Debating Health Care Reform
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Town Hall Meeting on Health Care Reform with Rep. Kevin McCarthy, September 2, 2009
My Eye-Witness Report
Tonight I attended my first ever town hall meeting with our Congressmen, Kevin McCarthy (R). He represents the North County of San Luis Obispo County and Bakersfield, in California. There must have been at least 2,000 people there, and although we were meeting in a large building at the Paso Robles Event Center -- the largest meeting place in the North County, there were almost no empty seats and several people were filling the bleacher sections and standing at the back.
The Highway Patrol was doing the security check at the door and they searched all of our purses. I guess they were on hand to keep order. I think there were three of them. I didn't see any city police. While we were standing in line waiting to get in, several people with opposing viewpoints were quietly passing out literature representing their points of view. Signs had to be left outside. There was none of the demonstration spirit I have seen at the tea parties. A few members of the Minsters and Laity for Justice were holding a vigil outside as we came in, but you hardly knew they were there.
Contents at a Glance
Here's what we saw before the town hall meeting as we entered and waited for the beginning
We did not see any disorder.
As we came in, we were given Constituent Resource Packets containing FAQ about H.R. 3200, a breakdown of who the uninsured are, and data tables and graphs of the projected deficit spending and national debt from 2009 - 2019. That was scary. Most of us were looking over the packets as we waited for the meeting to start.
Rep. Kevin McCarthy Takes the Podium
The meeting has officially begun.
A local pediatrician was first to take the podium. He greeted the people and then introduced a pastor from the Atascadero Bible Church who read a prayer that had been written by George Washington. and then gave an invocation requesting God's wisdom for those making the decisions in Washington and God's help in assisting us to treat each other with respect even when we disagree. The pastor got a standing ovation. After this a local high school student lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
The doctor then introduced Rep. McCarthy, and he explained how the meeting would be conducted. He would take questions from random members of the crowd, and those chosen would be given a microphone so they could be heard by everyone. Several people commented or asked their questions.
Rep McCarthy stated that he was opposed to H.R. 3200, but not to health care reform. Three points he made were
1. The lack of transparency in government has to stop.
2. We need insurance reform.
3 . We have to stop accumulating debt as a nation at the present speed.
McCarthy also believes doctors should be able to write off the free service that many give those who cannot afford to pay. Many doctors treat the poor for free. He supports insurance reform that would make insurance affordable for those with pre-existing conditions or for the working poor. He said insurance companies should be made to play fair.
At this point I stopped taking notes because I had to concentrate on hearing the people speaking. Two physicians spoke from opposing points of view. One wanted a single payer system becasue he was spending as much time on insurance paperwork as on treating patients. Another said he has practiced medicine in nine different countries and that people in all of them envied our health care system. He was also the one who pointed out the fact that many doctors treat those who truly can't pay without charging them.
The audience applauded frequently after people spoke, but there was an occasional boo when someone disagreed. That is about as disorderly as it got. Most speakers had carefully thought through their points and stated their positions with supporting details and people listened to them respectfully. Only one person seemed to be playing to his crowd more than really thoughtfully stating his opinion. He said we didn't' need any middle men between us and our health care. We didn't need insurance companies. We pay taxes and the firemen fight our fires and no insurance company is involved there. Why can't health care be the same. We don't need insurance companies in the middle. Rep McCarthy then brought down the house when he agreed that we don't need insurance companies to get the fire department to the fire, but after the fire, they are the first ones we call to repair any damage the fire caused.
It seemed to me that the meeting ended all too soon, since there was not time to take very many questions. Others felt the same way, evidently, since a large crowd hung around afterward to speak to Rep. McCarthy.
Everyone seemed to agree on this one thing:
The health care system can't go on exactly as it is. Health care reform is needed. The disagreement is on what changes need to be made.
What do you think about health care reform?
Do you support H.R. 3200 as it is written? Why or why not? If you don't support it, please share your reasons. Write in the form beside your name and when you start writing you can choose the side you are on. What you write will be in the column for the position you take.
jtomomi says:
I agree mostly with the health care reform how it is. However, I do also agree that the insurance companies should be the ones held responsible. I would be happy if they were regulated and laws were put in place that prevented them from charging unafforble premiums, rejecting claims, and not covering pre-exsiting conditions.
kimmanleyort says:
I support health care reform but believe that we need to address concerns about costs and other items that may not be clear enough. The speech the other night seemed to be a very reasonable starting point. The government option, which was a small portion, does not mean that people will not be able to choose their doctor.
CastleRoy says:
yes I love it and it saves money not only will it help people who do not have coverage and need the care it gets them to see doctors before they need a hospital which costs the people with insurance more money now, I believe health care should be a right for all Americans it is the right thing to do. I hate that so many die each year it is very sad, reform is needed my mom and dad worked entire lives they had different insurance company's dad was treated great had all he needed and mom was told couldn't have things she needed & so many are denied treatments and die the insurance company's raking in the cash and not providing the care it is unfair ,sad
andreaberrios says:
It's the only way that makes sense to me! :)
TrinaSonnenberg says:
I have lived without health insurance for the last 13 years. It has almost bankrupt my family more than once. Med-flight, for my son, cost $12,000. The medication my husband was prescribed for pneumonia almost bankrupt us. He was sick for six months and couldn't work, and the medication was $10 per dose.
mactypetim says:
This is not the way, and that is even with the knowledge of the recent surgery I had without insurance. TBH it was my own fault I did not have insurance. I still never want to owe anything to the government. Being part of this travesty is giving up your freedom to choose your own doctor and go where you want and when you want, for treatment. A government entity will be making those choices for you... is that what you want?
After the Town Hall Meeting Was Over
Some people left; some grouped around McCarthy for further talk. Some waited for most of the crowd to leave.
People chatted with each other or waited in the crowd to ask questions of Rep. McCarthy.
Web sites that deal with alternatives to H.R. 3200
It isn't H.R. 3200 or nothing as far as health care reform goes.
- Rep. Kevin McCarthy's Official Web Page.
- If you are one of Kevin McCarthy's constituents and you could not attend this town hall meeting on heath care, you can take the same survey we did by going to his site. You can also read much of the information we were handed when we walked in.He has a link to the bill itself. Then he answers some of the frequently asked questions and refers to specific pages in the bill where he got his answers. You don't have to rely on what someone says the bill says. You can read the relevant parts yourself, or the whole thing if you please. Enjoy!
Then take his survey. - How American Health Care Killed My Father
- This isn't an easy read, but there aren't really any easy answers. These six pages are much easier to read than the 1,000+ pages of H.R. 3200. Here's a plan to help American's take control of their own health care by reforming the entire system through insurance reform -- not government control. It addresses the problem of those who have preexisting conditions or who can't afford insurance.
- How to Insure Every American
- Congressmen John Shadegg and Pete Hoekstra share their ideas for reforming health care without a government takeover.
Health Care Reform In the News
- Reform takes toll on some, aids others
- By DENIS PAISTE MANCHESTER ? For some, the federal health care reform law is like salve on a burn; for others, salt in a wound. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, enacted in 2010 to ensure millions of uninsured Americans obtained coverage ...
- Health care reform topic of forum
- She said health care should not be a political issue, but ?democracy is more of an art than anything else ? you have compromise and you hash it out and we get what we can.? Mitchell explained the need for health care reform in America, ...
- OPINION: Health care act final ruling will require support for employers
- How the Supreme Court will rule on the challenge to the health care reform law remains an unanswered question. The only safe conclusion that can be made at this point is that the high court will hand down its decision by the end of June.
- Why do Hospitals Charge $4423 for $250 CT Scans? Blame Arizona Republicans
- In Arizona, a state senator named Nancy Barto (R.), who chairs the senate's Health Care and Medical Liability Reform Committee, sponsored a bill, SB 1384, targeted directly at this problem. The bill would require health care facilities to ?make ...
Calvin College Professors Discuss Health Care Reform
See their answers here.
Did you enjoy this eye-witness account of a bit of local history?
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Please leave your feedback here.
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I hope you decided to participate in the discussion above on whether you are for or against H.R. 3200. In this section, you can leave your other comments.
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jtomomi
Nov 18, 2009 @ 7:05 am | delete
- very interesting. you were lucky to have attended one of the calm town hall meetings! although, probably not as exciting. :-) Jeannette
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Ramkitten
Nov 15, 2009 @ 12:11 am | delete
- Very interesting lens. I remember attending town meetings in New England, especially when I was in college. Most were in small towns in New Hampshire, but even their small meeting houses were usually packed.
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sandyspider
Sep 7, 2009 @ 1:25 pm | delete
- Great lens.
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CastleRoy
Sep 4, 2009 @ 2:19 am | delete
- Great lens
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TrinaSonnenberg
Sep 3, 2009 @ 6:02 am | delete
- Great lens!
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