Trump's broken promise is a death sentence to thousands of his voters

[Miles Archer]

Trump’s broken promise is a death sentence to thousands of his voters

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/trumps-broken-promise-is-a-death-sentence-to-thousands-of-his-voters/



December 20, 2016
Joe Conason
Posted with permission from The National Memo

Back when the president's health reform plan first passed, Republicans and their media echoes warned loudly about mythical "death panels" embedded in his legislation. Now, the voters who believed that nonsense are about to meet the real death panel -- led by Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate leader Mitch McConnell, and Rep. Tom Price, the Georgia Republican slated to head the Department of Health and Human Services.

Despite his promise to protect Social Security and Medicare - and his vow to replace the Affordable Care Act with "something much better" - Trump's cabinet appointees and his allies in Congress plan ruinous changes to those programs. And that will mean ruin, and in thousands of cases death, for the mostly white and working class people who depend so heavily on them.

Unless the Republicans come up with a plausible bill to replace Obamacare, which has eluded them since 2009, millions of their constituents will lose the health insurance they have only recently gained - and yes, thousands of those people will die next year.

That isn't supposed to be what happens under President Trump, who declared in many interviews and debates his determination to provide better and cheaper health insurance "for everybody, let it be for everybody." But by appointing a far-right ideologue like Price to run health policy, Trump effectively violated that promise before even taking his oath of office. Working with Ryan and the Republican majority in both houses of Congress, Price means to destroy Obamacare, slash Medicare, and decimate Medicaid.

[BlueStater]

1. They dug their own graves when they cast a ballot for this scumbag.

Maybe it's because I'm exposed to their crap on a routine basis on websites like Politico, but I'm having a really difficult time mustering up any sympathy for these boneheads and their inevitable suffering. I feel worse for everyone else.

[sweetroxie]

2. Unfortunately, they have dug a lot of other graves too.

I fully expect to be one of those killed by death panels and Granny Killers Ryan and Price. I have a chronic life-threatening condition and I have truly lost my will to live since tRump was "elected."

[TNNurse]

12. I am hoping to have a knee replacement

in Jan or Feb before they destroy Medicare. Hope my cancer does not return, I could never afford that chemo and radiation again once they do their dirty work.

[BlueStater]

48. I'm sorry. I wish you the best.

I'm sorry this country and most of its people (I'm counting the ones who didn't vote) let you down.

[TexasProgresive]

4. They dug my grave as well.

I am on SS and Medicare with 2 pre existing conditions- a cancer survivor and a Type II diabetic. I use insulin daily which is for some stupid reason very expensive. I doubt I will be able to afford insulin without Part D Medicare coverage. 2018 will be the beginning of my death. Then there is my partner, she has cardiac trouble. My 'Rump supporting relatives all have similar futures. Go figure.

[Vinca]

6. My husband takes insulin, too. Why the heck is it suddenly so expensive?

It's a drug that's been in existence forever so there's no need to screw the public based on it being new and innovative. I swear they just want us all to die and get it over with.

[TexasProgresive]

25. I don't put a lot of faith in petitions but the ADA has one up at this link.

https://donations.diabetes.org/site/SPageServer/?pagename=SD_Grassroots_Advocacy_Petition_Page&utm_source=Offline&utm_medium=Print&utm_content=insulin&utm_campaign=ADV&s_src=vanity&s_subsrc=insulin

[Vinca]

32. Thanks, I'll check it out.

[scarletlib]

9. LCHF

Dear TexasProgressive, I feel compelled to reply to your post. I am not a Doctor but I am diabetic. (Never got past the Metformin stage)

Are you aware of the original diet for people with diabetes? Long before there were meds available those people were prescribed to eat a low carb, high fat diet. It is what I do and it eliminates the need for medication.
Please do some research on this and see if it can help you. One site I recommend is the Diet Doctor.com ( http://www.dietdoctor.com/ ) He is a Swedish doctor who has a site devoted to research, etc on LCHF. In Sweden this is a recognized diet and it is safe and healthy to eat.

We are all going to try to find alternative ways to stay healthy and avoid expensive medications. In my case I have high blood pressure and I am trying meditation as an alternate method to hopefully get it under control.

[Cha]

19. Mahalo for your post, scarletlib..

I, too, find alternative ways to keep healthy.. with diet and exercise. I don't take any meds.. thank goodness.

[TexasProgresive]

23. Thank you scarlet. Sorry if this post is too much info.

I have lived well with T2D for 25+ years. I do follow a low carb high fat diet. Before I retired my BG was being affected by increased work place stress and my Lantus does was up to 85 units to compensate. The resulting weight gain caused increased insulin resistance. It's the most vicious of vicious cycles. After retirement several things happened. The stress level decreased, I began cycling again and had to reduce the insulin dose by 62 units. I have been on a plateau for about 5 months. I don't know if I will be able to lower the dose much more.

Back when I was first diagnosed I read a book Diabetic Solution by Dr. Richard Bernstein. Dr. Bernstein is a T1D who was and engineer before become a MD. I confess I can not follow his uber low carb diet. I think he calls for 20-30 grams total per day. I try to stay at 100 or a little less. I found that after I while I would kill for a baked potato. Another good source book is Gary Scheiner's book, Think Like a Pancreas.

An internet friend of mine tags his post on DiabeticConnect.com with "eat as if your life depends on it" For me BG control requires a gestalt of LCHF, exercise, stress reduction and medication. Since we are all individuals we all have to fine tune what works for us. We need to know what foods will cause a BG spike for us. Some foods are universal but others are personal. Some diabetics can eat a few grapes or corn without problems others one grape or a teaspoon of corn will cause a spike.

BTW my resting heart rate has dropped from 72 bpm to 48 bpm. My blood pressure is in the athletic range. Last week I had a treadmill stress test with before and after pictures of the heart. Tomorrow I'm scheduled for an echo-cardiogram and the cardiologists review of the results. We'll see what shape the doc thinks this 66 year old man's heart is in.

[Jim Lane]

34. One reason to be partly optimistic

The GOP knows that there are millions of people who are currently on Medicare and who, despite their visceral response to denunciations of "big government", want Medicare protected. When Ryan introduced his Couponcare voucher plan a few years ago, his bill would have left Medicare intact for those already on it and for those age 55 and over. The obvious political calculation was that they didn't want to tick off the Medicare recipients, or even the people for whom Medicare (i.e., Medicare as we know it) was a real prospect.

If they do it that way again, you'll be OK. People like me (not yet on Medicare but over 55) will be OK.

So, this is reason to be optimistic but only partly. Millions of people younger than us will still be at risk. In reassuring you about your personal situation, I'm not going along with Ryan's attempt to divide us. I am completely opposed to any such bill even if I personally am protected.

Best of luck with your health!

[BlueStater]

50. Hang in there and never give up.

I sadly have nothing to help you with other than encouraging words. On November 8th, we were given a giant shit sandwich for Christmas and everyone, unfortunately, is going to have to take a bite.

[HughBeaumont]

3. What did Confucius say about revenge?

Might want to get some new shoes, Trump voters, seeing as how your current ones are full of bullet holes.

[mdbl]

5. They are gonna have to do some heavy duty gerrymandering

to drop those areas in the swing states that got him elected since they won't be there much longer.

[Cosmocat]

8. I doubt it

this country is truly THAT stupid.

They will blame it on us, and the pods in this country will believe it, see Clinton, Hillary.

[raging moderate]

7. Psychopaths on parade.

I want Paul Ryan to pay back every penny of the Social Security benefits his family received when he was a child, with interest. When I was a child, I went hungry a lot and wore old cheap clothes and waited for dental work. Some of the kids around me were lucky because their fathers had died so they got Social Security benefits. Paul Ryan was one of these lucky kids. I wonder what Paul Ryan would have managed to achieve if he'd been stuck in my position.

[TNNurse]

16. I would not call myself "lucky"

but I am one of those whose father died when I was a child, I was 10. I know how much that Social Security money helped my mother and I am grateful for it. Ryan belongs in the " I got mine, but you don't" club and he had a wealthy family, which I did not.

[raging moderate]

24. Precisely. You became a nurse; Ryan became a bully.

Different people react differently to being rescued. Some, like you, are inspired to work hard to help rescue others. I thank you for your service. Those who accept rescue for themselves but would force draconian measures on others are not merely deplorable; they are despicable.

[Miles Archer]

31. I recently posted Raw Story's Ayn Rand article here...

...which succinctly summed up her attitude toward those who suffer (they're best left to die).

And yes, she ended her life with cancer, on Medicaid and Social Security, sucking up the gravy from everything she told herself she despised.

The "stories" should roll in pretty quickly after Rand fanboy Ryan gets what he wants.

When the body count piles up, Ryan will have his legacy, and Trump will have it added to the list of every other f-up he's guaranteed to make.

[Cha]

10. Can't wait until he goes on

one of his 1000th victory tours and they start throwing rotten eggs and tomatoes at him.

I hope word trickles out to them in spite of the ministry of fox truthers keeping them in dark like mushrooms. I guess they'll notice when they have no more health care.

[coco22]

11. I want more than that thrown.

[Cha]

14. Yes, but still... the vision of thousands of rottens eggs being

hurled at dumphuck's face oozing down..? Wipe that shit eating grin right off.

coco

[cntrygrl]

13. I am very scared too. Like so many, I worked very hard

since my teen years. Paid in to a system that will now turn me (us) to the curb. My first big health problems came while I was still driving truck. I developed IBS/Colitis, which wasn't diagnosed until suffering through the symptoms for 5 years.

I then injured my back which led to having surgery. This wasn't successful so there was another scan taken. The only thing the surgeon could say after looking at the results is that 'my whole back is a mess and he couldn't help me. Big whoop! I had hoped having the surgery would allow me to work until age 67, to full retirement.

So I quit my job and fought for disability. Cashed in my small retirement, (we were taken to the cleaners during the '08 fiasco) paid of my auto and a few bills.

I joined Affordable Care and found out I had 70% blockage of my carotid artery and diabetes II.

I'm now taking meds for the conditions mentioned which I couldn't afford without the insurance. I do all I can to watch my diet but I'm not able to walk or exercise do to the severe pain from my back and leg.

I'm toast if they take away our health care. Needless to say, I'm very scared.

[Cha]

15. I wish the best for us all, cntrygrl

[jaxind]

17. Stupid Republicans!

Stupid Republicans were willing to sacrifice their much-hated Obamacare without any explanation from trump on how he was going to replace it! So, trump says he'll get rid of Obamacare, doesn't explain a plan to replace it, but the rethugs were fine with that...stupidity at its best!!

[rtracey]

18. from now on...

from now on my only comment to anyone complaining about Fuckump and didnt vote for clinton.... my response is YOU VOTED FOR HIM, TOUGH SHIT.

[El Mimbreno]

20. But Why?

Maybe I missed something along the way, but what the hell is their motivation for cutting these programs?

[Freddie]

30. Tax cuts for the rich

[El Mimbreno]

53. So it's just plain greed...

on top of being evil, mean, and nasty? What is it with people who have far more than anyone needs wanting more, more, more?

[Freddie]

55. Greed and military spending

The jobs program of the South which keeps the R's in power.

[hibbing]

21. Even after the cuts, they will still vote Republican

I've truly given up hope.

Peace

[GWC58]

26. Yep!

And then they'll blame Democrats for all their ills. This is a nation of idiots, Trumps "Murica."

[NewJeffCT]

22. Any negative effects will be blamed on Obamacare

Crooked Hillary and whoever Democrats plan on running in 2020.

[ghostsinthemachine]

27. I was diagnosed with esoghogeal cancer on Friday and

Am very worried about this. I haven't been able to find an oncologist under my current plan as it is.

[Starry Messenger]

46. (((hugs)))

Sending good vibes to you ghostsinthemachine.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

28. Trump's Something Much Bettercare:

Giving everyone a coupon for 10% of bandaids and aspirin at the newly opening Trump: The Pharmacy.

[Coventina]

29. If it weren't for the fact they doomed their fellow citizens, I would say "Too bad, so sad."

I have no empathy for those people.

None.

[geek tragedy]

33. those folks will have to feel the pain from Trump's actions to shock them back

to reality.

Democrats won't be saving them from their poor decisions this time.

[loyalsister]

35. I'm amazed at how little it bothers people that a lot of allies will die

There seems to be a belief that so many poor people and working class people voted for Trump that it doesn't matter if those of us who are Democrats are left to die as long as their vengeful fantasy comes true. Thanks.

[geek tragedy]

36. Absolutely that's not what we're saying.

1. Democrats will not come to the rescue because we have no power.

2. People have been told that everything is the fault of Democrats and the Republicans can fix everything to make it better. Okay, here's there chance. In a lot of cases it will take Trump killing their loved ones to shock them back into realizing that GOP fantasies are toxic lies.

A lot of us did everything we could to prevent this from happening. Now all we can do is inflict political damage on them for committing their evil acts.

We are powerless to stop what is about to happen. All we can do is put a very high price tag on their actions.

[loyalsister]

37. DEMOCRATS WILL DIE

if this idea of retribution is implemented. If you want policies that will kill off more of our own voters that is the course of action to take.

[geek tragedy]

38. WE are not implementing anything. Republicans control the White House, they control the Congress,

they control the Supreme Court, they control most statehouses and legislatures.

They are going to do as they see fit. We can do nothing but seek to punish them politically by turning the population against them.

We have no power, we have no responsibility.

Paul Ryan, Tom Price, Donald Trump, Steve Bannon, Reince Priebus, Mitch McConnell, Steve Mnuchin et al are not going to consult with Democrats on what they should do.

[loyalsister]

39. I keep seeing posts where people are delighted by the prospect of Trump voters suffering

and the political opportunity it presents. It is sickening.

[geek tragedy]

40. it is not delight. But, we are an insurrectionist rebellion now, not

a governing power with any ability to change how the government works.

We have to take advantage of the opportunities we have in order to get back into a position of power to prevent this from happening again. The only opportunities we have is when the Republicans make bad policy.

It's distasteful, but it's how minority parties become majority parties.

[loyalsister]

42. And it's how people die

Be proud and enjoy the funerals of Democrats while you revel in victory.

[geek tragedy]

43. the alternative is permanent minority status, which would result in even more dying.

We can't save those that Trump will kill over the next 4 year. We can save a lot of others though.

[loyalsister]

44. That includes me

Thanks.

[geek tragedy]

45. They're going to extend it through 2018.

Hopefully the states will figure out how to step in.

[loyalsister]

47. Medicaid block grants will ruin lives and kill people long before the ACA is gone

In the past, they cut ambulatory oxygen because it is an optional service.
According to federal standards services under medicaid... Rx drugs- optional. Durable medical equipment- optional. Hospital and ER services at some hospitals- optional. Hospice care- optional.....

It is very likely that I will no longer have access to my doctors and Rx drugs, because Medicaid works as a secondary insurance to cover the copays for RXs and Dr. visits covered under Medicare.

Kids are especially at risk because CHIP will be trashed as soon as the state can cut it as brutally as they want.

[geek tragedy]

49. Block granting Medicaid is a different thing than repealing the ACA. nt

[loyalsister]

51. Obviously, I know it is

Many of the people who rely on it are among those who voted against their self interests and I am noticing that some here are practically jubilant at the thought of anyone who did so losing coverage. Forgetting or simply disregarding that many are our own are among them.

[geek tragedy]

52. lots of people are expressing their hurt and outrage at the election

in less than constructive ways, to put it kindly

[BigDemVoter]

41. Tough shit for them.

They were warned repeatedly and did not listen.
They allowed racism and greed to convince them otherwise.

[riversedge]

54. People of all stripes are affected.