"Nobody dies because they don't have health care insurance."

[Elwood P Dowd]

Saw a brief clip of a repuke congressman saying this on Rachel's show tonight. It was at a town hall of his, but didn't catch his name. Who was that jerk?

[PsychoBabble]

1. Raoul Labrador, ID

[procon]

2. Here you go...

Republican Rep. Raul Labrador said that "nobody dies because they don't have access to healthcare" at a town hall.

There's a video at the link.
http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2017/05/06/labrador-health-care-acosta-sot-ac.cnn

[renate]

5. the perfect example of how out of touch some representatives are

That was infuriating.

[Cha]

19. He was lying.

[whistler162]

21. and in other news water is wet!

[Wellstone ruled]

3. Yup,just parroting the GOP Freedom Caucus

Party line. He believes his Church will come to his rescue,lot's of luck on that one.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. Work in a hospital for more than twenty minutes and

you'll know how much of a lie that is.

There's this semi-charming myth out there about how those who don't have health insurance can just show up at a hospital ER and everything will be taken care of. The brutal truth is that if you show up at the ER with no insurance, all they have to do, and all they will do is stabilize you and release you. They will give you the name of a doctor you should go to for follow up care, but those with no insurance never do that. Most of the time whatever is wrong with them just gets worse and worse.

There are certain jobs everyone should have to do in their lives. One is to be a server in a restaurant. Another is to do inpatient registration in a hospital emergency room. Say, at least one year of each, preferably two years. Then, and only then can you go on to college. Or run for elective office.

[Boxerfan]

6. Message deleted by DU the Administrators

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

17. A heart?

Clearly Republicans and right wingers do not have hearts.

I worked for ten years as an airline ticket agent at Washington National Airport, and the first six months of that job totally transformed me. I am (I'm sorry to say) capable of being less than nice to others, but about 90% of the time I'm a pretty nice person. Cheerful, helpful, an all around boy scout. Even if I am female.

Most of the time I find it genuinely easy to be kind and helpful to others. I'm sure that's mainly because of my airline years, but I'm still astonished at those who are mean and hateful. Oh, and don't get me started on bad tippers. I never had a job where my wages depended on tipping, but I hope I get it. While I agree that there ought to be a better way, we meanwhile have this system where certain people's income depends on tips. So tip, asshole! A minimum of 15%. Even if the service was crappy. More if the service was good or if you ordered an exceptionally inexpensive item. Example: I sometimes order a cup (yes a cup, not a bowl) of chicken enchilada soup at Chile's. And some garlic toast. The cost of the meal is under $5.00. I tip at least five bucks. Because the server has done as much for me as if I'd ordered a more expensive item, and he or she deserves that tip. Period, end of discussion. A long time ago I figured a minimum tip was one dollar. At some point it rose to two dollars. Now, as far as I'm concerned, it's five dollars. And as I type this, I wonder if my minimum shouldn't be even higher.

I have never waited tables. I'd be terrible at that job. But most of my jobs have been in public contact, and I understand dealing with the public. I sincerely hope I get it right most of the time.

[mnhtnbb]

24. I never waited tables, either, but I did work as a unit clerk in an ER

and on other hospital services (medical, surgical, OB/Gyn) as a vacation relief clerk for three summers when I was in college. I went on to do a master's degree in hospital administration and spent most of my professional life as an administrator at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles in the 70's and 80's.

Yes, hospital ER's will stabilize someone and then ship them out. Absolutely.

Yes, generous tipping is something I always do. Although, we were in France recently and I thought it was wonderful that tipping was not expected
because it's already included in the price you pay. And it did not make a bit of difference in the level of service we had (which is something Republicans and
right wingers are so happy to speculate that if it weren't for tipping, wait staff wouldn't care and wouldn't give good service). It's their job, dumb fu*ks. People like to keep their jobs! What a quaint idea. Honestly, I don't know how Republicans can be so stupid sometimes. Well, I take it back. Most of them aren't inclined to think for themselves--want someone else to do it for them--and thus end up spewing bullshit about so many things.

[spiderpig]

7. An important point, and very well stated.

Working in the service industry will change your perspective permanently for the better, if you have any kind of moral character whatsoever.

[Hekate]

8. +1

[MiniMe]

9. I have to disagree. I had a heart attack 5 years ago and had no insurance

Nobody even asked me for an insurance card until after my stent was placed. And then I stayed in the hospital in the CCU ward for 4 days. I'm sure being kicked out once stable happens, but it didn't happen to me.

[Warpy]

12. You weren't stable enough to make it through the door.

That's why.

[uponit7771]

23. You can't get cemotheroapy from ER

[MiniMe]

26. Of course not, and they expect to be paid for their services

These repukes are just ignorant

[TBA]

25. Ex had a heart attack too. No insurance

They gave him a stint as well but informed him what he really needed was bypass surgery. Since he had no insurance, he only got the stint to save his life and stabilize him.

[Mariana]

28. It sounds like that is exactly what happened to you.

The stent surgery and the 4 days in CCU were required to stabilize you.

[KT2000]

16. went through this with a friend

he got his ACA insurance but all doctors here make new patients wait 3 months for their 1st appt. He had a problem so had to go to emergency room. He was released and given the name of a doctor to follow-up in a week. I took him to that doctor appt. and he was told that since he did not have a referral from the preferred provider - the one that insisted he wait 3 months for an appt. - they could not see him.
They were also assholes about it.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

18. So sorry to hear this.

Over the years, in different parts of the country, I've heard various versions of this. Sometimes doctors are genuinely full, and have no room for new patients. Sometimes they have room, but their appointment schedule is quite full and it takes a long time to get in to see the doctor.

And there are some doctors who won't take Medicare or Medicaid patients. I was aware of that last, and a couple of years ago, before I turned 65 and became a Medicare patient, I established (sort of) a relationship with a doctor so that I'd have that relationship to fall back on in the future. I'm one of those annoyingly healthy people, and have generally avoided doctors most of my life. Occasionally I break a bone (Details available upon request). I actually connected to this particular MD because I was getting a new life insurance policy, had to pass a physical, and had a blood pressure problem. In the long run, I'm glad I have a primary care doctor to put down on various forms, or if something happens.

Don't get me wrong. I understand that my health at my age (68) is pretty unusual, and if I had one wish it would be that no one would be less healthy than I am. I am as angry as anyone about the recent vote in the House. What the fuck are they thinking? Do they honestly not understand that health care ought to be a basic human right? I don't give a flying fuck what stupid things you do -- be obese, smoke like a chimney, never exercise, whatever. That does not matter. Well, okay, you ought to change those behaviors, but they still don't exempt you from health care.

I recently got into an argument with a neighbor who doesn't think he should pay for a relative's health care because the relative is overweight, doesn't exercise, and so on. Meanwhile, his boyfriend smokes. I told the boyfriend that when he's in the hospital because of that, I'll remind him of his previous lack of compassion.

Don't get me wrong. I'm as capable as anyone of judging someone for smoking or bad eating habits, but I understand that no matter what, we all deserve the same health care. Period. End of discussion.

Oh, and if it matters, I'm overweight, and have high cholesterol. But I'm still not an evil person. Nor, I hope, is anyone reading this.

[KT2000]

31. the blame game has become

a useful tool for the RW. The research dollars poured into tobacco research when lawsuits were won and states were to receive settlements from the tobacco companies. The obesity research took off when the connection between diabetes and obesity was confirmed. The results of this research have been used in shorthand to blame people for their own health problems.

There are mountains of research that are providing a more complete picture of health in the US. The research is not used for practical purposes such as policy decisions or accurate medical care. The research points to environmental exposures from fetal development throughout a lifetime. Very few dollars are put into this kind of research - miniscule compared to what has been spent on tobacco research.

Which is not to say that smoking and being overweight are good things, but -

Exposure to certain endocrine disrupting chemicals, which are found in all kinds of products, can cause weight gain. Chemicals such as DDT can cause type 2 diabetes. Automobile exhaust affects the cardiovascular system and increases the risk of heart attack. Some zero calorie sugar substitutes cause weight gain. Some chemicals affect the electrical system in the body, hence, arrhythmias. Endocrine disrupting chemicals have been implicated in many cancers including prostate, testicular, breast, ovarian, etc. (See Environmental Health Perspectives, publication of National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part if National Health Institutes - for some interesting research that is more likely to be utilized in Europe than the US)

But chemicals and pollution will never be part of the blame game. It is much easier to entice people to blame each other, such as your neighbor. Changing policies and holding companies accountable for in-depth safety testing of their products will never happen. They spend their dollars on stopping the government from requiring adequate research.

Thanks for listening.

[uponit7771]

22. Doesn't sound too bad

[MFM008]

10. what triple decker moron

vomited forth with this crap?

[oasis]

11. 2018 is fast approaching. nt

[BainsBane]

13. What he really meant is

"They die. I just don't care."

[VOX]

14. Raul, lead by example: Drop your health care insurance immediately.

Do it immediately. And then let's measure your comfort level with that brilliant argument.

[politicat]

15. And drop your salary to median for your district. Stop fundraising.

...
Waiting...

....

Yeah, didn't think those convictions actually had any courage in them.

[WinkyDink]

20. This is the "ER Theory of Black-Hearted Republicans." Of course, diabetes, heart disease,

cancers, etc. are not treated in Emergency Rooms.

[moriah]

27. Bullshit! A friend died from an abscessed fucking tooth the ER wouldn't treat.

He was in his 20s. Was an upper molar. The ER wouldn't give him antibiotics even. When the abscess burst so close to his brain...

[Horse with no Name]

29. just not true

and if this healthcare bill becomes law...ED's will be inundated with everything and even the blessed people lucky enough to have insurance will suffer with increased wait times and gasp....having to share care with the unwashed masses who are suffering from catastrophic illnesses because they could not afford prevention.

[Adrahil]

30. He needs to see this.

TLDR: States that expanded medicaid under the ACA saw a significant decrease in mortality.

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1202099#t=article

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

32. True statement. It's not the lack of insurance that kills, ...

it's the lack of health care.

With Single-Payer, the insurance layer can be eliminated and we can all have health care with no insurance.

Somehow, it works in England, and it works here in the Veterans Administration.