And The Demonization On Health Care Gets Nuttier And Nuttier

How is DoNotResuscitate or an OK for hospice a forced suicide ordered by those ghoulish Demonocrats? Pat is just blowing smoke to push his exposure as a paleocon. His writings over at AmericanConservative aren't as looney as his posturing on TV.

Republicans are the only ones worried about tax money. They are the ones that will eventually kill people over it.

I'm trying to imagine a scenario where a team of sharp lawyers couldn't be the checks and balances for this worst-case fear scenario? Imagine Grandma Stickle having been coerced to die when she was only in for bunion surgery, or some other procedure that she might have survived. They'll put monetary values on each day Granny Stickle might have been projected to live. There will be a settlement and a precident set.

The usual American way.

You can see the TV commercials now: "Have you or a loved one lost a family member to undue government-health coercion? You may be entitled to a settlement..."

I don't usually say this but lawyers may save the day..lol..

From WaPo Charles Lane........

@@Though not mandatory, as some on the right have claimed, the consultations envisioned in Section 1233 aren't quite "purely voluntary," as Rep. Sander M. Levin (D-Mich.) asserts. To me, "purely voluntary" means "not unless the patient requests one." Section 1233, however, lets doctors initiate the chat and gives them an incentive -- money -- to do so. Indeed, that's an incentive to insist.

Patients may refuse without penalty, but many will bow to white-coated authority. Once they're in the meeting, the bill does permit "formulation" of a plug-pulling order right then and there. So when Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) denies that Section 1233 would "place senior citizens in situations where they feel pressured to sign end-of-life directives that they would not otherwise sign," I don't think he's being realistic.

What's more, Section 1233 dictates, at some length, the content of the consultation. The doctor "shall" discuss "advanced care planning, including key questions and considerations, important steps, and suggested people to talk to"; "an explanation of . . . living wills and durable powers of attorney, and their uses" (even though these are legal, not medical, instruments); and "a list of national and State-specific resources to assist consumers and their families." The doctor "shall" explain that Medicare pays for hospice care (hint, hint).

Admittedly, this script is vague and possibly unenforceable. What are "key questions"? Who belongs on "a list" of helpful "resources"? The Roman Catholic Church? Jack Kevorkian?

Ideally, the delicate decisions about how to manage life's end would be made in a setting that is neutral in both appearance and fact. Yes, it's good to have a doctor's perspective. But Section 1233 goes beyond facilitating doctor input to preferring it. Indeed, the measure would have an interested party -- the government -- recruit doctors to sell the elderly on living wills, hospice care and their associated providers, professions and organizations. You don't have to be a right-wing wacko to question that approach.

As it happens, I have a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care. I'm glad I do. I drew them up based on publicly available medical information, in consultation with my family and a lawyer. No authority figure got paid by federal bean-counters to influence me. I have a hunch I'm not the only one who would rather do it that way. @@

Pat Buchanan is an old bigot and the election of a black president has sent him over the edge just like the rest of the birthers and deathers.

The best McLaughlin group I ever saw was Saturday Night Live's rendition with Dana Carvey, John Goodman and Jan Hooks et al... Sidesplittingly funny..lol..

Maybe next he'll be saying they're going to force us to make Soylent Green out of our elderly?

Why is Pat Buchanan still talking? Why are networks inviting that beady eyed racist on the airwaves?

I missed, as usual, the McLaughlin group yesterday, now I'm glad I did.