RSSHealth care reform plan draws local protesters
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- A group of people who disagree with the Democratic Party version of health care reform gathered at 40th and Summitview avenues in Yakima on Saturday morning to protest the proposed legislation.
About two dozen people attended the event, which began at 8 a.m. and lasted about two and a half hours.
Protesters stood on all four corners of the intersection, carrying signs and waving American flags.
Among the protesters were people affiliated with the Grassroots of Yakima Valley, Minutemen and 9-12 Project.
The goal was to raise awareness and encourage people to express their views on the subject, according to one of the protesters, 71-year-old David Welch of Yakima. He recently joined the 9-12 Project and said he was pleased with the turnout at Saturday's event.
"There was a lot of honks and waving," he said. "There's a few that disagreed with us, but that's fine. That's normal. There's a lot that agreed with us on the matter."
One of his main complaints about the proposed health care reform is the speed at which it's taking place.
"They're rushing it too fast," Welch said, adding the document totals about 1,000 pages and he wants to make sure it receives proper scrutiny.
So does Keith Baugher, another Yakima senior and a member of the Grassroots group.
"The common people like me ... they don't want something like this pushed through," Baugher said. "This is a way we feel we can get out, point out and show the rest of the people our feelings."
Grassroots member Frank Warren, 81, of Yakima said he would like to see more protesters next time.
"To protest the socialization of our health care, that's the reason I was out there," he said. "I have a good health plan, and I don't want to lose it.
"I thought we should have more people being concerned."
This was the second protest the three groups have held in the past two months. The groups held another protest in downtown Yakima in July.
And they will likely hold another one soon, Welch said.
"We need to keep it in front of the public because it's a very important subject," he said.
Meantime, he encouraged people to contact their representatives.
"Call them up or e-mail them and let them know how you feel, whether you're for it or against it."
Grassroots member Frank Warren, 81, of Yakima said he would like to see more protesters next time. "To protest the socialization of our health care, that's the reason I was out there," he said. "I have a good health plan, and I don't want to lose it."
That's fine Frank, but what about all the people who don't have a good health plan - when did caring about people besides oneself become socialism?
One other point - there will be ample time to review the proposed healthcare legislation during the upcoming congressional recess. Contact your state senators to find out where you can get a copy.
YakRob wrote: "...when did caring about people besides oneself become socialism?"
This country has been doing exactly that for many decades now... sometimes good and sometimes terribly. What gets my dander up is the lack of checks and balances on many of the programs which allow loafers to thrive.
Citizens that have put 40-50-60 years of "sweat equity" (by faithfully paying their taxes and dues) into programs designed to protect them in their later years being denied basic benefits while loafers who haven't established this sweat equity or that are in this country illegally come away with benefits that they shouldn't be entitled to.
Don't even get me started on how we treat our veterans who have given to this nation during times of need and then are faced with shoddy medical care and benefits as they progress through life's rigors.
I just think many of us are getting plain tired of America's slogan of "Bring us your huddled masses to this land of the free handouts." The taxio-economic structure of this country has flipped upside down and there just are not as many sweat equity citizens to go around any longer to pay the bills of the loafers.
Slow down, show us the checks and balances of health care reform and then be prepared to faithfully enforce those... maybe more citizens would then trust the government to do right by them.
YakRob:
Here's the document: http://docs.house.gov/edlabor/AAHCA-BillText-071409.pdf
"...when did caring about people besides oneself become socialism?"
Well, it's not; however, this is much more than just caring, YakRob.
According to Dictionary.com socialism is a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
For me, this is the problem. Why should I work hard when my neighbor is sitting about all day long for the same reimbursement? It's just not who I am! I care for my neighbor, and will help, but I expect him to put in his share as well. I understand that we all have limitations and some just work harder than others, but it's all work...not the laziness that socialism and communism breed. My two cents.
Better we should pay 50% more of GDP and Per Capita dollars than any other industrial nation - twice what many pay. Even the Socialist Scandinavian countries pay 1/3 to 1/2 less. We pay 15.2% of GDP, the next highest is Switzerland at 11.5%.
OK, so we have the best health care in the world, right?
Actually for all we spend we rank 37th in the World Health Organization's ranking of the world's health systems - right between Slovinia and Costa Rica - just one step above Cuba (ouch!). UK ranks 20th, Canada 30th. France #1 and Italy #2.
Maybe our problem is not socialism at all but a horribly dysfunctional and corrupt system. Or maybe we just don't deserve better.
One would think fiscal conservatives would be screaming their butts off.
http://micpohling.wordpress.com/2007/03/19/19/
http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthranks.html
ConchRepublic wrote:
"Don't even get me started on how we treat our veterans who have given to this nation during times of need and then are faced with shoddy medical care and benefits as they progress through life's rigors."
How do you explain this headline from American Forces Press Service?
VA Outranks Private Sector in Health Care Patient Satisfaction
You can read the story here: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=14560
I guess we shouldn't rush into anything. After all, we've only been talking about healthcare reform since Teddy Roosevelt's time.
Tex: Thanks so much for the updated information and the URL. It truly is encouraging news although it only relates to the actual inpatient care of our vets. My views are based on personal friends that are apparently in the 17% of not being satisfied and by witnessing firsthand the red tape often accompanying their attempts at seeking treatment, medications and other necessities. Again... thanks!
Report ViolationThe frist thing we need to do to reform health care is to get rid of fraud, waste & coruption. then we can talk about reform, but never a govt run health care system, because they cannot run anything right & it would cost waaaay to much, & we do not have enough Dr's or nurses to treat the people we have now let alone another million or two.
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