Thoughts On Health Care Reform

Can we talk? 

Comedienne Joan Rivers used to use that line in her stand-up act... and probably still does... I can't be sure since I haven't heard one of her routines in years.  Anyway, once upon a time, I used to think that Rivers was quite funny.  I wish I could laugh now.

We need to talk, you and I.  We need to talk, particularly if you are an American who is steadfast against the current Health Care Reform bill.  I'm not going to rant, and I am not going to use (too much) hyperbole, but I have to ask you a few questions:

What is going through your minds and the minds of your fellows, turning up at town hall meetings with guns? 

What is going on when people keep screaming about socialism? 

What is going on with your soul when you would be dead-set against a bill that will help provide health insurance to the millions of Americans that can't afford it?

How can you possibly so misinformed about the contents of this bill that you actually take people seriously when they start shrieking about "Death Panels"  I mean, really... you can't believe that, can you?  Really?

Look, I have to tell you something... you folks have been misled.  You've been hoodwinked; bamboozled; flim-flammed.  You have been heinously punk'd.

Now, I know that you'll get mad about what I am going to say, but it doesn't matter, because you people have been madder than hell because America rejected the neo-con (know-nothing) agenda by the popular election of Barack Obama.  I think that you folks have nothing to offer anyone other than anger... but, I'm going to try to help you.

Let me apprise you of a few facts: 

1)  The health care reform (HCR) bill doesn't require all Americans to have some sort of government coverage.

2)  HCR doesn't have a provision that prevents people from choosing their own doctors.

3)  HCR doesn't have a "Death Panel" provision, and isn't going to require the extermination of disabled children or the elderly.  There is nothing in it that has ANYthing to do with Rationed care.

4)  HCR isn't socialist.  If you think that it is, you should follow this link and read the definition of the word.

5)  The President isn't a Nazi... and he sure as heck isn't a Fascist.  Popular election... remember that?  As a matter of fact, his popular election was an electoral blowout.

I realize that this is all ramping up for you folks because the whole "birther" thing has been shown to be stupid, and nonsensical.  I realize that your party (the GOP) is morally bankrupt, and I am sure that it is galling for any of you with a shred of sense that your primary cheerleaders are Sarah Palin (and you actually voted for her!), Rush "The Druggie" Limbaugh, Orly Taitz, and that creepy Michell Bachmann, but you really need to see sense in this matter.

So, please... spare me the rhetoric.  Spare me the "It's not Constitutional".  Spare me the whining.  Grow up.

This country can wage war in two seperate places at once, and be involved in military operations all over the world, and most of you would never bat an eye over it, but the people that fuel the engines of capitalism that makes it possible should, at a minimum, be able to take their children to a doctor... not an emergency room, if they get sick.

Not caring about the health of the poor is not only inhumane, it's un-Christian.  To some of you, that might not mean anything, but for many of you who profess to follow Christ, you should be searching yourselves for answers.  How can you actively work to prevent medical care for the poor?  How can you?

Yes, I know that you are going to start talking about charity versus government intervention, but I wonder why you only make that complaint when the government tries to help the poor?  I'll venture an answer:  You people don't believe that the poor are worthy of your help.  Many of you actually believe that poor people are only poor because they are lazy... some of you believe that poor people actually deserve to be poor.

I wonder how many of you are going to your local members of Congress and begging them to vote against any further farm subsidies.

What's that?  Crickets?

Color me unsurprised.