Thursday, March 25, 2010

Playing Fair with Health Care



With all the furor over our country's recently enacted health care bill, I want to take a minute this morning to weigh in with my own thoughts. While I do support a major overhaul of our health care system, with extensive cost-cutting and regulatory measures in place (let's face it, this thing is broken and reform is needed), I do not favor the new law, nor do I support the massive debt that will be incurred in implementing it. Most of all, I cannot support the self-serving way this bill was passed by so-called representatives, whose actions shouted disrespect for both their constituents and the democratic process in general. (And seeing Nancy-OurNationalNemesis-Pelosi gloat about it doesn't help matters.)

Sadly, I have no faith whatsoever in a system that would depend upon the government for leadership and organization. The vicious cycle of abuse and incompetent management induced and reinforced by Medicare and Medicaid has shown us what happens to the bottom line when the government is in charge. My fear is that costs will spiral, eventually the government will have to ration care, and that such rationing will effectively destroy the delicate balance between doctor as autonomous service provider and patient as free agent consumer that has made our medical care the best in the world. Yes, free enterprise works. Even in the medical field. And throwing the baby out with the bath water is not a necessary ingredient of reform.

These are my concerns, and I think they are valid ones. Having said that, I am absolutely appalled by the recent behavior of a few extremists who happen to agree with my position. Throwing rocks through windows, making threats against opponents, foaming at the mouth and the like do not a strong argument for our case make. And ranting about militias and provisions and larders to defend ourselves from the powers that be does nothing but taint the real message that opponents of the bill should be trying to get across to fellow citizens. This message is deceptively simple and requires no bricks, rocks, or firearms. Have we forgotten, as Americans, that the way to "protect ourselves" from the government is to exercise the right to vote? If the majority truly does not want a health care system that is heading toward full government control (and I'm convinced it does not...or will not when the fallout is seen), then all said majority needs to do is send those in Congress who voted to encourage that eventuality back home...as private citizens. And if new congressmen and senators don't get the message, they can be sent packing in the next election (and the one after that, until the will of the people is made not only clear but operative).

Oh, sure. We need to speak out and educate and maybe even agitate a little. But get a grip, conservatives. Democracy is what we're struggling to protect here, not anarchy. Capitalism, not vandalism. History has proven it again and again. Our strength as political movers and shakers lies in unity, not unabombers...in numbers, not nunchucks. And chuckleheads, knuckleheads, numbskulls, and ninjas need not apply.

19 comments:

Karen said...

Amen! I keep getting emails that supposedly agree with me but are just over the top. We need reform. We need to help others afford health care but we should not punish the Doctors who spent many years in school and many, many dollars on a career only to have the government dictate how much they make. We should not force everyone to do anything!

AAHHHH! At least the lawyers are set for a while.

Laura Lynn said...

Your last line cracked me up - so true!

Unknown said...

It bothers me too that these knuckleheads are giving the rest of us who aren't excited about the health care changes a bad name.
It's amazing to see how fast changes are being made. All of the little attached unknown laws are already happening. It's so scary.

Lisa Loo said...

Exactly! I always cringe when the words out of an extremists mouth is slightly akin to my thoughts on the matter. I wish everyone would take a moment to acquaint themselves with the original intent of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. Read said documents probably wouldn't hurt either.

Grandma Honey said...

In time I believe many will come to think..."why did I vote for this??" I hope we are wrong, and it will work, but I don't see how. Very scary times.

CB said...

Sue that was extremely well said and well written! I agree with it all.
I too am not a fan of those who are giving "our side" a bad name with their bad behavior.
Change needs to happen when we are informed and we vote!

Fiauna said...

I could not agree with you more. I can't help but think though that the change we need starts in the home. And sadly that change should have taken place two or three decades ago.

And also it bothers me that they keep calling it "healthcare reform" when they haven't reformed anything. All they've done is made an expanding government even bigger.

Heather said...

Ninjas are cool.

Susan Anderson said...

I'm glad you enjoy ninjas, Matt.

=)

Jessica said...

Throughout all of this I just can't help feeling a little saddened at the lack of civility from many people. There is a solution, but there is not an overnight solution! When did change ever happen overnight? I only wish people in general could be more civil and maybe change could occur easier!

Darlene said...

Ditto with everything you said. I do wish there were some way we could have term limits for Congress, but I'm afraid that will not happen. Why would they vote against all those great benefits and perks? Never happen!! Still we can exercise our voting rights and we will do so. I wonder if anyone knows where it was written that Joseph Smith prophesied that "The Constitution will hang by a thread and only the Priesthood will save it." I have heard this all my life, but nobody I've asked can tell me where this prophesy is written.

larainydays said...

Well said Sue. Although it does make me angry that the news amplifies the extreme behavior, ignoring the thousands of intelligent, peaceful dissenting opinions.

Susan Anderson said...

That's because he didn't write it anywhere, Mom. This supposed but unverified quote by him was just cited by a couple of his contemporaries as having been something Joseph Smith said somewhere around 1843.

Ezra Taft Benson did use it in a conference talk, so he apparently thought it was a "real" quote. But there are others who argue that it is not. So who knows?

alpinekleins said...

So well stated, I appreciate the time you took to share these thoughts!

Kristin

Caroline said...

So true! I too supported some type of Health Care reform but I thought this bill was pushed and rushed and not tweaked enough. I also worry about the massive amount of debt this country is getting into.

Anyway, I guess we'll see how it all plays out...but I do predict a few bumps in the road before everything gets ironed out!

Jess said...

I agree wholeheartedly, I think if there was a cap on lawsuits that would be a huge start- think of how much we'd save from not having to pay for the Dr's malpractice insurance.

Jess said...

p.s. I'd like to know if any of our "law makers" have ever read the history of Rome, and know the cause of the down fall thereof

Katie said...

Oh my gosh, don't even get me started! Unfortunately my husband is in medical school now, so I'm really nervous about our future. Lets hope people vote like you say so we can regain some control. I just can't believe all of this has actually really happened...I'm living socialized medicine every day here in Puerto Rico and it sucks! No appointments, you just have to get there early to pick a number and wait all day to be seen. Nobody would want this if they really knew what it will be like. Lets hope we'll be able to pay off our student loans when all of this happens...

Braden Bell said...

That was really well written, Sue! Loved that last line. And I agree with everything you said.