Lemming Americans

Yes, people. There are Native Americans, African Americans, Jewish Americans and apparently we can add to our national diversity one more group: Lemming Americans. Those Lemming Americans are the ones that follow the herd. They hear something and they repeat it as loudly as they can, and truth or facts be damned!

It looks like a common sense reform to our health care system is going to be derailed by simple lies repeated often and loudly enough, by so called leaders and opinion makers. Apparently all it takes these days to make sure reform is derailed is someone to whisper conspiratorially "Death Panels". From that point forward the truth goes out the window. The lie gets repeated and magnified. The interested parties smile broadly and stand aside while the imbecile masses fight a battle contrary to their own self interests.

Let me comment on this one more time:

The Moral Argument - it is simply wrong that tens of millions of Americans do not have health insurance. All of us deserve to lead a healthy life and to receive decent treatment if we get sick. For crying out loud, we provide health services to our felons in prison, but not to our hard working poor. If there is injustice in the world, this is a clear example.

The Economic Argument - our system is broken beyond repair. My family of 5 - all completely healthy - WITH health insurance, spent more on health care last year than we spent on anything except for daycare and rent. This is without even counting the $12K or so in insurance premiums paid by my employer. The system is simply hemorrhaging money through waste and bureaucracy. Costs must be controlled or (i) our economy will collapse; or (ii) half of us will be uninsured.

The Fear Factor - the fear mongers would have us believe that government will pull the plug on granny. Complete and utter lie. Hate to break it to you idiots, granny already has socialized medicine. She's on Medicare! Or that government bureaucrats will come between us and our doctors. They don't tell you that right now there is an insurance company coming between you and your doctor, and that your insurance company makes money by denying you care. Why should they care? The fear mongers know that gullible Lemming Americans will buy anything they sell.

Here are some real things to worry about: today if you lose your job, you lose your health care insurance. If your employer decides to stop offering health care, you're out of luck. If you or a family member get seriously sick, your insurance will probably not be sufficient to keep you from financial ruin. If you exceed your lifetime insurance cap, as far as your insurance company cares you can just curl up and die. If you are not afraid, you don't understand the true nature of your predicament.

The Personal Experience Angle - I was born and raised in a country where so-called socialized medicine exists. You know what? If I had the unfortunate choice between getting sick in the US or getting sick in Israel, I would much rather get sick in Israel. The US has the best health care system in the world you say? Bullsh** I say. Base your claims on facts and on reality. Here's one easy comparison - life expectancy. Life expectancy in France, Canada and Israel - all countries with socialized medicine - is higher than in the US. Best health care system in the world my left foot. Lemming Americans.

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