Where God is thy justice?

Today I begin browsing through the Healthcare bill currently stuck in the Energy and Commerce Committee ... and for that I thank God profusely and every American who made it a priority to call, email or fax their congressmen and women. Don't stop, I beg of you, do not stop. I am horrified, enraged, revolted and more negative feelings than I can possibly say, and words are my profession, are roiling around inside me. How in God's name can any thinking, feeling human being look at these words and not have utter disgust well within their hearts? Is there no humanity left in Congress? None at all? Is there no man or woman who loves their children and values them as they are cradled within their mothers' womb? Is there no man or woman who loves their parents and grandparents, understanding that the elderly are just as great a treasure as are the children? How did we get so turned around? How did good become bad and bad become good? Where God is thy justice?

Just to share a little of the text of this 1,018 page healthcare bill currently sitting in the House, I haven't even started on the Senate version yet, I thought I would summarize a few things:

Page 16: "In no case shall an employment-based health plan in which the coverage consists only of one or more of the coverage or benefits described in clauses (i) through (iii) be treated as acceptable under this division."

Let me interpret: Private insurance will be illegal.

Pages 424-426: The plan to reduce Medicare by $500 billion includes this: "Advance Care Planning Consultation

(hhh)(1) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), the term ‘advance care planning consultation’ means a consultation between the individual and a practitioner described in paragraph (2) regarding advance care planning, if, subject to paragraph (3), the individual involved has not had such a consultation within the last 5 years. Such consultation shall include the following:

‘‘(A) An explanation by the practitioner of advance care planning, including key questions and considerations, important steps, and suggested people to talk to.

‘‘(B) An explanation by the practitioner of advance directives, including living wills and durable powers of attorney, and their uses.

‘‘(C) An explanation by the practitioner of the role and responsibilities of a health care proxy.

‘‘(D) The provision by the practitioner of a list of national and State-specific resources to assist consumers and their families with advance care planning, including the national toll-free hotline, the advance care planning clearinghouses, and State legal service organizations (including those funded through the Older Americans Act of 1965).

‘‘(E) An explanation by the practitioner of the continuum of end-of-life services and supports available, including palliative care and hospice, and benefits for such services and supports that are available under this title.

‘‘(F)(i) Subject to clause (ii), an explanation of orders regarding life sustaining treatment or similar orders, which shall include—

‘‘(I) the reasons why the development of such an order is beneficial to the individual and the individual’s family and the reasons why such an order should be updated periodically as the health of the individual changes;

"(II) the information needed for an individual or legal surrogate to make informed decisions regarding the completion of such an order; and

‘‘(III) the identification of resources that an individual may use to determine the requirements of the State in which such individual resides so that the treatment wishes of that individual will be carried out if the individual is unable to communicate those wishes, including requirements regarding the designation of a surrogate decisionmaker (also known as a health care proxy).

Let me interpret: Obama's advice to the elderly to "take a pain pill" is now written into legislation. This bill says our elderly will receive no healthcare other than advice on how to end their lives. It sickens me to even write it.

and it doesn't end there, not by a long shot. But let's jump ahead:

Pages 881-882: ‘‘(d) PREFERENCE.—In awarding grants or contracts under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to entities that have a demonstrated record of the following:

"(1) Training the greatest percentage, or significantly improving the percentage, of health care professionals who provide primary care.

"(2) Training individuals who are from underrepresented minority groups or disadvantaged backgrounds.

"(3) A high rate of placing graduates in practice settings having the principal focus of serving in underserved areas or populations experiencing health disparities (including serving patients eligible for medical assistance under title XIX of the Social Security Act or for child health assistance under title XXI of such Act or those with special health care needs).

‘‘(4) Supporting teaching programs that address the health care needs of vulnerable populations.

Let me interpret: We are no longer going to go after the best and the brightest regardless of race, color or creed to train as our doctors, but rather from those underrepresented minority groups. Oh goody, the guy who flunked biology is my doctor because he's the right color as opposed to the fact that he actually may or may not know the difference between an adenoid and the thyroid.

It gets worse. It will take some time, but I suggest you read the entirety of the healthcare bill currently stalled in committee in the House of Representatives. Thanks to the Republicans and the Blue Dog Democrats it is stuck there. We must not let up the pressure. Call, email and fax, overwhelm the offices of Congress until they are drowning in shouts of rage and demands that they STOP!

I value the unborn, perhaps in ways others do not, for I miscarried no less than 8 times and suffered a broken heart each time. I look at infants and my heart overflows with gratefulness and an immense amount of love that that sweet child made it into life. I believe life to be sacred, from conception to death. I believe there is more to life than the period between birth and death, but that this period, known as mortality, is critical to the eternal salvation of man.

I value the elderly for they have traversed paths of life we are currently walking ourselves. They have laughed, cried, raged, fought and lived ... oh, how they have lived. From them I will learn skills long past. From them I will learn of sacrifices and sorrows which I've only read of in history books. From them I will learn why "this way" is better than "that way". How shortsighted, and yes I do declare evil, for anyone to determine these great men and women are no longer of value to our nation.

I condemn with my whole heart and soul the actions of those men and women who wrote and are pushing this legislation forward. Had I the power, I would condemn them with all the powers of heaven and earth. But I do not, hence I will entreat them to not commit this great evil. I beg them to value life from conception to death and realize the great contribution each gives throughout their lives to those around them. I plead with them to turn from this and realize they bring great condemnation to America for the words within this bill.

May God have mercy on the citizens of this great nation, for our government does not.

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July 2009. All rights reserved by Candace E. Salima.