Today was one of those few days I actually watched the Jim Lehrer news show on PBS.  Part of the show was spent discussing Obama's speech, the news the Senate will not vote on the matter before the summer break and a panel discussion on health care reform.  The panel was made up of a surgeon, a lobbyist/former Clinton aid and a professor from Boston (don't recall the school).  Basically a liberal, an ultra liberal and a surgeon.

I think the show purposely tried to play the card conservatives don't want health care reform.  It was foiled by the fact the doctor stated there was need for health care reform and that the AMA proposed it's own health care reform plan six years ago.  The politicians is Washington decided to ignore the AMA plan and create their own plan instead.

There was a lot of talk about waste in health care but when the surgeon tried to pinpoint what exactly was deemed wasteful it was not clearly identified.  The case the doctor did point out was one of an 80 year old patient suffering from a lot of pain that needed surgery to fix the issue.  If we had the current United Kingdom plan in place here that patient would most likely not get that surgery.  The cost would be deemed wasteful because of the patients age.

I happen to be able to think of two situations where I wonder if their elective procedures would have been allowed under a cost saving government system.  My step father was suffering from pain that was clearly affecting his quality of life.  It was not debilitating but over time it was clearly getting worse.  Under his current health plan we was allowed to have surgery to fuse a couple vertebra together.  This surgery has significantly decreased the pain he feels and has improved his quality of life.  He is currently retired and in his 60's.

I have a friend of the family that is currently battling terminal cancer.  It originated as breast cancer and has spread to her liver.  She has gone through several rounds of chemotherapy.  She is still in her 50s and is hoping to see her daughters wedding in the fall.  It's clear she is not doing well but treatment is continuing in a hope that she can make it to the wedding.

Both of these cases would be placed in front of a board of bureaucrats to decide what is the best treatment if we were under the current Obama health plan.  Both of these people have lived relatively comfortable lives and can be considered successful individuals.  The question becomes was the procedures performed health care waste?  One person is probably only extending her life months yet the cost has to be astounding.  The other is now living with less pain but was it worth the cost? 

It boggles my mind that people actually believe health care is so screwed up and that to fix it we need to add more bureaucrats.  I'm all for a government health care plan that will provide health care for those without a plan.  In fact I have another example.  A friend of ours had a baby while they were without insurance.  You see the husband had been providing insurance through work but lost his job.   Instead of buying private insurance they just went without.  When the baby came they got the exact same treatment and care that my wife received when we had our kids.  You know how much they ended up paying out of pocket? Nothing at all.  Granted I think I paid about $3500 when my kids were born.  They got a nice deal don't you think? 

Here is a clear case where a state government program stepped up and covered the costs.  This is currently in place today.  So lest get one thing straight there are plenty of existing government options for people less fortunate.  When I hear of people talking about the "evils" of health insurance and their predatory policies when it comes to preexisting conditions I laugh.  If you've been responsible, held a job and had continuous health coverage you have nothing to fear about preexisting conditions.  There are government rules in place today to limit that risk.  I was unemployed for six months in 2001 but you know what?  I paid for COBRA even though it was damn expensive. 

I believe Obama and the Democrats learned a valuable lesson from Carl Rove: fear wins over voter.  If you place enough fear into someone they will vote for you because they see you as their protector.  Does anyone know of a family ruined because of medical bills?  Does anyone know of someone declined a claim because of a preexisting condition since the legislature change in the 90's?   The Democrats what people to think if health care isn't reformed right now the world will end tomorrow.  They want their bills rushed though congress so fast no one will be able to read them and understand what their voting on.  This game plan looks like it's failing the Obama administration today.  Hopefully Americans will open their eyes and take a good look at themselves in the mirror.  If the generation that fought in WWII was the greatest generation then their children very well might be the worst.