Last week while visiting my family in Indianapolis, I saw a commercial sponsored by Patients United Now.org. The ad features a Canadian woman pleading with the American public to denounce government healthcare.
Shona Holmes of Waterdown, Ontario says:
I survived a brain tumor. But if I’d relied on my government for healthcare, I’d be dead. I’m a Canadian citizen. As my brain tumor got worse, my government health care system told me I had to wait six months to see a specialist. In six months I would have died.
Follow me below to find out more about the elitists who would prevent people like me from acquiring access to healthcare.
This is the spot that is airing in Alaska, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Virginia. I wouldn't have seen it in Oregon, where I now live. I think we can all guess why. Media Matters debunks the "facts" presented here for your confusion.
Last Thursday I rescheduled my doctor’s appointment for the third time in three months. I’ve been unemployed for almost a year and without health insurance for that same amount of time. Each month I had a job interview a day or two before my doctor’s appointment so I rescheduled each time thinking that I would have a job and health insurance shortly. Today I received another rejection. No job, no health insurance.
I need to see a doctor because I have diabetes. I can’t get affordable health insurance because I have the pre-existing condition of diabetes. My son, who is a doctor, has offered to pay for my medical expenses. Even though he has some expendable income, he has lots of expenses, too -- like paying off med school loans. He shouldn’t have to pay my medical bills. I’m a perfectly capable, able-bodied person who just happens to be unemployed and without health care. I need to have my routine check-up, labs, and prescriptions to stay well. In addition, I haven’t been to the opthamalogist or dentist in over a year. I have a toothache that hurts so badly that tears are running down my cheek. I’m hoping the pain will subside as it did once before. I haven’t told my son about it, but I can see a root canal in my future if I don’t get it taken care of soon. I was hoping to get a job with health insurance so I could pay my own bills. I hate being a burden on my children. I hate it!
So, when I see an ad like this one and hear fear mongers touting the public option as socialism, I get more than a little upset. Big, bad socialism, Ooooo, I'm so scared. As the "isms" go -- facism, communism, socialism -- democratic socialism is one "ism" I've become quite fond of. The post office, for example, is a perfect example of democratic socialism. For a mere forty-four cents, I can have a letter delivered from my mailbox to anyplace in the country. What service! I couldn't personally afford to have someone deliver that letter for me. Collectively, we've decided that's a job for the government. That's socialism we can believe in. Can capitalist endeavors exists alongside the USPS? Just ask Federal Express, DHL, or UPS. Each of these private companies provide a service that people are willing to pay for. "When it absolutely positively has to be there overnight," you can pay anywhere from $15.50 to $40.90 to send your letter. But, isn't it great to have the post office to rely on at other times?
Likewise, Medicare provides healthcare to the elderly, efficiently and cost effectively. Most elderly people couldn't afford to pay their healthcare costs out of pocket. Their children can't afford to pay it for them either. Collectively, we've decided that's a function of government. Again, socialism we can believe in. The number of uninsured Americans is at an all time high -- about 46,600,000 of us. So, the idea of a public option to include those who choose it is an idea whose time has come. It may not be for you, but I would choose the public option because through no fault of my own, I have been unemployed for three of the past six years. I have also been without healthcare during that time. Losing your job can happen to anyone. Losing your healthcare at the same time can be devastating. I can't afford the FedEx version of healthcare. I need the postage stamp version of healthcare. Can insurance companies exist alongside a public option plan? I would suppose that if, like the mail companies, they are providing a service that people are willing to pay for, they will thrive. Need an emergency brain operation? Not a problem. Just pay the price. So, what are they afraid of? But, wouldn't it be great to have the public option to rely on if we so chose?
Patients United Now (PUN), the organization that produced the video, is a front group for Americans for Prosperity (AFP), the group behind the lobbyist-funded tea parties last month. Igor Volsky at Think Progress characterizes the AFP in this way.
Americans for Prosperity is notorious for its fake grassroots efforts, funneling millions of dollars into conservative campaigns designed to undermine Democratic initiatives. As Lee Fang put it, “AFP is a professional AstroTurf machine”:
- Hosted ‘Drill Baby, Drill’ rallies around the country.
- Financed Joe the Plumber’s tour against the Employees’ Free Choice Act and other anti-EFCA rallies.
- Started NoStimulus.com, “a grassroots website that we hope will be a focal point for the widespread frustration ordinary Americans feel at the runaway government growth that we see during good economic times and bad.”
Know the face of the enemy by watching this video of the AFP "Patients United Now" Breakfast held last Monday, June 1, 2009. Like the spot above, it is lousy with misinformation, also profound arrogance, and the inference that the 46 million uninsured don't work and, therefore, don't deserve healthcare. Vomit. Also, how many times can you say socialism?
Today I received an e-mail from Dr. Howard Dean, who is a staunch supporter of the public option done right, about his new book, Howard Dean's Prescription for Real Healthcare Reform which will be available later this month. I signed up for a live chat at Stand With Dr. Dean which will take place June 9th and can't wait to download the first chapter. If you haven't signed the petition to Stand with Dr. Dean, take a minute to do it. Please, please, please.
On reflection, I'm wondering about the Shona Holmes video. Is she a wealthy person? How much did her brain surgery cost? Did she pay for it herself? Did she purchase health insurance from an American company, could she do that? Whatever, I'm happy for her that she was able to afford the care she needed. How did she become the spokesperson for Patients United Now.org? I wonder.
My tooth has stopped hurting so much.