Where Do I Begin? Part II

by Allen Kolmes

Yesterday a friend sent the following, authored by a fellow physician. There appears to be two schools of Republican thought on healthcare reform--the "Health care reform sucks so bad that there is no point in offering any alternative solutions" school. The other school of thought being"Health care reform sucks because Obama's a socialist and wants to destroy America," expressed so eloquently at town hall meetings. Anyway, here is the link http://www.takebackmedicine.org/?p=1242 This one has a little Joe Wilson thrown in as well.

So...point by point:

I do agree with the first paragraph. While Joe Wilson proved himself to be an asshole, he certainly by no means proved himself to be a racist. I can easily see him yelling the same thing if it were President Hillary Clinton or President John Edwards. While his background (worked for Strom Thurmond, pointed out that the black woman purporting to be Strom's daughter was FOS --oops, can't win them all-,- supported flying the Confederate flag over the South Carolina capitol) makes him statistically more likely to be a racist than, say, Al Franken , it does not prove he is one. Liberals risk major credibility loss for little gain on this one. Would proving his racist-ness make him significantly more of a jerk than he already is? So, fellow liberals, let's just focus on the far-easier-to-prove notion that he is a serious butthead.

#1. Actually, I believe this. This is political Darwinism at its finest. There is a word for politicians who suggest that Americans might actually have to pay for something, no matter how worthwhile--Losers! Like, like when Bush announced that big tax hike to pay for the Iraq war and another tax hike to pay for the prescription drug benefit--he just got creamed in the 2004 election!

#2. I think there are a couple main points in this paragraph. First "poor Medicare reimbursement is forcing Doctors out of Medicare and therefore limiting the pool of doctors available to seniors" and "employees already cannot choose there doctors because they have no control over what healthcare options their employers choose." .

Aren't the problems being described here problems with the status quo? I have always cracked up listening to physicians complain about how bad Medicare reimbursement is and then without stopping for breath complain about how their taxes are too high, without once contemplating the inherent absurdity of these two positions.. Oh--but, but I know how we can lower our taxes and increase Medicare reimbursement to physicians--we can deficit spend!

Sorry to break the bad news, but downward pressure on both government and private reimbursement is going to be intense, with or without healthcare reform. Actually, the AMA cut a deal with the administration not to lower Medicare reimbursement in the near future in return for its support for one of the House bills. From a purely selfish perspective, might be time to get on board.

And how does pointing out one of the many ways in which private insurance sucks bolster the case against reforming it?

And finally, the author (I think unintentionally) points out that if an exchange or a public option exists, at least employees will actually have something to turn to when their employer drops their coverage when the employer can no longer afford it.

And we're going to see a lot of employers deciding they can't afford it. With or without reform.

#3. I'm getting carpal tunnel syndrome from writing about this one. Let me phrase it as a question this time. For the Republicans out there who have suddenly become converts to the cause of full-court-press money-is-no-object support of Medicare, I ask: so that we can provide the latest in chemotherapy to cancer patients, pacemakers to Rush's 100 year old, hip surgery for Michael Steele's 85-year old grandmother, and intubation, dialysis, and full-on ICU care for comatose 95-year olds, are you willing to pay your share of the bill? 'Cause the money to pay for all this comes from the T-word.
(for Sarah Palin fans--the "T-word" is taxes)

#4. I translate this as "even if the reform bill explictly prohibits federal funding for abortion, we'll end up with it anyway because that's what liberals do." Straight from the Glenn Beck School of Creative Thinking.

#5. Here is what I think the point of this paragraph is.

"Obama, first you say that 47 million are uninsured then you say 30 million. You lie!"

#6. First of all, given the existential threat that rising health care costs present, the amount of attention paid to the relatively small portion of health care expenses spent on illegal immigrants blows my mind (actually, sadly, it doesn't).

I read recently that thanks to the tireless efforts of that great healthcare advocate, Joe Wilson, Obama has proposed that illegal immigrants be barred from buying into the insurance exchange with their own money. Great idea--prevent mostly young, mostly healthy individuals from buying insurance and likely making it more affordable for the rest of us. Let them be uninsured, and then show up at the ER--where we end up paying for them.

Thanks, Joe!