Well, sorry to disappoint the tinfoil brigade, but there are no
provisions for euthanasia anywhere in any of the health care reform
bills under consideration by Congress.
But there are "death panels" right here in the U.S. - in Texas, to be
specific. Texas has a law on the books called the "Advance Directives
Act", aka the "Futile Care Law", which empowers hospitals to stop life
support for incapacitated patients in "hopeless" cases, even over the
objections of family members. As Governor of Texas, George W. Bush
(that paragon of "pro-life" virtues) signed this legislation into law
in 1999. Bush's successor, Rich Perry, signed an amendment in 2003
that made the law applicable to minors.
Not only that, but the health insurance companies that Republicans,
tea-baggers, birthers and other whackaloons are defending so
vigorously have their own de facto "death panels". That's 'cause if
you suffer a catastrophic illness or injury, you stand a 50-50 chance
of being *dropped* by your health insurance company!
http://tauntermedia.com/2009/07/28/unconscionable-math/
Maybe it's a good thing that Ms. Mooseburger endured the 10-hour
flight from Texas to Alaska to deliver her youngest son Trig in her
hometown hospital. Besides mental retardation, Down's Syndrome comes
bundled with a whole host of serious health issues. If she had
delivered in Texas, the local hospital board may have pulled the plug
on little Trig. Or she would have had a humungous co-pay from using
an out-of-network hospital!
I'm replying to this, in full, to allow it to occupy more surface area
on the servers. Thanks!
Incoming! I'm detecting an imminent flood of "But, but,
but...it's *different* when we do it!" responses.
--
"...it may be tempting and more comfortable to just keep
your head down, plod along, and appease those who demand:
'Sit down and shut up,' but that's the worthless, easy path;
that's a quitter's way out."
- Sarah Palin, as she quits her job half-way through her term.
I already passed it along on my news feed and to the Weasels, and cced
Milt Shook, who will find it a valuable addition to his ongoing work
exposing the anti-healther lies.
I'm expecting a widespread silence from the right, followed by a
pretense that they never saw Spartakus' remarks.
The whole idea makes little sense because if the death panel is meant
to preclude cost of health procedures, then why would they ever
recommend aborting the kid? The cost of aborting the kid would not be
something they'd want to pay for.
[...]
> > Not only that, but the health insurance companies that Republicans,
> > tea-baggers, birthers and other whackaloons are defending so
> > vigorously have their own de facto "death panels". That's 'cause if
> > you suffer a catastrophic illness or injury, you stand a 50-50 chance
> > of being *dropped* by your health insurance company!
> >
> > http://tauntermedia.com/2009/07/28/unconscionable-math/
[...]
> I'm replying to this, in full, to allow it to occupy more surface area
> on the servers. Thanks!
You're welcome, and thank you for the kind words! Here's more
evidence that we already have de facto "death panels" and health care
rationing.
http://www.10tv.com/live/content/onnnews/stories/2009/07/22/Push_For_Health_Care_Reform.html?sid=102
Basically, the story is about Margaret Druko, a woman with a 4-1/2
year old child with Down's Syndrome. Druko had to quit her job
because child care centers would not take her daughter. The only
insurance she could get was for catastrophic care at $5000 a month.
(That's $60,000 per year for our math-challenged whackaloons; more
than the median household income in the U.S.) Without health
insurance, Margaret and her husband cannot afford to pay for Emily's
physical and occupational therapy. And even though the Drukos
themselves have health issues that are treated with prescription
medications, they have to go without because it's just too costly.
If the Grukos were a bit poorer, they could qualify for government-run
health care which would ensure that their daughter gets the care she
needs.
(Snarky aside - this is Michele Malkin's cue to fly into a rage, root
through the Drukos' garbage and check what material they have for
their counter tops.)
Denial of private insurance coverage because of Down's syndrome is
very common, to no one's surprise. That's called "rationing."
The rightwingers don't give two craps if you abort their daughter's
unexpected pregnancy, or if you abort some non-white kid.
But if you abort a healthy Aryan, who would have made a good
stormtrooper someday, lookout!
> Denial of private insurance coverage because of Down's syndrome is
> very common, to no one's surprise. That's called "rationing."
And it reduces productivity, and reduces the tax base. If everyone
were healthy, everyone could work (including the career of kicking
lazy people in the butt and getting them to work, too!).
Hence, if we had Single Payer (which is NOT on the table) the system
would increase productivity, and would easily pay for itself.
Vallely likes to talk about how Hitler was pro-abortion. It's better
than most of the crap he spews in that it's half true. Abortion was
MANDATORY for Jews, Gypsies, Slavs, and others of "impure blood" or
defective in any way.
However, abortion was completely banned for Aryan women "of pure blood"
and a woman who was found to have gotten a back-alley abortion was put to
death.
--
"Universal" American healthcare coverage, explained:
"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor
to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal
bread." (Anatole France from The Red Lily, 1894)
People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in
the U.K., where the National Health Service would say the life of
this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is
essentially worthless.
http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=333933006516877
Why is this nothing more than stupid hate? Because Hawking is, in fact, a
citizen of and a resident of the U.K. - a professor at the University of
Cambridge.
--
Ray Fischer
rfis...@sonic.net