We all come naked from the womb, but most of us do not stay that way. Yet again I am amazed at the rhetoric flying about the airwaves and the halls of congress concerning the Shangri-La or inferno of revamping the U.S. health care system. It’s not the topic that is disconcerting but how the opinion of the American public is so easily swayed by any titillating story, whether true or false, and how easily we are lured away for meaningful debate into the afternoon soap opera. My example is not taken to focus on any one point of view because the tactic is used by all sides of the issue.
On the radio show hosted by former Sen. Fred Thompson, New York lieutenant governor Betsy McCaughey stated that the House’s proposed health care bill contained a provision that would institute mandatory counseling sessions telling seniors how “to do what’s in society’s best interest…and cut your life short.” Citing page 425 of the bill, McCaughey claimed that “the Congress would make it mandatory … that every five years, people in Medicare have a required counseling session that will tell them how to end their life sooner, how to decline nutrition, how to decline being hydrated, how to go into hospice care … all to do what’s in society’s best interest … and cut your life short.”
Here’s what the bill says, “An explanation by the practitioner of the continuum of end-of-life services and supports available, including palliative care and hospice, and benefits for such services and supports that are available under this title.” The accepted definition of end-of-life planning means thinking ahead about the care you would like to receive at the end of your life – which may include the choice to reject extraordinary measures of life support, or the choice to embrace them. The section would require Medicare to pay for, not mandate, some end-of-life planning counseling sessions with a health care practitioner once every 5 years. It is clear that McCaughey’s distorted interpretation of the content of page 425 was offered not to stimulate debate but to frame an atmosphere of fear and mistrust.
Several television ads sponsored by Patients United Now claim that Canadian citizens survived serious illness only by leaving the country to get treatment in the U.S. because of the length of their wait for service in the Canadian health care system, claiming “Washington wants to bring Canadian-style health care to the U.S.” The reality is that no one is advocating for a government run health care system. The president and the leaders of both parties resound with the words of Sen. Max Baucus, Chair of Finance Committee, “single-payer (government run health care) is not going to get even to first base.” Yet the ads continue for what purpose? Not to stimulate debate but to frame an atmosphere of fear and mistrust.
There was a time in this country that I can remember when someone or some group publically making a misstatement or an outright lie, the journalistic community would stand up on their hind legs and demand accountability, and there was an American public that had not abdicated their role in the republic and given place to apathy believing everything we are fed. Naked again.
Tags: Add new tag, collaboration, Congress, economic challenges, Healthcare, James Klein, President Barack Obama, US House of Representatives, US Senate
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Well written with a recognition that we are all responsible for insuring the success of our nation.
Enjoyed meeting you and learning more about the Finance Fund last evening.
Mary & I have a special day on Wednesday February 16, we met on that day 33 years ago, brought together by mutual friends.
Jim May
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