HORATIO AT THE BRIDGE; The Health Care Debacle

   There comes a time in each person’s life when they are called upon to stand up for what they believe in or, more importantly, what is right. That time came today for Senator Max Baucus, and he put political expediency above the popular good.

   I have dealt with health insurance companies for more than 25 years as a physician, many more years as an attorney, and an entire lifetime as a patient. Health insurance companies look at their business in the simplest terms – they increase shareholder wealth (Management 101) by collecting as much as they can in premiums, while denying as many claims as possible, and stalling on the rest to make money on their investments until they are forced to pay; even if it costs you your life! Any bill that gets through Congress that mandates coverage to achieve Universal Health Care, but has no public option, is merely a gift of billions of dollars to the insurance industry.

   Well done Senator Baucus! Well done, Blue Dog Democrats! Well done, Republicans! You’ve sold out to the insurance industry, but you have once more proven that the definition of an “honest” politician is one who “stays bought!”

   Let’s make sure that EVERY Democratic senator (and maybe a few Republicans), who voted against a public option and hence against the American people, are replaced at the next election. More importantly, right now is the time to call and write to your legislators and let them know that if this continues, replacement is their fate.

IT IS TIME FOR HORATIO TO STAND AT THE BRIDGE!