The gopmom family (and by “family” I mean just the three of us not some mob of contracted GOP operatives hell bent on rioting) attended a Healthcare Town Hall meeting in Chelmsford, MA yesterday (Saturday, 08/08).  If you’re looking for video of fist fights, you won’t find them here.  This is New England, we don’t do that.  But I would like to share with you some of the very interesting “facts” the representative provided.

Let me start by saying this town hall was set-up like a time-share property sales seminar – donuts, coffee, poster boards, information packets and pens on every seat, etc.  I truly thought we would get a coupon for a free lunch when we left and frankly, I’m a bit disappointed we didn’t.  What I’m trying to say is this was not a discussion, as the Congresswoman repeatedly claimed, it was a lecture.  And while I suppose I could give a play by play of what occurred, I think it is more important to share what the Congresswoman laid out as the ultimate goal of this legislation.

“This legislation’s goal is to get all Americans insured so that they can attain good health so that costs will come down.”

OK, that probably shouldn’t be a quote because I can’t remember verbatim but it’s pretty darn close and since I’m not actually part of the MSM, I can do what I want;)  And whether it’s a direct quote or not, I think you get the gist – she’s freakin’ out of her mind.  Read that mission statement a few times out loud and let me know when it starts to make sense.  Is that what all these proponents of universal healthcare believe – that if we all get on the guv program, we’ll all be healthier?  OK, I’ll say it – insurance does not make you healthier.  But we’re falling into their trap following this thread.  First it was healthcare reform.  That was too controversial so they’ve renamed it health insurance reform.  Got it?  Health insurance not health care.  Don’t mix them up or you’ll get “flagged”.

Other interesting facts presented -

• insurance exclusions based on pre-existing conditions will be out lawed, with “out lawed” repeated repeatedly for dramatic effect
• no lifetime caps on insurance company spending
• $10,000 cap on annual personal healthcare expenditures
• levels set for what Americans will have to pay in premiums based on annual income
• no illegal aliens will be covered

I could go on and on about how ridiculous those facts are, what they mean and why, if they are accurate, they are bad but I’m just going to assume that since you’re reading you have an IQ over 55 and can figure it out for yourself. And I’m sorry, I know bad is not a very descriptive word but that’s all I’m down to when it comes to describing HR 3200 – it is bad.  (Es muy mal for our Spanish speaking readers, if we have any.)  Except that part about illegal aliens – that’s good or muy bueno.  Oh wait, if you’re speaking Spanish you probably don’t think it’s muy bueno so muy mal again.  Bueno.

Rep. Tsongas also trotted out those infamous West Wing talking point myths we’re so fond of – 47 million uninsured Americans, 60% of all bankruptcies are cause by healthcare bills, system saves $100’s of millions a year, blah, bah, blah…

Slowly but surely, I’ve been reading through HR 3200 and it is, without a doubt, a bureaucratic nightmare.  I’m left wondering how many new government jobs the government will “create” with this monster.  What is most striking to me about the language of HR 3200 is that you could remove the words “healthcare” throughout the entire thing and substitute in your pet project of choice (education, environmental protection, border enforcement, national defense) and it reads the same – big government expansion that will require a lot of funding.  Only very small pieces of it directly relate to healthcare and it’s practices.  It’s bureaucratic BS.

I’m all for some reform.  I’d like to see tort reform.  I’d like to see insurance premiums lowered.  I’d love to see some real free market, capitalist competition.  And I’d like to see happy, healthy Americans frolicking up and down our “purple mountains” and across our “fields of grain.”  HR 3200 does none of this.  It not-very-simply nationalizes 1/6 of the nation’s economy.  A stick-up would be easier – and not as frightening.

HR 3200 is not about better providing health care services to Americans (or anyone else who can stretch a fingertip over the border).  It’s about taking power ( and money) away from the people and giving it to the government.  Rep. Tsongas either did a stellar job of illustrating this or failed miserably at pulling the wool over our eyes.  I’m not going to beat my “this is what is happening in the UK” drum this time.  I’m just going to advise everyone to read this tome – all of it.  And then ask yourself,”what did I just read and what does it have to do with providing healthcare to citizens in need?”

P.S.  If you want to read something truly hair-raising, check out HR 676 and it’s sponsors.  This absurd proposal was getting a lot of face time.  Maybe we should be focusing more attention and energy on this bill.  And yes, my rep is a sponsor.

Video and discussion @ HotAir and Michelle Malkin

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