Flawed health reform - House measure likely to pass but needs a dose of fiscal reality.

Washington Post ^ | November 7, 2009 | Editorial

[La Lydia]

MUCH OF the criticism of the health-care measure before the House of Representatives is overwrought. Another part is simply wrong. Unfortunately, that does not mean that this is a good bill. As we have said, it does not do enough to control costs, and it is not funded in a sustainable way...

As an example of the hyperbole, take the ludicrous assertion by Minority Leader John A. Boehner that the Democratic measure "is the greatest threat to freedom that I've seen in the 19 years I've been in Washington." Come on. The proposal has been endorsed by the American Medical Association and the AARP, hardly wild-eyed radicals.

As an example of the simply wrong, take the assertions that the measure would result in insurance subsidies for illegal immigrants and federal financing of abortions...the illegal immigrants would be helping the federal treasury, not draining it. The controversy over abortion funding is similarly phony...

Now to our concerns. The measure would cover 36 million more Americans...That would be a major achievement. And yet: At what cost? The CBO says that the measure would be fully paid for -- in fact, it would bring in money -- both during the first 10 years and in the following decade. But will the planned cuts to Medicare spending be implemented -- or will they be abandoned once they start to pinch?... the measure does not include enough other ways to get health-care costs under control...But it is missing two important elements: a commission to remove at least some of the politics from the business of determining Medicare payment policies and a tax on high-cost insurance plans. The House bill instead taxes the rich, tapping revenue that will be needed to narrow the overall federal deficit...

[La Lydia]

What passes for reality in the LaLa Land of the Washington Post.

[stockpirate]

Today will be marked by future generations as the day we lost our freedom and no one did any thing to stop them!

[Cheetahcat]

What they are doing here is Illegal and it will not fly.

[Logical me]

Part of turning over our Constitutional America to a communists America with King Obama at the dictator. When are people going to wake up?

[rod1]

Oh my the Wash Post Editorial Board members are not only worngheaded, they are cowards. They whitewash the payola that has led to the AMA and AARP endorsing this montrosity while a majority of their consitutents (Doctors and Seniors) fircely oppose it. So taccording to the Wash Post, his is a beloved and much needed bill. Then they turn around and say oh and by the way - when we are broke because of this bill....we told you so.

[savedbygrace]

The CBO says that the measure would be fully paid for -- in fact, it would bring in money -- both during the first 10 years and in the following decade.

Hey brilliant WaPo Editorial Board, riddle me this: Since "paid for" means somebody has to pay for it, who exactly do you suppose will be paying for it?

I realize that's a tough question, but if you think hard enough, maybe you can come up with the true answer. Maybe.

Now here is an any tougher question: What type of money will be used to pay for it?

I'll answer that for you: Monopoly money. Because we are broke and still borrowing from the Chinese, so we just keep printing bills to maintain the illusion that we ahave money to spend on ObamaCare and Tax & Crap.

[Venturer]

The whole 1990 pages needs to be scrapped.

This bill started out bad and got progressively worse.

This day will not go down as a day where we lost our freedom and did nothing , It will go down as the day the Democrats stole our freedom in spite of all we have done.

It is a day the Democrats will pay for. WE WILL NOT forget. This day will haunt Democrats for the next 30 years.

[savedbygrace]

Now here is an any tougher question = Now here is an even tougher question