Revisiting Obamacare

Opinion

October 11, 2012

Revisiting Obamacare

HARPING

FOR THE DAILY SOUTHERNER Bob Harper The Daily Southerner Thu Oct 11, 2012, 04:41 PM EDT

TARBORO — Obamacare was passed with the strong support of the Democrats and brilliant statement of Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi who said, "We must pass it to find out what's in it." Of course, the bill was about 13,000 pages long, while both the Old Testament and New Testament of the Bible is just over 1,000 pages. In any event I'm sure no member of Congress ever read all 13,000 pages. Is this the way we should legislate laws in this country?

In many ways this bill is designed to drive private insurance companies out of business and to bring about a national healthcare system similar to that in Canada and some nations in Europe. This bill calls for an Independent Payment Advisory Board which will have the power to make almost unlimited decisions about what kind of healthcare we will receive.

There will be 15 members on this advisory board who will be appointed (not elected). They are to come up with ways to reduce the cost of Medicare. Whatever this politically appointed board comes up with must be acted on by Congress by Aug. 15 of each year. Suppose Congress does not act in a manner that achieves the level of cost containment called for, (remember, it's difficult for Congress to agree on anything) then what?

If Congress does not act in the manner dictated, the recommendations of the Independent Payment Advisory Board are no longer recommendations but they become the law. All this occurs without congressional approval or being signed into law by whoever is president at the time.

President Obama says that the IPAB can't make decisions about what medical treatments might be given to the patient. However, since the all-powerful IPAB can control payments to hospitals and doctors this, in itself, controls what medical measures may be used to treat the patient or to ultimately save one's life?

However, according to President Obama, Congress can repeal IPAB, but only during a seven-month time frame in 2117. Congress has rarely been able to do anything in seven months, and again according to Obama's terms, any repeal would call for a three-fifths majority in both the House and the Senate. And, if congress can't achieve this, according to Obama, they are banned from ever altering IPAB proposals.

If this isn't a dictatorial policy, given birth by Nancy Pelosi, and a Democratic controlled congress in 2010, I don't know what would be. Couple this with an Imperial President directing laws from the White House, and it's hard to tell if we still have some sort of democracy operating in this country or not.

Bottom line seems to be that we now have a non-elected advisory board (the IPAB) that can actually make laws. It has the power to dictate what the powers of future Congresses will be. The citizens of this nation are being told we have to accept all of these Obamacare orders, no matter what we the people want. This is because a wonderful advisory board has been established to handle these things and keep us ignorant citizens from having to worry about making our own decisions.

There's no question that something has to be done to rein in the rising cost of Medicare, but the dictates of Obama or some all-powerful advisory board is not the answer. Experts have pointed out the major problem with Medicare is the amount of fraud that is taking place and the outrageous cost of this fraud. We are also advised that computer programs can be made available to red-flag these frauds and save enormous sums of money. Let's do it.

IPAB must be stopped from making laws, which has been described as being "the most anti-constitutional measure ever to pass Congress."

This subject was brought up strongly by Mitt Romney in the first Presidential debate and caused Obama to fumble all over the place, trying to come up with logical answers to address this 800-pound gorilla of a problem.

He failed.

Under Obamacare even more income will be taken away from primary-care doctors who, in many cases, are losing money by taking Medicare and Medicaid patients. It is estimated that the income of many doctors could drop by 15 percent to 20 percent. How many of us would like for the government to dictate this type of salary cut for us?

(Bob Harper is a local resident who writes a column of general interest.)

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Opinion

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The American diplomatic mission at Benghazi, in Libya, was attacked on Sept. 11, 2012 by a heavily armed group. The attack began during the night at a compound that is meant to protect the consulate building. A second assault in the early morning the next day targeted a nearby CIA annex in a different diplomatic compound. Four people were killed including U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. Ten others were injured.

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As I grew up, my first cousins — a group of us that have simply been referred to as “The Cousins” would often joke that when we died, we knew it would be as the result of a heart attack. That’s the history of the Walker family and my Dad and his seven brothers and sisters, as heir parents had, died of heart-related issues.
But along the way, something else happened, Cousins Joyce, Dudley, Don, Kenneth, Howard and Jimmy all died after a courageous battle with cancer.
Dudley and Don and Jimmy and Howard were brothers. But we were much more than cousins. We were a true Southern family in that no matter how far away we might move, we always wound up back at Granny Walker’s.

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May 1, 2013
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Princeville, the oldest African American community in North America, through the years has had many hurdles and set backs since it was established.Yet with its resilience, it has some how, through some miracles has always bounced back to stay the course of normalcy as best as it could envision. Yet, we must be ever so reminded that our earthly job of being responsible and accountable for and to ourselves shall never cease, until our journey is finished.
This beckoning call for volunteers is being directed to all the local residents who are concerned and aware of the deplorable existing condition of the cemetery on N.C. Highway 111.
This appeal is specifically for churches, community organizations, and all concerned able body men, women and young folks to respond. The purpose of the tentative meeting is to organize a special committee of volunteers within the community, to assumed the responsibilities and duties of maintaining the cemetery. This is where our deceased loved ones are laid to rest and one day for sure some or most of us, if it’s God's will, shall lay rest in this cemetery. It's about pride and cultural respect and decency that we the living owe our beloved ones who's gone over.
Please call or respond to the contact information below and we'll get in touch and arrange a special meeting to start this project. It's no secret that it's an eyesore and a reflection of what we collectively think of ourselves as well as about of our deceased. This mindset can change. With the weather changing, the grass will be growing. Once again we'll be faced with the cosmetic upkeep. There are some simple tasks we as concerned residents can come together as a concerned unit/group to maintain the appearance of our cemetery.
Calling all concerned men and women and children residing in historic Princeville.
Those interested please call (252) 823-3740

Milton Bullock
Native of Princeville

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor,
Thursday, May 2, is the National Day of Prayer all over the United States. I would like to challenge every minister of the gospel to bring a group from his or her church and meet us on the Town Square across from Edgecombe County Courthouse at 11:45 p.m. Thursday for prayer and unity.
After looking through the phonebook and newspaper church page, there appears to be more than 300 churches in Edgecombe County of multiple faiths. Yet each year we barely have 25 people respond to the advertising for National Day of Prayer.
Prayer has no respective person and does not practice segregation, yet the church segregates itself every Sunday morning. As a blood bought believer in Jesus Christ, I ask all who believes that Jesus was born of virgin, died on the cross and rose on the third day to meet me with an expressive tongue of prayer for our local, state and national leaders. Are you up for the challenge.

Viola Harris

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We Salute...
Each Friday, The Daily Southerner will recognize individuals, groups and businesses in Edgecombe County who have gone “above and beyond” in their effort to make this a better place to work, play and raise a family.

April 12, 2013
We Salute...
• ELLIS “BUDDY” HOOKS, on being named to receive the BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN AWARD.
Hooks will be officially recognized on May 14.
• ALL PARTICIPANTS in the 76th EASTERN CAROLINA 4-H LIVESTOCK SHOW, held this week at the East Carolina Agriculture and Educational Center.
• Members of the TARBORO HIGH BOOSTERS CLUB, employees of the TOWN OF TARBORO, members of the GOLDEN K KIWANIS CLUB and all others involved in the successul staging of the 20th TARBORO EASTER CLASSIC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT, Despite chilly, wet weather on Thursday, today’s weather is forecast to improve to the point of being a perfect day at the ballpark.
• Edgecombe County businesses recognized for their efforts to promote a safe work place, including Keihin Carolina System Technology, Inc., Air System Components, ABB, Inc., Piedmont Natural Gas, Tarboro Resource Center and QVC, Rocky Mount , Edgecombe-Martin County Electric Membership Corp., Hillshire Brands-Sara Lee Bakery and N.C. Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Solutions, Tarboro Branch Office.
• LT. FLEMING THOMPSON, a 2005graduate of Tarboro High School, on being named the United States Air Force’s 23rd Bomb Squadron NAVIGATOR OF THE YEAR.

• • •

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April 3, 2013
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