Do people do what you expect or inspect?
You don't have to live long to know the answer to that one. And upon inspection, we are finding out that the country got sold a bill of goods in 08.
Think first about healthcare.
#1. WE WERE TOLD..."We will cover the uninsured, but no one's costs will go up". Oh, pshaw! Did we really believe that one? How can you cover more and it cost less? Congress passed (then rescinded, now chewing on again) a half-trillion dollar cut in doctor reimbursement to Medicare. Remember when folks thought you were a demagogue if you said the word "death panels"? Well, of course that's not what they are called, but that's what is happening. Know that Dr. Berwick that the president has just brought in the back way (without confirmation hearings) to run Medicare/Medicaid? What is he known for? Rationing. During the healthcare debate last year, where was he cost cutting? Dr. Berwick was focused on the biggest costs to the system...the elderly and the chronically ill. You betcha.
#2. WE WERE TOLD..."Like your doc? Keep him." Yeah, Mr. Obama. Love to do just that. But unfortunately, my doc retired rather than play games with you. Why would they want to go to school half their lives to make whatever salary the government decides, and get paid whenever the government decides to make the payment?
#3. WE WERE TOLD..."You can choose. Keep the coverage you have, or go with the coverage we offer." Back in 09 I wrote a piece about this called "Words and Meanings" (you can put that title in the search box of this blog). That has already happened in one of our states. Hawaii tried to initiate universal healthcare for children. What happened? Everyone signed up for the "free"/private insurance tanked/the government couldn't sustain the cost/children's healthcare went out of business.
That's a taste of healthcare. What about some of the promises made?
#4. WE WERE TOLD..."Closing Guantanamo within a year." Still open.
#5. WE WERE TOLD..."I'll end the war by July 2011." Setting a date was idiotic.
#6. WE WERE TOLD..."I'll have the most open and honest, transparent administration." (Please see #7) "I'll broadcast negotiations on CSpan so the people can see the process." (Not.) "When a bill comes to my desk, the public will have five days to look online to find out what's in it before I sign it." (Uh, huh.) "Sunshine is the greatest disinfectant and when I'm president you will know who benefits from legislation." (Unions) "If you have a better idea, I'll be glad to listen to you." (But then even Congressional Republicans couldn't get into the meetings.)
#7. WE WERE TOLD..."We were on top of the oil spill from Day One." There's no need to illustrate the obvious, except for a look at the moratorium. That process was a small snapshot of this transparent administration.
When Obama's Interior Secretary Salazar proposed a moritorium in the Gulf, he attached an endorsement by experts. Trouble was...the experts didn't endorse a moritorium...and they quickly corrected the record. Here is a selection copied verbatum from the judge when he overturned the moritorium.
Much to the government’s discomfort and this Court’s uneasiness,
the Summary also states that “the recommendations contained in this report
have been peer-reviewed by seven experts
identified by the National Academy of Engineering.”
As the plaintiffs, and the experts themselves, pointedly observe,
this statement was misleading. The experts charge
it was a “misrepresentation.” It was factually incorrect.
The judge sez HE'S uneasy? Well, so are we. Someone has to watch these transparent guys 24/7.
You have readers fatigue yet? I'm tired and I haven't even gotten to the most important issue, the economy. But you are getting the picture. Some of these (like #6 and #7) might be written off to learners curve or campaign promises. But most of the other things were dependent on his veracity, which this growing body of evidence suggests is pathological.
So when you hear the president say "Look, let me be clear about this"...then you might want to try to imagine just the opposite.
Do people do what you expect or inspect?
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