What You Don't Know about Healthcare Reform Could Kill You
Posted: Saturday, August 01, 2009
by Nancy Daniels
Voice Dynamic
Last week I heard Minnesota Congresswoman, Michelle Bachman, discussing some of the particulars of Washington 's impending healthcare reform and I was stunned. Those of you familiar with me know that I am against socialized medicine. Having lived in Canada for 16 years of my adult life, I experienced first-hand what socialized medicine means. If Nancy Pelosi and her cronies get their way, our individual rights will be replaced by group rights. Instead of looking at what is best for the individual, government will now look at what is best for society. By changing our ideology to one of communitarianism, our healthcare will be divvied up' according to age and value to society. Once you reach 55, you will be required to meet with a diagnostician every 5 years to decide on what medical treatments you are deserving of. Meaning: if you are in need of a hip replacement and are well into your 70's or 80's, society may not deem you a good candidate because the limited funds available would be more wisely spent on a younger person.
One of President Obama's medical advisors, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, brother to Rahm Emanuel, has stated, in no uncertain terms, that doctors take the Hippocratic Oath too seriously "as an imperative to do everything for the patient regardless of the cost or effects on others." This statement takes my breath away. Where does one draw the line with a belief system like that?
Emanuel further states that "communitarianism" should be the determining factor in who gets treatment, reserving medical care for the non-disabled and not given to those "who are irreversibly prevented from being or becoming participating citizens." Does that mean that upon retiring at the age of 65, when we should finally be able to reap the rewards of having worked most of our life, we will not be considered participating citizens? Who will make that decision? Government-appointed officials. (The same officials who run our Motor Vehicle Agencies that should definitely give you pause for thought!)
In continuance of his position, Ezekiel Emanuel says that, "Unlike allocation by sex or race, allocation by age is not invidious discrimination; every person lives through different life stages rather than being a single age. Even if 25-year-olds receive priority over 65-year-olds, everyone who is 65 years now was previously 25 years." So because I once was 25-years-old and am no longer that age, I am not entitled to the same treatment as those who are now 25?
There is no doubt that our medical coverage system needs improvement and that all should be provided with some form of insurance; but, once the Liberal plan is in effect, the insurance they are providing will be conditional, dependent on your age, your value, your productivity. And that is not equality.
I will never understand those who place so little value on human life be it old, be it imperfect, be it in utero. But those same people will fight to the n th degree for the rights of all other animals on this earth. I guess I would be better off as a mink!
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More commentsHi Nancy,
You said it. I have a friend who is an elder care nurse in Canada and she told me she's afraid of getting old because seniors have little worth in the healthcare system and their care is "abominable". Canadians who have enough money cross the border so they can have our health care.
I think people forget that altho idealogically wonderful, communism in reality doesn't work. We are entitled, have rights to, the pursuit of ... Now it's a free for all.
Having said that, people who voted for Obama knew this is where he was heading so it should be no surprise.I certainly hope you aren't referring to Canada as a Communist nation!!??not at all!! Oh dear- never even crossed my mind!!
Just the communitarianism part of Nancy's article reminded me of how the communal way we tried to start this nation didn't work and neither did the share and share alike systems tried later (that is except for the politicians who lived very nicely).Val,Good to hear from you! Hope all is well with you and yours!Those who voted for Obama either didn't listen or didn't believe. The man is doing (or trying) to do everything he promised pretty darned quick! I think the country is smartening up however. Many people, including the Blue Dog Dems don't like his health care either. Most haven't even read the bill and it will mean 53 new departments in the government that we will be paying for!Nancy
I read this article with some anxiety. What a lousy, scary and disgusting thing our government is going to do.Darned right!
I have to agree with you Nancy! Who is making that decision on whose life is more worthy. If a mom who is overweight less important than a single career woman in her 20's. I am scared of the outcome of this! Thanks for bringing these points up!Abigail,Who will be making the life and death decision is the same person who sends you home from the Motor Vehicle Agency because you don't have enough or the right proof of who you are. Gosh I hate going in there. They are mean, rude and most unpleasant here in NJ and I understand CT is the same, so I assume all the Motor Vehicle Agencies are alike. The other question I have about government run healthcare is whether we will be able to phone them? Can't call the MVA because their numbers aren't listed!Thanks for your comment,Nancy
Nancy, this is an outrage! Times are already hard enough on us, and then the healthcare system has already been biting us in our behinds for decades. Now this? Boy-o-boy!Thanks Nancy for sharing this information with us.Ronyae,Your words make me laugh! I can just see you at your computer typing this!Thanks for some good passion!NancyI'm LOL, Nancy! I'm going to close the transportal on you (smile).
good info here
I'm with ya, Nancy. Right now, my husband has excellent insurance and we are thankful. Funny thing, the doc I go to for my preventative and health maintenance doesn't take any insurance. Her rates have always been fair she has helped me more than any other doc. I, like many others, don't know what the answer is, but I am not a fan of the health care reform that is being dumped on us right now. Oh, the doc I referred to in this comment charges according to the ability to pay. She makes a very good living AND helps others.Lorrie-I need the name of your doctor!She was family practice and is now a wellness doc. I ought to call her and ask if she can give me some names . When the kids were young, Danny was contract and we didn't have insurance. But, other than catastrophic illness, we were covered by other policies. We were young. We had year around accident insurance through the kids' schools for them, car insurance for anything that happened in a car, home owner's insurance for any accident at home and we paid cash for illness. We also have had a family member in the hospital twice in the last couple years...which would have wrecked us because of the high cost if not for excellent insurance now. I think we had a major medical policy in force for all of us a few years back. That said, something has to be done, but I disagree with too much of the current proposal to support it. If we had to buy insurance without the benefit of Danny's job, it would be very hard to get because of some health issues and our ages. Under the current proposal, one of us could easily be considered as a non-contributing life. A waste of the money spent. I realize that is looking at it in the extreme, but still comes to mind. Am I being selfish, looking at how I benefit instead of the Trekkie way of how my life or demise would benefit the masses?Lorrie,Thank you for sharing about your doctor.Our physicians attend 4 years of med school after college and if they specialize, additional years plus internship. They deserve to make a good salary. If government runs our healthcare, their pay will be lower...I guess that means that the Canadian physicians who moved to America will go back to Canada!Nancy
Hi Nancy.Thanks for sharing this well written article. I agree with you 100% and I am worried about getting old with this system of medical care.Best regards to you and yours,NenitaThank you, Nenita, but the debate is heating up. You should read Jean Horst's great article and the ensuing comments.Nancy
Nancy, great article. You articulate your position very well. I agree that government run health care is not the answer. Of course, I think "government run" anything is usually a bad idea (though not always).Rob,Thanks Rob, and I agree. Government run anything is a mess!Nancy
Abigail, I guessed I missed it. If the health care is going to be equally for everyone, why isn't everyone trying to make it work for the benefit of everyone?" I realize the reality of two things: The people who are making money do not want it and the people that are not making money want it.
On July 17, Senator Susan Collins met with President Obama. She stated: "We had a very good discussion and I am very impressed with the President’s sincere openness to my thoughts on how to expand access to affordable health care coverage and to reform our health care system to improve outcomes and lower costs"I did not note anything about her statement on the leadership of the President. I guess if she did, I would be trying to ask her, as compared to who? Well that is my two cents
The disinformation and average intellect of the average American combine to give amazing arguments;At one rally,a citizen stood and said to his elected representative,:"Keep Government away from my medicare!They are to keep their hands off it!" Thats like saying we should protest highways by driving coast to coast!Government is already all over the equation.Paul,Thanks for reading and yes, government is obviously all over much of it as is. I am not confident in their abilities or their fairness to determine what is better for me as far as my healthcare is concerned.They have trouble enough running the motor vehicle agencies! And the Department of Education has not made our student's progress any better. We only add more money to the problem when the problem is that our students do not know how to sit down, shut up and do the work! Could be a parental problem here, no? [It might be wise for our government officials to sit on a class in China or Japan. There the kids still respect their elders but I'm off topic, I know. That is an article for another day.]Nancy
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