"A government big enough to give you everything you want,
is big enough to take away everything you have"
Thomas Jefferson
Monday, August 3, 2009
Polls, Polls and more Polls - From TIME
TIME survey finds Obama faces deep skepticism about health care overhaul -- particularly on cost, efficiency and the government's role.
NY Times/CBS News: 58% say government's fiscal priority should be reducing the deficit, 35% want to spend more to stimulate economy.
Latest numbers from NBC News/WSJ show 42% disapprove of his health care plan, 36% approve. More here: Get them here.
George Washington University Battleground poll shows 43% backing congressional Democrats, 40% supporting GOPers.
Get more -- including whether or not voters think the country is on the right track -- here.
20 comments:
I find it difficult to put much faith in any poll that shows approval/disapproval ratings for a healthcare PLAN. We don't know the plan. Congress doesn't know the plan, because they haven't read it. Pres. Obama doesn't know the plan because it hasn't come to him for approval.
At this point, we don't know what the final plan will contain. Will there be a public option? Will it be structured in such a manner so as to drive private insurers out of business? Will you be able to keep your current plan? How much of cost will be shouldered by empoyers? How much will our taxes increase to pay for this? Will abortions be covered? Will it contain a requirement for the elderly to go through end of life counseling so that they understand how much their desire to live is costing the system? Will there be other requirements for breast exams, PAP smears, prostate checks, etc.? Will there be incentives for participants to live more healthy lifestyles? Will smoking be penalized? Will obesity be penalized? Will our elected officials be required to use the public option, if there is one in the final bill?
Aren't there really too many unanswered questions to have an imformed opinion?
The more the national GOP scares the public, as they avoid solutions with any viable alternatives, the more the public will react to their bumper sticker sound bytes and anger without knowing both sides.
Elected officials in office have one charge and one charge only: to work to solve problems, not sustain them. They are in office to serve the people, period -
I know it sounds simple, but it is.
The national GOP is sustaining a serious problem that needs resolution. Healthcare costs are a major contributor to the overall economic mess we are still in.
Getting a good bill in the end
should be the goal - one that makes a national healthcare network for everyone, if they want to choose it.
Continuing to cast fear and hype and then take no responsbility for any outcome as the national GOP dodges and ducks blame and failure that they created is just plain wrong!
IMHO.
— dmf
Anon 10:00am
I agree with you except I have a nagging feeling that because the plethora of plans are so confusing people won't know enough about any of them to be in favor or opposed. Maybe that was planned.
Dan, enough of the anti GOP BS. This health care "solution" is getting resistance from all kinds of sources, many who have D in front of their name. Don't revert to the party line stuff.
The real difficulty the Great One has is his explanation of how we have to save money on health care and it is only going to cost us a trillion dollars. Even his most ardent worshippers get confused on that one.
so the alternative is......???
I have so much faith in supposedly intelligent adults who continually revert to political framing of every single frigging issue that comes up. Get off the train and be part of the solution. Francis is a candidate now, so he has to put his partisan hat on, but the rest of us don't. We do it because it's the lazy way out. Find a better way if you don't like this one. Obama was elected for X's sake, by a wide margin. So were the rest of them, and many of them were incumbents.
Anon 5:46 - you totally, as I expected, missed the point... which you usually do, and then attack me.
I'm not attacking the GOP unnecessarily - but the record is clear: they do not want any changes in the status quo otherwise, where is it?
You can deny the facts, or be in total self-denial all you want, but on this issue my assessment it correct whether you agree or not - other than that, it matters squat to me what you believe.
The status quo has failed and is no longer an option... that is painfully clear. Both sides SHOULD work to fine a solution not worry about scoring political points... that's the issue.
~ dmf
Obama was elected on a platform of change, whatever that is. The financial meltdown, Iraq, energy, and eight years of media propaganda against Bush resulted in his election, not a directive to dimantle the health care system. At this point, 10:00am said it best. There is no plan. I'm reacting to Dan's partisan sniping, which has nothing to do with anything. Any health care "plan" has to have the goal of controlling costs. Every solution I hear from the White House involves hugh expense. Why?
I'm not partisan sniping anything or anyone - if there is any snipes on this topic at this trough, it's you, Anonymous (pick any number you want for a label) -the facts are clear:
1. Costs will rise if we do nothing.
2. More will end up w/o care since they will not be able to afford it; that's on top of those already w/o care who cannot afford it.
3. The status quo is untenable and not viable.
4. The GOP attacks are real - more scare tactics just like their effective tactics about Mr. Obama's birth or a non-existent clause in the health care bill about whacking seniors to save money ... shame on the GOP.
I'd say shame on the DEMS, too, if they were doing the same crap. But, it's only the GOP in the scare tactics game right now.
Even Harry and Louise have come around ... they now agree that
"change is needed."
~ dmf
10:00 AM
I have heard enough of stupids plan to know I don,t want it. I am at present paying $725 dollars a month for supposed good insurance for the wife and I.I have been told I will continue to pay that rate or more for the same shitty coverage as evryone else.Matters not if they work,take care of themselves or are even american.Now I know this may not be true but what if it is? I Have not heard anyone say it,s not. I will not pay that kind of money for some slob to set on his/her ass and reap the benefits of my labor.NOT HAPPENING! You want to see a tax revolt you dems are on the right track. And no i'm not a repug I was a dem. Preasantly not affiliated but leaning conserv or libertarian had it with the statis quo. My whole family are looking for something else.
PART 1 Charley Reese has been a journalist for 49 years.
545 PEOPLE
By Charlie Reese
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.
You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.
You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank dose
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason.. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
PART 2 Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits.. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million can not replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red ..
If the Army &Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.
They, and they alone, have the power.
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.
Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.
We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!
Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.
What you do with this article now that you have read it.......... Is up to you. VOTE THEIR ASSES OUT!
Not a poll, but a vivid 13-minute video of the big money behind health care reform (money used to stop reform; not money used to implement decent reform) ... enjoy it - I did.
Who Will Pay and Buy Health Care Reform????
— dmf
August 3, 2009 10:00
READ IT FOR YOUSELF. by Alan Korwin, Author
Gun Laws of America
My regular report is postponed due to this emergency
by Alan Korwin, Author
Gun Laws of America
July 30, 2009
Dangerous health care insanity spreads --
If the news media would report on the CONTENTS of the proposed federal health care takeover (see details below) it would die in a day. People would rise up, as they did over the recent illegal-alien amnesty attempt, and demand defeat.
Instead, the media reports meaningless drivel, politicing, promises, compromises, party squabbles and leaves out the substance of this incredibly bad hostile takeover of your doctor's office, complete with end-your-life paperwork issued by bureaucrats, denial of service, strict rationing, cash penalties for selecting your own doctors or treatment.
Gun-Rights Linkage: With this much total control over your medical and financial records, there's a very short step between automated analysis of your "fitness" to keep and bear arms, and the various prohibited-possessor lists the government is keeping and recommending. That's just my idle observation, the bill does not explicitly address it in any way.
The lamestream media told you:
July 30, 2009; AP -- House democrats reached a deal Wednesday on a health care reform bill that would reduce federal subsidies, help lower-income families, exempt businesses, cover the elderly, provide additional revenue, require insurance, provide subsidies to the poor, help choose your health insurance, recommend health benefits, cap out-of-pocket expenses, set standards... deadlines, blue-dogs, budget experts, negotiations, the top of Obama's agenda, deadlines, timetable slippage, leadership, deadlines... and cost less than one trillion dollars without increasing the federal deficit. http://tinyurl.com/ko64s3
The Uninvited Ombudsman notes however that:
First off, it's impossible to spend a trillion dollars, when your treasury is already demolished by debt, without making your deficit worse, even a moron can see that (proof that morons don't work for the AP).
I make a living studying and describing laws. I've spot checked this man Fleckstein's work below, he is a little blustery, but he is accurate. The media has avoided just about all of this, preferring instead to spread he-said-she-said silliness and posturing, keeping you and the nation in the dark. CNN, FOX, the networks -- none of them are covering the real content of the bill!
If politicians somehow get away with passing this atrocity, the federal government will create an impenetrable barrier to medical service, countless bureaucrats will take over life-and-death power of every aspect of medical care, and they will wreak havoc on nearly 20% of our already frail economy. As you age, your value will be calculated and your access to health care will drop.
Remember -- there is no delegated constitutional authority for any of this: powers delegated to the federal government do not include running an insurance company, regulating what medical care you can get, where you can go for medical treatment, how much you can pay, what sort of treatments you can select, or punishing you or your employer for deciding on your own health care.
We are supposed to have a government of limited delegated powers; if government can do whatever it pleases, without constraint, as they are about to do with your medicine, that's as tyrannical as it gets -- we no longer have a limited government as we should, the basis of our freedom. Pick up your phone, finally, call your representatives, and demand they stop this insane and unlawful intrusion into your doctor's office. At least call your doctor. Do it. Ask for their advice.
Here is the entire 1,107-page health care bill, HR 3200, being pushed by Mr. Obama (no one is saying who actually wrote all of this):
There is a man by the name of Peter Fleckstein (aka Fleckman) who is reading it and has been posting his findings on Twitter. This is from his postings. I have spot checked these, he is spot on:
++++++++
Pg 16: SEC. 102. PROTECTING THE CHOICE TO KEEP CURRENT COVERAGE. lines 3-26 of the HC Bill – OUTLAWS PRIVATE INSURANCE by forbidding enrollment after HR 3200 is passed into law.
Pg 21-22: SEC. 113. INSURANCE RATING RULES of the HC Bill MANDATES the Government will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self insure!!
Pg 29: SEC. 122. ESSENTIAL BENEFITS PACKAGE DEFINED: lines 4-16 in the HC bill – YOUR HEALTHCARE IS RATIONED!!!
Pg 30: SEC. 123. HEALTH BENEFITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE of HC bill – THERE WILL BE A GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.
Pg 42: SEC. 142. DUTIES AND AUTHORITY OF COMMISSIONER of HC Bill – The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your HC Benefits for you. You have no choice!
PG 50-51: SEC. 152. PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION IN HEALTH CARE in HC bill – HC will be provided to ALL non US citizens, ILLEGAL or otherwise.
Pg 58: SEC. 163. ADMINISTRATIVE SIMPLIFICATION HC Bill – Government will have real-time access to individual’s finances and a National ID Healthcard will be issued!
Pg 59: SEC. 163. ADMINISTRATIVE SIMPLIFICATION HC Bill lines 21-24 Government will have DIRECT access to your BANK ACCOUNTS for electronic funds transfer. This means the government can go in and take your money right out of your bank account.
PG 65: SEC. 164. REINSURANCE PROGRAM FOR RETIREES is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in Unions and community orgs (ACORN).
Pg 72: SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE; OUTLINE OF DUTIES; DEFINITIONS Lines 8-14 Government is creating an HC Exchange to bring private HC plans under Government control.
PG 84: SEC. 203. BENEFITS PACKAGE LEVELS HC Bill – Government mandates ALL benefit packages for private HC plans in the Exchange
PG 85: SEC. 203. BENEFITS PACKAGE LEVELS Line 7 HC Bill – SPECIFICATION OF BENEFIT LEVELS FOR PLANS = The Government will ration your Healthcare!
PG 91: SEC. 204. CONTRACTS FOR THE OFFERING OF EXCHANGE-PARTICIPATING HEALTH BENEFITS PLANS Lines 4-7 HC Bill – Government mandates linguistic appropriate services. Example – Translation for illegal aliens!
Pg 95: SEC. 205. OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT OF EXCHANGE-ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS AND EMPLOYERS IN EXCHANGE-PARTICIPATING HEALTH BENEFITS PLAN HC Bill Lines 8-18 The Government will use groups i.e., ACORN & Americorps to sign up individuals for Government HC plan.
PG 102: SEC. 205. OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT OF EXCHANGE-ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS AND EMPLOYERS IN EXCHANGE-PARTICIPATING HEALTH BENEFITS PLAN Lines 12-18 HC Bill – Medicaid Eligible Individuals will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. No choice!
pg 124: SEC. 223. PAYMENT RATES FOR ITEMS AND SERVICES lines 24-25 HC No company can sue the GOVERNMENT on price fixing! No “judicial review” against Government Monopoly!!
pg 127: SEC. 225. PROVIDER PARTICIPATION Lines 1-16 HC Bill – Doctors/ AMA – The Government will tell YOU what you can make.
Pg 145: SEC. 312. EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS EMPLOYEE AND DEPENDENT COVERAGE Line 15-17 An Employer MUST auto enroll employees into public option plan. NO CHOICE!!
Pg 146: SEC. 312. EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS EMPLOYEE AND DEPENDENT COVERAGE Lines 22-25 Employers MUST pay 4 HC 4 part time employees AND their families.
Pg 149: SEC. 313. EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS IN LIEU OF COVERAGE Lines 16-24 ANY Employer with payroll of $400k and above who does not provide public option pays 8% tax on all payroll.
pg 150: SEC. 313. EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS IN LIEU OF COVERAGE Lines 9-13 Business’s with payroll between $251k – $400k who doesn’t provide public option pays 2-6% tax on all payroll.
Pg 167: SEC. 401. TAX ON INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT ACCEPTABLE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE Lines 18-23 ANY individual who doesn’t have acceptable HC according to Government will be taxed 2.5% of income.
Pg 170: SEC. 401. TAX ON INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT ACCEPTABLE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE Lines 1-3 HC Bill Any NONRESIDENT Alien is EXEMPT from individual taxes. (Americans will pay)
Pg 195: HC Bill – SEC. 421. CREDIT FOR SMALL BUSINESS EMPLOYEE HEALTH COVERAGE EXPENSES Officers and employees of HC Administration (GOVERNMENT) will have access to ALL Americans financial and personal records!
Note: Although the bill lists a few broad items, it includes anything else the people running the program decide they want. --Alan.]
PG 203: SEC. 441. SURCHARGE ON HIGH INCOME INDIVIDUALS Line 14-15 HC – “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax” Yes, it says that!
Pg 239: SEC. 1121. SUSTAINABLE GROWTH RATE REFORM Line 14-24 HC Bill Government will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor affected.
Pg 241: SEC. 1121. SUSTAINABLE GROWTH RATE REFORM Line 6-8 HC Bill – Doctors, doesn’t matter what specialty you have, you’ll all be paid the same.
[NOTE: If anything should get your doctor's attention, provisions like this ought to turn on the lights. --Alan.]
PG 253: SEC. 1122. MISVALUED CODES UNDER THE PHYSICIAN FEE
SCHEDULE Line 10-18 Government sets value of Doctor’s time, professional judgment, etc. Literally value of humans.
PG 265: SEC. 1131. INCORPORATING PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENTS INTO MARKET BASKET UPDATES THAT DO NOT ALREADY INCORPORATE SUCH IMPROVEMENTS. Government mandates and controls productivity for private HC industries.
PG 268: SEC. 1141. RENTAL AND PURCHASE OF POWER-DRIVEN WHEELCHAIRS. Federal Government regulates rental and purchase of power driven wheelchairs
PG 272: SEC. 1145. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CANCER HOSPITALS – Cancer patients – welcome to rationing!
Page 280: SEC. 1151. REDUCING POTENTIALLY PREVENTABLE HOSPITAL READMISSIONS The Government will penalize hospitals for what Government deems preventable readmissions.
Pg 298: SEC. 1151. REDUCING POTENTIALLY PREVENTABLE HOSPITAL READMISSIONS Lines 9-11 Doctors! Treat a patient during initial admission that results in a readmission? Government will penalize you.
Pg 317: SEC. 1156. LIMITATION ON MEDICARE EXCEPTIONS TO THE PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN PHYSICIAN REFERRALS MADE TO HOSPITALS Lines 13-20 OMG!! PROHIBITION on ownership and investment! Government tells Doctors what and how much they can own!
Pg 317-318: SEC. 1156. LIMITATION ON MEDICARE EXCEPTIONS TO THE PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN PHYSICIAN REFERRALS MADE TO HOSPITALS lines 21-25, 1-3 PROHIBITION on expansion – Government is mandating hospitals cannot expand!
pg 321: SEC. 1156. LIMITATION ON MEDICARE EXCEPTIONS TO THE PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN PHYSICIAN REFERRALS MADE TO HOSPITALS Lines 2-13 Hospitals have option to apply for exception BUT community input required. Can you say ACORN?!!
Pg 335: SEC. 1162. QUALITY BONUS PAYMENTS Lines 16-25 Pg 336-339 – Government mandates establishment of outcome based measures. HC the way they want. Rationing
Pg 341: SEC. 1162. QUALITY BONUS PAYMENTS Lines 3-9 Government has authority to disqualify Medicare Advantage Plans, HMOs, etc. Forcing people into Government plan.
Pg 354: SEC. 1177. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY OF SPECIAL NEEDS PLANS TO RESTRICT ENROLLMENT – Government will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs people! OMG! My sister has Downs Syndrome!!!
Pg 379: SEC. 1191. TELEHEALTH EXPANSION AND ENHANCEMENTS Government creates more bureaucracy – Telehealth Advisory Committee Can you say HC by phone?
PG 425: SEC. 1233. ADVANCE CARE PLANNING CONSULTATION Lines 4-12 Government mandates Advance Care Planning Consult. Think Senior Citizens end of life
Pg 425: SEC. 1233. ADVANCE CARE PLANNING CONSULTATION Lines 17-19 Government will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney. Mandatory!
PG 425: SEC. 1233. ADVANCE CARE PLANNING CONSULTATION Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3 Government provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding you in death!
PG 427: SEC. 1233. ADVANCE CARE PLANNING CONSULTATION Lines 15-24 Government mandates program for orders for end of life. The Government has a say in how your life ends!
Pg 429: SEC. 1233. ADVANCE CARE PLANNING CONSULTATION Lines 1-9 An “advance care planning consultant” will be used frequently as patients health deteriorates.
PG 429: SEC. 1233. ADVANCE CARE PLANNING CONSULTATION Lines 10-12 “advance care consultation” may include an ORDER 4 end of life plans. AN ORDER from GOV
Thats enough if you want more of this madness let me know it goes on and on and on.
Wouldn't a link have been easier?
I applaud your research.
Naturally, elected representatives think they are smarter. So they think their ideas are better. When new managers are brought in, they think they have the go-ahead to tinker with things or they wouldn't be there. Health care was an election issue. Why is this a surprise? You want 535 narcissists with ADHD to read an 1100 page bill during their term?
Geez Dan, it was a lot easier when you just blamed Republicans. Now you woke this guy up.
You should have left him alone. Maybe he's part of those Republican "gangs" stretch-face Pelosi warned us about.
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