Republican Response to ObamaCare

On July 1, 2012 Congressman Paul Ryan on ‘This Week With George Stephanopoulos’ said he’s heard for years that people don’t like raiding Social Security (SS) to pay for other programs and Obama Care for the first time in history raids Medicare. The President’s law raids Medicare to pay for Obama Care while the Republican budget takes the money (makes cuts to benefits) to extend Medicare’s solvency. Okay, this explains why I had difficulty understanding why both programs would be under water. It does not excuse this Congress or past Congresses for using the programs for other than what was intended. Perhaps the need to rob Peter to pay Paul wouldn’t occur if the rich pay their fair share in taxes and Congress didn’t get the perks not given to the average American. At least the Obama plan will keep funds directed at health care and not at some non related activity. On April 23 it was reported that per the SS Administration 8.6 million Americans are on disability; a 17% increase in the last decade; some say it’s because the government now allows for ‘persistent anxiety’ and ‘chronic fatigue’ and per the Government Accountability Office fraud alone costs taxpayers $10 billion a year (other estimates are higher). I believe that Congress needs to maintain current regulations and not deregulate as the Republicans are touting if we are to stabilize the programs. 

Ryan also said the 15 people charged with putting price controls on Medicare will end up rationing Medicare in ways that will deny care to seniors. On April 23 it was reported that per the Archives of Internal Medicine routine surgical procedures like an appendectomy can range from $1,529 to $182,955 in California alone; the problem is in all types of medical work including blood tests and health insurance (currently) only covers so much; you can bet it’s happening all over the US and unfortunately you can’t call around and get estimates like you can for other work. I think the cost of the 15 people is well worth it if price gouging and fraud is eliminated and thus reduce the cost of Medicare. If this occurs the program will stabilize itself and benefits would not need to be reduced as is being proposed by the Republican Party.

Ryan went on to say that this (the Supreme Court decision) says the government defines our rights and we (Republicans) don’t believe that – according to the Declaration of Independence our rights come from nature and God. Okay this is a good twist. First, I’d like him to realize that the Declaration, written by our government, says – When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Second, in supporting the Declaration we have a Constitution that generally defines our rights and is the basis for our actions; subsequently the Constitution does define our rights and gives us the right to bear arms and more. The Preamble of the Constitution says - We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. The Republicans want to ignore that we are to be treated equally (the Defense of Marriage Act should be repealed) and the Declaration calls for the dissolution of political bands in order for the welfare of all to be considered when making laws. The general welfare of all therefore should include health care.

Ryan said this election is the most important of our lifetimes – do you want a government centered society, a government driven economy, and a government rationed health care or do you want an opportunity society with a safety net, a free economy, economic freedom, personal liberty. He said a vote on repealing the law will occur in July and Republicans will present a replacement law. I agree with Ryan in that this election is very important. Our country as well as every country in the world is centered on its government’s rules and taxation. The Republicans want to do away with what is right in our nation and let the rich run rampant and become richer while taking advantage of the average American. An example of this is the various state bills that deal with Planned Parenthood (May 5 the Arizona Republican Governor signed a bill banning the funding of Planned Parenthood for even non abortion services; 20,000 will suffer without health insurance if this holds up. On this same date Federal Appeals Court judges said Texas cannot ban Planned Parenthood from getting state funds. Romney in March indicated he would focus on eliminating the organization’s federal funding and Republicans in Missouri, Washington, and other state legislatures across the country are fighting to do the same.)

Americans must remember all the things that were held up in Congress because the Republicans will not support the rich being taxed equally to the average American and vote for Democrats in order to get the equality that our Declaration of Independence and Constitution call for.