I ran against Congressman Steve Cohen in 2006 in Tennessee's 9th District primary, so when I see current issues, I usually ask myself how I would have addressed or handled them if I had won. Would I have done the same thing as Cohen or would I have done something completely differently?
I have asked myself recently how I would handle the loud crowds who do not want the health care reform bill. Knowing how I feel about this bill, I probably would have been encouraging those crowds and getting criticized for inciting people. Regular readers of this blog know that I do not agree with the health care bill, because it does contain many of the "evils" its opponents are saying.
Last night, Cohen held a town hall meeting in Memphis to discuss the health care bill and it turned quite heated. The video report is above or click here if you cannot see the video. If law enforcement had not been called, it would have likely turned violent, because people were arguing face-to-face at one point. Cohen appears to agree with bill and wants to see it pass. It is good to see the people in Memphis taking action!
Hundreds of people crowded into the BRIDGES building in Downtown Memphis on Saturday for a congressional town hall meeting that quickly deviated into a raucous shouting free-for-all, requiring extra law enforcement officers to watch over the scene.
The meeting, hosted by U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, was scheduled to address constituents' concerns about Social Security and veterans' benefits, but the real topic of the day was health care reform legislation being crafted by Congress.
I have agreed with some of Cohen's positions on the issues in the past, but when it comes to this healthcare bill (a/k/a/ America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009), I agree with the people against the bill. Before any critic says I am siding with the Republican Party, I ditched the two party-paradigm system in early 2007, so I speak from what's best for the country and the Constitution. From my analysis no matter what party you may be tilted toward believing, this is just simply a bad bill. However, I appreciate the fact that Cohen has read the 1,018 page bill unlike some of his colleagues!
Previous Posts on this Healthcare Bill
Angry Crowd Boos Secretary Sebelius and Senator Specter Over Obama's Health Care Plan
Easy, Simple Guide To What Is In Obama's Healthcare Bill (America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009)!
• Page 16: States that if you have insurance at the time of the bill becoming law and change, you will be required to take a similar plan. If that is not available, you will be required to take the gov option!
• Page 22: Mandates audits of all employers that self-insure!
• Page 29: Admission: your health care will be rationed!
• Page 30: A government committee will decide what treatments and benefits you get (and, unlike an insurer, there will be no appeals process)
• Page 42: The "Health Choices Commissioner" will decide health benefits for you. You will have no choice. None.
• Page 59: The federal government will have direct, real-time access to all individual bank accounts for electronic funds transfer.
• Page 65: Taxpayers will subsidize all union retiree and community organizer health plans (example: SEIU, UAW and ACORN)
• Page 145: An employer MUST auto-enroll employees into the government-run public plan. No alternatives.
• Page 149: Any employer with a payroll of $400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays an 8% tax on payroll.
• Page 150: Any employer with a payroll of $250K-400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays a 2 to 6% tax on payroll.
• Page 167: Any individual who doesnt' have acceptable healthcare (according to the government) will be taxed 2.5% of income.
• Page 170: Any NON-RESIDENT alien is exempt from individual taxes (Americans will pay for them).
• Page 195: Officers and employees of Government Healthcare Bureaucracy will have access to ALL American financial and personal records.
• Page 354: Government will restrict enrollment of SPECIAL NEEDS individuals.
• Page 379: More bureaucracy: Telehealth Advisory Committee (healthcare by phone).
Obamacare's "Advance Care Planning Consultation" (Pages 425-430 of the Health Care Bill -- Death Planning?)
• Page 425: More bureaucracy: Advance Care Planning Consult: Senior Citizens, assisted suicide, euthanasia?
• Page 425: Government will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney, etc. Mandatory. Appears to lock in estate taxes ahead of time.
• Page 425: Goverment provides approved list of end-of-life resources, guiding you in death.
• Page 427: Government mandates program that orders end-of-life treatment; government dictates how your life ends.
• Page 429: Advance Care Planning Consult will be used to dictate treatment as patient's health deteriorates. This can include an ORDER for end-of-life plans. An ORDER from the GOVERNMENT.
• Page 430: Government will decide what level of treatments you may have at end-of-life.
Secretary Sebelius Makes No Mention of Black Patriot Attacked by SEIU in Missouri!
SEIU Thugs Beat Black Patriot Kenneth Gladney at Obamacare Town Hall in St. Louis
Source: WMC-TV5 ; The Commercial Appeal
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