Jon David
Originally published on BigGovernment

On October 12, 2008, then Presidential candidate Barack Obama made a campaign stop in a quiet suburban neighborhood in Toledo, Ohio. What was supposed to be an uneventful run of the mill “Grip and Grin,” turned into something quite the contrary. Our future President and the world were introduced to Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher: a proud American who unwittingly became the symbol of the “every man” trying to escape the far reaching arm of Big Government.

Joe the Plumber….a great American….A great bald American. I do not come from a critical place when I mention the state of Joe’s hair, or the lack thereof. In fact, despite the flowing mane of the anonymous avatar under which I post here today, I too, am a follicly challenged American….but not for long.

The unemployment numbers for December continue to paint a bleak picture.  While the unemployment rate dropped to 10%, the nation still lost 11,000 jobs for the month.
In the meantime, the Obama Administration is preparing “Stimulus II” which looks to be more of the same.  When they rammed the last stimulus through – at a cost [...]

The health care bill winding through Congress has more than its fair share of controversial components, but the Wall Street Journal today points to one that’s particularly egregious. The bill contains a requirement that the government create an unelected board to determine a “global budget” for how much is allowed to be spent on Medicare each year.

Prominent health economist Alain Enthoven has likened a global budget to “bombing from 35,000 feet, where you don’t see the faces of the people you kill.” …

The theory is to let technocrats set Medicare payments free from political pressure, as with the military base closing commissions. But that process presented recommendations to Congress for an up-or-down vote. Here, the commission’s decisions would go into effect automatically if Congress couldn’t agree within six months on different cuts that met the same target. The board’s decisions would not be subject to ordinary notice-and-comment rule-making, or even judicial review. …

As the health redistribution bill before us attempts to put its skid marks on history, it further proves Democrats are the party of the past. Their antiquated, government-run take over of Americans’ health care is as ill-suited to our times as a leeching is to laser surgery.

We do not live on a government-run globe. We live in a people powered world, one belatedly awakening to America’s revolutionary experiment in human freedom and self-government. Today, from the palms of our hands, in nanoseconds we can traverse distant strands of earth to access friends and goods. Why in the world would we put in the palm of a bureaucrat’s hands our health care?

Buried in the 2,000 page health care being considered by the Democrats in the House are countless provisions ranging from new taxes on individuals and small businesses to efforts to insert the hand of government bureaucrats between you and your doctor. We’ve compiled the worst of these for your easy reference.

 

• Reduces Access
  • Allows doctors to opt-out, leaving new Medicare/Medicaid participants without access to a doctor they would have had if they participated in a private insurance plan
  • By expanding Medicare/Medicaid that reimburses as much as 40% below private insurance, more doctors will choose to opt out of public plan.

The Congressional Budget Office today released a study of the Republicans’ common-sense health care reform proposal. The CBO found the Republican plan, unlike the Pelosi bill, reduces premiums without raising taxes.

In response to the report Rep. McCotter made the following statement.

In hearing and heeding the American people, House Republicans have proposed sensible, affordable and helpful reforms to advance patient-centered wellness that will empower working families to reduce the costs, increase the quality and maximize the choices regarding their health care.

Findings from the study released by the Republican Leader’s Office are after the jump.

Washington, DC — Throughout the health care debate, the majority of Americans have expressed their opposition and frustration with the president and his Democratic Congress’ radical proposals. The public is opposed to the scheme’s practical harm; frustrated by the Democrats’ arrogant refusal to listen; and justified in its concern that willful Washington politicians will impose [...]

Flash forward to the latest cacophony from “spoken word” Grammy winner President Obama and his Lefty Health Club Band’s radical “concept” album, A Health Dirge Night; examine a few select tracks; and, recognize the reprised promotional chicanery.

The album opens with the derivative 8-track era chestnut, With A Little Help from the Feds. Here, President Obama’s Lefty Health Club Band warbles that a radical bill must pass – now! – because our broken health care system is in crisis. Why? Because they said so. Yet, while concerned with rising costs, the vast majority of Americans believe our health care system is good or excellent, and they are satisfied with their current plans. Why then did Obama’s band try to rush release a radical bill before the public could hear how it impacts their current health care plans?

Friday, July 24, 2009
by Frank Beckmann in the Detroit News

On Monday, President Barack Obama hailed that Apollo 11 mission that landed on the moon for sparking “innovation, the drive, the entrepreneurship, the creativity, back here on Earth.”

How right he was. Our space program led to technological advancements like breast cancer detection, digital imaging, ocular screening for young children, laser angioplasty, ultrasound scanning, arteriosclerosis detection, portable X-ray devices, MRIs and bone analyzers.