HEALTH CARE AND THE FUTURE OF AMERICA
AS I WRITE THIS, I AM IN NYC AT a conference of talk show hosts. The only thing on everyone’s mind is the pending vote on government control of our health care system. I can’t say at 2:51 PM Eastern time what will happen. But I want to share some thoughts about what could happen and the future of our country.
First, hats off to the Republicans so far. They have done everything that could be expected of them. Not a single one will vote for this monstrosity of a bill, this looming disaster. Some superstars have arisen from this struggle, like Paul Ryan. He has shone brightly in his performance, whether it was confronting President Obama mano-mano or dealing with Louise Slaughter today in the Rules Committee. Honestly,any leftist or Democrat should be embarrassed by her. I have met smarter rocks.
And I hope all those who didn’t vote for Republicans, stayed home, voted third party, are pleased with the results. I hope you all enjoy Obamacare.
What will the future hold if this passes? Well, consider these numbers: in 1965, when Medicare Part A was established, estimated cost in 1990 was $9 billion. Actual cost: $67 billion. In 1987, when a special hospital subsidy was established for Medicare, estimated cost in 1992 was $100 million. Actual cost: $11 billion, a factor of 100 times the original in just five years. And, in 1983, a home care benefit was established with an estimated cost in 1993 of $4 billion. Actual cost: $10 billion.
So, I think we know costs will go way up, quality will go down, doctors will leave their practices and the Left will blame the insurance companies and demand more government control and intervention. The best health care system in the world will be severely, perhaps mortally wounded, and we’ll fight this battle all over again. The Left will lie again ( example – the Republicans favor the status quo, only Democrats care – a LIE, ignoring the 32 bills introduced by Republicans ), afraid to debate the merits of their case, and many of you will simply be ground down, worn out and give up.
But, the Republicans can fight,and so can you. We can file lawsuits, over so many issues, and then we can remember in November. Give the Republicans the majority, and they can begin to dismantle this monster. They may not be able to repeal it, until we get a new President, but they can fight and change and, ultimately, refuse to fund it. The taxes start now, the policy changes in several years ( I think a tacit admission that theyare fudging on the cost numbers ), that gives us time.
This bill may not pass tomorrow. I pray it doesn’t. But if it does, we must resolve to continue to fight. This fight is about so much more than who your doctor will be and how expensive your health care will be. It is a fight for the very soul of America. That a legislative body would go so far and be willing to twist the rules to pass such a substantial and unpopular bill negates the very meaning of representative government and a republic. The bill will restrict your liberty in the health care field, negating the very meaning of individual choice. The bill cannot help but impair the quality of the care you receive. This country, our nation, was built as a republic, with individual liberty a birthright and protected by government, and quality products and services the natural result of the market process. This bill strikes at this foundation, thus striking at America’s heart and soul. That’s why we must defeat it,and if it passes, why we must continue to fight, no metter how weary we are, no matter how tired we might get, no matter how hopeless it may seem. We stand on the shoulders of giants who fought for what was right, without counting the odds first, without tiring, without fail, until they won. For our kids, for our future, for our nation, we can do no less.
31 Responses to “HEALTH CARE AND THE FUTURE OF AMERICA”
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Vicki says:
It has been so hard to not hear your actual voice in the mornings when I need to hear what you say and take your optimism and encouragement with me throughout these hard hard days. I know we can’t give up but I feel so beat down; the phone calls, emails, time and money to the few I think do care about what is happening to this country. I don’t know if it matters anymore. Prayer is all I have left and it isn’t even prayer that by some miracle this monstrosity is defeated. It’s a prayer that God will not remove His hand from us since it seems the Government has forgotten that it was placed here by that same hand.
Thanks, Kirby, for this place to vent. I also appreciated the call I received from Americans for Prosperity. That was one robo-call I didn’t hang up on! -
Eileen Voth says:
Right on! I’m so totally disgusted with the absence of integrity in this administration, a feeling I’ve never before experienced. Men in leadership wobble and fail, of course. However, not as blatantly and with such significant dishonesty as our current leaders. Only God can redeem this nation – and that won’t happen until He’s asked! May we cry out to Him for at the very least some honesty in the White House and leadership with some strength of values. Thanks for your columns!
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HAVE FAITH! WE WILL FIGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY!
WE ARE SOLDIERS JUST AS OUR BRAVE SOLDIERS
WHO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM ON OTHER SHORES.PATRIOTS…STAND STRONG. OUR AMERICA, THE LAND
OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE, IS WORTH
ALL WE CAN GIVE FOR HER!
KEEP UP THE FIGHT,AND VOTE RIGHT!AND, THANK YOU, KIRBY. YOU’RE A GREAT PATRIOT.
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Susan Johnson says:
Great information. It was handy to have the exact numbers on how “off” the Medicare estimates were.
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Steven Duenkel says:
Kirby;
You can count on me to continue this fight. Where I and others will need help is to know where to focus our time and resources to be most effective. This is where we will continue to count on you for insight and leadership.
Steve from Sammamish
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Lorraine Howe says:
AMEN-well put as always.
Thank you!!!!! -
Jerry from Buckley says:
Nancy Pelosi is trying to federally fund abortion on a Sunday during Lent! This shows what a liberal catholic working in conjunction with the muslims can do to destroy this country from within if given the chance! 911 didn’t negatively affect this economy to the extent Obama’s policies have.
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Karen Meredith says:
My prayers are with and for all of us. Yes, it is not about health care, the finest in the world. It is about government expansion.
Keep up the good work Kirby. I am trying my best. We love you.
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Delores Tulfo says:
Dear Kirby,
Our prayers are with you. God bless you and God Bless America
(even tho we surely don’t deserve it with the number of babies
we kill each day) May he have mercy on us this, His Sabbath.Lots of love from Tacoma,
Delores and Magnum Tulfo
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Joann says:
Amen, Kirby. It’s hard sometimes to stay strong and positive but your words always give hope for the future.
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Tootie Crowson says:
Kirby,
I won’t stop fighting, because quiting is just NOT in me. We just can not lose our country. There are just soooo many pigs at the trough, and people who don’t know or care about our countries history. And now they want to capture the illegal alien voting block by making them all legal. I’m scared. Pray! -
s akin says:
I am retired-still working, this heal care bill will bsnkrup out children’s children for many generations to come. We need to stop this NOW.
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Rod Mandery says:
Can anyone tell me what a “cadillac” health careplan is as defined by the Democrat union of socialists republic?
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I’ve been praying and calling numbers more than ever now. I visited Michelle Malkin’s website to see the thousands of protestors all arouond the country that are opposed to this but have yet to see or hear of this activity in the mainstream media.
This battle is as you said.
For me this is equivalent to slavery as in issue was in the civil war. The fundamental liberty man has the freedom to worshp God. In the book of Exodus it was God himself who fought against a heart hardened pharoah and his government officals to keep them enslaved. Two produce the same amount of bricks and materials without the materials to do so. If God feels this issue is important then how much more should we Americans today?
2 Kings 12 shows how an Israeli nation rejected a leader who boasted of high taxes to the people. They rejected him and it was peaceful resolution to the problem.
The Republican work is twofold. Two work against a attitude of enslavement entitlement to the government. Both in the attutitudes of hte Amercian people the government officals who lead them. And work against the current laws that have created over the years the destruction of this country that are diametrically opposesed to the spirit and intent of the written word of the United States of America.
I think that if it happens. I think there is no reason why we should not also work at impreaching of the president. All those elected officals are sworn to uphold the United States Constitution.
A die hard Republican with a Tea Party Heart.
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steve says:
I am with you brother. I am deeply troubled by my representatives, their lack of foresight, their closed minds have betrayed our country and the founders beliefs.. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
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Carol Kalina says:
Page 22 of the HC Bill: Mandates that the Govt will audit books of all employers that self-insure!!
Page 30 Sec 123 of HC bill: THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.
Page 29 lines 4-16 in the HC bill: YOUR HEALTH CARE IS RATIONED!!!
Page 42 of HC Bill: The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your HC benefits for you. You have no choice!
Page 50 Section 152 in HC bill: HC will be provided to ALL non-US citizens, illegal or otherwise.
Page 58 HC Bill: Govt will have real-time access to individuals’ finances & a ‘National ID Health card’ will be issued!(Papers please!)
Page 59 HC Bill lines 21-24: Govt will have direct access to your bank accounts for elective funds transfer. (Time for more cash and carry)
Page 65 Sec 164: Is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in unions & community organizations: (ACORN).
Page 84 Sec 203 HC bill: Govt mandates ALL benefit packages for private HC plans in the ‘Exchange.’
Page 85 Line 7 HC Bill: Specifications of Benefit Levels for Plans — The Govt will ration your health care!
Page 91 Lines 4-7 HC Bill: Govt mandates linguistic appropriate services. (Translation: illegal aliens.)
Page 95 HC Bill Lines 8-18: The Govt will use groups (i.e. ACORN & Americorps to sign up individuals for Govt HC plan.
Page 85 Line 7 HC Bill: Specifications of Benefit Levels for Plans. (AARP members – your health care WILL be rationed!)
Page 102 Lines 12-18 HC Bill: Medicaid eligible individuals will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. (No choice.)
Page 12 4 lines 24-25 HC: No company can sue GOVT on price fixing. No “judicial review” against Govt monopoly.
Page 127 Lines 1-16 HC Bill: Doctors/ American Medical Association – The Govt will tell YOU what salary you can make.
Page 145 Line 15-17: An Employer MUST auto-enroll employees into public option plan. (NO choice!)
Page 126 Lines 22-25: Employers MUST pay for HC for part-time employees ANDtheir families. (Employees shouldn’t get excited about this as employers will be forced to reduce its work force, benefits, and wages/salaries to cover such a huge expense.)
Page 149 Lines 16-24: ANY Employer with payroll 401k & above who does not provide public option will pay 8% tax on all payroll! (See the last comment in parenthesis.)
Page 150 Lines 9-13: A business with payroll between $251K & $401K who doesn’t provide public option will pay 2-6% tax on all payroll.
Page 167 Lines 18-23: ANY individual who doesn’t have acceptable HC according to Govt will be taxed 2.5% of income.
Page 170 Lines 1-3 HC Bill: Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from individual taxes. (Americans will pay.) (Like always)
Page 195 HC Bill: Officers & employees of the GOVT HC Admin. will have access to ALL Americans’ finances and personal records. (I guess so they can ‘deduct’ their fees)
Page 203 Line 14-15 HC: “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax.” (Yes, it really says that!) ( a ‘fee’ instead)
Page 239 Line 14-24 HC Bill: Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid Seniors. (Low-income and the poor are affected.)
Page 241 Line 6-8 HC Bill: Doctors: It doesn’t matter what specialty you have trained yourself in — you will all be paid the same! (Just TRY to tell me that’s not socialism!)
Page 253 Line 10-18: The Govt sets the value of a doctor’s time, profession, judgment, etc. (Literally– the value of humans.)
Page 265 Sec 1131: The Govt mandates and controls productivity for “private” HC industries.
Page 268 Sec 1141: The federal Govt regulates the rental and purchase of power driven wheelchairs.
Page 272 SEC. 1145: TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CANCER HOSPITALS – Cancer patients – welcome to rationing!
Page 280 Sec 1151: The Govt will penalize hospitals for whatever the Govt deems preventable (i.e…re-admissions).
Page 298 Lines 9-11: Doctors: If you treat a patient during initial admission that results in a re-admission — the Govt will penalize you.
Page 317 L 13-20: PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. (The Govt tells doctors what and how much they can own!)
Page 317-318 lines 21-25, 1-3: PROHIBITION on expansion. (The Govt is mandating that hospitals cannot expand.)
Page 321 2-13: Hospitals have the opportunity to apply for exception BUT community input is required. (Can you say ACORN?)
Page 335 L 16-25 Pg 336-339: The Govt mandates establishment of=2 outcome-based measures. (HC the way they want — rationing.)
Page 341 Lines 3-9: The Govt has authority to disqualify Medicare Advance Plans, HMOs, etc. (Forcing people into the Govt plan)
Page 354 Sec 1177: The Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of ’special needs people!’ Unbelievable!
Page 379 Sec 1191: The Govt creates more bureaucracy via a “Tele-Health Advisory Committee.” (Can you say HC by phone?)
Page 425 Lines 4-12: The Govt mandates “Advance-Care Planning Consult.” (Think senior citizens end-of-life patients.)
Page 425 Lines 17-19: The Govt will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney, etc. (And it’s mandatory!)
Page 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3: The Govt provides an “approved” list of end-of-life resources; guiding you in death. (Also called ‘assisted suicide.’)(Sounds like Soylent Green to me.)
Page 427 Lines 15-24: The Govt mandates a program for orders on “end-of-life.” (The Govt has a say in how your life ends!)
Page 429 Lines 1-9: An “advanced-care planning consultant” will be used frequently as a patient’s health deteriorates.
Page 429 Lines 10-12: An “advanced care consultation” may include an ORDER for end-of-life plans.. (AN ORDER TO DIE FROM THE GOVERNMENT?!?)
Page 429 Lines 13-25: The GOVT will specify which doctors can write an end-of-life order.. (I wouldn’t want to stand before God after getting paid for THAT job!)
Page 430 Lines 11-15: The Govt will decide what level of treatment you will have at end-of-life! (Again — no choice!)
Page 469: Community-Based Home Medical Services = Non-Profit Organizations. (Hello? ACORN Medical Services here!?!)
Page 489 Sec 1308: The Govt will cover marriage and family therapy. (Which means Govt will insert itself into your marriage even.)
Page 494-498: Govt will cover Mental Health Services including defining, creating, and rationing those services.
This was submitted by Stephen E. Fraser, MD after he reviewed the Obamacare bill. We all need to be proactive about defeating this legislation. I hope all 50 states file lawsuits against this travisty of justice.
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Every door should have this article taped to it to remind people what is at stake!!
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shirley says:
You are correct 101%.. as much as i agree with Glenn Beck on issues and waking up the former complacent, we can’t afford a third party! We have to stay the course with the R’s fight against this atrocious bill and get the message out to the kool aide drinkers that the R’s on NOT the “party of NO”… that they agree and have solid ideas for a better remedy to existing shortfalls. This legislation is just the tip of the iceberg to single payer, which Obama is on video stating he is proponent of. I think that the R party is finally getting the message to do an about face back to the fundamentals of Reagan.
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jim thompson says:
That whch is not being discussed is the marvelous contribution to World health Care which has been the mantra of the competition through the Nation’s Insurance Companies.
What is capitalizm?
What happens to the investment portfolio of the Insurance Companies?
Competion regulates, socialism suffocates. -
Kirby, As I write this, Stupak has announced his vote for the healthcare bill. Please, keep your voice coming in our continuing fight for our freedoms, as I will keep praying that this travesty will be used by our Lord to awaken this nation, first to seeking Him and His kingdom in our land that He gave us, and to what we must do to defeat these enemies of our Constitution and our freedoms that it stands for.
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Dave says:
Amen, brother. I currently volunteer for SHIBA and it seems that the volunteer leaders and all the volunteer seem to be in favor of it, hook, line and sinker.
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peggy jankovic says:
I agree wholeheartedly–what you left out, though, was also the “back-room deals” and out and out “buying” of votes–that kind of corruption is so appalling, yet seems so accepted by the mainstream media and the Left. Promising someone something in exchange for their vote is just wrong, and every member of Congress who made a deal with the Obama administration should be prosecuted.
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Rose Marie Anderson says:
You’re absolutely right. Now we need to double down on our fight to reverse this monstrosity no matter how long it takes.
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john in Kent says:
Thanks Kirby !!!
John
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Deborah says:
Thank you so much for your explanation. I’m too tired to care to analyze it out myself. I hate to say it but Americans (by voting in those demo monsters) deserve what they will be getting! I pray for all the rest of us–that God will give us the divine strength we need to endure what’s down the road.
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Ira says:
“Extremeism in defense of freedom is no vice!!”
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Joe from Everett says:
democrat put the hit on America, tomight.
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Ruppert Reinstadler says:
True words. By now you know that this monstosity passed. Sad to see those Democrats that did not follow their convictions and caved at the end – for whatever reason. We all need to stand firm on our convictions. We can get thru this. God has bigger plans……………..
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Renate says:
Thank you, Kirby, for those sentiments. The last few sentences summarized beautifully why we must continue. God bless and keep you. You are a real statesman.
Very well said Kirby. I have been calling Brian Baird every day this week urging him to vote no. All the other weak kneed Democrats from WA have said they will vote yes. I cannot believe the lies and the deceit of the Democrats. They all need to go including Patty Murray and Cantwell. Keep up the fight!!