Just in time for Halloween, yet another incarnation of Democrat health care reform arrived with a thud Thursday. A nearly 2,000-sheet, 19-pound, keep-small-animals-and-kids-away thunderous thud.
The most long-winded version yet, Pelosi Care is another unwieldy, likely-to-be-unread tome assembled behind closed doors to completely reshape the one-sixth of the U.S. economy known as health care in ways we have yet to discover.
Is all this really necessary to cover the, by some estimates, 12 to 15 million Americans who can't afford insurance and don't now qualify for Medicaid?
As for the other stated goal of reform -- containing costs -- who reasonably thinks the government can do that, given its out-of-control spending in every other area of human existence? And who thinks the answer is a 19-pound manual?
And do you really believe Barack Obama when he says he won't sign a bill that adds a dime to the deficit?
More and more, this repeated rollout of divinely inspired Health Care Commandments from Mount Sinai is looking like either the most insane legislative exercise in history or the most ingenious sleight-of-hand ever. It seems to be more of a power grab by Washington -- complete with a new government-run health care system to compete unfairly with the private sector -- than any genuine effort to plug holes in the health-care system.
"It runs more pages than War and Peace," writes Politico.com, "has nearly five times as many words as the Torah, and its tables of contents alone run far longer than this story.
"The House health care bill unveiled Thursday clocks in at 1,990 pages and about 400,000 words. With an estimated 10-year cost of $894 billion, that comes out to about $2.24 million per word."
Access to the "mission accomplished" style press conference announcing the monstrosity was strictly controlled -- so if there was someone with a mind to ask House Speaker Nancy Pelosi if she'd read her own bill, he or she wasn't allowed close.
Not to worry. It's supposedly an amalgam of earlier bills, so, "It's almost a complete certainty that we have already discussed and debated almost every element that's in this bill," said Rep. Steve Rothman, D-N.J.
Whew! We feel better!
What an insane waste of trees. Especially considering the fact that Democrats seem bent on ignoring any ideas from the opposition party. This area's own Rep. Paul Broun, for example, has his own market-based plan he calls the "patient option." Broun told us this past week he's suggested to his Democratic colleagues that they pick and choose the elements of his plan they like and take credit themselves. Cue the crickets.
Or better yet, drop the Pelosi Care monster on them.
Comments
If you hate America. If you truly can't stand capitalism. If you want to see America crushed to the level of struggling economy so prevalent in Europe (80% fed tax), then support this power grab that's fooling the ignorant with a "health care" disguise. "Ignore the man behind the curtain" has never had better representation. If the loons truly control this country, then this silly bill will pass. If not, 2010 can still save us.
HC legislation just in time for Christmas. Merry Christmas right wingers.
Why do you support this bill, concerned? Have you read it? Personally I won't support it until I have read it, but based on its size, that could take a while.
concernednative on Sun Nov 1, 2009 5:44 AM This bill leaves out many costs that are recognized and already exist in health care raising the cost more than has been scored. This bill amends many already existing laws. do you really think this is good.
Just read part of it..........it still says that if you don't purchase insurance, you will be fined.........if you don't pay the fined you will be put in prison............ That will help those who the left claim simply can't afford insurance. If they don't buy some, the prison infirmary will take care of them. Change you can believe in........right?
If you relish the idea of being sick and poor, then please do support the Augusta Chronicle's position.
If justnuts is for it, it can't be good!!
If you relish the idea of being sick , poor, and fined or imprisoned then please do support this bill.
I'm just amazed at how many people throw blind support at something they know nothing about. If the bill is so good, why did congress feel it was necessary to exempt themselves from it? I suppose it shouldn't surprise me that people support that which they know nothing about. We asked people to list the accomplishments of Obama before he was elected and got nothing in response...........as a matter of fact that is STILL the response 10 months later.
justnuts isn't going to say anything against Obama. You know why. If Obama said to eat horse apples, justnuts would be raving about it. And saying 'Pardon me, could you pass me some more?"
Tigger *8:01. Amazing isn't it. It's all about winning or losing. I used to think "concerned" was smarter than that.
Guess what people, I have not read the dam bill, don't need to read the dam bill and don't want the dam bill. All I need to know is if there is the word GOVERNMENT in any of 400,000 words of this bill, that means CONTROL. I do not want to be controlled when it comes to my health care! Period!
Everybody, take note, HC legislation just in time for Christmas. Merry Christmas right wingers.
Posted by concernednative on Sun Nov 1, 2009 5:44 AM - This is the correct way to debate how good the Health Reform Bill is. Truth, Facts and common sense.
I support this bill because it does something about the health care problems in this country. We cannot just sit by and do nothing anymore. Costs are going up all the time, and we need to try and control those costs. We need to care for people who cannot afford to afford health care. We need to get into wellness and tort reform too to help solve this national problem. We need to stop putting forth the fear of doing something and actually do it. We can no longer subscribe to a health care plan that tells people who are sick to just go somewhere away from us to die, and we do not wish to understand your problems.
Cobalt, you are already controlled - by your own fears!
"I support this bill because it does something about the health care problems in this country."................ Tell us Niko. WHAT does it do about the problems. Can you give any specifics? How can you if you haven't read it?
I have only one fear, Niko Mahs, as taught in life and in the military, "have no fear except the Snake you don't see."
Once health care reform with a Public Option passes, and it will pass, it will be very popular, already is, just like Medicare, VA, and Social Security government run programs. The chronicle and conservatives know this. That is why they fear it.
The rising health care is a problem in this country but it can be solved by other means than Government control. Bills have been recommended that would stop this. Eliminating the misuse of government subsidies would provide enough funds to provide deserving individuals medical treatment that are uninsured. Just think of the money that could be saved by requiring a urine test for all people receiving government subsidies. Let the illegal immigrants die, instead of tax payers paying for them. This proposed health care bill will tax this country to its knees.
"Just think of the money that could be saved by requiring a urine test for all people receiving government subsidies." Unreasonable search and seizure and intrusion of privacy by the Federal goverment. When you apply for a job, you do so voluntarily, they tell you right up front that it's required, and you get to choose. While I somewhat agree with you, I have to side with Constitutional rights on this one. Besides, let me tell you what would happen. They would clean up, do the test, and then walk out of the building and go get high. You see that all the time with the people on probation. "OK, I passed, gotta go get me some rock!"
You have a valid point, corgimon. All I am saying is something has to be done to curb the free loaders in this country. It is those type people that are causing some of the problems we are debating today.
The hard socialists that want cradle to grave nanny care love the p.r. on this bill. They actually think they'll get limitless health care at no cost. There's no way to express how much I hate government education.
What's next that you Leftist want the gubment to provide for you. You want this stupid health care bill, do you want the gubment to tell you when to go to the doctor. We know Leftist want gubment to control all aspects of their lives but this is really getting ridiculous with the gubment control of it's citizens. Leftist really do want to give Obumbler and the Chicago Cronies control of everything. Come on 2010/2012!!!!!
Remember when Obama said if you liked your insurance you could keep it? Page 94 of the house bill makes direct buying of health insurance ILLEGAL! You will only be able to get insurance through your employer or the government. And what business will continue to offer insurance after the rates skyrocket from federal taxes on private insurance (pages 297, 331 and 336) and their competition drops coverage (sending their employees to the government plan) and claims a competitive advantage? This bill kicks in fully in 2013, after the next presidential election and by the end of the year they only place you will be able to get insurance will be the government. The Democrats will not even consider true reform. Tort reform and allowing interstate competition.
Justus4, why didn't you just come out and say the deaths of 40,000 BLACK people? America has the BEST health care system ANYWHERE in the world. Why do you think people flock here from other countries that have SOCIALIZED medicine? Is our system perfect? Of course not. But if you have a car that needs new spark plugs, you don't scrap the whole car and go in debt for TRILLIONS of dollars do you? Well, if you're a socialist Democrat you do, but people with sense do not. Republicans have touted reforms that work including MORE Health Savings Accounts, but those take the control away from the government. How about Tort reform? Nope, the Democrats are too scared of the trial lawyers. Sheriff Joe Biden admitted that himself about a month ago. How about portability across state lines for insurance companies? Nope, too many lobbyists fighting that. The socialist Democrats are anxious to STEAL 1/6th of the American economy and turn it into another entitlement program that will forever make SLAVES out of the American worker. I would think that Justus4 would be against SLAVERY, but I guess he wants it to keep on going.
More Obama lies. www.youtube.com/watch?v=UErR7i2onW0
Sounds like Niko has been listening to the Rep from Florida who says that the Republicans plan is for old people to die. Just another chapter out of RULES FOR RADICALS that the Democrats are using to scare the less intelligent among us into falling for THEIR LIES. Yep, just keep on telling lie after lie after lie until the idiots start believing it. If you guys like socialized medicine and socialist governments so well, why don't YOU move to Europe and enjoy life there? Change is coming in 2010 and 2012!
It's strange that everyone talks about these big evil insurance corporations not wanting to pay for things. I have a heart condition that requires immediate medical attention, and for some strange reason, the insurance company has never even batted an eye over paying between 2,000-3,000$ for a 2-hour hospital visit...
The big O just cannot take NO for an answer; which part of NO does he not understand, the N or the O? He will not be satisified until he is able to ram his immature vision down people's throats. What a wuss! As for fining me for not accepting or purchasing HIS insurance, be damned with him--others may consider him to be a messiah, but I sure do not.
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