Today's Panel: Fmr. House Majority Leader Rep. Dick Armey (R-TX), now the head of FreedomWorks, an organizer of protesters at town hall meetings; Sen. Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK), Member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Fmr. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), an informal adviser to the White House and author of "Critical: What We Can Do About the Health Care Crisis"; & Rachel Maddow, Host of MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show.
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This column has been holding off as long as possible in commenting on the healthcare reform debate, the reason being is that we wanted to get the most clear picture of what both sides of debate want. Waiting was the responsible thing to do to try and understand as thoroughly as possible all the concerns... and because one of the debate's focal peaks had potential to develop on today's Meet The Press.
Before we get into the details, this column feels compelled to point out that in the midst of such a heated national debate where anxiety is high, profits are at stake, special interests abound, and suspicion on both sides runs rampant; a trusted voice is needed to cut through the clutter and create a calming effect. Well, the most trusted man in news passed away. Tim Russert was that newsman. When Walter Cronkite recently died, it got people thinking of the question of who is the most trusted person in news. Mr. Russert had gained the trust of more Americans than any other television journalist and his voice is needed in this debate.
With that said, can Mr. Gregory bring us back from the brink from the hysterical by dispelling the 'death panel' healtcare bill myth? To be clear, the 'death panel' notion is based on a provision in the bill that would require Medicare to reimburse the patient for this voluntary advance directive consultation with one's doctor. When the provision is described and discussed in clear language, it is a reasonable provision that keeps the control of an individual's life in his/her own hands. The term 'Death Panel' is the creation of a completely irresponsible political figure - Ms. Sarah Palin.
Mr. Gregory asked about such a provision that was in included in the Bush Administration's Prescription Drug Benefit bill in 2003, to which Sen. Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) said had he been in the Senate at the time, he would have opposed it because of the $10 trillion it adds to the country's long-term debt. Despite not really answering the question, his answer is fair enough based on financial reasoning. Since he was not a legislator at the time he can not be held accountable for that Republican initiative, but the Senator also opposes the Democrat's healthcare plan on the same grounds - it's not cost efficient. However, the Democrat's healthcare plan will add $1 Trillion to our national debt over the next ten years. By that rationale, the current proposition seems almost frugal. Republicans are playing politics with Americans' lives to ensure that insurance companies maintain their profit trajectory. On the other hand, Democrats and President Obama haven't made it reassuringly clear how it will be paid for. Saying that is going to be mostly paid for with the savings from streamlining and updating the system, it doesn't inspire confidence. We'll believe it when we see it because it doesn't matter which party controls the executive branch, that notion that it will be paid for from savings is unrealistic in this country. Is it going to be paid for by taxes on the richest 1%? By taxes on the middle class? Or are we simply going to borrow more money for it? To cut through the clutter, the President and the Democrats in Congress need to make this stupidly clear.
The substance of today's panel did actually come from fmr. Sen. Daschle and Sen. Coburn. Rachel Maddow made her first appearance today on Meet The Press and it was a necessary one because of the individual sitting to her left, ironically, Mr. Dick Armey - former House Majority Leader from Texas. The organization founded by Mr. Armey, Freedomworks, has contributed solely in a negative way to the debate. Mr. Armey speaks about freedom and liberty, as he did on today's program, but his sense of it is completely warped. It's freedom, liberty, and profit at the expense of others or at the very least a knowing disregard for the adverse repercussions self-interest inflicts. His facts are just those - his facts, and Ms. Maddow was an essential foil to Mr. Armey's bluster.
So we refer back to Sen. Coburn and his quote from the Washington Times as cited by Mr. Gregory, that the Democrats healthcare plan will kill Americans... The real substance? These are the kinds of statements that will contribute to the dreaded notion, which this column fears, that a bill will be passed but will essentially be compromised to the point of rendering it ineffective. (Mr. Daschle today said reform was a 50-50 chance.) What's more is that he stood by this statement and went on to say that America's healthcare system is among the best in the world, which simply is not true. Senator Daschle rightly pointed out that our infant mortality rate and life expectancy are ranked very low compared to the other industrialized nations of the world. Despite Senator Coburn's contention that these are not true measures is weightless. These are the measures! Added to what we pay as a country (12% of our GDP) comparatively to other countries, it makes our healthcare system the equivalent of a rusted out car with a half-assed paint job. To use a phrase, cash is needed for this clunker. And if his figures are to be believed, Mr. Daschle pointed out that it is projected that our healthcare in its current state will cost us $35 Trillion over the next ten years - an unsustainable figure.
But there is Mr. Armey arguing that Medicare is tyranny because seniors can not get out of it even if they wanted to, also arguing that social security should be phased out. These two arguments directly point to a solely profit driven agenda, one as we stated above should be allowed to dominate despite its effect on the vast majority of the country's citizenry, with some of those individuals mistakenly advocating against their own self-interests.
As it stands right now, the insurance companies, over 1,300 strong in the U.S., have the most leverage and decision-making power on how costs, profits, and money are distributed. (Let's not even start on the Pharmaceutical Industrial Complex's influence.) What's wrong with that? Well, let's put it this way... When the fate of all is controlled by a private few [read: privately held company] not answerable to anyone except a profit-driven board of directors, there is no accountability to the majority. Corporatism is not beholden for the general welfare. Your life will be shortened, your liberty compromised, and your pursuit of happiness will be given a placebo shot and sent on its way.
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