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The Right Prescription
A Rationing Advocate to Head Social Security Advisory Board?
If Donald Berwick was a bad dream, Henry J. Aaron is a nightmare.
When pro-life advocates list their reasons for opposing abortion-on-demand, they often cite their conviction that it is merely the first step toward even more grisly social engineering projects, including euthanasia for the old and infirm. This invariably produces sneers from soi-disant progressives, who smugly characterize these fears as hysterical nonsense. But such concerns will seem eminently reasonable to any open-minded reader who peruses the writings of Henry J. Aaron, the President’s nominee for Chair of the Social Security Advisory Board. Like Obama’s recess-appointed Medicare czar, Aaron is an unapologetic admirer of Great Britain’s notorious socialized medical system, the National Health Service (NHS). Why? Because NHS administrators unabashedly practice the dark art of health care rationing.
Aaron, a Senior Fellow in Economics at the Brookings Institution, is unable to imagine any route to cost control that doesn’t involve government coercion. In a 2005 Brookings white paper titled “Health Care Rationing: What it Means,” he represents the NHS as a system that has come to grips with what he sees as the inescapable necessity for rationing. Predictably, he rejects any alternative involving the market: “The key to efficient market outcomes is that prices reflect costs of production. The market for health care does not operate that way.” In other words, Aaron believes health care is a unique universe in which the market mysteriously fails to function and therefore can’t be relied upon to contain costs. It never seems to have occurred to him that the market’s alleged failure might be the result of government meddling.
Thus, the only realistic cost control option is government rationing. As Aaron’s fellow traveler Donald Berwick famously phrased it, “the decision is not whether we will ration care; the decision is whether we will ration with our eyes open.” For Aaron, this conviction manifests itself in rather disturbing ways. He is, for example, a zealous proponent of Obamacare’s Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). IPAB, you will recall, is the fifteen-member “death panel” to which Congress transferred the politically toxic task of imposing price controls on Medicare and thus rationing care to the elderly. In a recent column, Aaron heaped praise on Congress for abdicating its responsibilities to this unelected and largely unaccountable panel, quite literally calling it an act of “legislative statesmanship.”
Aaron’s only cavil with the creation of IPAB involves what he sees as Congress’s failure to give it enough power to really put the hammer down on wasteful health care spending. He regrets, for example, that the panel labors under “politically motivated restrictions” that prevent it from slashing Medicare payments for such useless undertakings as hospice. Yes, hospice. In a column written for Politico last summer to counter public calls for IPAB’s repeal, Aaron averred that “the provisions governing the IPAB are less than optimal. For example, recommendations regarding payments to acute and long-term care hospitals, hospices and inpatient rehabilitation and psychiatric facilities are off-limits until 2020.” He goes on to say that these limitations on IPAB’s reach “should be repealed as early as possible.”
All of which brings us back to the concerns of the pro-life community so widely ridiculed by its pro-abortion betters. What do long-term care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and hospices have in common? They care for the old and infirm, of course. And what would be the effect of slashing funds for these providers? It would, in fact, amount to euthanasia for many elderly patients. But Aaron advises us not to get all worked up about this possibility because IPAB can only make “recommendations.” Congress can, he tells us, undo any price controls it deems too draconian: “if Congress doesn’t like what the IPAB recommends, a simple majority of both Houses of Congress can replace the IPAB’s recommendations with alternative ways of meeting spending targets that Congress laid down.”
Oh, is that all? Well, one can certainly see his point. Recent experience certainly suggests that getting the House and Senate to agree on important issues is mere child’s play, does it not? And it goes without saying that the President would be more than happy to sign the resultant legislation into law, right? Aaron goes on to point out that, even in the unlikely event that this absurdly simple procedure somehow breaks down, “a three-fifths majority in the Senate [can] pass new targets or simply kill the IPAB.” Now that is comforting. Reading this stuff, one realizes that Aaron is a man from whom it would exceptionally unwise to buy a used car. He knows perfectly well that IPAB has, for all intents and purposes, been empowered to ration health care via price controls and does not scruple to whitewash that ugly reality.
So, where does this leave us? We already have a staunch rationing advocate, Donald Berwick, running the government health care program for the elderly. Now the President has nominated Henry J. Aaron, an even more zealous rationing advocate, to chair the Social Security Advisory Board. Both of these men openly admire Britain’s NHS, a socialized medical system notorious for neglect of its elderly patients. Somehow, the “slippery slope” fears of the pro-life community seem less hysterical than our progressive friends would have it. Are you comfortable submitting your aging loved ones to the tender mercies of people like Donald Berwick and Henry J. Aaron? I’m not.
About the Author
David Catron is a health care revenue cycle expert who has spent more than twenty years working for and consulting with hospitals and medical practices. He has an MBA from the University of Georgia and blogs at Health Care BS.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (102) | Leave a comment
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Nancy in NC| 11.18.11 @ 6:43AM
American Spectator is hitting it out of the park today. We will never hear about this control freak on the MSM.
Unfortunately there is so much corruption and downright evilness in the government that one is hard pushed to know where to start.
I hope others will start by telling friends and enemies about this piece of dung, Henry Aaron. Like so many, I hardly recognize this country anymore, and this is one more reason why.
Dave | 11.19.11 @ 8:11AM
Well, I always kind of fantasized about being a fly on the wall. Judging from Aaron's resume and the description of his long range planning, I may not end up being a fly; more likely a lampshade. But I guess that'd be OK as long as I match the drapes and don't clash with Michelle's party dress.
Thanks, Barry. I'm feelin' better already.
Dave | 11.19.11 @ 8:11AM
Well, I always kind of fantasized about being a fly on the wall. Judging from Aaron's resume and the description of his long range planning, I may not end up being a fly; more likely a lampshade. But I guess that'd be OK as long as I match the drapes and don't clash with Michelle's party dress.
Thanks, Barry. I'm feelin' better already.
Bob K.| 11.18.11 @ 7:13AM
We had rationing back in WW2 when there was a war with a distant enemy who threatened our freedoms.
Now the enemies are our own countrymen who want to take away our freedoms and in the process inflict rationing on us!
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.18.11 @ 8:03AM
David,
thanks for the heads up.
Margie| 11.18.11 @ 2:41PM
How's your conscience today, reprobate?
Care to change your story to another one sonce the last one?
What? You say you had e mails to prove your filthy accusations and now you say OOPS! Don't have them anymore because "I told you to delete them?"
My, my, what a convenient change that was!
a new story to replace the old.
Why, you must be Tex the Magician!
LOL, you're a JOKE here, kiddo.
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.18.11 @ 3:54PM
Hey TAS, is there such a thing as female sexual harassment?
I'm beginning to understand how Mr. Cain feels.
Margie| 11.18.11 @ 5:41PM
Wow, the gall you have. I don't think I have ever seen such a filthy scumbag such as you in my entire life.
FIRST, TYAS has your posts, and YOU started the accusing. Remember asshole?
You accused ME of a something filthy, said you had the e mails to prove it and I asked you to post them. You didn't, because you COULDN'T. There were none!
Yesterday you changed your story and said OOPS! You didn't have them because I asked you to delete them
And NOW you're going to say IT'S ME that's sexually harassing YOU?
And you're thinking no one can read here, that no one saw what your first accusations against me were?
That you said you had PROOF in emails?
YOU failed to produce them, and knew you couldn't~ now you are going even deeper into your SIN? Adding sin upon sin and turning the accusations on me?
You are a real pervert.
And WHERE is anyone to stand up to this liar here?
YOU have all read what he charged me with in the first place, and you all saw how he changed his story~ does not ONE person love the TRUTH here?
NO- it is ME who knows how Mr. Cain feels you filthy lying reprobate.
WGMOW| 11.19.11 @ 3:23PM
Margie, you are such a typical feminist. People like you can never refute a logical statement with another logical statement, so you immediately resort to name-calling. It's actually kind of funny, in a pathetic sort of way.
Really, creatures like you make be ashamed to be female. You and you ilk have poisoned the well so badly that logical, ethical, and intelligent women have to work trebly hard to prove that we are not like you.
Margie| 11.20.11 @ 6:21PM
Really, WIGWAM?
Well, you could always get that operation if you're really ashamed of being female!
As I see it, all of the women here haven't spoken a peep about what Ken's doing here to me.
HE accused me of wanting to commit Adultery. Said he had the proof in e mails.
I kept asking him to post the, He didn't but kept accusing me.
The he changed his story for ALL to see, saying oops he didn't have them 'cause I asked him to delete them!
WOW!
How clearly deceitful can a man be?
Yet, ya wanna talk feminist?
Where is one single woman to take him to task on it?
Remember Anita Broderick? Remember when a conservative woman gets wrongfully treated how none of you feminists say anything?
And YOU are the feminist here, hypocrite.
So, screw you, imbecile for your asinine and untruthful post.
I hope you repent of you dishonesty and hypocrisy.
Occam's Tool| 11.18.11 @ 4:20PM
Dear G-d,
sounds ghastly. Fortunately, I like my job and will be happy to do it until Hashem takes me away.
Margie, kindness? I hate to see the anger between two people I care about. Your heart is kind; this I know.
Margie| 11.18.11 @ 5:44PM
Occam,
Did you not see what Ken accused me of? Have you not been reading?
READ: He falsely accused me of wanting to commit Adultery, said he has the e mails to prove it.
How kind is THAT, Occam?
Then he changes his story to that he has no emails because I asked him to delete them?
And in a new disgusting, filthy twist this reprobate plays the victim?
COME ON MAN! WAKE UP!!
Is that ALL you have to say to me, with NOTHING to him?
SAD.
Nick| 11.19.11 @ 2:24AM
Uh-oh, Occam.
I think you just became a....PAPIST!!!!
Dun, dun...duuunnn!
Ha-ha!
Shalom and G-d Bless, my friend.
Margie| 11.19.11 @ 1:46PM
Asshole.
Nick| 11.19.11 @ 6:47PM
Still love ya', Margie.
God Bless!
Margie| 11.20.11 @ 6:22PM
Double that above comment of mine, okeedokee?
Pecos Pete| 11.18.11 @ 8:07AM
How about a new agency: Medical Application Demand (MAD). The purpose of MAD, as defined by Congress, is to provide quality health care for anyone younger than 50 at no cost to the patient. The reasoning is that if young people are cured of all diseases they will never be afflicted when older and will thus live without the need for health care at any time in the future. Of course, the GAO and OMB will certify that tax revenue will increase by 4.327% annually due to people never dying and thus continuing to pay taxes forever. Not to mention that Medicare and Medicaid could both be terminated leaving only MAD for the future.
Mike Hawk| 11.18.11 @ 8:10AM
This is National Socialist tyranny on parade.
Ross Kaminsky | 11.18.11 @ 8:32AM
None of this rationing, death panels, etc would be possible if the federal government were not involved in health care.
The solution to the federal government messing up everything from medicine to energy to the Internet is to remove from them the power to have significant influence over those and every other industry (other than perhaps national defense where the government is effectively the customer.)
Imagine the change to the functioning of our government and society if government could not pick winners and losers, could not decide who is more or less likely to live or die, who will have their competition squashed.
Not only would the private sector function far better, but we would eliminate the need/desire by corporations and unions to spend tens of millions on elections.
As Don Boudreaux says, "if you want to get the money out of politics, get politics out of money."
Scott| 11.18.11 @ 9:26AM
The big problem is the alternative is no better. Try working with a benefits department at a private sector insurance company. Its no better than trying to find a solution with a government agency, because they are just as large and bueracratic.
Jack London| 11.18.11 @ 12:25PM
Ross - serious question - how would you ensure all seniors get affordable access to healthcare in a purely private market given that many have multiple morbidities?
Actually, recalling a previous query like this - is your position that many would have to do without healthcare?
Paul| 11.18.11 @ 1:42PM
That's called medicare and we already pay for that. When will people take responsibility for their own family and person. If they can't afford it, then maybe there's a transition, but at some point, we the people need to take care of ourselves and our families. Otherwise, move to Canada....
Jack London| 11.18.11 @ 2:21PM
No - he wants no Medicare. He says: 'None of this rationing, death panels, etc would be possible if the federal government were not involved in health care.'
Sure thing - and what pill is he taking?
Occam's Tool| 11.18.11 @ 4:27PM
Once upon a time, we had charity hospitals and clinics that did wonders. In addition, creating large insurance groups for all the elderly in a given town would help. Once upon a time, Doctors did more charity work, but with Medicare disallowing the right to balance bill and constantly cutting fees, that has gone by the wayside. If you are not an old guy, Jack, the cost of your health insurance is jacked up by the fact that hospitals have to cover illegal immigrants in ERs and the fact that Medicaid and Medicare DON'T cover the cost of care.
Jack London| 11.18.11 @ 5:07PM
Once upon a time we had no comprehensive cancer centers with multimillion dollar equipment. I think you'll find things have changed.
Aiken_Bob| 11.19.11 @ 8:51AM
The real problem is that we are trying to fix the problem with what we have now and we have forgotten how we got here. The gov't started this insurance racket a long time ago and then 'gave' us medicare to help us. The net effect is that now the health care market is totally screwed up, it will only make sense when normal market forces take control.
So many of the things that folks are talking about in these comments are concepts that didn't even exist a couple of generations ago. While there were problems then, I'm not sure that the solutions haven't created bigger problems.
TrueBlue| 11.21.11 @ 10:54AM
Sadly the government can't get out of the medical treatment field altogether. Try getting an insurance company to pay out what they're supposed to without a bigtime lawyer to back you up. I have a friend of mine who got referral to a chiropractor from his doctor (as required by his insurance company), both of whom are on their accepted list, and he STILL can't get the insurance company to pay out. This is where the government should be involved, making sure companies actually do what they say they are going to do without people having to hire a dang lawyer. That's the most they should be involved in insurance though.
Private companies are concerned with turning a profit, so they'll do everything they can to not have to shell out money. Government is (seemingly) more concerned with getting people treatment, and then ignores the cost because it isn't their money. I'm honestly not sure which is worse.
Petronius| 11.18.11 @ 8:37AM
Welcome to the anthill.
Michael Tomlinson| 11.18.11 @ 8:37AM
Death panels anyone?
pecospete| 11.18.11 @ 8:40AM
Sarah Palin was said to be literally insane after her death panels remark because, as we all know, the phrase "death panels" doesn't appear anywhere in the Obamacare bill. (How we could have known that neither I nor Nancy Pelosi can tell.) Palin looks smarter every day.
Anthony| 11.18.11 @ 9:09AM
Turns out Nancy Pelosi was the swamp of corruption. Yes, we have to pass this corruption before we know what's in it.
Gov. Palin: HELP US DRAIN THE D SWAMP!!!
Glen H| 11.18.11 @ 9:02AM
Don't you have to balance this against all the home runs he hit?
irish19| 11.18.11 @ 1:03PM
Cute! LOL!
Timothy L. Pennell| 11.18.11 @ 9:11AM
Wow. He looks old. I wonder what will happen to him if he gets SICK? Or, has a HEART ATTACK? Will we let him Die? I hope so. The Irony of it all, would be just too good for words.
This guy is a Recess Appointment. The guy who wants to DECIDE, who among us gets the REAL PILL, and who gets the PLACEBO, came to his Lofty Perch through the back door, in the middle of the night. He LURKED in. That's what EVIL does. It LURKS.
His Majesty: The Marxist, realized that even he could never get his guy - Donald Josef Mengele Berwick - confirmed by the Senate. A Senate that his Party, controls. Apparently Josef Mengeles, be they Hitler's or Hussein's, are a tough sell, even for those crooks.
He wants to KILL US, with his "Eyes Open". He wants to use this All Wise and All Powerful: IPAB, as some Extra Constitutional Board of JEOPORDY Judges. "You need a Life saving Procedure? Let's see what our Judges say." You either get a "DING" (Depending on your Political Connections) and you may continue on David Berwick's Earth. Or you get the "BUZZER" and are whisked away, with no parting gifts, to your Final Destination as one of the Multi-Colored Soylent Wafers that are Low in Fat, High in Protein, have Zero Trans Fats, and are destined to be a mainstay of our diet, as more and more of our food, heads to our Gas Tanks.
Sound ridiculous? Really? More ridiculous than RED CHINA being an "Easier place to do business than the United States?" More ridiculous than the Government owning Car Companies, Insurance Companies, and Banks? More ridiculous than having a Muslim/Marxist, who HATES this Country, for a President? More ridiculous than giving BILLIONS of Dollars to OUR ENEMIES for our Oil, while we're sitting on the Biggest Reserves in the world, because our PRESIDENT won't allow us to DRILL for it? Is it more ridiculous than NOT defending our Borders, Running High Powered Weapons to Murderous Drug Cartels, and PUNISHING our Border Agents for doing their jobs? Is it?
I'll be honest. I don't know how this guy - Barack the 1st - is still alive. He tasks us. He keeps pushing and pushing. He divides us by Race, Creed, and Social Status. He is acts oblivious to the pain that people are going through, under HIS POLICIES. But he relishes in it. he will TEAR US DOWN, so he can REBUILD, in His Image.
Golfing all the time. Always going on EXPENSIVE Vacations. Pissing through OUR MONEY, so he can Share the Sacrifice, over in Hawaii, and Australia, and New Zealand, with the Wife and Kids. "Bon Voyage!"
He could have picked ANYONE for this position, and he picked a cross between Josef Mengele, Jack Kevorkian, and Tiller the Killer.
Someone took a shot at Pharaoh the other day. Is ANYONE surprised? And, will they be surprised by the next one? Or, the Next?
I don't know about you, but the only thing about this that I find surprising, is that it took so long.
SIC SEMPER TYRANNUS!
USSAlabama| 11.18.11 @ 10:40AM
Damn straight!
Hear! Hear! Pennell.
We have the Lefty like of Van Jones agitating for violence; it's expected next summer. Conservatives I know are armed and ready for a revolution.
It is going to take a full scale revolution to get this government out of our business and our money.
irish19| 11.18.11 @ 1:07PM
"It is going to take a full scale revolution to get this government out of our business and our money."
I sincerely hope not as the damage from such a thing would be horrible to contemplate. But, if it does, then so be it.
Teaghan| 11.18.11 @ 10:43AM
Tim, you need to be careful with your words. I would hate for you to be on the receiving end of the secret service paying a visit to your door. A man in a neighboring county had it happen to him and he said nothing incindiary. Some idiot progressive whom he had words with about obamacare CALLED the SS and told them that this fellow threatened the presidents life. He did NOT, but now, this visit he was paid is on his record and he is on a list.
Please choose your words carefully. obama isn't worth the anguish it could cause you. And I enjoy your posts!
Timothy L. Pennell| 11.18.11 @ 11:41AM
On the Contrary. The Secret Service takes an OATH, to Protect and Defend the Constitution of the United States of America from all enemies, both Foreign and DOMESTIC.
I hope they will recognize that the DOMESTIC ENEMY is standing right in front of them. I am hoping that, like The Praetorian Guard of Ancient Rome, who's Job it was, to Protect the Emperor, but who REMOVED their Boss on more than one occasion, because their ALLEGIENCE was to THE EMPIRE.
I do not fear the Secret Service. I am not the Domestic Enemy. I just hope that they can recognize the forest, for the trees.
They have to decide whether they are going to "Do their Job" or "Obey their OATH." They cannot do both.
John II| 11.18.11 @ 3:29PM
Actually, Aaron looks more like an avuncular real estate tycoon: the spittin' image of Sinclair Lewis's Babbitt, and a droll reminder that the destructive Left, like that old fraud Marx himself, comes straight out of the shallows of the bourgeoisie.
And now back to "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946), in which Lionel Barrymore anticipates Brookings-type intellectuals with his portrayal of a grasping old windbag cheating his way through the advancement of what he'd mysteriously prefer to be--for everyone else as well as himself--a miserable life.
Seek| 11.18.11 @ 3:33PM
God, I can't stand that overrated, overplayed movie. If Aaron resembles anyone, it's a bureaucrat in a Tom Clancy-based movie like "Patriot Games."
John II| 11.18.11 @ 3:58PM
Oh. Okay. Or how about the Ned Beatty character in "Network" (1976)? Which reminds me: Ever notice that the self-preening lefties dominating the MSM are themselves the lackeys of a corporate culture? And, now that I REALLY think about it, what about the real-world circumstances of your typical George Clooney.
It's a very old observation that socialism (a cluster of foolish ideas) is a toxic byproduct of capitalism (a name given by socialists to the normal workings of a market economy). Whence the Babbitt connection. Whatever personal myths sustain people like George Clooney and Michael Moore and Henry Aaron, I'd like to think their shameless souls would feel a touch of embarrassment if they suddenly saw themselves clearly.
The Knife| 11.18.11 @ 9:32PM
Seek would prefer the Ned Beatty character in Deliverance. If they could have worked some scary dark people into the plot, it would have been her favorite movie.
Scott| 11.18.11 @ 9:23AM
The only answer is that either the gov't rations or the gov't gets entirely out of the health care system. There can not really be any in between.
When you have a single payer system like Medicare, you have to ration. Of course the market doesn't work when someone else is picking up the bill for your health care services like Medicare does.
And the alternative "private sector" solution isn't much better, in fact its probably worse. Most people don't have any choice in who their private insurance comes from, its pretty much whatever big insurance giant their HR department chooses for them. And then the insurace company decides what and when to ration care, by refusing to pay for this or that.
Bob Grant| 11.18.11 @ 9:53AM
"...its pretty much whatever big insurance giant their HR department chooses for them...."
Maybe if government got out of the way and allowed HR departments to choose from a larger pools of insurance programs nationwide that problem would solve itself.
The truth is we've never really allowed the free market to exist in the healthcare industry.
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.18.11 @ 9:47AM
Scott,
we get paid by health insurance companies. And yes, they can be a pain in the butt.
...However, I have learned how to go "nuclear" on a health insurance company.
How?
I merely pick up the phone and call the "customer company" CEO and remind him/her that the whole point of group insurance is employee morale. Then I give him the supervisory claims person's phone number...heh heh heh and sic- him.
UH... I also give him the direct number of the national sales manager at the insurance company... and sic-him.
Works every time.... especially when I offer the CEO a free news-wire release and even draft it for him.
...Cain't do that with gubmint.
Margie| 11.18.11 @ 2:46PM
And God's going to go nuclear on liars like you, kiddo:
"But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, as for murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their lot shall be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death." Rev. 21:8.
Unless of course you really don't think it applies to egomaniacs like yourself, and think that somehow you can escape His wrath.
"He who speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit." Prov. 12:17.
Where's that evidence you said you had in the form of e mails?
Oh, that's right! You changed your story as of yesterday.. now you say you deleted them at my request.
I'd call that DECEIT. What do you think God calls it?
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.18.11 @ 5:23PM
(Sigh)... the woman scorned.
Sorry...I'm spoke for.
Margie| 11.18.11 @ 5:47PM
Asshole.
No, you filthy piece of trash, I am a woman OUTRAGED at false accusations that you are choosing to commit SIN against.
You will burn in Hell for what you are doing.
victor| 11.18.11 @ 6:10PM
Kenneth Bean:
"Sorry...I'm spoke for."
Yeah, you're spoken for alright.
Spoken for by Beelzebub himself.
Hope you got a good price for that flea-bitten soul of yours.
First you say you say you got emails to prove your case, then you say that you deleted them.
Which is it?
You got them or you don't?
Put up or shut up Bean old man.
BTW you apparently have many names and many faces:
"PS: I'm Ken. I use my wife Linda's name on emails for anononynonynonymity (smile)."
Remember that one?
Or this one?:
"You are only one of fifty thousand or so who have my private e-mail address.
Most of those folks are stockholders in our company."
Deleting company email on company email addresses is against the law now, or don't you know?
Either way, you either gottem or ya don't.
Show your cards Kenny Boy.
PS may I, or may I not, tell your wife about your private emails, eh?
"My email address is 1-bean@xxxxxxxxx.net but the address is under my wife's name. Just another layer of security for my private e-mails
Linda never uses the above address."
Margie and Victor Noise| 11.18.11 @ 9:36PM
Cuckoo. Cuckoo.
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.18.11 @ 9:53AM
Another thought:
The first Texas grandma Mr. Aaron decides to kill.....have a Texas prosecutor idict Mr. Aaron for murder...right here in Texas.
We still give murderers the needle here in Texas.
USSAlabama| 11.18.11 @ 10:42AM
He'll get the chair.
irish19| 11.18.11 @ 1:10PM
Not the chair. That might use fossil fuel produced electricity. If I might make a suggestion, perhaps a length of organically produced hemp rope.
Occam's Tool| 11.18.11 @ 4:31PM
Make him listen to hours of PA, Clint and Jack's comments, read by PA, Clint and Jack.
victor| 11.18.11 @ 7:57PM
Actually, Ken reading his two books might have the same effect.
Clint| 11.19.11 @ 11:40AM
Make Him Share A Cell With Tool Job & Smell Tool Job's, " Breath Of Ass."
Margie| 11.18.11 @ 2:51PM
"Any one who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." 1 Jn. 3:15.
Let's see now. God says that because you hate me, you're a murderer. Unless of course what you are doing to me here in the public arena~ that would be trying to destroy me by false accusations of unfaithfulness to my husband and wanting to commit Adultery with you~ unless of course you do not consider that HATRED in it's "purest" form~ and hen you would be deceiving yourself.
Now, just how do you think you will be able to escape God's Judgment for this?
See my above post for the low down on what Ken is AcTUALLY doing here.
p.s. How's that "deal" you said you have going with God, the one where He supposedly allows you to use His Name in vain?
And also, the one where you claim against Him, that Homosexuals are "born that way?"
Hell isn't a nice place, reprobate.
cicero| 11.18.11 @ 10:53AM
The common thread that runs through all of these policies advocated by our government and policy advocates is that all of these folks will not be subject to them. Take, for instance, the present Pres. While never having held a real job, he and his family are multi-millionaires, having enjoyed enourmous success with patronage jobs, and fluff books that no one would have purchased but for.
All of them have accumulated sufficient wealth at the public trough so they will not be subject to their programs. Just look at where they educate their children. Do they send them to the public schools that they continue to indulge with political largess? of coarse not. Even public school teachers are not that silly.
When government workers, agents, and their heirs and assigns are made to live with the messes they intend for the rest of us, a whole different attitude will prevail in the hallowed halls of power.
USSAlabama| 11.18.11 @ 11:38AM
Exactly; but making them subject to their own programs will require more of us than a commitment at the ballot box.
We now have a ruling class that our Fathers took pains to prevent through our Constitution and Bill of Rights.
We, as country class citizens, will have to undertake organizing ourselves to ever rid our government of these usurper leeches and prevent them from taking hold again. It has to be systemic to prevent initial attachment.
cowpoke| 11.18.11 @ 11:01AM
I forget the third.... Ohhhh, lets see.. #1. Abortion get rid of unwanted. #2. elimination of elderly, noncontributing. Ohhh, and #3. get rid of those that don't think as we. Then we will have a Utopia. One that will last for a thousand years. OHHH hold on wait... Haven't I seen this in a movie? No wait... Now I remember... It was World War Two. First they came for the....
DRed| 11.18.11 @ 11:06AM
I thought you guys wanted to cut government spending.
Notary Sojac| 11.18.11 @ 11:29AM
Exactly right, funny how the deficit hawks want to give every Medicare patient an unlimited tap on my checkbook.
Notary Sojac| 11.18.11 @ 11:28AM
When the patient is spending his or her own money on health care there should never be any restriction whatever.
However, when the patient is spending MY money, extracted from me and my employer at the threat of criminal penalties if we do not fork over, then damn right I want rationing. I want not one dollar more spent than has been budgeted.
Occam's Tool| 11.18.11 @ 4:35PM
Notary, when it is your lovbed one who is sick, tell me how you will support rationing then. It's easy to do with someone you don't know or actively dislike. For example, someone should ration Clint's Oxygen---52 minutes for every hour.
Secondly, MDs are often the "gatekeepers" for care, but people want us to ration without covering us legally. Raises stress and burnout.
In short, as Ken runs a medical company and I'm an MD, might I suggest that a Notary hasn't a clue what he's talking about?
Jack London| 11.18.11 @ 5:09PM
Sounds like you support using other people's money for unlimited care. How does this square with your free market?
Notary Sojac| 11.18.11 @ 5:45PM
I've been full-time employed in hospital finance for the last twenty five years. Including financial management of physician practices.
Butch| 11.18.11 @ 6:04PM
Much deserved, Occam. Thanks. And you were just the one to do it.
Notary Sojac| 11.18.11 @ 11:30AM
"Are you comfortable submitting your aging loved ones to the tender mercies of people like Donald Berwick and Henry J. Aaron? I'm not."
Pay for your aging loved ones' health care -yourself- then, instead of sponging off younger taxpayers.
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.18.11 @ 12:09PM
Notary,
believe it or not, you too will grow old....if we geezers don't shoot you first.
Beware...
Old men won't fight you. They wll merely smile and shoot.
Notary Sojac| 11.18.11 @ 12:40PM
In other words, Old Texican has the guns, he's entitled to take my money to pay for his surgery.
Lovely. If this is "conservatism" please count me out. Now.
Legarto Rey| 11.18.11 @ 12:16PM
Mr/Ms Sojac is undeniably correct. SS and Medicare are taxpayer/employer funded entitlements that consume the MAJORITY of our budget. Everybody loves their entitlements and is hysterically opposed to "rationing". Wake up conservatives, radical structural changes to these programs are coming. Abolition or privitization of these behemoths is NOT likely, reducing expenditures WILL occur as youngsters take the reins of governance, recognizing the fraud perpetrated on them by their "elders". If you don't like the term rationing, call it REALITY!
Occam's Tool| 11.18.11 @ 4:32PM
Love too---they won't let us buy non-Medicare full insurance.
OregonBuzz| 11.18.11 @ 11:51AM
Shades of 'Soylent Green'.
Dave| 11.18.11 @ 12:25PM
Where do they find these whackjobs to apply for these jobs? It's like the person with the least ability to do the job, or the least understanding of what's needed for the job, gets the job.
Wait. Never mind. I understand.
They are merely following in Obama's footsteps.
Gary B| 11.18.11 @ 1:30PM
The thing Obama loves most is rubbing our noses in his BS. He absolutely loves it. Fiddling while Rome burns pretty much describes it.
cicero| 11.18.11 @ 2:24PM
Social Security as originally passed had a chance of meeting its goals. Over the years, our fearless leaders have so expanded the program that we now have people who never contributed to the system, or contributed very little, able to tap into lifetime benefits. Lately, while extending jobless benefits, without the ability to pay for them, the govt. has instructed its ad law soc.sec. judges to grant everybody SSD/I benefits. It is no wonder that the young wonder whether Soc. Sec. will be there for them. This is merely another set up for class/age warfare - divide et inpera.
Dave| 11.18.11 @ 2:32PM
Not to mention how many times they have plundered it.
I think Social Security is a good idea. I am a lot more humanitarian than most conservatives in that regard. But we've got to get control on this thing now if we ever hope to keep it from bleeding the country dry.
fmm| 11.18.11 @ 3:27PM
Rationers have a basic philosophy fault. They believe the amount of resources are static, requiring rationing to spread the resources around and ensure that all get at least something. This is a truly limited and ignorant vision but they apply this broken approach to health care, economics, and etc. The sad truth is that rationing, like price controls, causes shortages by removing the potential rewards for people to develop new products and services. In a way, their faulty ideas are self fulfilling by causing the very situation they fear. The reality is that free markets result in the expansion of resources bringing new products, efficiencies, and increased wealth for all into being. The less government control we have, the better it is for society as a whole.
shipley130| 11.18.11 @ 5:50PM
I wonder if Henry Aaron would approve of his own healthcare rationing.
Richard Baker| 11.18.11 @ 10:11PM
Sounds like a Margaret Sanger devotee to me.
Ah Margie, such Christ-like language. Hope you're seeking therapy. What a joke.
Margie| 11.19.11 @ 1:54PM
I know you're such a low life that you are enjoying it, Richard the Popey worshipper.
You care NOTHING for the truth, of course. Heh, even when it is clear the man is blatantly lying and falsey accusing by saying he had the "proof" and then openly and for all to see changed his story.
No, you care not because you pure hatred for me is the only thing that matters to you, and not the truth.
As long as I get destroyed, you don't mind!
My using a foul word compared to what Ken is doing here?
Heh.
Here's what God has to say about "men" like you and Ken:
"The coming of the lawless one by the activity of Satan will be with all power and with pretended signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are to perish, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
Therefore God sends upon them a strong delusion, to make them believe what is false, so that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thess. 2:9-12.
How's that Mary as Mother of God thingy goin' for ya, loser?
Nite| 11.18.11 @ 10:46PM
I have news for you. The other 14 people on the IPAB is just like Aaron. Congress needs to ensure that this committee reports to them instead of Obama. This gang of 15 is another group of dangerous uncaring so called experts, who believe in Eugenics that was practiced by Hitler. (by the way, hardly any of this group is physicians, but they are making life or death decisions for not only the elderly, but
chronically and mentally ill children and adults.)
POST American| 11.19.11 @ 12:36AM
More 'ration--ALL' solutions
as 'AWE-STARE---'IT'----HE' is
brought in right on schedule.
(remember, we're the 'ITs')
Psychopathic, fractional reserve,
INTER-national USURY remains,
or rather, is more than ever, the
Law of Moses ABOMINATION that it is.
EUGENICS remains its ulimate aim.
-------------HUAC/ NUREMBERG 2012--------------
------Tick ---Tick ---Tick ---Tick!
Andrea | 11.19.11 @ 5:12AM
I hate to see the anger between two people I care about...anyway, if government got out of the way and allowed HR departments to choose from a larger pools of insurance programs nationwide that problem would solve itself.
scythe| 11.19.11 @ 7:29AM
This guy looks like he is on the cusp of decrepitude. I think we should pull the plug on him. Notice Obama keeps nominating geezers who want to knock off the elderly. Everyone else will go but them. When it comes to their own health and survival, no expense will be spared. In three short years this scumbag in the White House has turned this country into an incipient nightmare.
Steve| 11.19.11 @ 11:07AM
I just returned from London yesterday and the news on the BBC was the same as last year, delayed treatment is rampant. One year for a poor farmer to get his hernia repaired. He said as it got worse he would take a break from feeding his sheep, used the ultrasound unit he uses when the sheep give birth, look at it and pop his intestines back in the hernia. The nightmare is on our doorstep and leading the way is an ignorant moron we call our president.
Mike Hawk| 11.20.11 @ 12:29PM
Mark Levin Had an MD call in Friday. He has notified Medicare and Medicaid he is no longer takuing their patients as of January 1. Too much paper work and the cuts will cost him money. If it gets to where gummint mandates treatment he will quit practicing. The death panels are already at work. One of Obama's only real shovel ready projects. Socialized medicide is a killer.
POST American| 11.19.11 @ 9:41PM
-----'Ration--ALL---ism'
And remembering, as always, that we're the 'ITs'.
------'YOU--till--'IT'--tear--ianism'
--------'AWE--STARE--'IT'--HE'
----------'SSS--US--STAIN--a--BILL--'IT'--he'
-----------'TOTAL--'IT'---tear--ianism'
And so, David ---'counted'--- the tribes.
-------------YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED-------------
Naturalborn Texicanette| 11.20.11 @ 4:21PM
For Pete's sake, Margie!!!!!!!
Get over it!!!!
You remind me of my 6th grade girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shesh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Naturalborn Texicanette| 11.20.11 @ 4:23PM
P. S. by the way, the Bible says NO ONE KNOWS THE MIND OF GOD.
Yes....sorry Margie.....................................not even you.
Margie| 11.20.11 @ 6:28PM
Wrong, self-righteous one.
The Bible says that the Spirit knows the mind of God. Rom. 8:27.
Christians have His Spirit.
If Ken had His Spirit, he wouldn't be a liar.
Interesting how you see fit to side with a liar, guess you have not the Spirit of God, either.
"Get over it!"
Remember Bill Clinton's comment to Juanita Broderick?
~Thanks for your support, you are obviously NOT a sister in Christ, but one who asks God, "Am I my brother's keeper?"
Naturalborn Texican| 11.20.11 @ 9:11PM
Hmmmm...........
Romans 8:27
"And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit INTERCEDES (emphasis mine) for the saints in accordance with God's will." Life Application Study Bible (NIV)
"And He who searches the hearts knows the Spirit's mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."
(The Apologetics Study Bible)
And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."
King James Version
I could include other translations and additional reference verses, but I won't. The capitalized "H" is used only for Jesus and God, and refers to them, not to you and me.
It is not YOUR place to judge...not me, or anyone else. I apoligize for judging you, but it is clear to me that your criticism and vitriol towards others who post here is hurting your witness . With Christian love, I encourage you to show God's love even when you disagree with the posts.
Margie| 11.21.11 @ 8:24PM
What I said is still the truth:
"The Bible says that the Spirit knows the mind of God. Rom. 8:27.
Christians have His Spirit."
Can you read?
I said the Spirit knows the mind of God.
Are you blind lady?
Ad besides, what was your purpose for saying that to me in the first place?
Weird.
Naturalborn Texican| 11.20.11 @ 9:13PM
And the only "side" I take is God's side. I reject the Devil.
Naturalborn Texican| 11.20.11 @ 9:21PM
Oh! And I will not address or inter act with you any more.
I am going to resist that temptation from now on................................
Margie| 11.21.11 @ 8:27PM
Of course you will. You're too good to speak to such a lowly person. OOOOOh.
But you will speak kindly to the Reprobate man, Ken, won't you? Is that because he's from Texas? Are you that shallow of a person?
As I said, you care nothing for the Truth. Therefore you are no Christian!
POST American| 11.20.11 @ 10:02PM
---------------------FINAL WORD-----------------------
"Understand, even among the elitist
Hindoos, the utimate duty of the old
---is ever to the UNBORN."
TAKE HEED ye rectum worshippers
of the Rockefeller 'bennies' ---and 'serve-ants'
of the 'Age-enda'.
----------------------TAKE HEED------------------------
Jim Hlavac | 11.21.11 @ 12:52AM
And you know what is funny, in a sad way, (and which makes me cry, too) my dear American Spectator editors and writers, readers and commentators? -- I am a 53 year old gay man who takes care of an 89 year old gay man, a WWII vet too, in his own home -- using our private wealth -- so that the government doesn't euthanize him, or let him wallow in a VA Hospital at public expense -- for conservative family values.
Tell me again how gay folks are a problem?
All the while Santorum, Gingrich and Bachmann, favorites of yours -- and others -- want to haul me and the old man off to the pokey -- for the public weal -- and incarcerate us at a public costs of billions -- or will you just seize my wealth like a good commie to pay for my own jailing forever -- and this is rational?
Is the whole country out of its mind already?
Socialists and Theocrats -- that's my choice? Egad. And people wonder why I'm cranky.
Margie| 11.21.11 @ 8:28PM
Naturalborn texan's attitude:
"Better put some ice on that."
Nick| 11.22.11 @ 1:22AM
Margie,
Don't compare yourself to Juanita Broaddrick.
She was RAPED by Bubba the pervert.
You insult her with any kind of comparison to what happened to her, and, what you say happened to you.
Margie| 12.7.11 @ 7:23PM
Asshole.
claire solt phd| 12.5.11 @ 4:12PM
My doc confirmed upsetting news I heard last week when a neurosurgeon called Mark Levin. People seventy and over are NOW denied life saving intervention. Docs are to just watch them bled to death. My doc sees no hope for change. So, now lets make congress enact a mandatory retirement age of seventy. If I must die at 70, so should they.