Curmudgeon's Corner
cur-mud-geon: anyone who hates hypocrisy and pretense and has the temerity to say so; anyone with the habit of pointing out unpleasant facts in an engaging and humorous manner
Health Care Plan Tidbits - #1
There is one health care reform bill so far, and that is H.R. 3200 in the House of Representatives. This bill is 1,018 pages long, and appears not to have been read by the majority of congressmen and congresswomen, but they are now out and about conducting Town Hall meetings if they're brave enough.
You may access the bill by clicking here if you desire.
It is important that information is made available to all of us and that doesn't seem to be happening in the mainstream media, so we'll discuss a few points from time to time.
Under this bill if it were passed today...
...the government would have access to your personal financial information and would have direct access to your bank account and would be able to effect electronic funds transfer activity both inward and outward. (Sec. 163, Pgs 58 & 59)
...the government will issue national identification cards for every participant, something that many have feared for years. (Sec. 163, Pgs. 58 & 59)
...Officers and employees of the Health Care Administration (the government) will have access to all Americans' financial and personal records. (Sec. 431, Pg 203)
...the government has the authority to disqualify Medicare Advantage Plans if they determine that the plans do not qualify. Since the government also sets the rules, disqualification would be easily accomplished for whatever reason since Medicare Advantage Plans are on the "bad" list today. (Sec. 1162, Pg. 341)
...the government may secure data directly from any department or agency of the U.S. including your data. (Sec. 1401, Pg. 503)
It becomes very apparent that this bill, if made law, would carry with it the potential for political abuse. If the tools are there, some politician, some day will find them and use them, and we'll be unable to stop that activity.
This is a catch all bill in that it places the government in the controlling position for everything having to do with health and health care. It seems that something this far-reaching and impactful really ought to be debated for a long time and in the light of day. It also seems that political sleight of hand tricks such as "reconciliation" (51 votes would be sufficient in the Senate instead of the standard requirement for 60 votes) are completely out-of-order in this instance.
We'll take a look at some of the commissions and boards and committees that will be formed and by whom in coming days. Needless to say, those are formed by the party in control and will represent the interests and goals that party has, as well as being beneficial to those that party favors.
Our health care shouldn't be a political football. Our lives depend upon it. If the real reason for this bill were to be sure we covered everyone, it could be done for a fraction of the trillions that are about to be spent, and it could be done without the intrusive and coercive hand of government all over it.
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The Curmudgeon Blog today is titled "Facts Are Stubborn Things".
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