Don's Tuesday Column

THE WAY I SEE IT   by Don Polson  Red Bluff Daily News   5/27/2014

Remembering the fallen and government’s broken promises

It is always with heavy hearts and reverential regard that Americans give pause amidst the Memorial Day festivities, picnics and time off; the day exists to commemorate the fallen in every war, every conflict and in every service. Those left to carry on with their lives—whether as a spouse or relative, a fellow worker, or church member—have always known first hand what the death of a soldier, sailor, airman or Marine means. The rest of us can only offer thanks for their sacrifices and know that their souls were greeted and welcomed home into heavenly arms for healing, comfort and succor.

You’ve read how government agencies (i.e. BLM) acted in bad faith, even malice, towards Americans whose only fault was to think they could, unmolested by “guv’mint,” live their lives responsibly and productively on behalf of their families and communities. The IRS, the BLM, the Forest Service, the EPA, and regulators and bureaucrats at all levels, are placing America at a crossroads, a “Y” in the path of this once-free republic. Our Constitution is suffering relentless efforts to diminish the rights we ought never fear losing. Is America “of, by and for” the people or the government?

That question goes directly to the Democrats’ health care/insurance boondoggle, Obamacare, an ongoing fiasco implemented by the Department of Health and Human Services and state exchanges. Some say that 8 million signups proves otherwise. I hope to show that this is yet another example of misinformation, broken promises and corruption, even the inducement of corruption by those misstating their income in order to qualify for more subsidies than they rightfully deserve.

This column last opined on Obamacare in conjunction with the April 15 tax day. I wrote of the lies and hypocrisies inherent in the abusive legislative manipulation used to foist an unpopular (then and now) nationalized health insurance scheme and massive tax burden on an unwilling citizenry. Witness the current scandal and shame as Veterans Affairs (VA) allowed delayed, misrepresented and ultimately fatal medical mistreatment of those who served in America’s military. Nothing that you have read is really surprising when you consider the sad history of government-run health care, and the associated waiting lists, shoddy and abusive treatment, denied services, rationing and (by other names) “death panels.” Sarah Palin was excoriated for using the term; then-Senator Obama offered an otherwise-worded proposal for selected experts to gather and establish criteria for using limited medical resources for those approaching life’s end. Same difference.

Daily News articles included the AP (“1.2 million enroll in California health plans,” April 4) and Bay Area News Group (“Affordable Care Act sign-ups beat projections in US, California,” 4/18). There was little critical scrutiny beyond the obvious “Flooded call centers” and the admitted estimate that only 85 percent will complete the process by paying their premium. Otherwise, it was “We do have something to celebrate …” (Covered California’s Peter Lee) and “It’s a Super Bowl moment, and Covered California and the president deserve to celebrate” (UCLA health care policy professor Gerald Kominski). Obama, spinning, gloating and chest-thumping, proclaimed “This thing is working” on his short rhetorical hop/skip to announcing that “the debate is over,” and that anyone opposing the law is guilty of wanting people to lose insurance, get sick and die—or whatever.

A trip back in time is warranted: On Dec. 29, 2013, Cathy Burke (Newsmax) assembled “Ten Obamacare Promises Broken in 2013.” I think the past is, in many cases, prologue; past lies and broken promises have spawned the current situation. See if you agree that “hope and change” has turned into disappointment and failure.

1. “The website is simple and user-friendly” was the title of a USA Today editorial on October 8 by then-HHS Secretary Sebelius. Subsequent improvements fail to erase that blatant lie, in print more than a month after the initial catastrophic rollout. Websites are fixable—veracity (or lack thereof) is not.

2. and 3. “If you like your plan/doctor, you can keep your plan/doctor, period.” This blatant falsehood was exposed almost immediately as 15,000 spouses of UPS employees, due to Obamacare policies, found they would lose their coverage. Conservative bloggers like Cam Harris, and columnists like Charles Krauthammer, had been saying for years that the very language of the law “was designed to throw people off their private plans and into government-run exchanges where they would be made to overpay—forced to purchase government-mandated services they don’t need—as a way to subsidize others.” The only reason we haven’t had massive cancellations of employer-provided policies is that Obama postponed that deadline for crass political purposes surrounding this November’s elections.

4. “Premiums will fall by as much as $2,500 per family.” Forbes magazine (9/25/2013) and the Manhattan Institute analyzed HHS numbers and determined that “Obamacare will jack up underlying insurance rates for young men by an average of 97 to 99 percent, and for young women by an average of 55 to 62 percent.”

To be continued next week.