This really chaps me! And Americans had better wake up - NOW! Barack Obama has given his seal of approval on the CMS' gag order issued against Humana and others. This gag order is to stop Humana from warning people of a possible loss of benefits which was corroborated by the Congressional Budget Office, a non-partisan statistical office. A gag order for speaking the truth? GOD HELP US!
Would you ever believe that a President of the United States would uphold an obvious violation of First Amendment rights just to silence objections to his pet projects, particularly since the opposition is revealing the truth about the project. This is the type of stuff you do when you know you're wrong but you don't want anyone pointing that out. No one has yet been able to tell where we're going to get the money to pay for the program.
So now, Obama, personally, has wielded the power to silence them through threats of lawsuits and whatever other methods his thugs can devise. That is not only unconstitutional, it is evil. If he gets away with this, (that is, if we let him get away with it!), we are done as a nation which values its citizens' personal freedoms protected under its Constitution. Allowing this illegal gag order to stand will set a precedent that before long will become the norm and very quickly reshape the United States into a nation without any individual rights remaining.
We just have got to do something about this. If our Congress won't stand up for us, we as individuals have to rise up again as individuals did in the 1770's and say, "ENOUGH!" Truth is, we're not being represented adequately by our Congress. We really have no representation. Therefore, we cannot sit idly by and allow our freedoms to be stripped away one at a time, layer by layer. If we don't wake up and do something now, in the blink of an eye, we will wake up and we won't recognize this country anymore.
Whether Humana intends to ignore or obey the gag order is not known to me. But regardless, I would urge everyone who reads this blog or the others I've written on this subject (found below) to send the link for this blog to your friends or copy the blogs and email them, or write friends and family and tell them about what is going on. Make them aware of how really dangerous this action by our President and his regime is. And let's get a sea of objection to this abhorrent action going with waves so strong they reach the White House and flood them with opposition.
Don't wait. If you value your basic freedom of speech, do it now while you still have the freedom of speech. Do it before you get yourgag order to cease and desist. I am, as you should be, extremely concerned that this is a but test case, and if this is not stopped right now, the next gag order is coming - to you and me!
Showing posts with label Humana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Humana. Show all posts
Friday, September 25, 2009
ObamaCare Is Now BaucuSCARE...
BaucuSCARE.... I enjoy good puns, and this one would be amusing if it didn't cut into the heart of the matter. Obamacare is becoming Baucus "scare" (a.k.a. BaucusCare). A former aide of Baucus' who is now in the Health and Human Services Central Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is the one who is actually pushing this issue against Humana on behalf of Senator Baucus.
Judge Andrew Napolitano, one of my favorite Libertarians and who knows our Constitution very well, says that the US Constitution recognizes a corporation's right to free speech is the same as an individual's. Thus, corporations can speak as freely about ObamaCare or BaucuSCARE as they want. He suggests that the CMS should essentially take their gag order and rip it up because it’s absurd, and he also feels that it should be an open and shut case for Humana if CMS pursues it.
Judge Napolitano said that the taxpayers will probably end up paying for the prosecutors' portion of this frivolous lawsuit if it goes forward. Since it's such a basic Constitutional issue that is under attack, I am inclined to believe it would be worth it to spend some of my tax dollars on a case like this where once again our Constitutionally-granted individual rights can be validated in our courts and clearly establish a precedent. I would just consider it another strike against the fascist philosophy of the Obama Administration.
At last report, the government (CMS) is still using threats of legal actions against Humana and others to squelch any opposition to Senator Baucus' bill. And why? Because basically that bill is all that's keeping the Obama Administration from fundamentally changing healthcare for all Americans. But censorship isn’t coming only from the CMS office, as evidenced in a televised video of a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Baucus' bill yesterday. Rep. Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona was trying to make a point during his allotted time for debate and was repeatedly interrupted by Chairman Baucus in an obvious attempt to run out Kyl's allotted time. So, it is politics as usual? Indeed!
The government has taken control of the biggest banks, the automobile industry, and healthcare is another huge slice of the economic pie it wants to control. So, I guess it is no wonder that Senator Baucus has reason to try to squelch any debate on his healthcare plan. However, the longer that the bill takes to pass, the more truth comes out and the more Moderates and Conservatives have reason to object to it. The summer town halls meetings on healthcare have ended, but the resistance must remain strong until the questions are answered and the right solutions for reform can be brought to the forefront for discussion.
What has got the Democrats such as Baucus on the defensive to the point that they won't allow any discussion from the opposition is that the Conservatives, and even Moderates, are finally (when given the chance) asking some of the questions that the people in the town halls from this summer asked. Some answers are coming out which reveal some real negatives about the proposed plans that most Americans don't like. The Democrats' reluctance to discuss these issues is obvious validity to the concerns of the people which need to be addressed before there is any vote on the proposed bills.
Determined Obamacrats are watching their poll numbers going down in most cases. They are growing fearful of losing their seats in 2010 and 2012! GOOD! And the Republican may use any "success" in this healthcare reform battle as a "tool" in their attempt to regain the Senate, and/or the House in 2010 and 2012. But they need to worry as well. At those times, the issue of people's trust of their representation will be what matters most. But what is important right now is that they are asking the hard questions that have needed to be answered all along.
We know that the Obama Administration's strategy is to overwhelm the system in their efforts to push through their agendas. And while healthcare is an extremely important issue, and they're pushing for all they're worth, they are waging wars in other areas. We can't be distracted from other important battles going on other fronts such as the preservation of our first amendment rights. We need to respond quickly and decisively, and keep the pressures on until Congress listens and represents the will of the people.
Judge Andrew Napolitano, one of my favorite Libertarians and who knows our Constitution very well, says that the US Constitution recognizes a corporation's right to free speech is the same as an individual's. Thus, corporations can speak as freely about ObamaCare or BaucuSCARE as they want. He suggests that the CMS should essentially take their gag order and rip it up because it’s absurd, and he also feels that it should be an open and shut case for Humana if CMS pursues it.
Judge Napolitano said that the taxpayers will probably end up paying for the prosecutors' portion of this frivolous lawsuit if it goes forward. Since it's such a basic Constitutional issue that is under attack, I am inclined to believe it would be worth it to spend some of my tax dollars on a case like this where once again our Constitutionally-granted individual rights can be validated in our courts and clearly establish a precedent. I would just consider it another strike against the fascist philosophy of the Obama Administration.
At last report, the government (CMS) is still using threats of legal actions against Humana and others to squelch any opposition to Senator Baucus' bill. And why? Because basically that bill is all that's keeping the Obama Administration from fundamentally changing healthcare for all Americans. But censorship isn’t coming only from the CMS office, as evidenced in a televised video of a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Baucus' bill yesterday. Rep. Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona was trying to make a point during his allotted time for debate and was repeatedly interrupted by Chairman Baucus in an obvious attempt to run out Kyl's allotted time. So, it is politics as usual? Indeed!
The government has taken control of the biggest banks, the automobile industry, and healthcare is another huge slice of the economic pie it wants to control. So, I guess it is no wonder that Senator Baucus has reason to try to squelch any debate on his healthcare plan. However, the longer that the bill takes to pass, the more truth comes out and the more Moderates and Conservatives have reason to object to it. The summer town halls meetings on healthcare have ended, but the resistance must remain strong until the questions are answered and the right solutions for reform can be brought to the forefront for discussion.
What has got the Democrats such as Baucus on the defensive to the point that they won't allow any discussion from the opposition is that the Conservatives, and even Moderates, are finally (when given the chance) asking some of the questions that the people in the town halls from this summer asked. Some answers are coming out which reveal some real negatives about the proposed plans that most Americans don't like. The Democrats' reluctance to discuss these issues is obvious validity to the concerns of the people which need to be addressed before there is any vote on the proposed bills.
Determined Obamacrats are watching their poll numbers going down in most cases. They are growing fearful of losing their seats in 2010 and 2012! GOOD! And the Republican may use any "success" in this healthcare reform battle as a "tool" in their attempt to regain the Senate, and/or the House in 2010 and 2012. But they need to worry as well. At those times, the issue of people's trust of their representation will be what matters most. But what is important right now is that they are asking the hard questions that have needed to be answered all along.
We know that the Obama Administration's strategy is to overwhelm the system in their efforts to push through their agendas. And while healthcare is an extremely important issue, and they're pushing for all they're worth, they are waging wars in other areas. We can't be distracted from other important battles going on other fronts such as the preservation of our first amendment rights. We need to respond quickly and decisively, and keep the pressures on until Congress listens and represents the will of the people.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Obama Administration Censorship on Healthcare
Okay, I mentioned in my earlier article today that two bits of information from this morning’s news popped my eyes open. The second thing didn’t make my feet hit the floor like the first one did, but certainly raised my blood pressure. It’s the old double-standard…. which I abhor… that is so alive and well in the Obama administration. For instance, the left claiming that any attempt to silence them is a violation of freedom of speech, while they (now that they are in control) are trying to do just that to their opposition.
Recently, private insurer Humana Inc. sent out a letter to its senior customers who were enrolled in the company’s Medicare Advantage plan. In essence, this letter was advising them that under Senator Max Baucus’ Plan, which includes billions in cut to Medicare and Medicaid, their benefits could be in danger of being eliminated if this legislation passed. When Baucus got wind of this letter, whiney-baby Baucus got the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to try to keep Humana from sending these out letters to its customers.
The CMS in essence issued a gag order and instructed Humana to stop expressing “certain opinions” about healthcare reform. From a letter from the CMS to Humana on this matter: “Please be advised that we take this matter very seriously and, based upon the findings of our investigation, will pursue compliance and enforcement actions….” CMS has also prohibited any other private insurers from corresponding in like manner with their customers. However, AARP, which sponsors a Medicare Advantage program in addition to its Medigap policies, was somehow (mysteriously) exempted. (Remember there was some “nuzzling” between AARP and the White House a short time ago which resulted in a “Kumbaya moment” between them! Something about an endorsement, only it wasn’t an endorsement when people started tearing up their AARP membership cards and cancelling their memberships! Hmmm.)
Following the letter from CMS to Humana, the secretary of Health and Human Services began an investigation of Humana with the sole purpose of intimidating the company. They further ordered Humana “to end immediately all such mailings to beneficiaries and to remove any related materials directed to Medicare enrollees from your website”.
Here you go! Another example of Chicago-style politics and strong-arm tactics! Dirty politics at its worst! The Obama administration is apparently continuing with its strategy of thuggary by attacking the first amendment rights of anyone or any organization who disagrees with his policies, in particular Obamacare. It just so happens that Humana is one of the latest of the Obama Administration’s victims.
Talk about the AUDACITY of one individual, or that individual’s machine, to try to strip the rights of a company to fully inform their customers of possible changes in their benefits. Baucus’ bill already has over 500 amendments. No one knows where these cuts will come from, but many sources have said that billions will be cut from Medicare and Medicaid, and in particular Medicare Advantage, including the Congressional Budget Office. So, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility for Humana’s senior customers to lose some of their benefits.
This kind of censorship, this violation of one of our basic liberties, has got to stop. Americans believe in their freedom to express their opinions, whether as an individual or a private corporation. That freedom is still in existence – at least for now!
Recently, private insurer Humana Inc. sent out a letter to its senior customers who were enrolled in the company’s Medicare Advantage plan. In essence, this letter was advising them that under Senator Max Baucus’ Plan, which includes billions in cut to Medicare and Medicaid, their benefits could be in danger of being eliminated if this legislation passed. When Baucus got wind of this letter, whiney-baby Baucus got the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to try to keep Humana from sending these out letters to its customers.
The CMS in essence issued a gag order and instructed Humana to stop expressing “certain opinions” about healthcare reform. From a letter from the CMS to Humana on this matter: “Please be advised that we take this matter very seriously and, based upon the findings of our investigation, will pursue compliance and enforcement actions….” CMS has also prohibited any other private insurers from corresponding in like manner with their customers. However, AARP, which sponsors a Medicare Advantage program in addition to its Medigap policies, was somehow (mysteriously) exempted. (Remember there was some “nuzzling” between AARP and the White House a short time ago which resulted in a “Kumbaya moment” between them! Something about an endorsement, only it wasn’t an endorsement when people started tearing up their AARP membership cards and cancelling their memberships! Hmmm.)
Following the letter from CMS to Humana, the secretary of Health and Human Services began an investigation of Humana with the sole purpose of intimidating the company. They further ordered Humana “to end immediately all such mailings to beneficiaries and to remove any related materials directed to Medicare enrollees from your website”.
Here you go! Another example of Chicago-style politics and strong-arm tactics! Dirty politics at its worst! The Obama administration is apparently continuing with its strategy of thuggary by attacking the first amendment rights of anyone or any organization who disagrees with his policies, in particular Obamacare. It just so happens that Humana is one of the latest of the Obama Administration’s victims.
Talk about the AUDACITY of one individual, or that individual’s machine, to try to strip the rights of a company to fully inform their customers of possible changes in their benefits. Baucus’ bill already has over 500 amendments. No one knows where these cuts will come from, but many sources have said that billions will be cut from Medicare and Medicaid, and in particular Medicare Advantage, including the Congressional Budget Office. So, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility for Humana’s senior customers to lose some of their benefits.
This kind of censorship, this violation of one of our basic liberties, has got to stop. Americans believe in their freedom to express their opinions, whether as an individual or a private corporation. That freedom is still in existence – at least for now!
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