Time for EVERYONE to act!

I thought these points interesting in an article I read this morning. It was entitled "Obama, Don't Squander Chance to Reform Health Care." This was a statement he made in a speech this week. But as it is pointed out, WHAT IS THE RUSH???? The foremost budget guy, okay so that doesn't sound very informed but Ican't remember his title, urged Washington to not support the health care reforms currently being proposed because they were TOO COSTLY and would saddle the country with an impossible deficit!!!! Then the next phrase in the article, this was another article from two days ago, stated that Congress was disregarding this warning. Punto. They don't care because they want to pass something before they recess in August.

This is honestly scaring me how little Obama and congressman supporting this reform are listening to warnings coming from several different camps, (republican, democrat, financial advisors) and people are just following right along because, hey, of course, health care for all sounds great. Don't forget that 13 million of the 50 million uncovered Americans number that keeps getting thrown around as roughly one third are actually ILLEGAL aliens! So the money to cover these people is coming from raised taxes for Americans and small business owners. I don't know about you but I can count five people on my hand that I know who are going to either have to close their doors, or lay people off, or they are going to choose to shut down because it's just not worth it for them to stay in business, even if they could stay open. That results in more unemployment, and therefore, more people who can't buy their own insurance! More people depending on the "reserves" (AKA trillion dollars of ADDITIONAL deficit) country to pay for their health care. It just doesn't add up! Not with the reforms that are being currently proposed! I agree that reform has to happen, with things I have seen in the hospital as a nursing student and with the stories Kevin has told me during his medical school experience, but not before August of 2009. This is not our last chance! It is, I suppose, the last chance to pull the wool over people's eyes and pull a fast one on the American people before they realize what is happening.

Anyway, without further ado, the article...

By PHILIP ELLIOTT, Associated Press Writer Philip Elliott, Associated Press Writer – 3 mins ago
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama told the nation Saturday that his health care overhaul is financially sound and Congress should not squander the chance to make meaningful change.

Republicans didn't relent in their criticism of his plan as a costly burden unwisely on a fast track.

For a sixth straight day, Obama sought to keep the focus on his chief domestic priority in the face of mounting resistance on Capitol Hill, including conservative Democrats. White House officials are worried they face a tougher road to passage than anticipated.
"This is what the debate in Congress is all about: whether we'll keep talking and tinkering and letting this problem fester as more families and businesses go under and more Americans lose their coverage," Obama said in his weekly radio and Internet address. "Or whether we'll seize this opportunity — one we might not have again for generations — and finally pass health insurance reform this year, in 2009." (Why is this the last chance for generations again?)
Through the week, Obama tried to project confidence about his approach to cover millions of uninsured people. During a private meeting with Jewish leaders on Monday, he joked that the only thing more difficult than passing health care legislation might be negotiating Mideast peace.
At a late scheduled White House appearance Friday, he appealed to lawmakers not to "lose heart" and asked for deeper cost cuts to calm concern over the huge expense.
Republicans were not swayed.
"The president and some Democrats insist we must rush this plan through," said Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz. "Why? Because the more Americans know about it, the more they oppose it. Something this important needs to be done right, rather than done quickly."
Two House committees on Friday approved their parts of the bill over Republican objections. That left one more to act. But Democrats facing tough re-election bids or representing conservative districts demanded additional measures to hold down costs.
Given the complexities, as well as fresh calls for delay in the Senate, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., opened the door to pushing off a vote beyond the early August timeline that she and Obama laid out weeks ago. Pelosi long has said the House would vote before lawmakers leave on vacation at the end of July. Now she hedged for the first time.
"We have to see what the Senate will do," she said, before suggesting that changing the bill to produce more savings might require additional time.
It will take a lot to convince Republicans, nearly united in opposing the Democrats' plan.
"It would empower Washington — not doctors and patients — to make health care decisions and would impose a new tax on working families during a recession," Kyl said in the GOP's weekly address. "They propose to pay for this new Washington-run health care system by dramatically raising taxes on small business owners."
Kyl, the Senate's No. 2 Republican, said his party's proposed alternatives should be considered.
"These changes do not require government takeover of the health care system, or massive new spending, job-killing taxes or rationing of care," he said, seeking to string together the biggest fears of Obama's plan to challenge the popular president.
Obama rejected the criticism out of hand.
"Now, we know there are those who will oppose reform no matter what," Obama said. "We know the same special interests and their agents in Congress will make the same old arguments and use the same scare tactics that have stopped reform before because they profit from this relentless escalation in health care costs."
Obama also repeated his pledge that his plan would not add to the federal deficit or deny patients' choices.
"Under our proposals, if you like your doctor, you keep your doctor. If you like your current insurance, you keep that insurance. Period, end of story," he said.
That's a pledge, however, beyond Obama's control. His plan leaves companies free to change their health plans in ways that workers may not like or to drop insurance altogether.
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Obviously this issue affects our family but I think it is something everyone should get involved in because it affects everyone. Whether you support President Obama or not, I urge you to read up on and get educated on this issue. There are some really concerning clauses and, to me, it is a huge red flag that it is being pushed so hard and fast! Another huge concern I have is that taxing the wealthy to cover the poor is a) a disincentive for EVERYONE to work, including the rich who are supposedly going to cover a huge chunk of this thing, with their taxes being raised a total of somewhere around 9%, so 33% plus 9%!, and b) once people are receiving care at little to no cost to them, what is the impetus to get them to work to provide it for themselvesin the future? and c) once something like this is passed it will never go away, no matter what the unrealistic expense because people are never going to vote away someone covering this expense for them! For a country that is all about freedom everyone is sure lining up quickly for some real binding chains that I don't think they realize are part of the package! If you decide you disagree with the proposed Health Care reforms you can call the White House Operator at 202-224-3121 and ask for your congressmen. They'll either give you a live representative or let you leave a message. You can also look up legislation at congress.gov.