(Lake Martin Specific)
111,181 messages
Updated 6/5/2024 10:38:09 AM
Lakes Online Forum
83,651 messages
Updated 6/6/2024 4:31:05 AM
Lakes Online Forum
5,196 messages
Updated 6/5/2024 11:03:19 PM
(Lake Martin Specific)
4,171 messages
Updated 5/29/2024 10:51:34 PM
Lakes Online Forum
4,169 messages
Updated 4/15/2024 11:05:05 PM
Lakes Online Forum
4,261 messages
Updated 5/28/2024 6:31:10 AM
Lakes Online Forum
2,976 messages
Updated 3/20/2024 11:53:43 PM
(Lake Martin Specific)
169 messages
Updated 5/31/2023 1:39:35 PM
Lakes Online Forum
98 messages
Updated 4/15/2024 1:00:58 AM
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
lotowner
- 
|
|
Subject:
|
Health Care Thoughts
|
|
Date:
|
11/21/2009 7:57:18 AM
|
|
Thought process of a liberal writer for the Decatur Daily which is representative of many who support the legislative actions to be voted on today.
11/15/09 | 12 comments
Artur Davis betrayed constituents
U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, D-Birmingham, soon will be asking me to vote for him for governor. His vote against health care reform is not the way to get it.
I struggle to understand the passion directed against the “public option” in health care reform. I have little use for government-controlled bureaucracies, but at least they are vulnerable to my frustrations. My vote, along with that of other dissatisfied consumers, can create change. A near-monopoly like Blue Cross-Blue Shield, on the other hand, is immune to frustration. Doctors, hospitals and patients are subject to its whim.
Eric Fleischauer
Capital considerations
This column is not intended to initiate a debate on whether the recently passed House bill on health care reform would be good for North Alabama. The issue is whether it is good for Davis’ 7th District.
Davis is, in my mind, the most intelligent gubernatorial candidate out there. I have spoken with him several times and heard his speeches. Every time, I find myself optimistic about our state’s future. Here is a politician who gets it.
He recently announced his candidacy for governor, but Davis’ allegiance now should be, to the people of the 7th District. Ignore North Alabama for a moment. Would the 7th District benefit from H.R. 3962?
The unemployment rate in Davis’ district is frightening. Among the counties entirely within his district are Wilcox, with an unemployment rate of 25.6 percent; Dallas, at 21.1 percent; and Perry, at 19.8 percent. The others are not much better. In an employment-based health care system like the one we have in the U.S., it is not hard to figure out the disastrous health care options for those within the 7th District.
H.R. 3962 would offer insurance to the unemployed at competitive rates. It would subsidize the premiums for those who cannot afford it. It would even include measures encouraging doctors to practice in underserved areas, and expand Medicaid. Artur Davis voted against the bill.
I studied his explanations for a vote that ignores the most pressing need of his constituents. None of the explanations made sense. Granted he is smarter than I am, but he’s a good communicator. He could have explained the rationale had he wanted to do so.
Sadly, the reason for his vote is simple, although not included in his campaign literature. He abdicated his role as the elected representative of the 7th District for his role as a gubernatorial candidate of a state that chooses to ignore the plight of his constituents.
I may still vote for Davis, but I am disillusioned. His vote against health care reform either represents a betrayal of his constituents, or a deceitful effort to present himself as a moderate to voters outside his district. Either way, on this vote, he abused his formidable talents and the respect they have earned him.
Contact Eric Fleischauer at his blog, www.mile 304.com, or at eric@decaturdaily.com.
|
|
Reply
Back
Search
Off-Topic Forum
»
Alabama Lakes
»
Lake Martin
Login
|
Home
