Sarah Palin was correct – Almost
Blog: Werner Janssen's blog
March 9, 2010
The prediction of “death panels” by Sarah Palin has come true. It’s amazing. Sarah was correct that death panels do exist. I apologize for doubting her. People criticized the almost- one-term governor for suggesting that death panels were a part of the Democratic Party health plan which, of course, they were not. Sarah was totally wrong in pinpointing the location of death panels in the system but she was correct: death panels do exist. Death Panels are at work within the insurance companies, the same corporations that are being promoted by the Republicans as the only solution for health care reform. How many people have died because death panels have made health insurance unaffordable? How many people have died because health insurance companies have found a loop hole and declared their illnesses as a pre-existing condition? How many testimonies have we heard concerning insurance companies which denied treatments, with denials based on the cost of treatment that would reduce the profits of the company and shareholders? Even the denial of treatments labeled “experimental” involves economics. How many people have received their death notice when insurance companies denied treatment requested by their doctor? The Republican Party and perhaps even a few Democrats have established death panels in the Senate and the House of Representatives through their refusal to allow the health reform package to move through the process.
Yes, Sarah, there are death panels, but not in Medicare or the public option for health insurance reform, but in the insurance companies you are promoting. Doctors heal. Insurance companies make money. Wake up and smell the disinfectant. Insurance companies do not make decisions based on compassion or health considerations. They make decisions based on profits - profits for shareholders and bonuses for executive. This is not a criticism of our corporations. Public corporations are established to show profits. This is a good system for many areas or our economy. However, our health care should not be in the hands of for-profit public corporations with their primary mission being increased profits. Health care began through the compassion of religious organizations. Escalating costs and the discovery of the possible profits put health care under the control of our corporations. We have critical services for our common good that should not be controlled by profits. Health care, safe and adequate water, food production and distribution should not be controlled by executives paid to minimize costs and maximize profits. Many thousands of citizens in the United States are dying due to the lack of health insurance. While the Republican Senators play their filibuster fiddles in Congress, citizens are dying. Yes, Sarah, death panels do exist… but they exist in the health care solutions you are promoting.
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Mom 1 year, 11 months ago
Sarah Palin was correct – Almost
Wow! That was well-written. You are so correct about how our health care industry (insurance corporations) have made decisions about health care that are not theirs to make. I am lucky enough to have good insurance coverage, paid by my employer but since I first started working where I am, the coverage has gone down and costs have gone up for me. My son pays an additional $500 a month with the birth of his twins that isn't covered by his insurance, and he supposedly has good insurance. We need health care reform and I don't trust the insurance companies to do anything to help us; they haven't so far.
artmann 1 year, 11 months ago
Sarah Palin was correct – Almost
This Liberal hack makes even Obama seem seem like a purveyor of the truth. How can one put so many lies into two paragraphs? I'm guessing it has to do with IQ and not the former....you see when a misguided rant starts off with this "People criticized the almost- one-term governor" you have stooped to the level of someone with no formal education. . Most of us with a brain know of her great success as Gov., she quickly garnished approval ratings that were unheard of. She was touted by Democrats as much if not more than Republicans. . Death Panels??? This is what Death Panels mean in a nutshell. "this type of rationing – what the CBO calls “reduc[ed] access to care” and “diminish[ed] quality of care” – is precisely what I meant when I used that metaphor" . Hey Werner are you saying that we will not have a rationing of Healthcare in this country??? Only a loon such as yourself could be this naive.
artmann 1 year, 11 months ago
Sarah Palin was correct – Almost
Susan, you trust the Govt more than private companies that have to compete for your business?? Why in the world would you trust the Govt?? Have you even heard of the other purely socialist medical programs in this country like the VA, medicare, medicaid, and Indian health service. They are in complete financial shambles and ration care. From the news today. . http://hotair.com/archives/2010/03/10/another-tale-of-government-run-health-care-success/ .
Norm 1 year, 11 months ago
Sarah Palin was correct – Almost
Great post, Art. Very thoughtful, substantive discussion of the issue. .
Mom 1 year, 11 months ago
Sarah Palin was correct – Almost
Art, I don't see those private companies competing for my business. If they were, I'd have better coverage, pay less and not have copays that have just been added to the same policy that I've had more or less for 16 years. So how are they competing? As many examples as you can come up with where medicare, etc... hasn't supplied for people's needs, I can name examples where they have. The fact that my children were without coverage for a year or so between graduation and finding a job with benefits, is inexcusable. I worried the entire time that they would have an accident or serious health issue. My question to you is, where has the government failed you personally? We need some kind of health care reform and insurance companies have been under fire for years and nothing has changed or at least nothing has improved.
1 year, 11 months ago
Sarah Palin was correct – Almost
What was the point of attacking Sarah in this article?Let me say this I would surely back Sarah before I would back some elitist liberal woman in Washington who are so out of touch with most American women its not even funny.
1 year, 11 months ago
Sarah Palin was correct – Almost
It seems quite obvious to me why he brought up Sarah Palin, the governor who couldn't even finish her term as promised. She tried the scare tactic, suggesting to the American public that the big bad Democrats health plan had "death panels" in it. Which was untrue. She must have read the prompt writings on her hand wrong.
This article was well written. Being a small business owner for many years, we have had to pay private health insurance that is nearly $1800 month now. (no children in the home) There are few choices we have in Wa state and like California, with their 33 percent increase this year, we fear it will hit us too.(same insurance co)
Art,Have not your parents, grandparents or friends benefited at one time or another from medicare or VA. People this isn't about Liberals and Socialism.
chernova 1 year, 11 months ago
Sarah Palin was correct – Almost
Well Sarah, this is 1 Independent that doesn't go for fear mongering. You do not represent me or any other female or male I know of. It is sad that the insurance companies seem to only care for their bottom line. I agree with this article especially after I have had experience in the field and know how it works.
darci 1 year, 11 months ago
Sarah Palin was correct – Almost
Gosh.. I dont know which is worse here? I personally know this State's insurance for the needy, the undereducated, ect,ect,, is sooooo very bad! It puts on a great front for the public. Heck even for you as a patient. Let me tell you something. Talk about mind and money games. It is an Absolute JOKE!
1 year, 11 months ago
Sarah Palin was correct – Almost
I hadn't heard the mention of "death panels" for awhile, actually since President Obama's speech dispelling the fear mongering of the proposed health plan months ago. We all knew he was talking about Palin's hatchet job. It brings a chuckle when I think of her podium moment as she is trying to incite the audience with scare tactics, which were untrue. I can see right through her. And no I am not a Liberal or a Socialist or a Communist or the other names I see on the boards-I just have an opinion from an observation of a public person
artmann 1 year, 11 months ago
Sarah Palin was correct – Almost
Free markets and competition and less Govt intervention is the only way to make healthcare better and less expensive. The more the Govt takes over the worse it will get. And by worse I mean COST more and get LESS. You liberals on here can not think that by the Govt being more involved it will get better do you??? I have gave examples of Govt ran programs that are bankrupt and ration but you gave no argument on how this is good.
1 year, 11 months ago
Sarah Palin was correct – Almost
As I asked Art, do you not have relatives using medicare or have used medicare? Where would the seniors be without the help of the government run medical plan. What do you have against liberals? That is such a broad term that is used by people that are just plain ultra blah conservative.
artmann 1 year, 11 months ago
Sarah Palin was correct – Almost
Yes, they have to have it but they buy this which beats the crap out of medicare. All the private insurers for these and supplemental medicare provide medical insurance for less $$$ and cover more and make a profit and are not Bankrupt like Medicare. . AHIP, Washington, has responded to the Democrats’ allegations about Medicare Advantage plans with a “fact check” report full of statistics suggesting that comprehensive Medicare Advantage can help participants live longer, more comfortable lives than the less comprehensive traditional Medicare plans do. .
http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2010/3/Pages/AHIP-Medicare-Advantage-Patients-Do-Better.aspx .
Webfoot 1 year, 11 months ago
Sarah Palin was correct – Almost
If you folks want to try to understand this healthcare debate, here's an article in the Washington Times--written by Mr. "O"'s cousin--a Doctor himself.. It's very enlightening.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/11/obama-family-health-care-fracas/
artmann 1 year, 11 months ago
Sarah Palin was correct – Almost
What do I have against Liberals, Candy. It is this simple. The lack of any common sense when it comes to fiscal and moral issues. More social programs, higher taxes, more taxes, Cap & Trade, Carbon taxes, the Green agenda, rights for prisoners, rights for terrorists, wanting to negotiate with terrorists, more entitlements, too much Govt intervention in healthcare, too much Govt regulation period, interfering in free markets, mandated minimum wage.....etc....
1 year, 11 months ago
Sarah Palin was correct – Almost
+1 to what artmann has said.
Liberals=Tax,tax,tax and more tax and a load of other issues that our bad for our country.
wj98802 1 year, 11 months ago
Sarah Palin was correct – Almost
Lost at the bottom is the line that says it all...all the other things Werner thinks the goverment should be in charge of, including food, which means farms and farmers...
"Health care, safe and adequate water, food production and distribution should not be controlled by executives paid to minimize costs and maximize profits"
It's been tried Werner, the USSR comes to mind, and how did that work out?
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