On Monday, August 10, 2009, the AARP will begin its own campaign in favor of health care reform, specifically addressing the lies and myths surrounding the proposed health care plans.
Although all you have to do is look at the health care reform protests to know that seniors on Medicare are violently protesting that the government stay away from their Medicare. As little sense as that makes, remember that seniors are also the target of investment and charity scams. They tend to believe what they are told by someone whose ill motives are not apparent to the seniors being scammed.
In the Washington Post, they are reporting that Seniors are wary of health reform.
One mailing from the 60 Plus Association, which bills itself as a "conservative alternative to AARP," warns that the proposed Medicare changes will mean "longer wait times at hospitals and doctors offices, less money for new treatments, restrictions on care, prescriptions and what's best for you -- the patient!" Officials at the Virginia-based group did not respond to several messages last week.
Conservative talk-radio shows have raised the prospect of euthanasia based on a provision to reimburse doctors through Medicare for counseling sessions about end-of-life directives.
And comments posted on former Alaska Republican governor Sarah Palin's Facebook page Friday said that people would have to "stand in front of Obama's 'death panel' so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their 'level of productivity in society,' whether they are worthy of health care."
Eleanor Clift, at Newsweek talks about how the media sits quietly while featuring paid shills to air their biased views:
After playing nice for months, insurance companies, health-care providers, and pharmaceuticals are suiting up for battle. Dr. Steven Pribut, a Washington podiatrist, was on the elliptical at the gym when he heard former Republican speaker Newt Gingrich on one of the cable networks denounce a public option in his typically apocalyptic fashion.
Nobody challenged him, so Pribut says he poked around on the Internet to learn more about Gingrich's expertise on the topic. He discovered that Gingrich was the founder of a health-reform organization that has as its members more than 20 large corporations, including GlaxoSmithKline and UnitedHealthcare. Pribut was moved to post an item on his blog Debate on Health Care Reform: Sense vs. Nonsense suggesting that those making pronouncements should disclose their conflicts.
But now, thankfully, a voice of reason is entering the debate. The AARP plans a full campaign to address the concerns of seniors.
Here is the opening statement From Health Action Now!, Myths vs Facts, the AARP website to inform seniors about health care:
Don't Let the Myths About Health Care Reform Scare You.
There are special interest groups trying to block progress on health care reform by using myths and scare tactics. Like the notion that health care reform would ration your care, hurt Medicare or be a government takeover. Actually, these are false statements.
All of the health care reform plans currently being debated in Congress would ensure that you and your doctor are the ones making decisions about your health. The majority of working Americans will continue to receive their health care through their employer. In addition, health care reform will strengthen Medicare by eliminating billions of dollars in waste while lowering prescription drug prices.
I welcome the AARP to the fight. Besides their main page at www.aarp.org, they have set up a Health Care Reform web site called "Health Action Now", which provides links to factual information that we can use to counter the lies and myths of Republicans and the corporate interests.
There is a nice listing of health care myths accompanied my the facts of the matter, explaining in reassuring terms that seniors have nothing to worry about with health care reform.
In addition, the AARP has put a video out on YouTube debunking health care myths:
Unfortunately, Glenn Beck is accusing the AARP of lying to its members and that the AARP is swallowing the administration's lies, "hook, line, and sinker".
Nearly all of the comments accompanying the AARP video are from Beck's supporters. It would be nice to see a few positive comments made. Thanks!
Update #1: In Kiku's Diary which focused on the good things that are happening in health care, AZDem in the comments pointed us toward this article in the New York Times:
Drug Industry to Run Ads Favoring White House Plan
The article states in the opening paragraph:
The drug industry has authorized its lobbyists to spend as much as $150 million on television commercials supporting President Obama’s health care overhaul, beginning over the August Congressional recess, people briefed on the plans said Saturday.
I had not seen that before, so I found it encouraging. Chalk another one up to our side.