Thursday, January 29, 2009

Stimulus bill moves us closer to nationalized health care and rationing


The House of Representatives approved an $819 billion economic stimulus package Wednesday. The party line vote was a blow to Barack Obama's alleged desire for bipartisanship. All the Republicans and 11 democrats voted against the bill. One thing in the bill that went mostly unnoticed was a new bureaucracy called the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research. This group will spend over a billion dollars to decide what medical treatments result in the best outcomes. They will exert control over what drugs and treatments are available. They will resemble the United Kingdom's National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). Also, the bill will allow some laid-off workers receiving unemployment checks to enroll in Medicaid. There will be no means testing for this entitlement. We have a bill that increases government control over health care and begins moving average citizens into a government controlled health program. Can anyone say "nationalized health care" and "rationing"?

The Entitlement Stimulus. More giant steps toward government health care.
Wall Street Journal ^ | Jan. 29, 2009 | WSJ Editorial

So the stimulus also devotes $1.1 billion to create a new bureaucracy called the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research. A billion dollars isn't nearly enough to conduct the rigorous clinical studies needed to provide more information on what medical treatments result in the best outcomes. But Democrats want to get this "health-care Fed" on the books now so it's around when they pass the next entitlement expansion -- for the entire middle class.

When government finances start to buckle under that subsidy, the comparative effectiveness outfit will start to ration care to control costs, much like the United Kingdom's National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). The draft report accompanying the House portion of the bill notes that procedures and drugs "that are found to be less effective and in some cases, more expensive, will no longer be prescribed."

In sum, what we are really getting in this stimulus bill are several more steps in the gradual government takeover of the health-care market.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Very interesting. Nice to see the Gov is moving towards socialized health care. One more reason to tax us to death.

Anonymous said...

I think that (insert offense or vulgar language here) Obama is a scam and always have. He dupped so many and taught them how to dupe others into voting for him that no good dirty (insert offense or vulgar language here) It must be good to be the King as we all wait on a bread line sipping water that cost ten dollars a bottle because the dollor will only be worth three cents. Nationalized Health Care seems like a great idea for those who listen to Obama, but, what the barackoholics don't know, is that their is a waiting list for treatments. If you ask me, the way the country is going these next four Obama will have us all bending over and praying for (insert offense or vulgar language here)and welcome four more years of Bush. Obama said, "You can listen to Rush or FOLLOW him. The Whole world is watching this circus and realize, it has only been 10 days of the Obama change, remember change? Change? anyone got any, I can sure use some right about now..

Interested Bystander said...

Hey All,

One thing I'd like to comment is that this is entirely a Democrat Bill.

NOT ONE Republican voted for the Bill, and 11 Democrats voted Nay.

I will be intersted to see what happens in the Senate.

I am hoping the same thing happens in the Senate.

What happened to Obama wanting to "reach accross the aisle", what happened to Pelosi saying Sunday that the Republicans were consulted on the Bill?

The point is, the Bill should have been broken up in to smaller Bills, so that each area of the Bill could be voted on seperately.

Makes sense to me, there is SOME "stimulus" in the Bill, but taken as a whole, I am glad t see the Republicans did not vote for it.

Let's see what happens in the Senate.

Anonymous said...

If this bill leads to nationalized health care: it's about time! Furthermore, I say that it doesn't matter one iota whether any Republicans voted for this bill; elections have consequences.

Zinc Media Books said...

This is why this was not a stimulus package at all. This is why all the experts said this bill would do nothing to help the economy. It was an excuse to take over our health care. And because they can cloak it in an economic package, it can sneak by the American people now. And Obama says he will have the most open administration in history. He is starting off as one hell of a cloak and dagger man. This is only the beginning. Elections have consequences. The American people bought all the crap the media fed it and now we have to live with it and lose our freedom.

John C. Hathaway said...

You know, I've been saying for *years* that socialized medicine would lead to "rationing", and even other conservatives have called me a kook and a fanatic. Liberals insist this is a "right wing lie." And yet, here it is.

Thanks for your comment to my blog. "Publish comment" is too close to "Reject comment" in Gmail, so I posted your comment myself but lost your links.

Anonymous said...

hey there this is lawman2.logged in under tothewire while loading post on site. anyway,it is sad that america has so many liberal brainwashed ideas that ride the line on socialism.it is like so many people see centralized government that plans and controls the economy is okay with them.what the hell?actually willingly give up their rights and freedoms that our nation is known for fighting for?

Anonymous said...

Thanks for commenting on my blog. I read the opposition and complaints in your comments. Does anyone have more viable solutions. I hope the US government can get to a point when we are solution oriented.

Jenny said...

We are inching our way towards socialism and it's scaring me quite a bit. I never used to pay that much attention to politics (mainly because I don't like unfriendly confrontations with my friends) but now I feel like I have to do something. Also, I'm only 21 years young so I've been able to live in a bubble of financial stability under my parents for most of my life.

Anyways, I'm sorry for getting off topic and rambling in a comment. I like reading your blog; keep up the good work. :P

Anonymous said...

the economy will start to heal without this bill. Obama will be left with nothing to be credited for. If he keeps listening to his so called masters of the universe, he has picked to advise him, he will resign in a year.