Death Panel Redux
Posted By Mark on December 26, 2010
Death Panel Redux
“If at first you don’t succeed” goes the traditional phrase. Our president is a believer in that coloquialism. Democrats were hammered last year on death panels. Sarah Palin hammered zerO in 2009 on end of life bullying paid for by our tax dollars and is doing so again now.
One of the things I was afraid of most with zerO’s health care welfare scam was the socialistic structure and power given to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. What the legislation does not specifically mandate Kathleen Sebelius will through fiat.
While the new law does not mention advance care planning, the Obama administration has been able to achieve its policy goal through the regulation-writing process, a strategy that could become more prevalent in the next two years as the president deals with a strengthened Republican opposition in Congress.
Worse yet, these plug pullers are trying desperately to keep this secret:
Moreover, the e-mail said: “We would ask that you not broadcast this accomplishment out to any of your lists, even if they are ‘supporters’ — e-mails can too easily be forwarded.”
The e-mail continued: “Thus far, it seems that no press or blogs have discovered it, but we will be keeping a close watch and may be calling on you if we need a rapid, targeted response. The longer this goes unnoticed, the better our chances of keeping it.”In the interview, Mr. Blumenauer said, “Lies can go viral if people use them for political purposes.”
Oh those damn liberals, wanting to allow people to discuss their wishes about what care the want to or do not want to receive with their physician. (Clearly a communist plot endorsed by such unethical organizations such as the American Medical Associateion –whose goal is to kill old people). Thank god we have good conservatives to alert us to these horrible plans.
Please. Give me a break. Are you really that delusional?
Mike,
No conservative is trying to stop that conversation from happening. As a matter of fact, that very conversation took place every day prior to this awful regulation. The problem is this administration using tax dollars to force this conversation on people who might otherwise not want it.
As to the AMA, they hardly represent the entire physician base and represent a very left leaning group. I am not delusional … although another two years of this administration and wingnuts like you forcing me to do things I don't want to do (and making me pay for it) might get me there.
Not to mention the real point here is that the government is paying for them as a separate, billable service. Anything the government can subsidize, it can incentivize, and conversely, it can dis-incentivize. Having this as a billable service allows the federal government to use money as a hammer with which to impose its will on physicians.
Essentially, it's exactly what is denounced as evil about health insurance companies, but now with the force of law as opposed to a contract entered freely between consenting parties.
Thank you Schaef! Very well put and made my point for me.
As Rush might say … the best commenter is one who makes the blogger look good.
The issue of health care reform was muddied last year with right wing rumors of government <a title="Death panel claims reemerge with new Medicare rule" href="http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2010/12/27/year-end-financial-checklist/"> death panels. A provision to pay for counseling on treatment during a patient's final days was twisted into death panels. End-of-life counseling was politically incorrect for the health care bill, but it resurfaced in Medicare regulations set to kick in Jan. 1.