RiteOn Blog

BOILING FROGS

by Chuck MacNab

The Obama Czars may be the front-runners of a stealth takeover plan. As Glenn Beck says, the insidious wording being quietly inserted into various legislation over the past year or so could enable the radicals to run the government the way Chavez runs Venezuela or Castro runs Cuba. People don’t believe a totalitarian government can emerge in the U.S., but we may wake up one morning and realize that it has! There will be those in denial, just as there is denial among many about what is currently happening.

If the current rash of radical socialist/fascist legislation becomes law, the reality of what we have lost will come home to roost in a brutal way. When it is illegal to own a gun, illegal to speak in opposition to government policies, illegal for your doctor to treat you for certain conditions, illegal to own an automobile larger than a government panel thinks you should (you can own it but they just won’t allow you to buy fuel for it), illegal to have a home of a certain size (again, you can own it but you can’t heat, air condition or provide water for it) we will find ourselves having to cope with a totalitarian society. Many Germans remained silent about the brutality of the Hitler Youth, the goon squads because it became personally dangerous to speak out or actually do something to oppose it or because it did not impact them personally, for the moment. Once freedom is lost and totalitarian control, no matter what the propagandists call it, is established, freedom will be difficult or impossible to regain. What do we do then? That’s another BIG question because America is the last bastion of freedom on the planet. Literally, there is nowhere else to go!

ALL of the media, except FOX and the outnumbered and outspent conservative bloggers, have become propagandists for Obama. Joe Goebbels would be proud of them! As a result, the majority of the American people have been lulled to sleep while the first crisis imposed by key left wing players in Congress is being followed by a much larger and more critical crisis. Now the country is being bankrupted, Constitutional protections are being destroyed or ignored and similar processes, “cousins” to those that Hitler used to control Germany after he became Chancellor, are being put in place. Yet most Americans still don’t see the sum total of what is happening. They are failing to demonstrate in large enough numbers and are failing to organize in meaningful ways to stop it. Obama-Pelosi and the radical left look at the Tea Party demonstrations and they see nothing very organized getting in the way of their legislative plans. When legislators return to Washington, we think Obama, Pelosi, Reid and the power of their overwhelming majority will crush them into submission. Nice try, Bluedogs!

When this happens, seniors, along with many others, will be thrown to the wolves in health care and the price of everything will skyrocket when cap and trade takes effect. We will be in for another big rise in unemployment and another big downturn in the economy when the markets realize that capitalism has ended in America! Will voters then throw the radicals out of office? Maybe, once again, they won’t be able to outvote the government beneficiaries, the public service job holders, the teachers union, those on Federal, State and local payrolls, ACORN volunteers, Black Panthers at the polls, censorship of the media. By the time a cyber warfare campaign, funded by George Soros and his left wing radical blog operations gets in full swing, a conservative candidate can run but nobody will know who he or she is or what he or she stands for! Get ready for major disruptions of your internet communications by "keyword" because, the radicals run the internet!

God bless every person out in the streets carrying a sign or attempting to have their say to a politician. But, for every Tea Party demonstrator, there are 1000 people sitting at home having a beer on the couch, out playing golf or only mildly concerned with what is going on. There are simply not enough people willing to act on their concerns. Yes, opinion counts but it will take a lot more than that. In addition, those involved in the Tea Parties do not indicate that they understand the nuts and bolts of how the American political system works. It works through the two major Parties and success in any election depends on focused leadership that makes the right decisions at the right time and has the money, communications and organization to back it up. From our conversations with various organizers we conclude (at this time) that the Tea Party groups do not see the need in these critical areas. Let’s hope that changes and FAST! They seem to believe that “somehow” demonstrations will result in a reversal of the current rash of radical legislation but they don’t exactly know how that will happen. One told me. “I pray a lot.” Well, bless that person but when I was flying a large transport aircraft with 300 people in the cabin, I didn’t depend on a prayer to land the aircraft safely…. I made sure I was in control and that my experience and skill would guarantee a successful landing! We admire these well meaning groups of good citizens who seek to keep the Constitution intact. However, they do not indicate that they understand the time proven principles of organization that represent the only way, short of outright revolution, to achieve a favorable outcome.

Let us be clear…the “organization” we reference, and the organization needed, is the kind that will put people in office in the two political parties who will reliably vote to stop the radical takeover of our government! It is obvious that Tea Party demonstrations are only the beginning of that process. Until a realization of how the political system works and an awareness of the need to organize motivates the majority to act effectively, the demonstrators will be without focus and thus have only a minimal impact on current officeholders and on the outcome of elections. One of the keys is to control the nominating process and, as a result of that, who is on the ballot to campaign and vote for.

Chicago politics provides a good example. There, as in most large cities, people are stuck with a choice between two liberals, usually two Democrat liberals. Therefore, the outcome of policy is guaranteed and the political bosses and the guys in the modern version of the smoke filled rooms maintain control. All that is decided is who gets the spoils! Without effective organization the Tea Party people are “easy meat” for paid political professionals and lobbyists, especially considering how the 2010 set of election options will be served up.

Soon, it may be impossible to change radical legislation being imposed because of the withdrawal of Constitutional protections. Two of the three branches of government now have dictatorial powers over the American people. If one of the four conservative Supreme Court judges were to be removed for some reason and replaced with another radical liberal like Sonya Sotomayor, it would mean that the leftist radicals would control all three branches of government. The socialist/fascist control of American government is being put in place right now and, like the “boiled frog theory,” the American people may be behind the curve in saving themselves. If a much broader realization of what is happening is not soon accompanied by massive demonstrations and effective organization, then it may be too late to act to save the country.

Don’t delay! Go to Washington for the 9/12 event; gather your neighbors and demonstrate on every street corner; make signs; visit, call, write and email your Senators and Representatives. Attend all political events and make your views known there. Be informed - Act now!

IF THEN WERE NOW

By EKG

Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a bunch of radical Japanese pilots attacked Pearl Harbor.

President Roosevelt is extremely annoyed.

The president promises the State Police of Hawaii the full cooperation of the FBI in hunting down and bringing to justice the criminals who perpetrated this alleged crime. But the president also cautions Americans not to overreact. Blowing up ships and buildings is a law enforcement issue. Let the cops handle it.

Naturally, if apprehended, these misguided youths will have the same rights as an American citizen. If they cannot afford a Japanese attorney, one will be provided for them. Of course, all access to OSS information will be made available to the accused(s) since it will be leaked by the NY Times anyway. If convicted, the perpetrators will
receive probation and be exiled to Bermuda.

Retaliation against the Empire of Japan likewise is counter productive. Only a small minority of Japanese citizens participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the United States will not condone harming civilians
for the crimes of a few. A diplomatic mission has been sent to Tokyo to ask why they resent us and what we can do to mollify them. World War I proved fighting back only leads to resentment from the defeated. Furthermore, America deserved Japan's enmity since we irritate the rest of the world by flaunting freedom and prosperity.

It also came to the president's attention that the National Socialist government of Germany declared War on the United States in the misguided theory that the US intends to go to war with Japan over a silly little misunderstanding like Pearl Harbor. Please! We are not barbarians. Murdering a couple thousand of us will not turn us into savages. The US profoundly rejects Germany's declaration of war and invites the German
Chancellor to visit NY to air his complaints. If we had a UN, he could do it there. With a little dialog, we can find common ground. If not, we're always willing to change our behavior so as not to offend. We also understand Herr Hitler has announced he wants to annihilate the Jews. We don't believe he means that.

So far as the Fuhrer's buzz bombing Britain, we understand the British reluctance to be perceived as being too friendly to America, ergo we are sending one billion dollars a year on the sly to the British Government so they can resurrect the buildings the Nazis bombed. It is unfortunate that Israel does not yet exist. If the Jews had their own state, the world press could blame bombing London on them. Perhaps even have the AP print up some pictures.

At the moment Herr Hitler is aligned with the USSR, but OSS has learned the Fuhrer intends to invade Russia.(No need to keep it quiet; the NY Times will leak the information anyway). Herr Hitler should be warned. If he attacks our buddy, Uncle Joe, the US will release the full force of its might against him. After all, there are some things we on the Left feel are worth fighting for.

BEAM ME UP, SCOTTIE!

By VA Guest editor EKG

Those in favor of totally overhauling the American health care system claim Medicare and Medicaid are bankrupting the nation and, therefore, are unsustainable. They advocate a public, single payer, national health system. But aren't Medicare and Medicaid already public plans? So, let's see if I have this right? In order to prevent existing public plans for seniors and the poor from bankrupting the country, the Democrats advocate putting everyone on a public option.

Beam me up, Scottie.

Opponents of the single-payer plan claim a government-run medical system won't save money. That is ridiculous. Of course, such a system will save money. One does not need be a CPA to understand if one does not buy something, one saves what it would have cost to buy said product had one bought it in the first place. It's called rationing, and every single-payer system in the world uses it to keep medical costs down.

Scottie? Do you have those coordinates yet?

HOO RAH!

Marine at Town Hall Meeting:

Hoo Rah!

Please click on the following link to see and hear a patriotic citizen, a former Marine, question his Congressman at a Town Hall meeting.

http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/bighollywood/2009/08/22/a-united-states-marine-goes-to-a-town-hall-meeting/

PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN!

THIS SAYS IT ALL

Let me  get this straight.
   
We're going to pass a health care plan...

written by a committee whose head says he doesn't understand it,...
Passed by a Congress that hasn't read it ...
And  exempts themselves from it, ...
Signed by a President that also hasn't  read it, ...
And who smokes,...
With funding administered by a treasury  chief who didn't pay his taxes,...
Overseen by a surgeon general who  is obese, ...
And financed by a country that's nearly broke. ...

What possibly could go  wrong?

THE CHICAGO WAY!

By Chuck MacNab

We see this morning on FOX News that the Democrats are threatening to RAM THROUGH their version of Health Care legislation using the “reconciliation” procedure. We predicted in several past commentaries that this would happen. All we can say is that if they do, it will really solidify those who oppose them.... It would be stupid, politically, but they are doing one stupid thing after another anyway so our guess is that we can expect the worst from them.
 
Unfortunately, they will have time to re-rig the health care system in stone before the 2010 elections and since they don’t care what their constituents want, that could have a very bad impact on many with ongoing health care needs, especially seniors. The only way to oppose the “cram down” is for doctors to go on strike for every procedure that is not life threatening. The doctors in Canada tried that after their health care system was taken over by the government but the strike failed and they caved. Now, after the obvious failure of the Canadian health care system, we see the Canadians trying to go back to a private system. Unfortunately, Canadians had to endure 40 or more years of a failed health care system in order to find out the truth.
 
Maybe a strike by health care providers here would have a different outcome. We have no doubt, when you look at radical left wing legislators like Waxman, Pelosi, Durbin, Schumer et al and their leader Obama, that they would not hesitate to use everything authorized by their legislation (and maybe some not authorized, after all, they have proven they have little regard for the Constitution) to force health care providers and the public to accept socialized medicine. The outcome would be interesting to see but, as the Canadians have learned, disastrous for most of us.
 
Another thought we have is whether or not it is Constitutional for Waxman and his Committee to demand all the information from the insurance companies in the way that they are. We have no sympathy for some insurance companies because they should have known that their refusal to accept ALL of the government’s requests would result in their being thrown under the bus. We can’t imagine why people dealing with left wing zealot nut cases can’t figure that out!
 
One need not be a rocket scientist to know why the lefties are pushing all of their unpopular legislation without regard to public opinion.
•         They believe they know what is best for people, in all cases.
•         They really don’t care because they have the votes.
•         Big money has promised to fund their re-election campaigns.
•         They truly believe that voters are either stupid or fickle and will forget.
         (After all, they did get “conned” into electing Obama, how stupid was that?)
•         Most belong to the “beltway culture” and disrespect voters in their home districts.
•         The threat by Pelosi and the White House to withdraw support has them scared.
•         The “stimulus” money will be withheld from their districts if they cave.
         (Guess what… that’s why most of the money hasn’t been spent yet!!!)

Knowing how Rahm Emanuel and the “Chicago Way” functions, another thought crosses our mind. The Cash for Clunkers program has withheld money and put car dealers in a bind. Withholding money from dealers before a critical vote on health care may not be coincidental! These dealers are scattered throughout the country and represent a lot of pressure that could be applied to Congressmen from almost every district.
 
Emanuel and his fellow left wing Democrats have all but the Blue Dog Democrats in their pocket. The “Chicago Way” would be to threaten to withhold Cash for Clunkers money (and other “stimulus” money) from dealers (and others) in Districts represented by Blue Dogs, if they don’t vote “right.” That would certainly cause a lot of howling and phone calls to “selected” Congressmen! It’s an old Chicago technique, perfected by Richard Daly (the current Mayor’s father) to withhold funding from anyone who didn’t vote with him on what he wanted. Of course, he always wanted what was “best for the people” (Oh yeah!) whether they knew it and agreed to it or not!

THE OBAMA SONG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLcilJGPo68

FRED THOMPSON: Phantom pains at The Post

Right accused of hyping risk of terminal talks with the aged
By Fred D. Thompson

A Page One article in Saturday's Washington Post blaring the headline "Talk Radio Campaign Frightening Seniors" states, "A campaign on conservative talk radio ... has sparked fear among senior citizens that the health care bill moving through Congress will lead to end-of-life 'rationing' and even 'euthanasia,' " and that the bill has been described as "guiding you in how to die."

The story's continuation inside -- under the headline "Conservatives Have Seniors Fearing 'Euthanasia' as Part of Reform" says that, like arguments about abortion coverage, this has become a distraction to the president's broader health care agenda.

The reader looking for examples of this "talk show" campaign will be disappointed. Not one talk-radio host is quoted, and no specific radio show is mentioned (though The Post does quote an interview done on my radio show, without telling the reader the interview was done on a radio show).

However, the article does make use of information supplied by off-the-record "Democratic strategists." One is free to conclude for oneself who has launched a "campaign."

It does seem that the words attributed to unnamed conservative culprits are fairly mild compared to the hysteria coming out of left-wing Web sites and blogs. My favorite is the one found on the Huffington Post, where Republicans are accused of saying that granny would be shot in her wheelchair under a provision in the Obama-Pelosi-Waxman health care bill.

Let's discuss whether these deranged seniors are being misled by people who actually may have read the bill. (Presumably this offense cannot be laid at the feet of their representatives of Congress.)

Although I have never said anything like the things attributed to radio talk hosts, the article states that "the attacks on talk radio began when Betsy McCaughey ... told former senator Fred D. Thompson (R-Tenn.) that mandatory counseling sessions with Medicare beneficiaries would 'tell them how to end their life sooner' and would teach the elderly 'how to decline nutrition -- and cut your life short.' "

The basic position of the bill's proponents seems to be that these consultations are totally voluntary, that seniors should have the benefit of such end-of-life consultations and that the consultation provision is nothing more than to get doctors reimbursed when a consultation occurs at the patient's request. The "let's get the doctor paid" rationale was swallowed whole by The Post's writer, Ceci Connolly.

Those concerned by this provision believe it to be mandatory and wonder why the government is involving itself in the doctor-patient relationship and with end-of-life decisions.

Section 1233 of the bill, having to do with Medicare, describes the "advanced care planning consultation" as between the individual (a spouse and next of kin are not mentioned) and a "practitioner," described as a physician, a nurse practitioner or a physician's assistant. (It does not appear that it is a requirement that the physician in question be the patient's physician of record.)

In legislation, an issue as to whether an action is mandatory or not can be resolved quickly by a glance at the statute, which will state that (in this case) the consultation either "shall" be taken or "may" be taken. Remarkably, neither phrase is used in the statute in question.

Rather, the statute just describes what a consultation is and then strictly prescribes in mandatory language what must be included in the consultation as well as what may be included. For example, in Paragraph 4, a consultation "may include the formulation of an order regarding life-sustaining treatment" and may include an order for "the use of artificially administered nutrition and hydration."

The drafters of the provision were either sloppy, befitting a situation in which a complicated, 1,000-plus-page bill, controlling one-sixth of the economy, is rushed through the legislative process. Or it might be that the drafters desired an intentionally vague statute, knowing administration officials would be drafting regulations for the implementation of the bill after it passed.

As it stands, there is more than ample reason to believe the provision was meant to be mandatory with regard to the practitioners. Otherwise, why have the provision in the bill at all? If getting the doctors paid for a voluntary consultation really was the provision's intent, an amendment of two or three lines would have fixed it. As it is, it is two lines in a five-page provision full of specific instructions about what doctors, nurses or doctor's aides must explain to the patients.

Seniors are reminded daily by the media that Medicare is going broke, that the country must cut Medicare costs and that the last days of life are by far the most expensive. Now they are being told by the administration -- one that has been less than transparent on this bill and a host of other issues -- that this bill will cut Medicare costs. They are learning that they are "coincidentally" being asked about end-of-life issues at the government's behest, perhaps by a stranger who is receiving Medicare reimbursement payments.

How long do you think it will take a Medicare patient to figure out which decisions will cost the government money and which will save the government money?

This is no reflection on medical professionals. They clearly are being put in a position they neither have asked for nor are completely qualified for. However, I am gratified that a president who can matter-of-factly accuse doctors of routinely removing a child's tonsils solely for financial gain has newfound trust in a doctor's or some hospital employee's ability to consult and even help draw up legal documents regarding end-of-life issues.

If this is all just a misunderstanding about whether this provision is mandatory or not, it can be resolved readily. Let's see if the supporters of the provision are willing to add language to the bill making it clear that there is no requirement that these consultations take place. Better still, they should drop this provision from the bill and let patients discuss these matters with their families, their clergy, lawyers who have expertise in living wills and powers of attorney, or whomever else they desire.

So is this a conspiracy to kill off granny? No. Will seniors be forced to make decisions they don't want to make? No. But will "practitioners" be encouraged to have end-of-life discussions that include when it might be best for patients to allow their life to end earlier than it has to? Of course. And seniors have a right to be satisfied that there is not, at the heart of this process, undo consideration given to cost-cutting.

In the end, it depends on how comfortable one is with having the government in the middle of this process. That is what this discussion is really all about.

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Fred D. Thompson, a former Tennessee Republican Senator, hosts a nationally syndicated radio show (www.fredthompsonshow.com <http://www.fredthompsonshow.com>)

OBAMA CZAR MAY BE PRESSURING COMPANIES NOT TO ADVERTISE ON GLENN BECK SHOW

Barack Obama's "green-jobs czar," civil rights attorney Van Jones, co-founder of the African-American political organization Color of Change, may be trying to remove financial support from Glen Beck's widely popular TV program. Link to Newsmax: http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/beck_obama_boycott_fox/2009/08/13/247700.html?s=al&promo_code=856B-1  Any successful action such as this could substantially reduce Beck's influence as a media personality.

Many people are of the opinion that Obama is trying to eliminate the influence of conservative media personalities such as Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glen Beck by appointing various Czars and heads of Federal agencies that can use their regulatory power over broadcasters and their influence with corporations that advertise. This scenario could be presently unfolding. After all, judging from news content, the major media, with the exception of FOX News and a very few others, is almost totally under Obama Administration control right now!

News bias toward liberal causes could be ideologically driven to some extent but the obvious saturation of liberal talking points connected with the Tea Party demonstrations and the almost complete absence of media coverage favorable to the ordinary citizens who show up at these events is strong evidence that control of the media by liberals and the administration is alive and well!

The talk of reinstating the Fairness Doctrine, a practice that in the opinion of many would eliminate conservative radio talk radio shows such as Limbaugh's and Hannity's has been passed back and forth in the news and is clearly meant to be a threat. According to the referenced Newsmax article, Presidential "green-jobs czar," Van Jones has long been a supporter of the Fairness Doctrine. When analyzing Obama's appointments many believe they are too race and left wing oriented and certain individuals have been appointed not to benefit the American people as a whole but instead to:

1. Function solely as agents of Obama's radical policies.
2. Oversee the punishment of those who oppose them.
3. Transform the United States into a socialist form of government.
4. Gain total and complete control over the American people and the outcome of elections.

While it may be a fact that "to the victor belong the spoils" there are indications that the Obama Administration has taken this concept and its associated liabilities, incompetence and corruption, to a more pervasive level.
----------------
Beck supporters are distributing the contact information for officials at two companies that have stopped their advertising. They are:

Progressive Insurance
Mr. Glenn Renwick, President & CEO
440-461-5000

Ms. Linda Harris, Advertising & Sponsorships
E-mail: linda_j._harris@progressive.com 

GEICO
Mr. Tony Nicely
Chairman, President & CEO, Insurance Operations
E-mail: tnicely@geico.com
301-986-2462

Chris Tasher, GEICO
Media Relations
301-986-3271
E-mail: ctasher@geico.com

A DOCTOR COMMENTS ON OBAMACARE

ObamaCare and me
By Zane F Pollard, MD
http://www.americanthinker.com/zane_f_pollard_md/

I have been sitting quietly on the sidelines watching all of this national debate on healthcare. It is time for me to bring some clarity to the table by explaining many of the problems from the perspective of a doctor.

First off, the government has involved very few of us physicians in the healthcare debate. While the American Medical Association has come out in favor of the plan, it is vital to remember that the AMA only represents 17% of the American physician workforce.

I have taken care of Medicaid patients for 35 years while representing the only pediatric ophthalmology group left in Atlanta, Georgia that accepts Medicaid. For example, in the past 6 months I have cared for three young children on Medicaid who had corneal ulcers. This is a potentially blinding situation because if the cornea perforates from the infection, almost surely blindness will occur. In all three cases the antibiotic needed for the eradication of the infection was not on the approved Medicaid list.

Each time I was told to fax Medicaid for the approval forms, which I did. Within 48 hours the form came back to me which was sent in immediately via fax, and I was told that I would have my answer in 10 days. Of course by then each child would have been blind in the eye.

Each time the request came back denied. All three times I personally provided the antibiotic for each patient which was not on the Medicaid approved list. Get the point -- rationing of care.

Over the past 35 years I have cared for over 1000 children born with congenital cataracts. In older children and in adults the vision is rehabilitated with an intraocular lens. In newborns we use contact lenses which are very expensive. It takes Medicaid over one year to approve a contact lens post cataract surgery. By that time a successful anatomical operation is wasted as the child will be close to blind from a lack of focusing for so long a period of time.

Again, extreme rationing. Solution: I have a foundation here in Atlanta supported 100% by private funds which supplies all of these contact lenses for my Medicaid and illegal immigrants children for free. Again, waiting for the government would be disastrous.

Last week I had a lady bring her child to me. They are Americans but live in Sweden, as the father has a job with a big corporation. The child had the onset of double vision 3 months ago and has been unable to function normally because of this. They are people of means but are waiting 8 months to see the ophthalmologist in Sweden. Then if the child needed surgery they would be put on a 6 month waiting list. She called me and I saw her that day. It turned out that the child had accommodative esotropia (crossing of the eyes treated with glasses that correct for farsightedness) and responded to glasses within 4 days, so no surgery was needed. Again, rationing of care.

Last month I operated on a 70 year old lady with double vision present for 3 years. She responded quite nicely to her surgery and now is symptom free. I also operated on a 69 year old judge with vertical double vision. His surgery went very well and now he is happy as a lark. I have been told -- but of course there is no healthcare bill that has been passed yet -- that these 2 people because of their age would have been denied surgery and just told to wear a patch over one eye to alleviate the symptoms of double vision. Obviously cheaper than surgery.

I spent two years in the US Navy during the Viet Nam war and was well treated by the military. There was tremendous rationing of care and we were told specifically what things the military personnel and their dependents could have and which things they could not have. While I was in Viet Nam, my wife Nancy got sick and got essentially no care at the Naval Hospital in Oakland, California. She went home and went to her family's private internist in Beverly Hills. While it was expensive, she received an immediate work up. Again rationing of care.

For those of you who are over 65, this bill in its present form might be lethal for you. People in England over 59 cannot receive stents for their coronary arteries. The government wants to mimic the British plan. For those of you younger, it will still mean restriction of the care that you and your children receive.

While 99% of physicians went into medicine because of the love of medicine and the challenge of helping our fellow man, economics are still important. My rent goes up 2% each year and the salaries of my employees go up 2% each year. Twenty years ago, ophthalmologists were paid $1800 for a cataract surgery and today $500. This is a 73% decrease in our fees. I do not know of many jobs in America that have seen this sort of lowering of fees.

But there is more to the story than just the lower fees. When I came to Atlanta, there was a well known ophthalmologist that charged $2500 for a cataract surgery as he felt the was the best. He had a terrific reputation and in fact I had my mother's bilateral cataracts operated on by him with a wonderful result. She is now 94 and has 20/20 vision in both eyes. People would pay his $2500 fee.

However, then the government came in and said that any doctor that does Medicare work cannot accept more than the going rate ( now $500) or he or she would be severely fined. This put an end to his charging $2500. The government said it was illegal to accept more than the government-allowed rate. What I am driving at is that those of you well off will not be able to go to the head of the line under this new healthcare plan, just because you have money, as no physician will be willing to go against the law to treat you.

I am a pediatric ophthalmologist and trained for 10 years post-college to become a pediatric ophthalmologist (add two years of my service in the Navy and that comes to 12 years).A neurosurgeon spends 14 years post -college, and if he or she has to do the military that would be 16 years. I am not entitled to make what a neurosurgeon makes, but the new plan calls for all physicians to make the same amount of payment. I assure you that medical students will not go into neurosurgery and we will have a tremendous shortage of neurosurgeons. Already, the top neurosurgeon at my hospital who is in good health and only 52 years old has just quit because he can't stand working with the government anymore. Forty-nine percent of children under the age of 16 in the state of Georgia are on Medicaid, so he felt he just could not stand working with the bureaucracy anymore.

We are being lied to about the uninsured. They are getting care. I operate at least 2 illegal immigrants each month who pay me nothing, and the children's hospital at which I operate charges them nothing also.This is true not only on Atlanta, but of every community in America.

The bottom line is that I urge all of you to contact your congresswomen and congressmen and senators to defeat this bill. I promise you that you will not like rationing of your own health.

Furthermore, how can you trust a physician that works under these conditions knowing that he is controlled by the state. I certainly could not trust any doctor that would work under these draconian conditions.

One last thing: with this new healthcare plan there will be a tremendous shortage of physicians. It has been estimated that approximately 5% of the current physician work force will quit under this new system. Also it is estimated that another 5% shortage will occur because of the decreased number of men and women wanting to go into medicine. At the present time the US government has mandated gender equity in admissions to medical schools .That means that for the past 15 years that somewhere between 49 and 51% of each entering class are females. This is true of private schools also, because all private schools receive federal funding.

The average career of a woman in medicine now is only 8-10 years and the average work week for a female in medicine is only 3-4 days. I have now trained 35 fellows in pediatric ophthalmology. Hands down the best was a female that I trained 4 years ago -- she was head and heels above all others I have trained. She now practices only 3 days a week.
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Forwarded to RiteOn by AZ Guest Editor C. P.