Health Care "Reform" Tom-Foolery

First we have:

White House appears ready to drop 'public option' (Aug 16 2009, 7:36 pm ET)

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said that government alternative to private health insurance is "not the essential element" of the administration's health care overhaul. The White House would be open to co-ops, she said, a sign that Democrats want a compromise so they can declare a victory.

then within hours we have:

Administration Official: "Sebelius Misspoke." (Aug 16 2009, 9:11 pm)

A second official, Linda Douglass, director of health reform communications for the administration, said that President Obama believed that a public option was the best way to reduce costs and promote competition among insurance companies, that he had not backed away from that belief, and that he still wanted to see a public option in the final bill.

Sebelius's trial balloon got shot down by her own boss within hours. How's that for a vote of confidence? If one reads the bill I'm sure they will find that a public option is integral to this bill and thus cannot be removed from it.

Speaking of reading the bill, here's someone who has: "What HR 3200, 'America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009,' Says". I'll summarize his points, but please go read the full analysis to understand the full impact danger of this bill:

1. Will the plan ration health care? Yes
2. Will the plan punish Americans who try to opt out? Yes
3. What constitutes “acceptable” coverage? "the bill makes health plans in which individuals pay for routine services, but carry insurance only for catastrophic events, (such as Health Savings Accounts) illegal."
4. Will the plan destroy private health insurance? Yes
5. Does the plan TAX successful Americans more than others? Yes
6. Does the plan allow the government to set fees for services? Yes
7. Will the plan increase the power of government officials to scrutinize our private affairs? Yes. [Think what this means for HIPA protections]
8. Does the plan automatically enroll Americans in the government plan? Yes
9. Does the plan exempt federal officials from court review? Yes

Keep up the pressure on your public officials to reject this evil bill. If not, then run away; run away fast.