healthcare reform Archive

0

Georgia’s Democratic Congressmen Fail to Represent the People of Georgia

– March 22, 2010Posted in: Politics

Atlanta—Georgia Republican Party Chairman Sue Everhart released the following statement in response to the United States House of Representative’s vote to pass health care reform legislation:

“Today, the United States House of Representatives ignored the concerns of millions of Americans by voting to pass health care reform legislation, which increases health care premiums, creates new taxes, and passes unfunded mandates on to states and small businesses.

“Georgia Congressmen Sanford Bishop, Hank Johnson, John Lewis and David Scott voted in support of the legislation despite an outpouring of concern from their constituents. While Democrats refused to listen now, we will make them listen in November.”

Tags: healthcare reform, republicans
0

Isakson: House Vote ‘Ignores the Will of Most Georgians and Most Americans’

– March 22, 2010Posted in: Politics

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today denounced the passage of the Democrats’ terribly flawed health care bill in the U.S. House of Representatives, because he believes it will raise taxes, raise premiums, cut benefits for seniors and place a massive unfunded mandate on the states.

“Today’s action by the House ignores the will of most Georgians and most Americans, who have expressed strong, vocal opposition to this deeply flawed, unpopular health care bill. This is the height of political arrogance,” Isakson said. “Americans need a Congress and a President that are focused on fixing our struggling economy, not engineering a government takeover of our health care system.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: featured, healthcare reform, Johnny Isakson
1

Chambliss Statement on Health Care Vote by U.S.

– March 22, 2010Posted in: Government, Politics

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., issued the following statement regarding the passage of the Senate health care bill by the U.S. House of Representatives.

“The American people have spoken out against this health care bill and it’s unfortunate that the president and Democrats have chosen to ignore their concerns and force passage,” said Chambliss. “Cuts to Medicare, tax increases and special deals do not represent meaningful reform. This bill is a political victory that will only make health care more expensive.”

Tags: healthcare reform
0

Eliminating medical malpractice premiums

– January 28, 2010Posted in: Jim Finkelstein

If you are a physician shelling out tens of thousands of dollars annually for malpractice insurance, you should be screaming at your Congressman and senators right now.

Why?

Because floating around the House of Representatives last fall was a proposal that would have eliminated all of your premiums — you would have paid $0 — had it been incorporated into the health care reform bill. It was never adopted — not even debated — or you would have heard about it before reading this op-ed column.

The proposal was stunning in its simplicity and effectiveness: the current hodgepodge of state tort laws which allow injured patients to sue their physicians, but only if they can prove their doctor has done such a poor job that he or she breached the standard of care, would have been replaced by a single national system that used a workers compensation style no-fault system. Under the no-fault proposal, doctors, hospitals, and drug manufacturers would no longer need any malpractice insurance.

The national system would have been funded with a one percent sales tax on all medical goods and services (at $2.3 trillion, the annual contributions would have been $23 billion, far more than is currently paid out annually in malpractice settlements and jury awards). Injured patients would no longer have to prove fault; they wouldn’t even need to hire lawyers. Doctors would no longer have to engage in wasteful defensive medicine. And specialists in areas like ob-gyn would stop fleeing their practices because of crushing insurance premiums.

So what happened? Why didn’t this proposal get a fair airing in Congress? Beats me. On Sept. 30, 2009, Rep. Sanford Bishop sent a copy of the article outlining the proposal (it had appeared in a Georgia statewide legal newspaper, The Fulton County Daily Report, in 2004) to key legislators and committee chairs in the House of Representatives, including John Conyers, Henry Waxman, and Melvin Watt. He also sent a copy to David Cook, the president of the Medical Association of Georgia. And it was never heard from again.

Had the malpractice reform proposal been brought up before a relevant committee and included in the final bill put out by the House, it would have accomplished several goals of the reformers: it would have cut health care overhead costs by tens of billions, both directly in the form of insurance premiums and indirectly by reducing the billions spent annually in unnecessary tests by physicians practicing defensive medicine.

It would have provided a fairer and more efficient system of compensating patients injured from medical procedures, by misdiagnosis, or by side effects from medicine.

All injured patients — not the very few who collect under the current system — would receive compensation without having to prove fault or engage in lengthy and expensive lawsuits. And politically it would have given numerous Republicans in the House (even Joe Wilson!) and Senate strong motivation to vote for a health care reform bill that included the tort reform which they have been strenuously demanding.

As the current Senate battle has proved, getting even one Republican to vote against a filibuster of the bill would have been enough to secure a single payer system or a public option. It’s hard to imagine any Republican representative or senator going back home and explaining to angry physicians, hospital executives, and pharmaceutical company lobbyists why they turned down an opportunity to completely eliminate medical malpractice insurance premiums and the omnipresent fear of being sued.

The proposal also included a better mechanism than the current system for identifying and publicizing bad doctors, scary hospitals and dangerous drugs: all of the awards would be published on the internet, including the injury sustained, the medical providers involved, and the amount of the no-fault award (with one exception: unlike the current system with publicly filed lawsuits, the privacy of the patients would be protected). Before going to a doctor, entering a hospital, or using a prescribed medicine, the patient/consumer could get that information with a click of a mouse.

Too bad the proposal never got a hearing. Had it ever been put forward and included in the final bill, it would have guaranteed the passage of effective health care reform legislation that would have cut overall costs in the industry while improving care and providing more access to consumers.

FinkelsteinMugWritten by Jim Finkelstein.

Tags: healthcare reform
0

Tanning Bed Tax? Taxing behavior they don’t like

– January 11, 2010Posted in: Tom Knighton

The purpose of government is to handle a few things and leave me the heck alone. Arrest the bad guys, fight fires, enforce contracts, and I’m good.

It’s been said before that it’ll happen. I never had a doubt, but I was a little shocked that it happened so quickly … and in the actual bill.

What am I talking about?

The healthcare bill and the proposed 10% tax on using a tanning bed of all things.

You see, for a while now, there’s been talk by opponents of the healthcare bill who claimed that with the government having a stake in healthcare, they would be able to use it to regulate behavior they found to be “unsafe” since now unsafe behavior could increase the burden on the Federal government. But the proposed tax is one of the first such attempts that I’ve heard about.

It’s long been known that laying in a tanning bed increases your risk of skin cancer, and people are aware of that too. You see, people are stupid, but the individual person generally isn’t. They know this, and use a little something called “free will” and decide to take the chance. While this may not be a smart idea, we all have a God-given right to be stupid from time to time. It’s the most fundamental freedom.

However, they are trying the same thing with tanning beds they did with tobacco. They raised taxes on tobacco because they believe that government knows best. By raising taxes on behavior they don’t like, Uncle Sam seeks to pressure you to making the decision that Uncle Sam wants you to make all.

If I didn’t already oppose government run healthcare, this would be enough to convince me to oppose it.

You see, I’m morally opposed to government trying to convince me to do anything. It’s not their place. The purpose of government is to handle a few things and leave me the heck alone. Arrest the bad guys, fight fires, enforce contracts, and I’m good. Try and tell me that you know what’s best for me? Kiss my butt!

So, they try and tax stuff they don’t like. It’s just another way to backdoor attack freedoms someone doesn’t like. You see, their argument is that you’re still free to use a tanning bed, and they’re right. But where do they get off taxing some business transactions at one rate, and others at another? For that matter, where do they get off getting involved in a legal business transaction between two consenting adults at all?

But that’s just the way of the world these days, isn’t it? If you don’t like something that someone else does that has no impact on you, then regulate the hell out of it. After all, everyone knows what’s best for you except for you apparently.

Personally, I want everyone to butt out of my life and let me live it for a change. I don’t care what you think of what I do, but you darn well better keep your hands out of my pocket and your nose out of my business!

The purpose of government is to handle a few things and leave me the heck alone. Arrest the bad guys, fight fires, enforce contracts, and I’m good.

tomknightonWritten by Tom Knighton. Read his blog at SWGA Politics.com.

A lifelong political junkie, Tom started out his adult life as a journalism major at Darton College before leaving school to serve his nation as a U.S. Navy Corpsman.

Through the years, he has watched government from outside and inside. A former Reagan supporter, then later a Democrat, Tom now finds himself quite comfortable as a card carrying Libertarian and all around smart-elec.

Tags: featured, healthcare reform
0

Government already taking over medicine

– November 23, 2009Posted in: Politics

Don’t wear a pink ribbon during breast cancer awareness month next October, Congressman Bishop. You didn’t just vote for a government takeover of medicine, you celebrated it with parties at your district offices. Less than one week later, we see what life will be like under your plan.

An Obama administration task force just announced that the age for mammograms should be increased from 40 to 50 and no one over 75 should be screened unless risk factors are already known. This panel did not include a single oncologist (cancer physician) or radiologist. These bureaucrats decided that the number of early detections caught in screening a 40-year-old did not justify the cost. Tell that to the grieving little elementary school-age son and daughter and husband standing at the graveside of a 42-year-old mother and wife.

Welcome to Sanford Bishop’s government health care. Bishop ignored the people of his district. He represented Nancy Pelosi, instead. If you think that Bishop is going to support your particular area of interest, then you need to check with Pelosi first because he is acting more like her congressman than he is yours.

Written by Donald E. Cole. Mr.Cole, of Cordele, is the 2nd District Georgia Republican Party chairman.

Tags: healthcare reform
2

Editorial: Sanford Bishop unveils hypocrisy

– November 12, 2009Posted in: Politics

According to a report on WALB, U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop shows just how much of a hypocrite he really is. He is quoted as saying, “I had to ask myself, ‘What would Jesus do?’” This is a man who votes for a hate crime bill that hurts pastors in what they can say, a self avowed pro-abortionist, and quotes scripture only when in his self interest. He has voted 100 percent along Speaker Pelosi’s demands.

One supporter was quoted as saying, “I am uninsured and it’s going to help me personally.” What he doesn’t know is that he will still have to wait three to eight years for it, and if some of the news reports are correct, he will still be getting his care from the emergency room because the bill is missing most reforms, like the doctor fix, that will stop the 25-percent cut in reimbursement to doctors taking Medicaid. Or the Medicare cuts or tort reform or cross-state selling of insurance or that in Year 2 of the bill the state must come up with the money for increased Medicaid rolls. We taxpayers will to cut education or increase taxes to cover the projected $500 million cost. We are more than $1 billion in the hole right now in the state budget.

The small business person then will have a choice: provide health insurance or pay a new tax, either of which will most likely cost jobs because the revenue growth in this economy is just not there.

There is no logic in the insanity we have in Washington. There spending is bankrupting America, there are now talks of another stimulus bill. From what I hear, it’s all bridges and roads again. Are they nuts?

This has got to stop and we have a chance in 2010. Visit Mike Keown’s Website at www.mikekeown.com and support him. Sitting on the sidelines will only return Bishop to office with more of the same.

Written by Mike Sabot of Leesburg, Georgia.

Tags: healthcare reform, sanford bishop
2

Why Protest Reform That Would Benefit Us: A Letter To Congressman Bishop

– August 31, 2009Posted in: Bill Waller

In a recent article about the protest at Congressman Sanford Bishop’s office against healthcare reform, Congressman Bishop said, “We have the First Amendment in this country, but I find it curious that people choose to protest healthcare reform that would benefit them.” Congressman, you find it curious because at your town hall meeting in Albany you chose to talk to your constituents rather than listen. I know that your staff in the Albany office has become a fan of SWGAPolitics. I hope you are reading this too. I’ll try once more to explain why America, and more importantly—your constituents, do not want this reform.

There is an old saying that goes… “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” I am not implying that the healthcare system in this country could not use a little tweaking, but it is not to the point where we should scrap the entire system and rebuild it. Have you seen the polls that show numbers around 75% of Americans that are happy with their insurance plan? Tweaking the system with free market solutions that involve patient/doctor relationships rather than government officials is where we should look. Let’s explore health savings accounts, tax breaks for healthy lifestyle choices, and a system that is accountable to the patient. Why does the plan not address tort reform? A constituent mentioned that out of 47 million uninsured, only 15 million are chronically uninsured. They can be covered by the savings that will occur through a free market approach. Please sir, I am begging you to listen!

Congressman Bishop, we have the best healthcare system in the world. People come from all over the globe to be treated here in America because their government run plans are substandard to the care in this country. Why do you believe that our system will stay number one when it is run by the bureaucrats in Washington? We may pay more than other countries, but we are getting the best care in the world. What’s more, whether they have insurance or not, nobody is denied treatment in this country.

One of the biggest problems in Washington is that the lawmakers never seem to think beyond the first step with all of the lofty goals and experiments that are conducted on our society. Providing healthcare coverage to everybody sounds like a great thing to do. What will result from this action? Doctors will be told where to live and how much they can spend to treat patients. Patient care will be a decision of the new Health Choices Commissioner. The system that most Americans view as the world’s best will be fundamentally changed forever.

A reporter from CBS recently uncovered in the 1000 plus page bill that section 431(a) “says that the IRS must divulge taxpayer identity information, including the filing status, the modified adjusted gross income, the number of dependents, and “other information as is prescribed by” regulation. That information will be provided to the new Health Choices Commissioner and state health programs and used to determine who qualifies for “affordability credits.” The article cites two other sections where the IRS must report your confidential information to countless government bureaucrats who have no business knowing about the private lives of the citizens of this country. Are you starting to see now why people are protesting?

You said that you have read the House bill at the town hall meeting at ASU. You can then verify the following facts from the bill. Readers of this entry that want to check the facts against the actual bill can find the bill here. I cut several of the points out to reduce the size. Is there any wonder why we would not support this piece of legislation? I beg you Congressman Bishop to read the bill and vote the conscious of your constituents. Government health care for all sounds great, but with these stipulations? I find it curious that legislators choose to vote for healthcare reform that would harm us all.

Pg 16 Line 10 Under Limitation of New Enrollment you will go on the government plan if you ever lose your current insurance coverage. No new policies will be written after Y1.

Pg 22 of the Health Care Bill MANDATES the Govt will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self-insure!!

Pg 30 Sec 123- THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.

Pg 29 lines 4-16 – There is an annual limitation on basic expenses which is a form of rationing.

PG 50 Section 152- HC will be provided to ALL non-US citizens, illegal or otherwise.

Pg 53- Severability:

“If any provision of the Act, or any application of such provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of the provisions of this Act and the application of the provision to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected.”

Pg 58 – Govt will have real-time access to individual’s finances & a National ID Healthcard will be issued!

Pg 59 lines 21-24- Govt will have direct access to your bank accounts for electronic funds transfer

Pg 72 Lines 8-14 Govt is creating an HC Exchange to bring private HC plans under Govt control.

PG 84 Sec 203 – Govt mandates ALL benefit packages for private HC plans in the Exchange

PG 85 Line 7 – Specs of Benefit Levels For Plans. Bishop talked about the plan levels at the ASU town hall, but if the government is providing for all of us we should all get the same level of treatment. Otherwise it can be construed as rationing.

PG 102 Lines 12-18- Medicaid-Eligible Individual will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. No choice.

pg 124 lines 24-25 No company can sue GOVT on price fixing. No “judicial review” against Govt Monopoly.

pg 127 Lines 1-16- RE: Doctors- The Govt will tell YOU what you can make.

Pg 145 Line 15-17 An Employer MUST auto-enroll employees into public option plan. NO CHOICE

Pg 146 Lines 22-25 Employers MUST pay for health care for part time employees AND their families.

Pg 149 Lines 16-24 ANY Employer w/ payroll $400k & above who doesn’t provide public option pays 8% tax on all payroll.

PG 150 Lines 9-13- Biz w payroll between 251k & 400k who don’t provide pub. opt pay 2-6% tax on all payroll

Pg 167 Lines 18-23 ANY individual who doesn’t have acceptable health insurance according to Govt will be taxed 2.5% of income.

Pg 170 Lines 1-3 Any NONRESIDENT Alien is EXEMPT from individual taxes. (Americans will pay)

Pg 195 -Officers & employees of HC Admin (GOVT) will have access to ALL Americans financial/personal records

PG 203 Line 14-15- “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax.” Yes, it actualy says that.

Pg 239 Line 14-24-Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor will be affected.

Pg 241 Line 6-8- Doctors, doesn’t matter what specialty you have, you will all be paid the same. Why would a doctor study a specialty when they will all be rewarded the same?

Page 280 Sec 1151- The Govt will penalize hospitals for what Govt deems “preventable re-admissions.”

Pg 317 L 13-20- PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. Govt tells Drs. what/how much they can own of a healthcare facility.

Pg 317-318 lines 21-25,1-3: PROHIBITION on expansion- Govt is mandating hospitals cannot expand.

Pg 335 Line 16 Govt mandates establishment of outcome based measures. Health care the way they want. Rationing.

Pg 341 Lines 3-9: Govt has authority to disqualify Medicare Adv Plans, HMOs, etc. Forcing people into Govt plan

Pg 354 Sec 1177 – Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs people!

PG 424 Lines 20 Govt mandates “Advanced Care Planning Consultations.”

Pg 429 Lines 1-9: An “advanced care planning consult” will be used frequently as patients health deteriorates

Pg 429 Lines 13-25 – The govt will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order.

PG 430 Lines 9-17- The Govt will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life.

PG 489 Sec 1308: The Govt will cover Marriage & Family therapy. Which means they will insert Govt into your marriage.

Pg 494-498: Govt will cover Mental Health Services including defining, creating, rationing those services.

PG 501 Section 1181 Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research Established. – Hello Big Brother – Literally.

PG 503 Line 19-25 The Center will collect data both published & unpublished (that means public & your private info)

PG 659-670 Doctors in Residency – Government will tell you where your residency will be, thus where you’ll live.

PG 675-685 Government will regulate hospitals in EVERY aspect of residency programs, including teaching hospitals.

PGs 700-703 Section 1619 If your part of HealthCare plan that isn’t in Government HealthCare Exchange but you qualify for Federal aid, no payment.

Pg 734 lines 16-25 For law enforcement purposes, the Secretary of Health & Human Services will give Attorney General access to ALL data.

PG 739-756 Government sets guidelines for subsidizing the uninsured with your tax dollars.

Page 762 1-8 No DS/EA hospitals will be paid unless they provide services without regard to national origin

Pg 769 SEC 1714 Federal Government mandates eligibility for State Family Planning Services. Abortion & State Sovereignty issues come to mind.

Pg 789-797 Government will set & mandate drug prices, controlling which drugs will brought to market. Bye-bye to innovation

Page 820-824 Sec 1801 Government will identify individuals ineligible for subsidies. Will access all personal finances.

PG 829-833 Government will impose a fee on ALL private health insurance plans including self insured to pay for Trust Fund!

838-840 Government will design & implement Home Visitation Program for families with young kids & families expecting kids.

PG 844-845 This Home Visitation Program includes Government coming into your house & telling you how to parent.

Pg 859 Government will establish a Public Health Fund at a cost of $88,800,000,000. Yes that’s Billion!

PG 876-892 The Government takes over the education of our Medical students and Drs.

PG 898 The Government will establish a Public Health Workforce Corps. to ensure supply of public health professionals.

PG 913-914 Government starts a HealthCare affirmative action program thru guise of diversity scholarships.

Pg 931 The Government will establish Preventative & Wellness Trust fund – The cost for fiscal year 2010 is $2,400,000,000 with billions more for each following year.

PG 934 21-22 Government will identify specific goals & objectives for prevention & wellness activities. Control You!!

PG 940 Lines 22-25 More Government? Offices of Surgeon General -Public Health Services, Minority Health, Women’s Health – THIS MEANS TAX DOLLARS USED TO PAY FOR ABORTIONS.

PG 1017 States give up some of their State Sovereignty.

billwallerWritten by Bill Waller.  Mr. Waller is a author and contributor local blog, Southwest Georgia Politics. He enjoys writing, traveling, and researching history.  He currently resides in Albany, Georgia.

Tags: healthcare reform, sanford bishop
0

Outlook: Sanford Bishop out of touch with his constituents

– August 27, 2009Posted in: Bill Waller

Congressman Sanford Bishop (D-2-Ga) held his final town hall meeting on healthcare reform Thursday at Albany State University. I attended the meeting to hear what our congressman had to say about the bills. Congressman Bishop said that he had not made up his mind yet about the various bills floating around Washington because they are a work in progress. Then he proceeded to tell us why the bill in the House will be great for the country. It was apparent that his mind was made up even before the question and answer session.

He said that his vote on healthcare reform does not belong to Obama, Pelosi, or the House leadership, it belongs to the people of the 2nd District. He said that he would not betray the trust of his constituents. I could not help but think if the Cap and Trade bill where a staffer of Bishop’s said that calls were coming in 100 to 1 against the bill, but he voted for it. Did the vote belong to the people of the 2nd District then?

On some occasions, Bishop said that the bill was about healthcare reform. At other times, he said that it was about healthcare insurance reform. Those are two different things.

Bishop said, “Some will argue that Congress should not be pushing healthcare reform now given the state of our economy, yet the worst thing that we could possibly do is do nothing. The cost of inaction is too great.” According to the chart and study quoted by Saxby Chambliss, the House bill will increase the cost of healthcare more than doing nothing at all according to the Senate Budget Committee.

Bishop quoted facts from the state of Georgia which included us ranking 14th in obesity in adults. He then went on to say that, “These numbers are unacceptable for the United States of America that is supposed to be the number one super power in the world.” The problem is that he is comparing one state to the others and saying that Georgia’s ranking somehow reflects the standing of the nation when compared to the world. In other words, he did not compare apples to apples. What I find to be unacceptable is a nanny state that tells its citizens how much they are allowed to weigh

Before visitors were allowed to ask questions, Congressman Bishop quoted Edmund Burke. He explained that Burke was one of our founding fathers and made this statement in 1774 on the roll of the Representative. “Certainly, gentlemen, it ought to be the happiness and glory of a representative to live in the strictest union, the closest correspondence, and the most unreserved communication with his constituents. Their wishes ought to have great weight with him; their opinion, high respect; their business, unremitted attention. It is his duty to sacrifice his repose, his pleasures, his satisfactions, to theirs; and above all, ever, and in all cases, to prefer their interest to his own. But his unbiassed opinion, his mature judgment, his enlightened conscience, he ought not to sacrifice to you, to any man, or to any set of men living. These he does not derive from your pleasure; no, nor from the law and the constitution. They are a trust from Providence, for the abuse of which he is deeply answerable. Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion.”

The only problem is that Edmund Burke was NOT a founding father and he made that statement in his address to the electors of Bristol. The year was correct though. Burke did say it in 1774. This may seem like a minor detail, but if we cannot trust the congressman to know the founding fathers, can we really trust him to know what is in the healthcare bill.

The congressman gave the web site where the draft of the bill from the House could be viewed. He also made it a point to hold the bill up before the crowd twice and say that he has read it. If you did not want to read the bill, Bishop provided the people with a summary of the bill.

Bishop talked briefly about cooperatives, but he also talked about the public option plan. He said, and repeated it for emphasis, that it would not be funded by government subsidies, but would be funded by the premium that it collects. He said government will have to advance start-up costs, but those costs would be repaid. This will give competition to the private sector to help drive the price down.

Since when does the government need to provide competition to the private sector to drive the price down? There is competition in the private sector already. Should the government start setting up fast food restaurants to provide competition to McDonalds or does Burger King do that? I have been puzzled by this for awhile. How can the government with its deep pockets provide fair competition to any business in the private sector that has to make money to pay employees and expenses? Furthermore, he says that funding will come from premiums, yet the CBO says that taxes will go up and still there will be a deficit of over $250 billion.

Written by Bill Waller.

Albany Outlook is a town square for local issues.  It includes The Albany Journal’s perspective and columns written both by well-known names in the community and “just plan folks”.  The Journal is not responsible for views expressed by guest comments.  The best Outlook writers are passionate, persuasive, logical, and concise (750 words or less).  Have something on your mind that you are willing to share?  Email us: ajournal@thealbanyjournal.com

Clip of Sanford Bishop’s Speech in Albany, Ga on August 20, 2009.

Clip from Rep. Sanford Bishop Townhall Bainbridge, GA. Aug 20, 2009.

Tags: Health, healthcare reform, sanford bishop
1

Albany Outlook: Health Care Meeting: Democracy in Action

– August 27, 2009Posted in: Jim Finkelstein

I went to a town hall meeting last Thursday — and democracy broke out.

I fully expected to see members of the lunatic fringe attempting to shout down our congressman or monopolize the microphones. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to note that our local law enforcement was out in force and, while being studiously polite, they enforced ground rules which allowed everybody who walked up to a microphone over the 3½-hour session (it was scheduled to run 4 to 6 p.m., but the last speaker finished around 7:30) to have their say.

THE CONGRESSMAN

Our congressman, Sanford Bishop Jr., has represented Georgia’s Second Congressional District — all of Southwest Georgia — for 16 years. Amazingly, he looked and sounded as fresh at the end of the session — his fourth in two days — as he did at the beginning. He was unflappable yet in control, numerous times shushing the crowd when some members became unruly or rude in response to remarks from a citizen. Nattily attired in a brown suit, yellow tie, and matching pocket patch, he appeared far younger than his 62 years, and he was indefatigable in his presentation of the thousand page bill to a standing room audience in Albany State University’s Academics building.

THE AUDIENCE

Belying the media stereotypes, the audience appeared to be made up primarily of local citizens with a genuine interest in having a conversation — or making a point — with or to their representative in Congress. There were no signs permitted in the auditorium. My two-minute effort with a Sharpie on posterboard went to naught, as I turned over my poster to a polite policewoman in the lobby who gave me a choice between keeping my sign and picketing outside the building, or leaving it in her care and attending the meeting. The officer wasn’t around when I got out hours later, so the world will never see my brightly lettered sign: “TELL CONGRE$$ NOT TO $UCCOMB TO IN$URANCE DOLLAR$”

In what I had correctly anticipated was a brilliant stroke of political strategy, the venue at Albany State ensured that the Fox News-watching, Rush Limbaugh-regurgitating, white Republicans (most of whom hailed from outside of Albany — each speaker had to identify himself or herself by name and location), were outnumbered by African American fans of both President Obama and Congressman Bishop.

I roughly calculated the breakdown as approximately 30 percent white, middle class, immigrant-bashing opponents of any reform, any government spending, any hint of Socialism. And 70 percent who supported reforming the current mess. At times the meeting seemed more like a television talent contest with fans of each side cheering, applauding speakers who vocalized their positions.

The biggest cheer of the night went to a minister who recited phrases from the New Testament which were echoed by Congressman Bishop — verses about Jesus healing the sick — and suddenly it seemed that a political town hall meeting had turned into a religious revival, as the more than half of the crowd rose to their feet in noisy appreciation. The self-professed right-wing Christians who oppose any help to the less fortunate, including Samaritans, excuse me, Mexican immigrants, never appreciated the irony of their position.

I made a point of introducing myself to those sitting around me — to my left was a slightly OCD white middle-aged opponent of health reform who was fiercely against socialism in any form. He felt that the government could not possibly run a health care system. He had health insurance on his job and seemed satisfied with his current lot. When he railed against socialism in the medical field, I asked him if he thought that most senior citizens were dissatisfied with Medicare and would prefer to opt out and purchase private insurance.

His response — reasonably enough — was that they wouldn’t because they didn’t have to pay anything for Medicare. At no point did he seem to understand that once we reach 65, we’re all socialists. Nor did he seem aware of the undisputed fact that somehow the government provides Medicare benefits to seniors without totally screwing up the program. In fact the overhead for Medicare is a fraction of what private insurers and HMOs expend for their high priced executives and other administrative costs.

ONE STORY

One woman’s story was particularly telling. She mentioned her husband, a Vietnam veteran, who had been exposed to Agent Orange during his tour there in the early 1970s. Three decades later, they had good jobs and were living the American dream — beautiful house, several cars, money saved for retirement. Then, in 2002, he became sick. The Veterans Administration denied benefits and he was ineligible for care at the VA hospital.

Although they had insurance, the incredible expense of his illness cost them their house, their cars, their life savings. Five years later, they were so destitute that she had to choose between paying for the medicine to keep him alive a bit longer and the medicine she needed to treat her high blood pressure that might cost her own life. She chose to buy the medicine her husband needed, but in the end, he died.

The question she posed — the challenge she posed — to the congressman and to the anti-reformers in the audience, was: why did she have to choose? Why did anyone have to lose everything and then have to make a life or death choice like that because the money had run out? None of the socialism-hating, immigrant-bashing, Fox News misinformation-swallowing, white Republicans had an answer.

FinkelsteinMugWritten by Jim Finkelstein.

Albany Outlook is a town square for local issues.  It includes The Albany Journal’s perspective and columns written both by well-known names in the community and “just plan folks”.  The Journal is not responsible for views expressed by guest comments.  The best Outlook writers are passionate, persuasive, logical, and concise (750 words or less).  Have something on your mind that you are willing to share?  Email us: ajournal@thealbanyjournal.com

Tags: healthcare reform, sanford bishop
Older Entries
SEO Powered by Platinum SEO from Techblissonline