A president that cares about its people would take a stand of attacking the number one problem in the country – getting unemployment down. Finding ways to put those who have lost their livelihood back to work. The health care issue needs to be put on the back burner. Address the most urgent problems facing Americans today: Unemployment, Run-Away Government Spending, The Stimulus Package Boondoggle, The U.S. Budget in Total  Disarray, and on and on it goes. These are problems that could sink America. PRESIDENT OBAMA! ARE YOU LISTENING? Why are you so fixated on the this one issue? Do you remember that Nero fiddled while Rome burned? Hello Mr. President! It’s time to take out your ear plugs!!!

Health care for all Americans is a a huge problem and needs overhauling but raping its people in the process of a program that is just downright wrong and against the Constitution is not the answer. Putting men and women to work so they can keep food on the table and pay for their homes is an immediate need that cannot and should not be overlooked.

I certainly don’t have all the answers and we need to pray for those who are faced with finding the answers and implementing them – their job is not an easy one. In fact, it seems insurmountable. But, the American people have overcome adversity before and they will again given good leadership.

President Obama – you need to listen to the American people. Have you noticed that unemployment is the number one concern? Have you taken notice that your ratings in the polls are not on the positive side? Maybe you need to stand back, take a look at the drawing board and then represent the people – listen to those you are supposed to represent. You may actually be a better president.

FAR Editor

A good take on the President’s speech comes from The Wall Street Journal.

It’s Still the Economy, Stupid
This could be America’s greatest failed presidency.

By Daniel Henninger – The Wall Street Journal

“To save himself and his party from enduring another health-care debacle, Barack Obama should put his agenda on the back burner, bend his efforts to raising the economy, and rebuild his political capital by taking credit for the inevitable rebound. That just might minimize the impending loss of House seats and allow him to revisit his wish list in 2011. The alternative is promising big, accomplishing little and getting credit for nothing. This could be America’s greatest failed presidency.”

(Click on the above link for the rest of Henninger’s observations.)

In a hastily prepared bid to rescue the Universal Health Care Bill, the president will dig in and let his persona shine as he works to convince Congress and the American people that his version of health care reform is best for America. Don’t believe it! He will go to just about any lengths to make sure this government-run health reform package is crammed down our throats. The voices of the American people are being heard throughout the nation and yet our representatives and president don’t seem to care what the taxpayers want.  There is no doubt that changes need to be made to the health care system but a government-run program is definitely not the answer.

For additional information on the President’s speech, go to the Fox News link.

FAR Editor

POLITICO (To read the in between of the article – click on Politico.)
By Michael Steele (Chairman of the Republican National Committee)

“Here’s what we know for sure – the president will give a good speech Wednesday night. He always does. We also know that he will say a lot of things that the American public likes and agrees with when it comes to health care reform. He always does.

But there is one small problem. Speaker Pelosi’s bill, a bill that the president has endorsed, doesn’t have anything in common with the president’s eloquent, poll-tested rhetoric. In fact, no Democrat proposal exists from the president or any of his congressmen that has anything in common with the president’s rhetoric.”

Read the rest of the story at Politico

“If and when the President ever wants to get serious about enacting common sense reforms that actually address the rising costs of health care, the Republican Party is ready to work with him in a bipartisan way. But as long as he keeps promoting the fantasy that cramming through Nancy Pelosi’s government takeover of health care is the “change” America wants, no amount of beautiful speeches will get him out of Oz.

So…get your popcorn ready…enjoy the speech and the pageantry…but don’t fall for it. And if you miss the speech, don’t worry, there will be another one next week.”

Those questions and more will be on the table tonight as Americans tune in to see Obama’s take on getting across his message on support of the health care bill. Will it be rhetoric as usual or will he be honest and open? I have serious doubts that his speech will change the image of the bill for most of our citizens. Miracles do happen but this would take a big one; one I don’t think Washington can deliver. We must stand vigilant and firm – keeping our voices heard and hearts lifted in prayer to know the truth.

FAR Editor

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Senator John Cornyn:

“The president can bank a huge reservoir of public trust Wednesday by engaging the public with direct answers to their commonsense questions, such as:

–We spend nearly double per capita what some other industrialized nations spend on health care; how will another trillion dollars really reduce health care spending?

–How can we cut nearly $500 billion from the Medicare program for seniors when it is now underfunded by three times the national debt and currently projected to be bankrupt by 2017?

–How will a new government-run insurance program “keep insurers honest” when our two current public plans, Medicare and Medicaid, are riddled with unmatched fraud, waste and abuse?

–How do we reconcile the claim that lobbyist influence in Washington is decreasing with the fact that those most closely consulted on these gargantuan bills are special interest groups like the pharmaceutical industry?

–”Minimum benefit packages” that are mandated as a part of every insurance plan sound great, but since there’s no such thing as a free lunch, don’t mandated benefits actually reduce choices and drive up costs for all patients?

–Will employer “pay-or-play” mandates accelerate the job losses we are seeing across the country?”

*Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, serves on the Finance, Judiciary, Agriculture and Budget committees and is the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Benjamin E. Sasse, former U.S. assistant secretary of health, teaches at the University of Texas and advises health investors.

The invitation  has been issued and now President Obama will put on his presidential trappings and speak to a joint session of   Congress which will be broadcast to the American people on Wednesday, September 9.

The invitation issued by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry  Reid:

“Our nation is closer than ever to achieving health insurance reform that will lower costs, retain choice, improve quality and expand coverage. We are committed to reaching this goal. We would like to invite you to address a Joint Session of the Congress on Wednesday, September 9 on health insurance reform. Thank you for considering this invitation to speak to the Congress and the nation.”

Sounds like the President will use the quickest means at his disposal (Congress returns to  Washington on the 8th) to try and stop the downhill slide of his popularity and the voices rising up across America to halt the Health  Care bill. Seizing the moment will enable the President to try and sell Congress on his agenda to bring “change” to health care reform. Yet, the same Obama rhetoric will be there and the same old bill will still be waiting in the wings. A health care that is government run will be a change but not for the better. Any time the government gets involved in a program that costs taxpayers not only more money but costs our freedom of choice is a failure waiting to happen.

Universal Health Care is not good for the American people. Government run health care is going to end up the same way Medicare and Medicade is headed…an antiquated system facing bankruptcy.

The American people should be given the opportunity to choose their health care coverage. For those who are happy with their coverage, let them continue with their present plan. For those who want a “hand out” and refuse to pay the cost of insurance – they should not expect a free ride of government entitlements. My family pays for  our health insurance and they should too. Americans paying for employer issued health care pay their portion…it is a condition of  acting responsibly. Those who refuse coverage at their work place should either enroll in the plan or face the consequences of no insurance. At the present time, there are clinics and programs that furnish health care as well as hospitals that treat uninsured patients. These clinics and hospitals should be reimbursed for this care and not be saddled with the cost. There is no such thing as “free” coverage. The costs of health rises across the board and is passed on to the American taxpayers.

There are those Americans who simply cannot afford insurance coverage due to many reasons and those needing coverage should have access to good health treatment. The government needs to work on these areas and meet the challenges they present.

We need to exclude those in our country that break our immigration laws. No free ride for law breakers. At the present time, illegal immigrants receive better “free” care than our own citizens.

There is Medicare to cover our senior adult population and the government should do more to maintain high quality health care for those who have paid in to the Social Security program and deserve their benefits.

Medicaid is for those who are mentally or physically disabled and for those who fall below the poverty level. Medicaid coverage should provide the same high quality of health care as updated Medicare.

Now, more than ever, we need to let our voices be heard that we do not want Universal Health Care. We do want our representatives to hear our objections and then represent the people and their wishes; not blindly vote on a bill that most of the representatives haven’t even read themselves…let alone pretend to understand it.

Get vocal. Contact your representatives, fill out polls showing your displeasure with the president, join a Tea Party near you. Just let your voice be heard. Keep up the pressure and let our government know that they are to be a government of the people and for the people, not a government of dictatorship that forgets who it answers to.

FAR Editor

President Obama will address a joint session of Congress on health care reform in prime time on Wednesday, Sept. 9, a senior official tells POLITICO (Click on Politico for additional information).

“Sigh.Yet another hectoring on why we should want to dismantle American medicine and pay more to do so from the POTUS on the TOTUS.  Breathless reports from CNN about Olympia Snowe’s willingness to deal aside, the White House looks desperate at this point, and with public opinion turning as rapidly as it has against Obamacare, that desperation is understandable. People warned the president about overexposure, and now he’s already in reruns eight months into his presidency.  Obamafatigue has set in, and ham-handed stunts like addressing the nation’s school children only add to the woes of a White House stuck with a thinly-disguised push to single payer built on the rationing of medical services to seniors.  The only question of interest now is how many Democratic incumbents are willing to lose their seats in service to President Obama.  Pushing through any “reform” at this point could cost Democrats massively in November, 2010.  I suppose there are a few Alinskyites who don’t mind being retired in order to advance the president’s agenda. Enough to pass Obamacare though?”

Hugh Hewitt

The President’s Speech To Congress:

If He Doesn’t Demand Serious Tort Reform He Isn’t Serious About Health Care Reform

Rasmeussen Report – Saturday, August 15, 2009

Thirty-five percent (35%) of American voters say passage of the bill currently working its way through Congress would be better than not passing any health care reform legislation this year. However, a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that most voters (54%) say no health care reform passed by Congress this year would be the better option.

(To read the rest of the story, click on the above link.)

The Ask Heritage organization compares the proposed Healthcare bill to European-Style Health Care.

If you have been listening to Canadians and/or Europeans express their opinion on America’s health care reform you will hear an awe of wonder in their voices as to why America would even consider such a change in its present health care system. Many have shared the problems associated with government run health care, i.e., long waits for appointments to see a doctor, and health care treatment once you’ve received a diagnosis. Patients are left waiting for long periods of time to hear back on their requests for coverage…waiting for their government to decide who and when will receive needed care. For many patients it comes too late. For others, patients may have no choice but to seek medical care in the United States.

If the Canadians and Europeans see their health care as dismal failures…why would the American government want such a program for it’s citizens? Is this just another government-run agency? Government control over it’s citizens. Or is there a more sinister plot unfolding?

You really won’t have a choice…

“Among other things, the bill establishes a new government-run health care plan and new federal insurance rules and regulations that will ultimately change the coverage you have today – whether you like it or not.” (Read the rest of the story, click on the above link.) Ask Heritage.

Where will that leave us? Under the care of over-worked physicians that can’t afford to retire, they’re too young, or maybe they even support health care reform??? Where will new doctors come from? Who will even want to enter the field of medicine if they are under a “dictatorship?” Who would want to study that many years and then work under a government run health care system? Which patients would they be allowed to treat? How would they handle turning away those patients that are elderly or disabled? What about patients not deemed important enough to receive treatment? Doctors and would-be doctors would be faced with both legal and ethical questions.

I can’t even begin to imagine the struggles the doctors and patients would be subjected to.

On Friday’s Rush Limbaugh Show, a physician called in and shared his thoughts on the new Health Care bill.

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT- From Rush Limbaugh’s Show – August 28, 2009

A Version of Obamacare Will Pass

RUSH: In Philadelphia.  Richard, welcome to the EIB Network, sir.  Hello.

CALLER: Hi.  Good afternoon.  I’m a physician in Philadelphia, and when I read that story by Betsy McCaughey in the Wall Street Journal yesterday — I’m so glad that you brought it up — it actually made me physically ill.  As a physician reading that, I think of the Hippocratic Oath.  I mean, how can you look a patient and the family in the eye and say, “You’re outta luck because some mad scientist, Ezekiel Emanuel, is telling them you’re not worth it.”

RUSH: Let me explain to the audience that may not have heard this yesterday what it was that made you physically ill.  Ezekiel Emanuel…. There’s a story written by Betsy McCaughey in the Wall Street Journal, a column, and Ezekiel Emanuel is the number one health care advisor to President Obama. He’s the brother of Rahm Emanuel, the ballerina, who is the chief of staff.  Ezekiel Emanuel said the big problem with medicine is the Hippocratic Oath, that doctors are too focused on doing everything for the patient.  Doctors have to be more focused on the good of society and make decisions as to, “Hey, it’s not worth treating this patient.  We got three 70 year olds and the resources might be better spent on a 16-year-old who’s sick, who’s got a longer life.”  So the whole notion here that there aren’t any death panels? The lead advocate for Obamacare is thinking things like this and has written about them. And that’s what Richard in Philadelphia here, a doctor, is upset about.

(For the rest of the story, click on the above link.)

]]> http://www.freedomatrisk.net/2009/08/31/are-doctors-too-focused-on-doing-everything-for-the-patient/feed/ 0 http://www.freedomatrisk.net/2009/08/26/no-health-care-reform-without-legal-reform-sarah-palins-notes/ http://www.freedomatrisk.net/2009/08/26/no-health-care-reform-without-legal-reform-sarah-palins-notes/#comments Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:53:45 +0000 Editor http://www.freedomatrisk.net/?p=696 Sarah Palin on Facebook writes:

“We need to address a REAL bipartisan reform proposition that will have REAL impacts on costs and quality of patient care.”  Sarah Palin  (Clink of the above link for the rest of the story.)

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Have you really thought about what it would take to “fix” our health care system? Some Americans are happy with their present health care coverage. Other Americans are unhappy with their coverage or have no coverage at all. What  would you propose?

It’s a difficult matter that affects all Americans – the answers will not come easily. However, the bill touting Universal Health Care that is being rammed down our throats is definitely flawed and is not the answer to the dilemma. Any health bill pushed upon the American people that takes away their rights and health choices, is not the answer. I wonder what the solution will be? It should definitely be a matter of prayer.

FAR Editor