Healthcare Article

Has anyone else read this article by Michael Connelly? It is a well-written article, if a bit lacking in citation for his allegations against the disputed healthcare reform bill. Some of his conclusions are also a bit lacking, in my opinion.

"This legislation also provides for access by the appointees of the Obama administration of all of your personal healthcare information, your personal financial information, and the information of your employer, physician, and hospital. All of this is a direct violation of the specific provisions of the 4th Amendment to the Constitution protecting against unreasonable searches and seizures."

That was taken care of quite well by the PATRIOT act- which was some eight years ago during the reign of Bush. There is nothing here that has not already been violated, years ago. Also, this charge lacks citation. This may be broadly implied throughout the bill, but if some such thing as a database for our personal information (which is already contained in an insurance building, if you have ins., and at the government, if you use Medicaid, anyway) exists, there will be a section one could cite.

I will agree that this bill, no matter its individual points, has much too broad a power grab focus by Congress. It inordinately adds to the power given to that body and to the executive branch.

But we must face the fact that we have a problem with our healthcare system. No amount of ignoring this will make it go away. At least our lawmakers are attempting to fix the problem. The way to get them to change it differently is not to resort to outright fabrication. It is to approach them in a credible manner and give them your ideas. Make it clear that your vote depends on their reception of your ideas.

Resorting to supposition and fabrication does not make our cause look credible. It makes it look worse. It makes us look like desperate nobodies who are insisting on making Obama look bad, no matter what he does. That is not a good thing. The kind of rabid hate that I see filling talk shows like The Savage Nation and Hannity & Colmes is astounding. And it is all aimed towards Obama. Why? He is a democrat, and has Communist leanings. Both are true, but do not justify the acrimony I see.

That is not the way to accomplish our goals. The way to accomplish our goals is through earnest, sincere, truthful debate and discussion, not through mindless vitriol and accusations.

This has turned into a rant against the entirety of the anti-healthcare crowd. :P

Anyway, back to our subject- I would more than happy to believe anything bad about this bill. But I cannot when the only thing I have heard posed against it are baseless, unverified rumors. I cannot take someone's word for it. I must see for myself. It is perhaps a failing of mine, but it is important to me that I be able to verify what I am told. (It's the same reason I read The Audacity of Hope, in case you were wondering. ;) )

If anyone could point me towards the individual parts of HR 3200 that carry out some of the accusations against it, it would be greatly appreciated.