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Obama-Pelosi to Health Insurers: Shut Up or We'll Shut You Down »
Posted By RTHTGakaRoland 2 weeks, 4 days ago in Political Opinion
President Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and their Democratic followers in Congress have a rather draconian message for the private sector: Speak now, and we'll make you forever hold your peace.
Up until a few weeks ago, America's health insurers were sheepishly on board with the Obama-Pelosi health care reform plan. Perhaps the industry feared that voicing any concern about the plan would unleash the ire of an increasingly rabid Democratic majority on Capitol Hill. As it turns out, the health insurers were right.
No longer able to sit idly by while the President and his chief minion in the House amateurishly try to revamp one-sixth of the U.S. economy, the health insurance industry released a study they commissioned that analyzes the costs of the Obama-Pelosi plan. The results are quite sobering. The study shows that "between 2010 and 2019 the cumulative increases in the cost of a typical family policy under this reform proposal will be approximately $20,700 more than it would be under the current system." (Emphasis mine.)
Rather than challenge the study's results on merit, Obama and Pelosi wasted no time demonizing the health insurance industry with hyperbole and rhetoric. And then Pelosi lowered the boom, expressing "tremendous interest" in revoking the industry's decades-old antitrust exemption. This proved to be no empty threat, as the Democrat-run House Judiciary Committee promptly passed a bill to do exactly that.
Now, curtailing the health insurance industry's limited exemption from federal antitrust laws may or may not be good policy. But given the circumstances, this is beside the point.
The real issue is that Obama and Pelosi are using the power of Congress to muzzle the speech of a private sector industry, First Amendment be damned. It couldn't be more blatant. Stay quiet about their disaster of a health plan, and Obama and Pelosi will leave you alone. Point out how their plan will actually make matters worse, and Obama and Pelosi will hit you back with new laws that hurt your business.
To listen to the rhetoric of Obama, Pelosi, and their far-left followers, the First Amendment right to free speech is a sacred cow among sacred cows -- so much so that even dunking a crucifix in urine or smearing animal dung on the Virgin Mary is to be protected, lest we end up on a slippery slope toward Marxist-style censorship.
But when the subject turns from fecal art to a private sector industry conducting an analytical study on the costs of the Democrats' government-run health care plan -- well, that's like yelling "boondoggle!" in a crowded Capitol. That sort of free speech simply can't be tolerated, and certainly can't be protected.
Read Full Story at americanthinker.com »
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RTHTGakaRoland
“…man is not free unless government is limited. There's a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law ...
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Striker1012 weeks, 4 days ago
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Why are we all even being forced to go thru this bed of horsefeathers. Socialism and communism and collectivism of all sorts have been dismissed as uncompetitive for at least a century. This isn't about healthcare at all, it is about Force. Hear Nancy?
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MeanMrMustard2 weeks, 4 days ago
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So you think conservatives are defenders of free speech?
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http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle_blog/2009/nov/... -
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RTHTGakaRoland2 weeks, 4 days ago
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Striker,
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Their scheme is analogous to the market share concept. Yes, their hard swing of America toward collectivism will diminish our overall power and wealth; but the share under the control of the Obama Regime and their cronies will increase enough to exceed their loss due to the overall loss, achieving a net gain for the Regime.
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greenmac2 weeks, 4 days ago
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Striker and RHT... you make a lovely couple. What exactly is "your" agenda. Do you really understand where your government is at this point in history? You both ramble on about socialism ... without understanding where and how social programs fit into today's societies. It would be very hard to find a country that does not have social programs. You both like to toss the word around and try to get a rise out of those that know better... or maybe a few followers that, like yourselves" don't you know enough about the various forms of governments to be able to differentiate between true socialism and a democracy that has social programs running within their society. You are using your buzz words to creates fear...much like communism was used to support invasions of countries in the past.
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I find this fear mongering and lying a disgrace...,. you are doing yourselves and those around you a great disservice by doing so.-
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Striker1012 weeks, 4 days ago
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When you find a way to do collectivism without Force, that will stop some of it's disgrace. Force is so totally immoral that I, for one, intend to do your ilk the greatest disservice possible.
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Your money is yours, do with it what you will. My money is mine, and I do the same. Any problem you have with that is your problem. I'm not taking you to raise.
When you and your commie buddies have finished off what's left of America, you will have to find your own way out of the abyss. -
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truthiness2 weeks, 4 days ago
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the free marketers should be glad the anti-trust exemption is being repealed.
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although I wonder how they will justify the "exchange" if they cant have a trust. pelosi may be shooting herself in the foot.
as to free speech. if they said, we will put you in jail or fine you for saying that, that would be would be a violation of the first amendment. but removing preferential legislation from the books is simply strategy. it does not violate the first to change current legislation. -
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mesodude2 weeks, 4 days ago
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They just want the insurance lobby to stop spending hundreds of millions of dollars on anti-health care lies and propaganda whining that they can't handle competition and need tort reform...blah blah. That sounds like a reasonable request to me. ;-P
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Tasine2 weeks, 4 days ago
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Now - to address the article:
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FTA: A majority of American voters (53 percent) agree that Pelosi is trying to use the power of congress to limit the free speech of private industry. Only 39 percent disagree. Furthermore, 55 percent of Independent voters also agree, while just 39 percent disagree. Majorities of Hispanic voters (52 percent), union members (51 percent), and small business owners (58 percent) agree as well.
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I am aware that the defense of libs is to attack the intelligence of all who disagree with them, people who have some knowledge, or to call them names. I have to assume you will assail the author of this comment. However, assuming it just might be true, don't you feel a touch out of it? It seems to me Striker is the only one here who thinks like most of the nation and the rest of you just want to argue without anything to argue with.
As to Striker's allegation that collectivism must use force, no one could logically argue against his point. Our own government, not yet quite socialist, operates under of force of law - if you don't believe me, try cheating on your taxes. If caught you will see the force with which agents will take your money no matter what else you may need it for. These people you are supporting, Pelosi et al WRITE THE LAWS THAT ENABLE THEM TO FORCE YOU TO DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS! Can you or I do that? NO, WE CAN'T - IT'S ILLEGAL.
Until you recognize force when it hits you, you aren't much of an analyst, commentator, voter,or otherwise knowledgeable person. -
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Klarissa2 weeks, 3 days ago
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I like the comment on another submission, If this health care plan so wonderful why do you have to fine them big bucks if they don't join.
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I would think that congress and government employees would leap at the chance to partake in this improvement in our health care.
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