The Supposed Audacity of Hope (Del.-elect Patrick Hope…that is)
The Virginia General Assembly starts session next Wednesday, and we are already beginning to see fireworks from a Delegate-elect. Recently, a friend of mine, Steve Bierfeldt (you may remember him from a TSA scuffle in Missouri), wrote an email to his newly elected House of Delegates member, Patrick Hope, to ask whether or not he would be supporting Delegate Bob Marshall’s bill to empower Virginians to not be forced into buying mandated health insurance. Hope had the audacity to respond sharply to Bierfeldt. Just read the exchange and be shocked by the response. I thought those we elected to serve us are actually supposed to do just that. I guess this does not apply to the 47th House District.
From: Steve Bierfeldt
Subject: HB 10
To: Patrick Hope
Date: Wednesday, January 6, 2010, 7:58 PMMr. Hope
Will you be co-sponsoring or getting on board with Delegate Bob Marshall’s bill to empower Virginia residents to not be forced to buy mandated health insurance.
- Steve
On Jan 6, 2010, at 3:11 PM, Patrick Hope wrote:Steve – no, health insurance should be affordable and mandatory. Mandates will bring down the cost for people like you and me and you should be supportive. This will also make it affordable. Everyone, individuals and businesses, could use a little more savings in this economic environment.
Patrick
From: Steve Bierfeldt
Subject: Re: HB 10
To: “Patrick Hope”
Date: Wednesday, January 6, 2010, 8:20 PMMr. Hope,
Thank you for responding to my email.
As someone who currently does not have health insurance by choice, the bill being discussed in the U.S. House and Senate includes penalties for people who do not comply, including prison time.
Are you going to help the government to put me in prison? Please be frank, is that what I can expect from my elected Representative for the next two years of your term?
- Steve
Now…for the response….From: Patrick Hope
Date: January 6, 2010 3:30:13 PM EST
To: Steve Bierfeldt
Subject: Re: HB 10it acts like a tax and so if you don’t pay your taxes, over time, you could be facing jail time. Steve, please pay your taxes.
Wow…it takes audacity to be nasty to your constituents. I am pretty certain 2011 might not be so hopeful for Hope, as he runs for re-election.
Posted on January 8, 2010, in Health Care, Liberty, Virginia Politics and tagged 47th District, Bob Marshall, General Assembly, HB10, Health Care, House of Delegates, Patrick Hope, Virginia. Bookmark the permalink. 3 Comments.
I read recently that if the thirty million uninsured were just added to a standard medical policy like those our government or military retirees get, the cost would be about $3.5 Billion, far less than the Senate bill of $85 Billion per year. No elected official has explained why the Senate Bill is so damned expensive.
My constructive suggestion is for Republicans and Democrats to get together and find out how we can get this done for $3.5 Billion, instead of that absurd bill currently being offered.
Folks, like Mr. Bierfelt, who say that they choose not to have health insurance should be able to opt-out of coverage, but should also have a “Do not resuscitate” order on file, so we can avoid having his dumb ass become a ward of the state in the event of a sudden, catastrophic injury or illness.
What some of the Democrats are trying to say about this issue is that we are already paying for the uninsured, through subsidizing their inability to cover their hospital bills, by charging the rest of us higher hospital and insurance bills.
Those of us who have been around a while know that making insurance mandatory does spread the cost around, but that rates NEVER become any cheaper. The insurance parasites will always find another excuse to suck more money from their victims.
Keeping the old system will continue to subsidize illegal aliens and others who have no means to pay their hospital bills. The Senate bill does nothing but assure us of constantly rising insurance rates. Providing a subsidized insurance program to the poor is the least expensive option that also helps to keep the insurance companies from gouging the rest of us for the rest of eternity.
As I said before, we could add ALL of the uninsured to existing government health insurance programs for $3.5 Billion. Why this isn’t being discussed is because it was labeled “public option” and roundly disparaged by all of the lobbyists for the insurance parasites.
Virginia Democrats and Republicans must stand together, against the abomination of a Bill being proposed by the Senate. Working together, we can solve this problem, without making our citizens serfs of the insurance lords, by funding a program that subsidizes health insurance for those who need it the most.
Senator Webb and Warner must take notice of the crowds gathering with pitch-forks over this issue. Either vote NO, or you two will both be booted out, at the next election.
So Mr. Balance, the current plan is an abomination but increasing government spending and debt by 3.5 billion is fine?
The point is the government has no right to mandate health insurance and the last thing we possibly want is any “plan” to get the state involved in providing that insurance.
In the event of my impending accident and catatonic state I give you full rights to head on over and shut off the power.
You do understand that you already pay for the uninsured anyway, don’t you?
The reason for providing a subsidized health insurance to those who are unemployed or otherwise impoverished is so that they can at least shoulder part of their own costs, thereby lifting part of that burden from our heathcare system and the rest of us.
The question remaining is that why the devil has the Senate come up with such an expensive alternative, when we could simply add these uninsured folks to existing policies for the $3.5 Billion investment?
The current bill is a disgrace and full of patronage pork. This is why we need Democrats and Republicans to get together, go back to the drawing board, and come back with a plan that is closer to the $3.5 Billion figure. If the poor paid at least a share of their health costs, then the whole system, including the burden on working citizens would become lighter.
The current Senate bill will be like a ball and chain on the economy. A revised plan that will relieve some of the pressure by lowering health care costs to workers and employers would prove to be a great economic stimulus.
Perhaps others who read this blog can offer some constructive solutions, besides the do nothing approach. Keep in mind that what we have now is an indirect subsidy, that causes employers and workers to have to pay exorbitant health insurance costs, because the hospitals and insurance parasites are charging us to pay for the deadbeats and the poor. With a subsidized program. the poor will pay at least a part of their insurance burden. Right now, you pay all of their share.