Posted on 08/12/2009 5:47:25 AM PDT by rhema
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin ignited a firestorm over the weekend by calling the health-care reforms pushed by President Barack Obama "downright evil" for proposals that could usher in rationing, and turn federal health boards into "death panels" that would decide whether the elderly and the disabled, like her infant Down's syndrome son, Trig, were "worthy of health-care." Palin's provocative statements, however, have brought fresh scrutiny of the dangers of the proposed "Heath Benefits Advisory Committee," if it were to adopt guidelines of a "Complete Lives System" advocated by Obama's policy advisor on health care reform, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel.
Many Americans have flocked to town-hall meetings to protest what they see as the imminent government-takeover of the health-care industry, which makes up one-sixth of the total American economy. But more and more Americans revolting at Congress's health-care reforms have expressed fears for the health-care of the elderly and disabled, whom they fear will be victims of rationing and even passive euthanasia by way of the "advance care planning consultation" provisions featured on pages 424 - 443 of HR 3200, "the American Affordable Health Choices Act."
"The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's "death panel" so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their "level of productivity in society," whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil," said Palin communicating through her Facebook page, which has over 715,000 subscribers.
Although the White House and members of the mainstream media rushed to dismiss Palin's statement as "nuts," the threat of the government insurance plan becoming a "death panel" for the weakest members of society may not be far off the mark. ABC News recently reported that the Oregon Health Plan refused to cover cancer drugs that cost $4000 per a month for Barbara Wagner, a 64 year-old terminally ill patient with lung cancer. Instead they offered to give her a one-time prescription for lethal drugs to end her life, which would cost the state health provider only $50.
Palin attacked the promise of Congressional Democrats that the government plan would reduce the cost of health care, saying "as the economist Thomas Sowell has pointed out, government health care will not reduce the cost; it will simply refuse to pay the cost."
"Health care by definition involves life and death decisions. Human rights and human dignity must be at the center of any health care discussion," concluded Palin.
A main feature of the legislation is a proposed "Health Benefits Advisory Committee" under the Executive Branch, which would be charged with determining "essential benefits" for all health-insurance plans and formulate standards for treatment that incorporate cost-cutting strategies. The federal health board would be comprised of a panel of medical experts, half of which would be nominated by the President. Under the current proposal, the HBAC would be independent of Congress, and its rules and recommendations guiding doctor treatments and insurance companies could only be overturned if Congress, the Executive Branch, and ordinary citizens through the judiciary act within 30 days. Even then, the actions of the Committee would have to be accepted or rejected in toto, with no exceptions.
But Palin pointed out the enormous danger for federal health boards becoming "death panels" through a policy of rationing, esp. by following the policy proposed by Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, an issue first raised by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.)
Emanuel is a key advisor of Obama's health care reform as health-policy adviser at the White House's Office of Management and Budget and a member of Federal Council on Comparative Effectiveness Research. A member of the National Institutes of Health's Clinical Bioethics Council and brother to Obama's Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, he advocates "The Complete Lives System," which as he described in a Jan. 31, 2009 article, "prioritizes younger people who have not yet lived a complete life."
Emanuel's approach has five principles which he lays out in "Principles for Allocation of Scarce Medical Interventions" published on January 31, 2009: "youngest first, prognosis, save most lives, lottery, instrumental value."
"When the worst-off can benefit only slightly, while the better-off could benefit greatly, allocating to the better off is often justifiable," wrote Emanuel.
He continued that the CLS discrimination based on age is not "invidious discrimination" because "everyone who is 65 years now was once 25 years." But in the CLS, care would also be rationed away from young people with a "poor prognoses" because they lack "the potential to live a complete life." (Read here)
Emanuel has also stated that doctors take the Hippocratic Oath too seriously, and stated that "Savings [in the medical industry] will require changing how doctors think about their patients" in a 2008 article written for the Journal of the American Medical Association. In a separate 1996 article for the Hastings Center Report, Emanuel spoke about rationing care away from those "who are irreversibly prevented from being or becoming participating citizens" to the non-disabled, adding "An obvious example is not guaranteeing health services to patients with dementia."
Approximately 33 percent of medical spending occurs in the final year of a patient's life, and throughout the legislation (HR 3200), enormous pressures are put upon on physicians and medical professionals to incentivize them to cut costs.
Opponents, especially at tumultuous town-halls, have expressed fears that current provisions in the bill for government-run health-care could lead to doctors thinking of the bottom line first, could end up pressuring patients through "advanced care planning consultations" (sec. 1233) into accepting lower-quality care or care they do not want, out of a feeling that they pose some kind of burden on their families or society. Under that section in the version under discussion by the House Ways and Means Committee, doctors would formulate with patients end-of-life orders, regarding their desire to continue or discontinue antibiotic treatments or nutrition and hydration under particular circumstances.
This is outlined in Title IV of the House bill, HR 3200:
TITLE IV—QUALITY 11 Subtitle A—Comparative Effectiveness Research SEC. 1401. COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS RESEARCH. (a) IN GENERAL.—title XI of the Social Security Act is amended by adding at the end the following new part: ‘‘PART D—COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS RESEARCH ‘‘COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS RESEARCH ‘‘SEC. 1181. (a) CENTER FOR COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS RESEARCH ESTABLISHED.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish within the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality a Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research (in this section referred to as the ‘Center’) to conduct, support, and synthesize research (including research conducted or supported under section 1013... 1 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003) with respect to the outcomes, effectiveness, and appropriateness of health care services and procedures in order to identify the manner in which diseases, disorders, and other health conditions can most effectively and appropriately be prevented, diagnosed, treated, and managed clinically...
It goes on for a long time, but this is the gist of it, if anyone wants to read it.
This is outlined in Title IV of the House bill, HR 3200:
TITLE IV—QUALITY 11 Subtitle A—Comparative Effectiveness Research SEC. 1401. COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS RESEARCH. (a) IN GENERAL.—title XI of the Social Security Act is amended by adding at the end the following new part: ‘‘PART D—COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS RESEARCH ‘‘COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS RESEARCH ‘‘SEC. 1181. (a) CENTER FOR COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS RESEARCH ESTABLISHED.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish within the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality a Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research (in this section referred to as the ‘Center’) to conduct, support, and synthesize research (including research conducted or supported under section 1013... 1 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003) with respect to the outcomes, effectiveness, and appropriateness of health care services and procedures in order to identify the manner in which diseases, disorders, and other health conditions can most effectively and appropriately be prevented, diagnosed, treated, and managed clinically...
It goes on for a long time, but this is the gist of it, if anyone wants to read it.
But the Wannasee Protocols were ambigious at best. Only when the death camps in the East came to light did the Wannasee Proctols become “understandable.”
The primary point of the Health Plan is that benefits will have to be rationed and a board will be established to accomplish that.
Ezekiel Emanuel's own words have described precisely what must happen when healthcare is allocated/rationed by the state...
"those that ensure healthy future generations, ensure development of practical reasoning skills, and ensure full and active participation by citizens in public deliberations-are to be socially guaranteed as basic."When rationing is accomplished by the state, not by families desires to support their love ones, the rule for allocation will to the fittest first (as determined by the state) and to the less fit (again determined by the state) if anything remains."Conversely, services provided to individuals who are irreversibly prevented from being or becoming participating citizens are not basic and should not be guaranteed. An obvious example is not guaranteeing health services to patients with dementia."
"A less obvious example Is is guaranteeing neuropsychological services to ensure children with learning disabilities can read and learn to reason."**
Not only is there massive opportunity for political meddling (imagine "pay for play" injected into healthcare) but the biases of the party in power will bleed into the life and death decisions affecting the citizens.
That means that the "boards" will be "life panels" for those they favor and "death panels" for those they don't.
The primary point of the Health Plan is that benefits will have to be rationed and a board will be established to accomplish that.
Ezekiel Emanuel's own words have described precisely what must happen when healthcare is allocated/rationed by the state...
"those that ensure healthy future generations, ensure development of practical reasoning skills, and ensure full and active participation by citizens in public deliberations-are to be socially guaranteed as basic."When rationing is accomplished by the state, not by families desires to support their love ones, the rule for allocation will to the fittest first (as determined by the state) and to the less fit (again determined by the state) if anything remains."Conversely, services provided to individuals who are irreversibly prevented from being or becoming participating citizens are not basic and should not be guaranteed. An obvious example is not guaranteeing health services to patients with dementia."
"A less obvious example Is is guaranteeing neuropsychological services to ensure children with learning disabilities can read and learn to reason."**
Not only is there massive opportunity for political meddling (imagine "pay for play" injected into healthcare) but the biases of the party in power will bleed into the life and death decisions affecting the citizens.
That means that the "boards" will be "life panels" for those they favor and "death panels" for those they don't.
bookmark
Unfortunately for citizens of Nazi Germany, Hitler made sure his opponents were crushed, vanquished or sent into exile. If there was anybody like Sarah Palin in Nazi Germany, she would have been soon exposed by an informer or by her own public proclamations, expeditiously sent to a concentration camp to languish or liquidated ASAP.
The only reason Sarah can carry so much weight with the American people now is NOT because of the beneficence of the American government or the Messiah but because of the Constitution that supersedes it which allows Sarah the opportunity to speak her mind as a free citizen without the threat of imprisonment or liquidation.
If Obama, the Far Left and its Marxist agenda is defeated, we owe it to the wisdom of the Founding Fathers who established a framework in which Americans could regain their freedom without resorting to violence and without the threat of totalitarian government suppression.
Actually, there were the Wannasee Protocols.I read that link. If you'll note Hitler or Himmler wasn't there and aren't mentioned. Even Himmler's right hand man Heydrich isn't listed as an attendee just what the Reich Marshal (Himmler) appointed him to do.
Hitler and Himmler had 'plausible deniability', or so they thought.
SARAH!
Sort of reminds you of Obamacare, doesn’t it!
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NEWSFLASH! GOVERNOR RICK PERRY IS SCHEDULED TO BE ON PLAINS RADIO MONDAY, AUGUST 17 FROM 7-8 PM CST TO DISCUSS
OBAMA DEATHCARE AND INVOKING THE 10TH AMENDMENT OVER IT.
PLAINS RADIO:
http://www.plainsradio.com/radio.html
.
ATTENTION FELLOW TEXANS:
Governor Rick Perry may invoke the 10th Amendment over Obama’s health care bill (Vanity)
7/23/09 | Cowtowney
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2299225/posts?q=1&;page=51
Get after Perry, Texans. Burn up his switch board and fax!
Let him know we don’t want Obama DeathCare.
Say no to Obama’s DeathCare.
Send a message; DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS healthcare!
No! NO you don’t, you muzzie pos. You’re not denying our seniors deserved health care while insuring millions of illegal aliens and while Demorats are REJECTING Obamacare for themselves and their families!
Join organizations who fight ObamaCare.
This is a good organization:
The Alliance of Texans Against Government Controlled Healthcare:
http://www.notintexas.org/
office (972) 466-2915
fax (972) 466-2965
toll-free (866) 377-1300
From the website:
We are currently contacting Governor Rick Perry by fax and mail!
We have made it easy for you to help. Click here to display the letter and contact information.
http://www.notintexas.org/Letter_rick_perry.htm
Petition to STOP government controlled healthcare in Texas
Read and sign the petition
http://www.notintexas.org/Letter_to_Reps.htm
Print and sign the letter
(feel free to make changes if you wish)
Fax the letter to the fax numbers
Mail a hard copy to the addresses
Call their offices
Dear Governor Perry,
On March 30, 2009 the Texas House of Representatives passed HCR 50 affirming that the State of Texas claims sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment.
You have publicly supported this bill, and stated that attorney generals from all over the union could be getting ready to sue the US Government.
We are asking you to take the lead.
We are asking you to order the Texas Attorney General to publicly begin working on a law suit under Article IV, Ninth, and Tenth Amendment of the Constitution.
We are asking you to protect the citizens of Texas that we will not stand for government controlled healthcare in our state.
Under your leadership we can effectively kill the proposal of this administration and allow Texas to be a state free from socialism and collectivism.
Be the voice of reason in the national debate and allow Texans the ability to solve the problems of our state.
Thank you,
(Signature Date)
Lookup your state representatives
FREE FAX SERVICSES:
http://www.gotfreefax.com/
http://faxzero.com/
or google ‘free fax’
Contacting Rick Perry
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711
Phone: (512) 463-2000
Fax: (512) 463-1849
Washington Office:
122 C St., NW, Ste. 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 638-3927
Fax: (202) 628-1943
Contact Budget Planning and Policy
Address:1100 San Jacinto
Austin, Texas 78701
Phone: (512) 463-1778
Fax: (512) 463-1975
Gregory S. Davidson
Constituent Communication Division Director and
Executive Clerk to the Governor
Phone: (512) 463-1873
Office of the General Counsel
Department Mailing Address
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, TX 78711
Phone: 512.463.2000
Fax: 512.463.1932
Press Secretary
Allison Castle, Press Secretary
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711
Phone: (512) 463-1826
Fax: (512) 463-1847
Contact Texas Health Care Policy Council
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711
Phone: (512) 463-1778
Fax: (512) 463-1975
Sign up. Become a member.
Sign petition against Obamacare!
See member interview with Cavuto!
____________________
From Texans Against Government Controlled Health Care
Facts about the 10th Amendment:
The Tenth Amendment (Amendment X) of the United States Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights, was ratified on December 15, 1791. The Tenth Amendment restates the Constitution’s principle of Federalism by providing that powers not granted to the national government nor prohibited to the states are reserved to the states or the people.
The truth about government controlled healthcare:
Government healthcare is failing miserably in Massachusetts
If you think a government run healthcare system can work and be more affordable, read this... http://www.notintexas.org/Front_5.htm
Article from the Washington Examiner 1/11/09:
“Obama’s health policy advisers should take a good look at the smoldering wreckage in the Bay State before trying to impose any such “universal coverage” on the rest of the nation.” Link http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/Universal_coverage_First_look_at_the_disaster_in_Massachusetts_011109.html
More interesting reading - Free Market Cure
http://www.freemarketcure.com/
HCR 50 HAS PASSED THE HOUSE 99-36!
Affirming that the State of Texas claims sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government by the U.S. Constitution, serving notice to the federal government to cease and desist certain mandates, and providing that certain federal legislation be prohibited or repealed.
Take Action! Before it is too late!
.
For example, there's Bill Ayers (and his ex-convict wife) the mad bomber. Guy is unrepenetant about his attempts to murder people with bombs, or actually murdering his girlfriend and homosexual lover simultaneously with a faulty bomb design.
Then there's Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel who is an advocate for forced euthenasia, forced infanticide, torture of the helpless elderly and so on.
Frankly, there's no reason whatsoever to TRUST Obama with affairs of state or government power. He really does seem to be the sort of person the Bill of Rights was designed to protect us against.
As he raised his eyebrows and gave Herr Himmler a "meaningful glance" and an ever-so-slight smile.
She brought publicity to this that no one else had, and I do commend her for that. This is something that she can do very well. Now it would be great for her to make an impassioned speech against the abortion advocacy being put forth by Obama under the guise of health care.
TITLE IV—QUALITY 11 Subtitle A—Comparative Effectiveness Research SEC. 1401. COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS RESEARCH. (a) IN GENERAL.—title XI of the Social Security Act is amended by adding at the end the following new part: ‘‘PART D—COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS RESEARCH ‘‘COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS RESEARCH ‘‘SEC. 1181. (a) CENTER FOR COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS RESEARCH ESTABLISHED.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish within the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality a Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research (in this section referred to as the ‘Center’) to conduct, support, and synthesize research (including research conducted or supported under section 1013... 1 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003) with respect to the outcomes, effectiveness, and appropriateness of health care services and procedures in order to identify the manner in which diseases, disorders, and other health conditions can most effectively and appropriately be prevented, diagnosed, treated, and managed clinically...
It goes on for a long time, but this is the gist of it, if anyone wants to read it.
Good catch.
Agreed!
Even for active working people it will be cheap cares at high costs
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Yes - what’s sad, is even when you are in your 20s-30s & you get a life threatening illness, the “death panel” won’t give you what you need to sustain life...so really, we’re ALL in a world of sh%t if this bill passes.
Well stated!
I love Sarah Palin, everything will be runnin’ and out she steps from the shadows, says something truthful and valuable and heads explode everywhere. It’s great.
If it wasn’t so serious, it could be fun but she certainly is a breath of much needed fresh air. And where are our other GOP “representatives”?? Nary a peep, what cowardly, pathetic losers and that’s what we’ll be working at: them losing.
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