.S. These Democratic strong-arm tactics must end now.

Regards,
Attorney David B. Brown"

SEI fully supports the proposed health care reform. So much so, that paid representatives have begun to assault those who oppose it. Of particular note, the victim, is registered as an independent, and...is black. His assailants, 1 was black (he threw the 1st punch & called him a vile racial epithet), two were white males, and the remaining perpetrator was a white woman. video at the link

Of particular note, is the one photograph that give an excellent definition of what a mob is.

UPDATE: Via Gatewaypundit:

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2009/08/tea-party-protesters-attacked-1-man.html

A Quote by the Founder of the Democratic Party

Here's a quote from the founder of the Democratic Party:

"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have." Thomas Jefferson

Think about it, if our government becomes large enough to "give" us everything we need, it's certainly large enough to deny the same to those who don't support it. Isn't that tyranny? That is where we are heading.

The People Spreading Disinformation about Obamacare

Here is a brief list of those who would like to eliminate choice in American health care:

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) at a Health Care for America Now rally: “And next to me was a guy from the insurance company who argued against the public health insurance option, saying it wouldn’t let private insurance compete. That a public option will put the private insurance industry out of business and lead to single-payer. My single-payer friends, he was right. The man was right.”

Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) told Single Payer Action: “I think that if we get a good public option it could lead to single-payer and that is the best way to reach single-payer. Saying you’ll do nothing till you get single-payer is a sure way never to get it. … I think the best way we’re going to get single-payer, the only way, is to have a public option and demonstrate the strength of its power.”

Washington Post blogger Ezra Klein at the Democratic National Convention last year: “They have a sneaky strategy, the point of which is to put in place something that over time the natural incentives within its own market will move it to single-payer.”

Noble Prize winning New York Times columnist Paul Krugman: “[T]he only reason not to do [single-payer] is that politically it’s hard to do in one step…You’d have to convince people completely give up the insurance they have, whereas something that lets people keep the insurance they have but then offers the option of a public plan, that may evolve into single-payer.”

Snitching for the Government

Here is a copy of a letter I just sent to flag@whitehouse.gov. That's the email address started by the Obama administration for you neighbor's to report you to the government for opposing the healthcare bill.

I believe that this program to investigate for political purposes is against the law. Also, didn't the national socialists (note the name...it's not a right wing organization) use something similar? Report your neighbors to the Gestapo so they can be thrown into a concentration camp! Is that what is coming next? Will you begin to prosecute those who don't agree with your policies? Isn't this exactly what Hugo Chavez is doing in Venezuela? Didn't the Soviet Union do this? Doesn't Communist China do this? None of the groups are conservatives, they are all left wing organizations. Is this the direction Mr. Obama desires to go?

What you are doing is wrong, and potentially evil. When Richard Nixon attempted to do a small sliver of this, he was crucified by the press and by history. Why are you doing this? What is your purpose? I suppose that I am exposing myself to prosecution for lodging my protests against this plan you are attempting to implement.

Not all that long ago, your party stated that dissent was the highest form of patriotism, when did that change? Oh, I get it...it's ok to protest anything presented by the Republican Party, but it's evil and small minded to dissent from the politically correct Democratic Party.

I am deeply disappointed in this sort of thing. I would have never thought that this could happen in America.

Drudge Report Video Shows Mr Obama's real agenda

Drudge Report has found a video of Mr. Obama at an AFL-CIO meeting, stating unequivacally that he,

“I happen to be a proponent of a single payer universal health care program. I see no reason why the United States of America, the wealthiest country in the history of the world, spending 14 percent of its Gross National Product on health care cannot provide basic health insurance to everybody. And that’s what Jim is talking about when he says everybody in, nobody out. A single payer health care plan, a universal health care plan. And that’s what I’d like to see. But as all of you know, we may not get there immediately. Because first we have to take back the White House, we have to take back the Senate, and we have to take back the House.”

I'd say that pretty much says it all. The Democratic objective is to eliminate private health insurance and burocraatize our health care system. There's a video of Rep. Barney Frank saying pretty much the same thing. When I find it, I'll add the link as well.

10 Questions to ask your Congressman this August

From Hugh Hewitt, 10 questions to ask your congressman this August:

1. Do you guarantee that I get to keep the plan I have and the doctor I have?
2. Will the law require Members of Congress and federal employees to be enrolled in the "government option/public plan," and if not, why not?
3. Will seniors be guaranteed joint replacements, stents, and the chemotherapy they need, or will they be forced to accept less-costly and less-effective alternatives?
4. If seniors will be allowed the expensive but most effective treatments, how will costs be controlled?
5. Will seniors have to wait longer for their treatments than they do now?
6. Will doctors see their payment schedules drop?
7. If their payments fall and they make less money, won't there be fewer doctors practicing medicine?
8. Doesn't Canada have long lines for important surgeries?
9. How will making our system more like Canada's not mean longer lines and longer waits here?
10. Have you read the bill well enough to be interviewed about it on the radio by a conservative talk show host?

Follow the link for Hugh's answers to the questions. I didn't want to steal his entire post, but thought the questions themselves merited replication here. I encourage everyone to ask these of their congressmen and women. I asked mine Question 2, and got a multi-paragraph answer I posted previously.

In His Own Words

Breibart has a video of Mr. Obama and his closest advisors admitting that the present reform is their attempt to eliminate private health insurance. Follow the link in the title and see the video for yourself.

TARP, was wrong, so is the Stimulus Package

"When the government makes loans or subsidies to business, what it does is to tax successful private businesses in order to support unsuccessful private businesses."--Henry Hazlitt

and then there is this,

"A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul."--George Bernard Shaw

So in 6 months, we've managed to add 20% to the deficit, and have literally NOTHING to show for it.

The 2nd Amendment

The strongest words in support of an individual right to keep and bear arms are the words of the founder of the Democratic Party...something Democrats would like to forget:

The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.--Thomas Jefferson

When did profit become evil?

From Instapundit:
STEPHEN CARTER: When did profits become evil?

“For-profit” firms come under constant attack from activists and members of Congress.

Thus, a recent news release from the AFL-CIO began with this evidently alarming fact: “Profits at 10 of the country’s largest publicly traded health insurance companies rose 428 percent from 2000 to 2007.” Even had the figures been correct — they weren’t — we are seeing the same circus. Profit is the enemy. America could be made pure, if only profit could be purged.

This attitude was wrong in 2006. It is wrong now. High profits are excellent news. When corporate earnings reach record levels, we should be celebrating. The only way a firm can make money is to sell people what they want at a price they are willing to pay. If a firm makes lots of money, lots of people are getting what they want.

Some people don’t like that. I hope Carter makes money on his new book, which I”m taking to the beach with me.

I agree...I think profit is a good thing...I just wish I was seing more of it.

Newt Gingrich's Tax Plan

At the Taxprofblog, I found that Newt Gingrich has a new tax plan. I don't think it would work, as interesting as it sounds:

Newt Gingrich's American Solutions For Winning the Future has launched a petition drive for Jobs Here. Jobs Now. Jobs First with four tax planks:

1. Cut the Payroll Tax in Half for 2 Years. Every single working American pays the payroll tax. In this economy, many people may not get a pay raise, but this would immediately give every working American a take home pay raise. This would also immediately increase the liquidity of every small business, because there would be more money available to put back into the business and create more jobs. So that Social Security and Medicare funds are not affected, we would pay for this proposal by redirecting all the TARP and $787 billion stimulus money that has been allocated but not yet spent.
2. Abolish Taxes on Capital Gains. If we want to compete with China and have the most productive factories in the world, the best jobs, and the highest take home pay, we should match China's capital gains rate of zero. This would dramatically increase investment in America.
3. Reduce the Corporate Tax Rate. When you combine state and federal taxes, America has the highest corporate tax structure in the world. We believe that by matching the Irish corporate tax rate of 12.5%, America would be the most desirable economy in the world to open a factory, create a new job, and develop a new product.
4. Abolish the Death Tax. If we want to be pro-work, pro-savings, and pro-family, we should not punish, but instead reward people who have worked, saved and created wealth all their life.

As I said, I don't think there is any way in hell it would pass. But it's a neat thought.

My own idea would be to establish a flat tax wherein EVERYONE would pay the same rate...the only two exceptions would be those who are under the poverty line wouldn't pay, or would pay a much reduced. The other would be 50 cents on the dollar reduction for charitable contributions. That's federal taxes. State income taxes would be capped at 7.5%. This would force EVERYONE with the means to pay, would pay.

Reinstating Michael Vick...is WRONG!

The NFL's reinstatement of Michael Vick is the latest example of the NFL's moral bankruptcy. Mr. Vick tortured and killed animals for entertainement. While I'm certainly NOT a supporter of PETA or any other "animal rights" group, I do agree that wantonly torturing or abusing animals is sick. By reinstating him, the NFL shows that, quite frankly, they don't care about being a moral standard in America. This shows that one can do virtually anything, go through the public "atonement process" and be allowed to return to the sport. This disregards the obligation the NFL has towards it's fans. It's all about the money, nothing more, nothing less.

Things that make you go Hmmmm...

I don't think that Mr. Obama wasn't born in Hawaii, but I do think his secrecy about his past, and those with whom he associated brings up questions that need to be answer. Nor do I agree with the "birthers" at all. On the otherhand,

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=Yjg3ZmU1ODQwNWJmZWY2ZGZmZWQwMTc3ZWQyYTMyMDc=

But because the MSM has invested so much into seeing him succeed, first in the elections (allowing Hillary to be smeared as she was, then Sara Palin), then in their selective coverage since then. The MSM has, or rather had, a vested interest in vetting any public figure running for office. Unfortunately, in the case of Barack Obama, they have failed to do so in a way so complete as to be embarrassing.

Health Care Reform

I think that "Health Care Reform" is a complete misnomer. What we should really call this debate is "Health INSURANCE Reform". In my opinion, it's really not about reforming health care, but about a government power grab. It's an attempt to sieze control of yet more sectors of the economy. The financial markets wasn't enough. The auto industry wasn't enough (recent polls show that 49% of American WONT buy GM or Chrysler cars...). Now the socialists want more.

I hope that if it's passed, someone has the sense to sue in Federal District Court, that it's in violation of the 10th Amendment of the US Constitution. No where in the constitution does it state that health care is a reserved to the federal governenment. This being the case, this matter is reserved to the several states.

Amendment 10 - Powers of the States and People. Ratified 12/15/1791. Note

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

So far, only Massachussetts has had the courage to initiate health insurance in their state. That it has been a dismal failure has carefully been concealed by the media. They don't want you to know that Medicare, Medicaid have been riddled with corruption and cost overruns for decades. This is what we the people are about to unleash upon ourselves. Corruption like you've never seen, limits upon what treatments people can receive, will be permitted to receive.

After all, Mr. Obama himself clearly stated that anyone with is elderly should be given "a pain pill" instead of life sustaining treatment. I suspect that if you aren't on the "PC" side, you'll not receive any such treatment. This is the very thing that the NAZI's did prior and during WWII. If you weren't a member of the master race, you didn't get health care. Keep in mind that NAZI = socialist, afterall, they were National Socialists, not conservative.

Health Care Reform

Here's a link to daily updates as to the contents of HR 3200.

http://republicans.waysandmeans.house.gov/

You can find out exactly WHAT is in this behemouth of a bill, and just what it will do to our economy, and health care insurance system. Because face it, this isn't about health care reform, it's about destroying the health insurance industry, and by the back door, using the government to take over 1/6th of the economy.

Health Care Reform, the response

Hi again, Here's the response I received today from Congressman John Sarbanes (D, MD3)...as well as what I wrote back to him. As you can see, I included my original question because as I see it, he didn't answer my question at all. It's what I would call a non-response.

Dear Mr. Sarbanes,

Please find enclosed a copy of the simple question that I asked you, as well as your non-answer. I take it that basically, you just don't have an answer why you in Congress has chosen to specifically exclude yourselves, and all Federall employees, as well as members of the Executive branch from coverage in your bill. I would very much like answer to my question.

Sincerely,

Richard A. Vail

“Pray that you will never have to bear all that you are able to endure.”
Jewish Proverb"
Dear Mr. Sarbanes,
I would like you, personally, to answer one simple question:

If HB 3200 is such a good bill for this country, WHY is/are Congress, the President, VP, and all federal employees specifically exempt from the provisions of this bill?

After all, if it is good enough for the rest of us, it SHOULD be good enough for you, your family, Congress, the President and all federal employees.

Richard A. Vail



July 24, 2009

In a message dated 7/24/2009 2:49:40 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, md03ima@mail.house.gov writes:

Dear Dr. Vail:


Thank you for contacting me to express your views about health care policy. As the Congress enters into this historic debate over health reform, I have heard from thousands of people who care deeply about this issue and want to highlight specific areas of concern to them. I appreciate this input and have tried to put it to good use as we consider various reform proposals.

America is home to the world's best doctors and nurses, the most advanced medical technologies, and scientists that are on the cutting edge of research and development. There are many things about our health care system that we should be proud of and fight to retain. But rising health care costs are making quality care less affordable - squeezing American families and businesses. Americans pay more for care than any other citizens in the world, but we are not the healthiest.

It is time for us to create a uniquely American health system that builds on what works and fixes what is broken. We must make health care more efficient and affordable so that all Americans have the opportunity to receive quality care. And we must put doctors and patients back in charge of our health care decisions - not insurance companies.

In a recent speech to the American Medical Association, President Obama offered his own observations about the current state of health care in America. He said, "When it comes to the cost of our health care, then, the status quo is unsustainable. Reform is not a luxury, but a necessity. I know there has been much discussion about what reform would cost, and rightly so. This is a test of whether we - Democrats and Republicans alike - are serious about holding the line on new spending and restoring fiscal discipline. But let there be no doubt - the cost of inaction is greater. If we fail to act, premiums will climb higher, benefits will erode further, and the rolls of uninsured will swell to include millions more Americans."

As the health reform debate continues, the overriding goal for me is, and always will be, providing the opportunity for every American to access quality care. The debate over how we expand coverage has received the most focus and it is very important that we get it right when we develop new insurance options for patients. I will continue to advocate for a system that gives Americans more choices including a "public option." I strongly support a public option health plan because I believe enhanced competition in the health care market will reduce cost and promote innovation.

But there are several other issues receiving much less national attention that I view as equally important to the success of our reform efforts. I have been particularly focused on ensuring that we have an adequate number of doctors and nurses to support our new health system; bringing a new emphasis to primary and preventive care so that we can catch health problems before patients become very sick and reduce cost; and finding ways to bring health services to the patient through "place-based health care." I have introduced legislation to support each of these goals and have worked to make them a part of the broader health care reform debate. Additional information about each bill can be accessed through my www.sarbanes.house.gov/health.

As a member of both the Health Subcommittee and the full Energy and Commerce Committee, I have participated in scores of hearings on all aspects of our health care system. In late June, making use of what we learned in these hearings, the Congressional panels that claim jurisdiction over various elements of health care policy - Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and Labor - released a tri-committee discussion draft for comment and revision. More recently, the Chairmen of these three committees have introduced legislation that builds on the discussion draft and incorporates ideas that were generated in response to that document. I am pleased that several of my legislative proposals discussed above have been incorporated into the broader health reform bill. The committee has now begun formal consideration of the legislation and it is my hope that we will be able to report a bill to the full House of Representatives in the near future. For more information about the bill, go to the Energy and Commerce Committee here: www.energycommerce.house.gov.

I understand and respect that this is a very personal issue for many Americans. In the end, I believe it is possible to make intelligent reforms to our health care system that expand coverage and improve quality of care. I also believe there are many areas where we can reduce cost by eliminating waste and making our system more efficient. The status quo is unsustainable and I am convinced that long term economic security will be elusive until we fix our health care system. I look forward to your continued feedback as the process unfolds in the coming weeks and months.



Sincerely,

John Sarbanes

Member of Congress

Health Care Reform: An interesting point

I saw the following point on Real Clear Politics:

"Of the ~ 45 million uninsured, about 1/3 are citizens of other countries (almost all breaking US law by being here), about 1/3 have chosen not to buy insurance, or are already eligible for other programs (Medicaid, etc.) but have chosen not to sign up. This leaves about 15 million charity cases to address. Obama plans to disrupt the current arrangements of about 250 million people to "solve" this problem. Of course the real goal is not health care, but to put 18% of the economy under Government control. As people become aware of this, they are not happy."

Therein lies the dichotomy of the problem. Mr. Obama wants to completely disrupt economy, to merely cover less than 6% of the population. The only way to do something to halt this insanity is to write you congressmen and senators and simply ask them if they will accept the coverage of the public option if they vote affimatively

Health Care Reform: A Question for Congress

I have sent this same basic email to several sites of the past couple of days. I have yet to have a simple basic question answered by anyone. It is a question that I firmly believe is important and fundamental to the health care debate. Here is a copy of a letter I sent to my Congressman, John Sarbanes, D MD. I have yet to receive a reasonable answer.

"Dear Mr. Sarbanes,
I would like you, personally, to answer one simple question:

If HB 3200 is such a good bill for this country, WHY is/are Congress, the President, VP, and all federal employees specifically exempt from the provisions of this bill?

After all, if it is good enough for the rest of us, it SHOULD be good enough for you, your family, Congress, the President and all federal employees.

Richard A. Vail"


I would genuinely, like to get a reasoned answer to this question. It's not one I've seen asked, or answered. Because, I sure can't seem to get one anywhere else. Thank you for your assistance, I just keep hitting a stone wall.

Tea Parties...

The recent "Tea Parties" held around the country are not as the MSM would have you believe merely about taxation, but rather about the runaway spending that has escalated inside the DC beltway.

But the efforts to short-circuit them (i.e. Janeane Garofollo's rant on racists), and joke about them is going to, in the end, backfire. The people who attended them, weren't racists, they were on the whole, people who DON'T attend political protests. Nor were they "right wingnuts". Just people who are afraid of mortgaging our grand children's future.

Out of control government spending is not going to solve the financial crisis, it's going to exacerbate it. Obama wants to triple the national debt. His spending makes that of Geo. Bush look like an amateur

"In the first independent analysis, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office concluded that President Obama's budget would rack up massive deficits even after the economy recovers, forcing the nation to borrow nearly $9.3 trillion over the next decade." SOURCE: CBO, White House Office of Management and Budget | The Washington Post - March 21, 2009

I tried to import the graphic that was included but here's thelink
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2009/03/21/GR2009032100104.html

It clearly shows that Obama's projected spending will literally bankrupt the country in 10 years. I say bankrupt, because we cannot sustain this level of spending without a massive increase in taxation across the board. On the otherhand, borrowing the money through bond issues isn't a viable alternative either. The last bond issue of the US Treasury didn't sell out, for the 1st time in our history, neither did the British sale, held on the same day. The Chinese government, the largest holder of US debt, has recently begun selling off some of the notes they presently hold. If the Chinese aren't buying US Government debt, who will?

Obamamessiah

Barak Hussein Obama is on the threshold of attaining the nomination of the Democratic Party...he's just another Jimmy Carter, multi-ethnic course.

I firmly believe that he will be far more disasterous than Mr. Carter has been.

90% of the problems that we face in the middle east stem from Mr. Carter's failure to deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Until the Carter Doctrine, if the citizens of one country attacked the embassy of another, either by entering the grounds or seizing diplomats, it was considered an act of war. His failure to act against the taking of the embassy and the 44 (? or 43) diplomats hostage, has emboldened out enemies everywhere.

We are now reaping nearly 30 years fruit of the failure to act, and thus, have a presidential candidate who has stated many, many times in public and on his campaign website that he will negotiate, without preconditions with the President of Iran. This will be a foreign policy disaster of monumental porportions. The only thing worse Mr. Obama could possibly do would be to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in Iraq...which is something he has stated he will do.

These actions will not make a regional war less likely, on the contrary, they will make the coming conflagration far more likely, and thus, much more difficult to defeat. None of our present allies will be likely to assist us, and contrary to what the public thinks, we do have many allies in Iraq, from the Australians, Poles, Romanians, etc. (many are formely Warsaw Pact Nations, and thus VERY familiar w/oppression).

Additionally, failure to block Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, will make a regional war inevitable. They will strike at Israel who will (having 300-600 weapons of their own) retaliate on ALL of the Muslim countries of the region in an effort to forstall their own destruction.

So...what do you think? Comments are greatly

Poetry Slam! Listen to it

I'm not big on this sort of poetry...but the message is something you should hear...OOOoooh RAH!

USMC, The First to go, the Last to Know, We will defend to the Death your right to be Missinformed!