It looks harmless enough: Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon has stuck an amendment into the health care reform bill that would let Medicare reimburse doctors for giving patients counseling about end-of-life care.
To hear Republicans in Congress tell it, though, the Blumenauer amendment means the black helicopters will soon be swooping down on the lawn to carry Granny off to the crematorium.
As quoted by Media Matters for America, Ohio Rep. John Boehner, the House minority leader (not to mention three-time winner of the Mr. Hawaiian Tropic title), warned that the Blumenauer amendment “may place seniors in situations where they feel pressured to sign end of life directives they would not otherwise sign. This provision may start us down a treacherous path toward government-encouraged euthanasia if enacted into law. …
“With three states having legalized physician-assisted suicide, this provision could create a slippery slope for a more permissive environment for euthanasia, mercy-killing and physician-assisted suicide because it does not clearly exclude counseling about the supposed benefits of killing oneself.”
On the Huffington Post site Blumenauer has compiled an amusing collection of other Republican loony-toon comments about his amendment, including a claim by Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina that it would “put seniors in the position of being put to death by their government!”
In contrast to these horrific GOP visions, “In fact, [Blumenauer’s] bill is written to allow senior citizens access to a professional medical counselor who will provide them with any information they might need – regarding will preparation, medical power of attorney, and, yes, end of life decisions. These counseling sessions are not mandatory, they are simply made available to those who wish to use the service because they are unable to receive the information from another source,” Media Matters explains.
Incidentally, as reported by Willamette Week, those disciples of death, the American Medical Association and the Oregon Medical Association, both support the Blumenauer amendment.
Of course, John Boehner (appearances to the contrary notwithstanding) is not a complete idiot (we reserve comment about Ms. Foxx) and he knows quite well that the Blumenauer amendment is not going to lead America down treacherous paths and slippery slopes to the Fourth Reich.
So why are he and other Republicans acting like their heads are about to explode? It’s obvious, isn’t it? Get Americans to oppose health care reform by confusing and frightening them – even it takes a string of bare-assed lies to accomplish it.
Fifty-five years ago, disgusted with the tactics of Joseph McCarthy, Army Counsel Joseph N. Welch famously asked the Wisconsin senator: “Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?”
There seems no point in asking John Boehner the same question today. The answer already is clear.
This article appears in Jul 30 – Aug 5, 2009.
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Forget granny, the socialist view is clearly seen in the “take from the rich to give to the poor mentality” in this proposed government run health care system. Employers are forced to cover people, doctors will be controlled on how they treat people. All that will happen in the end is worse health care for everyone and more people taking advantage of the handouts. The young couple that works hard and tries to pay for their own family coverage will be denied decent services while the bum down the street that sits at home eating chips in front of his playstation instead of working will get his health care paid for by that young couple.
If you know of a young couple that has healthcare. You have found an endangered species. I don’t care what health care comes out of this new plan it is not going to be worse than the current nightmare.
The current healthcare problem is a perfect example of the problem with conservative politics. Here is problem that needs some fairly bold change and all the conservatives want to do is hold on to this sinking system. For conservatives, this isn’t a problem to be solved, it is a political position to be taken and they’ve have lined up to shoot down ANY proposal that comes out of this administration, even if it means a generation has to go forward without healthcare. It’s really embarrassing. It would be one thing if after Obama’s plan went down to defeat some bold conservative politician stepped forward with a plan but they won’t. We’ll get another ignore healthcare guy like the Bushes.
It’s interesting how right-wingers are convinced the government can’t run anything well except the military, the police and the fire department. They profess endless admiration for soldiers, firefighters and police — all government employees — while believing all other government employees are stupid, worthless drones.
As for “running my health care,” that’s a straw man — government would not be “running health care” under any of the plans seriously being considered. But if you come down to it I would sooner have the government running health care as the insurance companies, who are interested only in getting the maximum possible money out of me in return for the minimum possible service. At least with the government running things we might have some accountability.
I’ll ask you the same question I’ve asked conservatives many times before: If “socialized medicine” is as terrible as you make it out to be, how come NOT ONE country that has adopted it has ever repealed it? How come NOT ONE country that has “socialized medicine” has decided to scrap it in favor of our system, if it’s so superior?
I won’t hold my breath waiting for an answer.
Of course, another way of looking at the ‘cash for clunkers’ program is:
Let’s offer cash for inefficient fuel wasters towards the purchase of more fuel efficient models.
So many American Citizens who wanted to get rid of their gas guzzlers but could not afford to do so previously decided to take advantage of the program, the time frame of four months was unrealistic and funds were gone within a week.
Naysayers who said the program would not have any effect were wrong–the program succeed in attracting buyers to dealerships in unexpected numbers.
The effect was the sale of automobiles–increased sales at dealerships, the removal of old inefficient vehicles from the road, and a drop in the dependency on foreign oil because of lower fuel consumption.
The program succeeded and is being refunded with $2 billion more with a bi-partisan vote.
According to one on-line report:
Marc Cannon, a spokesman for AutoNation, said the program had showrooms hopping at the company’s 239 dealership locations in 15 states. AutoNation dealerships have sold 3,000 cars under the program and showroom traffic is up 36 percent.
“We’re seeing a tremendous amount of interest,” Cannon said. “It’s like people have been given permission to shop for a car. It’s a huge psychological boost.”
Most buyers are either pre-qualified with credit, are paying cash or have credit union backing, Cannon said. Buyers with poor credit, however, are having a tough time because credit is still tight.
I guess perspective depends on whose political ox is getting gored!
“It would be one thing if after Obama’s plan went down to defeat some bold conservative politician stepped forward with a plan but they won’t.”
The Party of No doesn’t believe in “plans” or “ideas.”
JJ: Did you read that in the bill, or did you just make it up out of your own imagination (or Limbaugh’s)?
Did that article really site the Sorros funded left wing attack organization Media Matters as a source. Go look it up on you tube and watch the quote for yourself. That is weak sauce journalism. That is like hearing something on Rush Limbaugh and siting “as heard on Rush Limbaugh, Bill Clinton said … ” It does not matter what side of the political spectrum you are on, the information is out there independent of party spin or sound byting.
All you stereotyping people using any issue you have to degrade someone that thinks different from you make me sick. A person that doesn’t see things your way is a terrible person that lies and cheats? I’m not a “right winger”. I think independently, but i assure you if i told you my opinions you would classify me as one. and my opinions would not be considered. Racism takes the exact same form , or path that i see here regularly. Stereotyping is how racism even exists at all. If we didn’t stereotype we couldn’t be racist. If your not a racist and you stereotype you in fact are a racist or dumber.
The whole thing is a wash. Death and death counseling do not belong in the medical industry. Medicine is about living. Abortion for convenience and euthanasia made it into our main medical field but it took governmental efforts lobbied by people that profit from death and laws to keep it there. Not doctors. Granted there are right wing liars and fools as there. But that doesn’t disqualify everything that comes out of the lying mouths. Ask yourself, do you need to pay for some strangers death counseling? If so then go set up an account and find those others that feel like you do and don’t put it in a law that makes me pay for it. The idea is fine but leave me out of it.
Bruce and others here are doing a good job of keeping the hate alive but soon we’ll realize that we’re all in this together and respecting opposing opinions are the soul of a healthy democracy.
Reported by MSNBC today:
“A campaign on conservative talk radio, fueled by President Obama’s calls to control exorbitant medical bills, has sparked fear among senior citizens that the health-care bill moving through Congress will lead to end-of-life “rationing” and even “euthanasia.”
“The controversy stems from a proposal to pay physicians who counsel elderly or terminally ill patients about what medical interventions they would prefer near the end of life and how to prepare instructions such as living wills. Under the plan, Medicare would reimburse doctors for one session every five years to confer with a patient about his or her wishes and how to ensure those preferences are followed. The counseling sessions would be voluntary.
“But on right-leaning radio programs, religious e-mail lists and Internet blogs, the proposal has been described as “guiding you in how to die,” “an ORDER from the Government to end your life,” promoting “death care” and, in the words of antiabortion leader Randall Terry, an attempt to “kill Granny.” …
“Kill Granny” — a phrase I used in ridicule but which a right-wing demagogue apparently used in all seriousness.
Is there anything more shameful than using lies to instill fear among vulnerable senior citizens? If there is, I’m sure the Republicans will come up with it before long.
The Party of No has nothing — no ideas, no plans, no solutions, no valid arguments, no integrity, no honesty, no human decency and, before long, no supporters.
“right-wingers…….profess endless admiration for soldiers, firefighters and police.”
Yes we do! Disgustingly, left wingers do not.
First, servicemembers, fire fighters, and police officers approach their tradecraft with a sense of urgency commensurate with the task of fighting wars, fighting fires, and fighting crime. Sorry, but that level of intensity is simply not there when you visit the DMV.
Second, national defense is constitutionally mandated, health care for every burger flipping/gas pumping stoner is not.
“How come NOT ONE country that has “socialized medicine” has decided to scrap it in favor of our system, if it’s so superior?”
When national policies create a culture of government dependency, few leaders are willing to take the political risk of alienating people who have no idea how to take care of their own affairs. Bush set out to do something about the soon to be bankrupt ponzi scheme known as social security and was predictably set upon by the left wing demagogues. Shamefully, he wilted under the pressure. Political courage is a rare commodity.
“Bush set out to do something about the soon to be bankrupt ponzi scheme known as social security”
Yes, he wanted us to put it all in the stock market. That would’ve worked out REAL well (like the rest of Chimpy’s brilliant ideas).
I’m announcing a new policy: I will no longer reply to comments on my posts. The posts speak for themselves. I will not explain or defend them. Those who wish to attack or praise them are free to do so, but I will not respond.
“Never complain, never explain.” — Benjamin Disraeli
I wish that you would post the text of the Blumanuer text so that we could read it forourselves instead of having to take your word for it. You linked everything else, why not that? Thing that make you go, Humm.
Well, HBM, I see that you are not going to address posts made to your “articles?” They do not speak forthemselves as they are vague, as is the nature of such things, not to mention that people want to be well informed and if you can enlighten us, please, oh please do so, that we wander not in darkness.
written by HBM , August 04, 2009
Yes, he wanted us to put it all in the stock market. That would’ve worked out REAL well (like the rest of Chimpy’s brilliant ideas).”
This is a great example of the well informed left, and how they tell the truth.
Bush’s idea was to take 3%, notice that number, of ones contributions, and then allow the person to invest it in whatever that person desired, stocks, bonds, gold, etc. And it was strictly voluntary.
Compare that to the idea of Pelosi & co. who wanted to take ALL PENSION PLANS, 401k’s, etc., and place them in the SS system.