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DonnaT
Posted Sunday, August 30, 2009 12:06 PM


 

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Another View: Devil in the lack of details from Democrats
By U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey, M.D.
8:01 p.m. Friday, August 28, 2009

Across our country, we are witnessing a great debate that will forever change our country’s health care system. What is at stake is relatively simple: Who should make health care decisions — patients and their doctors? Or bureaucrats?

As a physician who has delivered more than 5,200 babies, I am one of the most vocal supporters of health care reform. However, the legislative proposals that my Democratic colleagues are advancing — and that President Barack Obama supports — are the wrong prescription for America.

Throughout August, I have held several town halls across my district, explaining what the Democrat proposal on health care reform actually means. At these meetings, most people are very concerned — and there are many questions. Will I be able to keep the health care that I have today? Will a government bureaucrat come between me and my doctor? Will my parent’s health care suffer as a result of the $500 billion in cuts to Medicare? Will the government have access to my bank account to verify my income? Does “end-of-life” counseling mean I will be denied medical care available to younger and healthier patients?

My Democratic colleagues have repeatedly stated that these questions are unwarranted and point to the language of the bill as proof of their claims. What they don’t tell you is that the decisions that will address these questions are not written in the legislation they hope to pass, but will be made by political appointees behind closed doors. In literally hundreds of instances, congressional Democrats cede important health care reform decisions to these unknown, faceless and unaccountable bureaucrats.

Understandably, Americans are worried about their health care. However, instead of addressing their concerns directly, Democrats have spent considerable time — and taxpayer money — trying to sell their proposal while squashing legitimate concerns. First, the outrage at town halls was “manufactured” and “un-American.” Then, people were asked to report “fishy” e-mails to the White House. Next, Americans got unsolicited spam e-mails from the administration pushing their “truth” about health care reforms.

Health care reform should not need a nationwide spin campaign. Poll after poll shows a large majority of Americans want some type of reform. However, what they don’t want is abundantly clear — talking points and rhetoric that simply mask a government takeover of medicine identical to what exists in Canada and the United Kingdom.

Congress and the president have the responsibility to give the American people a real understanding of what health care reform will look like before a vote is taken to change it forever. Instead of dismissing concerns, I would urge Congress to do its job and give the American people a health reform proposal they can understand — and actually support. It can be done, but it takes real work and bipartisan compromise — not a PR campaign.


U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) is a member of the U.S. House Health Subcommittee and co-chairs the GOP Doctors Caucus.

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/another-126531.html
Post #4228426
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AlanNW
Posted Sunday, August 30, 2009 2:03 PM


 

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Donna,

How very true! It amazes me how the attitude among so many is "just trust us". Government has seldom shown itself to be trustworthy. Couple that with time after time we hear from representatives that they have not read the bill, that they can't be expected to know the details and I swear listening to the president it is obvious to me he does not have a clue what is in it. (other than he knows it is designed to have the government ultimately end up in control of health care and ultimately control of our lives).

So many seem intent on sighting source after source that tell us we are misinterpreting things or misquoting, but time and time again the same issues keep coming to the surface supported by real evidence (not just someone's quote). I am referring to the many cases of the way our vets are treated in VA hospitals the debacle with Social Security, Medicare and the mortgage industry. Somehow the argument is that it will be different with health care. We are supposed to just believe that somehow the government is going to miraculously get their act together and it will all be better than we ever imagined. Reality tells me with the quality of leadership (again I point out that we have representatives who are trying to force this through that don't even know what is in the bill) we have every right to be worried. If it is so good for us, why can't they write a bill that is clear enough for all to understand and spells out safeguards!

I still believe in personal freedom - I resent both republican and democrat leaders who have failed their duty to protect our freedoms and I pray everyday for leaders to come forward who love this country enough to do what is right for America!

Thank you for the article!

Alan
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pat59
Posted Sunday, August 30, 2009 2:33 PM


 

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Phil Gingrey on guns at healthcare town halls: Hey, why not ...
Aug 17, 2009 ... Phil Gingrey, R-Marietta, appeared on Monday night's episode of Hardball with Chris ... 
 
 
 
Lots of heated discussions , but i totally disagree with this politician, saying the voters have every right to exercise their right of the 2nd amendment, and bring guns to town hall meetings!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
and he is a doctor?



-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Methotrexate 15 yrs, Enbrel 3 yrs, Humira 5 yrs, Rituxan 1 yr, now diagnosed with PSA and RA, back to Enbrel 50mg.x2 a week
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Grandpavan
Posted Sunday, August 30, 2009 3:39 PM


 

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Pat, what does your post have to do with health care?  God bless.

Age 82, diagnosed RA 12/2001, married since 1952, 4 sons no daughters, 4 grandsons 1 granddaughter.  Doing well on Methotrexate and Remicade.
Post #4228463
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DonnaT
Posted Sunday, August 30, 2009 3:50 PM


 

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We are supposed to just believe that somehow the government is going to miraculously get their act together and it will all be better than we ever imagined.


Well said.

I know one of the issues often discussed here has been funding and where the funding will come from for this proposed health care plan. We are seeing problems in my state right now with extreme cuts in budget due to the economy and poor fiscal stewarship. I'm sure other states are in similar situations. They have to cut the budget across the board. Unfortunately, you then see critically needed programs lose their funding, such as Meals on Wheels and, as you mentioned, the VA. For many the Meals on Wheels program is just as critical to a person's existence and well-being as health care is.

So many of the critical decisions regarding the details of implementing a program of this nature are not being spelled out in the written plan. That concerns me. If we do not have current funds to provide a meal to those homebound and with limited ability to prepare for themselves, then where is all the extra money going to come from to pay for health care?
Donna
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Joy125
Posted Sunday, August 30, 2009 6:11 PM


 

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Grandpavan (8/30/2009)
Pat, what does your post have to do with health care? God bless.




GPV,

Just as you have questioned the credibility of sources of health care related information in questioning FACTCHECK.ORG, Pat is questioning the credibility and veracity of this man.

I think she is questioning this representative's judgement -- that he finds no problem with individuals bringing loaded weapons to a public meeting. If he truly wants to facilitate civil discourse on health care reform, then I would think he would discourage such behavior -- yes, individuals have a right to openly carry weapons if they have permits, but along with that right comes a responsibility -- armed people at a public meeting is not only intimidating, but could add to an already contentious situation and lead to violence -- after all what is the point of a gun, if not to use?

But back to this Represenative, I find it hypocritical for Gingrey to say that health care reform would put a "bureaucrat between a patient and his doctor" when this Representative interfered in the Terry Shiavo matter.

From opencongress. org:

"In March 2005 Gingrey was one of several Members of the United States Congress who are also physicians who offered medical opinions about the medical condition of Terri Schiavo. Gingrey is quoted as stating that, "The tragedy of the situation is that with proper treatment, now denied, Terri's condition can improve."[1]

Gingrey and the others were criticized by medical ethicists. ABC News quoted Art Caplan, chairman of the Department of Medical Ethics at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine: "It's disturbing that doctors who would never venture a comment about the health of anybody from a homemade video are sitting on the floor of Congress making declarations,"... "My own impression, from a distance, is that they've subverted what they know to be good medicine for the aim of achieving a political goal." Howard Dean added, "I would not want my doctor making any diagnosis of me on videotape, and I'm speaking as a doctor." [2]

http://www.opencongress.org/wiki/Phil_Gingrey

__________________________________________________

Lift up your hand, oh God. Do not forget the helpless. Psalm 10:12

http://www.physiciansforpeace.org/
Post #4228493
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pat59
Posted Sunday, August 30, 2009 6:34 PM


 

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  • Voted NO on giving mental health full equity with physical health. (Mar 2008)
  • Voted NO on Veto override: Extend SCHIP to cover 6M more kids. (Jan 2008)
  • Voted NO on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility. (Oct 2007)
  • Voted NO on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D. (Jan 2007)
  • Voted YES on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay. (Feb 2006)
  • Voted YES on limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000 damages. (May 2004)
  • Voted YES on limited prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients. (Nov 2003)
  • Voted NO on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs. (Jul 2003)
  • Voted YES on small business associations for buying health insurance. (Jun 2003)
  • Voted YES on capping damages & setting time limits in medical lawsuits. (Mar 2003)
  • Rated 0% by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record. (Dec 2003)
  • Establish a national childhood cancer database. (Mar 2007

The above, are some of Mr. Gringrey's voting record regarding healthcare issues:

He voted NO, against Schips.

He voted NO, about the federal government allowing reimportation of prescription drugs

He voted NO in allowing the Federal Government to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices for Medicacre part D

and he voted YES to deny non emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co/pay 



-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Methotrexate 15 yrs, Enbrel 3 yrs, Humira 5 yrs, Rituxan 1 yr, now diagnosed with PSA and RA, back to Enbrel 50mg.x2 a week

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Grandpavan
Posted Sunday, August 30, 2009 6:39 PM


 

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Well, if you can't answer the objections then I guess you just attack the one who raises the objections.  I'm not saying I agree with other things he has said or done but I think when he raises objections it is reasonable to see those objections addressed rather than just changing the subject.  God bless.

Age 82, diagnosed RA 12/2001, married since 1952, 4 sons no daughters, 4 grandsons 1 granddaughter.  Doing well on Methotrexate and Remicade.
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Joy125
Posted Sunday, August 30, 2009 6:47 PM


 

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AlanNW (8/30/2009)
Government has seldom shown itself to be trustworthy. Couple that with time after time we hear from representatives that they have not read the bill, that they can't be expected to know the details . . . .

. . . . we have representatives who are trying to force this through that don't even know what is in the bill . . . . I resent both republican and democrat leaders who have failed their duty to protect our freedoms . . . .



If you are so distrustful of government, than why do you trust this Representative from Georgia? Is he your represenative, what do you know of him?

I keep hearing this claim "they have not read the bill" by opponents to health care reform. It makes me laugh -- with all the staff a Congressperson has, I think they can read the bill -- AND -- they have had all August break to read it.

And, I keep hearing that the bill is "being rushed." Hmm, let's see 1993, was how many years ago? No one has given a thought to health care reform since Clinton's health care reform was killed? If so, why not? Why no reform to improve access to health care, lower health care costs, we had a Republican President from 2001 to 2008 and a Republican controlled Congress for 6 of those years? Yeah, they passed the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, which established the Medicare drug benefit -- but they didn't fund it, they added the cost on to the federal deficit -- oh yeah, AFTER they cut income taxes on the rich, and oh yeah while engaged in TWO wars. (which, oops, doubled the deficit) And yet, Republicans suddenly are fiscal conservatives? NOT!

I also resent those in Congress who have not addressed our health care crisis and leaves more and more Americans without access to health care and middle class families struggling to deal with rising premiums, deductibles and copays; for people to go bankrupt because of medical costs; for people without access to the care they desperately need, to suffer and for some, to die. A true patriot would not be an obstructionist to health care reform, a work in progress, but work toward shaping a health care system that would serve ALL its people.

__________________________________________________

Lift up your hand, oh God. Do not forget the helpless. Psalm 10:12

http://www.physiciansforpeace.org/
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Grandpavan
Posted Sunday, August 30, 2009 7:03 PM


 

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Joy125 (8/30/2009)
Just as you have questioned the credibility of sources of health care related information in questioning FACTCHECK.ORG, Pat is questioning the credibility and veracity of this man.[/size]

I disagreed with FACTCHECK.ORG by pointing out something that was missing from their analysis of the issue and quoting the house bill to show my reason, and not by bringing up some extraneous area in which I disagree with them.  Pat does not address or answer the objections raised in the first post on this thread.  God bless.

Age 82, diagnosed RA 12/2001, married since 1952, 4 sons no daughters, 4 grandsons 1 granddaughter.  Doing well on Methotrexate and Remicade.

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