Facts Don't Matter In Health Care Debate

I tried to stay away from the political side of the health care debate in this morning's column. Silly me. For many people, facts no longer matter. Opposition to reform is the sole focus, and I think that's one of the most harmful things that has grown out of this overly partisan and angry debate. Whether we like it or not, there is a looming health care crisis for the middle class -- poorer people are already in the middle of it and a growing number of higher-wage earners are, too. And we know that if we don't make drastic changes, Medicare will be bankrupt in a decade, and we know the country's fiscal health is at stake as well, not to mention the squeeze on businesses, the likelihood of an increased number of deaths and personal bankruptcies. It would have been nice if we were able to come to a sensible, effective bipartisan compromise, like the Wyden-Bennett proposal, but because facts matter less than politics, we will be stuck with either no reform at all or reform that is less effective than it needs to be. But significant reform needs to take place this year. It will be easier to build upon it over the coming years than starting this process from scratch again. A few email responses to the column are below.

Can you name ONE hospital that allows people to die because of lack of insurance??　 Please STOP lying about health care in the USA!! No name

Issac I do not have the time to figure out how much ink you have spent on health care. The interesting thing is the people do not agree. Look at the polls and at Mass, Nj & Virginia for instance. I can assume it is only to save the Obama presidency.  If Obama would listen to what the people are saying he would not need to be saved. We do not want to be a Socialist nation. You must scour the left wing blogs for your column because you sound just like the most liberal blogs. I can only assume that is where you get your marching orders.

 

1. Check Mr Cohn's political connections out where does he ly on the spectrum of liberalism.

 

2.You recognize that SS is a fiscal threat but fail to understand that government health care is more of the same. If you think that Medicare created a lot of for profit hospitals but just wait until Obama care kicks in.

3. Maybe we would not have as many people working two part time jobs if Obama spent his time on jobs creation instead of trying to take care of fringe left kook base.

4. The President of Canada or whatever they call him came to the USA for a heart related surgery. When asked why "he stated he didn't want to jump the line waiting for this type of surgery"

5. Tell me Issac in any of the Liberal proposals(including Obama's most recent proposal) does it address tort reform. No it does not because trials lawyers are in bed with the Socialists.

6."and we will continue to spend more money to keep a heart beating" Hmmm sure sounds like a death panel to me. We see how you feel when that heart belongs to your wife or son or daughter. You see Issac it depends on whose ox is being gored. Which government person is going to tell me when I must pull the plug. You can claim all the of left wing stats you want but this country has the greatest health care in the world. Try pulling this stat. Look at the number of people that come here for health care versus the number that go somewhere else.

7. Just a personal aside. I have two neighbors that buy their drugs in Canada and both on a cruise this week. You know where I am. When I get up from this computer I am going to work. For the 55th year and I still pay Medicare and SS tax,

 

Ron

Can you name ONE hospital that allows people to die because of lack of insurance??　 Please STOP lying about health care in the USA!! No name

Issac I do not have the time to figure out how much ink you have spent on health care. The interesting thing is the people do not agree. Look at the polls and at Mass, Nj & Virginia for instance. I can assume it is only to save the Obama presidency.  If Obama would listen to what the people are saying he would not need to be saved. We do not want to be a Socialist nation. You must scour the left wing blogs for your column because you sound just like the most liberal blogs. I can only assume that is where you get your marching orders.

 

1. Check Mr Cohn's political connections out where does he ly on the spectrum of liberalism.

 

2.You recognize that SS is a fiscal threat but fail to understand that government health care is more of the same. If you think that Medicare created a lot of for profit hospitals but just wait until Obama care kicks in.

3. Maybe we would not have as many people working two part time jobs if Obama spent his time on jobs creation instead of trying to take care of fringe left kook base.

4. The President of Canada or whatever they call him came to the USA for a heart related surgery. When asked why "he stated he didn't want to jump the line waiting for this type of surgery"

5. Tell me Issac in any of the Liberal proposals(including Obama's most recent proposal) does it address tort reform. No it does not because trials lawyers are in bed with the Socialists.

6."and we will continue to spend more money to keep a heart beating" Hmmm sure sounds like a death panel to me. We see how you feel when that heart belongs to your wife or son or daughter. You see Issac it depends on whose ox is being gored. Which government person is going to tell me when I must pull the plug. You can claim all the of left wing stats you want but this country has the greatest health care in the world. Try pulling this stat. Look at the number of people that come here for health care versus the number that go somewhere else.

7. Just a personal aside. I have two neighbors that buy their drugs in Canada and both on a cruise this week. You know where I am. When I get up from this computer I am going to work. For the 55th year and I still pay Medicare and SS tax,

 

Ron