Bush as Ebeneezer Scrooge? A Perfect Role!

It's too bad the White House isn't putting on a production of "A Christmas Carol" this season because Bush would have made the perfect Scrooge.

The issue barely made news, but last week Bush vetoed a bill that would have greatly expanded the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP. The bill would have added coverage for millions of the nation's uninsured children. Yet this is the second time Bush nixed it, even though the bill had extremely wide bipartisan support. He actually seemed to get pleasure out of vetoing it, chastising Congress as if they were naughty kids trying to put one over on him. It's clear this cold-hearted president was never going to sign the bill no matter what concessions Democrats made.

And, really, why waste money on children's health when you can pour billions into such worthy ventures as the war in Iraq?

Bush's main problem with the bill was that it would have covered a few poor kids who weren't poor enough, families with too much discretionary income. Like, say, a family of four living on $60,000 a year. It also would have allowed a few undeserving adults to get health care coverage. And, as we well know, this is a president who's all about helping the poor kids over the rich.

By the way, can you imagine Bush, Laura and the twins making due on $60 grand a year?

Bush is so out of touch with American families, with their everyday struggles, it would be absurd were it not so infuriating.

I wonder if he's ever sat down at the kitchen table after the twins are in bed and wrestled with a stack of unpaid medical bills.

I wonder if he's ever looked at an insurance bill and wondered why a particular test or procedure or service wasn't covered. And why his deductibles are so outrageous.

I wonder if he's ever had to worry about having a sick child and whether he can really afford the ongoing care she needs. And having no choice but to somehow scrape together that money, even though it will mean going into debt, using the car less to save on gas, and clipping coupons.

I wonder if he's ever had to shell out thousands of dollars a year for a child with a chronic illness -- fees, by the way, that aren't covered because the insurance industry has decided by some arbitrary formula that they don't need covering.

Not to gloat, but I have done every one of those things. And my husband and I are among the lucky ones. We supposedly have terrific private insurance. If so, then why are we robbing Peter to pay Paul? Why is it that when I unexpectedly had to go in the hospital this year, I seriously considered bailing because I was terrified of how much it would cost?

There are millions of Americans who want not just reform in our health care system but radical change. We can't go on living this way. The system is clearly sick. The question is, how do we fix it? How do we change a system that favors corporate profits over healthy kids? It's now up to the Democrats. So far of all of the candidates, John Edwards seems to recognize this most.

As for Bush, I don't know what it says about the priorities of a president who would see a nation sacrifice the health of its children for the sake of a few pennies.

Oh, wait. I know what it says. Merry Christmas, Scrooge.

Comments

[jackstraw005]

mr president, the people are starving, they have no bread. let them eat cake says the compassionate conservative. c"mon what do you expect from shrub? he is the decider, and he is determined to let everyone know he is still relevant.

[larryfishkorn]

When Bush retires, he'll head off to his ranch or his compound in South America or Dubai or whatever, and he'll look back on a presidency where he created vast wealth for himself and his wealthy social circles, helped open the door for American oil development in Iraq, enabled big energy to continue to make profits at the expense of the environment, started and continued a war as long as he was in office, and yes, deprived poor children of health care. I think that last one will get lots of good laughs over brandy and cigars at the club. And sorry, but even if he were to read your posting, I'm sure he'd laugh over that, too.

I mean, there's a reason why, when his daughter called him on the Ellen show, the first thing she asked was if he was mad that she called. Do you still think there's a heart in there? At least Scrooge had one in the end. Calling Bush a Scrooge implies that he does, too. I don't think so.

[realitytrumpsbull]

I guess my earlier post didn't take, so I'll ask
again whether you're the union rep or the
supplies vendor, also, also I have this question
as to whether or not the healthcare industry
employs 'mystery shoppers' to audit for
overmedication/fake medication and/or
overbilling and stuff like that. I think that
people tend to get carried away, and the 'floor'
for basic services rises as high as the
taxpayers will let it, and maybe instead of
wheedling for more federal tax dollars, which
is what Medicare is, instead they should
start looking for ways to trim those percentages
so that all involved don't get robbed but
nobody's buying a yacht, either. I think
there's always the possibility for fraud,
and that healthcare starts by getting people
to care about their own health. Lots of
money in chronic illness...kind of like this
war, more money in fighting it than winning
it...

[nomobull]

no more like jacob marley