Posted by By Pat Camuso
LORDS VALLEY – More than 50 people gathered in Lords Valley Sunday, July 19, to protest against President Barak H. Obama’s proposed health-care overhaul.
A rally organizer, Tammy Gillette of Hemlock Farms, said the protest was planned only a few days before as just a thought; then word of mouth and strings of email took over leaving Gillette surprised but very happy with the short-notice turnout. She credited her small success to a certain passion that some Pike County residents have against Obama’s proposed health-care reform plan; a passion that this reporter witnessed first hand.
“President Obama has devastated the economy, the unemployment rate is through the roof and now he is going to devastate our health-care system,” said Gillette.
“The government never has run anything well; they can’t run the post office and they can’t run Medicare. I just don’t trust them with my family’s health,” said Nick Mazza of Lords Valley. “I’m scared for what we are leaving for our kids. The next generation is going to have this massive debt to deal with and I’m not sure what we are going to get from it. When the President goes on national television and says we’re out of money but he continues to spend carelessly – bills passed without even being read – there’s a real problem here.”
“I challenge all members of Congress who are forcing this health care bill down our throats to explain to us why they are exempt,” said Tom Ryan of Delaware Township. “This is a Congress out of control; they have spent more money in just a few months than any Congress in the history of the United States. They all [Congress] need to go and so does this health-care bill. The only way its going to stop is when their [Congress) jobs are threatened. We need to replace anyone in Congress who supports this so-called health-care reform bill. These people were elected to represent us but they are only representing themselves and their own agenda. Ask yourself why are they exempt from a health-care plan that the rest of us will have to live with. Rationed healthcare is around the corner; but not for them.”
Congress exempted themselves from the health-care plan,” said Gillette. “How can they tell us that they believe in the plan yet refuse to participate in it themselves.”
“We have to stop this proposed health-care bill because it is terrible; particularly for retired people,” said Bernie Steinlaum of Lords Valley. “They say that senior citizens have to get used to the idea of having less care; but they are at a time of their lives when they need more care. This is very bad and must be stopped; rationing is a dirty word.”
“Our legislators haven’t even read the bill because its over a thousand pages and with something as important as our nation’s health-care, we have to ask why is there such a terrible rush, “ said Marty Hammer of Blooming Grove. “We don’t want to adopt the models that they have in England and Canada where people have to wait months and years for care, urgently needed care in some cases and where rationed health-care is a reality. Despite its flaws, we currently have the best health-care system in the world; people travel here from all over the world because of our first class health-care. Lets improve what we have but lets not destroy it in an attempt to improve it.”
The crowd Sunday was a mix of political persuasions but this reporter noted a common theme within many of the protestor’s comments – fear. “I’m concerned about the moves our President is making not only in health-care but in many other areas,” said Sam Bauch of Ridgewood, New Jersey. “We are headed for a totalitarian system which I fear enormously and anyone who knows a little history should feel the same way.”
I think Jean’s point was that she waited for 4 months, not just two. She probably waited longer than to avoid the health care system since it isn’t cheap. People die here too on waiting lists, Tammy. You can’t pretend it doesn’t happen. If you’re lucky enough to have the right kind of insurance or beaucoup de bucks then God love you. Too many people aren’t insured, or right here in Pike County, when they are insured, they still have to travel to Scranton, or New Jersey or New York for health care because the doctors only take a certain quota for certain plans.
Medicare is by your description “socialized” medicine. VA medical benefits are “socialized” medicine. What’s your alternative?
Mr. Ryan, you’re making up your numbers. 60% are NOT opposed to the plan unless you got that off Fox News. In fact, numbers out tonight show that when people are told the details instead of the same tired Republican hype from 1994 the numbers approving rise to 58%. That number came from the Wall Streeet Journal.
One more thing. Your first amendment rights were not questioned. Why is it that when Republican facts and figures are questioned and they can’t back them up properly, they start screaming about 1st amendment rights. As for Pat’s biases toward the right, he’s on record, and as long as the Pike County Press doesn’t balance the negative spin on healthcare (did he even bother to get a view from the other side), his past writings (and yes, his paid activities for GOP candidates, too) will come back to haunt. I saw the BRCTV report as well. He wasn’t accurate, and he did add opinion at the end of the piece. GOPers discredit the so-called “liberal press” all the time. It isn’t out of line to call it the other way.
This protest was started by an individual who chose this venue because our elected officials do not seem to want to hear us. The fact that people came from distances to make their voices heard, means that there is alot of dissent about this so called healthcare plan.
A 2 month wait to see a doctor seems like alot of time, but when you think of waiting a year or more, it’s not so bad. Perhaps the wait is because there are not enough doctors and the reason is the cost of insurance. You will not find Tort Reform in this bill anywhere. Tort lawsuits cost 8 Billion dollars a year. It seems like this would be a good place to start cutting costs if that is the result that they are looking for. How many commercials for attorneys do you see in an evening of watching TV calling for suing a doctor for something or other? It must be very lucrative if they are willing to pay the costs of those expensive commercials.
We have good health care in this country, it’s insurance that they are selling (right, AARP?) Yes, if you go to the hospital, and have no insurance, the cost gets passed on to those who do. However, you do get healthcare, even if it’s limited, like one finger reattached and not two. Or, if you are an illegal alien and wait outside of the emergency room while in labor. When you are ready to deliver, you go in and get taken care of. This bill will lessen the real healthcare that we enjoy and give everyone insurance for less care, and you won’t be able to get the great meds that we can get now. Ask those who have this system now. They can’t get certain meds because they cost too much. Does that sound like a step in the right direction?
If you are a baby boomer, you are on the losing side of this whole thing. Obama said that by the year 2016, you will start to see a savings. If you are 65 now, by the year 2016 you will be 81 and probably dead. This plan wants you to start planning for death by age 65. They want you to get used to the idea that you are on limited time and to plan to die, and don’t ask for anything to make you healthier. It sounds like a SciFi horror movie from the 70’s. Get rid of the elderly and chronically ill, and keep the young voter!!
My represtative from our area is a Democrat who voted against the Cap and Trade Tax. I emailed him and thanked him and urged him to vote against this Socialist Healthcare Plan, as well. I only hope he does, it’s a disaster!
It is interesting that an advocate to the health care bill is bringing up that “worker in Michigan” who had to choose which finger to reattach, that famous scene from Michael Moore’s propaganda film “Sicko”. His name was Rick, it was TWO fingers he cut off using a table saw at home, and it was not that “his insurance would only pay for one”, Rick had chosen not to purchase ANY insurance or work for an employer that provided it. In the U.S., Rick had the freedom to obtain insurance, the immediate admission to a nearby hospital, and the specialists available on site to reattach fingers.
Now, compare and contrast that to this gent in Canada… hand mangled in a saw at work, he was shuffled around to THREE different hospitals in Canada because the first hospitals had no room for him. He finally gets to surgery after 22 hours and wakes to find his finger removed. The reason, per the Canadian Health Minister George Abbott, is “that the medical professionals did the best they could, but noted there are not many surgeons in the province who can perform the complex micro-surgery involved in reattaching a finger.”
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/02/16/bc-finger.html
The Chief Justice of the Canadian Supreme Court stated in the landmark case Chaoulli v. Quebec that their govt health care system violates their civil rights to life, liberty and security of the person – “Access to a waiting list is not access to health care….[T]here is unchallenged evidence that in some serious cases, patients die as a result of waiting lists for public health care.”
http://www.hg.org/articles/article_698.html
And even Claude Castonguay (the founder of Canada’s public health care decades ago) has decided that it is a failed system and they have to now allow private insurance/doctors/facilities (free markets) back in Canada. He advocates a combination of private insurance and government insurance (which is exactly what we already have in the U.S. with private insurance companies and Medicaid/Medicare for the poor and senior citizens).
http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=299282509335931
Per the bill in Congress, our current private insurance is temporarily grandfathered in, but we can’t make any changes to it or enroll in similar insurance later….after this bill is passed, all future private insurance plans are severely restricted to conform to the public plan and any private insurance will have to be purchased through the national health insurance exchange. We are adopting Canada’s national system at exactly the same time Canada has admitted it failed, it kills their citizens and they need to move toward our system.
I didn’t realize that exercising my first amendment right is limited to a Township or State. I am puzzled by the Canadian connection??? Oh yes, they can come here for Health care and employment but we as United States Citizens can’t go to Canada, it is against Canadian Law. I am only a small part of the 60% of Americans that include Republican, Democrats and Independents that oppose this plan and will continue to do so. I would also mention I have not heard from anyone from Congress or the Senate offering an explanation as to why they are exempt. Oh! Yes I did hear from the President during his press conference “I am the President “. I await a call but fear the self serving elected in Congress and the Senate are working on reviewing new Legislation to impose THEIR will on the free people that elected them under the false impression that they would protect our rights and improve our quality of life.
The Administration Office of Budget Management describes the cost as “A Significant unsustainable impact to the Nations deficits “. The impact on the largest employers in the country which is small business will be devastating hence unemployment and NO Health Care at all. We are at 60% and growing each time another part of the Congress and Senate exempt plan, and cost are divulged.
Incorrect diagnosis, waiting times for doctors, your cost insurance premiums does not warrant condemnation of the existing system. It says to me “You have a choice” get another plan, different Doctor or sue for malpractice. These are now options available to those who find themselves in this position. If this plan is successful those options will not be available “ choice will be gone “ Then go try to sue the Government for malpractice “ Good Luck “ I think the Federal Government is exempt from those type of law suits. The fact that someone made poor choices doesn’t mean I have to become part of their failing system or make major changes to accommodate their poor judgment.
As for the Republican sponsors someone should have told the Democrats and Independents they too are not permitted to express their First Amendment rights. A lifelong Democrat, in attendance, who on Tuesday had completed his second round of Chemotherapy which lead to Kidney failure decided this issue, was so important he made his way to this rally to lend his support. In my opinion this is a powerful personal statement from this very courageous man. It was my privilege to stand beside him at this rally and hope to do it again.
Mr. Camuso’s “on the record endorsements while with the Dispatch” has no place in this discussion. The opinionated column inferred to as an endorsement was an endorsement of candidates and their positions on specific campaign issues. The only reason this was raised could only be to distort the facts and discredit the author.
The only ones using the word “rationing” are Republicans, which BRCTV-13 was more honest in reporting than Pat Camuso, who went on record in the Pike County Dispatch last fall as endorsing John McCain. According to 13, the Blooming Grove Republican Club sponsored this little rally. And it’s interesting that they had to import some Republicans from New Jersey and Delaware Township to add to their numbers.
Don’t let the rhetoric here fool anyone — rationing is already taking place in the United States private healthcare system. Just last winter after months of suffering from what turns out to be wrongly diagnosed as arthritis (I had to wait two months to see that doctor before he got it wrong), I had to wait another two months to see a specialist. Then I had to wrestle with the insurance company, to which I pay around $7000 a year BEFORE I walk into a doctors office, because they did wan’t to pay for the office visit. I was describing this experience to a Canadian friend and he said “Sounds like us, but at least we don’t have the insurance hassle.”
There is one giant difference between the US healthcare system and Canada or the UK. No one there ever goes into bankruptcy because of medical bills. Medical catastrophes are the second biggest cause of bankruptcy in the US. No one has to decide, as a worker in Michigan did, which one of three fingers he wanted reattached after a carpentry accident, because his health insurance would only pay for one and he couldn’t afford to do anything else.
Oh, I forgot to mention that my insurance is the type that not all doctors want to participate in, and my premiums seem to go up every year. I’m of an age that I can be discriminated against legally by other insurers, so I can’t move elsewhere. So, at some point, I will reach a place where I can’t afford my health insurance, so like many millions of others in this country, I will probably have to drop it. Then the taxpayer and/or other insured individuals will pick up my medical bills anyway if I go to a hospital, either through taxes or increased premiums.
The current bill may be far from perfect, but just saying no because of fear isn’t going to help the unemployed, working poor, small business owners, famlies and otherwise unfortunate folks who get sick.