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Opinion
Jul. 19, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

EDITORIAL: Socialists still need a few GOP sheep

None of the Democrats' current health care "reform" bills will meet President Barack Obama's stated goal of slowing the ruinous rise of medical costs, Congress' budget umpire warned Thursday. In fact, they could break the bank.

Surprise, surprise.

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    • The sobering assessment from Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf came as House Democrats pushed to pass a partisan bill through committees, while in the Senate a small group of lawmakers continued to seek a deal that could win support from both parties.

    From the beginning Mr. Obama has insisted that any overhaul must "bend the curve" of rapidly rising costs that threaten to swamp the budget.

    Asked by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D., if the evolving legislation would bend the cost curve, the budget director responded that "the curve is being raised."

    Explained Mr. Elmendorf: "In the legislation that has been reported, we do not see the sort of fundamental changes that would be necessary to reduce the trajectory of federal health spending by a significant amount. And on the contrary, the legislation significantly expands the federal responsibility for health care costs."

    Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said the budget director's warning should be "a wake-up call," adding, "instead of rushing through one expensive proposal after another, we should take the time we need to get things right."

    Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., chairman of the Blue Dog Democrats' health care task force, said his group would need to see significant changes to protect small businesses and rural providers and contain costs before it could sign on.

    President Obama was doing all he could last week to encourage Congress to act quickly, before the deal falls apart. He met Thursday morning with two potential Senate swing votes, Sens. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine.

    Since Democrats have enough votes to shove almost anything they want through the Senate, why suddenly all this talk about seeking "bipartisan reform"?

    Because Democrats can't tell the truth. They know socialized medicine will cost enough billions to lower the standard of living for millions of Americans, but they have to pretend they believe otherwise, that it will somehow "save money."

    They can't run for re-election in 2010 -- any more than they could run in 2008 -- on an honest platform of, "We'll raise your taxes to the sky and borrow the nation into bankruptcy to get to our real goal, which is a 'single-payer' system that tells people they may just have to die waiting in line, because it turns out tax-funded medicine always creates more demand than we can pay for."

    They know they can't win again in 2010 after enacting such a monster unless Republicans sell out, neutering their own ability to tell that straight story on the campaign trail with an added "We told you so." Democrats need at least a token number of Republicans on board their bandwagon.

    So why do Republicans go along?

    The loyal opposition is not there to get invited to the right cocktail parties, or to enjoy favorable puff pieces in The Washington Post. They're there to vote "no" on socialism, restore the competitive free market wherever they can, call a spade a spade, and dump the freedom-hating redistributionists (now rapidly and unwisely casting aside their sheeps' clothing) as soon as possible.

    Time to find a spine.

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    xqqme wrote on July 22, 2009 02:27 PM: A standing ovation, sir!
    As a small business owner, no one in DC represents my interests. My interest is to survive the current depression.


    Rob L. wrote on July 20, 2009 06:55 AM: F&B wrote: "They want it done by August so the bizzillion dollar rip-offs of the drug and insurance can't launch their disinformation scare commercials supporting the status-quo that so enriches the fat pigs."

    So you are perfectly fine with Congress not even reading legistlation to redesign 20% of the economy because the Drug companies might run some ads? How many "fat pigs" will be enriched via back doors left open through bad legistlation, IE TARP program.

    I repeat... New guy, same smell.


    Mr. Spock wrote on July 19, 2009 08:59 PM: "The loyal opposition is not there to get invited to the right cocktail parties, or to enjoy favorable puff pieces in The Washington Post. They're there to vote "no" on socialism, restore the competitive free market wherever they can," --- Making healthcare a commodity is what has left us 33rd in overall healthfulness and with 40 million uninsured. We can do better than that -- much better!


    Selfish Socialist wrote on July 19, 2009 08:00 PM: I sure hope the government forces someone else to pay for my health care. I don't have the guts to go to my friends and neighbors and beg for money. I'd rather have the government take their money for me. I always like spending other people's money instead of my own.Will the plan cover designer Birkenstocks? How about preventive care cannabis?


    SteveF wrote on July 19, 2009 07:37 PM: Unfair and Unbalanced Fred,



    Just because you tell the lie over and over doesn't make it true. Everyone's seen in your posts that you are incapable of telling the truth and must bend the truth (or completely ignore it) in a feeble attempt to "prove" your point. There are numerous people from Canada alone (not rich) who come here because they don't want to wait forever for their treatment. You can attempt to tell your lie all you want, however, people know the truth.


    SteveF wrote on July 19, 2009 07:37 PM: Unfair and Unbalanced Fred,

    Just because you tell the lie over and over doesn't make it true. Everyone's seen in your posts that you are incapable of telling the truth and must bend the truth (or completely ignore it) in a feeble attempt to "prove" your point. There are numerous people from Canada alone (not rich) who come here because they don't want to wait forever for their treatment. You can attempt to tell your lie all you want, however, people know the truth.


    Fair and Balanced Fred wrote on July 19, 2009 06:19 PM: SteveF sez: we are the only industrialized nation "where you don't have to wait months or years for treatment."

    The cons can't lead so they consistently mislead.

    "Isn't it amazing these other countries have socialized medicine but come here to get treatment because it sucks in their own countries?"

    The richest of the rich come here for some treatments, and to other countries for others.

    Will your plan cover payment to the providers of the richest of the rich in other countries?

    The cons can't lead so they consistently mislead.


    SteveF wrote on July 19, 2009 05:06 PM: "we are the only industrialized nation in the world not to have nationalized health care."

    And the only one where you don't have to wait months or years for treatment. Isn't it amazing these other countries have socialized medicine but come here to get treatment because it sucks in their own countries? Amazing liberals lie so much (or at least bend the truth/facts).


    Fair and Balanced Fred wrote on July 19, 2009 04:08 PM: "When politicians are spending other peoples money."

    Rewrite that: "when the bizzillion-dollar rip-off insurance and drug companies are spending other peoples' money."

    Just look at the "system" the rip-offs have given us.

    Meanwhile, we are the only industrialized nation in the world not to have nationalized health care.

    You are just one diagnosis away from financial ruin, and under the rip-off "system" that likelihood grows greater by the day.

    Have a nice day.


    Fair and Balanced Fred wrote on July 19, 2009 04:01 PM: "Isn't a bit ridiculous to redesign 20% of economy under the edict of "It needs to be done by August?"

    They want it done by August so the bizzillion dollar rip-offs of the drug and insurance can't launch their disinformation scare commercials supporting the status-quo that so enriches the fat pigs.


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