Dr. Phil Roe, repub congressman...more repuke teabagger now...

[cynatnite]

Our representative here in NE TN is Dr. Phil Roe. He was a practicing OBGYN for many years. I get his little letters to his constituents and this one I thought I'd respond.

It started out well enough, but I kept getting pissed the more that went on. He grossly manipulated Obamacare, left out key information and outright lied. I was setting him straight and gave up. There was too much BS. So, here is what I said...

Well, let's get a little honesty into your piece, Congressman. The first thing you rattled off was the deficit. While on the face it you have correct numbers you missed the fact that under President Obama the deficit is falling at the fastest rate in 60 years. But, that would completely undermine your message at how badly he's done at running the country.

Let's keep going shall we...

Your 1.85 trillion dollar estimate is true, but when you compare it to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid it is a drop in the bucket. Those programs cost 11 to 4.3 trillion dollars. This is from the same CBO that you are using.

Now when you talk about people who currently have health care insurance, you are most certainly wading into outright lying. The fact is that those with health insurance will not see their rates change. That is because built into the law are restrictions on insurance companies raising their rates, reimbursing the holders and that at least 80% of the premiums HAVE to go to healthcare. Insurance companies have made billions on top of billions of dollars screwing over the American people. This law puts the brakes on that and will help lower costs.

Let's get honest about Lee Regional. People weren't using the hospital. They were driving to HVMC and MSHS for their care because most people believe that bigger is better care for them. Not only that, they also named our state's refusal to accept the Medicare and Medicaid expansion as being a reason for the closure. That's in the Kingsport Times News.

The reimbursement issue is a big one, but that falls in the lap of your party. Your party refused to come to the table time and time again when Obamacare was in the planning stages. Your party has no one to blame but yourselves.

These decisions got into the hands of politicians and that's the last place it should have been in the first place. Politicians should not be making decisions about Medicare reimbursements, coverage and so on. Those decisions should be left to those who run the hospitals and know exactly what they need to help the patients who need it the most.

The problem with our entire healthcare system isn't just the costs running amok, it's also the politicians who interfere with patients getting the care they need. You of all people know that, but I think being a republican trumps your ethical responsibilities as a doctor.

I'm too pissed to keep going on with this. Millions of Americans are doing without including so many of your constituents and all you can do is talk about defunding and repealing. Nowhere are you interested in improving the law or helping your constituents get healthcare so they can see a doctor. Our state ranks 39th in overall health. That should alarm you to the point of taking action.

Rather than do anything of substance to help Americans, you pander to the extremists in order to keep your job.

[Shrike47]

1. Good letter. n/t.

[11 Bravo]

2. Hell, GREAT letter!