Big night for Obama and the American people
The story of the day will undoubtedly be President Obama’s speech to Congress tonight on his troubled health-care reform effort. It’s the biggest moment yet of his nine-month presidency. You can almost imagine the president standing in front of his mirror this morning, repeating a few pertinent lines from yesterday’s speech to schoolchildren:
“And even when you’re struggling, even when you’re discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you, don’t ever give up on yourself, because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.
The story of America isn’t about people who quit when things got tough. It’s about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.”
Personally, I don’t think the situation is as dire as some have described — despite all that’s happened, I’d still put the odds of passing a major health-care reform bill at 2-1 or 3-1. But the Republicans do sense weakness. U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, for example, says Obama’s “gonna have to express some humility based on what we’ve seen around the country this August and that’s not his inclination.”
But it’s important to remember that this is not just about politics. It’s about people, good people facing troubles and problems bigger than they are, and in many cases those troubles include the private health-care insurance industry that treats them as disposable sources of premium money. Yesterday, for example, the Washington Post published a story exploring the impact of rescission, the insurance industry practice of canceling coverage once a customer becomes ill, leaving them without a way to pay their medical bills and thus denying them needed medical care.
For example, the Post tells the story of Teresa Dietrich:
“The Northern California real estate agent was left to pay $19,000 after Blue Cross said she did not disclose a diagnosis of the benign uterine tumors. But Dietrich said the doctor who had written “fibroids” on her medical record never mentioned his suspicions to her. The bills destroyed her credit and cost her her home — and, in a comically cruel twist, the surgery proved the doctor was wrong.
“They said I had a condition I didn’t even have,” Dietrich said. “And they canceled me.”
And then there’s this one:
“In a pending case, Blue Shield searched in vain for an inconsistency in the health records of the wife of a dairy farmer after she filed a claim for emergency gallbladder surgery, according to attorneys for the family. Turning to her husband’s questionnaire, the company discovered he had not mentioned his high cholesterol and dropped them both. Blue Shield officials said they would not comment on a pending case.”
Over the past 18 months alone, the Post notes, “California’s five largest insurers paid almost $19 million in fines for marooning policyholders who had fallen ill. That includes a $1 million fine against Health Net, which admitted offering bonuses to employees for finding reasons to cancel policies, according to company documents released in court.”
A system engineered to maximize profit, to serve no other purpose but to make a lot of money, cannot help but produce such outcomes. This is real-life rationing; this is “death panels” already at work. In his speech tonight, the president has to make this about people, about human beings at their most vulnerable. Because that’s the reality of the situation.
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© 2011 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
257 comments Add your comment
Normal
September 9th, 2009
7:28 am
MR PRESIDENT, BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW!
Normal
September 9th, 2009
7:30 am
Good morning to all. Every day I am repeating the above message here and at http://www.whithouse.cov and at http://www.Democrats.org, until, hopefully, it
sinks in. He promised, he needs to keep that promise.
Normal
September 9th, 2009
7:35 am
President Obama is going to have to use some of that mind meld thing he used on our children to get his point across tonight. One thing though, it ought to be interesting TV.
GoingBroke
September 9th, 2009
7:43 am
Brief History – Grew up in a trailer park in South Georgia. Graduated high school, went into the military, used GI Bill for college and worked my way up in the private sector. Last year I made $100K. I work around 60 hours a week and enjoy what I do very much. I have a wife, two children in a private school and pay around 45K a year in taxes. How much more is my fair share? I am almost up to 50% and I am not even rich by Gov’t standards..
stands for decibels
September 9th, 2009
7:43 am
It’s about people, good people facing troubles and problems bigger than they are
Really? Tommy Price and Johnny Linder told me last week that those folks are likely just too lazy and stupid to fend for themselves.
TnGelding
September 9th, 2009
7:45 am
Whatever he says, if he delivers it as well as he did yesterday to the students it will be well received. And I don’t see any humility being exhibited. “Knee” is the one that should be doing that. I look for him to challenge Congress to do the right thing and pass a bill that covers all of us. It’s vital that we find a different way to fund health care so our corporations can compete in the global market place. We seniors that can afford it are going to have start paying more of our fair share and stop overburdening the system, as well.
stands for decibels
September 9th, 2009
7:46 am
went into the military, used GI Bill for college
Socialist!
Doggone/GA
September 9th, 2009
7:52 am
“But the Republicans do sense weakness. U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, for example, says Obama’s “gonna have to express some humility based on what we’ve seen around the country this August and that’s not his inclination.”
and how often did Chambliss call for Bush to show “humility”? They just can’t stay away from the code words, can they?
Joey
September 9th, 2009
7:53 am
Jay;
The AJC must have the absolute worst health insurance program around. I am sorry that your employer cares so little for its workers.
TnGelding
September 9th, 2009
7:53 am
Normal
September 9th, 2009
7:30 am
He didn’t promise to bring them home from Afghanistan. In fact, he said take the troops out of Iraq and put them there. And the reduction in Iraq is on schedule, with the anticipated increase in casualties.
GoingBroke
September 9th, 2009
7:43 am
Toot, toot! Just kidding, you deserve to blow your own horn. Congratulations!
I would question that 50% figure, tho. But I guess it would depend on what your definition of almost is. I would agree that you are paying your fair share. We seniors are going to have to start paying ours. And it would be nice if we could adopt a tax code that would let the drug dealers and prostitutes pay theirs.
GoingBroke
September 9th, 2009
7:55 am
stands for decibels 7:46 – Yep.. it paid about 50% of my tuition.. working at night and weekends paid the other 50%
TnGelding
September 9th, 2009
7:56 am
I suspect there’ll be as many jeers as cheers.
@@
September 9th, 2009
7:58 am
There’ll be a healthcare reform bill, jay — just not the one dems were hoping for.
Ever try putting toothpaste back in a tube? It’s impossible.
Obama’s words on healthcare haven’t amounted to much and congress’s (the ones attacking the townhallers) have been over the top.
TaxPayer
September 9th, 2009
8:01 am
Must make profit for good of corporation. Must make bigger profit. Management projected 20% YoY profit growth. Must meet expectations or will not get bonus. Corporation must grow or corporation die. No job if corporation die.
jt
September 9th, 2009
8:02 am
Hold on to your wallets.
Mandatory enrichment of insurance companies is coming.
Peadawg
September 9th, 2009
8:04 am
We all need to pray for this country if the government gets any bigger! We need to pray for our troops who haven’t been brought home yet. We need to pray for our grandchildren if this health care bill is passed…they’ll still be paying off the bill.
stands for decibels
September 9th, 2009
8:06 am
The AJC must have the absolute worst health insurance program around.
Ask Neal Boortz about their benefits–he draws from the same trough as Jay.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
September 9th, 2009
8:07 am
Well, I’ll be watching Fox News and hoping they don’t cover the speech. But if they do cover it I reckon I’ll do what I always do when something’s on I don’t like. Turn my back and put my fingers in my ears. It’s bad enough this Socialist tried to brainwash the school kids yesterday. Now he wants to brow-beat us taxpayers too. The only reason he’s on is because he’s President. And not even born in American to boot!
I’m sick of hearing the sob storys of these bums that claim their insurance co. canceled them. If you’re going to apply for insurance then tell them the Truth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth. Tell them about the hangnail you had when you were 10. Tell them your wife snores. Send them a picture of your rear end so they can see your pile-on cyst. These insurance cos. got to make a profit too. This ain’t a Communist country.
Now as far as this TnGelding saying us old folk got to start paying our fair share, I say we already pay our fair share and then some. You should see the taxes on Skoal and Red Man. No wonder 4500 people started up Swiss bank accounts to keep the guvmint’s hands out of their pocketbooks and are now sweating about getting put in jail. I say the guvmint ought to pay us for living in this country and being so Productive. Us Conservatives are the most valuable thing this country’s got.
That’s my opinion and it’s very true. Have a good day everybody.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 9th, 2009
8:10 am
The destruction of the US economy continues on unabated.
Take a bow for your efforts, Obozo.
USinUK
September 9th, 2009
8:11 am
“That includes a $1 million fine against Health Net, which admitted offering bonuses to employees for finding reasons to cancel policies, according to company documents released in court”
yep. gummint is obviously the problem here.
TaxPayer
September 9th, 2009
8:13 am
Isn’t Saxby Chambliss that lap dog from the sugar industry that they sicced on that guy for blowing the whistle on Imperial Sugar’s poor practices at that plant in Savannah. Saxby looks like he needs some more quality time in one of those tanning beds. He’s looking a littlle pale-faced. Maybe he can serve a useful function as food taster for the agricultural department and get some color back in that skin through proper diet. He can personally sample each batch of peanut butter before it gets shipped out. He can even do that while he’s tanning himself. For starters, I think Obama should humbly recommend cutting more F22s to help pay for health care for Georgians.
Normal
September 9th, 2009
8:17 am
TnGelding
September 9th, 2009
7:53 am
TN, yes I know that, but I can’t stand the waste of lives or money, especially the lives. We can’t win a conventional war there. They should just keep the Predators flying and take their shots when they get them. But let’s not waste any more lives. If fact, I wish we could bring every trooper who is stationed in a foreign country home too. Let them spend their military pay here, instead of “there”.
NRB
September 9th, 2009
8:18 am
Oh, the great one is speaking tonight? I don’t have time to listen to his drivel. If I want to be lied to, I’ll ask a Democrat how the economy works.
With that said, I hope this illegal alien socialist freak of a fake president makes the mistake of getting this health atrocity passed.
Mrs. Godzilla
September 9th, 2009
8:18 am
Mornin’ All!
So I see The President didn’t serve up a steaming bowl of socialism soup
to our beloved young ‘uns.
He was on target.
We’ll see more of the same tonight.
USinUK
September 9th, 2009
8:22 am
g’morning Mrs. G!!
Vinny
September 9th, 2009
8:22 am
Jay – Why don’t you post some of the millions of success stories that people have had with their health insurance? You bleeding heart liberals really like to try to tug at the heart strings – Keep it up – it ain’t working. People see right throught the Presidents and Congress charade.
GoingBroke
September 9th, 2009
8:23 am
USinUK – So.. pick a couple of companies that did wrong out of the THOUSANDS of insurance companies and thats how you balance shutting down private insurance? Nice Logic..
and please don’t try to shovel the manure pile over here and tell me thats not what the democrats want to do. If someone can show me a gov’t run program that was on budget and on time.. I might be inclined to show a little more support.
bob
September 9th, 2009
8:23 am
Jay’s right, two cases of people that were denied and will most likely win a lawsuit, lets scrap the whole system. They paid one of my bills late once so I want to put the Social Security admin in charge of healthcare. I really don’t mind gov running it as long as we do not have tort reform, we need to spend Billions on defensive medicine, after all, who is one of my biggest donors.
FinnMcCool
September 9th, 2009
8:23 am
So, will we be able to buy the Beatles CD’s individually? Especially the mono versions?
Gale
September 9th, 2009
8:24 am
And it would be nice if we could adopt a tax code that would let the drug dealers and prostitutes pay theirs.
TnG, Golly, that’s a novel idea. We could stop trying to stop an activity that has been in human society for ages. Instead, regulate them, keep them safe and tax them. Sell pot in state stores with a big tax. Make prostitutes report earnings and pay taxes, and prove health status. And while we are at it, tax candy bars.
Peadawg
September 9th, 2009
8:27 am
“So I see The President didn’t serve up a steaming bowl of socialism soup
to our beloved young ‘uns.”
No, just some more lies. Stay in school and get an education and you can do anything you want. What’s the unemployment rate these days? How dare he lie to our kids. Lying to me is one thing, but don’t lie to my kids.
N-GA
September 9th, 2009
8:28 am
Chambliss is that guy who used every deferment available to avoid military service during the Viet Nam War. While others were serving, he was making money. Now he wants the President to show humility? What he wants is the President to grovel…you know: “Yassuh boss”.
You can take the man out of the South, but……..
Zeddicus Z'ul Zorrander
September 9th, 2009
8:28 am
I see you make no mention of the latest proposal to fine people up to $3800 a year for not opting to have insurance coverage. How is this any different than a goverment mandate? If people don’t have the money to buy insurance to start with, what in makes them think we’ll have the money to pay a fine? I liken this to a womans right to choose to have an abortion. It’s a citizen’s right/decison to decide whether or not they want insurance coverage or not. If they try to ram mandates and fines down our throats there will be consequences!
Gale
September 9th, 2009
8:29 am
Sorry for the double post. I thought AJC had a fix for that.
USinUK
September 9th, 2009
8:30 am
“USinUK – So.. pick a couple of companies that did wrong out of the THOUSANDS of insurance companies and thats how you balance shutting down private insurance? Nice Logic.. ”
right, Going Broke. it’s just a “few bad apples” (now, where have we heard THAT before). when you have major players like BC/BS pulling stunts like that, what do you think the smallers ones (with the smaller margins) are doing, hmmm???
and a public option doesn’t shut anyone down – ask me, I know. I live in a country with a TRUE single-payer system and private insurance companies do just fine.
N-GA
September 9th, 2009
8:31 am
Partnering with R.E.M.!
http://pol.moveon.org/healthcare_cantwait/?id=17196-10124501-zD3cM9x&t=3
Gale
September 9th, 2009
8:31 am
Seems like a fine for opting out of insurance is kinda like a deductible payment. If a person with no insurance requires health care, we will not deny it. But it will cost $3300. The result will still be bankruptcy. The “solution” is NO solution.
USinUK
September 9th, 2009
8:35 am
“No, just some more lies. Stay in school and get an education and you can do anything you want. What’s the unemployment rate these days? How dare he lie to our kids. Lying to me is one thing, but don’t lie to my kids.”
and today’s tiara for Drama Queen du jour goes to … PEADWAG!!! who, when faced with the option of fostering kids’ dreams and crushing them with the false hopelessness of a temporary situation would rather CRUSH them than let them listen to a message of hope and personal responsibility.
congrats, Peadawg, take a curtsey …
Mrs. Godzilla
September 9th, 2009
8:37 am
Peadawg
So you tell your kids what…..
Joey
September 9th, 2009
8:37 am
dB;
I did not ask Jay about his insurance. I offered condolences.
Are you suggesting that Boortz is happy or unhappy with his insurance?
Normal
September 9th, 2009
8:42 am
NRB, PEADAWG, you guys seriously need to up your fiber levels…
USinUK
September 9th, 2009
8:44 am
Mrs. G –
8:37
“you’re dooooooomed … you’ll never get a joooooooob … not even a job using the phrase “you want fries with that” … might as well start using smack now and avoid the wait”
USinUK
September 9th, 2009
8:45 am
Normal …
nature’s broom
TaxPayer
September 9th, 2009
8:47 am
GoingBroke,
You need to find a cheaper city/state to live in because they’re sticking it to you. Even with no deductions, your fed taxes on 100k in 2008 would only have been 17.7%. Your actual fed taxes after deductions would lower that rate even more so your state and local taxes must be a real killer. Move to some place that doesn’t tax you so much such as Georgia. It’s run by Republicans and they don’t believe in taxes.
Bosch
September 9th, 2009
8:47 am
Peadawg,
Good lord – wait, what’s that sound? Oh, it’s the sound of all the sweet little childrens’ dreams of greatness being sucked down the toilet. Look dude, I know you are upset that Obama is the POTUS, and the world looks all gloom and doom, but just think how we all felt for the past eight years – it will get better, I promise. Think of the sweet children – yes, Peadawg, think of them.
Saxby Chambliss is a corporate whore – who gives a rat’s ass what that idiot thinks. Humility – well isn’t that special.
stands for decibels
September 9th, 2009
8:48 am
Couple of big picture questions:
1) Do most Americans covered by their employers’ health insurance have even the foggiest idea of what these premiums are costing their employer and, ultimately, themselves in lost income?
2) Has anyone who claims to believe in free market solutions, even attempted to explain just what it is that private, for-profit insurance companies actually contribute to the American economy and, if this is such a brilliant approach, why it is that no other industrialized nation wants to emulate our model?
Gordon
September 9th, 2009
8:48 am
Why can’t government regulation, not participation, take care of the cases Jay described? The choices being presented are 1) do nothing, or 2) add dozens of new federal beauracracies at a cost of trillions of dollars.
Why turn the entire thing over to government rather than just fixing what is wrong with it? Medicare and Medicaid is unsustainable. Why would we want to extend that model to everyone? Even if this was a good idea, which it certainly is not, WE CAN”T AFFORD IT!!!
Any why has no one who supports this responded to the statement being made by many people that at least half of the 47 million uninsured are either 1) Illegals, 2) Able to afford private insurance but simply choose not to, or 3) Already eligible for a government program but simply have not enrolled? My wife is a school nurse and sees people who fall into that third category all the time.
Curious Observer
September 9th, 2009
8:49 am
It’s a citizen’s right/decison to decide whether or not they want insurance coverage or not.
And according to this “logic”, it’s our “right” to pay the healthcare costs of young and healthy people who’ve avoiding purchasing insurance they could otherwise afford and lost the gamble. So when Gorgeous George gets creamed on the highway after using his money to purchase all those Guinness drafts at the bar, the taxpayers have a “right” to pay for his emergency room care and his hospital bill when it turns out he spent all his income, instead of using some of it to purchase health insurance. It isn’t always the desperately poor who become wards of the taxpayers when it comes to sudden and unexpected healthcare costs.
Any of the healthcare bills now under consideration provide a subsidy to people currently unable to purchase health insurance. If we’re going to have any form of universal health insurance coverage, then everybody must be covered. That’s what universal means, you know.
Your logic is seriously flawed. There’s no point in having a universal coverage law if people are permitted to opt out. Then we’d be back to where we are now–putting the taxpayers on the hook for the care of people who aren’t covered. All those unpaid trips to the emergency rooms of hospitals aren’t free, you know. The rest of us wind up paying for them–either through taxes or through higher insurance premiums and hospital bills.
Peadawg
September 9th, 2009
8:49 am
LOL! I love getting you Democrats’ panties in a wad. LOL!!! I love the responses!!!
Gale
September 9th, 2009
8:51 am
dB, I agree with your second point. But I have no illusion that the money my company spends for my health insurance would end up in my pocket if single payor was a reality.