Wesley J. Smith: Obamacare’s Monster and the Rationing Future

First Things/Secondhand Smoke ^ | 7/21/12 | Wesley J. Smith

[wagglebee]

Obamacare’s Independent Payment Advisory Board is authoritarian. It does not “advise,” it imposes on cost cutting for Medicare–even over a presidential veto.  Moreover, it’s imposed “advice” is also immune from judicial review.  Frankly, I think it is blatantly unconstitutional because it tells Congress what to do instead of the other way around. But with the courts we have these days, nothing is certain.

As currently existing, the IPAB cannot ration care. But that is precisely the destination toward which the monster is lurching. It isn’t even up and running yet, and already President Obama and the New England Journal of Medicine have called for expanding its powers–and in the NEJM’s case, urged that it be allowed to impose rationing.  And now a big voice in Obamacare circles, Christina Romer has dittoed the call in the NYT.  From, “Only the First Step in Containing Health Care Costs:”

Once the payment advisory board has a track record, for example, perhaps it could be empowered to suggest changes in benefits or in how Medicare services are provided — say, along the lines of successful demonstration projects.

Suggest?  IPAB doesn’t suggest: It dictates and its fiats are all but removed from democratic checks and balances.

If we want to remain free, IPAB must die, or at least be defanged into a truly advisory panel without the power to tell Congress what to do. Otherwise it will reproduce and we will have IPAB-like authoritarian boards scattered throughout the depth and breadth of government, unaccountable to “we the people,” who at least theoretically, are supposed to be in charge of the country.

[wagglebee]

I think it is blatantly unconstitutional because it tells Congress what to do instead of the other way around.

It is all part of Obama's dictatorial dreams.

[wagglebee]

Pro-Life Ping

[IbJensen]

Obama is a monster who despises America and its citizens.

Where in the hell did this phony, unknown evil come from?

Answer: From hell. He’s the devil’s disciple!

[wagglebee]

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[Pollster1]

Frankly, I think it is blatantly unconstitutional because it tells Congress what to do instead of the other way around. But with the courts we have these days, nothing is certain.

The decision on constitutionality is in far better hands than yours:

"The IPAB is a tax too, so it's constitutional."

That settles it. You lose. America loses.

[EGPWS]

[Bernard Marx]

It is all part of Obama's dictatorial dreams.

And Soros, the Puppeteer's, evil machinations. A bloodless revolution: have Congress pass legislation that emasculates Congress. "You have to pass it to find out what's in it."

[Honorary Serb]

http://goldwaterinstitute.org/blog/next-case-against-obamas-health-care-law

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Monopolies are bad, except for government monopolies.

Government monopolies are good.

It's not like government can do whatever it pleases or anything.

[goodnesswins]

Y’all have to hear the opinion of a Utah legislator and attorney on the Obamacare Ruling of Roberts....verrrry interesting, but you probably have to hear the whole of the program he is on to understand.... listen at www.ispyradio.com - the Tenth Amendment show....you can download it.