Grading The Big Health Care Speech

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich asks a very profound question: Did Obama listen to the American people over the past month?

Probably not. Despite the fact that critics (like me) have been taking information directly from HR3200 as well as from speeches and papers written by his advisors, and then questioning the very language used in those documents, Obama and his surrogates still accuse us of spreading lies and misinformation. Yet, when making those claims the Dems and libs completely fail to back up their assertions by quoting any of the socialized health care bills currently floating around Congress.

Newt Gingrich brings up 10 points we should consider while listening to Obama's latest pitch:

In his proposals for reform, does the President include litigation reform, which 84% of Americans believe will help reduce costs and which is the number one goal of doctors in any health reform? Does he include a section onsaving money by stopping payments to crooks who are bilking the taxpayers for $70-120 billion each year in Medicare and Medicaid fraud? For 88 percent of Americans, this is the first place they would look to find savings in our health care system. Is President Obama willing to look there? Does his speech reject higher taxes, which the vast majority of Americans believe will make the current economy even worse and increase unemployment even more? Does it reject all government rationing of health services which the American people have vocally opposed at town hall meetings across the country? Does it reject any government run, bureaucratic health plan? Is President Obama open to four or five bipartisan bills which could pass with big bipartisan majorities? Or does he insist on a single omnibus bill of 1000-plus pages like the one that failed when Mrs. Clinton tried to pass it in 1993-1994? Is he for sustaining the Senate rule of 60 votes to ensure a bill that has wide, bipartisan support? Or is he prepared to destroy long-standing Senate tradition and ram through a radical bill with 51 votes? Does President Obama give any indication he is forincreasing the power, information and choice of the individual and their doctor or is he giving more power to the government? Does he focus on health, wellness, prevention, early detection and health management to avoid or control the severity of chronic diseases? Or does he spend his time talking only about acute care? Does his plan invest in science and technology in order to increase innovation and accelerate the discovery and adoption of new discoveries and breakthroughs in diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer and diabetes?

Keep the pressure up, folks. The longer this debate lasts, the better it will be for America.

You can access the complete article on-line here:

Grading The Big Speech: A 10-Point Citizens’ Checklist On Health Reform
Newt Gingrich
Human Events Online
September 9, 2009

AARP Loses Members Over Health Care Stance

I've been away at the beach for the past few days, but now I've returned and am ready to jump back into the fray.

This article in USA Today caught my eye for a couple of reasons. First, it demonstrates how the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is more of a lobbying firm than it is a representative organization. Second, it highlights an aspect of the failures of the American public education system ever since the libs took control of it back in the 60's and 70's.

Let's look at the first point. From the Associated Press:

About 60,000 senior citizens have quit AARP since July 1 due to the group's support for a health care overhaul, a spokesman for the organization said Monday. The membership loss suggests dissatisfaction on the part of AARP members at a time when many senior citizens are concerned about proposed cuts to Medicare providers to help pay for making health care available for all.

And it is not just the cuts in Medicare that are of concern. Seniors are also concerned about the "end of life" provisions in Section 1233 of HR3200 and about the "outcome-based measures" of Section 1162 of HR3200 which could be used as justifications for denying health care to seniors based on their "productivity" as citizens.

Although AARP has said they will not support a plan that reduces Medicare benefits, they have yet to come out and point to any specific language in any bill as a reason for refusing support. Further, they have refused to threaten witholding of support as a means to pressure any lawmakers.

So, let's look at my second point above. You may have noticed that at many of the Town Hall meetings across the United States that a great many of those voicing their opposition to socialized health care are, in fact, seniors. I was discussing this with a friend of mine and he noted that the older crowd seemed to know the legal mechanism better than the younger crowd.

This made sense to me. I began learning about the Constituion in the 4th grade and learned how bills were passed by Congress and signed into law by the President. These laws were then tested in the courts to make sure they didn't violate the Constitution. This was back in the early 70's.

Ever since the left has taken over the education system here in the U.S., such lessons are becoming more and more scarce. That is one of the reasons you see such an age disparity at the Town Halls and probably a good reason why Arlen Specter scolded his own constituents saying, "I am not required to be here!" only to have the crowd angrily boo at him. Apparently, Specter was expecting his crowd to be of the younger set who was not as well-educated about the Constitution. He was wrong.

I hope this debate continues for several more months. It is the best thing to happen to America since the end of World War II.

You can access the original article on-line here:

AARP Loses Members Over Health Care Stance
Associated Press via Usa Today
August 18, 2009

Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel Tries To Tap-Dance His Way Out Of His Own Writings

Jake Tapper isn't a hard-core leftist, but he is easily manipulated by the left. Tapper looks at the responses that Dr. Emanuel gives for the recent criticism of his writings about rationing of health care and the "complete lives" philosophy for determining who gets what health care and how much.

According to Tapper at ABC News:

One of the passages written by Emanuel and used as evidence by Palin and others that he would favor withholding medical care from those who aren’t productive members of society include a 1996 contribution to the Hastings Center Report, in which he said that under the “civic republican or deliberative democratic” construct, “services provided to individuals who are irreversibly prevented from being or becoming participating citizens are not basic and should not be guaranteed. An obvious example is not guaranteeing health services to patients with dementia. A less obvious example is guaranteeing neuropsychological services to ensure children with learning disabilities can read and learn to reason." Is he saying, as Palin and others have suggested, that those who aren’t “participating citizens” should have no guarantee to health care? “No,” Emanuel says, “and I think I made it pretty clear I wasn’t endorsing that view, I was analyzing that perspective and what it might mean in practical terms. The rest of the text around that quote made it made it pretty clear I was trying to analyze it and understand it, not endorse it.”

But, from the text of Where Civic Republicanism And Deliberative Democracy Meet as published in a 1996 Hastings Center Report, we see the following:

Thus, it seems there is a growing agreement between liberals, communitarians, and others that many political matters, including matters of justice- and specifically, the just allocation of health care resources--can be addressed only by invoking a particular conception of the good. ... Procedurally, it suggests the need for public forums to deliberate about which health services should be considered basic and should be socially guaranteed. Substantively, it suggests services that promote the continuation of the polity-those that ensure healthy future generations, ensure development of practical reasoning skills, and ensure full and active participation by citizens in public deliberations-are to be socially guaranteed as basic. Conversely, services provided to individuals who are irreversibly prevented from being or becoming participating citizens are not basic and should not be guaranteed. An obvious example is not guaranteeing health services to patients with dementia.

Nowhere did Dr. Emanuel say that his thinking was hypothetical. This last paragraph excerpt made it pretty clear what his stance on the issue is. His conception of "the good" is policies that "ensure healthy future generations, ensure development of practical reasoning skills, and ensure full and active participation by citizens in public deliberations-are to be socially guaranteed as basic." In layman's terms, that means that only those who are deemed "productive" should be getting medical coverage.

Tapper goes on to present another misleading explanation of the January 31, 2009 article published in The Lancet that Dr. Emanuel co-authored:

The oncologist suggests that his words are being twisted because opponents “don’t have a solution” to the health care reform debate. “Maybe the only tactic is to sow fear and use whatever means you have to attack whether that’s grounded in reality or not... If you don’t have good arguments you use whatever you got, I guess, to say things that are distortive and untrue.” He says “there have been previous attempts to come after me and after some of my colleagues, but this is certainly on a completely different scale and magnitude. I’ve never been mentioned on Sunday shows in this light and certainly never on the floor of Congress. The distortions are much larger than I’ve ever seen or would have believed could happen.”

But, let's see what he wrote in that article and whether or not it jibes with his current claims:

When implemented, the complete lives system produces a priority curve on which individuals aged between roughly 15 and 40 years get the most substantial chance, whereas the youngest and oldest people get chances that are attenuated. ... Strict youngest-first allocation directs scarce resources predominantly to infants. This approach seems incorrect.

No twisting there at all. Dr. Emanuel is clear and unambiguous as to what he believes. And the following graph shows where he believes resources should be rationed:



(Source: Principles for allocation of scarce medical interventions; Govind Persad, Alan Wertheimer, Ezekiel J Emanuel; The Lancet, January 31, 2009)

You can clearly see where Dr. Emanuel believes that the very young and the very old should fall in the priority curve. We can assume that such low priorities will also be held for Special Needs patients as well.

You can cross reference this with Sections 1162 and 1177 of HR3200. The parallels are undeniable.

When Gov. Palin voiced her concerns about Trig and her parents being denied medical care based on their "productivity," she was very justified.

Conculsion: Dr. Emanuel can spin and tap-dance all he wants. But he cannot run and hide from what he has written and published. And we should not allow him to even try.

People work hard their entire lives to ensure that their families are taken care of and to ensure that they themselves are taken care of in their twilight years. HR3200 would only serve to undo all that work and allow the government to come in and change the plans that people had made for themselves years before.

More Items Found In HR3200, The Socialized Medicine Bill

Among the following items, you will find some repeats of what was noted before. But this list is even more comprehensive. It was compiled by Liberty Counsel, a Civil Liberties Law Firm.

If it seems like too long a list to read, believe me, reading the entire text of HR3200 would take longer.

You can access this listing on-line here:

Obama Administration’s Health Care Plan HR 3200 Currently Under Consideration In The House Of Representatives
Liberty Counsel
July 29, 2009

Here are the items:

• Sec. 113, Pg. 21-22 of the Health Care (HC) Bill MANDATES a government audit of the books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self-insure in order to “ensure that the law does not provide incentives for small and mid-size employers to self-insure”! • Sec. 122, Pg. 29, Lines 4-16 - YOUR HEALTH CARE WILL BE RATIONED! • Sec. 123, Pg. 30 - THERE WILL BE A GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE deciding what treatments and benefits you get. • Sec. 142, Pg. 42 - The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your benefits for you. You have no choice! • Sec. 152, Pg. 50-51 - HC will be provided to ALL NON-US citizens. • Sec. 163, Pg. 58-59 beginning at line 5 - Government will have real-time access to individual’s finances & a National ID health care card will be issued! • Sec. 163, Pg. 59, Lines 21-24 - Government will have direct access to your bank accounts for electronic funds transfer. • Sec. 164, Pg. 65 is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in unions & community organizations (ACORN). • Sec. 201, Pg. 72, Lines 8-14 - Government is creating an HC Exchange to bring private plans under government control. • Sec. 203, Pg. 84 - Government mandates ALL benefit packages for private Health Care plans in the exchange. • Sec. 203, Pg. 85, Line 7 - Specifications of benefit levels for plans means that the government will define your HC plan and has the ability to ration your health care! • Sec. 205, Pg. 95, Lines 8-18 - The government will use groups (i.e., ACORN & AmeriCorps) to “inform and educate” (sign up) individuals for government plan. • Sec. 205, Pg. 102, Lines 12-18 - Medicaid-eligible individuals will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. No freedom to choose. • Sec. 223, Pg. 124, Lines 24-25 - No company can sue the government for price-fixing. No “administrative of judicial review” against a government monopoly. • Sec. 225, Pg. 127, Lines 1-16 - Doctors – the government will tell YOU what you can make. “The Secretary shall provide for the annual participation of physicians under the public health insurance option, for which payment may be made for services furnished during the year.” • Sec. 312, Pg. 145, Lines 15-17 - Employers MUST auto-enroll employees into public option plan. • Sec. 313, Pg. 149, Lines 16-23 - ANY employer with payroll $400,000 and above who does not provide public option pays 8% tax on all payroll. • Sec. 313, Pg. 150, Lines 9-13 - Businesses with payroll between $251,000 and $400,000 who do not provide public option pay 2-6% tax on all payroll. • Sec. 401.59B, Pg. 167, Lines 18-23 - ANY individual who does not have acceptable care, according to government, will be taxed 2.5% of income. • Sec. 59B, Pg. 170, Line 1 - Any NONRESIDENT alien is exempt from individual taxes. (Americans will pay for their health care.) • Sec. 431, Pg. 195, Lines 1-3 - Officers and employees of HC Administration (government) will have access to ALL Americans’ financial and personal records. • Sec. 441, Pg. 203, Lines 14-15 - “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax.” Yes, it says that. • Sec. 1121, Pg. 239, Lines 14-24 - The government will limit and reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income and poor are the ones affected. • Sec. 1121, Pg. 241, Lines 6-8 - Doctors, it does not matter what specialty you have; you’ll all be paid the same. “Service categories established under this paragraph shall apply without regard to the specialty of the physician furnishing the service.” • Sec. 1122, Pg. 253, Lines 10-23 - The government “validates work relative value units” (sets value of doctor’s time), professional judgment, methods etc. (defining the value of humans). • Sec. 1131, Pg. 265 - Government mandates and controls productivity for private HC industries. “Incorporating Productivity Improvements into Market Basket Updates that Do Not Already Incorporate Such Improvements.” • Sec. 1141, Pg. 268 - The government regulates rental and purchase of power-driven wheelchairs. • Sec. 1145, Pg. 272 - Treatment of certain cancer hospitals: Cancer patients and their treatment are open to rationing! • Sec. 1151, Pg. 280 - The government will penalize hospitals for what government deems preventable readmissions (incentives for hospital to not treat and release). • Sec. 1151, Pg. 298, Lines 9-11 - Doctors, treat a patient during initial admission that results in a readmission and the government will penalize you for that action. • Sec. 1156, Pg. 317, Lines 13-20 - “PROHIBITION on physician ownership or Investment.” Government tells doctors what/how much they can own. • Sec. 1156, Pg. 317-318, Lines 21-25, 1-3 - “PROHIBITION on Expansion of Facility Capacity.” The government will mandate that hospitals cannot expand (“number of operating rooms or beds”). • Sec. 1156, Pg. 321, Lines 2-13 - Hospitals have opportunity to apply for exception BUT community input required. • Sec. 1162, Pg. 335-339, Lines 16-25 - The government mandates establishment of outcome-based measures. Rationing. • Sec. 1162, Pg. 341, Lines 3-9 - The government has authority to disqualify Medicare Advantage Plans (Part B), HMOs, etc. This will force people into a government plan. “The Secretary may determine not to identify a Medicare Advantage plan if the Secretary has identified deficiencies in the plan’s compliance with rules for such plans under this part.” • Sec. 1177, Pg. 354 - Government will RESTRICT enrollment of special needs people! “Extension of Authority of Special Needs Plans to Restrict Enrollment.” • Sec. 1191, Pg. 379 - Government creates more bureaucracy – “Telehealth Advisory Committee.” HC by phone or the Internet – dial 1 for your health care advice? • Sec. 1233, Pg. 425, Lines 4-12 - Government mandates Advance (Death) Care Planning consultation. Think Senior Citizens and end of life. END-OF-LIFE COUNSELING. SOME IN THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE ALREADY DISCUSSED RATIONING HEALTH CARE FOR THE ELDERLY. • Sec. 1233, Pg. 425, Lines 17-19 - Government WILL instruct and consult regarding living wills and durable powers of attorney. Mandatory end-of-life planning! • Sec. 1233, Pg. 425-426, Lines 22-25, 1-3 - Government provides approved list of end-of-life resources, guiding you in death. • Sec. 1233, Pg. 427, Lines 15-24 - Government mandates program for orders for life-sustaining treatment (i.e. end of life). The government has a say in how your life ends. • Sec. 1233, Pg. 429, Lines 1-9 - An “advanced care planning consult” will be used as patient’s health deteriorates. • Sec. 1233, Pg. 429, Lines 10-12 - “Advanced Care Consultation” may include an ORDER for end-of-life plans - from the government. • Sec. 1233, Pg. 429, Lines 13-25 - The government will specify which Doctors (professional authority under state law includes Nurse Practitioners or Physician’s Assistants) can write an end-of-life order. • Sec. 1233, Pg. 430, Lines 11-15 - The government will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life, according to preset methods (not individually decided). • Sec. 1302, Pg. 468, Lines 16-21 - “Community-Based Home Medical Services means a nonprofit community-based or state-based organization.” • Sec. 1302, Pg. 472, Lines 14-17 - PAYMENT TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION: One monthly payment to a community-based organization. Like ACORN? • Sec. 1308, Pg. 489 - The government will cover Marriage and Family therapy. This will involve government control of your marriage. • Sec. 1308, Pg. 494-498 - The government will cover Mental Health Services including defining, creating and rationing those services. • Sec. 1401, Pg. 502 - Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research Established. Big Brother is watching how your treatment works. • Sec. 1401, Pg. 503, Lines 13-19 - The government will build registries and data networks from YOUR electronic medical records. “The Center may secure directly from any department or agency of the United States information necessary to enable it to carry out this section.” • Sec. 1401, Pg. 503, Lines 21-25 - The government may secure data directly from any department or agency of the US, including your data. • Sec. 1401, Pg. 503, Lines 21-25 - The “Center” will collect data both “published and unpublished” (that means public & your private information). • Sec. 1401, Pg. 506, Lines 19-21 - An “Appointed Clinical Perspective Advisory Panel” will advise The Center and recommend policies that would allow for public access of data. • Sec. 1401, Pg. 518, Lines 21-25 - The Commission will have input from HC consumer representatives. • Sec. 1411, Pg. 524, Lines 18-22 - Establishes the “Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund.” More taxes for ALL. • Sec. 1441, Pg. 621, Lines 20-25 - The government will define “NEW Quality” measures in HC. Since when does government know about quality? • Sec. 1442, Pg. 622, Lines 2-9 - To pay for the Quality Standards, government will transfer money from “qualified entities” (government Trust Funds) to other government Trust Funds. More Taxes. • Sec. 1442, Pg. 624, Lines 19-23 - Qualified Entities: “The Secretary shall ensure that the entity is a public, nonprofit or academic institution with technical expertise in the area of health quality measurement.” • Sec. 1442, Pg. 623, Lines 5-10 - “Quality” measures shall be designed to assess outcomes and functional status of patients. • Sec. 1442, Pg. 623, Lines 15-17 - “Quality” measures shall be designed to profile you, including race, age, gender, place of residence, etc. • Sec. 1443, Pg. 628 - The government will give “Multi-Stake Holders” pre-rulemaking input into selection of “quality” measures. • Sec. 1443, Pg. 630-31, Lines 9-24, 1-9 - Those Multi-Stake Holder groups include unions and groups like ACORN deciding what constitutes quality. • Sec. 1444, Pg. 632, Lines 14-25 - The government may implement any “Quality measure” of HC services that bureaucrats see fit. • Sec. 1444, Pg. 632-333, Lines 14-25, 1-9 - The Secretary may issue nonendorsed “Quality Measures” for physician and dialysis services. • Sec. 1251 (beginning), Pg. 634 to 652 - “Physician Payments Sunshine Provision” – government wants to shine sunlight on Doctors but not government. “Reports on financial relationships between manufacturers and distributors . . . and between physicians and other health care entities.” • Sec. 1501 (beginning), Pg. 659-670 - Doctors in Residency – government will tell you where your residency will be, thus where you’ll live. • Sec. 1503 (beginning), Pg. 675-685 - Government will regulate hospitals in EVERY aspect of residency programs, including teaching hospitals. • Sec. 1601 (beginning), Pg. 685-699 - Increased funding to fight waste, fraud, and abuse. (Like the government with an $18 million website?) • Sec. 1619, Pg. 700-703 - If your part of HC plan isn’t in the government’s HC Exchange but you qualify for federal aid, you don’t have to pay. • Sec. 1128G, Pg. 704-708 - If the Secretary determines there is a “significant risk of fraudulent activity,” on HC provider or supplier, the government can do a background check. • Sec. 1632, Pg. 710, Lines 8-14 - The Secretary has broad powers to deny HC providers and suppliers admittance into HC Exchange. Your doctor could be thrown out of business. • Sec. 1637, Pg. 718-719 - ANY Doctor who orders durable medical equipment or home medical services is REQUIRED to be enrolled in, or eligible for, Medicare. • Sec. 1639, Pg. 721 - Government MANDATES that Doctors must have face-to-face with patient to certify patient for home health services. • Sec. 1639, Pg. 723-24, Lines 23-25, 1-5 - The same government certifications will apply to Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s health plan: Your kids). • Sec. 1640, Pg. 723, Lines 16-22 - The government reserves right to apply face-to-face certification for patient to ANY other HC service. • Sec. 1651, Pg. 734, Lines 16-25 - Proposes, for law enforcement sake, that the Secretary of HHS will give Attorney General access to ALL medical data. • Sec. 1701 (beginning), Pg. 739-756 - The government sets guidelines for subsidizing the uninsured (and you have to pay for them). • Sec. 1704, Pg. 756-761 - The government will shift burden of payments to Disproportionate Share Hospitals (DSH) to states (your taxes). • Sec. 1711, Pg. 764 - The government will require preventative services - including vaccinations (no choice). • Sec. 1713, Pg. 768 - Government-determined Nurse Home Visitation Services (Hello union paybacks). • Sec. 1713, Pg. 768, Lines 3-5 - Nurse Home Visit Services – Service #1: “Improving maternal or child health and pregnancy outcomes or increasing birth intervals between pregnancies.” Compulsory ABORTIONS? • Sec. 1713, Pg. 768, Lines 11-14 - Nurse Home Visit Services include determinations of economic self-sufficiency, employment advancement and school-readiness. • Sec. 1714, Pg. 769 - Federal government mandates eligibility for State Family Planning Services. Abortion and government control intertwined. • Sec. 1733, Pg. 788-798 - Government will set and mandate drug prices, therefore controlling which drugs are brought to market. (Goodbye innovation and private research.) • Sec. 1744, Pg. 796-799 - Establishes PAYMENTS for graduate medical education. The government will now control your doctor’s education. • Sec.1751, Pg. 800 - The government will decide which Health Care conditions will be paid. Say “RATION!” • Sec. 1759, Pg. 809 - Billing Agents, clearinghouses, or other alternate payees are required to register. The government takes over private payment systems too. • Sec. 1801, Pg. 819-823 - The Government will identify individuals “likely to be ineligible” for subsidies. Will access all personal financial information. • Sec. 1802, Pg. 823-828 - Government sets up Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund. Another bottomless tax pit. • Sec. 4375, Pg. 828-832, Lines 12-16 - Government will impose a fee on ALL private health insurance plans, including self-insured, to pay for Trust Fund! • Sec. 4377, Pg. 835, Lines 11-13 - Fees imposed by government for Trust Fund shall be treated as if they were taxes. • Sec. 440, Pg. 837-839 - The government will design and implement Home Visitation Program for families with young kids and families that are expecting children. • Sec. 1904, Pg. 843-844 - This Home Visitation Program includes the government coming into your house and teaching/telling you how to parent! • Sec. 2002, Pg. 858 - The government will establish a Public Health Fund at a cost of $88,800,000,000 (That’s Billions). • Sec. 2201, Pg. 864 - The government will MANDATE the establishment of a National Health Service Corps. • Sec. 2201 - “Fulfillment of Obligated Service Requirement” • Sec. 2201, Pg. 864-875 - The NHS Corps is a program where Doctors perform mandatory HC for 2 years for partial loan repayment. • Sec. 2212, Pg. 875-891 - The government takes over the education of Medical students and Doctors through education and loans. • Sec. 340L, Pg. 897 - The government will establish a Public Health Workforce Corps to ensure an adequate supply of public health professionals. • Sec. 340L, Pg. 897 - The Public Health Workforce Corps shall consist of civilian employees of the United States as Secretary deems necessary. • Sec. 340L, Pg. 897 - The Public Health Workforce Corps shall consist of officers of Regular and Reserve Corps of Service. • Sec. 340M, Pg. 899 - The Public Health Workforce Corps includes veterinarians. Will animals have heath care too? • Sec. 2233, Pg. 909 - The government will develop, build and run Public Health Training Centers. • Sec. 2241, Pg. 912-913 - Government starts a HC affirmative action program under the guise of diversity scholarships. • Sec. 2251, Pg. 915 - Government MANDATES cultural and linguistic competency training for HC professionals. • Sec. 3111, Pg. 931 - The government will establish a Preventative and Wellness Trust fund, with initial cost of $30,800,000,000 (Billions more). • Sec. 3121, Pg. 934, Lines 21-22 - Government will identify specific goals and objectives for prevention and wellness activities. More control of your life. • Sec. 3121, Pg. 935, Lines 1-2 - The government will develop “Healthy People & National Public Health Performance Standards.” They will tell us what to eat? • Sec. 3131, Pg. 942, Lines 22-25 - “Task Force on Community Preventive Services.” More government? Under the Offices of Surgeon General, Public Health Services, Minority Health and Women’s Health. • Sec. 3141, Pg. 949-979 - BIG GOVERNMENT core public health infrastructure includes workforce capacity, lab systems, health information systems, etc. • Sec. 2511, Pg. 992 - Government will establish school-based “health” clinics. Your children will be indoctrinated and your grandchildren may be aborted! • Sec. 399Z-1, Pg. 993 - School-Based Health Clinics will be integrated into the school environment. More government brainwashing in school. • Sec. 2521, Pg. 1000 - The government will establish a National Medical Device Registry. Will you be tracked?

Feel free to print this out and take it to a Town Hall meeting to ask your Congressional Reps about it. I'm certain that the Democrat members of Congress (like Arlen Specter (D-PA)) will accuse you of spreading false information.

Is Sarah Palin At Least Close To Being Right About "Death Panels?"

In order to answer that question, we need to look into HR3200 and analyze what is written in the relevent sections that may pertain to Special Needs patients or the elderly and how those sections may be used to deny care to members of those groups.

Sec. 1177 on page 354 of HR3200 (America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009). The title reads: "EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY OF SPECIAL NEEDS PLANS TO RESTRICT ENROLLMENT." That section essentially makes it legal to turn away patients like Trig Palin.

Sec. 1162 of HR3200, under which on page 335 the government will be empowered to approve treatments that are established by "outcome-based measures." This loop-hole will be used to deny care to elderly and Special Needs patients as some of the measures considered will include "patient mortality and morbidity following surgery" and "health functioning (limitations of activities of daily living)."

Sec. 1123 that begins on page 424 of HR3200. Under that section on page 430 is written:

The level of treatment indicated under subparagraph (A)(ii) may range from an indication for full treatment to an indication to limit some or all or specified interventions. Such indicated levels of treatment may include indications respecting, among other items— (i) the intensity of medical intervention if the patient is pulse less, apneic, or has serious cardiac or pulmonary problems; (ii) the individual’s desire regarding transfer to a hospital or remaining at the current care setting; (iii) the use of antibiotics; and (iv) the use of artificially administered nutrition and hydration.

Although the above references subparagraph (A)(ii), subparagraph (A)(i) essentially gives the government control over any medical orders relating to the covered individual.

From what I've read of HR3200, Gov. Palin is closer to getting it right than any of her detractors are. In fact, I have yet to see any of her detractors actually reference anything in HR3200 to prove her wrong about the government possibly denying care to the elderly and Special Needs patients.

The Dirty Little Secret In The Socialized Medicine Bill (HR3200)

Chuck Norris has a little gem in Town Hall today. He found a little secret embedded in the socialized medicine bill (HR3200).

Check it out:

It's outlined in sections 440 and 1904 of the House bill (Page 838), under the heading "home visitation programs for families with young children and families expecting children." The programs (provided via grants to states) would educate parents on child behavior and parenting skills. The bill says that the government agents, "well-trained and competent staff," would "provide parents with knowledge of age-appropriate child development in cognitive, language, social, emotional, and motor domains ... modeling, consulting, and coaching on parenting practices," and "skills to interact with their child to enhance age-appropriate development."

Now, the first question that comes to my mind is: "Why would a health care reform bill have a provision like this?"

Read on:

Are we to assume the state's mediators would understand every parent's social or religious core values on parenting? Or would they teach some secular-progressive and religiously neutered version of parental values and wisdom? And if they were to consult and coach those who expect babies, would they ever decide circumstances to be not beneficial for the children and encourage abortions?

It is to impose values on parents and their children. In short, it is a government take-over of the nursery.

Since there are those hard-core leftists out there who will try to claim that this program is voluntary, read this:

To the contrary, the bill points to specific targeted groups and problems, on Page 840: The state "shall identify and prioritize serving communities that are in high need of such services, especially communities with a high proportion of low-income families."

In essence, the authors of this socialized medicine bill are stating that low-income parents are most likely not good parents and thus will have the intervention of government in their homes, whether they want it or not.

You can access the complete article on-line here:

Dirty Secret No. 1 In Obamacare
Chuck Norris
TownHall.com
August 11, 2009

Nancy Pelosi And Steny Hoyer Come Out Against First Amendment Rights

Just when I thought that the Democrats couldn't do or say anything more stupid or hypocritical than what they've already done or said, Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer had to open their mouths and go and prove me wrong.

First, let's go back a few years and remember what other Dems have said about voicing opposition to Washington D.C. In 2003, Hillary Clinton (D-NY) proclaimed the following:

Dissent is patriotic!

Now, I was not aware that Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) were in disagreement with then Sen. Clinton's sentiments. Neither one made the slightest peep about it when Clinton made her statement.

But today, when Joe and Jane Average American are protesting several facets of HR3200, the socialized medicine bill, dissent, in their eyes, has become "un-American."

Here is their joint opinion column from USA Today:

'Un-American' Attacks Can't Derail Health Care Debate
Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer
USA Today
August 10, 2009

From which you will note the following:

These disruptions are occurring because opponents are afraid not just of differing views — but of the facts themselves. Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American. Drowning out the facts is how we failed at this task for decades.

First off, the facts are the side of the protestors. We've shown this in the following blog entries:

A Look At Some Itmes In The Socialized Medicine Bill
84rules
August 5, 2009

Fact Checking Obama's Socialized Health Care Claims
84rules
July 23, 2009

Congressional Budget Office: Nationalized Health Care Will Increase Costs, Not Reduce Them
84rules
July 17, 2009

You'll notice that niether Pelosi nor Hoyer ever mentioned any of this. In their USA Today column, they simply repeated the same old tired talking points that have been proven to be false over the past eight months.

Second, the opposing views are not being drowned out. The American people are tired of hearing the same old lies about health care over and over and over again. When they hear those same old tired lies, they become angry and begin shouting back.

We know what it will cost and that it won't be cheaper. It will be more expensive as the CBO has shown us.

We know that 47 million people are not covered with health insurance. But we also know that at least a third of those are illegal aliens, most of the rest are people that can afford health insurance but choose not to buy it and the rest have access to Medicare.

We know that the quality of health care will go down as it has in every other country that has adopted socialized medicine.

When we hear lies, we get mad.

And instead of admitting the facts, Pelosi and Hoyer try to hide them by calling those who would expose the facts "un-American."

I don't see how any Democrat could ever point with pride towards these two hypocrites and say, "They are our leaders!".

Obama's SEIU Thugs Attack A Black Conservative

Okay, this should show exactly how the Dems in Congress are nothing but thieving liars. For the past week, Dems like Barbara Boxer, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi have been lying to the press about angry mobs, violent protesters and swastikas.

The truth is, what we have been seeing is a grassroots movement in which people were rightfully asking their Congressional delegations if they've read what's in HR3200 (the socialized medicine bill), whether the government that let Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security go broke can run a socialized medicine system, and whether or not Congress will limit its own health care plan choices to only that which is provided to Joe and Jane Average American under this bill.

For their efforts at trying to communicate their concerns to Congress, the Democrats have labeled the American people "radical" and leveled false charges against them.

Well, the violent angry mobs didn't start until the Dems unleashed the SEIU thugs against Joe and Jane Average American. In a page right out of the Nazi Brown-Shirt playbook, Dems from the White House and Congress called on their union thugs to go after the peaceful opponents of Obamacare.

Here is an example what happened in St. Louis:

Obama's SEIU Thugs Attack A Black Conservative

Those of us on the right want answers from Congress and we want our concerns to be heard. Those on the left want to stifle the debate, even if it means visiting violence on people exercising their First Amendment rights.

Look for more violence from left-wing street agitators like SEIU and ACORN as this debate heats up. Despite Obama's claim that he is some sort of "uniter," he will not ever condemn the violent Nazi-style tactics of his leftist minions.

BTW, if you want to see photographic examples of the "angry mob" and "violent protesters" that Pelosi, Reid and company have been leveling false charges at, look here:

Meet The Mob
Dana Loesch
The Dana Show
August 6, 2009

(If you hapen to spot any swastikas in the audience, please point them out to us.)

Pelosi Throws More Insults At The American People

I'd like to see the videos that Nancy Pelosi was watching of Joe and Jane Average American standing up and asking legitimate questions about HR3200, the socialized medicine bill. Her claim is that those people were "carrying swastikas." I've looked at the pictures and seen the videos but never once saw a single piece of Nazi symbology. Her claim is bogus and only meant to stir up the emotions of those who are gullible and naive enough to believe her.

You can view a video of her irrational, idiotic rant here:

Pelosi: Town Hall Protesters Are "Carrying Swastikas"
Real Clear Politics
August 5, 2009

This is yet another example to show exactly how disrespectful Pelosi, Reid, Obama and the Democrats in general are of the American people. There were no swastikas or anything like that at any of the town hall meetings where average Americans voiced legitimate concerns to their Congressional delegations. But, Pelosi felt she had the right to make up such a lie and the leftists in Old Media felt the need to spread what they must have certainly known was a lie.

The bigger the insults get and the larger the lies become, you can be sure it is because the Dems are getting more and more desperate to pass a bill the contents of which they would have preferred to keep secret.

A Look At Some Items In The Socialized Medicine Bill (HR3200)

Anyone who has been going around saying that HR3200 is not socialized medicine legislation is either an outright liar or incredibly ignorant. Or, they simply have not read the text of HR3200.

I happen to have a link to the text of the bill right here:

America's Affordable Health Choices Act Of 2009 (Requires Adobe Reader)

America's Affordable Health Choices Act Of 2009 (Text version)

The following items can be found by looking up page and line numbers in the pdf file from the first link. Go ahead and look through it. You will not believe some of the stuff you will be reading:

Pg 22 MANDATES the Govt will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self insure!! Pg 30 Sec 123 - THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get. Pg 29 Lines 4-16 - YOUR HEALTHCARE IS RATIONED!!! You can only get so much "care" per year. Pg 42 - The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your HC Benefits for you. You have no choice! Pg 50 Section 152 - HC will be provided to ALL non US citizens, illegal or otherwise. Pg 58 - Govt will have real-time access to individuals finances & a National ID Healthcard will be issued! Pg 59 Lines 21-24 - Govt will have direct access to your bank accounts for elective funds transfer. Pg 65 Sec 164 - Payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in Unions & community orgs (ACORN). Pg 72 Lines 8-14 - Govt is creating an HC Exchange to bring private HC plans under Govt control. Pg 84 Sec 203 - Govt mandates ALL benefit pkgs for private HC plans in the Exchange. Pg 85 Line 7 - Specs for Benefit Levels for Plans = The Govt will ration your Healthcare! Pg 91 Lines 4-7 - Govt mandates linguistic appropriate services. Example - Translation for illegal aliens. Pg 95 Lines 8-18 - The Govt will use groups i.e., ACORN & Americorps to sign up individually for Govt HC plan. Pg 85 Line 7 - Specs of Benefit Levels for Plans. #AARP members - your Health care WILL be rationed. Pg 102 Lines 12-18 - Medicaid Eligible Indiv. will be automat.enrolled in Medicaid. No choice. Pg 124 Lines 24-25 - No company can sue GOVT on price fixing. No "judicial review" against Govt Monopoly. Pg 127 Lines 1-16 - Doctors/AMA - The Govt will tell YOU what you can make. Pg 145 Line 15-17 - An Employer MUST auto enroll employees into public opt plan. NO CHOICE. Pg 126 Lines 22-25 - Employers MUST pay for HC for part time employees AND their families. Pg 149 Lines 16-24 - ANY Employer with payroll of 400k & above who does not provide public option pays 8% tax on all payroll. Pg 150 Lines 9-13 - Businesses with payroll between 251k & 400k who doesn't provide public option pays 2-6% tax on all payroll. Pg 167 Lines 18-23 - ANY individual who doesnt have acceptable HC accrding to Govt will be taxed 2.5%. Pg 170 Lines 1-3 - Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from individual taxes. (You and I will pay for them.) Pg 195 - Officers & employees of HC Admin (GOVT) will have access to ALL Americans' financial/personal records. Pg 203 Line 14-15 - "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax" Yes, it says that. Pg 239 Line 14-24 - Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor will be very affected. Pg 241 Line 6-8 - Doctors, doesn't matter what specialty you have, you'll all be paid the same. Pg 253 Line 10-18 - Govt sets value of Doctor's time, professional judgments, etc. Literally value of humans. Pg 265 Sec 1131 - Govt mandates & controls productivity for private HC industries. Pg 268 Sec 1141 - Fed Govt regulates rental & purchase of power driven wheelchairs. Pg 272 Sec 1145 - TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CANCER HOSPITALS - Cancer patients. Welcome to rationing! Pg 280 Sec 1151 - The Govt will penalize hospitals for what Govt deems preventable readmissions. Pg 317 Lines 13-20 - PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. Govt tells Doctors what/how much they can own. Pg 317-318 Lines 21-25,1-3 - PROHIBITION on expansion - Govt is mandating hospitals cannot expand. Pg 321 Lines 2-13 - Hospitals have option to apply for exception BUT community input required. Can you say ACORN?!! Pg 335 Lines 16-25 Pg 336-339 - Govt mandates estab. of outcome based measures. HC the way they want. Rationing. Pg 341 Lines 3-9 - Govt has authority to disqualify Medicare Adv Plans, HMOs, etc. Forcing all into Govt HC plan. Pg 354 Sec 1177 - Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs. Pg 379 Sec 1191 - Govt creates more bureaucracy - Telehealth Advisory Committee. Can you say HC by phone? PG 425 Lines 4-12 - Govt mandates Advance Care Planning Consult. Think Senior Citizens end of life. Seniors will be interviewed every year for health issues and decisions made as to what care they can or can't receive Pg 425 Lines 17-19 - Govt will instruct & consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney. Mandatory! Pg 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3 - Govt provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding you in death. Pg 427 Lines 15-24 - Govt mandates program for orders for end of life. The Govt has a say in how your life ends. Pg 428, 429 Lines 17-25, 1-9 - An "advanced care planning consult" will be used frequently as patients health deteriorates. Pg 429 Lines 10-12 - "Advanced care planning consultation" may include an ORDER for end of life plans. An ORDER from the government. Pg 429 Lines 13-25 - The govt will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order. Pg 430 Lines 11-15 - The Govt will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life. Pg 469 - Community Based Home Medical Services = Non profit orgs. Hello, ACORN Medical Services here!!? Pg 472 Lines 14-17 - PAYMENT TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORG. 1 monthly payment to a community-based org. Like ACORN? Pg 489 - Sec 1308 The Govt will cover Marriage & Family therapy. Which means they will insert Govt into your marriage. Pg 494-498 - Govt will cover Mental Health Services including defining, creating, rationing those services.

I'm sure there are other outrages yet to be found in this abomination.

Are we ready to wake up yet?

This bill is a national disaster waiting to happen! Obama, Pelosi and Reid must think we are really stupid.

UPDATE: I guess someone out there is going to have to report me to the Obama White House. Although, given that I have provided links to the text of the socialized medicine bill, you cannot say that I am spreading any untruths or making anything up.

The email is: flag@whitehouse.gov

Let's see. FISA is bad ... but reporting people who exercise their First Amendment rights is good?

Good luck!