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EDITOR: The Sept. 19 editorial “Obamacare isn’t free” states the obvious and counters a position no one ever advocated — that Obamacare is free. To support this imaginary position, the MD calls upon Mercatus and Hoover Institute “scholars,” and R. Glenn Hubbard, all occupants of the far right, fact-free bubble they helped create. N.B. Mercatus is one of about 40 “no-think tanks” created and funded by the Koch brothers.
No one ever claimed Obamacare is free. Certainly not any Democrat except, perhaps, the inaptly-named Mountain Democrat. However, what Obamacare will do, and the CBO and real independent economists say it will do, is lower the overall costs of medical care as a percentage of GDP and, while it lowers overall costs, it adds about 30 million people who today have no health care. On a per capita basis, our health care costs will be dramatically lower. Unfortunately, as Bill Clinton recently pointed out, the GOP does not understand simple arithmetic.
Obamacare resembles several European and Asian systems. In France, for example, everyone is obliged to buy health insurance through a union, association, trade group, etc. For those who do not belong to any particular group, there is an “all others” organization. And for those who cannot pay, their premiums are subsidized.
Every three years, unions, associations, groups, private insurers, the government, hospital and doctors’ associations negotiate fees that will be administered by the insurance companies. The fees of doctors are set, but so are the profits and overhead costs of insurance companies. Doctors are not forced to participate. In fact, many specialists opt out and there are private, more expensive insurance plans — no government subsidy-to cover services from those specialists.
The vast majority of French doctors like the system. Every French resident carries his/her own medical and billing records in his wallet, in a password-protected computer chip. There is practically no paperwork to contend with. Doctors simply need someone to man the phone. Doctors are also paid generous bonuses for practicing “preventive medicine,” such as making sure diabetes and heart patients take their drugs, come for regular visits, monitor their blood daily, etc. This requires doctors or nurses to call patients regularly, something we seldom see here.
Doctors are assured of payment within seven working days. Insurance companies love the system because the government is also obligated to reimburse them within seven working days. Insurance companies have a predictable stream of patients, guaranteeing a steady income — no need for legal departments to go after deadbeats, no need to advertise, no need to bribe doctors and hospital administrators with Caribbean vacations, and no multi-million dollar bonuses for CEOs. It must be a good business: almost 100 French insurers participate.
Is the French (or Japanese, or Australian) system perfect? It’s designed by humans so, ipso facto, it’s imperfect. However, taking France (or Japan, or Australia) as an example, what the Hoover, Mercatus and the rest of the no-think tanks ignore is the fact that the French (and Japanese especially) live far longer than we do — the best measure of the effectiveness of a health cares system. They also ignore one important fact: the cost of those health care systems is about half ours. Better results for less money: What’s wrong with this kind of capitalist result?
The answer is hidden in the extreme ideology of the GOP. Why does Tom McClintock (and his mouthpiece, the MD) go after Obamacare as a dog goes after an old bone? Before it became Obamacare, it was called Romneycare and before that, it was called Dolecare (after GOP leader Bob Dole) who got the idea from… The Heritage Foundation, the fountainhead of Tom McClintock’s and the MD’s ideas. Logic, common sense, intellectual honesty and working with Democrats are serious character flaws in the Tea Party universe to which McClintock and the GOP now subscribe.
Of course, we know why the GOP and McClintock want Obamacare to disappear: They cannot support anything, perform any deed for the good of this country if it might benefit a Democratic president. Oscar Wilde said it well: “Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious” and wanting to eliminate Obamacare is, indeed, a vicious act: to let 30 million Americans, mostly kids, die early as long as blind ideology is served.
JOHN GARON
Placerville
The Mountain Democrat does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy
DB SmithSeptember 21, 2012 - 2:31 pm
In your mind you paint a pretty picture Garon. I guess you have read exactly what is included in this so called health care bill??? NOT!!! Again...if it is so great, as Pelosi and you say, then can you tell me why our great leader and his family won't participate in it??? I thought not. Isn't it something like 16,000 NEW Obamacare Government IRS Agents assigned to keep you in control? There are already plenty of programs in place for those who cannot afford health care (including illegal citizens) so your scare tactics of 30 million dying early is in itself vicious.
make us want itSeptember 21, 2012 - 4:52 pm
Taxpayers are funding a “public relations” marketing contract to promote ObamaCare. The initial $900,000 contract was awarded to Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide. Being discussed: a so-called “reality TV show” surrounding “the trials and tribulations of families living without medical coverage.” Another taxpayer-funded “marketing” scheme will aim to have prime-time television shows such as Modern Family and Grey’s Anatomy promoting ObamaCare in their plots. Further, the California Endowment, a health insurance industry-linked foundation, already has spent around $15 million promoting ObamaCare. http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/health-care/item/12867-taxpayers-to-fund-hollywood-obamacare-propaganda
Money TalksSeptember 22, 2012 - 7:47 am
That health insurance industry-linked foundation - California Endowment – means business, and it’s not for nothing that they’re kicking in $15M to promote Obamacare. Their 2010 tax return shows net assets = $3,394,523,673. Their 5 highest paid professionals, all investment managers, (including one from Goldman Sachs) were compensated a total of $5,891,055 for the year. Obamacare is an investment. Their asset managers are paid to insure return on investment. Putting up $15M for a PR campaign represents a mere .4% (.4%, NOT 4%) of the California Endowment’s assets. And there’s plenty more where that came from.
freemarketeerSeptember 22, 2012 - 7:04 pm
As usual, Monsieur Jean Le Garon (Francophile extraordinaire) is at the same time, insulting, ignorant, and laughable. I typically refrain from commenting on his inane posts, but I have a minute to spare. Please inform us, Jean, on how well the Socialist French economy that embraces the health care system you mis-portray and embrace is doing, vis-à-vis (a little French fer ya there Jean) the capitalist economies of the world. Jean’s ad nauseum denigration of anyone or anything he disagrees with is again duly noted. Dr. Thomas Sowell is a Black Man, veteran, extremely accomplished and self made man. He is a Distinguished Fellow at the Hoover Institute Jean attacks as a “non-think tank”. Dr. Sowell has a C.V. that would dwarf Jean’s puny “accomplishments” as a feeder at the public trough and obsessed Socialist poster at the Mt. Democrat. To unpack the lies Jean has again perpetrated via the free market publication and cherished local institution he repeatedly maligns would be tiresome. Instead, I’ll simply quote Dr. Sowell’s succinct summarization of the entire lie of Obamacare. “It is amazing that people who think we cannot afford to pay for doctors, hospitals, and medication somehow think that we can afford to pay for doctors, hospitals, and medication and a government bureaucracy to administer it”. Bon appetite, Jean.
readerSeptember 23, 2012 - 7:17 am
freemarketeer, You say Dr. Thomas Sowell is a Black Man [upper case "b" and "m"]. Why should I care?
freemarketeerSeptember 23, 2012 - 10:07 am
reader: How about African American (two capitalized "A"s). Does that work better for you? The reason you should care is the ultimate fallback argument against anyone that thinks Obama is doing a lousy job is that they're racist. Jean believes Thomas Sowell PhD, is a non-thinker. Ergo, Jean could be motivated by racism, n'est ce pas? Sounds pretty denigrating to me, but that's our Jean!
readerSeptember 23, 2012 - 10:44 am
freemarketeer: Being heartily sick to death of the "racism" fallback I definitely get it. Thank you for responding.
Terri KlineSeptember 24, 2012 - 7:06 am
Thank you John Garon for being a voice of reason against the Mountain Democrat and the hateful tea party propaganda machine in this county!
Money TalksSeptember 24, 2012 - 7:22 am
Terri Kline, you are making assumptions. .
once againSeptember 24, 2012 - 8:11 am
El Dorado county: the land of paranoid fantasy ... It would be more informative if you looked at what has happened in Massachusetts since RomneyCare took effect in 2006. Presently 98% of residents are insured in the state. That’s the highest in the nation. There is also an individual mandate, which Romney defended as a personal responsibility issue during his first campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. ("We said, look, if people can afford to buy it, either buy the insurance or pay your own way. Don't be free riders and pass on the cost of your health care to everybody else," Romney said in a televised debate before the 2008 New Hampshire primary.) Employers were also mandated to provide insurance. The numbers of employers providing insurance has increased 10% since RomneyCare began. Some employers choose to pay the penalty; they are free to do that. Insurance companies in Massachusetts, such as Blue Cross, still have the power to set their premiums. Yes, those premiums have increased. But the Massachusetts legislature, along with the insurance companies, are now engaged in seeking ways to control costs. The state’s insurance commissioner can and has rejected excessive insurance premium rate hikes Both the ACA and the budget resolution Paul Ryan proposed seek to slow the growth of Medicare. The growth in payments to Medicare is a problem which needs to be addressed. Restraints on growth in Medicare spending will need to include lower payments to medical providers – unless seniors want to pay substantially more out of pocket for their medical needs (which they will certainly do if they only get a voucher). Already there is rationing simply because many people cannot afford the additional out-of-pocket expenses. By the way, after 6 years, a majority of Massachusetts residents support RomneyCare. Better to give the ACA a try than to scare oneself into a heart attack!!
jim RiordanSeptember 24, 2012 - 10:46 am
Mr. Garon, Regardless of the subject, if you truly hate this Newspaper that much, why not just discontinue it instead of bitching and moaning about it in every letter to the editor. . . Instead, subscribe to "Lefty Losers".
CatherineSeptember 24, 2012 - 11:48 am
Mr. Garon, Thanks for your letter. It seems to have raised the blood pressure of several readers. The ACA is imperfect, but it's an important step toward some sort of national health system. (Republicans need to remind themselves that they were for the individual mandate before they were against it and then demanded it and now are enraged by it.) But there's another reason why health costs are such a large percentage of GDP in America: We're the fattest nation on earth, with huge obesity-related health costs. The ACA is needed, but we have to look at the other, perhaps weightier, loads on our healthcare system.
Why I hate French SocialistSeptember 24, 2012 - 1:21 pm
Garon and Margaret Sanger went to the same school. Both espoused empathy for the down trodden and blame Republicans. Both are Proud Progressives with a love for European Socialism. Both believe in and tout their pleasure supporting abortion. Both believe in eugenics and are racists. Because both feel superior and believe that a hand full of elitist should decide how the rest of the masses should live our pathetic live.
Why I hate French SocialistsSeptember 24, 2012 - 1:23 pm
This sums it up. Garon's perfect society. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF43P-FJrFo
James E.September 24, 2012 - 3:59 pm
If you are unhappy with the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), suck it up because it's here and it's not going anywhere. And, if you think John Garon is a racist, you've been looking in the mirror and projecting. Well, other than that, have a great afternoon and evening.
Freddie MercurySeptember 24, 2012 - 5:05 pm
The teapublicans are really getting agitated now that they know their guy is a certain loser.
I have French socialistsSeptember 24, 2012 - 5:57 pm
Oh looking in the mirror and projecting? James E you went to the same school. Give minorities free abortions to reduce their population. Right out of Sanger's book. I hope you live to see government mandated euthanasia.
boozySeptember 24, 2012 - 7:46 pm
I challenge ANYONE to show me within the ObamaCare nightmare where there are going to be any savings....it is totally about destroying corporations, raising taxes and giving some 3rd world medical care to the people who provide nothing to the overall health of this country...John Garon...here is your challenge...point out one savings.....by the way, I have already lost 2 of my Doctors because of this Socialist/Communist nightmare..oh, and why did the then controlled Democrats in Congress exclude themselves from this abortion of a bill.
CatherineSeptember 24, 2012 - 8:13 pm
boozy (excellent moniker): Do tell--what happened "I have already lost 2 of my Doctors because of this Socialist/Communist nightmare"
James E.September 24, 2012 - 8:45 pm
Abortions granted with racial quotas to reduce certain populations? I had no idea. And, Boozy, what's the rest of the story -- did you get a third doctor and will you lose him/her too? I propose that doctors who refuse Medicare be listed in the newspaper as they do for suspected DUI arrests. No reason for doctors to be ashamed of their business practices, and it would provide patients needed medical information. Change of topic: Has everyone noticed the change in format wherein we no longer can track the comments being made at a central location about various current and past letters/commentaries. Why was this change made? It limits our interaction to only current appearing letters/commentaries. Perhaps the Editor became tired of our comments.
InternistSeptember 24, 2012 - 10:25 pm
It's a done deal. Obama '12; Hillary '16. Read em and weep, weirdos.
johnSeptember 24, 2012 - 10:59 pm
Some of the comments above indeed remind me of mad dogs going after a bone, viz. the vituperative language and personal attacks. Not surprisingly, not a single fact to counter mine. As for Boozy--he'll need the ACA when it's time for a cirrhosis-induced liver transplant-it isn't my job to teach him how to get information. Try the library.
Jack MartinSeptember 24, 2012 - 11:59 pm
Nothing says "verbose pro-socialist puff piece" like a John Garon signature line. Interesting that Garon had the audacity to quote the CBO. Because a recently released report by the CBO showed that the taxes imposed as "penalties" will, IN FACT, reach all the way down to some people as low as the poverty line and will affect every economic strata from there up to the "rich" making $250K a year. http://www.cbo.gov/publication/43628?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzEmail&utm_content=812526&utm_campaign=0 I know this data is "too hard" for Garon to sift through, but I have faith that most everyone else can read and understand it for themselves.
DeeSeptember 25, 2012 - 8:38 am
During the 2008 campaign Obama promised that the family health insurance premium would be reduced by $2500. The Kaiser Family Foundation has just released a study reportd in the Investor's Business Daily that the family health insurance premiums have increased $3000. That is a $5500 disconnect from promised to reality.
DeeSeptember 25, 2012 - 8:40 am
"reported" not reportd
CatherineSeptember 25, 2012 - 9:01 am
Dee, I think you may have been given a false "factoid" that even the Washington Post can't stand behind: He said that Universal Healthcare would lower costs. You have to give him some credit for trying, in the face of such constipated opposition.
CatherineSeptember 25, 2012 - 9:03 am
You can search on "Romney's whopper claim on an Obama health care pledge"
DeeSeptember 25, 2012 - 9:06 am
Per survey by Jackson Healthcare 16% of physicians are going part-time, retiring or leaving medicine in 2012. Health reform is the reason given for 51%. Of the physicians leaving this year 55% are under 55 years old.
Evelyn VeerkampSeptember 25, 2012 - 9:49 am
Extract from “THE IMPENDING COLLAPSE OF AMERICAN MEDICINE” - (Experience of a 63-year-old ophthalmologist) - “I am staggered by the changes that have occurred. When I opened my practice in 1982, Medicare approved surgical fees for cataract and implant surgery were near $1200. By 2012, that approved charge had dropped to about $570 in Tennessee. . . . ***** “Most general ophthalmologists are, by definition, primarily cataract surgeons. Many people – including Medicare recipients – do not realize that the fees paid to their physician are fixed by the U.S. Government after consultation with its many corporate sponsors within Big Insurance, Big Pharma, and Corporate Medicine. Patients also do not realize that those reimbursement levels are set by central planners at below-cost levels. ***** “Medicare issues cut across all specialties, and ophthalmology has not been alone in experiencing cutbacks. Primary care physicians have increasingly become “piece good workers” – managed by corporate pencil pushers to see a patient every 6-8 minutes while being forced to carry all the liability and manage all the data and coding previously done by insurers. Who can diagnose, much less treat a patient in 6-8 minutes? ***** “My own solo cardiologist was forced to close his practice last Fall and seek employment with an area hospital, due to declining reimbursement levels. More than 51% of cardiologists in the U.S. are now hospital employees. One of my medical school classmates, a successful internal medicine specialist, has recently given up the fight and has plans to enter some other line of work. Several friends in Radiology have seen their incomes decline as more and more work is “outsourced” to tele-docs in Asia. Still other long-time friends who are general surgeons are struggling to survive (a surgical fee for incisional cholecystectomy, for instance, is now under $400). . . . ***** “As income reductions are being imposed on private practice, costs are being driven up by exploding regulations. In addition, the plethora of new mandates and laws have increasingly criminalized every aspect of the practice of medicine and created vast new armies of armed bureaucrats whose sole aim is to impose civil and criminal penalties on any provider unlucky enough to be singled out for attention. . . .” @ http://lewrockwell.com/roberts/roberts357.html
DeeSeptember 25, 2012 - 10:59 am
Catherine, from the New York Times, July 23,2008, by Kevin Sack, "In speech after speech, Senator Barack Obama has vowed that he will lower the country's health care costs by $2500 for the typical family" Catherine,your making a personal attack on a person you disagree with by calling them constipated indicates you know your argument has no merit.
CatherineSeptember 25, 2012 - 12:20 pm
Dee, By Constipated, I meant the Republican refusal to help important healthcare legislation move through Congress. As in Definition, Constipated: Stiff, stodgy, or recalcitrant: example--"united only in a constipated hatred of change of any kind." I apologize if you thought I meant that you, personally, were constipated. The calamity we see in healthcare is, in my opinion, due to not taking a national view. Consolidating management of healthcare would end much of the feeding frenzy between pharma, insurance, and health corporations, and it would normalize payments to providers. There will be a very ugly, messy period in between, as groups fight for survival and profit. Nobody wants an individual mandate; it is the sorry result of political maneuvering on both sides as we move toward universal healthcare.
DeeSeptember 25, 2012 - 12:48 pm
Catherine,the issue was did Obama promise to lower premiums $2,500 for family's health care insurance per year. Two examples, during debate with McCain he said "..cut the average family's premimum by about $2500 peryear," And on Febuary 2008 on a campaign stop in Columbus,Ohio he said "We are going to work with you to lower your premiums by $2,500." And calling people stiff and stodgy is still name calling. Promised reduction in premiums of $2500, reality increase of $3000. The disparity is $5,500. Stop trying to change the subject.
CatherineSeptember 25, 2012 - 1:14 pm
Dee, As I said previously, and as the Washington Post fact checker site states, he said universal health coverage would reduce costs. I can only encourage you to go back and read the full text of the statements so you better understand them. If you choose to believe that the President himself made a personal commitment to you to lower your insurance premiums by $2500 without any changes in how the healthcare system works, then so be it.
CatherineSeptember 25, 2012 - 1:29 pm
Let's see if I can insert this link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/romneys-whopper-claim-on-an-obama-health-care-pledge/2012/07/03/gJQAVhk3IW_blog.html
DeeSeptember 25, 2012 - 1:58 pm
Catherine- I went to your site. I am still laughing. I see, after the first term is almost complete we change the meaning of "cut the average family's premium by about $2500" by the end of his first term. So for your viewing pleasure please read the Investers Business Daily's report "http://news.investors.com/092412-626848-health-premiums-up-3065-obama-vowed-2500-cut.aspx" Again, thanks for the laugh.
CatherineSeptember 25, 2012 - 3:41 pm
Dee, Laughter is good for your health. Better than anger and ignorance. I see you're a woman who can't be swayed by pesky facts. It's going to be a hell of a fight to improve healthcare in this country, and insurance companies will be maneuvering every step of the way, but the ACA is a decent start. Perhaps in the future, when your grandkids have medical coverage built into their lives you'll appreciate how hard it was to enact even this small step forward. Perhaps not. C'est la vie.
Ken SteersSeptember 25, 2012 - 8:57 pm
GIRL FIGHT!!!!!!
'well done Garon'September 25, 2012 - 10:55 pm
“Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious” and wanting to eliminate Obamacare is, indeed, a vicious act: to let 30 million Americans, mostly kids, die early as long as blind ideology is served.