Health Care Reform-Looking for Answers at a Town Hall Meeting

“Research—search for the facts and dig for the truth—just keep that in mind.”

In the past, Breaking Christian News (BCN) has not focused very much on political news stories, but we have always championed life, and articles or subjects that pertain to life. The issue heading every media’s coverage at this time affects American citizens—on very much a “life” level: health care reform. (Photo: BCN/Young person interviewed at a town hall meeting)

Among just the general debate on whether or not government should be providing health care for Americans, there are the life (and death) aspects to this bill, some of which include…

-Will care for the elderly be rationed according to their age and health prognosis?
-Will the elderly be forced to receive “end of life counseling?”
-Will this bill direct taxpayer money to pay for abortions?
-Will the “conscience clause” be retracted in this measure?

From presidential press briefings to debating interview guests to each state’s town halls, strong opinions and sincere concerns have been voiced; sometimes heatedly. Some of those heated debates between ordinary citizens and congressmen and women have been called both grass roots uprising and organized disruptions.

Partly because of those accusations, and mostly because of the “life” issues at hand, we at BCN felt it behooved us to send a team to a health care town hall meeting near us.

Joined by my cameraperson, Willow, I attended one of Oregon Representative Pete DeFazio’s town hall meetings in Cottage Grove, Oregon.

When we first arrived with less than an hour to go before the meeting, there were about 40 people there waiting in line. But, by the time Congressman DeFazio arrived, there were so many who had come to the meeting—probably at least 300—that it had to be moved outside the rather small community building.

Congressman DeFazio began by assuring the crowd that he had read the entire bill (H.R. 3200), and mentioned some of the aspects that concerned him, as well as some of the revisions already in the works.

“[H.R. 3200] has gone through three committees in the House and each of those committees has made changes,” said DeFazio, adding that “it will continue to evolve.”

Actually this is only the House version, there will be another bill written which will be the Senate version, and debate will most assuredly continue with that legislation.

At the meeting I saw many different kinds of people, who must have run the gamut of backgrounds, but all with a concern regarding their own and their loved one’s care. Some had read the bill—loaded with legalese—and had written down the particular section numbers with which they had an issue.

Most likely, the majority had not read the entire legislation, but was just as involved in the discussion; each citing their own experiences with health care, the lack thereof, and unease over what this bill might or might not do. With the exception of one person bent on “being heard above all else,” the people raised their hands and very passionately voiced what disturbed them about the bill, or why they felt it was a good idea.

Rather than go through each point of the meeting, I want to focus on a point brought up by one of those attending whom I interviewed. This young man was just 16, but already had strong opinions on politics, and the meeting he’d attended.

At one point, I asked him if he felt other young people were as informed as he, and if he’d noticed an interest among youth regarding the health care debate.

“Unfortunately,” he answered, “I don’t really think a lot of young people are. And, when they do start to try to look into it, they often don’t have reliable sources, or they don’t know where to go [for accurate information]. There’s the internet and there’s media. But, often the media just tells one side of the story.”

I asked him if he had a message for people his age. He replied, “…If you have a dream, pursue it with your heart and mind… and don’t go pointing fingers all the time. Research—search for the facts and dig for the truth—just keep that in mind.”

So where do we (young people included) go to read and study those facts regarding this important measure? Where do we find the truthful answers to those questions raised in the beginning of this article?

As this young man stated, we must research, dig and hunt down the true facts ourselves—each of us. Ask your doctor where they stand; talk to those who currently have healthcare and those who don’t. Attend a town hall health care reform meeting in your area. Visit websites on both sides of the political spectrum. Here are some links that may help in that endeavor—they are both pro and against the current health care reform legislation:

Read H.B. 3200 (or try to)

Family Research Council

Official White House information

American Family Association

American Medical Association

Ask your legislators about the health care reform bill, Family Research Council has provided a list of questions to aid in receiving direct answers. Click Here:

And of course, as Believers, we must pray. It is the most important action we can take, and the information above can help us know what and how to pray about this issue.

All in all, I was very glad to have attended the town hall meeting, as I was able to—with the rest of the world that looks on—witness democracy in action, one of the core elements, and a foundation of this great country.

Visit Breaking Christian News’ new YouTube channel and watch a video from the town hall meeting. Follow the link provided.

Source: BCN

Fact Check: The Truth Behind Obama’s Health Care Plan

President Obama took his health care reform plan to the American people in a forum at the White House Wednesday night broadcast live on ABC. Obama took questions on a wide variety of topics, from how he plans to pay for the reform to whether people will be able to keep their current insurance plans and doctors.

A fact check on President Obama’s main messages of Wednesday night’s forum reveal a president eager to make his case to the public — but sometimes glossing over the thorny details of how to achieve reform.

Fact check no. 1: Health Care Costs Versus Wages

President Obama told the audience Wednesday night that health care costs are increasing at a rate three times faster than wages in America. It’s a line he has used regularly as he campaigns for the health care plan.

But several studies indicate the growth rate is higher than that. Families USA, a group that advocates for health care reform, found that costs are rising at a rate five times faster than wages in America in a report issued in October 2008.

And the Kaiser Family Foundation found that family health care costs increased by 78 percent between 2001 and 2008.

Fact check no. 2: Can You Keep Your Current Health Plan?

President Obama used different language tonight to argue that his health care plan won’t force people off of their current health plans.

“If you are happy with your plan, and if you are happy with your doctor, we don’t want you to have to change,” the president said.

Then, he made a slightly different claim: “If you’re happy with your plan and your doctor, you stick with it.”