(Image by Michael Ramirez)FINALLY! I have my chance. After watching for days the chance that so many patriotic Americans have had to express their opinion regarding this horrible abomination that Congress would have us to believe is Health Care Rerform, I FINALLY have a chance to do it myself. Rep. Tim Walz has at last agreed to hold a Town Hall meeting in my hometown of Mankato, Minnesota this coming week.
I am as outraged as anyone over this bill; however, as my wise mother reminded just today, "be cool-headed and just let God use you." Exactly, I thought, as I read that email. I have no intention of getting into a shouting match with the Congressman (though I applaud those who have had to do so in order to have their voices heard) as I feel that the best way to get my point heard is to simply relay FACTS. Yes, Gibbs, facts. Section numbers, page numbers, etc. After all, I am well aware of the fact that most congressmen and women haven't even read the bill. How picturesque an illustration it was at a townhall meeting in Houston, Texas, when Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee had to call into the Congressional hotline to get an answer for her constituent. In her own words: "I dialed the hotline number to get a better answer." How dare this woman be in office. I am not employed by the government, yet I, as have many other private citizens, have taken the time to study this 1000+ page monstracity. I am not getting paid to know the law or legislation slated to become law....SHE, however, is.
(For more information on this story, visit http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/08/13/democrat-defends-cell-phone-use-during-town-hall/)
At any rate, I replied to my mother's email with this quote: "Speak softly, but carry a big stick." Teddy Roosevelt once said this. I know, I know....his politics aren't 100% squeeky clean conservative...in fact, he's responsible for getting the ball rolling on many big-government issues. He was, however, a good, honest man intent only on doing his best. He's also a raving good example of straight-up frankness.
Back to the quote- I will be calm, but firm; speaking softly the words of truth. My stick? Only the factual evidence (or as I'm told, "disinformation") of the freedom-less qualities of this legislation.
I'm told that most people are allowed up to five minutes to speak their opinions at these meetings. My statement? Just one minute, 45 seconds. It reads as follows:
I have personally studied HR 3200 and am personally at a loss to understand how a bill that is just simply supposed to provide another so-called option for a fraction of the nation (47 million, according to your calculations) will in fact ultimately enfringe upon the rights of everyone in this country. I am appalled at the blatant disregard for the sanctity of our medical choices and personal freedom found within the provisions of this gargantuan bill. I would like to specify just a few sections from this bill from which my fears stem:
-Sec. 102's limitations on new enrollment into private insurance plans.
-Sec. 122's power to determine what is acceptable PRIVATE coverage
-Sec. 205's requirement of employers to autoenroll into the government option anyone elegible for Medicaid REGARDLESS of whether they want it or not.
-Sec. 313's requirement of an 8% payroll tax to be contributed to the Health Choices Commissioner if the private insurance a company offers its employees is not acceptable according to the government.
-Sec. 401's 2.5% income tax on American individuals who opt out of the plan and/or possess coverage that isn't deemed "acceptable" by the proposed Health Services Advisory Committee.
-Sec. 444's modification of the 1986 IRS tax code to allow for an extra tax on the wealthiest Americans.. just because.....
-Sec. 1151's outlining the power the government will have over what is an applicable condition for readmission into a hospital.
May I remind you, Congressman, of the foundations upon which this country was established. We left our homelands in Europe those many years ago and eventually fought a revolutionary war in order to escape this sort of government control, and I would hope that our country has not strayed so far as to have forgotten this. I certainly have not.
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