The Stafford Voice

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Health Care

Sen. Harry Reid Declares Health Care A Right

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Today, the Senate passed yet another hurdle over health care reform, taking yet again the 60 votes needed for this go around. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said in a statement following the vote that it was “long past time we declare health care a right and not a privilege.”

It is fundamentally wrong to declare health care as a right. To say that health care is a right is to say that it is a right for everyone to have the greatest and latest flat panel television. Health care is not a right. It is more to say that it is a luxury, just like that new-fangled flat panel. Health care is a want, not a need.

This is a definite attack on the very Liberty that our Founding Fathers so declared years ago.

Reason – The folly of a “right to health care”

Since more than four-fifths of Americans already have medical insurance, and even those without “great wealth” have been known to enjoy “good health,” Reid was laying it on a little thick. But his premise, which is shared by President Obama, explains the moral urgency felt by supporters of the health care overhaul that is making its way through Congress. It also reveals a radical assault on the traditional American understanding of rights.

The Framers believed the Constitution recognized pre-existing rights, protecting them from violation by the government. The common law likewise developed as a way of protecting people from wrongful interference by their neighbors. If people have rights simply by virtue of being human, those rights can be violated (by theft or murder, for example) even in the absence of government.

By contrast, notwithstanding Reid’s claim that government-subsidized health care is a fundamental human right, it does not make much sense to say that it exists in a country too poor to afford such subsidies or at a time before modern medicine, let alone in the state of nature. Did Paleolithic hunter-gatherers have a right to the “affordable, comprehensive and high-quality medical care” that the Congressional Progressive Caucus says is a right of “every person”? If so, who was violating that right?

While liberty rights such as freedom of speech or freedom of contract require others to refrain from acting in certain ways, “welfare rights” such as the purported entitlement to health care (or to food, clothing, or shelter) require others to perform certain actions. They represent a legally enforceable claim on other people’s resources. Taxpayers must cover the cost of subsidies; insurers and medical professionals must provide their services on terms dictated by the government.

A right to health care thus requires the government to infringe on people’s liberty rights by commandeering their talents, labor, and earnings. And since new subsidies will only exacerbate the disconnect between payment and consumption that drives health care inflation, such interference is bound to increase as the government struggles to control ever-escalating spending. Rising costs will also encourage the government to repeatedly redefine the right to health care, deciding exactly which treatments it includes.

Welfare rights? That’s right. Welfare rights. The “rights” that the Obama administration wants to share with everyone. The “rights” that make a majority of the people dependant upon the government.

Ask yourself these questions:

  1. Why did they write into the bill that they are not subject to the mandates of the bill?
  2. Why did they write into the bill that it cannot be repealed by future sessions?

For more commentary:

The Constitutional Side Of The Health Care Reform Bill

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In what appears as a neverending bill, packed away deep within the health care reform bill will prevent future Congresses will not be able to reform a single word. This was brought to light by South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint.

How tyrannical is that? Preventing changes whether the would be for the good or for the bad. Preventing changes to something that is in opposition by the majority of the people.

This little provision that is being brought forward by DeMint is bringing quite a buzz. Especially with regards to the constitutionality of the bill. Not only with it written so changes are not allowed, it is also being debated over how they can mandate that everyone must be covered or you will be fined.

That’s Right – Jimmy D to force a vote on ObamaCare’s Constitutionality

Here’s the Senate version:

(2) SPECIAL RULES.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law—

‘‘(A) WAIVER OF CRIMINAL PENALTIES.— In the case of any failure by a taxpayer to timely pay any penalty imposed by this section, such taxpayer shall not be subject to any criminal prosecution or penalty with respect to such failure.

‘‘(B) LIMITATIONS ON LIENS AND LEVIES.—The Secretary shall not—

‘‘(i) file notice of lien with respect to any property of a taxpayer by reason of any failure to pay the penalty imposed by this section, or

‘‘(ii) levy on any such property with respect to such failure.

There’s no penalty at all for failing to get insurance or failure to pay the penalty. It’s not a mandate.

Here’s the House version:

Criminal penalties

Prosecution is authorized under the Code for a variety of offenses.  Depending on the level of the noncompliance, the following penalties could apply to an individual:

• Section 7203 – misdemeanor willful failure to pay is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.

• Section 7201 – felony willful evasion is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years.”

Now, this is something that will become an issue once the two health care reform bills are merged. So, currently Jim DeMint and John Ensign have raised a Constitutional Point of Order on the Senate floor that will be voted on tomorrow. Here are their statements:

“Forcing every American to purchase a product is absolutely inconsistent with our Constitution and the freedoms our Founding Fathers hoped to protect,” said Senator DeMint. “This is not at all like car insurance, you can choose not to drive but Americans will have no choice whether to buy government-approved insurance. This is nothing more than a bailout and takeover of insurance companies. We’re forcing Americans to buy insurance under penalty of law and then Washington bureaucrats will then dictate what these companies can sell to Americans. This is not liberty, it is tyranny of good intentions by elites in Washington who think they can plan our lives better than we can.”

“I am incredibly concerned that the Democrats’ proposed individual mandate provision takes away too much freedom and choice from Americans across the country,” said Senator Ensign. “As an American, I felt the obligation to stand up for the individual freedom of every citizen to make their own decision on this issue. I don’t believe Congress has the legal authority to force this mandate on its citizens.”

For more commentary:

Also take a look at what Heritage has on this very issue.

Top 5 Political Issues of 2009

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As the year comes to a close, a look back through the top five political issues of 2009 have definately sparked interest in many ways. It is not to say that these were the only issues, however this is a list of the most pressing and longest lasting issues.

5. Nuclear Iran

Iran has been, for many years, trying to obtain enough nuclear material to produce their own nuclear weapons. 2009 has proven to be a monumental year for Iran. They were secretly operating in a facility rapidly producing material at an alarming rate. Also, they got enough international interest that brought the most powerful nations together to attempt to bring an end to their nuclear weapon wishes.

4. Government Spending

As a roll-over issue from last year, the amount of government spending has definately been increased under the watchless eye of the Obama administration. In just one year, this administration has tripled the defecit with programs like TARP, stimulus packages and bank and business bailouts. The other side to this horendous spending spree, is that most all of it was financed and backed by China.

1. (3 way tie) Afghanistan War

At the very start of Obama’s presidency, he took a strong stance on the war in Afghanistan. With an initial strategy that wasn’t, he asked his hand-picked general, Gen. McChrystal, to give prepare an assessment. An assessment that was soon leaked to the media. Wasting time deciding on a direction, Obama finally announced that he would send a surge of troops and that the mission would be completed by 2011. This sparked a buzz among some that the troop surge was purely political, being that troops would be victoriously coming home in the middle of the 2012 elections.

1. (3 way tie) Health Care Reform

Among one of the most talked about items during the election was health care reform. Obama has now stated that this is something he wants passed by Christmas, a date that has been continuously pushed back as it faces more and more opposition. Opposition now coming from both sides of the isles. With a government take-over of an industry amounting to one-sixth of the economy, and a price tag in the trillions, health care reform is something talked about by mostly every American.

1. (3 way tie) Global Climate Change

The most highly talked about international issue at the close of 2009 is climate change. An industry built on manipulated science. Pending legislation being built on the same science has proved to be a costly change that many Americans are not willing to accept. At what point will action be taken to truely investigate and study the climate, without falsifying the numbers?

Certainly, the year has brought many issues. Some more pressing than others, and for the most part will be a deciding factor for 2010 also.

Religious Leaders Issue Declaration Over Federal Abortion Funding

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In an effort to declare opposition over federally funded abortions, a coalition of Christian leaders have united and released their declaration.

Fox News – Bishops Press Obama to Strike Senate Provision Allowing Federal Abortion Funding

More than 150 Christian leaders, most of them conservative evangelicals and traditionalist Roman Catholics, issued a joint declaration Friday reaffirming their opposition to abortion and gay marriage and pledging to protect religious freedoms. The 4,700-word document, called “The Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience” was unveiled on Capitol Hill during a press conference Friday.

Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience

We, as Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical Christians, have gathered, beginning in New York on September 28, 2009, to make the following declaration, which we sign as individuals, not on behalf of our organizations, but speaking to and from our communities.   We act together in obedience to the one true God, the triune God of holiness and love, who has laid total claim on our lives and by that claim calls us with believers in all ages and all nations to seek and defend the good of all who bear his image.  We set forth this declaration in light of the truth that is grounded in Holy Scripture, in natural human reason (which is itself, in our view, the gift of a beneficent God), and in the very nature of the human person.  We call upon all people of goodwill, believers and non-believers alike, to consider carefully and reflect critically on the issues we here address as we, with St. Paul, commend this appeal to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

While the whole scope of Christian moral concern, including a special concern for the poor and vulnerable, claims our attention, we are especially troubled that in our nation today the lives of the unborn, the disabled, and the elderly are severely threatened; that the institution of marriage, already buffeted by promiscuity, infidelity and divorce, is in jeopardy of being redefined to accommodate fashionable ideologies; that freedom of religion and the rights of conscience are gravely jeopardized by those who would use the instruments of coercion to compel persons of faith to compromise their deepest convictions. 

Because the sanctity of human life, the dignity of marriage as a union of husband and wife, and the freedom of conscience and religion are foundational principles of justice and the common good, we are compelled by our Christian faith to speak and act in their defense.  In this declaration we affirm: 1) the profound, inherent, and equal dignity of every human being as a creature fashioned in the very image of God, possessing inherent rights of equal dignity and life; 2) marriage as a conjugal union of man and woman, ordained by God from the creation, and historically understood by believers and non-believers alike, to be the most basic institution in society and; 3) religious liberty, which is grounded in the character of God, the example of Christ, and the inherent freedom and dignity of human beings created in the divine image.

While this is not the declaration in its entirety, it is a ver compelling read. It is highly suggested that it is read. If you value the meaning of life, you should read this. If you value that sanctity of marriage, you should read this.

Jesse Jackson Says Blacks Must Vote For Health Care

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According to Jesse Jackson, race plays a big part in how one should vote for health care reform. The only problem with that, is most “blacks” are conservative in nature and are against this type of government take-over of health care.

The Hill – Jesse Jackson: ‘You can’t vote against healthcare and call yourself a black man.’

The Rev. Jesse Jackson on Wednesday night criticized Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.) for voting against the Democrats’ signature healthcare bill.

“We even have blacks voting against the healthcare bill,” Jackson said at a reception Wednesday night. “You can’t vote against healthcare and call yourself a black man.”

The remark stirred a murmur at the reception, held by the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Foundation as part of a series of events revolving around the 25th anniversary of Jackson’s run for president. Several CBC members were in attendance, including Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), who’d introduced Jackson.  Davis, who is running for governor, is the only black member of Congress from Alabama.

He is also the only member of the CBC to have voted against the healthcare bill earlier this month.

Davis referred to Jackson’s 1988 run for president in a statement, issued through his office, that said he would not engage Jackson on his criticism.

“One of the reasons that I like and admire Rev. Jesse Jackson is that 21 years ago he inspired the idea that a black politician would not be judged simply as a black leader,” Davis’s statement said. “The best way to honor Rev. Jackson’s legacy is to decline to engage in an argument with him that begins and ends with race.”

For more commentary:

Breast Cancer Screening Changes

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Changes over breast cancer screenings are becoming quite controvercial by some, even saying that the effects of the proposed health care reform is already taking shape. So what exactly are the changes?

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

  • The USPSTF recommends against teaching breast self-examination (BSE).
  • The USPSTF recommends against routine screening mammography in women aged 40 to 49 years.
  • The USPSTF recommends biennial screening mammography for women aged 50 to 74 years.

American Cancer Society Responds to Changes to USPSTF Mammography Guidelines

Below is a statement from Otis W. Brawley, M.D., chief medical officer, American Cancer Society.“The American Cancer Society continues to recommend annual screening using mammography and clinical breast examination for all women beginning at age 40. Our experts make this recommendation having reviewed virtually all the same data reviewed by the USPSTF, but also additional data that the USPSTF did not consider. When recommendations are based on judgments about the balance of risks and benefits, reasonable experts can look at the same data and reach different conclusions.”

For more of the statement, please click here.

Making Sense of New Mammography Recommendations

That fact that the USPSTF and the American Cancer Society now have different screening recommendations for women in their 40s simply reinforces the importance of educating yourself about the potential risks and benefits of screening, talking with your physician, and making the decision that’s right for you. This point is highlighted by the USPSTF, which notes “The decision to start regular, biennial screening mammography before the age of 50 years should be an individual one and take patient context into account, including the patient’s values regarding specific benefits and harms.”

My Personal Story

Fourteen years ago, at the age of 36, my mother was performing a self breast exam and found a lump. The worst thing a woman could find while doing an exam. Some of the most horrifying thoughts raced through her mind, only to be confirmed in a few weeks. That’s right. She had full on, heavily advanced stage breast cancer. The operation soon followed with a radical mastectomy, and chemo appointments soon filled her schedule. Fast forward through nine horrible years of cancer, having lost half of her intestines, and being bed-riden, she lost her life. At the age of 45, my mother passed away from breast cancer. She was a healthy person. She ate well. She was slightly active. However, the breast cancer didn’t care about any of that.

Ultimately, people will say these new guidelines aren’t all that bad. Then they will try to throw statistics at you. All you need to know, male and female, is to check yourself. Educate yourself on the proper way to perform a self breast exam. Husbands, help remind your spouse. Wives, help remind your spouse. The two of you could even help eachother.

Do not rely on someone else to do everything for you. Take an active role with your lives.

Ten Facts About The Pelosi Bill

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As more and more people get a chance to look deeper into the Pelosi option, more is known about the death of the greatest health care system in the world. House Republican leader, John Boehner shares some facts that everyone should know about the monstrous 1990 page bill. And it should be added that this is just the start of things to come.

John Boehner – 10 Facts Every American Should Know About Speaker Pelosi’s 1,990-Page Gov’t Takeover of Health Care

1. RAISES TAXES ON MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES. Speaker Pelosi’s health care bill imposes a range of tax increases on families with income below $250,000, breaking a promise made by President Obama. Tax increases on middle class families include: an individual mandate tax of up to 2.5 percent of income for taxpayers earning as little as $9,350; repeal of a tax break on medicine purchased with funds from an HSA (health savings account); limits to tax relief through FSAs (flexible spending accounts); taxes on medical devices that will inevitably be passed on to consumers; and a new tax on all insurance policies.

2. MASSIVE CUTS TO MEDICARE BENEFITS FOR SENIORS. Despite grave warnings from CBO, FactCheck.org, and the independent Lewin Group that cuts to Medicare of the magnitude included in Speaker Pelosi’s bill would have a negative impact on seniors’ benefits and choices, Speaker Pelosi’s health care bill stays the course and cuts Medicare by hundreds of billions of dollars.

3. NO PROTECTIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. Speaker Pelosi’s health care bill claims to exempt small businesses from the steep eight percent ‘pay or play’ employer mandate. The facts tell a different story. Using Census data compiled by the Small Business Administration, this so-called ‘exemption’ hammers small employers with only, on average, 17 or more employees to new taxes and mandates. The outfits affected employ 70 percent of all small business employees, or 42.3 million workers. Adding to the assault on small businesses, the bill does not index the small business “exemption” amounts, meaning more and more small businesses will be ensnared by this job-killing employer mandate each year.

4. INCREASES THE COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE. Imposing a new $2 billion tax on insurance policies will be passed on to patients in the form of higher premiums. Changes to the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit will, according to estimates by CBO, will raise Medicare Part B premiums by $25 billion and Part D premiums by 20 percent. And imposing an unfunded mandate on the states to pay for the bill’s Medicaid expansion will shift the burden of this expansion on state taxpayers who may experience tax increases to cover the cost.

5. USES GIMMICKS TO HIDE BUDGET-BUSTING COST, PILES UP DEBT ON FUTURE GENERATIONS. Speaker Pelosi’s health care bill claims to be deficit neutral, but uses budget gimmickry to hide its massive total cost. Working families across America know they cannot simply decide that a bill they get in the mail doesn’t exist, but that’s exactly what congressional Democrats are doing. In order to meet the President’s ‘target’ spending total of $900 billion, Democrats have simply swept costly provisions under the rug, including the $245 billion ‘doc fix.’

6. IMPOSES JOB-KILLING EMPLOYER MANDATES. Additional taxes on employers and new government mandates that dictate acceptable insurance will place new and crushing burdens on employers. These are burdens that will ultimately fall squarely on the backs of workers in the form of reduced wages, fewer hours or lost employment. CBO agrees that “[e]mployees largely bear the cost of… play-or-pay fees in the form of lower wages.” According to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s largest small business association, an employer mandate of this magnitude will disproportionately impact small businesses, triggering up to 1.6 million lost jobs. Two-thirds of those jobs would be shed by small businesses.

7. TILTS THE PLAYING FIELD IN FAVOR OF THE GOVERNMENT-RUN INSURANCE COMPANY. Speaker Pelosi’s health care bill promises not to give the government-run plan advantages over private insurers in the market, but the opposite is true. The bill provides billions in start-up funding for the government-run plan, and while it requires the plan to repay the money over time it does not require the plan to pay interest on this “loan.” This interest-free, taxpayer-subsidized loan is potentially worth millions of dollars and tilts the playing field in favor of the government-run plan.

8. THREATENS CASH-STRAPPED STATES WITH UNFUNDED MANDATES. Speaker Pelosi’s health care bill swells the number of Americans on the government rolls by expanding Medicaid eligibility. Medicaid is financed through a federal-state partnership, but the bill dumps nearly ten percent of the mandated expansion included in the bill onto the states. States, already struggling with fiscal constraints, would be left on the hook for billions of dollars due to this unfunded mandate.

9. CREATES A NEW MONSTROSITY IN THE TAX CODE. Starting in 2011, Speaker Pelosi’s health care bill imposes a 5.4 percent tax on adjusted gross income above $500,000 for individuals and $1 million for married couples. Yet, the dollar amounts for which the tax kicks in are not indexed for inflation. We’ve seen this horror film before: the Alternative Minimum Tax, another Frankenstein’s monster of the tax code, also wasn’t indexed for inflation and now affects millions of middle class families with incomes below the Democrat’s surtax.

10. MISSES AN OPPORTUNITY TO CURTAIL JUNK LAWSUITS. Speaker Pelosi’s health care bill misses a critical opportunity to rein in junk lawsuits and costly defensive medicine. The bill includes only a voluntary grant program to deal with the medical liability crisis instead of including real reform, which would produce tens of billions of dollars in savings, improve efficiency in our health care system and reduce costs for patients and providers.

The Pelosi Health Bill Option

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Health care reform takes new form today with the release of the Pelosi Option.

This 1990 page option convieniently falls below the $900 billion limit imposed by President Obama at a cost of $894 billion over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). However, the CBO indicates more analysis is needed and that the report was not final.

Certainly more time is needed with a bill staged at a whopping 1990 pages. Everyone needs more time to read and dissect this new proposal that is said to be praised by Obama. The Pelosi Option had no Republican input.

So, what can be expected in the Pelosi Option?

  • require everyone to sign up for insurance from their employer, a government program or a pool
  • an expansion of Medicaid
  • penalties for employers who don’t provide health care for employees
  • higher taxes

Is this the end of the list? No, but rather a simple start. Pleanty of time should be allowed in order to read this version, but Pelosi reportedly would like to have it voted on by Veteran’s Day.

If you have the time to read the Pelosi Option, please do. They have proven in the past that they are unwilling to take the time to. If something sticks out to you, and think it deserves more attention, feel free to contact me. Together we can dissect it and share what we find.

Click here to read the bill.

Afghanistan Waits on Health Care Reform

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Day in and day out, people turn on the news and hear more and more about the proposed health care reform, and how the President wants it done and passed in as little time as possible. True that there are things wrong with the health care system, but there are many more important issues on the table that continue to get brushed aside.

Health care this, health care that. Baucus bill here, Baucus bill there. What about taking a stance on the future of Afghanistan and whether or not to send more troops? This has become more of a game to the current administration. The only downfall to not taking action soon is that more and more American soldiers will continue to die at rediculous rates.

The time is over! It is time to decide on a direction for Afghanistan. Understanding the dificulties of politics, at some point one would question the President on when he would make his next move. Today’s delay comes way of waiting on election outcomes. True, it would be nice to have the backing of the incoming government to support any future steps. However, the major concern comes when the lives of not only Americans are in danger, but the Afghan people.

The pressure on health care has taken front stage before the lives of the American troops. American soldiers are continuing to die, while a new health care bill takes shape. The American troops should always come first! NOT health care reform!

Take a good look at history. How was America so victorious during WW2? The soldiers came first. America was behind it’s troops 100%! There wasn’t a health care bill being shoved through Washington at the time. Global Warming/Cooling wasn’t a hot topic. Failed government policies weren’t debated and blamed on the previous administration. NO! The troops came first. The President listened.