Do you remember when Joe the Plumber said Obama’s plan to “spread the wealth around” sounded like socialism?
Some doubted the validity of his assessment at the time, but we are now forced to accept such as reality. The so-called stimulus package is nothing more than spreading the wealth to a laundry list of Democratic pet projects. In a sense, the stimulus bill contains everything except provisions, which will stimulate the economy.
I’m sure you’ve heard some of the more ridiculous provisions contained in the supposed stimulus package. Surely, allocating millions of dollars for golf course renovation, office space and vehicles for bureaucrats and STD prevention is a wonderful way to stimulate the economy. This is the case according to three lousy Republicans and all but 11 Democrats.
This astronomical spending will harm us for years to come. Even so, the outrageous spending is not even the most dangerous provision in this “stimulus package.”
Unfortunately, many in the media have failed to report the truth concerning the provision called “Comparative Effectiveness Research.” This dangerous and little-known part of the bill will help liberals in Washington wrest from our hands the freedom to make our own medical decisions.
Apparently, Washington liberals believe themselves to be in a better position than we to determine what medical treatments are most beneficial and cost-effective. Personally, I think both decisions are better left to my doctor and me. I trust my doctor, not the government, to consult me on medical issues.
If you don’t believe anything so outlandish and harmful could be included in a bill that is supposed to stimulate the economy, just look at the evidence. The report given by the House Appropriations Committee states: “Those items, procedures, and interventions … that are found to be less effective and in some cases, more expensive, will no longer be prescribed.”
If you still don’t believe this is a harmful provision, please consider that 63 groups, advocating for patients, have written a letter to Congress concerning the dangers of such legislation. In their letter, it is made clear that “comparative effectiveness research” could bring about “restrictions on patients’ access to treatments and physicians’ and other providers’ ability to deliver care that best meets the needs of the individual patients.”
Countries, such as the United Kingdom, already possess government-run health care systems, which make use of boards conducting “comparative effectiveness research.” It makes sense, then, to assess how well patients in such countries are receiving medical care.
In such countries, patients are continually being denied treatment and medication, which could save, or greatly extend, their lives. This is all because such treatments and medications are deemed “less effective” and “more expensive.”
The patients being denied treatment and medications have names. They are not simply faces in the crowd. Consider, for example, George Robinson, who made his home in the UK. He had lung cancer and needed a drug called Tarceva in order to extend his life. However, the benevolent government-run system deemed Tarceva to be less than effective when compared to its cost. What do you think George Robinson and his doctor thought?
By their very nature, government-run health care systems must do whatever possible to keep costs down. Except for the insane idea that nationalized health care works, I am unable to understand why anyone would stand in support of such a system. At its very core, nationalized health care systems present dangers to free people everywhere.
Tom “The Tax Dodger” Daschle may not be our next Secretary of Health and Human Services, but he has made his impact known. It is he, in a book, who suggested nationalized health care is so important that it should be placed in a budget bill if necessary. It looks like his Democratic colleagues read his book.
What a shame it is that our leaders would even pass a “stimulus bill” that does nothing to stimulate the economy. It is even worse that they would pass a provision that leads us down the road to nationalized health care without so much as debating the issue.
Friends, we are in for a fight – a fight against tyranny and a fight for liberty. Our government is attempting to take away our freedom to make our own medical decisions with the consultation of the doctor of our choice.
Stand up for your liberty. Remember the words of President Reagan: “Man is not free unless government is limited … As government expands, liberty contracts.”
We cannot afford to allow the government to make our health care decisions for us. Our very lives are at stake. What will you do? Make your choice. As for me, I have chosen to stand for life and liberty over oppression and death.
--As Appeared in The Daily Mississippian on Friday, February 20, 2009
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