Guest Commentary : Let them eat painkillers

Obama's ideas on reform are absurd

By BY ANNE BRITTON

Posted: July 30, 2009 at 6:51 a.m.

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FAYETTEVILLE — President Barack Obama held his fifth nationally televised prime time press conference July 22. The subject was the "health insurance/care crisis." I could tell thathe hadn't read the 1,018-page House bill supporting health care reform. I know it's supposed to be a work in progress, but clearly Obama hadn't even reviewed it.

As the president stated, "Health care reform is central to economic recovery." Government cannot build (or rebuild) an economy on health care - certainly not the largest economy on the planet. The idea is absurd. Liberal progressives' problem with beliefs like this is that when you have socialism you will eventually run out of other people's money. Freedom incorporated within the Constitution is what is central to economic recovery through economic freedom.

How many times did Obama say "make no mistake" and "this system is broken"? Is there nothing in America that this president can be proud of? Tell me when he has praised our great and blessed nation? I can't remember.

On July 21 the president made remarks from the White House Rose Garden blaming the GOP for the stalled bills. The president had made demands that Congress pass health care legislation by the August break. Mr. President, you took at least six months making your daughters wait while trying to decide what breed of dog to get, so why does this health care overhaul need to be completed in the next two weeks? Before the Aug. 7 recess?

President Obama said Republicans "have openly declared their intention to block health care reform." He also repeated claims that anyone who likes their health care plan will be able to keep it - even though the House bill's "public option" is designed to phase out private insurance as an option.

Will the president next blame the GOP for hiding the keys to the gumdrop forest and the unicorn stables? The Democrats control everything in Washington, and the president still blames the other side of the aisle! Obama needs a reality check. If Republicans are the problem, Democrats could easily pass the government takeover of health care on a straight party-line vote. They have the votes, says Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Speaking of which, she claims the bill means "a cap on your costs, but no cap on your benefits." Yeah, Mrs. Pelosi, I want that, and demand that Santa Claus bring me an African safari package for myself, my son, Shannon, and our spouses for Christmas. My son and I will hunt with guns, and our spouses with cameras!

What economist has Pelosi been talking with? Better yet, didn't she see the recent White House event where Jane Sturm told the story of her nearly 100-year-old mother, who was originally denied a pacemaker because of her age by one surgeon? Luckily, Jane and her mother weren't ready to take one opinion and go gracefully into the sunset. They sought out a second opinion by another doctor, who was struck by the elderly woman's sprit and love of life. Her mother is now almost 105 years old and still going strong.

Ms. Sturm asked Obama: "Outside the medical criteria ... is there, a consideration that can be given for a certain spirit and quality of life?" Obama's reply? "I don't think that we can make judgments based on peoples' spirit. ... Maybe you're better off not having the surgery, but taking painkillers."

Marie Antoinette is famous for her "Let them eat cake" quote; Obama says let them eat painkillers! Meanwhile, the media yawns. I must admit that when Obama spoke of "shovel ready" jobs it never occurred to me that he might be thinking of gravediggers.

Oft-cited by the president as the standard for quality health care, the Mayo Clinic released a two-paragraph statement on their blog in opposition to the House Democrats' health care bill:

"Although there are some positive provisions in the current House Tri-Committee bill - including insurance for all and payment reform demonstration projects - the proposed legislation misses the opportunity to help create higher-quality, more affordable health care for patients. In fact, it will do the opposite.

"In general, the proposals under discussion are not patient focused or results oriented. Lawmakers have failed to use a fundamental lever - a change in Medicare payment policy - to help drive necessary improvements in American health care. Unless legislators create payment systems that pay for good patient results at reasonable costs, the promise of transformation in American health care will wither. The real losers will be the citizens of the United States."

Apparently no one in the White House got the Mayo memo. Gumdrops, anyone?

Anne Britton is a conservative, avid hunter and a mental health advocate. She lives in Fayetteville.

Opinion, Pages 4 on 07/30/2009

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