♥Kill The Bill

Slightly contrary to what Nomz says, I don't have a whole lot to say on the whole health care issue. Uhh, mainly because I wasn't able to read the entire two-thousand page bill and also because I'm not quite sure how it will affect me. But, there are some things that make me a little nervous: it's not puffery, the government is getting too big. Since when are they allowed to say whether or not a person must have insurance? So what if I have some little cold or infection? What of I believe in alternate medicine? <--- No, I don't mean "the pot". Take, for instance, my mom. She's a healthy woman, has never had a major issue (besides childbirth, I guess) and does not have health insurance because she would be paying for something that she didn't need. From this point forward, it will be illegal for her to choose to opt out of insurance. From what I hear, this specific issue will probably be appealed-- and just might lose in light of the 14th Amendment: "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States...."

Don't be fooled, nothing is free. Wanna know why the English have such a bad rap for their teeth? (They have gorgeous teeth, actually, this is just an example.) It's because when they went to free health care, the doctors were paid by the government on a per patient basis. Which meant: the more patients, the more money they earned. Which also meant: more time spent on one set of bad teeth, less money earned. Which meant: either just pull the bad teeth or don't offer serviced to said patient. It's a vicious circle.

If there are 253 votes in the House and bribes, deals and finagling are needed to get 219 votes, what does that say about the bill? Why can't people think for themselves? If this is such an important thing for the American People, why didn't we get to vote on it?

According to CBS, "Health care reform, if it passes, will cost about $1 trillion over the next 10 years. Negotiators in the Senate and House are now saying they've winnowed the cost down to "only" $900 billion or so. Where will that money come from? Look in the mirror." As if we need any more debt....

Here is a list from Little gems from the Health Care Bill, just some points that are neither liberal or conservative- just facts:

• Page 16: States that if you have insurance at the time of the bill becoming law and change, you will be required to take a similar plan. If that is not available, you will be required to take the gov option!
• Page 22: Mandates audits of all employers that self-insure!
• Page 29: Admission: your health care will be rationed!
• Page 30: A government committee will decide what treatments and benefits you get (and, unlike an insurer, there will be no appeals process)
• Page 42: The "Health Choices Commissioner" will decide health benefits for you. You will have no choice. None.
• Page 50: All non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with free healthcare services.
• Page 58: Every person will be issued a National ID Healthcard.
• Page 59: The federal government will have direct, real-time access to all individual bank accounts for electronic funds transfer.
• Page 65: Taxpayers will subsidize all union retiree and community organizer health plans (example: SEIU, UAW and ACORN)
• Page 72: All private healthcare plans must conform to government rules to participate in a Healthcare Exchange.
• Page 84: All private healthcare plans must participate in the Healthcare Exchange (i.e., total government control of private plans)
• Page 91: Government mandates linguistic infrastructure for services; translation: illegal aliens
• Page 95: The Government will pay ACORN and Americorps to sign up individuals for Government-run Health Care plan.
• Page 102: Those eligible for Medicaid will be automatically enrolled: you have no choice in the matter.
• Page 124: No company can sue the government for price-fixing. No "judicial review" is permitted against the government monopoly. Put simply, private insurers will be crushed.
• Page 126: Employers MUST pay healthcare bills for part-time employees AND their families.
• Page 127: The AMA sold doctors out: the government will set wages.
• Page 145: An employer MUST auto-enroll employees into the government-run public plan. No alternatives.
• Page 149: Any employer with a payroll of $400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays an 8% tax on payroll.
• Page 150: Any employer with a payroll of $250K-400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays a 2 to 6% tax on payroll
• Page 167: Any individual who doesnt' have acceptable healthcare (according to the government) will be taxed 2.5% of income.
• Page 170: Any NON-RESIDENT alien is exempt from individual taxes (Americans will pay for them).
• Page 195: Officers and employees of Government Healthcare Bureaucracy will have access to ALL American financial and personal records.
• Page 203: "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax." Yes, it really says that.
• Page 239: Bill will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors and the poor most affected."
• Page 241: Doctors: no matter what speciality you have, you'll all be paid the same (thanks, AMA!)
• Page 253: Government sets value of doctors' time, their professional judgment, etc.
• Page 265: Government mandates and controls productivity for private healthcare industries.
• Page 268: Government regulates rental and purchase of power-driven wheelchairs.
• Page 272: Cancer patients: welcome to the wonderful world of rationing!
• Page 280: Hospitals will be penalized for what the government deems preventable re-admissions.
• Page 298: Doctors: if you treat a patient during an initial admission that results in a readmission, you will be penalized by the government.
• Page 317: Doctors: you are now prohibited for owning and investing in healthcare companies!
• Page 318: Prohibition on hospital expansion. Hospitals cannot expand without government approval.
• Page 321: Hospital expansion hinges on "community" input: in other words, yet another payoff for ACORN.
• Page 335: Government mandates establishment of outcome-based measures: i.e., rationing.
• Page 341: Government has authority to disqualify Medicare Advantage Plans, HMOs, etc. • Page 354: Government will restrict enrollment of SPECIAL NEEDS individuals.
• Page 379: More bureaucracy: Telehealth Advisory Committee (healthcare by phone).
• Page 425: More bureaucracy: Advance Care Planning Consult: Senior Citizens, assisted suicide, euthanasia?
• Page 425: Government will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney, etc. Mandatory. Appears to lock in estate taxes ahead of time.
• Page 425: Goverment provides approved list of end-of-life resources, guiding you in death.
• Page 427: Government mandates program that orders end-of-life treatment; government dictates how your life ends.
• Page 429: Advance Care Planning Consult will be used to dictate treatment as patient's health deteriorates. This can include an ORDER for end-of-life plans. An ORDER from the GOVERNMENT.
• Page 430: Government will decide what level of treatments you may have at end-of-life.
• Page 469: Community-based Home Medical Services: more payoffs for ACORN.
• Page 472: Payments to Community-based organizations: more payoffs for ACORN.
• Page 489: Government will cover marriage and family therapy. Government intervenes in your marriage.
• Page 494: Government will cover mental health services: defining, creating and rationing those services.

*Before we begin the battle, let me say this: I completely understand that each side has fundamental convictions for this country. I truly believe that this isn't such a good idea and I do not think that the decisions made did not honor the Constitution or our right as citizens to be included in such a major change. As one of my friends said, "(Not shockingly, I'm staying optimistic.)" and I think that is the most important thing.

Is our health care system, in it's current form, perfect? Absolutely not! Are there things that I am frustrated with and would like to be changed! Yes! But, for me, this is not the answer...

For me, God has proved His faithfulness over and over. No matter how this country acts, no matter what decisions are pulled from my grasp, I am under the protection and shelter of the Lord Most High. I trust Him to be my Health, to keep me safe, to keep me well.