In Health Care Debate Fear Works (against some)

Recorded from NPR's (National Public Radio's) show: "Morning Edition", August 28th, 2009.

In Health Care Debate, Fear Trumps Logic
by Julie Rovner

Past efforts to overhaul the nation's health care system had different proponents, different opponents and different plans that were under consideration. But they have two things in common: They all ended in failure, and in every case, opponents used fear as a key weapon in their arsenal.

So Jonathan Oberlander, a political scientist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, says he's not at all surprised to see recent claims — all thoroughly debunked — that suggest, for example, that bills under consideration would encourage senior citizens to commit suicide when they become ill or infirm.

"It's really a case of deja vu," he says. "You hear in today's debate echoes of the past that extend all the way to the early part of the 20th century. And I think the reason that people use fear again and again is that it's effective. It's worked to stop health reform in the past. And so they're going to try and use it in the present."

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The 60 Plus Association describes itself as a "non-partisan seniors advocacy group with a free enterprise, less government, less taxes approach."

However, a 2006 report in the AARP Bulletin called 60 Plus a front group for the pharmaceutical industry. 60 Plus, along with Senior Coalition and United Seniors Association, "claim to speak for millions of older Americans, although as recently as 2001 none of the three listed any revenue from membership dues on their tax returns." The article added: "virtually all of their largest contributions in recent years have come from the same source -- the nation's pharmaceutical industry."

60 Plus Ads Opposing 2009 Healthcare Plan
Television ads saying that the government plans to fund healthcare reform on the "backs of seniors" started appearing in August 2009 in California markets (specifically Los Angeles but possibly others as well). The televised ad makes the following claims among others: "Congress plans to cut 500 Billion from Medicare," "Seniors May Lose Their Own Doctors," and "The Government, Not Doctors Will Decide if Older Patients are Worth the Cost," The ad ends by saying "Tell Congress, Don't pay for Health Care Reform on the backs of Our Seniors. They've sacrificed enough." The ads clearly state "Paid for by 60 Plus Association" and display the www.60Plus.org website at the end.

(source: http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association )
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Category:

News & Politics

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• care
• reform
• fear
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• Julie
• Rovner
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• Oberlander
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[blitzkrieg234]

Health insurance is the reason health care is so expensive. Anytime a 3rd party is paying for a transaction, any concern for the cost by the Consumer or distributor goes flying out of the window. If you think we have it bad now just wait until everyone has (by law) a 3rd party to pay for their medical treatment. How fucking dumb are your people? It's your right for someone to provide a service for you? I suppose you think Slavery is okay too.

[im4wur]

@blitzkrieg234 - Thanks to the health reform bill, as of September 23, 2010, it will no longer be legal for health insurance companies to deny children health care due to a pre-existing condition; insurance companies will be prohibited from discontinuing your coverage if you get sick, no more life time limits; if you have children they can stay on your insurance until their 26th birthday. - To equate these reforms with slavery is absurd.

[Smartassawhip]

We Need A Public Option Plan.

If you are confused about healthcare reform and you have questions I may be able to help you. On my profile you will find the answers to the most commonly asked questions as well as links to the bill in both long and short versions. You will also find several ways in which you can get more involved including phone #'s and petitions and more.

[miragin7]

Any so called civilised country should have health care for everybody !!! .. Its not communism!!! .. Its called caring for your people !!! ..

[HeyItzMeDawg]

The reminds me of the swine flu fear-mongering. You know, the billion-dollar payoff to Big Pharma and their government shills by taxpayers to find a miracle cure for a minor sickness.

In any case, anyone who reads this Healthcare reform bill, assuming they stop changing it every ten seconds so we have enough time to read, has been against it. And the simple reason for that is that it proposes to make mandatory health insurance.

You know, a billion dollar payoff of insurance companies?

[mccainisthrough]

Outstanding Post!

[art101tv]

At 2:05 : "Once fear is aroused and in your brain, it tends to take over and dominate."

The GOP and corporate medical industry lobbyists know this full well -- despite their "who us? we don't wanna scare nobody!" denials. It would be laughable if wasn't downright creepy. Deja vu indeed.

[teleutube]

"Death Panels" will pull grandmas' plugs

GOP leader Governor of Alaska Palin helps spreading it.