Wednesday, May 13, 2009

"The Stars are Aligned..."

May 13 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama said “the stars are aligned” for Congress to pass legislation to revamp the U.S. health-care system this year, which he said will help revive the economy and get budget deficits under control.
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Oh, my aching pancreas. In this brave new world, one is reduced to hoping that change means a politician will change his tune once he stops being a candidate. Often the worst outcome is he really means his threatspromises.

According to Candidate Obama,
"Under the Obama health care plan, you will be able to keep your doctor and your health insurance if you want."
Uh...yeah. Not so fast, of course. Group health plan costs have been out of control for years, and a helluva lot of employers would love to dump it. They're stopped only by the prospect of being trampled to death as their work force stampedes to the doors, screaming for the classified ads. Give them an alternative, and...
While the public option is meant for the uninsured, employers will realize it's easier -- and cheaper -- to move employees into the government plan than continue workplace coverage.

The Lewin Group, a health-care policy research and consulting firm, estimates that enrollment in the public option will reach 131 million people if it's open to everyone and pays Medicare rates, as many expect. Fully two-thirds of the privately insured will move out of or lose coverage.
This couldn't be part of the plan, of course. Oh, hell no. It couldn't possibly be in the interests of our rulers to force socialized health care down our throats by destroying all alternatives. How could you think such a thing, you right-wing extremist, you? I should report you for thoughtcrime. I should report myself for thoughtcrime, for even wondering whether I should report you for thoughcrime.

Oh, hell - it doesn't matter. Forced on National Health, I'll likely be dead before they can drag me shrieking to Room 101 anyway.

4 comments:

C.M. said...

First they tell you your covered you lucky dog, then they tell your employer they will pay a % of the employee's salary as a new employment tax. Then they tell you who can have what, how long you must wait, make it a crime to go to a private doctor. Then they start to duelist services to cut costs, no more eye exams? No more physio? No more PSA cancer tests? Need a surgery? Just wait a year or more if it's not "life threatening".

Health care is expensive, now you need to pay a % of your salary on top of what your employer pays. Cool how they become More efficient in racking it in and excel at failure in service.


Pish posh on getting service, no more family doctors, millions can't get a doctor to tend them as Doc are restricted in how much work they can do, capped on how much they can earn, can't be vulgar and actually make a living at this job, it's a calling.

You don't want to go down this road either...its ends up dead.

Joel said...

See, this is what I don't get.

The world is filled with horrible examples of why National Health is a Very Bad Idea for people who actually need health care from time to time - like everybody. Last I checked, Canada was still right next door. Canada's government health care system is not precisely the envy of the world. Britain made the phrase "National Health" a running joke. Other European countries have socialized health care that is allegedly not as tragic, but I notice that their boosters are short on specifics and suspect that those systems are quite as bad as the ones we're more familiar with. Yet, even with all those examples staring at them, supine voters are clearly going to let this one roll right over them. The definition of insanity...

C.M. said...

Joel the answer is soooo simple, it is not about giving everyone excellent health care at all. It is about NOBODY having opportunity to have better health care then the lowliest person in the land. No amount of blood, sweat or sacrifice is allowed to enter into the equation. Everyone is equaly (not) treated, this is fair therefore it is just, therefore shut up and get back in line and hope you don't die before your number is called, just like everybody else....

C.M. said...

Wondered if you knew about this?

Medical tourism to Cuba for surgery. How desperate do you have to be to go to Cuba and have a slave doctor do your surgery?

http://www.choicemedicalservices.com/cuba_tours.html