Discounting a politician’s word has always been smart business. From the beginning of time the political class has been guilty of promising more than they can deliver, saying whatever it takes to get elected and making promises they had no intention of keeping. This is especially true of those who seek the presidency.
Therefore it was incredibly odd to learn about a year and a half ago of a young senator from Chicago who had crowds enthralled on his every word, some to the point of fainting. Even odder was the fact that this attack of the “vapors” was repeating itself.
Such reaction made one wonder is this some soaring breath of newfound sage and wisdom not heard before? Unfortunately it wasn’t. The young senator had a talent for delivering speeches, but it was all style and no substance. As one wag put it, the speeches, when heard, are moving, but a careful examination of the content reveals a “verbal soufflé” so light and airy that it collapses at first examination of its substance.
As it turns out of course, the adulating audience was mostly rented and the fainters were plants, part of Chicago media manipulator David Axelrod’s infamous “astroturfing.” His claim to fame is to stage reality where there is none and demonstrate fake “grassroots” support where none exists. Hence the term “astroturfing.”
And now the astroturfed candidate, a mere shell of what people thought they were getting, is president and his verbal soufflés are exposed as vapid, something you can’t subsist on.
More than one observer sees the new president as sort of a showman, a pitchman, someone sent out to occupy the stage, sing the song and keep everyone entertained. But a showman is just an actor, playing a part at someone else’s direction. But who?
No one seems to know who that who is just yet but it is apparent they have absolutely no respect for the man being sent out on stage. Gaffes are beginning to appear almost daily. Items are quoted as fact in speeches when they are not. Items that are very easily disproved.
Times of solace are ignored in order to keep with schedules. It is as though the showman has been dressed in a striped shirt, plaid pants, and a paisley coat and thrust on stage to be laughed at. No one seems to care how ridiculous he looks or sounds.
But the puppet-master, whoever that may be, is using the power of the office … with a vengeance.
Medicare is being cut to pieces, endangering the lives of millions of senior citizens. The list of cuts for 2010 is staggering. Consider:
“The recently adopted Medicare payment rules for next year impose an 11% overall cut on cardiology and a 19% cut on radiation oncology (cancer treatment). Payments for basic tools and treatments for heart disease, such as stress tests and catherization, are slashed by 42% and 24% respectively. Payments for diagnostic imaging services like MRIs and CT scans that help identify cancer early are cut by 24%. Payments for anti-tumor radiation therapy will be cut by 44%,” noted published reports. Those are adopted cuts, not proposed cuts.
Who is more likely to need cardiac or cancer care? Seniors, that’s who. This is just the first taste of things to come if health care legislation makes it through the senate. If you care to voice an objection to the bill, phone Senator Mary Landrieu at (202) 224-5824. Seniors aren’t the only ones tagged in the bill. You will be worse off if the bill passes if you currently have Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance or group insurance. It is without a doubt the worst bill ever written.
Remember, the government, not insurance companies, is currently the largest denier of needed medical procedures. Government denials in Medicare and Medicaid dwarf those made by insurance companies even though insurance companies insure more people.
Government is also the most tardy approver of medical procedures. One doctor in Atlanta, the only eye surgeon that takes new Medicaid patients, had to set up a private foundation to fund eye operations. Inner-city youth born with certain vision defects need surgery within six months to prevent blindness. Medicaid’s approval process was so lengthy that without the private foundation, those kids would all be blind.
Medicaid will get worse, much worse under the proposed congressional plans. Medicaid, the plan designed originally for poor women, children and the disabled will ensnare 25% of the American population under Congress’ plans. There is no one to handle that increased volume. The waits, intolerable now, are destined to get much worse if Congress has its way.
It’s up to you. Call Mary Landrieu at (202) 224 – 5824. Ask for her. Tell her Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid’s health plans are bad medicine.