At least one journalist isn't impressed by the health care initiatives of the White House and congressional Democrats, and is warning of consequences should they succeed.
CNBC's Maria Bartiromo was on MSNBC's July 27 "Morning Joe" to preview her upcoming special "Meeting of the Minds: The Future of Health Care," set to debut on July 27. According to the Bartiromo, who also anchors "Closing Bell" and "Wall Street Journal Report with Maria Bartiromo," much of the increased costs of health care could be prevented with changes in lifestyle and behavior.
"You know, I mean the issue is - 70 percent of the cost of health care is preventable disease. It's lifestyle, behavior," Bartiromo said.
She pointed to two main problems with Democrat health care proposals, the first of which is cost and the second is the amount of power it gives the government over an individuals life.
"Well number one, it's too expensive," Bartiromo said. "A trillion dollars over 10 years is just too expensive. We don't have the money for that and secondly, think about the U.K. So the U.K. government right now - they're deciding what procedures, what drugs to pay for because they have a public system in place. The Obama administration is putting forth a public system."
Bartiromo likened the power of the U.K.'s government-run health care program to that of a deity since those in charge and dictate what sort of medications cancer victims can or can not have.
"In the U.K., if you have cancer - you will not be able to take Erbitux or Avastin, two of the most popular, most effective drugs," Bartiromo explained. "Is that where we are going? Are we going to a system where the government is going to play God? Or the insurance companies play God?"
Bartiromo's look at health care is advertised to be an "outside-the-box" look at the issue into different territory than other media reports. But, a study by the Business & Media Institute found the media tend not to be overly critical of the President health care policy. The study examined 224 stories about health care on the three broadcast networks' morning and evening shows that aired between Jan. 20, the date of Obama's inauguration, and June 24, and found they are reluctant to include reporting about cost and tended to exaggerate the number of uninsured, which bolsters Obama's case.
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File this one
July 27, 2009 - 13:32 ET by 10ksnookerUnder liberals have parents too, right beside liberals used to have home equity too.
Cliff notes version of the government takeover of healthcare — Abort
the young, euthanize the old, give the saved money to your Democrat
voters, supporters and cronies. Does sound a lot like playing God.
One big reason that
July 27, 2009 - 13:43 ET by Chris NormanOne big reason that healthcare is expensive is because we have great healthcare. Diseases or conditions that were a death sentence not so long ago are now treatable and even curable with miracle drugs, surgical procedures, or amazing technology. All Obama is doing is proposing is that we lower health costs by going back thirty or forty years and writing a lot of people off. No treatment - no cost.
A good comarison is veterinary care. Thirty years ago, if your pet got really sick or hit by a car, you usually got it put to sleep. Now, people will spend thousands of dollars to get their ten year old dog orthopedic surgery. Don't we care as much for people as we do dogs?
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Chris... Excellent
July 27, 2009 - 13:44 ET by bigtimerChris...
Excellent point...and that we do.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Very good Chris
July 27, 2009 - 14:00 ET by general companyMy wife is a perfect example of this. She has been cured of Hepatitis C. Even while a very wealthy and very good man in Walter Payton was perishing from the disease, they had developed a process to kill the virus in the Blood. We would had lost her if not for folks continuing to work on treatment for her, instead of giving up because of cost. We would had spent our last penny, and every cent we could had borrowed to save her life. The Gov. wont even give you a fair fight, they will fold your life when the cost suits them.
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
general, I'm so glad your
July 27, 2009 - 14:06 ET by Chris Normangeneral, I'm so glad your wife, through dedicatedand skilled doctors and advanced treatments, was cured. Where in the heck is the "hope" in Obama's healthcare plan?
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Thanks
July 27, 2009 - 14:21 ET by general companyThe increased bureaucracies will ensure that hope will be lost in the very early stages of what ever ails you. Citizens of other countries come here as the last resort, where will we go?
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Ironically, we may have to
July 27, 2009 - 14:27 ET by Chris NormanIronically, we may have to go to "back alley" clinics that offer quality care for a price.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Expensive
July 27, 2009 - 13:56 ET by sevenNo cycle helmet, You die. Helmet you live with traction and allkinds of equipment and go home after months. It used to be with helmet you live longer and die.
32% of healthcare costs are admin overhead. Not labor and supplies. With Obamascare, reports and handlers, it will head toward 50%.
July 27, 2009 - 14:31 ET by jessieHThere is only two things wrong with our healthcare system. The fraud and the govt. Or should I say one thing? The govt. is the fraud.
too true
July 27, 2009 - 15:06 ET by wizardjrBetween mandates and opening the door to unlimited 'punitive damages' the government has put us where we are now. Add to that the exorbitant costs to field a new drug and ... SUPRISE! - costs are up. Duh.
What a bunch of maroons (as Bugsy used to say).
You forgot the lawyers,
July 27, 2009 - 19:36 ET by ReaganRuledYou forgot the lawyers, which is the #1 reason why healthcare costs are astronomical! Get the lawyers' profit incentive taken out, and you will have solved about 80% of the overcosts of healthcare!
Oh yeah .. just had to give
July 27, 2009 - 19:34 ET by ReaganRuledOh yeah .. just had to give me another reason to watch "the Money Honey." ;^) While she's not as hot as she was in the 90s, she's still fine to look at. And I've usually thought she was pretty astute as well, unlike news broads who work for CNN and pMSNBS, etc.
Maria and CNBC
July 27, 2009 - 20:42 ET by Kingfish17I think she keeps some of her personal viewpoints muted to just go along and get along, but when she does "comment", it's obvious she is knowledgeable and has a good head on her shoulders and is more often then not conservative.
If all of the MSM was as balanced as CNBC we'd have a different President. I think NBC is afraid to change CNBC too much because they know the viewership would bail and find an alternative.
"I've sentenced boys younger then you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it, but I felt I owed it to them." Judge Smails
90% of all healthcare is spent on "End-of-LIfe" Issues
July 27, 2009 - 20:30 ET by Kingfish17I've heard this statistic, or ones like it, bantied about by proponents of health care change forever. My answer to this? Well no sh*t! Everybody dies! So everyone will be faced with "end-of-life" health issues. Even if you spend more on preventative care while someone is in their 50s or 60s, they are sitll going to have end-of-life issues!
The only way to eliminate end-of-life costs is to ration care and to have someone else decide that anyone over 85 is no longer eligible for a pacemaker, or similar rationing schemes.
These people are selling death, not health.
"I've sentenced boys younger then you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it, but I felt I owed it to them." Judge Smails