Republicans wax eloquent on government run healthcare

By NYCeve (Eve Gittelson)

I receive more messages from Americans being savaged by our broken healthcare system than I care to tell you about. They are heartbreaking and a constant reminder of what this fight is all about.

The other day, I was sent an email making the rounds on Capitol Hill. It’s about Republican deceit. But this is not garden variety Republican deceit. For many of us, this time, on this issue, deceit = death. We lose 18,000 Americans every year because they don’t have health insurance and are unable to access urgent medical care. So as Republicans ramp up their sleigh-of-hand on healthcare reform, keep this tragic and deadly reality in mind.

America’s Affordable Health Choices Act is a comprehensive reform of our health insurance system, and includes the creation of a public health insurance option – to provide competition to private insurers who virtually monopolize the market in some parts of the country. Independent analysts project only 3% of Americans will choose it—but polls show Americans are broadly supportive of its creation—understanding the role it will play in keeping private insurers honest.

Astonishingly, opponents to this government-run option, now claim to be defenders of Medicare. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Medicare is “federal entitlement program that provides health insurance coverage to 45 million people, including people age 65 and older, and younger people with permanent disabilities, end-stage renal disease, and Lou Gehrig’s disease.” Now that we have defined what Medicare is, let’s take a look at some recent comments by Republicans embracing this government run health insurance program.

Republicans Embrace Government Run Healthcare

Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) Energy & Commerce Committee Ranking Member: “My mother would not be alive today if it weren’t for Medicare[a government run health insurance program]. She had a heart condition several years ago that was very difficult to treat. She went to Houston to the Hermann Hospital heart center and underwent a two-part surgical provision that basically replaced her aorta, and it was very complicated. It cost over $100,000; she paid out of pocket less than $500 because of Medicare [a government run health insurance program].” [Energy and Commerce Mark-up, 6/30/2009]

Michael Steele, Republican Chairman: “First, we need to protect Medicare [government run health insurance program].” [Washington Post, 8/24/09]

Senator John McCain: “I think we will be able to succeed because your program is typical of so many millions and millions of Americans who like their health care plan, who like their Medicaid [government run health insurance program], who like their Medicare [government run health insurance program], who want to keep it…. We’ve got to preserve your health care, Medicare [government run health insurance program], Medicaid [government run health insurance program], Social Security.” [Townhall, 8/25/09]

Congressman Mike Pence, House Republican Conference Chairman: “I support Medicare [a government run health insurance program].” In an interview with Andrea Mitchell, Rep. Pence said, “Oh, no, I support Medicare [a government run health insurance program], and have supported the program.” [MSNBC, 7/29/09]

Senator Lindsey Graham: “We’re not going to get rid of Medicare [a government run health insurance program] and there’s no reason to get rid of it. We just need to be sure it’s a well-run program and we can afford it.” [Washington Post, 8/8/09]

Here’s John Mccain today:

MCCAIN: I don’t know if they feel any better. I hope that all of us, including me, gains a better understanding of the issues and challenges that they face, that a public option, which is really government option, is not something that will do anything but lead to a government takeover of health care in America.

They are very concerned, of course, about many aspects of the issue, but the, quote, “public option,” and I use quotes because it really is the government option, I think people are really very concerned about.

VAN SUSTEREN: Is there any way you would vote for a health-care reform plan that had a government/public option in it?

MCCAIN: No, I could not do that.

Paul Krugman makes a hugely important point this morning about deficits, healthcare and the deceit and deliberate misinformation lies debasing the entire national healthcare debate.

The truth is more complicated and less frightening. Right now deficits are actually helping the economy. In fact, deficits here and in other major economies saved the world from a much deeper slump. The longer-term outlook is worrying, but it’s not catastrophic.

The only real reason for concern is political. The United States can deal with its debts if politicians of both parties are, in the end, willing to show at least a bit of maturity. Need I say more?

… So is there anything to worry about? Yes, but the dangers are political, not economic.

As I’ve said, those 10-year projections aren’t as bad as you may have heard. Over the really long term, however, the U.S. government will have big problems unless it makes some major changes. In particular, it has to rein in the growth of Medicare and Medicaid spending.

That shouldn’t be hard in the context of overall health care reform. After all, America spends far more on health care than other advanced countries, without better results, so we should be able to make our system more cost-efficient.

But that won’t happen, of course, if even the most modest attempts to improve the system are successfully demagogued — by conservatives! — as efforts to “pull the plug on grandma.”

So new budget projections show a cumulative deficit of $9 trillion over the next decade. According to many commentators, that’s a terrifying number, requiring drastic action — in particular, of course, canceling efforts to boost the economy and calling off health care reform.

The beginning, the middle and the end of the so-called debate about healthcare reform, involves saving, improving, and enhancing the lives of people who happen to be citizens of the richest country on the planet.

4 comments

Wendy Fleet on August 30, 2009 at 2:41 AM says:

nyceve, I couldn't draw a stick figure. 25 years ago, I took a weekend class with Rafiello called Drawing for People Who Can't Draw. He tricked, coaxed me into my drawing brain. I still have the picture-perfect drawing of my ratty running shoe with holes and laces which I drew on Sunday afternoon.

Think about it. For about 50% of us, universal single-payer health care is obvious, self-evident. *How* can we coax the Health Materialists into their beloved-community harmony-brain where the question is no longer whether massive profits & health care are immoral and inefficient as is clear to us, but how can we devise a public option which is state of the art and superb and amazing ans which will make us all proud?

Pamela on September 05, 2009 at 9:26 PM says:

I always found it strange how the Republican's proclaim to be the party of God and rightousness! They are hypocrits...they only support corporate America. Sorry to sound so radical, but the way I view it, if you vote against the public option, you will have blood on your hands!

tocsam on September 30, 2009 at 12:25 AM says:

Pamela: As of Sept.29th I think you better take hard look at the Democrats- You will find very little difference. I have been a Democrat for 40 years, but I have been forced to face the fact that being elected as a Democrat no longer has any meaning whatsoever! The party is being run(or run over)by Republicans masquerading as Democrats-Sen. Baucas for example. Add the shameful conduct of Joe Leiberman, and groups like the "blue dogs" in the House combined with the total failure of the most promising President since F.D.R. and the Democratic leadership to exert any influence with these hypocrites and you have a party that is just an elaborate costume with nothing inside. It no longer stands for ANYTHING!
I have gone from the highest hopes I have had since 1968 on election day, to total disgust and disillusion. I always disagreed with the radicals in the 1960's who said the system could not be fixed from inside, but I'm afraid they were right. Unfortunately, I'm to old to do anything about it now.

Stopthecorruption on December 17, 2009 at 12:58 AM says:

I am new here and wish to express my appreciation of Dr. Dean and the members of this site. And all those that support a common sense approach to health care. Below I discuss a possible funding scenario for universal health care that is: budget neutral, tax neutral, provides universal coverage, and lowers the cost curve.

Lets start with some of the basic facts. The percentage of the population that is uninsured is estimated to be about 46.3 million in 2008 or 15%. About 46 million for 2009 or 15% are on Medicare. About 43.5 million in 2008 or 14% on Medicaid (http://www.kff.org/medicaid/7606.cfm). And about 176.3 million in 2008 or 56% that have employer based insurance (http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Publications/Testimonies/2009/Sep/Changing-Course-Trends-in-Health-Insurance-Coverage-2000-2008.aspx). That is 100% of 312.1 million people. (unlike Fox News, I can add and I check my calculations.

The insurance companies take on average 27 cents more of every premium dollar than does Medicare. If this overcharge of 56% of the population were applied to covering the uninsured, it would cover 15% of the American population. This would not effect the premiums that anyone is paying at the current time. The only difference is that the employer/employee premium payments would be going to Medicare. Using a sliding scale approach, small businesses and lower income working families would pay in as well. This would allow for a decrease in premiums for those currently insured.

I suggest the following changes to Medicare:

1) Multiple coverage plans with appropriate premium rates. 2) Income based sliding scale on premium payments 3) "Customary and reasonable" -10% reimbursement rates 4) Performance based bonuses for doctors and hospitals -institutions- with better outcomes (incentive to develop better treatments and practices, fewer secondary infections, few re-admissions due to re-lapse or in complete recovery, etc.). 5) Reimbursements based on local considerations not just a one national rate.

This program would still encourage innovation and would remedy the problem of Medicare underpayment.

Sincerely,
Timothy Schram