http://www.creators.com/opinion/jim-hightower/healthcare-hypocrites.html
By Jim Hightower
How do you
spell "hypocrisy"?
Try this:
"H-Y-P-O-C-O-N-G-R-E-S-S." The hypocongress consists of those Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats who have risen up on their
hind legs in recent weeks to snarl and howl at any mention of a government role in meeting America's health care needs. "Socialism,"
they bark — we won't allow Barack Obama and the liberals to create a Washington-run, big-government intrusion into the
hallowed private market. Sen. Jim DeMint, a South Carolina Republican, even pledged to fight so ferociously that the health
care battle would be Obama's "Waterloo."
What a stand-up
guy for free enterprise! What an ideologically correct appeal to laissez-faire principle! And, let me add, what a crock!
What these
bellicose market-purists hope you don't discover is that they are closet socialists. As members of the congressional elite,
they and their families are governmentally blessed with their very own gold-plated, taxpayer-financed, Washington-run health
care system. And, they loooove it.
Theirs is
such an effective system that not a single member of the hypocongress has been willing to give it up — even though they
surely realize the political peril of being exposed as rank hypocrites for enjoying the very program they so adamantly reject
for you.
Actually,
they happily take a double dip in the soothing waters of public health care. First, they enroll their entire families in the
Federal Employees Health Benefits Program — and you probably would, too, if it were available to you, for it's the Rolls
Royce of health plans .
For example,
while even the best employer-provided health policies offer only one or two types of coverage, FEHBP is a Chinese menu, offering
dozens of coverage choices that allow its lucky members to assemble a plan that meets their unique needs. Members also need
not worry about being denied coverage because of some pre-existing condition — once sworn into office, lawmakers and
their families are immediately and fully insured, with total access to a national network of doctors and hospitals.
But here's
the sweetest part of their Rolls Royce ride: up to 75 percent of the premiums are paid for by taxpayers, many of whom are
lucky if they can afford to buy an old Yugo-level of health coverage in the vaunted private market.
Well, snaps
the hypocongress crowd, even if FEHBP is essentially government-paid insurance, at least it's not socialized medicine, with
doctors working for the government — so, technically, we're still pure.
Ah, that raises
the second bit of secret socialism that lawmakers have mandated for themselves.
Right under
the Capitol dome, conveniently situated between the Senate and House chamber, is the Office of the Attending Physician. Inside
are more than a dozen navy doctors, nurses, medical technicians, pharmacists and other health professionals, all employed
by the government solely to attend to a select clientele: the 535 members of Congress.
Let's say
that, after giving a fiery speech on the floor assailing the evils of government-run health care, a lawmaker gets gaseous
or has a tongue cramp. He or she can pop right into the OAP for — yes! — some government-run health care. No appointment
needed, no pesky insurance forms to fill out, no co-pay — just care.
For this,
members pay a flat fee of $503 a year. A year! You and I are taxed to cover the real costs of this elite service. And that's
not the end of public health benefits for lawmakers — if they need a specialist, an operation, therapy, rehab or other
pricey procedure, it's all free at the government's Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval hospitals.
If it's good
enough for them, why not us? The public deserves what the Congress has, and any member who opposes extending it to us should
automatically be stripped of their privileges.
For a model
of integrity, they might look to Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Rep. Steve Kagen, D-Wis. — both of whom have rejected
taking congressional coverage until everyone in America has coverage of equal quality. I don't think the noisy naysayers are
looking for integrity, however — not as long as they can get away with their abominable hypocrisy.
To find out
more about Jim Hightower, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate
web page at www.creators.com.
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