You are obviously a gifted writer my friend and I respect your views. As I told you, I like the way you write, but I could not disagree more with what you write! In addition, I’m a little surprised at the tone of your blog vis-à-vis our President. Calling the President a “petulant child” does no service to your arguments. Name calling is what’s wrong with the nature of the debate today. I say don’t confuse petulance with leadership and the desire to break the logjam in congress with respect to healthcare. Our President is doing what he said he would do when he ran for office. He won, if you hadn’t heard, so he’s trying to do the right thing. Just for the sake of disclosure, I’ve been a lifelong republican. I am converting to an independent. I’m tired of both parties. I voted for President Obama and I’m proud of that fact and continue to support him. The decisions made by democrats and republicans, in particular about foreign policy (Iraq stands out!), will turn out to be judged by history as the biggest strategic mistakes our country ever made. I’m going to deal with some of the points you made in your blog in some detail because these are weighty issues. Whenever possible I will place a hyperlink to my source for the information, or I will cite the source unless it’s simply my opinion. Oh, by the way, you’ll know when it’s my opinion! Let’s exchange ideas and see if, together, perhaps we can actually make some progress. While this is serious, let’s lighten the debate a bit and insert some humor when possible. After all, with the state of affairs in this debate you either laugh or you cry!

Death Panels
Your failure to repudiate the “death panel” comments is troubling because you know that’s not what the President is advocating. What the bill does is encourage families to talk with their doctors in advance about living wills and what measures they want taken if, God forbid, one were to become ill and unable to make those decisions. I’ve done a living will for my mother and I encourage everyone to do so. The fact is most families wish they had done just that when faced with a crisis. Do you really think families want their loved ones to be in such a situation without at least having thought about their wishes in this regard in advance? Do you really think families want to go broke paying for heroic treatment when the patient may have well told them verbally they did not want that done but failed to put it in writing? Do you really want the government to spend billions keeping people on ventilators for years when they did not want to live that way but failed to make a living will? You’re a financial expert, if someone does not want to live that way but is not able to express it, or did not express it in writing, is that a good way to spend taxpayer money? Common Tex, you know better! How in the world you can still defend the “death panel” comments, knowing how grotesque that characterization is, escapes me and diminishes your credibility.

On the other side of this “death panel” argument is the failure of some to look critically at what medical treatment works and what doesn’t. This is a legitimate and critical debate that needs to happen to ensure Medicare does not go broke. Take a look at this article in Today’s L.A. Times:

http://www.latimes.com/news/na.....5060.story.

Illegal Aliens and Healthcare
Ah, the illegal alien deal, there is obfuscation at its best! Tex, even though you are a financial expert you didn’t deal with the real issue here – the law about no one being turned away at emergency rooms was in place decades before President Obama took office. The point is he is not advocating subsidizing medical treatment for illegal aliens. The bill explicitly excludes them and I can point to the exact location of the language. I agree that the identification at the point of service language needs to be clearly spelled out in the bill. Existing law provides that until someone is stable enough to either leave the hospital or be transferred elsewhere from an emergency room, their care is covered if they can’t pay; that includes illegal aliens. You and I both know that until we deal head on with the immigration debacle in this country those illegal aliens that cook our food, take care of our kids, mow our lawns and grow our crops will continue to come and seek help in emergency rooms because most of them have no alternative. Until we develop a bracero-like program (guest workers in California in the 1940s or 50s) where foreigners can come and work legally to do those things many Americans don’t really want to do, we’re going to have to suck it up and provide some form of rudimentary medical care. Don’t you wish it were not the emergency room?

And please, don’t tell me there is no job Americans won’t do for the right pay and benefits. Sure, someone would break their back picking crops for twelve hours if they were paid $25.00 an hour with benefits. Do you know how much a head of lettuce would cost then? Do you think Americans would want to pay the premium on goods, food and services if that was the going wage? You seem to make the point that since illegal aliens can already go to the emergency room they are already covered. Done deal, don’t worry, be happy! You and I both know that’s much more expensive than having a basic system to provide this type of care, such as community clinics, etc. They’re here doing stuff for you and me and millions of others, so either keep them out or deal with it and develop a system that works.

Cost of Medicare and Waste
Your point about the costs of the bill(s) and the waste and fraud in the Medicare system implied the President should have these issues resolved if it’s all that bad. Why, for crying out loud, hasn’t the President corrected these abuses you say? After all, he’s been in office eight months……long enough to clean up the mess that Republicans and Democrats created! Why not implement improvements and eliminate abuse from the system right now if the President’s assertions are right? Why wait until a bill is passed? Come on Tex, that argument holds no water – or as our friends from Texas might say, “That dog won’t hunt pal!” These abuses, fraud, waste and other problems have been entrenched for years and we all know that effective enforcement and eligibility review will cut costs from a system fraught with waste. The President is simply saying that these cost savings will help defray the cost of additional subsidies for those who legitimately can’t pay. Whatever bill passes and is signed by the President, as he said, “I’ll own it.” He’s willing to take the leadership to improve our system even though it might ultimately cost him a second term. That’s more than most republicans and democrats combined have done since the New Deal.

For example Ted, take a look at this graphic from the Orange County Register that depicts the increase in health insurance premiums for the average family. According to some analysts, fraud, waste and abuse account for about 40% of the increase. If you’d like to read the entire article here’s the hyperlink:

http://jan.freedomblogging.com.....ear/22345/

“Broke” Government Institutions
While I agree with you that a government option or cooperative system may not be the best alternative, I am at least willing to wait until a final bill emerges and the costs associated with any option are fully analyzed by the CBO and other independent groups. I also believe that a properly regulated private sector is almost always more efficient than government-sponsored enterprises. However, I think you took some editorial freedom when you cited a litany of government programs that are “broke.” While some are clearly in trouble, the reasons aren’t as simple as you’d have us believe. I’ll address just a couple of them. Let’s start with Social Security. It is not broke. This quote is from an article in MSNBC: “The first question is pretty straightforward, even though much of what you’re hearing these days is simply dead wrong. While the Social Security system is in need of another overhaul (similar to the one it got in 1983), the fund is hardly “going broke.” This year’s report by the trustees who oversee the fund found that, if left alone, the Social Security system will continue to be able to pay its bills for at least the next 40 years — thanks in part to a $1.4 trillion nest egg of Treasury securities that has been stashed away over the past several decades. (A separate analysis by the Congressional Budget Office figures the fund is in good shape until 2052). If you’d like to read the entire article, as well as see for yourself the sources of the information, here’s the hyperlink:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/70.....l_finance/.

Medicare and Medicaid are not broke, but if nothing is done to rein in costs and reform the system they will be broke by 2018 (http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....01448.html). Medicare and Medicaid used to represent about 6% of GDP in 1980. Today it’s 16% and rising! That’s why President Obama has tried to instill a sense of urgency to the deliberations in congress. What would you have us do Tex, simply ignore the problem or turn it all over to the private sector to figure out? That’s what got us into this mess to begin with – poorly regulated business behemoths that bought congressional votes to eliminate the Glass-Steagall Act of 1993 and created the sub-prime debacle. See the information at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass-Steagall_Act. How about that Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit passed by a Republican President and House in the early 2000s? I’m wondering if that concerns you since it added about $650 billion to Medicare costs in perpetuity. That’s year after year after year!

The Postal Service
Ah, the Postal Service, a favorite whipping boy for those who rail at government-run enterprises. Tex, aside from the occasional employee going “postal,” you and I both know that the Post Office served us well for many decades. They continue to deliver mail promptly, consistently and generally cheaply. The cost of postage elsewhere in the world is twice or three times more than in the U.S. The tipping point for profitability for the Postal Service arrived with the advent of the Internet, email, Skype, VOIP, etc. Tex, common pal, you know how these services and communication mediums have reduced the volume of letters and packages and created tremendous competition. OK, I’ll grant you that the Postal Service has not been managed well when faced with their more nimble private sector competitors sporting new technology. But, it’s not as simple as you make it out to be. Take a look at this opinion piece that actually presents clear, cohesive arguments and, to your likely delight, agrees with you about the supposed “nationalize it all” bent of the Obama administration. My point is, let’s discuss these issues intelligently.

http://www2.hernandotoday.com/.....r-trouble/

Bailouts of Wall Street
Tex, you blame the President for the Wall Street bailouts when it was George Bush that threw the first punch! President Obama inherited the biggest mess since the great depression and something had to be done. He never promised unemployment would not exceed 8%. The figures I found pegged the estimate by the White House at above 9% but no more than 10%. Some of the most trusted and respected financial analysts and institutions, recommended to President Bush and President Obama that something had to be done. We are already seeing signs that they were right, and while only time will tell, it looks as though what both administrations did was not only appropriate but essential to preventing another great depression.

Entitlement to Healthcare
I was surprised at the tone of your blog and, in particular, your comments regarding those who are unfortunate enough not to have insurance. I realize there are those who clearly failed to plan and/or elected not to get insurance even though they could afford it. While I have no overwhelming sympathy for them, I realize that when they get emergency medical care they do so at our expense. That’s right, yours and my expense pal. This “use the emergency room as your doctor” type of medical treatment is often ten times more expensive than providing a community clinic-type benefit for those without insurance. After all Tex, you don’t really want foreign workers walking around with uncontrolled and untreated tuberculosis or some other disease right?

How about our children Tex? How about young adults who graduate from college and, in this economy, can’t get a decent enough job to pay for health insurance? When a person graduates from college and he/she is generally 23 years old they are no longer eligible as a dependant on their parents’ healthcare policy. If their parents are able they can buy a policy for them. If not, they go without coverage. What if they have a pre0existing condition? Then they don’t qualify at all. Wouldn’t it be prudent to have a public option to deal with these folks, your kids and mine, until they get on their feet? How about a little compassion Tex? We are the only industrialized nation in the world that does not provide some form of healthcare coverage, whether general or catastrophic, for its citizens and residents. I know you got all those replies about Derek’s thoughts from writers at your blog, but I got an equal or greater response from friends and relatives that agreed with him. It was overwhelming in favor of what he had to say.

Tex, my main point in all of this is that name calling and scare tactics – and they are scare tactics! – will not produce a good bill that the President will sign with bipartisan support. Let’s review the facts and support or oppose vigorously but constructively. Let’s remember that we’re all in this together and whatever the result we’ll have to live with it for many years. These are tough times and we need the President to exhibit leadership even in the face of polls and other opposition. Sure, we all want to keep our entitlements and none of us wants to pay more in taxes. But, you and I both know something has to give. Let’s create a future together rather than apart.

Regards form your California friend,

Shooter

I’ll go one farther than mah buddy Tex: I have NEVER cared for being a milk cow for those who choose not to work, choose to break our laws to come here and than demand “free” food, medical care, housing, education, and SSI they never worked for, and the whole “entitlement” nonsense. I’m supposed to be guaranteed the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and all those “social” programs and socialistic laws are big threats to are quite deleterious to my well-being. What is “mine” is “mine” only so long as some taxing authority has not wrested it from me with threats of incarceration. If YOU want to “help” the ungrateful “less fortunate” with YOUR money, have fun. By what right do you demand MY money to support YOUR idea of morality or charity? Easy charity when the rest of us pay for it. It is MY right to choose to buy health insurance, not something the government is authorized to mandate. Try getting help in an emergency room crowded full of illegals with kids with runny noses. Bah. Tex, let’s go play cribbage. LBT

You’re absolutely correct. I NO LONGER care whether or not you or anyone else for that matter have health care or whatever they think they’re entitled to at my expense. Stuff Happens. Deal with it. Wouldn’t hurt for you to have anticipated the possibly that something might go wrong in the future and to then have provided for yourself with Plan B alternatives. Oh, I forgot, I’m supposed to feel sorry for you because you’re a poor, pathetic soul without God-given health care or whatever else you think you deserve. Grow up.

As for health care in France, I tried in 2001 to get health care in France and struck-out. I then waited until I returned to the USA where I was able to get instant service. Whether you or any of the naysayers care to admit it, the observable facts are that nothing beats private enterprise regardless of the product or service being offered. Note that I’m not saying current business practices are perfect. Far from it. Our Political culture is fraught with fraud and corruption. Business follows government precedent. There is currently no incentive to be honest. The too-big-to-fail attitude eliminates the price that must be paid for those mistakes.

You might also spend some time developing the art of critical reading. Did you not read and understand the statement I made regarding death panels? I suggest to go back to square one and try again. Am I to conclude that you are going to be offended regardless of what I say? If true, tough! Deal with it, too. Fortunately, I note that most W&G readers are intellectually honest and reasonable. You can disagree with my opinions but you can’t disagree with the facts. I simply have presented the facts.

Speaking as a senior citizen who devoted most of her life to family before entering the paying workforce, I must say that I’m glad Medicare and Social Security exist. However, I do not like that these two programs are heaped into the pile with Medicaid and other welfare programs. I paid for Medicare all my working life, and even now that I am covered by this insurance, I still pay a monthly premium. I do not consider it free health care at all.

I am also a Vietnam Era veteran and in the VA system, so I have a backup medical plan. That insurance was not free either.

Social Security would not be broke if it were put into the account it is being withheld for instead of being “borrowed” for pet projects in D. C., and then not paid back. I fear for my children and grandchildren if they ever try to apply for this retirement supplement. Fortunately, they have worked all their lives, have savings, and 401K to see them through. they also know how to survive on limited income if need be.

All that said, I do agree that a full blown government run health care system would be a huge mistake for our country. So what if trial lawyers contributed a fistfull or two of dollars? Tort reform is part of the solution that must be considered. Allowing government to acess my bank account for forced medical payments is not okay with me.

The writer brings up Canada and England. A better question might be why there are not hordes of French, German, Swiss, or Scandinavian patients clamoring to get in to the US for care…because they do not need to, their systems work. I’m really frustrated with the ping-ponging “debate” that uses the same tired examples. And that goes for both sides. As for the contention that sheiks come to the U.S. – well, they tend to go to France or Germany over the US–and they can afford the best care in the world?

Again with the “death panels” – I’ve read the section over and just don’t see where there would be creation of a panel. Here is a link to the bill itself, it is on page 425. Would someone please quote the specific language and help me understand why people think death panels are being created? I actually would seriously appreciate the help.
http://docs.house.gov/edlabor/.....071409.pdf

:

Very few Canadians fly to the USA for medical treatment. Some Canadians have been flown to the USA for heart procedures which have been paid for by Canadian Medical when our system is overloaded.

People on waiting lists can go to emergency and have the operation immediately if necessary.

Very interesting to watch how Americans fix America when necessary. Please do not hold your breath folks.

America seems to have a war against everything. Too bad that the costs are showing up.

Love you folks, keep up the political theater.

Douglas C Trant

Forty years ago the doctor made house calls. Forty years ago you could drive up to a hospital and park right out front to visit a patient. Forty years ago, health insurance was in its infancy and few people had it. Forty years ago when you checked into a hospital the paper work was insignificant. Forty years ago some people died because of poor health.

Today there is no such thing as a house call. Today you drive up to the hospital and enter an eight level parking garage. Today health insurance is pervasive and most people have it. Today when you check into a hospital you could die before you complete the paper work. Today some people die because of poor health.

Todd Marshall
Plantersville, Tx