So Much For Transparency

The final details about the health care reform bill are now being worked out - in private. No cameras. No reporters. No Republicans. No Transparency.

Somewhere in the back of my mind this morning came the old quote "Men loved the darkness because their deeds were evil".

Why, I wonder, are the final negotiations going on in private? Because Obama and the Dems do not want the country to see who is getting the deals for their votes. They are not hammering out the details. They are bribing fence riding Senators and Congressmen for their vote on the bill. Obama's Chicago mob is more interested is passing something than doing what is right for the country.

That's why CSpan's letter went unanswered. That's why Pelosi is quibbling with the truth about being/not being transparent. Sure, the cameras were rolling when they were discussing the nuts and bolts of how the bill will work. She and her gang from the Patch, Terror Town, Boys Town, or Lakeview just don't want the public to know just how corrupt the process is.

Votes for Dollars. That's what it is all about.

Votes for Dollars.

Get ready to push for the repeal the bill movement.

The Mother of All Public Options

Heard that phrase this week? It was spoken by Rep Anthony Weiner when describing the buy in option to Medicare for those aged 55 to 64.

That option was introduced this week by Sen Reid as the solution to getting the public option out of the bill and getting more people covered. But. At what cost? What would those premiums be? How much would be subsidized by we the tax payers?

You can give a pig a bath, put him in a nice suit, but, the rascal is still a pig and will look and smell like one before too long. Such is this bill. They (Democrats) can disguise it, perfume it, and appeal to our "moral core" but their deal still smells.

Folks, don't let them pass this stinker. Call your congressman and senator and let them know this is a bad deal for everyone.

Here's a link to the contact information for your Senator, Congressman, Governor, State Legislator, and Twitter links!

Democrats and the Health Care Debate - What to Believe?

This weekend the Democrats are saying on the one hand - $400 billion in Medicare cuts to pay for the health care reform bill, and on the other hand - These cuts will strengthen Medicare by eliminating waste, overpayments, and inefficiency.

Is it just me or is there a total lack of logic and reason in this approach? Haven't we been trying to reduce waste and overpayments for years? How will cutting $400 Billion from Medicare make it more efficient? How will cutting Medicare by $400 Billion make it less wasteful or prevent overpayments? Maybe there will be less money in the system to waste in the first place but in the end, there will be less money to go around for an already strained program. That translates into longer waits for patients, higher copays, less care, fewer diagnostic tests, denied coverage, and fewer doctors.

Health Care Reform and MediCare

Senior Citizens should keep an eye on the debate and the bill. The bill presently cuts many areas of Medicare. One of the cuts includes payments to doctors. Some amendments are in the works to postpone the cuts to doctors providing care to Medicare patients. But if payments to doctors are cut, the unintended consequence would be an exodus of doctors providing care to seniors. Fewer doctors, longer waits for appointments and more out of pocket expenses for those who can least afford it.

The Medicare Rights Center, a non-profit consumer service organization, has reported that eight states are having a tough time finding doctors who will accept Medicare patients. This started in 2002 when payments to doctors were cut by 5.4 percent. Those states include Texas, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Arizona, Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia, and New Mexico. The survey done by the Center said that the reason doctors gave the patients for not accepting them was the lower payments.