The New Health Care Bill Is ARMAGEDDON! - Really??

Well at least that's what leading Republicans are saying anyway. Yes I said, leading Republicans!

Not just the Lunatic Tea Party Fringe,
but mainstreamers like our
House Minority Leader John Boehner.

Who seriously declared, with a straight face no less,  that...

"It's ARAMAGEDDON!
This New Health Care Bill
Will Ruin Our Country!"

(Note the serious look of concern on his face.  One can obviously tell he  really cares.)  

Then there's The Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele who attempts to explain to a skeptical Shepard Smith on Fox News that - "Yes, this Really is Armageddon!"  (Please note, when you're the chairman of the party, the one man who is actually authorized to speak on behalf of the Republican Party, and your right wing inflammatory rhetoric, becomes so bizarre that even Fox News has to challenge it.  Well then, you know you've gone too far.)  Click play and check out the video.  It's only about a minute long - it's worth it - it's fun!



All of this over a rather minor health care bill.  A bill whose key provisions won't even take effect until 2014.  Yet that didn't stop, the Wall Street Journal from publishing an Opinion Piece that declares it to be a disaster from "Day One". An opinion page that has apparently gone viral around the net. 

This is of course the same exact WSJ opinion page that just one year ago. In March of 2009 boasted screaming headlines like "Obama Liberalism Is Killing the Dow". Well, need I tell you that the Dow Jones industrial average has gone up about 65% since then.

It's actually up 70% if you go back to the lows in the last year of the Bush administration. Have the WSJ editorial writers, given the Obama administration any credit for that? No, of course not! But you can damn well bet when the Dow falls back down again (as it inevitably will). Obama, if he's still in office, will take the blame!

It's important to remember that this is not the Wall Street Journal of old. The staid and reliable, albeit business conservative publication, respected throughout the world and that most of us grew up with.

Ever since the paper was purchased by Rupert Murdoch in 2007. Its opinion pages have become just another tool in his foreign-owned (he's Australian, you know), right-wing political propaganda machine. Which of course includes Fox News, numerous tabloid trash publications like the New York Post, and the many right-wing radio stations he either owns or partially owns throughout the English-Speaking World.

Now don't get me wrong, as I've blogged about in the past, this is not at all, the health care reform I was hoping for.  I am no big fan of this bill.  Although, I can't even imagine what the Republicans might be saying, if the Democrats would've had the votes and the courage to actually pass real health care reform. 

Heck, the initial features of this bill, don't even provide some of the basic coverage that John McCain himself was campaigning for during the 2008 presidential election.  The truth is, Republican President Richard Nixon back in the 1970s, proposed and failed to pass a far more progressive health care bill than this even pretends to be.   And yet no Republicans called it Armageddon, they just (most of them anyway) voted against it.

The real problems with this bill is not what it does.  But what it doesn't do.  It provides No Public Option. No Medicare Expansion or Buy-In.  No Tort Reform and No Prescription Drug Price Controls.  All of which were negotiated out by special interest groups.  And all of which are necessary,  if we ever hope to get health care costs under control.

While this bill does provide some immediate relief for young people (26 and under), the truth is, this new health care bill does absolutely nothing for me and my current situation. The only benefits in this legislation that might be of some potential help to me won't kick in until 2014. And I turn 65 that year and will be eligible for Medicare anyway.

Besides, who knows what changes this bill might undergo between now and then. None of this, after all is written in stone and is obviously subject to the whims of future members of Congress.

What I do know is that this bill, with all of its flaws (most of which were created by special interest oppositions) is at the very least - a start.  And  it's hardly  "The Armageddon"  that Republicans and Big Business are making it out to be.  This type of Inflammatory Speech, Republican Hype and Sensationalism is  just Pure Political Theater.  Designed and Created to try and get out the Republican vote in 2010.

Just Thinking

Please feel free to comment below, ( just click on the word "Comments" if the panel is not open). Or you can e-mail me direct at eddieoreilly@hotmail.com and your comment will be posted. 

And don't forget to check out my new blog   Agnostic Thinking  found at the following address...   

http://www.AgnosticThinking.BlogSpot.Com/  Dedicated just to Agnostic/Atheism, Rational Thinking, Gay Subculture And Related Topics.

The Health-Care Summit at Blair House

Well I just spent the entire day watching, absorbing and contemplating the health care Summit in Washington DC.  My morning started with coffee and NPR as usual.  Then onto CNN's pre-summit coverage.  I proceeded to watch the summit itself on C-SPAN-3  (fewer interruptions).  I used the lunch break to check e-mails, call my friend Billy in San Francisco about a link he sent me and then call my Mom in New Jersey to see how she was managing with yet another snowstorm.  Other than that, this entire day was dedicated to the health care Summit.  An issue I have a real vested interest in.

So at this point, as you might imagine, my head is spinning.  Yes, there was lots of "Political Theater" as predicted.  Both sides attempted to act civilly for the benefit of the TV Cameras as they emphasized the same old "Talking Points".  Simple "Catchphrases" that market research indicates might resonate with the American people. "Keep it simple for the Masses.  They're not too bright, you know."  Seemed to be the message of the day.   As a former oratory and debate student.  I find this new scientific methodology appalling.

The simple fact is, neither side is seriously considering Real Health Care Reform.  You know, something like, Single-Payer Universal Healthcare, i.e. MediCare for all.  Granted, one might argue that the Democrats are offering more than the Republicans.  But the truth is, Neither Is Offering Any Real, Concrete, Significant Change! 

Yes it's true, the Democratic plan does have some badly needed worthwhile provisions, but unfortunately, most of those don't even kick in till 2013 or 14.  Hell, By Then I Might Be Dead!  I know, perhaps I'm being just a bit melodramatic - but the truth is, sometimes, that's the way I feel.  There are after all, some procedures and treatments I desperately need, but without health care insurance simply don't have affordable access to.

Now of course the real reason that universal health-care isn't even being considered by either party, is cost.

Which brings us back to what I've been saying all along.  With the money we've been wasting on the Useless Wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and now Pakistan,  Cost would not be an issue. 

As I've pointed out in previous blog posts, and as President Eisenhower once predicted.  "Unlimited Funding of Our Military Industrial Complex Will Bankrupt The Nation."  

Those Wars, along with our Numerous Permanent Military Bases And Installations Around the World are Not Only Draining the Treasury but Doing More Harm Than Good by Actually Creating More Terrorists.
 - Just Thinking.



Here's some more photos of the summit, courtesy of CBS News...

Please feel free to comment below or e-mail me direct at eddieoreilly@hotmail.com and your comment will be posted.  

We Need a Public Option And Real Health Care Reform Now!

After the loss of Ted Kennedy's seat in Massachusetts, the idea of passing a health care bill through budget reconciliation - a process that only requires 51 votes in the Senate - has been gaining momentum. Sen. Michael Bennet from Colorado is circulating a letter to Majority Leader Reid, calling for this strategy and asking other Senators to sign.

I'd like to urge all my Blog readers to contact their Senators and ask them to sign too. I support a public option, which is what President Obama originally campaigned on. And, one of the reasons I voted for him.

And we need health care reform NOW , not sometime in 2013 or 14.

If that can't be done, then we need Medicare Expansion Immediately.

Citizens 55 and older should be given the opportunity to Buy-in to Medicare. As originally proposed by Senator Lieberman, before the Insurance Companies bought him off and he changed his mind.

Join the campaign to urge the Senate to use reconciliation to pass a public option with 51 votes.

I just called my Senators, Bill Nelson (D) and George LeMieux (R), about signing on to the Bennet letter.

Click on the link below to join the campaign to save the public option by using reconciliation in the Senate.

             http://act.credoaction.com/call/oneoffs/results_21.html     







Please feel free to comment below or email me direct at eddieoreilly@hotmail.com and your comment will be posted.

Five year old Kyler Is Dying of Cancer Because His Insurance Company Refuses to Pay For Treatment!

So often during the health care debate, you'd hear some people say.  "I want my doctor making my health care decisions, not the government!" It was almost as if they really believed their doctor was in charge. 

When the sad truth is that Doctors in the American Health Care System are mere "Advisors" and the Insurance Companies are Now and Always have been the "Decider's".

Take the case of  five-year-old  Kyler Van Nocker...

When Kyler was only 2 1/2 years old.  He was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, which is a very rare form of childhood cancer that targets the nervous system and creates tumors throughout the body.  Kyler was successfully treated at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and it seemed as though the young boy had his childhood back.  Unfortunately however, the cancer returned in September of 2008.

Kyler's Doctor along with a team of medical experts prescribed MIBG Therapy.  A treatment that has been used very successfully in Europe.  Doctors said the boy needed this treatment if they were going to save his life.

In direct contradiction of the advice of medical professionals however, the HealthAmerica Insurance Company, a division of Coventry Health Care*  denied the treatment, calling it  "experimental"  and  "not medically necessary."  -  Which of course in layman's terms means  -  it's too expensive.  

The company is obviously engaging in the time honored industry practice of  "Delay and Deny".  A tactic frequently used with expensive cancer treatments in the hopes that,  in the meantime -  The Patient Will Just Die!

This is a perfect example of why our  "For-Profit"  Health Care System is Terminally Flawed.

As a self-employed small business owner, most of my adult life, I definitely believe in Capitalism and Free Enterprise, but not when it comes to Health Care.  Profit motives should have no place in the human health care system.

As a society,  Our Humanity causes us to spare no expense when it comes to treating beached marine life, wounded animals or endangered species.  But somehow we manage to look the other way when  Men, Women and even Children fall through the cracks of our profit driven health care system.

 Now I ask you, How Sad is That?


*The Dow Jones Newswires reports today that Coventry Health Care's fourth-quarter earnings rose 24%, beating profit expectations, as overall membership rose while medical costs fell.

"Coventry's medical-loss ratio, or the percentage of premium revenue used to pay patient bills, declined [to] 83.2% from 83.8% a year earlier and 84.4% in the prior quarter," notes Dow.

This has helped boost Coventry Health Care's profits to $109.1 million, or 74 cents a share, up from $88.2 million, or 60 cents, a year earlier. Revenue increased 15% to $3.43 billion as premium revenue rose 17%.

According to CNBC, Company Chairman and CEO Alan F. Weiss stands to make $23 million in salary, compensation and bonuses.

How nice that little five-year-old Kyler Van Nocker was able to help with that.  Kyler's mom and dad and the entire Van Nocker family must be proud.  -   Just Thinking


 Please feel free to comment below or email me direct at eddieoreilly@hotmail.com and your comment will be posted.

Liar, Liar Pants on Fire! - The Top Lies of 2009!

The following is a blog post I started to write in late December of 2009.  Since I failed to finish it at that time.  It's been sitting in my "Draft File" until now.  When I finally completed it.

As an American, I believe in the Constitution, and I believe in freedom of speech.  I also believe we're all entitled to our own opinion, but I don't believe that were entitled to our own set of facts.  Truth after all is Truth And Lies Are Lies!   We should always endeavor to remember that a half truth - is a whole lie.  With that thought in mind, let's look at some of the biggest lies and fabricated deceptions of 2009.

"The Birther Movement"  This is the ridiculous notion that Barack Obama is not really a citizen.  It's ludicrous I know, and yet the rumor still persists.  I just got an e-mail about it the other day.  This of course is spurred on by conservative talk-show hosts, right-wing Republicans.  And of course Sister Sarah  (Palin).  This despite the fact that even our conservative Supreme Court has declared his birth certificate to be valid.

"The System Worked!"  said Cabinet Secretary and head of the Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, with reference to the failed Christmas Day bombing event. -Yes it's true, even Democrats try this, but at least she knew enough to retract the statement hours later. 

"Health Care is Socialism"  No - Health Care is a basic Human Right!  (or it least it should be in an ethical society)  Bailing out Wall Street bankers while they collect million-dollar bonuses.  Now that's Socialism!  Unless of course you believe that socialism is only for the rich and capitalism is only for the poor and uninsured.

"DEATH  PANELS" " Sarah Palin claims on her Facebook page that  "The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama’s “death panel” so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their “level of productivity in society,” whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil."

-- No Sarah, such a Lie is downright evil and you should be ashamed of yourself !  -- Needless to say, none of the health care bills before Congress ever contained anything even remotely similar to a Death Panel.  It takes a Devious and Evil mind to conjure that one up, but Sarah was apparently up to the task.  - Just Thinking...

Note:  The  "Pants on Fire"  graphic is from the St. Petersburg Times,  PolitiFact.Com  website.

Please feel free to comment below or email me direct at eddieoreilly@hotmail.com and your comment will be posted.

A Brief Apology

As many of you have reminded me via e-mail, I have been neglecting my blog recently and for that I really do apologize. I greatly appreciate the few readers I have and I can assure you, It is not my intention to take you for granted. 

Truth is, I've been rather Disgusted, Depressed, and perhaps even a bit Overwhelmed by the realization that yet another Administration is likely to come and go without delivering us Real Health-Care Reform. 

An issue that is near and dear to me, since due to pre-existing conditions.  I have been without Health Insurance for several years now. A reality that sometimes, literally -- Paralyzes Me With Fear! 

Please feel free to comment below or email me direct at eddieoreilly@hotmail.com and your comment will be posted.