In sharing health care concerns received from his constituents Nev Sen Harry Reid said “How can we look away? How can we possibly do nothing? This isn’t about balance sheets or graphs; its not about contracts or fine print; its not about politics or partisanship. This is about life and death in America.”
Folks. “This is the same Senator Reid who stated that Americans lacking health care are dying every few minutes. A short time ago, Nevada’s senior Senator said on the Senate floor that 45,000 people die each year because they do not have health insurance.”
This morning Rush Limbaugh then projected the senator’s own statement which translates to our losing around 200,000 Americans from the time the Democratic Party got its 60 Senate votes until the starting date of the health care coverage implementation in 2014.
That being the case, why do the multimillions of uninsured, referenced by Sen Reid, where he pleaded on the senate floor to provide coverage for them, now have to wait?
And the big question.
With so many Americans dying today for lack of health care why are we waiting virtually four years to implement this critical universal health care plan?
Why aren’t the Medicare cuts and increase in federal income tax concurrent with president Obama’s Christmas Eve health care coverage for millions of Americans?
To spin the true cost differential they will tax us immediately yet delay coverage to smooth the first 10 year cost Vs revenue implications. They are also providing cover for president Obama as the expanded health care implementation will not be effective until after the next presidential election.
let’s see what impact Nancy’s House version will have on the Senate Bill as they hammer out president Obama’s Christmas present. I say president Obama because the uninsured will not find any government health cards under their trees for a few more years, if at all.
Of course, the 45,000 figure is just the same old Astroturf the Left has been peddling in this whole sorry affair. Repeat a lie often enough, you get some people to believe it.
Astroturfing by any other name is Obamacare
http://www.examiner.com/x-19821-Libertarian-Examiner~y2009m8d21-Astroturf-by-any-other-names-still-smells-like-Obamacare
44,000 dead from lack of health insurance is a lie
http://www.examiner.com/x-19821-Libertarian-Examiner~y2009m10d27-False-facts-coffee-filters-and-composte
I can think of 3 reasons. One this legislation is a big change, some of which start next year to cover more children,lower income persons and start to close the republican created donut hole. Having everything change all at once would be a logistic nightmire for the insurance companies and providers.
Two since there is a need to not raise the deficit or taxes in this time oe ecomnic problems it is best to implement this slowly so that if adjustments need to be made they can be passes in the meantime.
Three- The Republicans were successful to some degree of limiting the scope of the reforms. They beleive that this just say no policy will help them win back some seats in the midterm.
A message from President Barack Obama:
Early this morning, the Senate made history and health reform cleared its most important hurdle yet — garnering the 60 votes needed to move toward a final vote in that chamber later this week.
This marks the first time in our nation’s history that comprehensive health reform has come to this point. And it appears that the American people will soon realize the genuine reform that offers security to those who have health insurance and affordable options to those who do not.
I’m grateful to Senator Harry Reid and every senator who’s been working around the clock to make this happen. And I’m grateful to you, and every member of the Organizing for America community, for all the work you have done to make this progress possible.
After a nearly century-long struggle, we are now on the cusp of making health insurance reform a reality in the United States of America.
As with any legislation, compromise is part of the process. But I’m pleased that recently added provisions have made this landmark bill even stronger. Between the time when the bill passes and the time when the insurance exchanges get up and running, insurance companies that try to jack up their rates do so at their own peril. Those who hike their prices may be barred from selling plans on the exchanges.
And while insurance companies will be prevented from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions once the exchanges are open, in the meantime there will be a high-risk pool where people with pre-existing conditions can purchase affordable coverage.
A recent amendment has made these protections even stronger. Insurance companies will now be prohibited from denying coverage to children immediately after this bill passes. There’s also explicit language in this bill that will protect a patient’s choice of doctor. And small businesses will get additional assistance as well.
These protections are in addition to the ones we’ve been talking about for some time. No longer will insurance companies be able to drop your coverage if you become sick and no longer will you have to pay unlimited amounts out of your own pocket for treatments that you need.
Under this bill families will save on their premiums; businesses that would see their costs rise if we don’t act will save money now and in the future. This bill will strengthen Medicare and extend the life of the program. Because it’s paid for and gets rid of waste and inefficiency in our health care system, this will be the largest deficit reduction plan in over a decade.
Finally, this reform will extend coverage to more than 30 million Americans who don’t have it.
These are not small changes. These are big changes. They’re fundamental reforms. They will save money. They will save lives.
And your passion, your work, your organizing helped make all of this possible. Now it’s time to finish the job.
Thank you,
President Barack Obama
You want the reforms to take effect quicker, Brother Larry? So do I! Hey, we agree!
Why don’t you talk to all your Republican friends and get them to stop obstructing this whole thing?
I don’t believe that Terry knows what “Astroturf” means. In his mind, as long as he turns around a word or phrase that progressives use on reactionaries and uses it against us, he feels he’s performed his cleverness, even if he ends up meaning nothing.
I know it well Vern. Ordinary Americans were using it to describe the Lefts and Socialists tactics and organizations like ACORN long before they discovered it was “chic” to turn it around.
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/mar2008/db20080314_121054.htm
I guess you thought I wouldn’t check your link, didn’t you?
You go ALL THE WAY BACK TO MARCH 2008 to show that corporatists have used the term against liberals!
I used it myself, REGULARLY, in 2005 and 2006, and tried my best to popularize it, so that people would think twice about supposed grass-roots groups spouting propaganda from the insurance companies that paid for their advertising.
And sure enough, the earliest known use of the term, from the fertile mind of Texas Democrat Lloyd “You’re no Jack Kennedy” Bentsen:
US Senator Lloyd Bentsen, believed to have coined the term, was quoted by the Washington Post in 1985 using it to describe a “mountain of cards and letters” sent to his Senate office to promote insurance industry interests, which Bentsen dismissed as “generated mail.”
Game, and match!
Jim and Vern,
The GOP can’t obstruct anything because the Democrats control both houses and the White House. (What you have been smoking? It’s not legalized yet! :))
Since the GOP is powerless to stop anything, the Democrats own any delays in toto. Now, if you want to say that the Dems are fearful of a voter backlash, that I’d agree with.
In any case, the Dems “reform” is going to result in higher premiums for everyone (their goal) by mandating more coverage. (Someone has to pay for it. The libs need to wipe the sleep from their eyes, grow up, and recognize that government handouts have costs that must be paid for, that our government is insolvent, and that all this borrowing and spending will ultimately be paid for with devastating consequences
Jim.
Perhaps you can explain big brother taking $470 billion out of Medicare over the next 10 years starting immediately after the Bill becomes law.
What’s the hurry?
Why not wait until 2014?
As a former race car owner when our vehicle was lined up side by side with our challenger on the track we both waited for the Christmas tree lights to change from red to green.
Are you admitting that we have a loose bulb in the Democratic side of the US Senate?
There are reasons that Democrats have been out of power for a long time. We all get to see them in action right now – greedy, disjointed, connections/$$$ winning out over principles,back-stabbing and overly inflated egos.
The GOP is worse – not even any pretense over the concern for the general welfare of the populace.
The democrats OWN this period of time. What happens or does not happen is the result of THEM and their actions.
Rogue! I know we certainly have our pain-in-the-ass Democrats – Lieberman, Bill Nelson, Landrieu – who have made this whole thing like pulling teeth, and watered it down to… well, I hope you’re wrong, but the way it stands now it COULD lead to higher premiums, I hope not. Those Dems we’ll deal with… hopefully by getting a few more REAL Democrats into the Senate so they become irrelevant.
But if you don’t know what we’re talking about by “Republican obstruction,” you REALLY haven’t been watching the news. I didn’t think I needed to get into detail. They are trying every trick in the book including things that have never been done before, just to SLOW DOWN the inevitable passage of this modest package of reforms. It was Cornyn the other day who said they’re going to “obstruct it till hell freezes over and they’re skating on the ice.” They even went so far as to attempt to filibuster a defense appropriations bill, JUST to slow down health reform. So… I don’t know what channel you watch, I’m sure even FOX has been celebrating the amazing feats of obstruction your “herd: has been engaging in.
The GOP-ers I hate most are the ones who wasted America’s time pretending to be reasonable – Grassley, Snowejob. Half a year went by as they strung Baucus along in Gang of Six meetups knowing full well they’d never vote for anything. And the supposedly pro-choice but anti-public-option Snowe and Collins could have jumped on board when Nelson was being a pain over abortion, but they also were only playing at being reasonable.
Red. We agree!
Perhaps you can explain big brother taking $470 billion out of Medicare over the next 10 years starting immediately after the Bill becomes law.
What’s the hurry?
Why not wait until 2014?
Brother Larry! You? Falling for GOP spin? Well I never! I know your party is supposed to suddenly be the valiant defenders of Medicare (after trying to destroy it since its inception.) But of course the facts are, this half-a-trillion is complete WASTE and FRAUD. If this is some big brother cleaning up this waste and fraud, well, all I can say is it must be a good big brother (not the bad one) and I’m glad I voted for him, and I’m glad he’s fiscally responsible and honest, and I’m glad he’s not waiting four years to clean house!
email reply:
“Larry
Who is everyone in Washington working for? It seems that the urgency is based on some performance review soon to come and failure to meet the health care goal and its companion feature the global warming goal seems to carry some negative consequences. Is it possible that the entire senate and house “ayes” stand to have a fatter paycheck? Who really benefits from this legislation? Do you know?
Are the beneficiaries in the US or are they foreign countries or both? I assume that those who voted for Pres BO and those who voted against Pres BO are in the same boat. We aren’t the beneficiaries. I also assumed that the purpose of the health care legislation was to boost the death rate as a means of cutting costs. 200,000 isn’t hardly enough. We need people who are old, infirm, poor, and unemployable to move on tot he next level. The legislation is for the benefit of those who will survive it.
Enuff. This is beyond my ability to think about it further.”
Brother Vern. Is it “spin” to delay implementation of coverage yet make the financing vehicle begin immediately after approval?
As many pundits are giving president Obama an 11 month report card let me offer a B+ for being a good husband and father. Especially after the last Democrat to occupy that big white house on Pennsylvania Ave.
Medicare is going broke, cut waste or raise taxes is the choice. I guess the republican solution in this specific item is to cut taxes and spend more. That somehow will magically save Medicare and lower the deficit. I want to know what kind of medication they think I am on to swallow that.
Good I agree lets implement everything including a public option and universal coverage for all, which this bill does not do but gets closer to, effective immeadatelly.
Jim. You got it half right which in baseball batting .500 is OK but not in this fight.
Cutting taxes is always a better way to prime the pump. That said, I agree that changes are necessary to fix this broken health care system.
“W” did not stand for all conservative Republicans. Most of us promote cutting back on spending and oppose expanding the role and size of government.