Sunt Tzu said, know thyself and know thy Enemy. Below the fold is an email I received from my 65 year old parents (who barely know how to use email). They are getting bombared with stuff like this and they are really frightened by it. I am posting this because I would like some suggestions on how to respond to it, and also so the people here can mount an intelligent counter attack to these talking points and bring some sanity back to the conversation... I dont know if this qualifies as a real diary but I think its information we need to know about our opponents
They start with scaring the beejeezus out of you, and close by saying.. im not partisan and i dont fully understand whats written but...
Thats a fairly typical tactic. My comments are in bold below. Please make suggestions on how to respond to the ones without comment, or if you are more informed than myself, please suggest a better response.
Bile Below the line....... ...................................
You might want to forward the following web site address to everyone in your address book. It provides the email address of every elected official in the United States . The web address is www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml <http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml> . It might help others make the necessary contacts regarding page 425 of the proposed health care bill.
On Page 425 it says in black and white that EVERYONE on Social Security (will include all Senior Citizens and SSI people) will go to MANADATORY counseling every 5 years to learn and to choose from ways to end your suffering (and your life). Health care will be denied based on age. 500 billion dollars will be cut from Senior's healthcare budget. The only way for that to happen is to drastically cut health care. The oldest and the sickest will be cut first. Paying for your own care will not be an option. [Blatantly false, and a simple scare tactic. Counseling is provided Free to assist in living life to its fullest]
Little gems from the Health Care Bill <http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2300451/posts>
* Page 16: States that if you have insurance at the time of the bill becoming law and change, you will be required to take a similar plan. If that is not available, you will be required to take the gov option! [
is this true? if so it seems that they are attempting to save you money and provide you with better health care]
* Page 22: Mandates audits of all employers that self-insure!
[Why is this a bad thing?]
* Page 29: Admission: your health care will be rationed!
[ok, I read page 29 and dont really understand what it's saying.. can someone clarify for me?]
* Page 30: A government committee will decide what treatments and benefits you get (and, unlike an insurer, there will be no appeals process)
[Because the government is not for profit, you will end up with More treatment and benefit options, not Less]
* Page 42: The "Health Choices Commissioner" will decide health benefits for you. You will have no choice. None.
[You have no choice now with your current insurance provider. The difference is that your insurance provider is FOR PROFIT and makes the choices for you based on their bottom line. The government is not constrained by this and will provide you with MORE options, not less]
* Page 50: All non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with free healthcare services.
[Bullcrap. WHERE exactly does it say this?? Show Me]
* Page 58: Every person will be issued a National ID Healthcard.
[Why is this a problem. You are already issued a SSN card]
* Page 59: The federal government will have direct, real-time access to all individual bank accounts for electronic funds transfer.
[FALSE. As I read it, it is to determine eligiblity. There is nothing there about funds transfer, unless I am misreading it]
* Page 65: Taxpayers will subsidize all union retiree and community organizer health plans (example: SEIU, UAW and ACORN)
[and this is a problem because ........?]
* Page 72: All private healthcare plans must conform to government rules to participate in a Healthcare Exchange.
[and this is a problem because ........?]
* Page 84: All private healthcare plans must participate in the Healthcare Exchange (i.e., total government control of private plans) [
No it is not total government control of private plans, it forces private plans to compete on a level playing field]
* Page 91: Government mandates linguistic infrastructure for services; translation: illegal aliens
[This is no different than what is already in place by Law. And no, the translation is NOT illegal aliens... racist much??]
* Page 95: The Government will pay ACORN and Americorps to sign up individuals for Government-run Health Care plan.
[This section actually reads; Such outreach shall include outreach specific to vulnerable populations, such as children, individuals with disabilities, individuals with mental illness, and individ1uals with other cognitive impairments... Yeah would hate to help THOSE type of people (Snark)... If you not willing to help those who need the most help among us, not only do I Name you Un-American but Inhumane as well]
* Page 102: Those eligible for Medicaid will be automatically enrolled: you have no choice in the matter.
[Please clarify for me why you would not want to be enrolled]
* Page 124: No company can sue the government for price-fixing. No "judicial review" is permitted against the government monopoly. Put simply, private insurers will be crushed.
[NO, once again they will be forced to play on a level playing field and costs FINALLY controlled... no more dying for dollars...]
* Page 127: The AMA sold doctors out: the government will set wages. [
See above about cost controls]
* Page 145: An employer MUST auto-enroll employees into the government-run public plan. No alternatives.
[Blatant Lie. An employer with a better health care plan can enroll you into that plan instead]
* Page 126: Employers MUST pay healthcare bills for part-time employees AND their families.
[And this is bad thing because......?]
* Page 149: Any employer with a payroll of $400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays an 8% tax on payroll
[And this is bad thing because......?]
* Page 150: Any employer with a payroll of $250K-400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays a 2 to 6% tax on payroll
[Correct, for once.. and again, this is bad thing because......?]
* Page 167: Any individual who doesn't have acceptable healthcare (according to the government) will be taxed 2.5% of income. [
actually it reads to punish employers who do not provide acceptable healthcare insurance.. Re-read it and then restate please]
* Page 170: Any NON-RESIDENT alien is exempt from individual taxes (Americans will pay for them).
[ok, im confused on this one..]
* Page 195: Officers and employees of Government Healthcare Bureaucracy will have access to ALL American financial and personal records.
[Blantant Lie. The records being discussed are the same records your health insurance company already has access too]
* Page 203: "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax." Yes, it really says that.
[and the rest of the sentence actually reads, for purposes of determining the amount of any credit under this chapter or for purposes of section 55... Maybe you should not take so many things out of context??]
* Page 239: Bill will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors and the poor most affected."
[BLATANT LIE! It says no such thing. Point out to me EXACTLY where or how it says this?]
* Page 241: Doctors: no matter what speciality you have, you'll all be paid the same (thanks, AMA!)
[Where does it say this? What Line number, please clarify! ... or did you once again not actually read the section you list?]
* Page 253: Government sets value of doctors' time, their professional judgment, etc.
[Which is exactly what your insurance company does now... the difference is the insurance company does it with an eye towards making a profit. The government does not. Which one do you think will benefit you, the consumer?]
* Page 265: Government mandates and controls productivity for private healthcare industries.
[PRECISELY HOW does it mandate and control productivity with this section... try reading it, it doesnt say that.]
* Page 268: Government regulates rental and purchase of power-driven wheelchairs.
[Try again. Government provides these items to those who need them... try getting one from your insurance company]
* Page 272: Cancer patients: welcome to the wonderful world of rationing!
[Please tell me PRECISELY how this section rations cancer care... answer, it does not!... Try reading it before trying to scare people]
* Page 280: Hospitals will be penalized for what the government deems preventable re-admissions.
[Yes, its called Fraud Prevention... something your clearly not familiar with based on the contents of this email...]
* Page 298: Doctors: if you treat a patient during an initial admission that results in a readmission, you will be penalized by the government.
[BULLCRAP. If your going to point to a section, show the whole fracking sentence. It reads; "STUDY.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall conduct a study to determine how the readmissions policy described in the previous subsections could be applied to physicians." HOW EXACTLY does that mean what you say it means?]
* Page 317: Doctors: you are now prohibited from owning and investing in healthcare companies!
[And this is bad thing because......? Its called preventing a conflict of Interests]
* Page 318: Prohibition on hospital expansion. Hospitals cannot expand without government approval.
[The section being refered to reads, "(D) ENSURING BONA FIDE OWNERSHIP AND INVESTMENT." and does not say anything about your hospital being able to expand without government approval]
* Page 321: Hospital expansion hinges on "community" input: in other words, yet another payoff for ACORN.
[The section ACTUALLY READS.. "OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY INPUT.—The process under clause (i) shall provide persons and entities in the community in which the hospital applying for an exception is located with the opportunity to provide input with respect to the application." PLEASE tell me PRECISELY HOW this is a payoff for ACORN? .... Racist much?]
* Page 335: Government mandates establishment of outcome-based measures: i.e., rationing
.[READ THE SECTION!!!! IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RATIONING!]
* Page 341: Government has authority to disqualify Medicare Advantage Plans, HMOs, etc.
[Yes, if they are NOT compliant.. umm.. DUH!!!!]
* Page 354: Government will restrict enrollment of SPECIAL NEEDS individuals.
[OK KOS, HELP ME OUT HERE.. I DONT UNDERSTAND WHAT IM READING IN THIS SECTION...]
* Page 379: More bureaucracy: Telehealth Advisory Committee (healthcare by phone). [This section actually reads;
"Subtitle F—Medicare Rural Access Protections" ... so PRECISELY how is providing people in remote rural areas acess to a phsyician by phone (Where as the would have NO access, more bureaucracy??
* Page 425: More bureaucracy: Advance Care Planning Consult: Senior Citizens, assisted suicide, euthanasia?
[BLATANT FEAR MONGERING!! Any intelligent individual who is terminally ill should do advance care planning, which includes such things as a Living Will and durable power of attorny. The difference is the many people do not Know this or do not have the resources to go to a lawyer to get it done. In this section, the Government helps you do it as opposed to a Private insurer not helping you do it. Hello, MCFLY!!]
* Page 425: Government will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney, etc. Mandatory. Appears to lock in estate taxes ahead of time.
[Please tell me PRECISELY how this has to do with estate taxes????, Back up your claim.]
* Page 425: Government provides approved list of end-of-life resources, guiding you in death.
[Could you Possible do any more fear mongering??? Read the Section listed, and you will see that this is Blatant Fear Mongering]
* Page 427: Government mandates program that orders end-of-life treatment; government dictates how your life ends.
[Ok, now your Pissing Me off... NO This Section says NOTHING of the Sort. Its talking about Providing the SAME counseling you would recieve through a PREMIUM Insurance Plan!!.. Enough with the Fear Mongering!!!]
* Page 429: Advance Care Planning Consult will be used to dictate treatment as patient's health deteriorates. This can include an ORDER for end-of-life plans. An ORDER from the GOVERNMENT.
[BLANTANT MISSTATEMENT OF FACT. READ THE SECTION!!]
* Page 430: Government will decide what level of treatments you may have at end-of-life.
[BLANTANT MISSTATEMENT OF FACT. READ THE SECTION!!]
* Page 469: Community-based Home Medical Services: more payoffs for ACORN.
[This actually Reads; ‘‘(B) COMMUNITY-BASED MEDICAL HOME DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘community-based medical home’ means a nonprofit community-based or State-based organization that is certified under paragraph (2) as meeting the following requirements: ‘‘(i) The organization provides beneficiaries with medical home services. ‘‘(ii) The organization provides medical home services under the supervision of and in close collaboration with the primary care or principal care physician or nurse practitioner designated by the beneficiary as his or her community-based medical home provider." PRECISELY HOW DOES THIS PAYOFF ACORN? This sounds more like some church provided services that I know of.]
* Page 472: Payments to Community-based organizations: more payoffs for ACORN.
[See above paragraph]
* Page 489: Government will cover marriage and family therapy. Government intervenes in your marriage.
[Government provides you with the option of getting family and marriage counseling, something most insurance plans will not do.... Sounds like the government wants you help you stay married, I would have thought Republicans would support this...]
* Page 494: Government will cover mental health services: defining, creating and rationing those services
[There is no Rationing. It is providing services to those without it and desperately need our help!]
+++
I seldom forward these types of e-mails, but to me, this subject is so serious, that every American should be well informed on it and let their wishes be known.
Check it out for yourself. The entire Bill is at http://edlabor.house.gov/...
I found it very difficult to follow [CLEARLY] as there are so many references to external documents. Whether it's as bad as stated here or not, I'm fundamentally against giving the federal govt. bureaucracy this much control over health care. Think about your own existing bureaucracy problems with the current private system. If you think the federal govt. can do a better job, ask someone about their experiences with the Veterans Administration (VA).
Contact EVERY senator and representative. Ask them to read Page 425 of the proposed health care bill
On Page 425 of Obama's Health Care Bill, the Federal Government will require EVERYONE who is on Social Security to undergo a counseling session every 5 years with the objective being that they will explain to them just how to end their own life earlier. Yes . . . They are going to push SUICIDE to cut Medicare spending! [THIS IS A BLATANT LIE!]
Now, CALL YOUR PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON !!!! Tell them to read page 425 if they don't read anything else. Surely, some of them have parents.
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Shudder.... I cant believe how low people will go.... Lets get out there and Stop this BS!