nhrepublican's blog

HEALTH CARE - SO EASY A CAVE MAN CAN DO IT

1 - Restrict punitive damages in malpractice suits to $750,000.2 - Enact a federal coding standard... require all medical insurance companies to use the same system. If the industry won't standardize itself, this is an appropriate role for the federal government.3 - Repeal all laws that restrict which companies can operate in certain states.4 - Prohibit employers (including government) from providing health insurance for employees. Instead, require them to provide a cash amount consistent to what they are currently paying for the policy today.

This allows all insurance companies to operate anywhere, with no protected territories.This eliminates unnecessary overhead due to proprietary legacy billing systems.This eliminates the motive for trial lawyers to jack claims to get rich. Trial lawyers can't sue someone for 85 bazillion dollars for having a sponge sewn up inside them. Consequently, malpractice insurance is cheaper.Employers no longer have the overhead associated with administering a health care benefit.Each person/family can now go out and buy their own policy.

5 - Abolish Medicaid and Medicare.6 - Establish a reasonable income limit (use current Medicaid eligibility guidelines + 20%) and give the poor a voucher to go buy their own policy.

Cost to enact? The government will need a small bureaucracy to administer the voucher program. This would best be handled at the state or county level and should be funded federally with some of the money that we no longer spend on Medicaid or Medicare.

Benefits: Former state dependents (Medicaid recipients), now become empowered consumers. They probably can't add more cash to the amount of their voucher to buy an upscale policy. Many of them will become ruthless price hawks, trying to get the most coverage for that money.

A basic flaw our current system is that my health insurance does not work for me. They work for my employer. If they don't give me the service I want, I have no recourse. Under the plan I listed above, every insurance company will be responsible to every customer. They will be forced to compete in a market that they had previously not. If Single Mom has Allstate health insurance, and Geico offers free dental, don't you think she'll switch? If Busy Businessman is getting hassled trying to get his claims paid by Nationwide, don't you think he'll find a hassle free company? It's self policing.

Stigma - Do you know how hard it is to find a dentist that takes Medicaid? Some folks are also embarrassed having to tell someone that they are on government assistance. This plan removes that stigma. No health care provider will know how you paid for your insurance.

Some government oversight is in place because insurance companies will have to justify rate increases (affects the cost of vouchers) to Congress.

Tim Phillips, President of Americans for Prosperity and Senator Jim Demint (R-SC) gave a great conference call Town Hall meeting last night.  Approximately 11,000 concerned Americans called in.  Both Mr. Phillips and Senator Demint gave short introductions, and then took questions from the callers.  Senator Demint answered the questions while running back into the Senate chamber every so often to vote, or introduce an amendment to strip the pork out.  This was an amazing, and encouraging example of fiscal conservative activism, and an inspiring leader.

Senator Demint made it clear that his first goal was to defeat the legislation.  However, realizing that with the help of some shaky Republicans like Senator Snowe from Maine, the legislation may pass.  Consequently, he is doing everything he can to minimize the damage that will be done by this bill.  When a caller asked the Senator if the economy was as bad as the news made it out to be, and did we really need a stimulus, he replied clearly that it would be better to do nothing than pass this bill.   This bill will add $10,000 of new debt to every family in America.  We just can't afford that.

You can learn more about the bill at http://nostimulus.com   While you are there, please sign the petition expressing your opposition to this bill.  This petition will be delivered to the floor of the Senate before the vote, which is expected Friday.  There are also buttons there for you to call media, and email elected officials.  Make no mistake, as Americans learn more about this plan, the support drops every day.  One recent poll has it at 30%.  Senators up for re-election may choke and not vote for this if we can show enough opposition.

You can also go to http://www.jimdemint.com and express support for a jobs plan that ensures that businesses will be profitable, and therefore hiring... and ensures that people will spend... all by reducing taxes and leaving the money where it will do the most good.  After all, it doesn't cost anything to not take money.

Did you know that we have achieved a level of indebtedness that makes China think twice before lending us money?  They are losing confidence in our ability to pay our debts.  What if this spending package doesn't work?  At some point, the tap gets turned off.  We need real solutions that rely on creativity and free enterprise that are sustainable and permanent.  Our current level of debt is so high that if we were to apply to the European Union for membership, we would be denied as a debtor nation.  They have standards.  I'm embarrassed.

Americans for Prosperity and Senator Demint are doing everything that I hoped a Republican grassroots coalition would do.  Let's make it work.  Please commit a little time to do the following.  It's important, and just might make the difference.

1 - Go to http://nostimulus.com and at least sign the petition.  If you have time, use the tools there to send an email to an elected official.  We don’t have time for letters to the editor, we need fast impact.

2 - This one is critical.  Call 202-224-3121.  When the Capitol switchboard answers, ask for your Senator.  Tell them that you want them to vote against this spending plan.  If you have time, call someone else's Senator as well.

3 - Ask someone else to make the same call.

4 - Go to http://www.jimdemint.com and give him a quick thank you for his efforts.  Check out his one page, zero cost stimulus package:

http://demint.senate.gov/public/_files/2009-02-02_DeMint_Jobs_Plan_Summa...

Please, make the phone call in item 3.  If we can jam the switchboard, the main stream media, heck even MSNBC will report it and then maybe they'll blink, and not pass the package.  Call 202-224-3121, ask for the Senator of your choice, and express your outrage.

Tonight was a very good night to be a Conservative activist.

Steve

Send this to everyone you can.

Steve Smith, nhrepublican@gmail.com , 603-826-5996 

When Republicans look for a big tent, “all are welcome here” mindset... we lose.  A party has to stand for something.  The challenge is then to not browbeat or scare others into submission, but rather engage them and persuade them that our way is better.  Diluted principles lead to a weak party with no clear vision to offer.  It isn't about the party, it's about the ideals and principles.  Ronald Reagan was successful not only because of his considerable communicative skills, but more so because he believed, right down to his socks, everything he said.  His conviction and faith were unshakable.  Conveying that depth of belief in a core set of values is what makes people want to join you.

So... why did Republicans lose this year?  Whether you agree with him or not (I suspect "not"), Barack Obama painted a vivid picture of what his campaign meant and where he wanted it to go.  Ronald Reagan did this for Conservatives.  He not only articulated the message, he painted the vision.  People could see what "Morning in America" looked like, and they wanted to be in that picture.  They wanted to live in the "shining city on a hill".  We may be the opposition party now, but we will never be successful running against something.  We have to give people a bright, vibrant picture of what they are voting for when they vote Republican.  It really is about hope and dreams.  We have to get back to a basic message, solid principles, and a clear vision.  Then, we find a way to make people see it and feel it.

Republicans support my America.  In my America, people can fail.  In my America, we help them learn from those mistakes, pick themselves up, and encourage them to try again.  In my America, success doesn't always come easy.  That makes it all the sweeter when you finally attain it.  Barack Obama and the Democratic Party would have people believe that "yes we can" is only possible with the help of the government.  We don't say "yes we can" a lot in my America.  Instead, brave, hard working individuals stand up and say "yes I can".  In my America, the government protects my Constitutional rights and clears away barriers to my success.  They do not cheapen my achievements by creating artificial success.  They don't discourage me by telling me that I can't succeed without their help.  In my America, my accomplishments may be small, but they are mine and I can take pride them.  That's why I am a Republican.

We need people who can hear the Democratic message, smile and say "there you go again".  The critical follow-up is the ability to paint an alternate picture of America that makes people smile, and proud to wave the flag.  If we do, we will win.  Backtracking and compromising our message will add to the air of defeat around the GOP, and no one wants to join the losers.  Our message did not fail.  We never effectively communicated our message.

I am a motivated volunteer who has worked hard since May of 2007 for candidates who inspired me.   We should always expect, and demand that our leaders inspire us.  A consensus candidate may get my vote, but they won't get my help.  I suspect that I'm very representative of the needed activists out there.  I would urge you all to not find "consensus” candidates next time.  Instead, find brave champions and true-believers who can convince those that disagree with us, that we just may have something here.  Find candidates who can make people believe, right down to their socks, that “yes I can”.

Steve Smith

I just read a statement titled "Republicans unveil energy agenda".  It ends with this -

"American families and small businesses deserve better. And with the energy agenda we have outlined, House Republicans are prepared to provide the change America deserves."  The problem is, while the article is a grand statement of policy, and a repudiation in general of Democratic policies (Rah, Rah!), it isn't an outline of anything.  There isn't one solid proposal.  Even worse, it isn't even new material.  When I was a debater in 1979, and our topic was "Resolved, that the United States should establish a comprehensive energy plan to significantly reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources", I saw these exact same statements from government figures (except for the stat about refineries).  That was 29 years ago!  The key quoted text at the top reads "Republicans are committed to a comprehensive energy policy that will boost supplies of all forms of energy right here at home to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy, protect us against blackmail by foreign dictators, create American jobs and grow our economy."  I don't even know how to respond.  Does anyone feel that this is a stunning relevation?  Holy cow!

The answer lies in explaining to our elected officials and candidates that we're not interested in big policy outlines, comprehensive plans, bi-partisan buy-in, or any other buzz words and multi-page documents that don't mean anything.  Pick a common sense solution, just one, that will accomplish something, and propose it in Congress.  If you keep it simple, people (rather than being first and above all a Democrat or Republican) will vote for it.  The way to secure the future of the GOP is to become the party supporting those simple, workable, solutions.  When Ronald Reagan heard that he was being called the "Great Communicator", he rejected the name.  he replied that he was simply a communicator of great of great ideas.  We've been fighting the same battle here for thirty years or longer.  It's time to get to work.  Want some examples?

The government tells me to drive a smaller car or, back in the day, turn my thermostat down.  We have 225 tactical naval vessels and only 80 are nuclear.  Why do we have 145 ships sucking down diesel?

Why aren't military bases and government installations energy self-sufficient?

If those bases had wind and solar power, "on-base vehicles" could all be electric.

There's more, but you get the idea.  Each item would help, and create a permanent reduction in costs.  It would also create a market for solar panels.  That just might make them affordable for you and I.  They would also be leading by example.

For more details, read this  -  http://northconservative.com/EnergyProposal.doc

Ask anyone who proposes an energy plan... "What, exactly, will you do?"

Steve Smith