Huffpost: At Least We All Now Know What the Health Care Reform Debate Is About

HuffingtonPost ^ | July 17, 2009 | by Stanton Peele

[Jim Robinson]

This was the week that was for Barack Obama's efforts at health care reform (although many more will follow). The following five developments made clear that America is not prepared for what it must do, although the outlines of what this is are emerging.

(1) Liberal Americans ask the question, "How can a civilized nation fail to provide health care coverage for so many of its citizens?" Their answer is a government sponsored health care system like those in European countries. But while HuffPo readers say "aye" to a single payer, universal coverage system, they say "What, me worry?" to the fact that the existing, inadequate American system is already twice as costly as comparable European systems.

(2) But the American idea of reform will increase - not reduce - health care costs. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the proposed reforms would cost $1 trillion (a figure we have become strangely used to), but would not curtail skyrocketing health care costs, as the Obama Administration has claimed. The non-partisan CBO has thus become for Congressional leaders the enemy of the people. When the director of the CBO, respected economist Douglas Elmendorf, testified before the Senate Budget Committee that health care legislation proposed by House Democrats and the Senate health committee would not slow what he called the unsustainable government spending on medical care, he was immediately attacked by Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi - just like stem cell and global warming researchers are attacked by Republicans.

(3) Americans are STILL not ready to question the liberal bromides of "more care all the time." To take one of scores of examples, research has shown that the decades-long campaign to encourage screening for cancer (like that for prostrate screening) has shown no benefits for those screened, and may be a net health care loss: According to the Times,"For many cancers, early detection efforts offer little benefit at high expense, and present a real risk of harm." This reality that the care we clamor for is often the feather Dumbo clasps in his trunk is repeated time and again in assessments of the sacred cows of American health care.

(4) But, finally, pundits and knowledgeable commentators are presenting to Americans that their idea of health care is grossly distorted. Paying for wildly expensive treatments whose results are uncertain and, even when successful, leave patients (especially neonates and the elderly) with disastrously reduced quality of life, means withholding payments for better-guaranteed forms of care for people who may remain healthy and productive for years. For the first time, an important article in the Times makes the argument for health care rationing, also called managed care - two American bugaboos.

(5) And the Obama administration is going down the tubes on health care (as did the Clinton administration before it) out of a fear of making clear that we will all have to do more with less. Although this is not a politically viable message, we are witnessing how the inability to come to grips with this reality will lead to another failed administration.

[Fred]

Oh yeah, the Scarianna crowd is looking forward to all the unlimited treatments for their STD epidemics.

[NoLibZone]

“How can a civilized nationallow parenst to kill their children?”

[AliVeritas]

Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RNGeTwctg8

[socialismisinsidious]

Socialized Medicine aka Universal Health Care PING LIST

FReepmail me if you want to be added to or removed from this ping list.

**This is a high volume ping list! (sign of the times)**

[Arizona Carolyn]

Read what is in the bill and then man the phones:

http://twitter.com/fleckman

[dervish]

and no questions asked on HIV/AIDS care for life which costs est $350,000 a person. Why ration a wholly preventable disease when you can ration diseases which are only possibly preventable.

[mojitojoe]

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/obama-blogger-call-on-health-care-by.html

[lonestar]

(1) Liberal Americans ask the question, "How can a civilized nation fail to provide health care coverage for so many of its citizens?"

No mention of the millions of non-citizens.

[tet68]

out of a fear of making clear that we will all have to do more with less. Although this is not a politically viable message, we are witnessing how the inability to come to grips with this reality will lead to another failed administration.

Hahahaha. They are going to like it even less when real
conservatives get a hold of this government and start turning around the rampant socialization eating out the
heart of our nation.

[okie01]

Liberal Americans ask the question, "How can a civilized nation fail to provide health care coverage for so many of its citizens?"

300 million Americans.

46 million uninsured Americans (we're told) -- 15% of the total.

Thus, 254 million insured Americans (85%)

Of the 46 million uninsured,

12 million illegal aliens -- they think. Who aren't even Americans.

10 million Americans with $75K income. Who choose not to pay for health insurance.

10 million Americans age 19-24. Who choose not to pay for health insurance.

14 million Americans who qualify for MedicAid, but haven't chosen (or needed) to apply for it.

Now, exactly, what was the problem again...???

What sane person (except a Liberal) would freely choose to scrap the entire American health care system which serves 6 out of 7 in order to cover the 1 in 7 who don't have insurance -- and either don't want it, don't need it, or don't deserve it?

Understand that I'm assuming there is such a thing as a sane liberal.

[okie01]

A caller to Levin this evening -- evidently familiar with the health insurance business -- characterized the national health care plan as a cash grab.

Insurance companies have to maintain reserves against future claims, so they are understandably awash with cash (one of the attractions of founding an insurance company in the first place).

Thus, nationalizing the health insurance business would thus transfer not just the premium payments but the "float" into government coffers -- completing the largest confiscation of private wealth on record.

Your reaction to his assertion...???

[kcvl]

Stanton Peele, Ph. D., J.D., (born January 8, 1946) is a licensed psychologist, attorney, practicing psychotherapist and the author of books and articles on the subject of alcoholism, addiction and addiction treatment.

In a co-authored book, Resisting 12 Step Coercion (2001), Peele outlined his case against court mandated attendance of twelve-step drug and alcohol treatment programs. He argued that these treatment programs are useless and sometimes harmful

Peele supported Moderation Management founder Audrey Kishline, who also subscribed to the belief that addiction is not a disease. After giving up her own attempts at moderation to seek help with AA, Kishline was convicted of killing a father and his 12-year-old daughter while driving under the influence of alcohol.

[Kansas58]

I agree.

Obama and the dems don't much like profits, and they hate competition with government.

They also want cash.

They view the insurance industry as the enemy, and it amazes me how many insurance executives are being lead like sheep to the slaughter right now.