Blogs
Congress and the President continue to focus on a mandated plan, one that will require every American to have health care and will penalize those who don’t, with some politicians advocating fines of up to $1,000 per person, for those who don’t have coverage. In typical Washington “speak” no one really wants to discuss the cost of such a system, or the reduced care that will surely result. I don’t believe for a minute that the American people will accept a system like the Canadian system or the system in Great Britain. A wait of six months for urgently needed tests and surgery is simply unacceptable. In Canada, many Canadians wait even longer, and end up opting to go to the States for the surgeries they need.
I believe strongly in the genius of the American people. They know what kind of care they want and how they expect to pay for it. They know that they do not want a single payer government operated system. Why in the world would we trust politicians and bureaucrats in Washington to manage our health care system? They haven’t been able to handle any of the major problems facing our country.
The American people know that one of the most basic things we need to do as a nation is to teach preventative health care measures in schools and to parents and families. The key to improving health in America is to create an atmosphere of healthy behavior. Teaching young children how to take care of their bodies and teaching young parents and families the importance of healthy diet and exercise is a starting point. We need to get our kids out of the habits of eating unhealthy foods and sitting for hours in front of the television or computer. Changing the collective attitude of the American people is vital. We need to give people information that changes the way they think about an issue.
Your health is like a dashboard. If the only thing you ever look at is your speedometer, and you don’t bother to look at the oil gauge and the water gauge, you can get into serious trouble. You may think, “hey, I’m going the speed limit” but that’s not the point. That’s how fast your car is going, not how well it’s running. Health is the same way – you can’t just focus on weight – you need to look at your cholesterol levels, hemoglobin AIC, blood sugar and blood pressure as well.
No, preventative health care measures won’t reduce the cost of health care, at least for a generation, but it is a necessary step. We must also take steps to reduce the costs of employer provided health care. Our businesses can’t compete in a global market when they face demands from employees for more and more coverage without any regard for the costs. That is simply human nature – when a person isn’t paying for something, they want the very best they can get. I believe that we must transition from an employer based system to a consumer based system.
Right now, health care in America is reactive and is geared towards intervening in catastrophic situations. We should be focusing on preventing those situations from occurring. The whole system is upside down. It’s like our government is focused on putting Humpty Dumpty back together again instead of keeping him from falling off the wall. Our healthcare system is based on a broken egg concept.
Tax credits, reform of medical liability, adopting electronic record keeping, expanding health savings accounts, making health insurance tax deductible, and making health insurance more portable from one job to another, and from state to state all will help lower costs and make health insurance more affordable. We don’t need all the government controls that would inevitably come with universal health care. We do need more individual control of health care options.
Comments 1-50 of 182
-
Witte, Jesse
08/08/2009 03:28 AM
I think a major part of the trouble associated with our health care system, is, as you originally stated, partially stemming from a lack of preventative maintenance issues like walking on a regular basis. Allowing children to work before the age of 16 without as many restrictions as there are now in place by child labor laws would also be a good starting point. Allowing children to walk to school when within walking distance would also help to generate good health and would greatly help in the fight against childhood obesity, which will lead to future problems "down the road" if we do not adress these problems with a common sense approach.
Secondly, I think the good Samaritan Laws on the books concerning doctors and nutritionist should be protected. I think doctors and nurses should haved a choice not to participate in the procedures of abortion and youthenasia if it goes against their moral conscience without fear of penalty or dismissal under a "state led" health care system.
Thirdly, in regard to the rights of private citizen's, I think a government takeover of the health care system would be to intrusive in our private lives just observing how the present government programs currently run and all of the information they constantly need to know about everything.
Fourthly, as you stated, a health care system should be consumer based. One should earn the right to have a good health care plan and to hang on to their familiar family doctor. Health care is not the right of every citizen; it is a priviledge, and as such should be viewed as a friend of the faithful (those who pay into the system) and an aquaintance of those that do not. Reward the charitable foundations that make generous contributions to institutions and clinics who help the poor and downtrodden of our land by offering them generous tax incentives. Repeal the laws on corporations so they can "write off" more than 10% of their gross annual incomes donated to charities and such. Offer more laws of protection of doctors, therapist, nurses, and hospice from "junk lawsuits" so practitioners can once again enter the homes of there fellow-Americans without dread of being sued at court of law.
Lastly, consider using a small portion of a person's social security income from day one on the job to be given back to the employer in the employee's name earmarked only for deposit in a separate medical fund account and make it tax deductible. -
Straub, Jackie
07/28/2009 02:10 PM
My friend's widowed sister is dying of cancer. She can no longer work. She can't get disability because she has owns a mortgaged-to-the-hilt home (which she's been trying to sell for 17 months) & may loose it in the process. Her savings are gone. They filed an appeal. She received an 8 PAGE questionaire from the Feds to fill out. She may be dead before the appeal is decided. This is the type of buracracy we'll have to deal with if there's national healthcare.
-
Rebyak, Virginia
07/26/2009 01:01 PM
Governor Huckabee, I have been saying the same things for years. It is common sense especially preventative care and tort reform. Americans are intelligent and resourceful and many astounding suggestions and plans are being offered by the public but Washington ignores them. This is just another way of Obama trying to destroy democracy and take over our lives. We won't stand for it.
-
Hudson, Charlotte
07/24/2009 09:50 PM
With all the fraud in the medicare and medicaid programs, why would anyone with a brain in Washington think that another government run health care plan be the answer for the uninsured American people. And, if they think it is, than they should have the same plan that the rest of the people have; NO EXCEPTIONS, PERIOD. And that includes THE PRESIDENT AND HIS FAMILY, AND ALL OTHER GOVERNMENT PAID PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES. Does anyone think that would happen? We all know that wouldn't happen in a million years.
-
RICHARDSON, Ronald
07/24/2009 09:39 PM
I would like to second Earl Worthington's idea that Federal funding should go first to policing the system:
*So I first feel that this side of the business should be taken care of and also to have the government not bankroll the health care program but to do oversight to prevent fraud and abuse ie: frivolous medical lawsuit and unnecessary medical testing*
I believe however, that health care abuse has grown to the point where it is not possible to police the fraud. Doctors are getting as bad as lawyers these days. It has gone beyond "unnecessary medical testing" to unnecessary medical treatment at the patient and insurance provider's expense.
I don't know how much more of this our country can take. It seems to have spread into every sphere of life, and like the "Roaring '20s" we are roaring full steam ahead into a catastrophe.
-
Thompson, Jeanne
07/23/2009 10:31 PM
Right now I cannot even find a job--so that means I can't afford health care. So to think that I would be penalized $1000 for not having what our president is proposing should his health care plan pass is rediculous to me.
-
Worthington, Earl
07/23/2009 06:08 PM
I first think that this health care problem should be looked inside out in that I agree with the comment that starting with the youths of America, there should be some training and teaching for a healthy lifestyle.
I also believe that this would include the types of food that the youths would consume because what you put in your body when you are young will have a profound effect on what you will put in your body as an adult.
So I first feel that this side of the business should be taken care of and also to have the government not bankroll the health care program but to do oversight to prevent fraud and abuse ie: frivolous medical lawsuit and unnecessary medical testing.
I have personal experience of this in that I have medical knowledge and I also at one time worked in the hospital laboratory as a medical technologists.
-
Stout, Will
07/23/2009 11:20 AM
Perhaps I missed it, but I did not notice in your article what I consider two of the most important restraints in our current health care system.
1) We need more doctors.
a. We need to train more doctors and make it easier for qualified kids to attend medical school.
b. Perhaps we could import doctors from India like we do IT personal.
2) Medical malpractice and regulation free zones. What I mean are zones like a duty free zone along our borders where medical services could be provided using foreign or domestic service providers without the extra cost of regulation and litigation imposed on our current system. -
Hebert, Thomas
07/23/2009 11:07 AM
I agree with much of what you say, but I do favour a single payer system. This past year I have had a major illness up here in Canada. I had, and continue to have, excellent care. I was seen in hospital by numerous specialists: two neurologists, two gastroenterologists, several internal medicine specialists,an endocrinologist, a general surgeon, a neurosurgeon and a team of medical students supervised by a rotating group of medical specialists making hospital rounds together throughout the week.
I had extensive diagnostic testing - daily lab work, CT scans, an MRI, and Xrays.
I was assessed and treated by the physiotherapy department, the occupational therapy department, the social work department, and the discharge planning department.
When my active treatment stay in hospital was coming to an end the Community Care Access Centre people began planning for my in home care. They set up a schedule of care by nurses, physiotherapists, an occupational therapist, a social worker and personal support workers morning and evening to assist me with activities of daily living. They provided the required assistive devices,like a wheeled walker.
When my CCAC case manager, on reviewing treatment assesment records from those providing my care at home, determined that I required more intensive care, she arranged my admission to hospital for physical rehabilitation. I was there for five weeks. Then the in home care resumed until they were absolutely sure that I could manage on my own.
I do not believe that you could honestly say that any American private insurer or HMO could have done more for me.
All this was provided by the government of Ontario health care system. Ontario, as a Canadian province, is equivalent to a state in the U.S., but much more powerful.
States rights in the United States are greatly weakened, due to the sectional conflict over slavery, the civil war and its aftermath, and the determined effort by the southern states to maintain segregation in the past. Provincial rights in Canada are very much alive and well. Of course the federal Canadian government plays a large role in helping to finance the health care system and in redistributing tax revenues so that roughly similar services can be provided in all areas of the country.
There can be waiting lists her but they are primarily for elective procedures, not emergency care. The fundamental cause of the waiting lists is block funding of hospitals. Block funding provides a set global amount of funding for each hospital for each year. Funding allocation decisions are made at the local level, and are not immediately responsive to fluctuating patient volumes with their varying treatment costs, hence the waiting lists. Block funding also tends to reward mediocrity in that hospitals tend to want to be average. Innovation in treating larger volumes of patients leads to a departure of a hospital from the statistical funding mean,and hence a deficit. This situation is the core issue in Canadian health care.All the best,
Tom -
Gilbaugh, Brian
07/23/2009 11:00 AM
Mike,
Very informed opinion as usual. Can you please go back on the "Daily Show" and explain this to Jon Stewart? I watched him do an interview with Kathleen Sebelius (HHS Sec.) and it was appauling.
Stewart and Colbert have been open to you in the past because you're so personable. Maybe they will listen to you, because they've made those against the idea look like Scrooge that wants to see all the "Little people" starve in the cold.
While I'm in favor of inexpensive healthcare for all, breaking our economy when we're at one of our lowest points of all time is simply not a good way to do this. Mandating that the tax base take on this huge commitment is reprehensible.
There are cheaper options that would be less expensive. My suggestions would include:
1) Subsidizing American companies doing R&D in pharmaceuticals and new testing methods. R&D is where the real expense comes from, and subsidizing these companies would create good paying jobs, which would trickle into the economy and increase the number of tax-payers. In the mean time, the products could then be cheaper for the average American to afford and drive down the costs associated with insurance, increasing the ability of small businesses to afford insurance as a benefit.
2) Stop paying for the illegal aliens that aren’t paying into the system. I’m totally in favor of treating life threatening illnesses, but then once stable these individuals need to be deported back to their country. I’m not against legal immigration, just illegals that come here and expect to receive services on our tax dollars without paying taxes and sending as much as they can back to their home country, taking it out of our economy. This is a real problem here in California where it’s easier for an illegal to get healthcare than a taxpayer without insurance.
3) Create caps for malpractice insurance awards. There can be exclusions, such as malfeasance, but all in all malpractice insurance takes up a large portion of a physician’s income, causing them to increase their service costs. I belong to an HMO in California, where doctors are pleased to work because while they get paid less than half of what some of their colleagues get paid outside, the HMO covers their malpractice insurance and so they see more in their pocket at the end of the day. Capping awards would lower premiums and allow physicians and HMO’s to lower their costs. -
Jones, Jacquelene
07/23/2009 10:13 AM
I have a question. I hope we won't get into a government controlled health care, but if we do and we throw the politicians out of office as a result, will it be too late to change it? I really need some hope. I've contacted all my elected officials...one of them, a Budhist, has not replied to my demand that he read the bill before he votes for it...the other two I'm trusting to vote the right way, but the dems out number...so if he convinces them to walk the line, we're in big trouble...especially those of us already on SS and medicare.
-
Lewis, Sherry
07/23/2009 06:56 AM
We have given congress a free pass to ignore us by giving them everything for serving 1 term or even part of a term in office. Who else in America could spend 4 years or less in 1 job and be set for life. Until we wake up and change the rules they play by we are doomed. How do I become a politician anyway?
-
Boatright, Clay
07/23/2009 12:33 AM
Gov. Huckabee, your suggestions seem very sound. In terms of accessible and multi-dimensional health care for people with severe disabilities, should we increase federal involvement, reduce it, or maintain current levels?
-
Alexander, Jeff
07/23/2009 12:20 AM
Mike, I do believe you have got it. Putting the egg back together is the wrong direction and it is not just the philosophy utilized by the current Administration in health care. I personally call it "band-aiding the drunk". Because the focus is on the current scrape of scratch, and not the bad behavior that is causing the injury. Personally, I would like it if we got Humpty Dumpty off the wall all together. I appreciate your input on this topic, and look forward to future insight from your blog.
-
Bowers, Scott
07/23/2009 12:19 AM
Excellent article, Gov. Huckabee (can I call you Mike?).
The crux of your article, I think, sums up Americans basic frustration with government - an entity that has simply grown so large that it can ignore us. The fundamental question is: What is a right? There has never been a right to health care. This has always been a privilege. Several of your proposals in the article are simple, yet direct to the heart of the issue. I would argue for a medical liability cap on lawsuits and a penalty payment plan for frivolous lawsuits. In addition, small business owners should be allowed to "group" together to purchase insurance.
Thank you and my wife, Emily, and I will vote for you in any election. -
Bue, Harley
07/22/2009 11:11 PM
I concur with Dr. David and Bonnie's inputs on threads on major issues and the potential benefits gained. A number of us have previously petitioned for this. Site visitors are attracted to civil discourse on primary issues, and also accessible, relevant data on candidates.
Is it also worthwhile to construct a matrix that defines candidate yes/no positions on HuckPAC issues to enhance voter awareness of candidate views? All of the issues defined in the Vertical Politics Institute set are of interest to HuckPAC and voters in general and could be considered a representative litmus test for candidates.
At least endorsed candidates within a growing HuckPAC constituency would have a credible VPI pedigree -with Mike’s endorsement, a major starting point for anybody’s discussion.
All current VPI issues are relevant; elections are not won by single or narrow idealogies. Candidates are often marginalized on issues that are “don’t care” for many, but most give credibility to the “Top 10” VPI set.
Often HuckPAC dialogue is somewhat random in nature without converging to some measure of unity on issues.
-
Dean, C.J.
07/22/2009 11:08 PM
If Congress and the President would just look at the imperfections of the Medicare & Medicaid problems, they could figure out how to save millions of dollars. I've recently had to take over my grandmother's medical bills. I was absolutely floored when she received a bill from a home health agency which supplies her oxygen needs. They have billed Medicare for the last 2 years $450 per month for a respirator that cost brand new $951. I was told that by Medicare rules patients can't purchase those units only lease them. How much would we save nationwide if we had Medicare purchase this item and set up a maintance program to ensure the product was working correctly each month? I grant you Medicare reimbursement rate on this item is only $225 per month, even still the unit would be paid off less than 4 months.
Medicaid works contracts out with drug companies so patient that brand medications are dispensed instead of generics. How much more does this cost us? Are the rebates really worth it? Also on this new health care bill, what about prescription coverage? Does Congress truly believe the drug companies will fork over all the money promised without making it up on the back end? Medicare D plans are riddled with kick backs from drug manufactures. These kick backs determine some of the formulary programs for these plans. These formularies change year to year based on these kick backs.
I have been in pharmacy business for over 20 years and currently handle the billing for 3 small pharmacies. If the Medicare-D, Medicare, & Medicaid plans are anything to go by, government should stay out of running a national health care plan.
Better yet, make sure whatever plan is offered to us is the same plan Congress has to take and Congress has to abide by the same rules, no exceptions. Also, they have to pay whatever we have to pay.
-
Magly, Skip
07/22/2009 11:04 PM
Mike:
I am in absolute agreement with you on the health care issue. I am fighting it as hard as I can from here in DC, but EVERYBODY call YOUR Congressman and Senators and tell them not just NO but Hell NO!
Remeber the frogs and hot water, I am not a frog water and i will not be parboiled for the sake of a President who seems to hold my country and its history with nothing but contempt.
Ah, the stories I could tell. BTW, for the record like friend Hannity, am a conservative and patriot FIRST and foremost above ANY party affiliation.
-
Jones, Pam
07/22/2009 10:53 PM
AARP supports Obamacare WHAT?? With it's rationing care for seniors? email your outrage here to the AARP I just did! http://bit.ly/17TOfK
-
Harris, David
07/22/2009 10:40 PM
Two thumbs way up! The government is doing a terrible job with the intervention in the healthcare system they already have. Why give them more ground? We must take a stand against socialism. "The man that would choose security over freedom deserves neither."-Thomas Jefferson
-
spires, lisa
07/22/2009 10:36 PM
Thank you for speaking with just good old fashioned common sense. I can't tell you how much as a healthcare worker, (with a pretty good insurance plan with the hospital i work for),how much this plan scares me. I have seen 1st hand how the medicare supplements have played havoc on our elderly. The plans were rushed through not well thought out and now our elderly are left worse off than before. I pray and encourage all others to as well for God to give wisdom to the President and senators and congressman. Thank you for what you do and getting out the message that so many people in this country are just ignoring blindly hoping whatever they do is the right thing. Keep up the good work.
-
Gruetzmacher, Tia
07/22/2009 10:26 PM
I am at a loss as to how to make our representatives in Washington understand and act on what their constituents want. I wrote my Sen. and Reps. only to get form letter replies that did not even address my personal points. That is the frustration I, and many others are feeling- no one in Washington is listening to us. This government is becoming more and more reactive (get it done and get it done QUICK)instead of pro-active (thinking through alternatives- choosing the right ones). I think this administration is going to get what it wants. It certainly has so far. I just wonder if it can all be repaired.
-
Lynne, Donna
07/22/2009 07:02 PM
In theoretical physics, the most elegant expression is usually the most simplified... K.I.S.S. as they say.
I liked it back when the free market was allowed to drive prices to a minimum. I paid for everyday care and had hospitilization for the more serious. But, alas, managed healthcare, medicare, HMOs etc have driven the prices through the roof.
And believe me, now that the industrial-medical-pharma complex has tasted our blood through insanely inflated prices, they are very unlikely to ever consider going vegeterian....
I liked the following illustration of a tale of two solutions, though due to big-med's unsaitable thirst for our money, going back to what worked will never be allowed as lang as the special intrests rule. -
Sugg, Prudence
07/22/2009 06:53 PM
let's keep america free, free of choice. my families current health care is what we choose to have. i don't need someone in the government to select health care for me or tell me and my doctor what is best for me and my family. our government needs to take some financial classes and learn how to budget our country instead of trying to control us. remember people, we have all the rights in this country. they can not do things or pass things that we don't want them too. this means get of your butt and vote against this so called health reform because your vote does matter.
-
Doctor David
07/22/2009 04:28 PM
I want to second Bonnie Schwab's idea about permanent threads for major issues. They would help produce group morale by generating rough consensus, or at least clarify the reasons for divisions. They would also provide for means of mutual education. The increased activity might even stimulate financial contributions to HuckPAC.
-
Schwab, Bonnie
07/22/2009 03:15 PM
Here is a great article that corroborates much of what I explained in my post about the Canadian health care system from 7/20/09 7:18 p.m. on this thread.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2009506926_canahealth21.html
If you want to poke around in British Columbia's health care website you might find some interesting reading about how our government does care about "fast-tracking" and improving our health care system - especially noteworthy is the news article on "Clinics Fast-Track Breast Cancer Diagnosis". Read also the articles under the "News" tab that announce cost-savings through "power buying" and "cost-sharing".
Huckpac webteam - Would it ever be great if we had permanent blog headings on the home page for all pressing issues, ie. health care, economy, FairTax, life & marriage, etc. where we can have on-going conversations pertaining to that subject matter. I personally find it frustrating that once a blog gets buried we forget about, or give up on it because it takes more effort to get to. Thank you for all that do - it is appreciated!!
-
Ron and Dottie in Fl
07/21/2009 10:42 PM
To Bonnie Schwab,
It is great how we pull all our research together by giving opinions, asking questions, and sharing of information. Yes, I was referring to illegals. I appreciate the feed back. It is great, the Health Care you have is working so well for you and your family.
To Brian Snow,
Thanks for sharing the link to Rich Lowry. The article summed it up as to how hectic the the legislation process has been with Speaker Pelosi at the helm in cheer leader mode. Your budget isn't quite what I was expecting. I guess I was looking to see what the norm is currently we are paying over 900 / mo for the two of us. Perhaps if we can shop insurance across states and encourage competition we might get the costs down a little. Being in retirement mode, the planning process is a little more difficult. HSA (Health Savings Acct) could still be an option. I did not hear any feed back on catistrophic insurance. Thanks for giving it a shot.
To September Dawn,
I appreciate you sharing the 3 tests, that is good advice for all of us. (True, Necessary, and kind / considerate). I liked the way you fed back. That is what I like about Huckpac, we learn from one another.
To Nancey Klassen,
Thanks for jumping in there and giving information from your perspective. It really was great. I have to respect the way Canadians are taking care of your 33 million citizens and control the number of illegals in your country. I need to learn about the Canadian government and how it differs from US Government. Immigrants originally came to America to get away from what we are becoming.
I am motivated by the grassroots effort for a Fair Tax. If we could work on the issues from Gov. Mike Huckabee's platform the US would start moving in the right direction. Our current government is working to build the Democratic Party and pay back for all the Campaign contributions and other support. The Republicans are on the defense to prevent as much of the power grab that they can. What we need is stop the party politics when legislating. Our government needs to be legislating for Americans. Our government needs to work at correcting legislation that favors lobbyist, special interest groups, unions etc.. Our government has a lot of work to do and it is not about more spending. Our government needs to start listening to the people and make it simpler for the people to make contact. Currently the people feel like they are being overridden and shut out by party politics and special interests.
-
Thornton, Doris
07/21/2009 08:11 PM
I definitely do not want a health care system like the Canadians have. I do not think that the politicians in Washington really care what the American public want. I think that the health care plan being proposed is far too expensive.
-
Brian Snow
07/21/2009 06:20 PM
-
Schwab, Bonnie
07/21/2009 04:43 PM
Answers in response to my post on Canadian health care (in order).
Kurt Pochert -I am not the only Bonnie Schwab on the continent so if you google my name you will find many entries that are not me! I do not belong to any social networking system. And just so you know, I am 100% "in the tank" for Mike Huckabee. Futhermore, just because I am part of a workable universal system does not mean I am in favour of "Obamacare". The cobbled-together democrat health reform bill being rushed through the Houses of Congress have red flags all over them!
Doctor David - Thank you for coming to my defense, you are a gentleman to be sure!
Ron & Dottie - Some others have answered the population question for me already, and as for your question on how many non-Canadians are drawing on the health system? I trust you mean illegal immigrants? Very hard to find that data - I've been searching all morning. Canada offers no amnesty to illegal aliens. Many illegals claim refugee status and are given some governmental assitance. Many refugee claims are rejected and those people are deported. Nancy Klassen answered that question well. We don't have the illegal immigration problem you do because Canada, for the most part, is harder to access.
Nancy Klassen - Thank you for adding to my comments on the Canadian health care system. I also agree with you that now IS NOT THE TIME to make a major health care change to the U.S. system. Of much greater concern should be the U.S. debt and deficit spending issue, you have a staggering problem that could very easily lead to runaway inflation, a worthless dollar, much higher taxes and maybe even bankruptcy.
Brian Snow - I don't think "how" I have faired under our Canadian system is peculiar at all, nor even a matter of good luck - I think it is more common to receive adequate and ample care in Canada than you are lead to believe. In my "spere of influence" I have no health care horror stories that I can share with you, and we don't ever sit around and talk about how bad our system is, it just doesn't happen. Is that so hard to believe?
Income tax rates (in British Columbia) for an income of $50,000 - 22% Federal and 7.98% provincial. On $100,000 - 26% Federal and 14.7% provincial (2008 figures). How does that compare to U.S. tax rates?
I can give you a link to Rx & D - Canada's Research Based Pharmaceutical Company that lists 50 Canadian research based pharmaceutical companies: http://www.canadapharma.org/index_e.html
The motivation for my post on our Canadian system was to give food for thought. The approach to health care should be thoughtful, measured and researched, it is a complex problem with moving parts and so many variables. I too believe that Americans will implement a system that works for the good of all.
-
Brian Snow
07/21/2009 03:05 PM
"BLUE DOG" DEMOCRATS ARE KEY TO STALLING OBAMACARE
Blue Dog: 'No way' House bill could pass
Blue Dog Dan Boren of Oklahoma says
Republicans can't do this by themselves. Good thing we have Blue Dog Democrats who share some of our concerns. Let's encourage those Blue Dogs!!!
Click here for list of Blue Dogs.
Letter I wrote to Congressman Boren:
Dear Congressman Boren,
My name is Brian Snow, and I'm writing to you from my home in Sacramento, California, represented by Congresswoman Doris Matsui.
I grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, so I feel somewhat represented by Oklahoma's Congressional delegation - moreso than by California's, all too often.
I just wanted to let you know that I am proud of you for leading the "Blue Dogs" in standing strong against the President's health care plan as it currently exists. It it too radical, runs roughshod over too many conscientious Americans, and contains too much "fundamental transformation" that the President used to promise. It is not the government's place to become a competitor with private business. With virtually unlimited resources, the government will win, and the "public option" will default to becoming a "public mandate."
Surely there are many other ways to address the ever-escalating costs of health care.
Please stay strong. I know that the pressure - even scorn - you are receiving from your colleagues, liberal interest groups, and from the President himself must be a great burden. God bless you.
-
September Dawn
07/21/2009 02:47 PM
Ron & Dottie 7/19/209 9:59 pm.
Thanks, I am rightly spanked. Yet ever so gently. I always enjoy your posts and, like you, I try to read everyone's comments as time permits.
I am so busy seeing to it that my family does the right thing until sometimes I forget my own rules. Blame it on my passion for politics and truth.
My major rule for myself and my loved ones (particularly little grandsons) is to take each comment though 3 tests. You all probably know this well: 1. Is it True? 2. Is it necessary? 3. Is it kind? If your thoughts do not pass these three tests, stay silent or try a different approach. I flunked on #3. But I believe that may be why I apologized to Miss Belinda after I failed the 3rd test.b. richard 7/19/2009 9:09 pm.
Good verse. It probably is from Proverbs, but I could not locate it.
I was just quoting a saying I had heard. I believe both have a similar meaning. The operative words for me are fool and sometimes. "Even a fool who holds his tongue is sometimes wise". That could apply to all of us and especially our leaders in Washington.
You have gotten me started back to Proverbs now, so here are some relevant ones for all of us:
Proverbs 10:19 If you talk a lot, you are sure to sin; if you are wise you will keep quiet.
Prov. 10:28 A good person can look forward to happiness, but an evil person can expect nothing.
Prov. 11:2 Pride leads to shame; it is wise to be humble.
Prov.12:18 Careless words stab like a sword, but wise words bring healing.
Prov. 12:25 Worry is a heavy load, but a kind word cheers you up.
I could go on, but I Cor. 13 says it all and is summed up with, "Love Never Fails". -
Brian Snow
07/21/2009 02:21 PM
An Ideologue in a Hurry
Ron and Dottie, I share your concern over the rush to cram through legislation that would be so fundamentally transformational to every American's life.
Rich Lowry of National Review concurs in his piece An Ideologue in a Hurry.
Such concern is not mere nonsense or partisan fear-mongering, and I am not ashamed of myself for pointing it out.
-
Brian Snow
07/21/2009 01:47 PM
HEALTH CARE: WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY?
On 07/15, in a different thread, Ron and Dottie ask me and a few others: "What do you think the responsibility of the American citizen is to insure their families have adequate health care?"
If I prioritize some of the needs of my family, along with their respective monthly costs, from greatest to least, it looks like this:
1. Shelter: $1,500
2. Food: $500
3. Water/Sanitation: $90
4. Electricity/Gas: $160
5. Health Insurance (Premiums + Deductibles): ($??? I'll get back to this)
6. Clothing: $120
7. Transportation incl insurance & fuel: $450
8. Communications incl cell phone and DSL: $100
9. etc...I could go on, but you get the idea.
Also, I know people who make $800/month in car payments.
You see that Health Insurance is sandwiched in between Shelter and Transportation which are my responsibility to provide for my family. Therefore, Health Insurance is also my responsibility to provide for my family. Also, by the "squeeze theorem," if I am willing to pay $450/mo for Transportation and $1,500/mo for Shelter, then I should be willing to pay some amount for Health Insurance (premiums + deductibles) that is between $450/mo and $1,500/month.
The problem is that Americans have been conditioned to feel that their health coverage is some one else's responsibility, e.g. their employer's.
Actually, my personal insurance is covered by my employer, BUT I do pay out of my own pocket for my wife's and children's insurance. Their premiums plus deductibles divided by 12 months = $330/month.
If my employer should drop me onto the "public option," I plan to go to my employer and negotiate for a salary increase that is equal to some significant portion of what they were paying for my medical + dental premiums. That way, I can afford to pay for private insurance for myself (assuming it hasn't been run out of business by the public option). Altogether then, the cost to insure me and my family, out of pocket, would come to about $600/month, which is in between my cost for Transportation and my cost for Shelter.
Maybe that seems hard for many to swallow, but from this perspective, it seems fair.
Of course, I would like to see as many constitutional and free market measures as possible taken to bring down that cost.
Hope this helps.
-
Klassen, Nancy
07/21/2009 01:36 PM
Bonnie Schwab has excellent comments. Remember that Canada has about 10% of the population of the US. Also we do not have the illegal problems that the US has. All refugees are registered under a federal health initiative which operates under slightly different rules. But they do receive good basic coverage as well.
From a fellow Canadian. My husband is a surgeon. He has worked in Africa, US, Canada, and now the Bahamas. Canada's system does work for the patient and for the doctor. The doctor is paid without any problems and the patient has excellent access to care on the whole. There are some exceptions regarding wait times etc. But we found that, living in a small community, every urgent received care promptly.
There are abuses and complexities in the system that make you grit your teeth at times. But on the whole it works very well. There is no problem-free system out there. I must say given the economic times etc I'm not so sure this is the time to be pushing this through congress. I would be very wary of it. There is not enough time to really understand the bill, and as we have seen with other legistlation, things can be slipped through with very few the wiser.
If it is worth doing, take the time to do it properly!
-
Brian Snow
07/21/2009 01:12 PM
Hi Bonnie,
Here are some questions I have to help me put your testimony in perspective:
1. Do you think your experience in receiving health care is typical for Canadians across the provinces, or might there be a reason why your good luck is peculiar to you?
2. What are the federal and provincial income tax rates on $50,000 CAD ($45,000 USD)?
$100,000 CAD ($90,000 USD)?3. Can you name a Canadian pharmaceutical company? I don't mean a re-seller. I mean one that does original R&D and manufacturing.
Thanks, Bonnie.
-----------------Ron and Dottie: The population of Canada is 33 million; less than that of California and about 11% that of the U.S.
-
o'neill, mike
07/21/2009 11:43 AM
I completly agree with your comments concerning health care. I just hope the light goes on in washington before the lights go out all across this country. Please keep up the fight and keep us informed.
-
McRoberts, Jody
07/20/2009 11:17 PM
I totally agree!! And I had never even thought about moving away from an employer based system to a consumer based system. You are right: We humans usually don't appreciate things as much if we aren't paying for them out of our own pockets!! When we pay for things ourselves, we are a LOT more responsible!!
Thanks for sharing your ideas!
-
Ron and Dottie in Fl
07/20/2009 11:13 PM
To Schwab, Bonnie
07/20/2009 07:18 PMThanks for jumping into the debate. I appreciate the information and historic background you provided. It could be you live in a great province.
What is the difference in population between the US and Canada? How many non Canadians are drawing on the Canadian Health Care System?
What scares me most about the Health Care Bill as well as many of the other bills Obama, Pelosi and Reid are attempting to push through is they could get through unchallenged.
Running bills through especially at the end of a session or before a recess have problems, most of us regret. I am going to give my old best example.
In July 2000 there was an agriculture bill passed at the end of the session. Imbedded inside was 242 pages title Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000. Only a few Congressional leaders knew it was there, no one else read it. This one piece of legislation put the icing on the cake for the toxic derivative market that is running our economy in the ground. This piece of legislation also reversed measures put in place from the 1920's to prevent collapse of an economy. Guess what else, it doesn't appear Congress has made a move to fix it.
If legislation needs to be added that effects our lives and American values then it should go through a process that is open for debate and not like with Speaker Pelosi, where she is a hinderance to a true legislative process. In my estimation Speaker Pelosi abuses her power.
I would like to see legislation reviewed at least 4 ways. If the time can't be taken to do this someone is trying to put one over on us. Take the time to do the following, so that the bills can be understood by our Congressmen who vote on them:
1. Summarize all important parts of the bill.
2. List all ear marks and who and what they benefit.
3. List all parts of the bill that really don't belong in the bill.
4. List all the major benefits of the bill.
5. If anything is added at the last minute repeat steps 1 thru 4 separately.
I believe bills need to be totally understood by everyone. We don't need negligence.Congress also needs to freeze their pay until the economy turns around. Say no to Congressional automatic pay increases.
R24189 for the Fair Tax and less government.
-
Bue, Harley
07/20/2009 10:32 PM
Ralph Van Fossen and I are very much in unity on this issue as per my previous blog under the Huck video on Obama health care.
The answer is not to fix the current system. The real answer already exists somewhat covertly and is a paradigm shift in function and approach. It does work – both my wife and I have been in it for 25 years. Although we started with numerous maladies, we did not use surgery and drugs - only good diet, vitamins, minerals, herbs, and alternative therapies such as acupuncture, homeopathics, and chelation.
Healthy lifestyles, emphasis on prevention, education and less-costly alternative therapies are critical to the solution. A covert grassroots movement is already underway, and increasingly Americans are adopting the holistic, alternative approach. To me, this is a both a pro-life prevention and cure chain to restore health.
To some degree, alternative medicine is somewhat underground and often not highly visible in mainstream health circles or media. That’s political, but no one can stop the success of alternative medicine unless it becomes a more observable threat to socialized medicine and good-old-boy drug/lobbying networks and they attempt to politically inhibit its operative.
The alternative approach used by naturopathics is natural, treats underlying causes, and non-invasive treatment protocols & therapies have minimal or no side effects. The intent is to treat the whole person and the inherent systemic root causes, rather than manage or inhibit localized symptoms.
Its also true that some insurance companies are providing superior coverage at a fraction of the cost. If you implement the alternative approach, with some monitoring of life-style, insurance coverage automatically goes down.
I also think that some regulation or more stringent state laws on grocery stores, fast food joints and restaurants would be good legislation to remove causative factors. Organic foods, with no trans fats, hormones, antibiotics, chemicals, etc. is part of a healthy lifestyle.
-
Doctor David
07/20/2009 10:18 PM
Kurt Pochert 07/20/2009 10:04 pm. Bonnie Schwab is a long time supporter of Mike Huckabee and contributor to the HuckPAC website, whose opinions I value, whether or not they agree with my own. She is not afraid to say what she thinks, and is usually right on the mark. And, given some of the nonsense you read here, Huckabee needs all the sensible supporters he can find.
-
Doctor David
07/20/2009 10:12 PM
Bonnie Schwab 07/20/2009 7:18 pm. Your message regarding the Canadian medical care system was enlightening. It just goes to show that you can't come to a correct conclusion about any complex system that affects millions of people on the basis of one or two horror stories. I believe that if Americans stick to the facts instead of the fear mongering of partisans on both sides, we'll be all right.
-
Pochert, Kurt
07/20/2009 10:04 PM
Schwab, Bonnie
Google her name and find out just who she represents! She is not your common Canadian! -
Schwab, Bonnie
07/20/2009 07:18 PM
I have been watching your health care debate with great interest and it has caused me to truly evaluate our "single-payer universal health care plan" here in Canada. I wasn't going to enter this debate because my stand on this issue runs counter to the conservative approach to health care. But after reading the varied comments on this and other threads, and to counter the steady stream of negative comments regarding our Canadian system that you Americans receive, I thought you might find it interesting to hear what a lifetime under Canada's health care system has provided for me and my family: I can honestly report that we have not been failed by our medical system even once since it's inception in 1966! The positives of our system as I see it are as follows: I can choose my own doctor, I never have to worry about, "what would happen if...", every citizen or permanent resident is qualified for coverage without bias, there is no deductible or copay whatsoever if I use health services, I have never been denied any treatment or service ever, all "wait times" in my experience have been reasonable.
For this "national" medical coverage we pay (in our province) a nominal premium (for our family of 4 it is $325 per quarter) plus income taxes (Canada's tax freedom day was June 6th this year, as opposed to the U.S. tax freedom day of April 13th) These taxes, collected by the federal government, are then transferred to 13 provinces and territories who are responsible for the management, organization and delivery of health services for their residents. This "national" medical coverage does not include payment for prescription drugs, ambulance service or eye or dental coverage. In Canada we have to pay "out of pocket" for health services if we are not covered under the national plan and have a "Care Card" or extended health plan.
Many employers in Canada offer and pay for "extended" or supplemental" health insurance (private system) that covers things the basic does not (prescription drugs, eye and dental care, additional disability, etc). Many employers will also pay for the basic premiums as mentioned above. All health benefits the employer provides are considered "taxable benefits" to the employee. Many small businesses do not offer extended health care (or even the basic health care premium) to their employees, and they are not required to do so.
It seems to me that the single-payer system offers an incredible cost-savings administratively and quite frankly this is born out when you look at what Canada pays for health care as a percentage of GDP (9.8%) compared to what the U.S. pays (15.3% - 2005 figures). If we have such a bankrupt nanny state why is our debt to GDP ratio 30% and yours is 97%? Until this global recession hit Canada was on track to continue a multiple year trend of paying down the national debt. Hardly indicative of an ill-run universal health care system by inept government! And guess what else? Canada ranks 3rd in the world for longevity (directly attributable to universal health coverage). Yes we do pay more taxes for a system that may not be perfect, but it is generally accepted as a good system for the majority of Canadians.
-
JT
07/20/2009 05:01 PM
Excellent article! I would add a few other things.
I would love to be compensated by my employer for opting out of the insurance they provide and go out and get my own. When I was between jobs I got very affordable, good coverage (not COBRA, which was obscenely expensive).
I would restate your Humpty Dumpty analogy. Rather than reducing the cost of health care, the Obama plan is trying to force the tax payers to collectively pay the exhorbitant costs. This doesn't fix the system. It just spreads the cost across a different set of people. It becomes less expensive for unhealthy people and more expensive for healthy people. This is blatant socialist philosophy. Granted, all group insurance is a microcosm of this concept, this new level of implementation does nothing to encourage cost reduction, and in fact, removes the impetus to reduce costs.
Setting caps on punishing imperfect health care providers is a key component to fixing the system, no matter how great or small the benefit. Scaring providers out of the system is just as bad as forcing them to see more people with less compensation.
I don't want some bean counter determining what care I'm allowed to receive. At least now I can get care if I'm willing to pay for it. I don't want to wait extended periods just to be seen, evaluated, or even cured before it's too late.
Finally, I don't want to subsidize abortions, sex-change operations, or other elective surgery.
-
Joerin, Jan
07/20/2009 04:24 PM
Mike,
I so much appreciated your remarks about health care. I agree whole heartedly.
I mostly agree with you on a lot of topics and hope you'll make another run for president. -
Tanner, Lisa
07/20/2009 04:19 PM
This is scary real. Just read an email from a health insurance agent reporting on the employer-paid mandate will cause a projection of 5% of Americans to move into a public-plan over the next 10 years or so.
"This is just laughable.
Case in point below from an employer view:
Our payroll including physicians is about $51M per year.
We currently pay about $7M per year for our health benefits as a self-insured company.
The 8% penalty under Title III of the House Bill would only cost us $4.1M per year.
The logical step is to drop coverage, pay the penalty, and save about $3M.
We’ll need every penny of it, although it won't be nearly enough, to help offset the Medicare +5% reimbursement from the public-plan.
I would suspect that most companies don’t have a payroll with as high of a percentage of total revenue as we do, due to the physicians.
If this works on our high payroll amount, it seems only logical that other employers would follow the same logic.
Thus begins the Exodus……"No employer is going to continue with health care coverage. They will all drop it for the government-owned plan because it is going to be cheaper.
Heaven help us!
-
Van Fossen, Ralph
07/20/2009 04:13 PM
Right on, Laura! Half our country is not overweight because of poverty. Look around third-world and developing countries (even India, Mexico and China); do you see a lot of lard butts? If they're so poor, why ain't they fat?
God bless Mike Huckabee, but I disagree with him that it will take a generation to reduce our country's health care costs. Look at organizations like Christian Care Ministries' Medi-Share system. How are they able to provide superior coverage at a fraction of most health insurers' costs? The answer is healthy lifestyles, emphasis on prevention, education and less-costly alternative therapies to regain good health. It works! Right now!
We also need to continue to reverse the insane move by HCFA (the Health Care Financing Administration) some thirty years ago to shrink the number of hospital beds in our country by putting the lowest-cost providers out of business via Medicare reimbursement to rural hospitals at 1/2 the reimbursement rate of urban hospitals for the same DRGs (Diagnosis Related Groups). What rational economist ever would propose to reduce health-care costs by eliminating the lowest cost providers of health care? It took some nutty bureaucrat to come up with that totally ridiculous and myopic idea. What economy can long survive by penalizing and eliminating its most efficient providers? Yeah, well... do we want to turn the whole health-care system over to such incompetence? -
PROUDESTGRANNY1
07/20/2009 04:10 PM
Right on Mr. Huckabee!! I like your
thinking! I still say America needed you for our president. -
Smyser, Laura
07/20/2009 02:11 PM
Puleezzze Patricia, middle to lower income families are fatter because they have to rely on starchy foods that are cheaper?? I see those people at the grocery and they aren't eating potatoes and rice. They are eating frozen pizzas, tv dinners and ice cream.
As for exercise, they can't exercise because they have a small yard?? Then the parents need to get off their LAZY BUTTS and take them to the park!! People like you are why people like that stay down. You are making excuses for them. These so called low income families can have cell phones, cable tv and all kinds of other stuff but can't afford decent food? They are just too lazy to cook. I have a niece like that and all she eats is hot pockets and other prepackaged junk. She's as big as a house and sits in front of a computer all day.
