O Healthy Happy Day!

The House just passed a groundbreaking health plan that effectively rebukes the fat cat insurance companies and affords ordinary folks relief from their tyranny. No more the sick to be dropped from indemnity with a callous flourish of the corporate quill. No more the needy to be denied coverage based on pre-existing conditions, which have grown to include absurdities like acne and being beaten by your spouse.

Now if only the Senate would get on board, and the President signs the bill into law.

Yes, the mega-monster insurers, squinting through piggish eyes, can turn away anyone who is a bad gamble, or jack up the price of premiums. They fart at the thought of decency or virtue. Profit is their standard and they seem happy to ignore fear, misery and death to batten their golden guts.

CEO to dying cancer patient: “Us, pay for your costly treatment? It’s only 30% effective and you’re too old to be worth the risk.”

CEO to dying child: “Sorry, that cure is experimental, and those drugs you want would only extend your life by a year at most.”

CEO to person who was a victim of spousal abuse: “Sorry, since you let your husband beat you, you are statistically likely to cost us money, thus we are doubling your premiums.”

Etc. Etc. Etc.

Enter the whiny attack dogs of the insurance companies, their loyal servitors: the Republicans. They mewl, bark, slaver, and snarl--whatever might please and promote their corporate masters.

Rep. Candice Miller, R-Michigan on the new health plan:

“We are going to have a complete government takeover of our health care system faster than you can say, `this is making me sick.”

Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Georgia: “This bill is a wrecking ball to the entire economy.”

Notice that infamous trademark of manipulative rhetoric: hyperbole without argument. The Republicans are experts at hyperbole without argument because they count on non-rational factors like fear and hate to trick the hoi polloi.

And of course the hoi polloi are primarily uneducated and so don’t know their history 101; and hence have not learned that hyperbole without argument has been used to manipulate large masses of dullards since the dawn of civilization.

Hitler on this subject: “The great masses of the people will more easily fall victim to a big lie than a small one.”

Anyway, the whiny Republican attack dogs, held loosely on their choke leash by the insurance companies, voted unanimously against this milestone health bill, with one exception, a greenhorn from New Orleans named Joseph Cao. Callow Cao has come through. Maybe he just hasn't been indoctrinated yet.

The Republicans bluster about the expense of the new plan; but first of all, what about those costly wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, you know, the ones we were led into my Mr. “mission accomplished”?

Without the drain of these corrupt and incompetent debacles, which were immorally thrust upon the public through deceit, universal healthcare would be a breeze to fund.

Secondly, the expense of the new plan will be largely mitigated by the fact that people are healthier, less stressed, and won’t be crawling into the emergency room during the last hour of life.

My granny always used to say: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Thirdly, money will still reach the mouths of the guzzling insurance giants, but they will be put on a diet. Too long their obesity has crowded the rest of us with an asphyxiating odor of greed. It is time for reform, yes, but even more it is time for true equality in terms of who gets to see a doctor at what point in their personal struggle with illness.

The new healthcare plan is funded in part by taxing millionaires and billionaires. Um ... so? If we don’t tax them, what will they do with the extra money? The Cayman Islands look good for a little vacation, or how about Bermuda, or Rio? Nothing like betting a couple million on the roulette wheel in a Brazilian casino. Heck, ain’t that what freedom is all about?

One thing’s for sure: if we don’t tax the rich for the general good, they won’t offer to pay for your child’s broken leg, or your hospital bed when you get H1N1.