I consider myself to be socially liberal and fiscally conservative. I realize any universal health plan will come with a price tag, but I firmly believe we already pay a huge price under the current plan, which is no plan. Most of us in the real estate industry are self-employed and are either without insurance, under-insured or pay dearly to be adequately insured, only to discover sometimes that we are not as protected as we believed. If you want to know why we cannot rely on private, for-profit insurance companies to fulfill our health care needs, read Ken Gordon's blog post, Nothing Good Just Happens.
Anyway, most of what I've recently heard in opposition to the proposed health care reform sounds more like hysterical hyperbole, political rhetoric, and fear mongering, not to mention just mean-spirited name calling. I haven't been able to respond or debate the issue because of my lack of real knowledge about the proposed bill (House of Representatives Bill H.R. 3200) or alternatives. So, I am now on a mission to study the various health care reform proposals so that I can engage in intelligent, reasoned discussion and debate on this extremely important issue and decide what I can and cannot support. What I want, and what we all need, are the real facts and a rational, non-partisan analysis of any proposed health care plan.
One great source I have discovered is PolitiFact.org, a project of the St. Petersburg Times, whose stated mission is to help us find the truth in American politics. They fact-check statements by members of Congress, the White House, lobbyists and interest groups and rate them on their Truth-O-Meter. I checked the Truth-O-Meter on the subject of health care. This confirmed for me that the assertions I've heard made by the opponents of health care reform are mostly false or misleading. Some were found to be so outrageously false, they were given the "Pants on Fire" rating. I found a good analysis and rebuttal of the anti-health reform arguments at Health Care for America Now web site. Click here to read it. Of course, the best source is the source itself, i.e., H.R. 3200, which, unlike some of our political leaders, we should all read. I admit, 1017 pages is rather daunting, but I've at least saved it for now for ready reference whenever I receive something from here on out that references a section or page number in the Bill to support an argument or assertion.
Since I am a member of the National Association of REALTORS (NAR), I decided to check its site (www.realtor.org) to see what NAR was doing and saying about health care reform. NAR has not yet taken a definitive position for or against the Bill, although it is seeking to ensure any reform addresses the needs of small businesses and the self-employed. It is also urging lawmakers to pass the Small Business Health Options Plan Act and the CHOICE Act, and it opposes any effort to alter the mortgage interest deduction to help pay for health care reform. NAR encourages all REALTORS to become active and to be heard. To learn more, read VP Gary Thomas' blog post, Health Care Hot on the Hill and then check out and check regularly NAR's newly created Health Care Reform landing page.
Like NAR, I want to make sure that I have thoroughly researched and analyzed any proposed new legislation concerning national health care reform and then make myself be heard by my Congressional leaders. I welcome your comments, opinions, analysis, debate and suggestions for additional resources for further research and education on this issue. But please, can we avoid the partisan divisiveness?
~Ninah
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