The Bamster’s Weekly Strawman Radio Show Forgets The “How”

by William Teach | August 9, 2009 5:09 pm

One thing I have been saying and writing for a long is that no one is actually saying exactly HOW any of the Democrat plans, particularly Obama’s, will reduce health costs. I’ve emailed my Dem Congress Critters, Brad Miller (NC-13) and Senator Kay Hagen. So far, crickets.

None of the grasshopper upporters of the plans have been able to say exactly how. I guess we will just sprinkle some fairy dust and unicorn poots over the country and, magically, government providing health care will cause the rest of us to save money. Again. HOW?

Maybe The Bamster will tell us in his Saturday radio broadcast[1]

As we draw close to finalizing – and passing – real health insurance reform, the defenders of the status quo and political point-scorers in Washington are growing fiercer in their opposition. In recent days and weeks, some have been using misleading information to defeat what they know is the best chance of reform we have ever had. That is why it is important, especially now, as Senators and Representatives head home and meet with their constituents, for you, the American people, to have all the facts.

Yet, quite a few won’t meet with consituents except in small groups which will not include any medai or through teleconferences which allow no discourse. And, yeah, we are growing fiercer in our opposition. The polls show that most people do not like your plans.

So, let me explain what reform will mean for you. And let me start by dispelling the outlandish rumors that reform will promote euthanasia, cut Medicaid, or bring about a government takeover of health care. That’s simply not true. This isn’t about putting government in charge of your health insurance; it’s about putting you in charge of your health insurance. Under the reforms we seek, if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan.

Obviously, Obama hasn’t read the legislation. Section 1233[2] of the House legislation[3] is an attempt to promote end of life counselling. The legislation mandates that if you want to change your coverage, you may only choose from government approved ones starting immediately. Big companies have a 5 year grace period. So, yes, if you like your plan, you can keep it. You can keep it exactly how it is. No changes.

And while reform is obviously essential for the 46 million Americans who don’t have health insurance, it will also provide more stability and security to the hundreds of millions who do. Right now, we have a system that works well for the insurance industry, but that doesn’t always work well for you. What we need, and what we will have when we pass health insurance reform, are consumer protections to make sure that those who have insurance are treated fairly and that insurance companies are held accountable.

The fake 46 million figure that they have been throwing around for 10+ years. You would think that, with more and more Americans, and more illegals, that number would go up. But, hey, I’m all for some protections for consumers. How about allowing people to look across the country for the best plan, and allow people to pick and choose the coverage they want? But, protections are no reason to completely change the whole system.

We will require insurance companies to cover routine checkups and preventive care, like mammograms, colonoscopies, or eye and foot exams for diabetics, so we can avoid chronic illnesses that cost too many lives and too much money.

Yeah, that has worked so well in other countries with socialized medicine. Did you know[4] that in America, breast cancer kills 25%, while in England, 46% die? And that only 19% die in the US from prostate cancer, while a whopping 57% die in England? That should send up a red flag.

We will stop insurance companies from denying coverage because of a person’s medical history. I will never forget watching my own mother, as she fought cancer in her final days, worrying about whether her insurer would claim her illness was a preexisting condition. I have met so many Americans who worry about the same thing. That’s why, under these reforms, insurance companies will no longer be able to deny coverage because of a previous illness or injury. And insurance companies will no longer be allowed to drop or water down coverage for someone who has become seriously ill. Your health insurance ought to be there for you when it counts – and reform will make sure it is.

In other words, they will make sure that no private insurance company, which represents yet another private entity the president demonizes and slurs, can make a profit, putting them out of business.

Let me tell you a little story: New Jersey has long offered a program to insure people whose driving records are so bad that no insurance company will touch them. I’m sure other states do, too, but, having grown up in NJ, I am familiar with it. I know about it because there was a debate about the cost of it to those whose driving records were good. Essentially, and remember, this was in the late 80’s/early 90’s, good drivers were paying about $240 a year for people who shouldn’t be allowed to drive a car. Do you think government run health system would be any different?

With reform, insurance companies will also have to limit how much you can be charged for out-of-pocket expenses. And we will stop insurance companies from placing arbitrary caps on the amount of coverage you can receive in a given year or a lifetime because no one in America should go broke because of illness.

Forcing companies out of business, so people move to government approved plans.

In the end, the debate about health insurance reform boils down to a choice between two approaches. The first is almost guaranteed to double health costs over the next decade, make millions more Americans uninsured, leave those with insurance vulnerable to arbitrary denials of coverage, and bankrupt state and federal governments. That’s the status quo. That’s the health care system we have right now.

Yet, despite the fact that the costs have been going up for a long time, we are still stuck on the same 46 million uninsured talking point. But, don’t worry, Nanny Obama will provide.

So, we can either continue this approach, or we can choose another one – one that will protect people against unfair insurance practices; provide quality, affordable insurance to every American; and bring down rising costs that are swamping families, businesses, and our budgets. That’s the health care system we can bring about with reform.

Here we go: HOW????????????????????????? Anyone see anything of substance? I don’t know about you, but, if I gave my boss or his boss or bosses up the line as well as my employees these kinds of answers, they would demand substantive action plans. It’s like the underwear nome thing

1. Pass this bill
2. ?????????
3. Costs go down

There are those who are focused on the so-called politics of health care; who are trying to exploit differences or concerns for political gain. That’s to be expected. That’s Washington. But let’s never forget that this isn’t about politics. This is about people’s lives. This is about people’s businesses. This is about America’s future. That’s what is at stake. That’s why health insurance reform is so important. And that’s why we must get this done – and why we will get this done – by the end of this year.

In other words, STFU and deal with it. You lost. Very presidential. Anyone ever heard Bush pull this?

And I am still missing the part where he actually tells us how any of this will lower costs.