Don't Think of a Sick Child

George Bush doesn't want you to think about sick children. He wants you thinking about the fine print of health insurance policies. He wants us to debate types of coverage, premiums and the size of networks, and whether we can afford catastrophic, comprehensive, limited, mini-med or scheduled health insurance. But George Bush doesn't want you thinking about all the sick children left behind in America. And insurance companies don't want you thinking about all the children who they won't help, just so they can maximize profits.

Senior fellows at the Rockridge Institute, including cognitive linguist George Lakoff, author of the best-selling Don't Think of an Elephant, have joined together to examine the hidden truths in our raging national debate over health care. And to bring the new report, "The Logic of the Health Care Debate" to life, the Rockridge Institute has produced a video spot that dramatizes the way in which our current health care system is based on excluding part of the American family -- concluding with the provocative question: "Which one of your children would you leave unprotected?"

The video, written by Rockridge senior fellow Glenn W. Smith and produced by Margie Becker of Austin, TX, as well as the new report, and other resources to help us fix health care in America can be found online at www.RockridgeInstitute.org/health. You can also sign up to be notified of new developments in this campaign and ways that you can participate.

Comments

[MidnightMike]

George Bush doesn't think or care about sick children--nor, apparently, does he realize that some other people do.
Yet another instance of this President's self-centered and incompetent Administration's continued degradation of this country.

[DaisyZimmerly]

Right you are Kzb. Pulling ourselves up by our own bootstraps builds character and is the American Way. John Wayne wouldn't have been sniveling about this issue.
Indeed, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help". Poor sick and dying children do not want to hear this, and neither do I.

Cigarettes are already expensive as hell and I will not pay more sin tax that will be stolen from me by sick kids and their filthy rich parents. It's my money, you hear me, MY MONEY!

Cigarettes are already taking 36% of my SSI check and I'm getting very pissed. There's hardly any money left for crack. How can Libs be so heartless. Smokers are people too and stop trying to legislate the monkey on our backs. Vote Ron Paul. No taxes, public education, or Fiat cars.

[Calico369]

WHY SHOULD TAXPAYERS HAVE TO PAY FOR INSURANCE FOR:

Those earning $83,000 yr?

For ILLEGAL ALIENS?

For 25 year olds?

Why to go Bush! You finally did something right.

[TheKiddy]

To live a middle class life, barely, in New York City you have to earn $100,000. A family of 4 in New York State could earn as much as $83,000 and be struggling to pay for health care/insurance. But anyway, this is a red herring. Fish away. The kids being covered by S-Chip live in families that work hard and try to do their best, and can't afford private insurance at $500 or $1000 a month. The real problem is the system. It isn't the kids.

[Calico369]

NO ONE onjects to POOR children having SCHIP coverage. What the taxpayers object to is people getting the insurance who make $82,000 a year. This is ridiculous, to say the least.
Taxpayers also object to the fact that the expanded coverage would cover ILLEGAL ALIENS.
And don't forget the "CHILDREN" up to age 25!!!
Bush was absolutely correct in vetoing this bill put out by the bleeding heart, spendaholic, liberal democrats who are simply pandering for votes.
I am retired and pay for my insurance.
My youngest son has 2 children with one on the way. He pays for his family's insurance. What he doesn't do, is smoke, gamble or booze it up at his family's expense.
My older son has insurance where he works.
My daughter employs 18 people and EVERYONE OF THEM IS COVERED WITH EXCELLENT INSURANCE.
WE ALL KNOW people too lazy to work...setting on their butts getting welfare, medicare, food stamps, rent assistance, fuel assistance, etc.
Quit whining and go to work. The ILLEGALS should go back where they came from and let THEIR countries take care of them.

[Secutor]

I was planning a reasoned response to Calico369, but the moral vacuity of the position espoused simply takes my breath away. This is the old Reagan "welfare queen" argument.
May I point out that we're all in this together. Single-payer health insurance would cost about 1/2 of what we're paying now to fund private health insurance, and we'd get better health care to boot.
I'm happy your daughter's employees get excellent health insurance, but not everyone is employed by someone as enlightened as she is. Of course, everyone who can't afford decent private health insurance smokes, gambles, and boozes it up. Why didn't I think of that? All we have to do is stop these welfare cheats from doing these things and everyone would be healthy.
By the way, I'd be careful about who you're calling spendaholic. Someone might notice the bill the neocons have run up with their war.

[RobinLeeDrubin]

Good to see a post that is well thought out and not just an outright attack. I sometimes feel as though this is a catch 22 as far as health care in this country goes and who should pay and who should get it. Should we pay for someone who makes 83K a year? In cities like NY, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and other big metropolitan cities 83K is no longer the upper class, whereas 83K in some of our smaller, less bustling places to live puts these individuals or families on the high end of the scale. Then we have single people versus families. The rising cost of health care in general is skyrocketing perhaps thankfully because of the medical breakthroughs we have witnessed over the years. Someone said below...that it is cycle of sorts; those living in poverty may very well be there due to the cost of health care. If your child has a cold you can get by with some children's cough stuff, baby aspirin etc and a few days of rest. All this at a cost of under 20 dollars. If your child is in an accident that requires hospitalization, emergency room visits you are now talking about thousands of dollars at 5 to 7k a day in a hospital. If you have no health insurance what do you do? Where does the money come from? I will be honest and say that yes I do have an issue with giving illegal aliens the benefits of being a US citizen. I do not agree with paying for their health care. I do believe that if one wants the benefits they become citizens. That is what the Constitution says.
If there is to be a national health care, it must be equal for all. Let's stop pointing fingers and accusing those receiving public assistance as being warts on the finger of humanity and believe that all persons are entitled to be healthy and have the opportunities to have access to chemotherapy, mammograms, and needed medications.

[Timma]

May God forgive this once greatest nation for absolute moral and ethical bankrupcy. Politics and economics aside - the mere symbolism of a veto of SCHIP reeks of destitution. It shows the rest of the world where we really stand. Shame on the Democrats if they're stupid enough to enter into a bipartisan agreement on SCHIP. If they make President Bush eat his veto in one giant mouthful they might at least witness an even further drop in Republican poll numbers.

Now that we're on the brink of world wide catastrphe, if you Republican types still believe your own rhetoric you're duller than I had ever imagined. What's worse your hypocrisy is stinking to high heaven! And everyone else except the United States smells it.

[johnnycakes]

Sadness heaped upon sadness, eh? My own children hate me because I can't afford health insurance for them. I wish I weren't a loser. I wish I could give my kids the kind of love rich parents can afford....

[TheIndependenceParty]

As close as one gets to pornography at midday on TV, I just finished watching C-Span telecast the defeat to the override for SCHIP. There truly is no conscience in the Republican Party, at least none among the 153 odd who bowed to the will of their Fuehrer today, and sustained his veto of this bill.

That you could not find the funding to provide this healthcare coverage for America's uninsured children is a curse upon our Nation. When my children asked me why the Republican Party was disbanded, I will note today's vote as one more reason.

[Star2000dancer]

OMG! PLEASE!!! Let us go to the cause. Our GOOD HEALTCARE IS POOR AT BEST. Cure IS OFF THE TABLE WHILE TREAT SYMTOMS WIRH DRUGS & MUTILATE WITH SURGERY is what we are left with. 2nd: Most of these people are in poverty because of NO or POOR Healthcare to begin with. It's a vicious cycle. Don't get sick or injured folks....or you will be in poverty.

[Star2000dancer]

Hmmm...I did spellcheck my post. I wonder how those mistakes got by....sorry. new at this.

[Sundialsvc4]

"And if they are going to die, well then, they had better do it! And decrease the surplus population!"

"Oh, to see the insect on the leaf pronouncing judgement upon his fellow insects in the dust!"

-- A Christmas Carol

[Tom Gerosolina]

It is time to for universal health care for everybody.

The American Government has a duty to protect us under the constitution. Our health is our most important asset. Health care should be the right of every American citizen just like the right of speech.

The insurance companies and Doctors had made enough money.

[wrabbitt]

we just need to make our senators and congresspeople aware of the fact that we ain't going to put up with this beating around the bush we need health care for everyone not just the elected 1% 0f the country. email your officials we need a referendum put on the ballot health care for everyone or health care for no one. end their free health care. time to even the playing field. insurance companys have their place but, its not in health care.

[Steve7]

SCHIP is not the issue. The conservative philosophy that the private insurance market needs to work better is the issue. None of our politicians are brave enough to stand up to the vested interests, insurers, hospitals, and the pharmas. We really need some unique approaches. See the Healthcare Access Card at www.healthcaresoundoff.com. It solves alot of problems and avoids facing off with the vested interests and it does not interfere with either party's "philosophy."

[gardenbookie]

Here we are debating and arguing about another government "solution" to the health "care" issues. There's nothing wrong with our health "care". There's something MAJOR wrong with being financially raped by insurance premiums! We don't need another band-aid of legislation out here; we're over-legislated as it is. Our aim should be on the overpriced ticket on health COVERAGE!

[knowhelpnow]

How do you plan on stopping finacial rape by the insurance companies?

[GJKBEAR]

MAE692 -I really liked your idea of the photo machine! It is sad but true that we live in an America that tries to pigeonhole all of its citizens - it is so much neater that way! It is about as arbitary as just stamping photos of people you don't know and have no interest in. And some people do think that if you live in a nice home and are able to drive somewhere and have a job that you have made it and should be able to afford insurance.
For some in this debate, it is that parents should be responsible for their children. But, you and I know that this is not always the black & white issue that it is made out to be.
So, maybe you should go into advertisin­g,,,,becau­se your sceanario makes more of a point....

[Colmore]

Cancel all the health coverage of politicians. Why shold we have to pay for it? They make more than average wages, be self supporting. It is easy for them to deny others, while reaping their own benefits. Do what we have to do, shop around for what is affordable and gives decent coverage. What would really make sense, therefore will not be done, is to research how other countries afford to cover their people. Take the best of all the programs, and cover EVERYONE, including them.

[Grit]

I agree with canceling the socialized health care of our politicians. Let them deal with trying to obtain on and individual basis with obtaining private coverage. Many have preexisting conditions that would leave them out all together. To go further lets cancel all politicians socialized health care including all the people in the white house. If the republicans think socialized health care in any form is evil lets let them stop being two faced about this.

[wrabbitt]

you could run for pres. we all need to get behind someone who has a clue whats happening our senators don't unless it lines their pockets...

[gallstones]

I, pointedly, asked all three of my elected public servants this very question. Why do they deserve it and those paying for it(the tax payers)don't. Why are they entitled at our expense and 50+ million of us aren't.

Still waiting for even one of them to get back to me with an answer. It's been a few months.

[btchakir]

It looks like our Congressman in the Hagerstown area (Washington County, MD) is going to vote to uphold Bush's Veto on S-CHIP. This is disappointing, as I believe most of the people I live around would like to see this pass. Hagerstown is a working community that is losing businesses rapidly and where the working poor and even those who make 200-300 percent above the poverty level have trouble getting health insurance.

I have called Congressman Roscoe Bartlett's phone line, and sent him e-mails, stressing the need for him to join the Democrats and Republicans who, by a clear majority, support this bill and want to override the veto today. It doesn't look like he is going to respond.

So I sent this final e-mail off this morning:
Dear Congressman:
I am one of the constituents who is part of a majority of Hagerstowners who support the SCHIP program that was approved by both Democrats and Republicans this month. We also support the overriding of President Bush's veto.

If you vote to support his veto, you are voting against the wishes, and NEEDS, of your constituents.

If you do vote this way, I propose that we will hereafter call trips by poor children to the Emergency Room for the coverage the President has recommended a "Roscoe".

Maybe that will elicit a response. I doubt it, though.

Under The LobsterScope

[Kendo Nagasaki]

You just do not seem to understand that insurance company profits are much more important than health of our children.

This is how it works:

The insurance and drug companies make lots of money, some of which pays for TV advertising. The TV stations then support the government with propaganda and the corporations lobby Congress to pass laws to enable to insurance and drug companies to make even more money. And so it goes.

[gallstones]

Well, with fewer and fewer people even able to get, let alone afford, health insurance, just who are the insurance companies going to continue to make profits off of?

[btchakir]

It looks like our Congressman in the Hagerstown area (Washington County, MD) is going to vote to uphold Bush's Veto on S-CHIP. This is disappointing, as I believe most of the people I live around would like to see this pass. Hagerstown is a working community that is losing businesses rapidly and where the working poor and even those who make 200-300 percent above the poverty level have trouble getting health insurance.

I have called Congressman Roscoe Bartlett's phone line, and sent him e-mails, stressing the need for him to join the Democrats and Republicans who, by a clear majority, support this bill and want to override the veto today. It doesn't look like he is going to respond.

So I sent this final e-mail off this morning:
Dear Congressman:
I am one of the constituents who is part of a majority of Hagerstowners who support the SCHIP program that was approved by both Democrats and Republicans this month. We also support the overriding of President Bush's veto.

If you vote to support his veto, you are voting against the wishes, and NEEDS, of your constituents.

If you do vote this way, I propose that we will hereafter call trips by poor children to the Emergency Room for the coverage the President has recommended a "Roscoe".

Maybe that will elicit a response. I doubt it, though.

Under The LobsterScope

[mae692]

Good luck with Roscoe.

Check out http://dhmh.state.md.us/mma/mchp/ and talk up the program with everybody you know. There are lots of people (pregnant women and children) who are eligible and never thought to apply.