THE OBAMACARE JUGGERNAUT CONTINUES
As the Congress continues to rewrite and introduce new versions of so called health care reform legislation in both houses of Congress the citizens of the United States are treated to longer and longer bills that are more and more confusing. The House has passed its version and now the Senate has voted to bring its version to the floor for debate. That tells us what we need to know about the so-called moderate Democrats in the Senate. If the people in Louisiana and other states don’t rise up against Mary Landrieu and the other Senators who are selling out their constituents then this will truly be just the beginning. They will continue to violate their oaths of office and vote for every bill Obama and Harry Reid tell them to vote for, regardless of the Constitutional implications.
As for the health care bills themselves, the bottom line remains the same. These bills are not really about health care at all. They are an all out assault on the Constitution of the United States and are designed to transfer power to the Executive Branch of government that will impact and in some cases virtually destroy the Constitutional rights of Americans to make their own choices when it comes to health care and even to protect their own privacy.
In previous articles I have dealt with some of these concerns and now I will summarize them for you so you can decide for yourselves if this is really the direction you want our country to take. This is what both the House and Senate versions of the bill will do:
First and foremost, both bills will allow federal bureaucrats to decide what health care you can receive. This will be true whether you keep your private health care insurance or go with the “public options”. Both bills are also carefully crafted to eliminate private insurance over a period of time and force everyone into federally mandated and controlled health care. In either case, you and your doctor will no longer be able to make your health care decisions in private. There will always be a committee of Presidential appointees ultimately making your health care decisions for you. This is clearly rationing of health care.
Decisions will be made on the basis of “cost effectiveness". If your doctor or a hospital decides you need treatment the government can reverse that decision and deny you the treatments. The Senate bill allegedly allows States to opt out of the Health Care Exchange that offers the public option but the costs to the citizens of the states that do would be such that states will not be able to make that choice.
Senior citizens will receive the initial and most devastating impact. The fact that seniors have been paying taxes for years to provide Medicare coverage when they retire is ignored. Massive cuts in Medicare will take place including the elimination of such programs as Medicare Advantage that many of seniors have to have in order to make ends meet. This is a direct strike against the contractual obligations that the Federal government has with citizens of the United States.
Both bills also contain massive tax increases on the citizens of our country. Employers will be taxed on private coverage they provide for employees that will force them to either drop the coverage or pass the costs on to their employees. Good private insurance plans will be taxed as “so-called Cadillac plans”. These taxes will be passed on to individuals and that means that many families will find that their premiums will actually be much higher under the legislation. There are two reasons for this; the first is to force more people into the public option and the second is to pay for the government plans for the uninsured, including illegal aliens.
The fact is that while the bills claim to contain provisions denying coverage to illegals these are false. There are no enforcement provisions in place for these provisions and all amendments introduced in both houses of Congress to specifically prohibit coverage for illegals have been defeated in committees.
In addition, if you want to keep your private coverage, it must be approved by the Federal government. If it is not, or if any changes are made to your coverage, or if you decide to change employment you will be forced to accept the public option. If you refuse to do so you will be taxed by the government. This is not really a tax, it is a fine, but it is called a tax so that you can be denied the provisions of the due process clause of the 5th Amendment under the Constitution. In other words, you will not be able to appeal the penalty and by the way, all of this will be under the control of the Internal Revenue Service. If you refuse to get insurance and fail to pay the “taxes” for this refusal, you can be put in federal prison.
In order to make sure that you and your doctor are under complete control of the government you will have a health care card with a bar code that will allow federal bureaucrats instant access to all of your medical information and your financial information, including your bank accounts. Forget about privacy and your rights to be free of illegal searches under the 4th Amendment to the Constitution. These will be eliminated under these new laws.
Does the Congress of the United States have the power to do this under the provisions of our Constitution? The answer is absolutely not. Does the Congress or the Obama administration seem to care? The answer is a no, they don’t, despite the fact that the 9th and 10th Amendments to the Constitution clearly limit the powers of the Federal Government and protect the rights of the people and their elected state governments to make such decisions.
If this legislation passes it will ultimately end up in the Supreme Court of the United States to decide if it is Constitutional. However, even the Court’s decision will not be final. The final decision of whether or not Americans will give up their sacred rights under the Constitution will rest with us. Will we enforce our right to live under a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people” or will we surrender to tyranny. The choice is up to us. I know which choice I will make.
Michael Connelly
Comments
Reading this just confirms what I have read and heard-- This bill is twice as large as the last and has so much hidden stuff that is hard to find I wonder where the section 244 that is in the last bill is hidden-- Now they paid the Louisiana senator Landry a lot of tax money for her vote there is the 60 votes needed to move the bill with no debate. The liberals seem to be afraid to let the public see them debate it.
I agree with your blogs -- even though wit me you are preaching to the choir. I wish Texas allowed us to register as conservative or liberal with no party affiliation. Independent will never make it but addressing themselves as Conservative or Liberal would be useful. This might even make it to the primary's.
peace--Ben
We are a choir and we have to find all the members to take action & make sure this usurpation of the both the Declaration & Consitution stops here & now! Commentators do an excellent job, but unless American's awaken to the loss of their liberty, life, & happiness, which is the precedent contained in America's Healthy Act for Obama & non-elected company, as well as gullible Senators & Representatives who have forgotten Our Nation comes first!
Regarding checks & balances of Article V: "..If, in the opinion of the People, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in a way which the constitution designates.---But let there be no change by usurpation; for though this, in one instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed.(George Washington's Farewell Address)." Obama & elected representatives believe the result of the last election entitle them to make changes in Our 233y/o Federated form of government. This is usurption! It is a Violation of Article V.
Very simple. What can we do to impeach every person in our government that has broken their sworn oath to uphold the Constitution. All this talk about how they are doing it on a daily basis serves no other purpose but to frustrate and scare people. We all feel so helpless. WHAT LEGAL RECOURSE IS THERE TO STOP this insanity. If we don't stop it we will all be looking down the barrell of the Socialist guns as they come to take control of the very air we breathe.
Everyday I listen & read the news, sign petitions, email my Senators, make phone calls, write letters, and add my voice to all the others opposing whats happening in Washington.
Today I sit here feeling a deep sadness about our future and the thought of how hard these self centered, self seeking politicians are trying to make our lives has me angry as a hornets nest.
Harry Reid is from my home state, Nevada, and I can't wait to cast my vote to get him out next year.
As discouraging as things may be, or get, I refuse to be silent.
Thank you, Michael......I appreciate your work here.
There are two solutions. Time and another election or revolution. Liberalism knows no end game and will keep on until destroyed. And Even then only temporarily.
Let's not stop with posting on one website. Find the opposing side and post comments. They get guys paid to...we can stick this out and fight.
MICROCHIPPING INCLUDED IN Healthcare Bill
We thought slavery was bad. How about never ever having a moment of peace. http://www.dailypaul.com/node/105079
Mr Connelly, Thanks for telling it like it is. I cannot understand why the people just don't get it. I especially don't understand the blindness and deafness of the congress to the outcry of millions of people who have said that we don't want this. I fear that if this passes and obama has time to stack the supreme court with judges that are liberal leaning to his point of view that we will have no freedoms left. We won't be able to challenge this or anything that has to do with our rights because they will be gone.Is there any chance that the 2010 elections of a majority of new congressmen and senators can do anything to stop this before it starts?
What can I do? What should I be doing? I am a Constitutional Conservative. I am a Veteran. I love America. I love Freedom. Tell me (and all others like me who care but feel hopelessly helpless) what I can do to help restore our Constitution to its rightful place as THE law of our land?
Mr. Connelly--I agree, there are many things wrong with the current health reform bill. But I think you go way overboard in criticizing it.
Let's start with just one point. You say that Mary Landrieu has sold out and that her constituents should rise up. What has she done? She voted to bring a bill to debate on the Senate floor. There, our Senators can change it as they believe it should be changed. Had she voted against it, it would not have been considered at all. Is that what you want? That no health care reform be considered? When people are dying every day because they have no health insurance--including veterans?
We need reform. Can we agree on that? Millions of Americans do not have health insurance--they should have it, as a moral issue. We should not ignore their needs. We should not let people go bankrupt because they cannot pay for their health care.
You talk about "the government" making decisions about what care you and I receive, rather than our doctors. Right now faceless insurance employees make those decisions! They deny coverage, they deny claims for medicine and operations which they consider unnecessary or "experimental," even though our doctors, who know us best, believe them to be necessary for us.
The majority of Americans say they want and need health care reform. Let's try to work together on getting it done right.
Mr. Boyce: I heartily agree with Mr. Connelly - we do not need the government taking away rights and telling us how to take care of ourselves. I for one, would like to make my own decisions on how I live my life and not have the government breathing down my neck, telling me how to do it. Healthcare reform not run by the government might be something to look at. We already know the government is incapable of running Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. I have family and friends dealing with the VA and their medical, and I can tell you the hoops they have to jump through are bad, especially when living in more rural areas. The thought process that comes from this government-run entity (VA) is totally illogical.
Maybe you want to pay for healthcare coverage for every illegal resident of this country, but I don't. Maybe you want to pay for abortions, but I don't. Maybe you want to be told that you can't have a procedure because you are too old, but I don't. Maybe you want to have mediocre medical treatment because the best of the best doctors have quit, but I don't. Maybe you want to give up your right to freedom under the guise of healthcare reform, but I don't. I am tired of being part of the silent majority, and I am starting to speak up. No one pays me to speak up, but we all know the liberals HIRE their voices.
Your last comment "The majority of Americans say they want and need healthcare reform" is a loose comment. If you have gleaned that information from the liberal media, then you should look at the other side because I would say the majority of Americans would like some healthcare reform, but not run by the government.
As a side note, I have a daughter who has just been presented with a $20,000 bill from the hospital for removal of her gallbladder - the surgery was not planned for, but she was in so much pain she ended up in the emergency room. She has no insurance, and she still believes the government should not be making our healthcare decisions. She will be working with the hospital to pay this debt.
Mr. Boyce,
You ask what Mary Landrieu has done. Do you not know that Harry Reid has bought her vote for the so-called healthcare bill? Perhaps you should read this: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/letters/harry_bayou_buyout_mary_no_cheap_qHd5JeQgJUzJXCk9AT3h4L
Mr. Boyce, to not criticize that which is wrong is un-patriotic, ignorant and complacent.
If Mary Landrieu didn’t sell out, what was the $300 million earmark that she is bragging about?
If someone takes any action against the civil rights of the people, they could be charged with a felony. Had Landrieu voted against it, we the people would be less concerned about the death of our country as we have known it.
We should not have any health care reform that violates our Constitution and Bill of Rights.
People die every day with and without health care insurance and have for hundreds of years. That this happens is neither a moral nor financial responsibility of anyone other than themselves. Should ‘we’ choose to ignore their plight is not to limit your own voluntary generosity by giving freely and as far as I am concerned, until you feel their pain.
We most definitely should let people, and businesses for that matter, go bankrupt which is why we have bankruptcy laws. It makes you a better person to learn from your actions than to become dependant upon anyone else.
Forget not that you have the ability, for now, to choose another insurance company, perhaps even being wiser in doing so.
And lastly, the majority of Americans say they DO NOT want and need health care reform. They are just trying to negotiate the lesser of two evils, not having had much experience in dealing with the ‘devil’.
I think you are very juvenile in your approach to object to what you obviously know so very little about as to speak in such generalities, symbolism over substance.
If we are to work together to get this right, then is must not violate our Constitution nor our Bill of Rights.
As a healthcare industry professional I cannot emphasize enough how radically wrong the views of these guys in Washington are of the "Healthcare" problem. They are clueless. Only technology improvements, free markets and a loosening of the regulations governing the selling of health insurance across state lines will do the trick; not government control.
This is nothing more than a power grab and the establishment of a new entitlement that will swell over time raising taxes on ALL citizens. There is no concern for the alleged 47 million uninsured "Americans". This healthcare legislation is about POWER.
I'm not a Constitutional law expert, but what I do know is that when government forces employers and employees to buy anything against their free will we have big problems.
We are headed down a slippery slope. This legislation must be stopped. We cannot unscramble an egg.
Write or call your congressmen and elected officials from other districts. Get involved. Go to rallies. We must make our views known or this is one piece of legislation we will certainly live to regret.
Do those states that have listed themselves as sovereign (Texas, Oklahoma, Montana) have to follow the dictates of this Chicago Mob style government.
I can hardly believe that there are so many of us who don't agree with these liberal idiot politicians and there seems nothing can be done. They obviously don't listen to us. How did they ever get voted in. I thought we were suppose to governed with representation. It's pretty obvious that nearly all of our elected officials will submit to the right price regardless whether it's the wrong bill. How does our government get away with buying off our politicians in such a manner. It disgusting to think that no matter the party affiliation, they are all CROOKED!
We have all written until our fingers bled and called until we feel the phone is attached to our ear and yet it seems to be of no avail.
PRAY!!!!
As an immigrant, I learned that when the US was formed the style of government was Democracy but the form was a Republic. The Democrats are changing the form to a Democracy, making the Constitution just a piece of paper.
An appeal to the Supreme Court MIGHT work, but if that fails what alternative is there but revolution which would require the support of the military? Perhaps we should be appealing to our generals instead of our so-called representatives.
A system worked alright. The BS spook world distraction system. They don't have to kill a bunch of AMERICANS (AGAIN). They just have to come close. It's stagecraft 101. The bigger the production the easier to get many of the "WE THE SHEEPLE" to buy in.
Remember where there's smoke there's mirrors.
LOOK ALMOST TERRORIST!! NO USE WORRYING ABOUT THE WELFARE AND WARFARE PARTY'S THEFT OF OUR GOD GIVEN AND CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED FREEDOMS BEING SOLD TO HIGHEST PARTY BIDDER. JUST MOVE ALONG AND WATCH THE SHOW.
Benevolent dictator Bush set the stage and czar Obambi is doing the performance.
WE CAN'T PREDICT THE WEATHER BUT WE SURE CAN STOP THE FALL!