Socialism Marches On

"Democrats have been in charge of Washington for just a few weeks but their record so far is disappointing to voters who hoped for change." That is a quote issued from Republican National Committee's chairman, Michael Steele. Republicans and many Democrats are greatly disappointed in the display of raw power grabbing that belied the passage of the spending bill that is to stimulate the economy.

Senator Cornyn, (R-TX) said "As a staunch advocate of open government and transparency, I take serious issue with the fact that Members of Congress and the American public had less than 24 hours to look at the conference report before the final vote." "A better approach to the stimulus bill that actually creates more opportunity for middle-class families and small businesses and restores America's economic strength was available. It remains available, and I will continue to build support for an alternative and comprehensive plan."

No member of Congress read the bill before voting on it. Staffers found many objectionable pieces in the legislation that were never discussed or allowed amendments before the final vote. One major stumbling block is the measures added in for a back door approach to socialized medical care in our country. Tom Daschle, before he took himself out of nomination for Health and Human Services Secretary and Health Care Reform Czar, had the whole disturbing game plan written out in a book he published in 2008. The book is called, "Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis" contains his philosophical bon mots including "Doctors have to give up autonomy and "learn to operate less like solo practitioners." That according to an article by Betsy McCaughey posted on Bloomberg.com.

Continuing, "The goal, Daschle's book explained, is to slow the development and use of new medications and technologies because they are driving up costs. He praises Europeans for being more willing to accept "hopeless diagnoses" and "forgo experimental treatments," and he chastises Americans for expecting too much from the health-care system." Interesting train of thought for an American living in a free republic and not a socialist European country.

If you are a senior citizen, according to Tom Daschle, you will be expected to just accept the fact that advancing age brings on medical conditions and don't expect treatment for them. Younger members of society are more deserving, as they are assumed to live longer after treatment.

According to Ms. McCaughey, "Medicare now pays for treatments deemed safe and effective. The stimulus bill would change that and apply a cost-effectiveness standard set by the Federal Council". That is written on page 464. "The Federal Council is modeled after a U.K. board discussed in Daschle's book. This board approves or reflects treatments using a formula that divides the cost of the treatment by the number of years the patient is likely to benefit. Treatments for younger patients are more often approved than treatments for diseases that affect the elderly, such as osteoporosis."

Also from Ms. McCaughey, "Hiding health legislation in a stimulus bill is intentional. Daschle supported the Clinton administration's health-care overhaul in 1994, and attributed its failure to debate and delay. A year ago, Daschle wrote that the next president should act quickly before critics mount an opposition. "If that means attaching a health-care plan to the federal budget, so be it," he said. "The issue is too important to be stalled by Senate protocol."

McCaughy notes, too, "The health-care industry is the largest employer in the U.S. It produces almost 17 percent of the nation's gross domestic product." If this industry is to be limited, and severely, then will the electronics and auto industries be next? Will Rep. Maxine Waters make good on her announced intentions to nationalize the oil industry? Will all the banks be nationalized with government imposed demands in exchange?

Our republic faces the march of socialism. History shows this to be a very dangerous time for us indeed. The President, by the way, who insisted this monster spending bill be rammed down our throats before anyone actually knew what was in it, is enjoying a vacation weekend with the family back in Chicago. He'll not sign it until more people are tuned into the news on Tuesday and it will be a campaign style photo op from Denver. Seems the President is still in campaign mode.

The President who claimed as a candidate to be post partisan has been anything but that. Eventually he will be called upon to get into the process and lead the country. His presence is needed in Washington.