A New Push to Play God From Washington

[Sinatra]

Columnist Thomas Sowell lays out a compelling warning of the attempted expansion of power coming from Washington DC - namely in the form of Obamacare.

Excerpts:


The serious, and sometimes chilling, provisions of the medical care legislation that President Obama has been trying to rush through Congress are important enough for all of us to stop and think, even though his political strategy from the outset has been to prevent us from having time to stop and think about it...

The thing most associated with America-- freedom-- is precisely what must be destroyed if this is to be turned into a fundamentally different country to suit Obama's vision of the country and of himself. But do not expect a savvy politician like Barack Obama to express what he is doing in terms of limiting our freedom...

Barack Obama's escapes from his own past words, deeds and associations have been escapes worthy of Houdini.

Like other magicians, Obama has chosen his distractions well. The insurance industry is currently his favorite distraction as scapegoats, after he has tried to demonize doctors without much success....

Obama even gets away with saying things like having a system to "keep insurance companies honest"-- and many people may not see the painful irony in politicians trying to keep other people honest. Certainly most of the media are unlikely to point out this irony.


RealClearPolitics - A New Push to Play God from Washington

 

[VaYank5150]

The funny part is, Sowell doesn't give a single concrete example of how Obama is attempting to limit anyone's freedoms. Strange. Sounds a lot like fearmongering to me!

 

[bodecea]

The funny part is, Sowell doesn't give a single concrete example of how Obama is attempting to limit anyone's freedoms. Strange. Sounds a lot like fearmongering to me!

No examples? That can't be right! There must be oodles of examples!

 

[VaYank5150]

No examples? That can't be right! There must be oodles of examples!

While I give Sinatra credit for at least posting a link, the story is just that....good story telling.....

 

[Sinatra]

And more work from Mr. Sowell - excerpts from a recent and related column...


As for a "death panel," no politician would ever use that phrase when trying to get a piece of legislation passed. "End of life" care under the "guidance" of "some independent group" sounds so much nicer-- and these are the terms President Obama used in an interview with the New York Times back on April 14th.

He said, "the chronically ill and those toward the end of their lives are accounting for potentially 80 percent of the total health care bill out there." He added: "It is very difficult to imagine the country making those decisions just through the normal political channels. That is why you have to have some independent group that can give you guidance."

But when you select people like Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel to give "independent" guidance, you have already chosen a policy through your choice of advisors, who simply provide political cover. The net result can be exactly the same as if those providing that guidance were openly called "death panels."

RealClearPolitics - Whose Medical Decisions?

 

[VaYank5150]

He said, "the chronically ill and those toward the end of their lives are accounting for potentially 80 percent of the total health care bill out there." He added: "It is very difficult to imagine the country making those decisions just through the normal political channels. That is why you have to have some independent group that can give you guidance."

But when you select people like Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel to give "independent" guidance, you have already chosen a policy through your choice of advisors, who simply provide political cover. The net result can be exactly the same as if those providing that guidance were openly called "death panels."

Wow....can you say "reaching"? I knew you could....

 

[Sinatra]

And yet more words from Mr. Sowell on the subject...


Excerpts:




Barack Obama has talked about the high costs of taking care of elderly or chronically ill patients in terms of "society making those decisions." But a world in which individuals make their own trade-offs with their own money is fundamentally different from a world where third parties take those decisions out of their hands and impose their own notions of what is best for "society."

Calling these arbitrary notions "ethics" doesn't change anything, however effective it may be as political spin.

More is at stake than the outcomes of medical decisions, extremely important as those are. What is also at stake is freedom and the dignity of individuals who do not live their lives as supplicants of puffed-up power holders who are spending the money taken from them in taxes.

One of the many phony arguments for government-controlled medical care is that Americans do not have any longer life expectancy than in other countries, despite much higher medical expenditures.

This argument is phony because longevity depends on health-- and "health care" and "medical care" are not the same, no matter how many times the two are confused in the media or in politics. Health care includes things that doctor cannot do much about.

Homicide affects your longevity but there is not much that doctors can do about it when they arrive on the scene after you have been shot through the heart, except fill out the paperwork. Rates of homicide, obesity and narcotics usage are higher here than in many other countries, reducing our longevity.

But in the things that medical care can do something about-- like cancer survival rates-- the United States ranks at or near the top in the world. But that can change if we give up the real benefits of a top medical system for the visions and rhetoric of politicians.


RealClearPolitics - Whose Medical Decisions?: Part II

 

[VaYank5150]

But in the things that medical care can do something about-- like cancer survival rates-- the United States ranks at or near the top in the world. But that can change if we give up the real benefits of a top medical system for the visions and rhetoric of politicians.

I agree with Sowell here. For those who can afford it, the USA has the best medical care money can buy.

 

[Sinatra]

And a very astute observation by Mr. Sowell regarding Obama - reinforced by Obama's rapidly falling poll numbers...


Different people have very different reactions to President Barack Obama. Those who listen to his rhetoric are often inspired, while those who follow what he actually does are often appalled.

And regarding Joe Biden...

What did we learn from the "beer summit" on the White House lawn, except that Vice President Joe Biden doesn't drink alcoholic beverages? Considering the many gaffes that the vice president has made while cold sober, the thought of an intoxicated Joe Biden boggles the mind.


RealClearPolitics - Random Thoughts

 

[bodecea]

I can certainly understand the Right's need to believe that Obama's numbers are tanking. I really can.

 

[Mr.Fitnah]

The funny part is, Sowell doesn't give a single concrete example of how Obama is attempting to limit anyone's freedoms. Strange. Sounds a lot like fearmongering to me!

9 trillion in debt does'nt sway you?

 

[VaYank5150]

9 trillion in debt does sway you?

So now Obama is responsible for all $9 Trillion of it?

 

[American Horse]

He said, "the chronically ill and those toward the end of their lives are accounting for potentially 80 percent of the total health care bill out there." He added: "It is very difficult to imagine the country making those decisions just through the normal political channels. That is why you have to have some independent group that can give you guidance."

But when you select people like Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel to give "independent" guidance, you have already chosen a policy through your choice of advisors, who simply provide political cover. The net result can be exactly the same as if those providing that guidance were openly called "death panels."

Wow....can you say "reaching"? I knew you could....

Wow....can you say "denial"? I knew you could....

 

[Sinatra]

9 trillion in debt does sway you?

So now Obama is responsible for all $9 Trillion of it?

 

[VaYank5150]

Wow....can you say "denial"? I knew you could....

Are you STILL fearmongering with the "death panel" lie?

 

[Sinatra]

Palin Defeats Obama - Part 2 | Newsflavor

 

[Cecilie1200]

The funny part is, Sowell doesn't give a single concrete example of how Obama is attempting to limit anyone's freedoms. Strange. Sounds a lot like fearmongering to me!

Well, God forbid you go to the trouble of reading any of his OTHER columns. OBVIOUSLY, everything he has to say on the subject can be judged from one column while ignoring the fact that he puts out a couple of them a week.

Thomas Sowell: Conservative Articles - HUMAN EVENTS

 

[chanel]

How many "czars" has he appointed? Were they elected by the people?

 

[Sinatra]

How many "czars" has he appointed? Were they elected by the people?

Well over 30 at last count - far more than any president prior...


Obama’s Shadow Cabinet | Newsflavor