Last night President Obama addressed both houses of Congress, and due to the actions of Rep. Joe Wilson from South Carolina, most of the discussion today is about his outburst rather than the actual content of the proposed legislation. Not to be too cynical, but it seems like the Republicans are pretty good at doing everything imaginable to distract from real discussion. I wonder what they are afraid of?
Anyway, Rep. Wilson's outburst was to yell that the President was lying when he said that the plan would not cover illegal aliens.
I reference Section 246 of the proposed text of the bill in the House.
I understand the argument that some will make that if someone shows up in the emergency room it is currently against the law for a hospital to deny emergency treatment. Thus, illegal aliens would then get treatment, and somehow those costs will be paid for. Right now, its through all the collective premiums we pay to our private insurers. Through the proposed plan, its through the premiums paid for the public option insurees. Doesn't seem to me to be a substantive difference.
In any event, do people really want that law changed to absolutely make certain that no illegal aliens get treatment at a hospital that the rest of us pay for. This either leads to some form of national ID card (which can be faked just like a social security number/card or driver's license), or some other form of national identification. Of course, because of the risk of fake IDs, hospitals will have to have a prolonged check in routine for emergency room patients. Imagine, are the people that are so upset about these possibilities willing to have their own treatment and care delayed because they have to prove they are a proper citizen of the United States? I doubt this is the case.
It seems to me that Rep. Wilson should do a better job of reading legislation that is proposed before making a fool of themselves on national television. It seems Republicans, for the long term health of their party, would be better served by some intellectual honesty and less fear mongering. And it seems that we would all do better if we thought things through before jumping to conclusions.
Never buy from the man who's selling you fear.
Anyway, Rep. Wilson's outburst was to yell that the President was lying when he said that the plan would not cover illegal aliens.
I reference Section 246 of the proposed text of the bill in the House.
Nothing in this subtitle shall allow Federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States.So, the text of the bill states no federal monies for individuals who are not lawfully present, President Obama says his plan will not fund health insurance for illegal aliens, and Rep. Wilson says Obama is lying. It seems to me that either Wilson is the one lying, or he is just ignorant. Neither is reassuring.
I understand the argument that some will make that if someone shows up in the emergency room it is currently against the law for a hospital to deny emergency treatment. Thus, illegal aliens would then get treatment, and somehow those costs will be paid for. Right now, its through all the collective premiums we pay to our private insurers. Through the proposed plan, its through the premiums paid for the public option insurees. Doesn't seem to me to be a substantive difference.
In any event, do people really want that law changed to absolutely make certain that no illegal aliens get treatment at a hospital that the rest of us pay for. This either leads to some form of national ID card (which can be faked just like a social security number/card or driver's license), or some other form of national identification. Of course, because of the risk of fake IDs, hospitals will have to have a prolonged check in routine for emergency room patients. Imagine, are the people that are so upset about these possibilities willing to have their own treatment and care delayed because they have to prove they are a proper citizen of the United States? I doubt this is the case.
It seems to me that Rep. Wilson should do a better job of reading legislation that is proposed before making a fool of themselves on national television. It seems Republicans, for the long term health of their party, would be better served by some intellectual honesty and less fear mongering. And it seems that we would all do better if we thought things through before jumping to conclusions.
Never buy from the man who's selling you fear.
Well said sir. I like the last line, especially.
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