healthcare is not for You
The indefatigueable Paul Sunstone is at it again with his recent post: At The Crossroads.
There, he raises the question:
“I wonder whether — once this health care issue has run its course, and we either have meaningful reform or we don’t — will we discover the government of the United States is still “of the people, by the people, and for the people”?”
So… Visiting that topic, and building off my own earlier post: executive inequity, I’ve offered my own mounting line-of-thought…
I’m not certain pending Healthcare reform strategies are “…for the People”.
Members of the House and Senate have access to benefits (and pay) that far exceed anything their constituents can comprehend, if not ever hope to realize for themselves.
I’ll offer something of an example here. But, truely, it likely requires more in-depth examination. So, consider this naught but fuel for the fire Paul has initiated here…
Why won’t Congress enroll in government healthcare?
Our countrymen might not be asking that question, yet. But, I feel we need to raise it.
The question has been on the minds of some Americans, but Obama-led Democrats aren’t giving answers. Instead, they (actually the majority of Congress) are exempting themselves from their own healthcare reform.
The Affordable Health Choices Act drafted by (now deceased but not forgotten) Senator Edward Kennedy’s staff and the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee pushes says a fairly recent Wall Street Journal report:
“Americans into stingy insurance plans with tight, HMO-style controls.”
Go take a peek of the outline. Do it! Page 114 of the Act specifically exempts members of Congress from the public plan while the Bill mandates that all other Americans enroll in “qualified” health plans and submit proof of enrollment to the government.”
Diane Sawyer recently found herself on the air earlier this week with a story about the exclusive clinic in the basement of the Congressional building itself. Members of the House and their dependent have 24/7 access to best-of-class medical care that ranges from pharmacies to out-patient surgery for $503.00 dollars a year.
The implications of this are staggering.
Peace be to my Brothers and Sisters.
Brian Patrick Cork
great post. the hypocrisy of washington is staggering and appalling.
Two words come immediately to mind:
Evolution or Revolution.
Cork
A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned – this is the sum of good government. – Thomas Jefferson
We’ll all need to be ever thankful for Mr. Jefferson.
and, Ayn Rand might not have said it any better herself.
Cork
“The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money.” -Margaret Thatcher
Hey Kutter.
I’ll buy that notion. And. I’m willing to buy my own health insurance as well. I just want fair and reasonable options. And, that is something we should all have access to.
There are numerous positions relative to how this can, or should, work. But, I’m taking the position that it starts with our legislators. And, the point of my post is that members of the House and Senate have access to benefits that most American’s never will. So, the decision-makers have reduced incentive to represent equitable change. Right now, in some very clear examples, you can argue that Congressmen are paid (through taxpayer dollars, mind you) four times the average American income, to make decisions that don’t benefit most citizens that comprise their constituencies.
When members of Congress can only have access to the same benefits their constituents receive you will then see action that could benefit those people.
That’s not Socialism. It’s best-business-practices.
Cork
[…] and force a watered down healthcare bill (you can read more about that in one of my earlier posts: healthcare is not for You) down your throat while exempting themselves from it, could be deemed […]
[…] Thank you, our ever vigilant, inspiring representatives (The same, mind you, that are voting in a healthcare package that they, themselves, are not required to participate in. Read about that in my post: healthcare is not for You). […]
I work in the healthcare industry and agree with what you are saying! There needs to be reform as far as cost control mechanisms, litigation practices, a insurance available to those who want it. The problem is that the government (democrats) want a single payer system. Obama made that clear in his campaign. You have to read these bill through his eyes. If his end goal is a single payer system, then he is not going to be happy with a true open and free market. The problem is not the insurance companies, “we the people” are as much of the problem as anyone. WE have become an unhealthy, over weight, lazy society that wants these things handed to us! Until “we the people” change, there isn’t going to be a system that can contain these rising costs.
Hello Ben!
I’ll stand with you the issues around the health of this nations citizens. That will likely need to change first to be part of the best and overall solution.
Cork
[…] You can read more details here, in one of my earlier posts (over 300,000 hits on that one): healthcare is not for You. Do […]
[…] This got mr to thinking of a fairly recent press conference President Obama lobbed in our general direction. Ironically, he’s fighting with the House over a viable healthcare plan for American citizens. But, they’ve already exempted themselves from having to suffer it themselves. So, I think Obama is fighting a losing battle here (and, we’re going to pay dearly for it). I’ve made this point in an earlier post. You can read it here: healthcare is not for You. […]