Michael Tanner: 'fearmongers' Were Right About Obamacare

[Last Resort]

The ink was barely dry on President Barack Obama's signature before the RAND Corp. released a report concluding that, not only would the hard-won health care package fail to curb health insurance premium increases, but the bill itself would drive premiums for young people up as much as 17 percent.

 

This should not have been a surprise: the Congressional Budget Office had already warned that the plan would do almost nothing to reduce premium hikes. And when New York implemented the same type of insurance reforms in the 1980s, it led to an increase of nearly $500 per year for young people. But somehow, the media didn't pay much attention.

 

And, of course, during the health care debate, no presidential speech was complete without a promise that "if you have health insurance today, and you like it, you can keep it." But the Congressional Budget Office now says that as many as 10 million workers will lose their current insurance under Obamacare. Some of those workers will have to buy new insurance through the government-run exchanges. Millions more will be thrown onto Medicaid.

 

In addition, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Studies reports that half of seniors currently enrolled in the Medicare Advantage program will lose their coverage under that program and be forced back onto traditional Medicare.

 

And how many times did President Obama criticize the United States for having the highest health care spending in the world? Well, late last month the government's chief actuary released his report on the bill, showing that the bill will actually increase health care spending by $311 billion over 10 years.

 

At the same time, the report warned that promised future spending cuts, particularly those for Medicare, are unlikely to occur. "The longer-term viability of the Medicare reductions is doubtful," wrote Richard Foster, chief actuary of the Medicare and Medicaid systems. What cuts do occur could have a severe impact on the quality of health care. As many as 15 percent of hospitals and other institutions could be forced out of business, according to the report, "possibly jeopardizing access to care" for millions of Americans.

 

With spending going up, and future savings likely to fall short of promises, we can expect higher deficits and, of course, higher taxes. The most recent estimates suggest that the taxes already in the bill will likely end up costing middle-class workers and small businesses an extra $1,000 per year.

 

Now the most recent report from the Congressional Budget Office warns that nearly 4 million Americans, nearly three-quarters of them middle-class workers, will be hit with fines for failing to meet the government's mandateto buy insurance. Those penalties will average nearly $1,000 per person in 2016.

 

All this, and the health care "reform" law is merely a month old.

 

Perhaps this is why nearly 56 percent of American voters now favor repealing the bill.

 

This episode provides a lesson, not just for health care reform, but more generally for the Obama administration's policies. When critics of the health care bill raised these concerns during the debate, they were accused of "fear-mongering." It was said that they were "opposed to reform," or were in the pockets of the insurance industry.

 

Now, as the administration presses forward with its other initiatives, including financial regulation and, possibly, "cap-and-trade" energy taxes, the same modus operandi is in action. Those who raise questions are derided as opposing "reform" and siding with the banks, energy companies or whoever the enemy of the day is. The bills need to be rushed through. There is no time for real debate.

 

But maybe, just maybe, the first month of Obamacare should serve as a lesson: Legislate in haste; repent in leisure.

 

 

[Airpirate]

I wish that guy would go back to Kenya where he belongs before he can do further damage to America

[ybkgd]

I wish that guy would go back to Kenya where he belongs before he can do further damage to America

 

 

Roger that!....He just needs.....to go away!

[whadayawant]

Shades of Jimmy Carter

[Airwolf]

Yet another feather in this clowns ass-cap...

BHO thinks Patriot Guard is a threat

PGR "Threat"

 

 

There was a memorial service two days ago in Beckley, West Virginia for the 29 coal miners who died at the nearby Upper Big Branch mine April 5th.

 

Twenty-eight hundred people attended the service. Most of them were there to pay their respects and console the grieving. At least a couple of them were there to make symbolic, political appearances.

 

Many of the working class men who died were veterans and some of them rode motorcycles. A source has told this page that “Families of the miners killed in the explosion…had requested the Patriot Guard Riders attend.” The Patriot Guard Riders is an informal club of veteran motorcyclists which exists to make sure that all veterans are given respectful funerals. And, they were banned from this service by federal officials because those officials believe the Patriot Guard is a security threat.

 

Cleared With Governor

 

The appearance of the Patriot Guard at the service, at the request of at least several families, was cleared by West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin. Travis Mollohan, a senior aide to the Governor worked with the Patriot Riders to arrange a staging location.

 

The day before the service, Joe Cumblidge, the West Virginia State Captain of the Patriot Guards emailed the men who were scheduled to participate: “Due to circumstances totally and completely beyond the control of the Patriot Guard Riders and Governor Joe Manchin of West Virginia, we are regrettably ordering a STAND DOWN for this mission. Specific details will not be posted here but, we’ve been told we are not welcome to participate because of certain high-level dignitaries that are scheduled to be in attendance.”

 

The “high-level dignitaries” were President Barack Obama and Vice-president Joe Biden. A Patriot Guard Rider named Pat Hanifin told WSAZ in Charleston that Manchin had been forbidden to allow the Patriot Guard to participate “because of overwhelming security concerns with high-ranking federal officials – it was just not logistically possible for them to be a part of the event.”

 

A member of the Patriot Guard who had planned to ride that day told this page, “the reason was because the Secret Service did not want us there because of the possibility of the President attending. Why? So he can stand there like a fool and disrespect every veteran in attendance with his hands crossed?”

 

Obama And Biden

 

At the service, the President stood in front of a row of 29 crosses and told the mourners, “Our task, here on Earth, is to save lives from being lost in another such tragedy. To do what we must do, individually and collectively, to assure safe conditions underground. To treat our miners like they treat each other, like a family. Because we are all family and we are all Americans.”

 

Vice President Biden, who spoke before the President, warmed up the crowd with a wise crack intended to insult West Virginia’s most prominent recent football coach, Rich Rodriguez. Rodriguez left West Virginia for the University of Michigan after the 2007 season.

 

“They loved hunting, fishing, riding horses and four-wheelers,” Biden said of the dead miners. “They hated the way Coach Rodriguez left West Virginia for Michigan.” Biden’s remark seemed to charm the mourners, who applauded.

 

Both Biden and Obama managed to escape West Virginia unharmed.

 

 

[Airwolf]

Not sure yet exactly what happened there but if they ever pull that shit here in CT, I and most of my leadership team are going to be arrested while holding American flags for our Hero.

I don't need or request our governors permission to stand for a fallen Hero and I sure as hell do not need any permission from the feds.

 

If they think the Patriot Guard is a security threat then THEY should stay the hell home...at least we stand because we care.

Ass clown and company is just showing up to make a political statement... 's.

Edited May 3, 2010 by Airwolf

[RCH]

This kind of political bullshit is just so very wrong.

Olblabla and company are fertilizing the seeds of an uprising that hasn't been seen in America for over 200 years. The sad part is, I think he damned well knows exactly what he is doing.

[hasbin]

This kind of political bullshit is just so very wrong.

Olblabla and company are fertilizing the seeds of an uprising that hasn't been seen in America for over 200 years. The sad part is, I think he damned well knows exactly what he is doing.

 

Ding Ding Ding Ding, We have a "winaaaaa"

[Last Resort]

This kind of political bullshit is just so very wrong.

Olblabla and company are fertilizing the seeds of an uprising that hasn't been seen in America for over 200 years. The sad part is, I think he damned well knows exactly what he is doing.

 

 

You don't think that RCH, ... you KNOW it

[Hitman]

Politicians don't lie...

 

...and women don't have secrets either.

[Vintageroger]

Roger that!....He just needs.....to go away!

 

 

Hey! leave me out of this.