Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.
--Albert Einstein
Well, I am more than a little disappointed that the “End of Life Panel” provision appears to be going by the way side. I had some wonderful thoughts about the parallels of that provision to the movie “Logan’s Run”, only to find out that the voice of the people caused reason to prevail. It is becoming apparent to me, however, that while most of us view such apocalyptic stories as a voice of warning, the current administration sees them as a wellspring of good ideas. Ah well…
It should be noted, that while many of the most obviously objectionable provisions are dying timely and deserving deaths, many less obviously objectionable provisions live on. Now is not the time for compromise or letting the guard down. While apparently less noxious, the remaining provisions are still dangerous interventions that would greatly reduce the quality of health care in this country. Think about this:
1. Veteran Administration Hospitals--Granted, they are typically staffed by hard-working, caring medical professionals, but they are always under-funded and over-worked. Remember the Walter Reed Hospital scandal of just a few short years ago? If the government is unable or unwilling to take care of our veterans who have sacrificed so much for this country, it is even less likely that the government will be able or willing to take care of the citizenry as a whole.
2. Professor Henry Gates--What does he have to do with the federal medical reform? Well think back on President Obama’s statement, “I don’t have all the facts….but the arresting police officer acted stupidly.” That statement accurately reflects the federal government’s understanding of most regional and personal issues, “I don’t have all the facts…but don’t let that stop me from making a decision for you and your family regarding your most intimate medical care.”
3. The United States Postal Service--Again, it was President Obama’s own intuitive (albeit unfortunate to his own cause)statement that was so revealing. In a misguided attempt to assure the American people that government-subsidized health insurance would not be unfair competition to private companies, he accurately stated that we should look at the example of the US Post. According to the President, it was the US Post that was having the problems, not the privately owned package delivery services. Soooooooo, what you are saying Mr. President is that the federal government is not able to handle a letter effectively, but they can handle my long-term health care…I feel so much better already. No really! I feel like I must absolutely, positively stay healthy!
Perhaps, our health care system is not perfect, but it is like the republic itself, the best alternative to any other system.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
My husband is a veteran who uses the VA. It takes weeks and sometimes months for him to get into see a doctor and then only the doctor they assign. If he needs more timely care he makes an appointment with our private care physician and gets in usually the next day.
ReplyDeleteHe has a torn rotator cuff that the VA won't do surgery on until it tears completely. They are willing to give him all the pain medication he wants. So your premise that government will be unable or unwilling to "take care of the citizenry as a whole" is sound. They don't take care of a subset of our citizenry very efficiently or effectively now.