Obama
Welfare for health insurance companies
Dec/16/09 22:09 Filed in: Healthcare Policy | Politics
Up until last night, I supported the healthcare reform plans of President Obama. I did so, despite the evisceration of important parts of the proposed law, including the public option, stricter controls on insurance companies, and broader coverage for more people. What we are going to have is a law that is no more than a transfer of wealth from the taxpayers to rich health insurance companies. Sure, those companies have to accept customers with pre-existing conditions, but they get to charge more. Sure, they have to accept older individuals, but they get to charge them more.
Moreover, this bill will charge people who do not have insurance so that they might be covered. If they don’t have the money, the government will give it to you, and it will go to the insurance companies. Senators Joe Lieberman and Mary Landrieu, bought and paid for by the health insurance industry have sold out their values for these companies. Neither of them, supposed Democrats, have shown any conviction, any morals or any beliefs that are not bought in cash. The health insurance companies must be popping corks from bottles of Dom Perignon.
Some people say that it’s better to have a plan than none. I disagree. I think this plan will bankrupt the country, but in a wholly different way that the Republicans are saying. Without real reform, the cost to the citizens will be tremendous. Read More...
Moreover, this bill will charge people who do not have insurance so that they might be covered. If they don’t have the money, the government will give it to you, and it will go to the insurance companies. Senators Joe Lieberman and Mary Landrieu, bought and paid for by the health insurance industry have sold out their values for these companies. Neither of them, supposed Democrats, have shown any conviction, any morals or any beliefs that are not bought in cash. The health insurance companies must be popping corks from bottles of Dom Perignon.
Some people say that it’s better to have a plan than none. I disagree. I think this plan will bankrupt the country, but in a wholly different way that the Republicans are saying. Without real reform, the cost to the citizens will be tremendous. Read More...
Civilized medicine, Part IIa. Myths
Aug/15/09 14:49 Filed in: Healthcare Policy | Politics
Although so many others have debunked this myth, I want to make sure that I add to the roar (of laughter, derision and anger) about the latest right-wing attempt to demonize healthcare reform.
Stephen Hawking, the world’s preeminent theoretical physicist, has a form of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease in the United States), a progressive neuromuscular disease, which has left him paralyzed and unable to communicate except through an advanced communication device. Despite his disease, he has published numerous books and starred in an episode of Star Trek:The Next Generation. On August 3, an Investor’s Business Daily editorial stated, “People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in the U.K. where the National Health Service would say the quality of life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless." Read More...
Stephen Hawking, the world’s preeminent theoretical physicist, has a form of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease in the United States), a progressive neuromuscular disease, which has left him paralyzed and unable to communicate except through an advanced communication device. Despite his disease, he has published numerous books and starred in an episode of Star Trek:The Next Generation. On August 3, an Investor’s Business Daily editorial stated, “People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in the U.K. where the National Health Service would say the quality of life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless." Read More...
Healthcare reform = Nazism
Aug/13/09 10:15
I have been vaguely uncomfortable with the comparison of Obama’s healthcare plan with Nazis or Hitler. Use of that analogy in a discussion or debate is often referred to as Godwin’s Law, which states that “As a discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1.” What has begun to trouble me is that either those opposed to healthcare reform are clueless about recent history, or they are representing a form of Holocaust denial, which is a belief that the murder of six million Jews during World War II did not happen. I know that certain individuals in the healthcare debate are prone to rhetorical flourish, but there is no way that healthcare reform is equivalent to Nazi’s. Unless you believe that Hitler was engaged in “healthcare reform”, or worse yet, you think the death of six million Jews is not the worst thing that Hitler did (well, the Holocaust and being directly responsible for the deaths of tens of millions as a result of the war itself).
Many others are becoming convinced that the right wing is spreading Holocaust denial as a part of making their hatred against Obama and this new healthcare plan. According to Arthur Caplan, a renowned bioethicist, “Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin and the rest of the loud-mouthed right wing are, when they even hint at an analogy to the Nazis in talking about Obama’s health reform effort, engaged in something far worse than insanity. They are engaged in the vile evil of Holocaust denial.”
Those who are opposed to Civilized Medicine are so filled with hatred, that they cannot even provide cogent and positive points about healthcare reform. You just can’t make stuff up. Read More...
Many others are becoming convinced that the right wing is spreading Holocaust denial as a part of making their hatred against Obama and this new healthcare plan. According to Arthur Caplan, a renowned bioethicist, “Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin and the rest of the loud-mouthed right wing are, when they even hint at an analogy to the Nazis in talking about Obama’s health reform effort, engaged in something far worse than insanity. They are engaged in the vile evil of Holocaust denial.”
Those who are opposed to Civilized Medicine are so filled with hatred, that they cannot even provide cogent and positive points about healthcare reform. You just can’t make stuff up. Read More...
Civilized medicine, Part II. Myths
Aug/09/09 10:17
I have found the commentary against the proposed healthcare reform to be both disturbing (Limbaugh’s comments dishonors the memory of the Holocaust) and silly (and kind of disturbing too). But almost all of the comments are based on myths, and as those of you who read this blog know, I can’t stand myths. The disinformation about Obama’s healthcare plan is poisoning the debate, because rational people tend to dismiss an opposing viewpoint if it has no sound foundation in logic. I think that there should be a reasoned debate on how to fix the healthcare system of the US. It’s not happening, because one side is channeling its hatred of the other side, and reason goes flying out the door.
Let me refute some of the more outlandish of the myths about healthcare reform. Let me state upfront that there were so many to choose, and some of them were so laughable, I didn’t know where to start. Read More...
Let me refute some of the more outlandish of the myths about healthcare reform. Let me state upfront that there were so many to choose, and some of them were so laughable, I didn’t know where to start. Read More...
Civilized medicine, Part I. Why?
Aug/05/09 01:01
Unless you live in a world that does not include the media or internet, you must be aware of the level and tone of debate about healthcare reform. Before we can discuss healthcare reform, we need to establish why we need healthcare reform. Cutting through the rhetoric as to what needs to be done, we still need to know the reasons that have lead the US to the point where we need to seriously consider some level of reform of the system. Setting aside some of the rhetoric and arguments, let’s look at the key issues regarding healthcare in the US. Read More...
Civilized medicine
Aug/04/09 23:44
I’m titling this post “Civilized Medicine” as opposed to “socialized medicine.” What I’m really going to discuss is Obama’s healthcare plan, but I wanted to start out by demolishing that old strawman argument that attempts to dismiss new ideas by calling them “socialist.” A civilized society owes its citizens the right to a healthy life. But that’s just semantics, and a thorough review the Obama’s proposal is warranted. When I first started to write this entry, I thought I could do it one article, albeit a long one. Instead, to make it easier to read, I’ve decided to do it over four parts over the next few days. Read More...
Obama's science policy
Today, President Barack Obama gave a speech (audio version can be found here) to the National Academy of Sciences, the nation’s prestigious science advisors. The speech reaffirms his campaign promises regarding science policy (how refreshing that a politician actually follows up on promises made in the heat of the campaign) and follows up on his executive order to reverse George Bush’s ill-founded partial ban on stem-cell research. Below are a few key points of the speech that deserve repeating.
At such a difficult moment, there are those who say we cannot afford to invest in science. That support for research is somehow a luxury at a moment defined by necessities. I fundamentally disagree. Science is more essential for our prosperity, our security, our health, our environment, and our quality of life than it has ever been. And if there was ever a day that reminded us of our shared stake in science and research, it’s today.
Federal funding in the physical sciences as a portion of our gross domestic product has fallen by nearly half over the past quarter century. Time and again we’ve allowed the research and experimentation tax credit, which helps businesses grow and innovate, to lapse.Read More...
Our schools continue to trail. Our students are outperformed in math and science by their peers in Singapore, Japan, England, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Korea, among others. Another assessment shows American fifteen year olds ranked 25th in math and 21st in science when compared to nations around the world.
Obama & Healthcare 2
According to a report from The Center for Public Integrity, which produces original investigative journalism on public issues, there are over 45 million Americans who lack health insurance. Politicians of all political outlooks have constantly promised Americans a plan for health insurance. Nothing has happened.
President-elect Barack Obama made health care a critical part of his election platform and is now a central facet of his presidential agenda. I can assume that with the current economy, there will be opposing forces of “we can’t afford it” and “we need it for the unemployed”, so it still will not be easy. Read More...
President-elect Barack Obama made health care a critical part of his election platform and is now a central facet of his presidential agenda. I can assume that with the current economy, there will be opposing forces of “we can’t afford it” and “we need it for the unemployed”, so it still will not be easy. Read More...
Obama & Science
It was an issue that did not drive polls or voter behavior. It was an issue that did not bring a lot of interest from policy wonks or political pundits. But science is one issue that has significant impact on individual, cultural, and national growth and security. If one takes a long-term strategic view of America, investment, education and training in science will profit America financially.
The Bush administration led a war on science, especially in the areas of stem-cell research and global warming. Even in areas such as the teaching of creationism in schools, the Endangered Species Act, and NASA, there is a profound anti-science attitude exhibited by the current administration. Economic security, as well as national security, result from innovative and competitive scientific and technological leadership.
But now Obama is the President-elect, and I am convinced that there will be a significant change in direction in America’s science policy. In early October, Obama released a letter that clearly states his positions on the Federal government’s role in science. He intends to appoint an individuals to provide advice and establish policy on science and technology. He wants to remove any attempts to “distort or ignore scientific research.” This is a clear first step in rebuilding the country’s scientific position. Early in the campaign for president, he answered several questions posed by scientists, which outlined his point of view. Read More...
The Bush administration led a war on science, especially in the areas of stem-cell research and global warming. Even in areas such as the teaching of creationism in schools, the Endangered Species Act, and NASA, there is a profound anti-science attitude exhibited by the current administration. Economic security, as well as national security, result from innovative and competitive scientific and technological leadership.
But now Obama is the President-elect, and I am convinced that there will be a significant change in direction in America’s science policy. In early October, Obama released a letter that clearly states his positions on the Federal government’s role in science. He intends to appoint an individuals to provide advice and establish policy on science and technology. He wants to remove any attempts to “distort or ignore scientific research.” This is a clear first step in rebuilding the country’s scientific position. Early in the campaign for president, he answered several questions posed by scientists, which outlined his point of view. Read More...
Obama & Healthcare
Nov/06/08 10:12 Filed in: Politics | Healthcare Policy
What politicians say during their campaign is usually not what they do when they are in office. We are all cynical about their statements, but there are reasons why we should think that his policies might be implemented. First, and most importantly, he will have a presidential honeymoon, where he will have the goodwill of the country, including other politicians. For three to four months, he will have the ability to push through legislation that otherwise might founder in the legislative process. Second, he has a solidly Democratic congress, many of whom have an interest in healthcare policy.
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US Election 2008
Yesterday evening, I watched history being made when Barack Hussein Obama II was elected the President of the United States. For me, the historical importance had nothing to do with his race or color, but it had everything to do with a number of critical issues that are of importance to not only the US, but the world.
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