Friday, October 16, 2009

We're going to let you die

From Reader Alex:
Robert Reich: What An Honest President Would Say About Health Reform
A quick two minute video of Robert Reich talking about what liberals really believe about healthcare…he said this to a “safe” audience at Berkeley a couple of years ago.

It’s really hard to believe (until you understand how they think – which is another discussion.) Listen or read the text. These people must be sick (from the neck up).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT7Y0TOBuG4

An excerpt:

“Let me tell you a few things on health care. Look, we have the only health care system in the world that is designed to avoid sick people. And that’s true and what I’m going to do is that I am going try to reorganize it to be more amenable to treating sick people but that means you, particularly you young people, particularly you young healthy people…you’re going to have to pay more.” (Applause)

“Thank you. And by the way, we’re going to have to, if you’re very old, we’re not going to give you all that technology and all those drugs for the last couple of years of your life to keep you maybe going for another couple of months. It’s too expensive…so we’re going to let you die.” (Applause)

“Also, I’m going to use the bargaining leverage of the federal government in terms of Medicare, Medicaid—we already have a lot of bargaining leverage—to force drug companies and insurance companies and medical suppliers to reduce their costs. What that means, less innovation and that means less new products and less new drugs on the market which means you are probably not going to live much longer than your parents. Thank you.”

(Watch the video if you want to hear him say it.)

So let’s see. Young, healthy people will pay more. Old, retired people will be murdered by death panels. And health care innovators and insurance providers will be run out of business, which reduces quality and raises costs. So now we understand what Obama’s socialized takeover of health care would really accomplish from the mouth of a key Democratic/Modern Liberal advisor. Pass this on.

More. James Taranto, WSJ on this, with more from the British system--reluctant to send help.

P.S. You see, it's our duty to die, as citizens of the state. Remember Rahmbo's brother Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel--suggesting that if someone is not capable of being a participating citizen then we should deny them medical care--where does this end? Who will the state next decide doesn't deserve care? Will they ask the NFL commissioner? The SEIU? This is not so farfetched, folks. And how about the admiration of Chairman Mao from the White House communications director, expressed in a speech to high school students? Mmm, mmm, mmm. By the way, the murderous Chairman Mao denied his political rival Chou En-lai cancer treatments--to ensure Chou wouldn't outlive him.

And yet Mark Silva, Tribune's The Swamp does a little haha no big deal on the latest creepy stuff from the White House. Top of memeorandum this morning. Damage control for The One. This will all blow over, just some harmless collegiate hijinks akin to Che posters...except these guys are in charge, and they seem to be serious. And we know they're not being honest, else why do all this behind closed doors?

Did those of you who voted for Obama think we would be here today? Some welcome it, like Robert Reich, like the Emanuel brothers. But many Americans are shaken--and if they had to do it over again, they wouldn't vote for Barack Obama for president. We could call him the Death President.

4 comments:

Cassie said...

I wish I could say that I was shocked when I heard Reich speech...but I'm not. I am amazed that there are so many people willing looking for a handout while keeping their heads firmly in the sand.

Anne said...

Well, I have to say this stuff even shocks me--and I've been following this for a long time, as you obviously have.

meatbrain said...

Notice that Anne Leary is careful not to supply a link to the entire talk that Robert Reich gave to a political science class. Why? Because if she did that, you might find out that Robert Reich was giving a satirical presentation of "what a candidate for President would say if that candidate did not care about becoming President". In other words, he was playing a role, not speaking for himself or anyone else.

But Anne can't let you know that. The facts are inconvenient to Anne's purpose, so the facts must be hidden.

meatbrain said...

Oh, and by the way, we already have a health care system that allows people to die rather than treat their diseases -- and then that same system literally flips the finger to the survivors. Remember that anyone who, like Anne Leary, opposes health care reform is defending that system.