10 Questions to Ask at Healthcare Town Hall Meetings

EconomicPolicyJournal.com ^ | August 13, 2009 | Robert Wenzel

[frogjerk]

The following questions are all written by me(Robert Wenzel - the author). However, I couldn't have come up with them without the truly Herculean reading of the 1,000 plus page healthcare document by Peter Fleckstein, and also Russell Wilcox. When history books for this era are written, both these men's names should go down as heroes, for letting the public know what this so called, "healthcare" bill is really all about.

Question 1: Who actually wrote this bill? Congressman can you get us the names of the people that wrote this bill, so that we can understand their views on healthcare?

Question 2: If this bill is only about getting the poor insurance, why will the Secretary of Health as opposed to my doctor determine if I should be re-admitted to a hospital, as outlined on pages 284-288, SEC. 1151?

Question 3: Why, if I am happy with the type of health insurance I have, can you force me to get different insurance as outlined in pages 167-168, section 401 or force me to pay a penalty tax?

Question 4: Why is a simple catastrophic health insurance not allowed under this plan, when that is really what insurance should be about? Is this really happening in America? I reference pages 26-30, SEC. 122.

Question 5: Why will the Health Secretary have full say over all health payments as outlined on page 124, Sec. 223? Isn't this against the free market system and more in line with the thinking of Mussolini?

Question 6: Why does the healthcare bill on pages 195-196, SEC. 431 and on page 145, section 312 open up my tax information to federal employees, and force my employer to supply any information asked of him by the Health Choices Commissioner, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of the Treasury?

Question 7: Why MUST any Doctor who orders durable medical equipment or home medical services be enrolled as a Medicare provider , as outlined on pages 719-720 Sec 1637?

Question 8: What are these so called home visitation programs by the government for families with young children & families expecting children, as outlined on pages 838-845?

Question 9: On page 936, this bill mentions a “Healthy People & National Public Health Performance Standards”. Does this mean you are going to try and tell me what I can and can't eat? Are you going to force manufacturers to stop making some foods?

Question 10: Most of the Healthcare Bill has little to do with providing health insurance to the poor, and a lot to do with controlling everyone. Why is this so? If I am happy with my health insurance why don't you just leave me alone?

[frogjerk]

Just 10 of many questions to ask at your local townhall with your congressman.

[listenhillary]

11. Where in the constitution do you find the authority to force this system on United States citizens?

[bert]

see question 1

the force seems to be strong in this area

It is reverberating throughout the galaxie

[swain_forkbeard]

“...why don’t you just leave me alone?”

Always an appropriate question for an American citizen to ask his government.

[Zakeet]

Question 11: Did you read this bill before you voted for it? Do you intend read it before you vote for it?

Question 12: What, if anything, is contained in this bill that you disagree with? Explain.

[AJMCQ]

How much money has Mr. Obama spend in legal fees to keep his original birth certificate and others records from public view? As a representative of the American public, does this concern you at all?

[Logic n' Reason]

Nope! The number one question to ask is, "when will the entire congress go after medical tort reform in a truly meaninful fashion?
And question number two should be, "when will congress put all it's efforts in putting those who have been thrown out of work through no fault of their own back to work?"

Then you can start on the other questions....

[Pharmboy]

Please name the three top problems in the current US health care system and how this bill specifically addresses each.

[sickoflibs]

Nice list. Very helpful.

[DB]

That’s my question.

And where is actual tort reform?

[oldpass]

Question #1:
Shouldn’t the #1 priority be jobs and the economy?

This health care bill is a 10.5% additional direct tax
and at least underestimated cost of %50. Where will these
funds come from besides current jobs and debt against future
jobs?

[mathluv]

I was going to say that I really liked #10, and the #12 added by a poster above, but your question cuts to the quick!

[Pharmboy]

Well, IMO, the biggest problem for health care in the US is the loss of insurance when someone gets fired and they have to COBRA. If they could just fix this, it would help a lot. I do not think the current bill deals with that...

[Guenevere]

bttt

[mathluv]

Rush keeps saying it is not about healthcare, it is about control of our lives.

My question would be - why not do away with HMOs - which were created by the government in the 70’s. The dims will not allow the conservatives to add portability or tort reform - two things that are needed.

[Manic_Episode]

Bump for later

[jetson]

What about “ why are you trying to sell lies to the American people backed by a phony who’s real name is Barry Satoro?”

[SeattleBruce]

Bump

[SlowBoat407]

If these dirtbags are so intent on giving the insurance companies “competition” and on “keeping them honest”, let them quit their jobs in Congress and start their own freaking insurance company. Run it according to their health care bill, and after 5 years report on whether or not it was able to support itself.

[frposty]

Ok, here’s my question.

Given the enormous implact the bill will have on our lives and the economy, its complexity and size (number of pages), and the controversy it has already produced, why on earth should we want to pass the whole package in a hurry?