Joe Conason: Preserving Life (Unless It’s Uninsured)

[marmar]

from truthdig:



Preserving Life (Unless It’s Uninsured)

Posted on Sep 15, 2011
By Joe Conason


Watching the Republican presidential candidates and their agitated tea party supporters at the CNN/Tea Party Debate, an ordinary citizen might feel confused. Those people sound angry, but exactly what do they believe our government should (and shouldn’t) do on behalf of its citizens?

Ensuring affordable health care for everyone seemed to be on the forbidden list, even for Mitt Romney, who had tried to do exactly that as governor of Massachusetts. Every one of the candidates vehemently insisted, to predictably enthusiastic applause, that President Obama’s health care reform must go, immediately, if not sooner. And just as predictably, none of them suggested how to provide affordable health care to the roughly 50 million Americans who lack coverage—a number that reached a new record last month.

Indeed, when CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer asked whether a young man lacking private health insurance should simply be allowed to die if he suddenly suffered an accident or illness, some audience members screamed “Yes!” Many of the rest cheered, while the would-be presidents stood by woodenly, without the dignity of a demurral.

It was a revealing moment that may foretell a new and meaner Republican platform: If you lose your job and your health care, don’t expect any help, except perhaps from the church. And if your innocent kids get sick, too bad for them. Forget about Medicare, Medicaid and any American who can’t afford private insurance. This is a free country—so don’t get sick. ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/preserving_life_unless_its_uninsured_20110916/

[Gari]

1. Octavia Butler's series ...

...Parable of the Sower is a horrifying glimpse into the future - if we are ruled by the Re-Thug-licans. Strange how they were all in a froth about Teri Schiavo a few years ago, demanding "Let her live" and Teri was - gasp - on Medicare for a time!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. Such a wonderful author

gone much too soon. :(

[Gari]

5. Amen!

[raccoon]

2. I wonder how these people are going to feel when their child or grandchild is uninsured. nt

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. well, they're going to pay the med bills themselves, of course...

because you're supposed to take care of your own, right?...

[Gari]

6. Yeah, or hold a BBQ or bake sale

Or their mega church will pay for the hundreds of thousands of dollars if a transplant is needed. Or set up donation cups in local convenience stores. That is sure to be enough to pay for medical bills. And maybe that lotto ticket they bought last night will finally be "the big one".

For such rugged individualists, these Re-thugs sure do indulge in flights of fancy quite a bit.

[MisterP]

7. Romney didn't try to "ensure affordable health care" as governor