When It Comes to Health Care, Why Do Republicans (and Some Centrist Democrats) Hate Americans?
A couple of weeks ago, in discussing torture, I asked why so many Republicans hate America. Now that the debate over how to fix the heath care system has moved forward, listening to the Republican position (which is, unfortunately, shared by some centrist Democrats), I can't help but wonder why these individuals hate Americans?
Okay, again, I am being cheeky, invoking the Republican claims during the Iraq war that Democrats hated America because they didn't support the administration's draconian approach to fighting terror. And I'm doing it again here, because, at heart, the Republicans (and, again, some centrist Democrats) who are opposing a public option in the new plan are doing so to protect profitable health insurance companies at the expense of the average American citizen. The arguments used by the Republicans (and centrist Democrats) against a public option are absolutely disingenuous.
When asked about a public option, Republicans tend to lapse into the same red-herring argument Sen. Lindsay Graham made on This Week yesterday:
"The last thing in the world I think Democrats and Republicans are going to do at the end of the day is create a government run health care system where you've got a bureaucrat standing in between the patient and the doctor. We've tried this model -- people have tried this model in other countries. The first thing that happens -- you have to wait for your care. And in socialized health care models, people have to wait longer to get care and the government begins to cut back on what's available because of the cost explosion."
I was half expecting Graham to move close to the camera and yell "Boo!" in an effort to further scare Americans.
Except, nobody is proposing the U.K.-style plan he is railing against. So why is he doing it? Simple. Because the Republicans (and centrist Democrats) are supporting the big insurance companies at the expense of the people, but they can't very well say that out loud, so they have resorted to changing the subject and trying to scare Americans into not noticing where they have tossed their allegiances.
You see, the Republicans are speaking out of both sides of their mouths. They are quick to tell you, as Graham did, how terrible government-run health care would be, with long waits for inferior service. But when you argue for a public option, with people being given the chance to keep what they have (with private insurers) or opt for a new public option (especially for those who don't currently have any insurance) that would compete with the private companies, then the Republicans say that the private insurers would be driven out of business because they can't compete with the public plan. But if the government-run plan would be so bad, why would the private insurers lose to it? Shouldn't Americans, terrified at the big bad government trying to run their health care decisions, run screaming away from the new public plan and into the arms of the wonderful private insurers they adore? What is the risk? And if the government-run plan is so good it would be an improvement over the private insurers, why are the Republicans against it (if they can't admit that they are protecting the business interests over the health of Americans)? Isn't the goal better care at lower costs?
It is a truly odious game the Republicans (and centrist Democrats) are playing now, which is even more despicable because of the stakes involved. The bottom line is that the American health care system is not working, and it's only getting worse. Medical costs are skyrocketing, tens of millions have no insurance at all, and those that do are facing higher fees and dwindling service. According to a recent report, 17 percent of American households put off health care in the last year due to cost. And 40 percent of respondents said they would need to to postpone care in the next three months, including 15 percent who said they had to put off routine doctor visits. The way health care works in the U.S. now, for-profit companies make decisions on Americans' health care based not on what is good for the patient, but on what will add to the company's profits. That's no way to care for our citizens.
And it's not like Americans are afraid of the government providing a public option for health care. A recent CBS News/New York Times poll found that 72 percent of respondents (including 50 percent of Republicans) favored a government-sponsored health-care plan to compete with private insurers, and 57 percent said they were willing to pay higher taxes so that all Americans could be covered. In fact, 64 percent of those polled said that the government should guarantee health insurance for all Americans.
So if the people want a public option, and the Republican arguments are, on their face, hypocritical (if the government-run plan is as terrible as they say, it would not be a threat to private insurers), why are so many Republican and centrist Democratic senators opposing a public plan?
After all, anyone happy with his/her current coverage would be free to keep it as it is. Only those with lousy coverage (or no coverage at all) would be exploring the public option.
Health care is one of the thorniest and most important issues the government has to face, and there needs to be a full and thorough debate in Congress. Concerns about cost, taxes, and systems are absolutely valid, and there are no easy solutions to the hole we've dug for ourselves. But the scare tactics and diversions being offered by the Republicans on the public option are more than just dishonest, they are dangerous, because they could derail necessary change to the current failed system. If Republicans oppose a public option because they want to support the insurance companies, they should say that, rather than making up stories about socialized medicine plans that nobody is proposing. The debate needs to be on honest terms.
The bottom line is that in the U.S. right now, millions of people have no health insurance, others are getting bumped from their coverage, and many people are fighting increased costs (in premiums, co-payments, and uncovered care), and the result is less care for more money. That simply is not acceptable, and the increased costs to the country of medical care are unsustainable. Something has to be done. If Republicans (and centrist Democrats) have a better suggestion than a public option, something that will effectively provide quality coverage to more Americans and bring down costs, then let's hear it. But if the best they can do is come up with scary language like Graham offered on This Week, while proposing only alternatives that will, in effect, perpetuate the broken status quo, that's unacceptable.
It's time for the Republicans and, especially, the centrist Democrats to listen to the will of the people. The discussion has to be on the level, and the solution has to be a system in which for-profit insurance monoliths no longer control the country's health care. If a public option will lead to increased coverage and lower health-care costs, then that's where we need to head. The Republicans and Centrist Democrats are currently protecting the insurance companies. I say it's time they start protecting the American people instead.
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A large problem is the senior drug benefit. If Obama was a real Democrat he would have fixxed that first. Cutting drug prices paid to RX companies at least 80%.
Now how much will the healthcare plan lower drug prices?
I don't hate America, but I do hate government run health care. And I don't hate it for the reasons Mitchell credits republicans for hating it. I hate it because I hate what is going to happen after we get on the slippery slope. I can see further than end of my nose and predict, with reasonable accuracy, that the current proposals, if voted into law, will bear very little resemblance to the health care system we'll all be saddled with 10 years later.
You may want to pay taxes for government run health care. You may feel that the small burden today is worth it so that every American can have treatment, but are you looking far enough into the future. Will you be able to afford the monster it will become?
Don't let Mitchell scare you wrong. HMOs reject treatments that only THEY consider and classify as "experimental". Good luck if you think the government won't make those same decisions. Is it hard to call up and get an HMO to change a decision? Do you think the government is going to answer the phone when you call about a problem?
Think of your worst HMO story or nightmare and then picture if you think the government can 1-up that!
Don't look at the proposal today and think that's the proposal you're supporting. Think about what it will become one day and ask yourself if you will regret getting on the slippery slope.
Ender
Republicans lie and spread fear. Thats what they do.
Their far right, deep south base, goes for it every time.
If competition is the lynchpin of capitalism, then let the greed-driven health insurance providers compete with the feds for my business. Limiting choice drives costs up, increasing profit for a select few, which is why republicans support the monopolistic advantage health insurance companies enjoy. Since obstructionistic republicans embrace the methodical pilfering of Americans by ruthless corporations like UnitedHealthcare, this is why we need the government between the public and parasitic health insurance providers. Through mendacious scare tactics, republicans distract and whip up baseless fear by cautioning Americans that reform will lead to rationed healthcare, with the end result being that the feds will come between the patient and their doctor. Contrary to specious talking points authored by self-serving republicans long on rhetoric and short on substance, as it stands right now, without true marketplace competition a public option will generate, unregulated health insurance companies dictate not only the cost of my healthcare, but how, when, and where I receive medical care. Republicans are bankrolled and controlled by the same health insurance industry they fought to deregulate, which is why they defend the extortion of the American public by these opportunistic companies. Historically, deregulation leads to corruption, which is the case in Georgia, where the Insurance Commissioner, an elected republican, is under investigation for receiving illegal contributions from the same health insurance providers he is tasked with regulating. The majority of Americans want a public option because the current system is rigged against them.
In collusion with health insurance corporations, pharmaceutical manufactures, and physicians who regard healthcare as only a revenue stream, the Reagan deregulated, for-profit medical culture has methodically raped America, while complicit, unscrupulous, and self-serving republicans silenced by special interest and kick-backs acquiesce. Since obstructionistic republicans support the systematic plundering of the middleclass by ruthless corporations like UnitedHealthcare, this is why we need the government between the public and greed-driven, parasitic health insurance providers. Profit at the expense of human suffering is a republican engineered abomination. Forget bipartisanship; true not-for-profit reform will provide affordable and competitive options that include a public offering. Since Georgia is self-insured, state employees have no due process patient protection rights, which means UnitedHealthcare can deny medical care and authorize exorbitant copays and deductibles with no appeal oversight. Real, quality-driven reform will end the monopolistic strangle-hold enjoyed by morally bankrupt health insurance corporations. In Georgia, Cigna and UnitedHealthcare officials colluded with state republicans to eliminate Blue Cross and Blue Shield as a competitor, narrowing the slate of choices to two, with the end result being higher premiums, bigger profit, and reduced benefits. Mr. Obama: The health insurance industry (and the despicable republicans they bankroll) will not retreat quietly from billions in annual profits! I want the same public option Congress and the military enjoy. When compared to the average American, why do politicians live longer? Answer: universal health insurance. Real choice will end the single profiteer option extorting Americans.
They hate us because they all have Cheney Care paid for by us. Probably full dental too. They
abet an industry that does not provide health care, but denies it and still extracts exorbitant premiums to do it. Congress are complicit in the murder of Americans by the health insurance mafia.
Here is an example of big bad socialized medicine.
My friend in Canada was laid off work but still could go for his colonoscopy. It was discovered that he had colon cancer in its early stages. Within days, not weeks or months as the insurance industry implies, he had surgery and will have follow up visits and medical tests. All paid by government run health care. He has an excellent chance of being cured because of early detection and treatment. Here in America a laid off person might have COBRA coverage at high premium rates, if he can afford them or as is the case of most people, he would have no coverage. That means no routine colonoscopies, too expensive, no early detection of colon cancer and finally when it is too late massive medical bills and death. So which system would you like?
I hope your friend comes to full recovery. Thank you for posting.
the one we have already...
Someday you may not have health coverage, for any number of reasons. You may not be able to afford it, you may get laid-off, you may get sick and your insurance company might drop you, etc. And when that happens, you will be squatin' with your spurs on, partner.
So you think that the MILLIONS of Americans laid off in this recession are LAZY????? Tell you what, you want to keep your insurance, that's fine, I won't tell you otherwise, but you cannot say that you will not pay increased taxes so that We The People can finally get everyone the health care that they need!!
The US healthcare system is not the best in the world, it is just the most expensive. The US ranks 37th in the world on the availability of healthcare to the average citizen. The US is not in the top 10, it is not in the top 20 either. The US is ranked near the bottom of the top 30.
These people want to sit around for hours debating an inefficient and corrupt system when there are so many glaring examples of other countries who are doing a much, much better job and some at half the cost. Get a clue! The sheer stupidity of these ongoing debates makes me sick.
Forget it American. You're not going to get the Public healthcare option until you wake-up and fix the system. Your Congressperson has priorities. His/her first priority is re-election, which requires money which comes from lobbyists. Not solely from lobbyists, but the biggest contributors are lobbyists. Congress needs to make the entire lobby industry illegal. Yea right, like that will happen in short order. The US government is supposed to be "by the people, for the people". I don't see the word "business" in that quote. "By business, for business"? I don't thinik so. In reality, business has a bigger vote than the people, and it is a shame. This could be a case of Capitalism gone very, very bad. Lets just call it what it is; greed.
Cowboy, I like the cut of your chaps. Them congressman are all hat and no cattle. Know what I mean?
Heh blueken. I know what you mean allright. Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear or a g-man from any direction.
Oh, it's not that they hate Americans so much. It's just that they love money and power S-O-O-O-O-O much more.
Paraphrasing a recent best-seller: "They're just not that into us!"
At some point, y'all think enough of us will finally turn off the TV, shut down our computers, and put down our cellphones end figure that out?
I get so irritated every time I hear a Republican say "well we don't want the government standing between a patient and their doctor! We don't need the government making decisions about what is covered, etc!." Well, my private, for-profit insurance company already does those things. They decide what to cover, they direct my doctor as to what drugs he can prescribe, and whether a surgery or hospitalization is necessary or not. It's ludicrous for Republicans to try and convince us that the government will always make bad decisions, but somehow a for-profit insurance company will always put our health above everything else, including their own profits. It's just silly.
the government already has demonstrated bad judgment..
Which social programs are you dissatisfied with ? I don't see the private sector driving the post office out of business or vice versa. Medicare/medicaid are actually quite efficient but they can't control the baby boomer effect or the consolidation of providers which allows monopolies to set the price. The employed/insured are losing ground with higher deductibles, increased copays and contributions. The Govt already reimburses hospitals for treatment of the uninsured. Hospitals also increase your cost to cover gaps in their receipts.
Public Health is in every other democratic government and the complaints are in the minority. Most of their availability issues stem from their professionals (publicly trained in many cases) heading to the US to cash in. Despite the claims, the US does not have the best healthcare system in the world. It's like #37. France is #1
Private industry has failed us in the health care arena, much like they have failed us in banking and the auto industry. We already spend enough to finance a great medical system, the problem is that too much of the proceeds go to excessive profits for drug companies and insurance companies. They in turn use our health care dollars on advertising and huge executive compensation. Again, much like the banking industry. Private health care insurance companies are not as competitive as one might think. In my experience all they do is shuffle restrictions and co-pays to make it appear that they are offering different services. If given the choice, I would take a public servant between me and my doctor, than a profit driven private health care system. The "Public Option" is a comprimise that doesn't address the problem. Take profits out of health care.
Why do republicans hate Americans??? Slopping out such a question may appeal to some people however, it does not lead to intelligent discussions on this very complicated issue.
uh... the article didn't just stop after he made that statement. He carried on an intelligent debate with stats and back up. Did you not read after you found something to disagree with. Is that intelligent?
DUSAA, you didn't read the article, did you...
Why are some (many) republicans against reforms ?
The answer is simple and obvious.
It's because the democrats want it.
Republicans = party of "No!"
Disgusting !
We will never override the $$$ contributed to republicans (and democrats) pockets by insurance companies. It's sad.
It's all about the money. The biggest lobbyists with the most cash win- Blue Dog Conservadems are just as much to blame as the rethugs in this situation. Money is trumping the will of The People, yet again.
" Isn't the goal better care at lower costs?"
Now that is a new idea...one our Congress members certainly never had...one that would be laughed at by the Insurance companies.
Care? They do not care or hate...Ind
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