The Executioner's Song

Great gods, now they are turning to Texas for advice on health care reform. This is about as useful as asking the executioner for advice on memorable last words. You can hear the deep voice of the killer from under his black-hood as he tests the sharpness of the blade with a finger. “Just say goodbye,” he mumbles.

But it’s Texas that the insurance-owned Republicans are using in their efforts to block health care reform. Their chant? Look what caps on medical malpractice claims have done for Texas.

We’re talking about Texas, first in the nation in the number of uninsured. Texas, 44^th in infectious diseases. Texas, 42^nd in the number of primary care physicians.

When’s the last time you went down to the courthouse and stood in line for the district clerk when your left arm hurt and your chest felt tight? This dodge, that we’ll get healthier if we just bolt the courthouse door, is dangerous. It’s snake oil. It’s a ruse. It’s a lie bigger than Texas, bigger than Alaska even. Take that, Ms. Palin.

Texas passed a bunch of courthouse-closing bills in 2003, including caps on medical malpractice awards. Backers, including Gov. Rick Perry, said the proposal would cause an unprecedented stampede of doctors to Texas. Well, they seem to have got lost somewhere around the Red River, and it’s pretty easy to ford these days. I reckon if they wanted to, they’d be here. But they’re not. And if they were, millions of Texans couldn’t afford them anyhow.

Earlier this year, Charles Silver and some other extremely bright students of the law and medical care testified before the Texas Senate that the caps hadn’t accomplished much. They certainly haven’t attracted more docs. And Texans are not any healthier.

But last night, as Obama spoke, the Republicans were busy saying the rest of the country ought to act like Texas. Obama has already rejected the Texas approach, though he keeps med mal caps on the table in a kind of “see, I can reach across the aisle" way.

Texas is an awfully funny place to look for solutions to our health care crisis.  Telling Americans they can get into the hospital easier once the courthouses are closed isn’t even true if they are talking about downtown traffic, much less the state of our health.

It’s a big damn, distracting lie, and it’s the kind of lie big, damned distracting liars like. Here’s a tip:  if the insurance industry wants something from politicians, whatever it is, it’s going to be very, very bad for you. Don’t say goodbye. Just say ah, and stick your tongue out at 'em.

 

 

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