Saturday, August 8, 2009

The Elderly attack Obama care

As the dog days of summer heat up, so does the debate over health care? Apparently the administration is concerned that the town hall protests are being organized by right wing extremists and insurance companies. I won't concede there's an organized campaign to send people into these meetings, but, so what if there is? Remember, we just elected a relative novice to the highest office in the land, and if I remember correctly, his campaign, was replete with assertions that his community organizing past was a resume enhancement for the Top dog position. How ironic, that the organizer in Chief's health care extravaganza is being shot full of holes by mom and pop protesters.

I guess it's fair to ask what's firing up gramps and granny, because if you study the videos they are engorged with aging Americans. Well if you look into the debate, the sticking point, besides the public option, is the whole end of life scenario. Seniors are rightfully outraged about some of the rhetoric coming out. President Obama in his health care infomercial, made a fatal mistake, when asked a question by Jane Sturn, whose 100 year old mother was initially denied a pacemaker by one doctor, before another OK'd it. She's now 105. She asked about the criteria for providing elderly care. The president responded by first talking about wasteful tests and getting them out of the system, and then said this, and I quote, "at least we can let doctors know, and your mother know, that you know what, this isn't going to help. Maybe you would be better off not having the surgery, but taking the pain killer." First of all, the implication is, that bureaucrats will be making, or at the least counseling, on life and death decisions, because of cost, or a persons worthiness to society. One of the advisers to the president on this issue, is Ezekiel Emmanuel, the brother of Rahm, and he has written extensively, and made flow charts, showing who should and shouldn't get care in the event of shortages. And, of course the very young and unproductive, and the very old and unproductive, don't fair well. Well, if government takes over health care there will be shortages, and rationing would be inevitable.

All this conjures up images from the movie, Schindlers List. Remember the concentration camp populous, being stripped naked and running before their nazi abusers, and the fit and productive were separated from the old and feeble. Women would cut their fingers, and rub blood on their cheeks to appear healthier, and therefore more productive. Now I'm not suggesting that our government is going to round up the feeble and elderly and gas them, but the idea of giving them the pain pill and, adios amigos, is not much better. Let's also not forget the end of life counseling, that is proposed in the bill. Will we see elderly women putting rouge on their face to appear healthier when their government appointed counselor comes a knocking? You may snicker, but the fear the elderly have of a bureaucrat deciding their fate, rather than doctors and family, can be horrific.

Remember we're all becoming more elderly with every step we take, therefore this should concern us all. What ever happened to the America that honored their seasoned citizens, with respect and dignity. We didn't look on them as unproductive, and a burden, but those we could go to for life's lessons, because of their history and experience.
Maybe this is the natural progression in a society that devalues, first the life of the unborn, because they may be an individual or family burden, and now our seasoned citizens, because they may be a collective burden. America, we should be ashamed. And Mr. president, before you continue on this path you're taking this country, I have one word of advice. RESPECT YOUR ELDERS!

No comments:

Post a Comment