Speaking openly and quite candidly about the House Democrat Blue Dogs, House Energy and Commerce Chair Henry Waxman was quoted in U.S. News & World Report as saying, "I won't allow them to hand over control of our committee to Republicans," because the 52-member group is not toeing the healthcare reform party line.
Must we remind Mr. Waxman that healthcare reform is NOT about a party but about MAIN STREET USA!
That he would threaten to have the bill bypass the committee he chairs because his democrats are being fiscally restrained about spending One Trillion Dollars that we do not (and will not) have in the next decade is ludicrous, at best.
Waxman reiterated his point stating that, "I don't see what other alternative we have, because we're not going to let them empower Republicans on the committee."
Empower Republicans?
Please, Mr. Waxman, even Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi doesn't support your stance.
And, speaking of healthcare reform, President Obama continues his rhetoric that we must have his plan pass in order to create a healthy economy.
Even though healthcare is NOT the reason for the current state of the economy and that private economists, as reported this morning by USA Today, state that they see the recession ending in the 3rd Quarter this year (which is coming up mighty soon), and without healthcare reform having passed.
I am not saying that we do not need some form of healthcare reform.
I am saying that the reform should not - and cannot - cost Main Street USA One Trillion Dollars we do not and will not have. (Remember folks, that sum of money is the equivalent of spending One Million Dollars a day, each and every day, for about 2,740 years.)
I am also advocating Tort Reform as a means of getting healthcare costs (especially the cost of insurance) under control. But, with attorneys and lawyer firms being among the biggest political contributors and lobbying spenders, perhaps that is an unreasonable request on my part. Afterall, don't attorneys earn quite a sum when huge tort decisions are rendered?
And that we need to ensure that only U.S. Citizens are covered under any plan that is implemented. This is imperative and non-negotiable.
Another point is that the government should not, under any circumstances, be involved in providing a national healthcare insurance, competing, as it were, against traditional insurance companies. Our government, unfortunately, does not possess a good track record of keeping costs under control, nor of achieving revenue projections.
As well, there cannot be any pork in the bill because some various elected representatives want lamps in their parks and others want walking trails, etc., etc. Didn't President Obama promise, while campaigning, that there would be no earmarks in legislation under his watch?
Communities, if they really want such things, will find a way to get them built themselves, without having every tax-paying American contribute to their city beautification.
And, as I have stated previously, no one can say with any certainty that spending billions on such earmarks will increase the health of the Nation.
How about getting physical education back in school as a mandatory activity, along with health-related classroom teaching and activities? What's that wise old saying, something about it being better to teach someone to fish than to fish for them…
Over For Now,
Main Street One
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