H.R.3200 - America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009

Everyone has an opinion.
But, seems the Gov does not like that.
It is getting scary out there
Talk about scary !!!
Are we now like in the old days cking for communist? Now ....emailers? What happen to freedom of speech???

======
White House steps up health care offensive with a blog that asks supporters to turn in 'fishy' information, sparking Big Brother fears - and outrage.
Unfortunately, that isn't the only thing that has "sparked" outrage...... Our President has challenges to his life all the time, as there are many people who would like nothing better than to watch his funeral on TV. If I was in his place, I'd want to know who those folks are, and have them known to those who protect me. What's wrong with that? When things are publicly expressed, permission is virtually granted, for anyone to do anything they want with their statement(s). I am so proud that President Obama bravely does what he thinks he must do, despite the realization that his days could be numbered; and he must trust his secret service personnel greatly = to their credit.

I heard one of the Democratic Senators talking about how the people demonstrating against the health care plan were resorting to "brown shirt" tactics (who was that? If you know that he/she was a Democrat, you probably know who that is - why hide his/her identity? If it was a "blue" Democrat, we know from whence he/she comes) -- and yet they are the ones making enemy lists and asking people to turn in their neighbors.
Why do you think those who have an axe to grind/are excessively angry, are neighbors? That was the case for the ethnic groups Hitler hated, as most Germans not of those groups, did live next door and did turn neighbors in knowing that they would be tortured, and most likely killed. I really don't buy their "I didn't know" stance. When someone posts a message on the web, or speaks out angrily at Town Hall Meetings, it is a very different situation. Usually they aren't neighbors, and won't be tortured, or otherwise mistreated.
I really do find this very disturbing. I never would have thought ten or fifteen years ago that this would be happening here in America. Did you never hear of the damage done by McCarthy? That surely scared me!
It does scare me. We have always had the right to disagree with those in authority - no matter who they are. What is scary, is that the true, raw feelings/underbellies of some of those with oppositional views being seen on TV, for all to realise how aggressively righteous they are. Just how they respond to situations they don't like, is clear. It's the ilk of those who opppose abortion and threaten and sometimes kill practitioners of that, who are there, front row center.

I have to compare the "peaceniks" - mostly Democrats who oppose war, and their tactics of silent opposition, not wildly indignant outrage as we see coming from "right wing" factions.
I wonder now just how far they plan on taking this.

Are "they" our government? If so, having an attitude of "them and us" makes it very difficult for those having that attitude, to see anything right (or anything other than the Republican party line viewpoints) happening governmentally. That infers a closed mind, which perpetuates that aura of stoic lack of cooperation, no matter what the issue is. If national weather reports indicate that evacuation of homes is necessary, those who distrust our government will stay put. Sound familiar?

Your links were all from "Fox" TV, which is a known source of "right wing" rhetoric, which for me means that I have to look up the source of any opinion/statistic said in their news programs, just as I do my local newspaper (in VA).

Why do you assume that everyone who disagrees with you is a republican? I'm a democrat and a union member. Fox News is a "known" source of right wing rhetoric? Known by who?
Known by anyone listening and watching their news reports, which are in support of the "right", and not the Democratic party or our President.
Those who disagree? I guess that other networks that hand the president prime time for "news conferences" gratis have no dog in the fight? That surely doesn't sound like a Democrat! Surely you don't see the debate over the health care bill, as a "dog fight"!

Are you completely blinded by your distaste for anyone who disagrees with your political leanings? I support the President's recognition of the need for change in the current health care delivery system, and his extremely well organised approach, using expert advice to change to a more accessable, affordable option. I have distaste for those who can afford the expensive health care prevailing here, and have no concern for those who can't avail themselves of the same health care, due to age, disability, or unemployment (not due to "laziness").

Frankly, I don't expect everyone to agree with me. The amount of division in this country at this time is the worst I've seen in my lifetime, and that includes Vietnam and the riots in the 60s. I'm afraid we are headed to a very bad place because of the "go for the throat" mentality of both parties.

http://www.rallycongress.com/the-national-912-petition/

The above link takes you to a site that contains many petitions to sign. The one that I am focusing on today is the one that is the first one on the list "Please Vote No On Universal Health Care". I urge you to sign the petition and then click the link to send it to your Representative and Senators. Do it even if you think it will do no good. The more they hear from us, the more they will have to listen.

For those of you who are not aware of what is contained in the present health care bill as it has been presented in the House of Representatives, please let me give you some of the highlights, things that the Obama administration and the Pelosi majority do not want we the people to know:

Page 22 - mandates the government will audit the books of all employers that self-insure
Self insurance is an arrangement where employers pay for medical claims out of their own funds rather than contracting with an insurance company for coverage. Small businesses generally do not self insure. And if we had a public option it would be just one choice among the MANY companies.
The bill requires a study of risk on the part of all companies that choose to provide self insurance, to ensure they have enough money to pay your hospital and other bills. This is something that private insurance companies are required to do; it's to protect the consumer.

Page 29 - rations your healthcare; essential benefits are defined and there is an annual limitation of $5,000/individual and $10,000/family
There is a "Annual Limitation" on how much a patient will have to pay, not a limit on the health care the patient receives. Please look at pages 26-30.

Page 30 – the "Health Choices Commissioner" will decide what treatment/benefits you receive
There is a committee headed by the Surgeon General to recommend tests and treatments. I think it likely that like Medicare a dermatologist treating skin cancer and other disorders would be approved but Botox and other cosmedic procedures would not be approved.

Page 317 – government can prohibit a hospital from expanding
Please read pages 316 - 321. This is about physician ownership of a rural hospital. It is to discourage one physician from completely controlling healthcare in a rural area, if possible.

Page 341 – gives government the authority to disqualify certain plans, i.e. Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part B)
Medicare already regulates and disqualifies Medicare Advantage plans.

Page 353 – sets limitations on enrollment of special needs individuals
It says that people with special needs who qualify for Medicaid and people under 65 who qualify for Medicare will be eligible for this system. This will pay for more more care than Medicare and Medicaid currently does.

Pages 769-770 – Family Planning Services (code phrase for government funded abortion)


And from the text of the bill itself:

SEC. 102. PROTECTING THE CHOICE TO KEEP CURRENT COVERAGE.
(a) GRANDFATHERED HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE DEFINED.-Subject to the succeeding provisions of this section, for purposes of establishing acceptable coverage under this division, the term ''grandfathered health insurance coverage'' means individual health insurance coverage that is offered and in force and effect before the first day of Y1 if the following conditions are met:
(1) LIMITATION ON NEW ENROLLMENT.-
(A) IN GENERAL.-Except as provided in this paragraph, the individual health insurance
13 issuer offering such coverage does not enroll any individual in such coverage if the first effective date of coverage is on or after the first day of Y1.
(B) DEPENDENT COVERAGE PERMITTED.-Subparagraph (A) shall not affect the subsequent enrollment of a dependent of an individual who is covered as of such first day.

What the above essentially says is that you can keep your present coverage until something happens that you no longer have it. Once that happens, you are out of luck. Look at the sentence under (A) and beginning with 13 it says that there will be no new enrollees allowed in any existing programs. Also there is a provision that 5 years post it becoming law, every insurance program must undergo a government review so the government can determine whether or not it is providing the coverage that the government thinks it should be providing. How is that any different than having the government plan?

The following is an overview of the present House bill:
http://www.liberty.edu/media/9980/attachments/healthcare_overview_obama_072909.pdf

Or if you are really brave and have a lot of reading time available here is the link to the entire bill:
http://edlabor.house.gov/documents/111/pdf/publications/AAHCA-BillText-071409.pdf

Here is a link to the Republican alternative:
http://help.senate.gov/BAI09A84_xml.pdf

Here is a link to a site that is trying to not only get the word out, but also propose alternatives:
http://fixhealthcarepolicy.com/

If this was not such an important issue, if it did not affect us all so very much, I would not be appealing to you. Please prayerfully consider signing the petition. There is a better way of addressing the difficulties in health care that exist. We need to fight against the lies that are being told about how the Republicans do not have an alternative plan, about how there are 47 million Americans without sufficient health care when the actual number is closer to 10 million (many in the most quoted number are illegal aliens, those who are eligible for Medicaid and just haven't signed up or those who choose not to purchase health insurance for whatever reasons they might have.)

For: LAMAZETEACHER

What scares me is people who are against an administration just because he is of the opposite party. No matter what Pres. Obama does the right votes against it. What scares me is that you would post half truths and bold face lies and expect me to believe it all. Must be because the previous administration spent so much time lying it is hard to tell what is fact or fiction anymore.

BTW, using Fox news as your source does NOT help your cause. Show me something from CNN.