Johnny

For a great piece of satire, or maybe irony… Or maybe he’s going for reverse-psychology… Check out this Newsweek article by Jonathan Alter. One paragraph that really jumped out at me, illustrating how people blindly and ignorantly resist change:

I’m with that woman who wrote the president complaining about “socialized medicine” and added: “Now keep your hands off my Medicare.” That’s the spirit!

People’s blind ignorance can be just as bad as their blind faith!

The White House has taken a little initiative and started a new program called Reality Check – a resource “to help you separate fact from fiction and share the truth about health insurance reform.” Here’s the highlights from their first distribution:

• CEA Chair Christina Romer details how health insurance reform will impact small businesses.
• Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes tackles a nasty rumor about euthanasia and clearly describes how reform helps families.
• Matt Flavin, the White House’s Director of Veterans and Wounded Warrior Policy, clears the air about Veteran’s benefits.
• Kavita Patel, M.D., a doctor serving in the White House’s Office of Public Engagement, explains that health care rationing is happening right now and how reform gives control back to patients and doctors.
• Bob Kocher, M.D., a doctor serving on the National Economic Council, debunks the myth that health insurance reform will be financed by cutting Medicare benefits.

The White House also has a blog post out countering the claims that an “uncovered video” shows proof that Obama wants to eliminate private health insurance.

FactCheck.org took notice that the White House has decided to jump into the industry; and they have pledged to continue their fine work, and Fact Check the Reality Check.

Fact Check does have a few recent health care or health insurance related posts worth checking if you are interested:

• Canadian Straw Man and Dying on a Wait List? both address misconceptions about Canada’s health care.
• Insurance Co. Profits addresses Obama’s overstatement of insurance company profits; but the real number still illustrate the companies are making plenty.
• Health Care Nostrums takes on the RNC’s advertisements that seem to criticize any-and-all health care reform.
• Surgery for Seniors vs. Abortions? addresses yet another crazy claim; that the new plan will require abortions and not cover surgery for seniors.

Finally, I’d like to relay some great points from a blog post I Stumbled Upon.

• All the people in the industry know it needs reformed; but none of them have any personal incentive to initiate reform. Unfortunately that leaves “a regulatory entity with the rule of law (i.e. the government)” as the only one powerful enough to initiate reform.
• This truly is not “government health care” but “government health insurance” – and too few realize this, or even know the difference.
  The argument of “Do I want a government bureaucrat deciding if I get [insert medical care here]?” is complete bull.

  The question with government health insurance will not be if you can get the care you want, but who will pay for the care. Same as today, you’ll still have the option to go outside your coverage and pay for it out of pocket yourself.

• The government is already running a health insurance program: “46% of health care is currently paid for by government insurance policies known as Medicare and Medicaid.”
• The current path (if there is no reform) is illogical, destructive to the economy, and immoral.