Thursday, August 13, 2009

10 Questions to Ask at Healthcare Town Hall Meetings

From the Economic Policy Journal

By Robert Wenzel

The following questions are all written by me (Robert Wenzel, rw@economicpolicyjournal.com.) 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?