Paging Dr. Cynical, Your Injection is Ready

While taking my beautiful proof-reader out to lunch/wine the other day we were accosted by a ridiculous image on the TV over the area where we were seated. Although there was no sound enabled on the set, we could still easily figure out what was about to happen- in the same way that one understands what a mime is trying to impart to his audience.  But in this case it was like some bizarre home party version of political charades, minus the amusement. I guess my sense of humor was lessened somewhat by the consequences of this stuff because I used to find these antics hilarious instead of just mildly humorous.

The TV showed a group of people as they came marching out in single file from behind a curtain, all dressed in KKK outfits (minus the masks) in a preposterous spectacle which seemed like a re-enactment of the Von Trapp kids presenting themselves for inspection in the Sound of Music.

A reader of this blog left a comment yesterday (on my last article regarding the "nuclear option") which made the case that; "it's all theater." The point was well taken by me.

I guess the genius behind this piece of theater thought that people were so dim that they would see all these alleged doctors and heath-care workers and immediately conclude that physicians in general are all behind the President while he made his latest speech in his quest to take over one sixth of the US economy. (One of these Oscar wannabes even had a stethoscope hanging out of his pocket, a detail which should actually get the prize for "Best comedic prop in a political theater presentation"- It certainly made us giggle.)

Unfortunately, that notion is as wrong as the prop was silly. The truth is, according to a poll of actual physicians taken by the Investors Business Daily, (IBD/TIPP) a few months back, 45% said they would consider early retirement or other options if Obama-Care were enacted. If you think waiting rooms are fun now, just wait until you have to bring camping equipment to your appointment if this gets done to us.

Meanwhile, aside from having your intelligence insulted once again by the ruling party, the "doc and pony show" gave you a peek at the beta version of Obama-Care 4.0.- a fictional proposal which has never had an actual legislator put it forth and which is impossible using the "nuclear option" anyway. Apparently this magic law has all 2200 pages of the last diaper-load intact, but makes some "concessions" to Republicans.

As Charles Krauthammer reported this morning, that concession was that he might consider a "tort reform" section which would suggest "a few ridiculously insignificant demonstration projects amounting to one half of one-hundredth of 1% of the cost of Obama's health care bill."  His excellent article on this subject can be read here.  His piece ends with a quote that I would give plenty to say I wrote; "You can only be disillusioned if you were once illusioned."

As a new essay by Michael Tanner of the Cato Institute says; "Dropping a few Republican ideas into a government takeover of health care is like sterilizing the needle before a lethal injection: a nice thought, but the ultimate outcome is the same."

As my lunch (and life) companion commented concerning the "new" proposal, "a half a pile of crap is still a pile of crap." (I wish I had written that too)