| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010 6:31 pm |
||||||||||
 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
Editorials 
|
||||||||||||||||||
HEALTH-CARE REFORM Here come the demagogues Polls show anxiety rising over health-care reform, and the demagogues are responding by revving up their spin machines. With members of Congress heading home for the August recess, expect a virtual guerrilla war of words designed not to inform, but to scare Americans into opposing change.It started in earnest last week, with various talking heads and bloggers spreading the shameful lie that one health-care bill in the House would require Americans, once they reach age 65, to undergo “end of life” counseling, raising the sci-fi-like specter of a system that gets the sick and weak out of the way, leaving more resources for the rest. One such headline warned, “Obama Targets Boomers for Extermination.” Less imaginative but still dire warnings about a “government takeover” of the health-care system, one that rations care and puts bureaucrats between you and your doctor, are all over the airwaves, and they’ll get louder as lawmakers spend the next month listening to the concerns of voters at home. Here’s our prescription: Everyone should take a deep breath, count to 10, and calm down. The legislative process is a long way from completion, and its nature makes sudden, dramatic change nearly impossible. The founders wrote a constitution that favors incrementalism over than transformational change. While fundamental changes are needed — now — to a health care system that has seen costs triple in less than 20 years, that fails to provide cost-effective care to tens of millions, and that penalizes efficient care by underpaying those who provide it, ominous predictions that “socialized health care” will emerge from Congress are just silly. They’re designed to scare people, thereby turning them against ideas they would otherwise support. There’s a reason why so much attention has been glued to the three Democrats and three Republicans negotiating the details of the Senate Finance Committee’s reform bill: It’s likely to most closely resemble what Congress will vote on in the end. If this group of six can reach consensus on the most important elements of reform — covering nearly all Americans, paying for it, and bending the cost curve downward — they could give reform the momentum it needs to reach the finish line before the end of the year. But many, many details remain to be worked out before that happens. You’ll be hearing a lot about them in the coming weeks. As you do, we suggest keeping this in mind: If something sounds too ridiculous to be true, there’s probably a reason. |
- A revolutionary 747
- Fire breaks out at Everett car dealer
- Everett rethinks boutique wineries
- A tidy lawn could be law in Lynnwood
- Snohomish County's bargain housing won't last
- Boeing's 747-8 takes off after weather delay
- Plan for I-5 closures this week
- A new bowling alley for Monroe?
- Lake Stevens man homeless after fire
- I-5 bridge joint may give you a jolt, but it isn't damaged
- Vote on school levies by Tuesday
(11) - A tidy lawn could be law in Lynnwood (10)
- Lynnwood sets height limit on grass: 8 inches (5)
- Everett police officers cleared in 2008 shooting death (5)
- 1949 travel aid shows how few places blacks were welcome in Washington (4)
- I-5 bridge joint may give you a jolt, but it isn't damaged (4)
- Everett rethinks boutique wineries (4)
- County archive software paid for but waiting for set-up (3)
- State Senate votes to toss I-960's tax-raising hurdle (3)
- Three politicians who want Gregoire's job in 2012 (3)
- Edmonds educator, famous announcer dies
- Mill Creek to appeal ruling on annexation
- Through the air, with the greatest of ease
- E-W thriving under new coach
- The path to citizenship
- EUUC puts on ‘Pants & Shoes’
- Wolfpack wins the ‘Battle'
- Lynnwood’s annexation plans OK’d
- Arlington's Cascade Valley Hospital celebrates expansion, national award and 100 years of service
- Business Licences Feb. 2010
- Technology tips for launching your own business
- Business Events Feb. 2010
- Tech Talk: No excuse today for going without a Web site
- State already raising fees and rates that restrict business growth
- Some legislators again targeting people’s initiative petition rights
|
 
|
|
|
|
| TODAY'S TOP JOBS |
| View All Top Jobs |
| Top Cars |
|
| Top Homes |
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT |
|
|
|Contact Us
|Advertiser Services
|Home Delivery
|Newsstand Locations
|Classifieds
|Feedback
|About the Company
|Work@the Herald
|Site Map |
|
COMMENTS | Be the first to comment
Log in or register to post a new comment.
To read other terms and conditions, click here