(no subject)

[oselle]

Man, please tell me you're following this story.

Despite strong bi-partisan support, the president recently vetoed an expansion of something called S-CHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program), which would have extended healthcare coverage to about four million kids from moderate-income families. Last week, the Democrats invited a 12-year-old kid named Graeme Frost to speak in support of the program. See, Graeme and his little sister were involved in a horrific car accident and were in the hospital for five months. The family relied on S-CHIP for their kids' catastrophic medical needs. The Frosts are self-employed, with four children and an income of about $45,000 a year.

The right-wing media, including bloggers and the always full-of-shit Rush Limbaugh, have been tearing apart this kid and his family, trying to claim that they're a bunch of government freeloaders. A lunatic named Michelle Malkin (who occasionally subs for the equally full-of-shit Bill O'Reilly) has even stalked Frosts at home to expose their supposed affluence. The family's address and phone number has been posted online and they've had to deal with a deluge of hate mail, including death threats. There's been evidence that Minority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell has been involved in smearing this kid and his family, too, so it's not just some random bloggers and windbags.

What this is all bringing to mind are those heady days after the 2004 election when just about every conservative I knew online was clutching her hanky over how "mean!" liberals and Democrats were being about the election. Oh dear, their tender feelings were so hurt!

What's going on with Graeme Frost is the definition of "mean," not to mention cruel, spiteful and completely inexcusable. And sadly, it is the true face of the modern conservative spirit.

To read more about Graeme Frost and "compassionate conservatism" in action:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health/bal-te.frosts10oct10,0,7719719,full.story

http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/10/11/is-there-any-decency-left-in-the-republican-party/

Comments

[plaidpjs.livejournal.com]

Because God forbid you live in this country and make just enough to not be poor and yet be unfortunate enough to need a hand in times of trouble.

This kind of stuff just makes me nauseous.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

What I find especially offensive is the implication that if you want to provide health care for your kids, you don't deserve the American Dream -- a house, your own business, decent education. If you're not living out of your car and working at Wal-Mart to pay your insurance premiums, you're just DAMN SOCIALIST FREELOADING SCUM.

Pigs. No, I like pigs. They care for their young.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm sure these people want to care for their own young. But these people are disagreeing with them, so they must be one of THEM, that army of gazillionaires stealing money for their children's healthcare.

I'm surprised they haven't started rumors about how much the family deserved the car accident to begin with.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

I'm absolutely certain that some right-winger is busy digging into the Frosts' driving record. If they get so much as a parking ticket on Mom, it'll be proven that she was a shitty mother who almost killed her own kids with her hippie-dippie carelessness.

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

That's revolting. And most of those people probably claim to be good Christians. They're worse than a pack of wild dogs.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

I'd rather trust myself to the wild dogs.

[llinos.livejournal.com]

Speaking as a Brit, I find it totally baffling that Americans put up with not having universal health care.

Sure we moan about the NHS all the time, but generally speaking it's pretty good and no one questions how much money you have - if you need treatment you get it. Sometimes when you don't need it you still get it! I get letters insisting I have a breast exam or a flu jab.

I think the USA is the only developed country which does not have a nationalised health care programme. Can anyone please explain what the possible objections are to such a thing - really I would honestly like to know.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

The real objection is that the insurance industry would lose money. The medical and pharmaceutical industries would also lose money and all three of these industries have Washington in their pockets.

The fake objection, which is trumpeted by Republicans and believed by a great many Americans, is twofold: one, that national healthcare is shitty healthcare -- free market competition leads to the best, most innovative care and we'd all suffer without it. Two, that national healthcare would mean that hard-working Americans would wind up paying astronomical taxes to support some mythical army of freeloaders, "welfare queens" and careless losers like, apparently, the family of Graeme Frost.

Yes, we are the only first-world country without some sort of national healthcare. And yes, we shouldn't put up with it. But as long as a lot of people in this country keep swallowing and spreading Republican propaganda, we will never, ever have it any other way.

[llinos.livejournal.com]

That's the best explanation I have heard so far! Thank you for that.

Maybe now is the time, with the internet capable of spreading information, to let all Americans know that National Health Care is NOT second rate. It is far from perfect - but then neither is a paid-for system either.

Also paid-for Health Care is open to appalling abuse. In particular I have come across Americans who are convinced they need psychiatric treatment that they really don't. But it swells the coffers of those delivering it.

We have private medical insurance thru my husband's job - as a perk. But when I needed emergency treatment the NHS got there first and my op was done by the houseman - perfectly well - as the private consultant was playing golf at the time. All I got extra was a private room and my meals on bone china - couldn't eat anyway so no great benefit there.

Quite honestly, once my husband retires we won't bother keeping our private scheme because the NHS delivers an excellent service. My American friends staying with me recently were quite impressed that I got a doctor's appointment the same day that I rang up. Our GPs will come to the house if needed and if you call an ambulance you get taken to the most appropriate hospital for your condition - distance and specialisation being taken into account. It is not measured by the size of your wallet!

I don't pay for my perscriptions, although salaried people do pay a minimal amount, about £5, but that's all. I don't have to worry about whether I can afford to be ill - no one does. I think that makes people less inclined to rush off to the doctor for every little ache and pain. We are far more circumspect about using the service somehow. You know when you really need it, help will be there and so you tend not to abuse the system.

Also, most consultants that work in the private sector, work equally in the NHS - it's an ethical thing. As for standards - they really are very, very high!

You heard it here - now spread the word!

[oselle.livejournal.com]

Oh, the word is out there. Michael Moore's recent documentary, Sicko had him traveling to countries with national healthcare (including England) to find out how "terrible" the level of healthcare was -- of course, he found out exactly what you've said here. It's efficient, readily available and far from sub-par.

The problem is that the word keeps getting drowned out. The leader of this country is a callous, smirking half-wit who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and has never had to do without anything in his entire life. He has said that anyone who wants healthcare in America can just "go to an emergency room." Those words actually came out of his mouth, though I know for certain he's ever been exposed to a real emergency room in his entire life. But people -- ordinary people -- believe his line of crap and no amount of truth from you or Michael Moore or every other civilized nation on this earth will change their minds. I am almost certain I will never see national healthcare in America in my lifetime.