Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams

Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams will undergo heart surgery later this week in the United States.

Deputy premier Kathy Dunderdale confirmed the treatment at a news conference Tuesday, but would not reveal the location of the operation or how it would be paid for.

“He has gone to a renowned expert in the procedure that he needs to have done,” said Ms. Dunderdale, who will become acting premier while Mr. Williams is away for three to 12 weeks.

“In consultation with his own doctors, he’s decided to go that route.”

Mr. Williams’ decision to leave Canada for the surgery has raised eyebrows over his apparent shunning of Canada’s health-care system.

“It was never an option offered to him to have this procedure done in this province,” said Ms. Dunderdale, refusing to answer whether the procedure could be done elsewhere in Canada.

Mr. Williams, 59, has said nothing of his health in the media.

“The premier has made a commitment that once he’s through this procedure and he’s well enough, he’s going to talk about the whole process and share as much detail with you as he’s comfortable to do at that time,” she said.

Read the whole article here. We’ll refrain from a lot of comment, as the story and the facts speak for themselves. But, when the equivalent of a Governor can’t get a specific procedure, what chance does the average Canadian have?

The latest version of the Grinches’ health care reform is a carbon copy of the rationing of health care that passed the House in November. The core and the heart is three sizes too small in both versions, and cuts costs by denying and rationing care, the most inhumane and unethical means of cutting costs. However, Washington’s Grinches have added a couple of “presents” to further harm all of us Whos.

The Grinches’ first “present” is to “allow” everyone in Medicare, or who will soon be in Medicare, to pay for a larger percentage of the costs of this beast. How special is that? The Grinches Obama, Pelosi and Reid have decided to cut Medicare by $500 Billion over ten years to pay for their reform package, even though millions more seniors will be on Medicare in ten years. Let’s look at the data that the Grinches refuse to acknowledge.

According to the United States Census Bureau:

1. 40 Million Americans currently are ages 55-64
2. 50% of those aged 55-64 have at least 4 or more health care visits per year
3. 42 Million Americans currently are age 65 or over
4. 35% of those over 65 have 3 or more chronic conditions
5. 29% of those over 65 are in fair or poor health
6. In 10 years 62 Million Americans will be 65 or over

So, in ten years an additional 22 Million Americans will fall under Medicare, at the same time the Grinches will cut $500 Billion out of Medicare. Worse, they expect us Whos to believe that there will be no rationing of care by the already established rationing board from the stimulus bill ( Federal Coordinating Council For Comparative Effectiveness Research) and Medicare Commission from the Senate bill.

The Grinches further claim Medicare is the epitome of success and cost effectiveness and a program we should all look forward to joining. In fact, one of their “potential” presents, still on the drawing board, is to “allow” everyone 55-64 years of age the “opportunity” to join Medicare.  This is the same Medicare that:

Was established in 1965
Cost $ 3 Billion in 1966
Cost $325 Billion in 2005
Cost $408 Billion in 2009 (12 % increase every year for 43 years)
From 2000-2007 paid DEAD physicians 478,500 claims totaling $92 Million  (U.S. Senate Permanent Committee on Investigation)

From us Whos, thanks for nothing. Maybe the Grinches’ second “present” will be better. Um, no.

The second “present” is the ability to participate in the ‘Government Insurance Exchange” modeled after the federal employee health benefit program. The same program that:

• Currently oversees 4 ½ Million Federal Employees
• Is Administered by The Office of Personnel Management
• The Government Accounting Office ( GAO) found the cost benefit ratio was 51% higher than non-Federal programs.
• The GAO found the cost benefit ratio was 89% higher than large self-insured businesses
• The GAO concluded, “This program is highly vulnerable to fraud and abuse”
• The GAO revealed, “The misappropriation of carrier funds included embezzlement, using plan funds to finance UNION or employee organization activities and improperly charging the plan for expenses not incurred.”

Wow, on behalf of us Whos …..thanks for nothing Mr., Ms. and Mr. Grinch.  It becomes evident, “it is déjà vue all over again” when it comes to the Grinches and their health care reform plan for all of us Whos. Their plan is not about creating available, affordable or quality health care.  Their plan is about control of every Who’s health-care life. Once the Grinches control every Who’s health, The Grinches have the ability to control every aspect of every Who’s life.

In the real story of the Grinch, the villain had a change of heart.  In fact, when his heart grew three sizes, the Grinch learned the real meaning of Christmas….   Whatever the three Grinches believe in, Obama, Pelosi and Reid need to listen to us Who’s, and give back control of our lives.  Unfortunately, with our Grinches, their plan remains at least three sizes too small.