Post by Alexander Shackleton on Dec 13, 2005 1:38:52 GMT -5
Shackleton spoke to insurance industry big-wigs in Hartford:
"You know, I was just sent to Congress a few years ago, and I don't know Washington. I don't know how Presidents typically act, besides the last few, and I'm no expert on the legislative affairs of Republicans in the 20th and 21st Century. But if anything's confusing to me, it's this Rick Warder fellow. He's just hard to figure out folks.
Now, where I come from, that's here, in Connecticut, we don't cut Medicare just because some right-wingers call the most effective social program in decades a "bureaucracy." Bureaucracy happens. And Medicare's been one of the greatest solutions to providing cheap, quality medicine to seniors for years. Our seniors rely on it. Our insurance industry can deal with it, because they can still do business. It strikes a compromise, and it's one which we've been well served by.
Now, Rick Warder comes along and he says nope, nuh uh, we're getting rid of that.
I'm shocked, you're shocked, heck, even the Republicans should be shocked here. A guy who won California wants to get rid of Medicare? What's going on?
Now, I'm sure there are some people here who think, hey, Medicare gone, I look after myself, who needs it? Well, Rick had more up his sleeve. His new bill, the "Universal Health Care Freedom Act," would practically abolish all private insurance in the United States. That's right ladies and gentlemen. An entire multi-billion dollar industry, gone, thanks to a public monopoly run by the government.
How will it be done? Simple. So simple he'll try and say it's not bureaucracy, even though it'll be the greatest bureaucracy in the history of America. They'll create a public corporation (or "program," as its called), dedicated to paying health care costs in the stead of an insurance company. It'll pay 70%-99% (though not all), depending on who you are, but no matter what, it'll pay around 70% of your health care costs, Bill Gates or John Q. Taxpayer.
What will happen to insurance companies? Kaput. With only 30% of health care costs paid for by individuals, insurance companies will no longer be needed. Most Americans will pay the remainder of their bill out of pocket, or won't feel the need to even prepare, knowing that Government is going to fit most of the bill. Meanwhile, an entire American industry will be destroyed, bureaucracy eliminated only to be built back up again, creating a mammoth public insurance corporation to determine which of your doctors' visits are covered and which aren't.
In fact, since there's no regulation, doctors and hospitals can simply charge whatever they want for health care, knowing that Government is a captive market. Meanwhile, the costs are transferred to you for your remaining share, and you again for your tax bill. It sounds like universal health care, it feels more like double taxation.
And since it's a brand new Federal bureaucracy, it'll be a gigantic boondoggle, ladies and gentlemen. If you think Medicare is bad, this is practically the Titanic. And all of it, all of the bureaucracy, waste, and monopoly, paid by each and every one of you.
Do you want Rick Warder to destroy health care in America, relegating us to a second class system like Canada? *crowd shouts 'NO!'*
Do you believe in capitalism, freedom, and the American way? *crowd yells 'YES!'*
Oppose this ill-conceived scheme. Don't fall for this bait-and-switch budget, and don't listen to the man with Golden promises. Make your voice heard, give me your support, and I promise I will NEVER allow this affront to liberty pass the United States Senate!"
"You know, I was just sent to Congress a few years ago, and I don't know Washington. I don't know how Presidents typically act, besides the last few, and I'm no expert on the legislative affairs of Republicans in the 20th and 21st Century. But if anything's confusing to me, it's this Rick Warder fellow. He's just hard to figure out folks.
Now, where I come from, that's here, in Connecticut, we don't cut Medicare just because some right-wingers call the most effective social program in decades a "bureaucracy." Bureaucracy happens. And Medicare's been one of the greatest solutions to providing cheap, quality medicine to seniors for years. Our seniors rely on it. Our insurance industry can deal with it, because they can still do business. It strikes a compromise, and it's one which we've been well served by.
Now, Rick Warder comes along and he says nope, nuh uh, we're getting rid of that.
I'm shocked, you're shocked, heck, even the Republicans should be shocked here. A guy who won California wants to get rid of Medicare? What's going on?
Now, I'm sure there are some people here who think, hey, Medicare gone, I look after myself, who needs it? Well, Rick had more up his sleeve. His new bill, the "Universal Health Care Freedom Act," would practically abolish all private insurance in the United States. That's right ladies and gentlemen. An entire multi-billion dollar industry, gone, thanks to a public monopoly run by the government.
How will it be done? Simple. So simple he'll try and say it's not bureaucracy, even though it'll be the greatest bureaucracy in the history of America. They'll create a public corporation (or "program," as its called), dedicated to paying health care costs in the stead of an insurance company. It'll pay 70%-99% (though not all), depending on who you are, but no matter what, it'll pay around 70% of your health care costs, Bill Gates or John Q. Taxpayer.
What will happen to insurance companies? Kaput. With only 30% of health care costs paid for by individuals, insurance companies will no longer be needed. Most Americans will pay the remainder of their bill out of pocket, or won't feel the need to even prepare, knowing that Government is going to fit most of the bill. Meanwhile, an entire American industry will be destroyed, bureaucracy eliminated only to be built back up again, creating a mammoth public insurance corporation to determine which of your doctors' visits are covered and which aren't.
In fact, since there's no regulation, doctors and hospitals can simply charge whatever they want for health care, knowing that Government is a captive market. Meanwhile, the costs are transferred to you for your remaining share, and you again for your tax bill. It sounds like universal health care, it feels more like double taxation.
And since it's a brand new Federal bureaucracy, it'll be a gigantic boondoggle, ladies and gentlemen. If you think Medicare is bad, this is practically the Titanic. And all of it, all of the bureaucracy, waste, and monopoly, paid by each and every one of you.
Do you want Rick Warder to destroy health care in America, relegating us to a second class system like Canada? *crowd shouts 'NO!'*
Do you believe in capitalism, freedom, and the American way? *crowd yells 'YES!'*
Oppose this ill-conceived scheme. Don't fall for this bait-and-switch budget, and don't listen to the man with Golden promises. Make your voice heard, give me your support, and I promise I will NEVER allow this affront to liberty pass the United States Senate!"