A Whole Lotta Nothing

topic posted Mon, November 9, 2009 - 3:20 PM by  Adam
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I wrote our Senator, John Cornyn about the health care bill and here's what he said in an email titled "Thank You For Contacting My Office".

Dear Mr. XXXXX:

Thank you for contacting me about efforts to reform our nation's health care system. The American health care system faces a myriad of complex challenges: rising medical and prescription drug costs, a lack of stable insurance coverage, and a medical bureaucracy that is increasingly difficult to navigate. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this important issue.

I am well acquainted with the frustration of many Americans struggling to meet their health care needs within the current cumbersome system, and I understand the urgency to implement sound revisions. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), spending on health care will account for nearly 17 percent of Gross Domestic Product in 2009—totaling as much as $2.6 trillion. Health care costs have more than doubled over the last ten years and far outpaced wage growth, and I believe that meaningful health care reform is very important. However, I believe reform can be achieved by lowering the cost of health care without spending more money and without giving Washington more control over the decisions of doctors and patients.

Health care affects every American and I believe we need to take the time to listen to the patients, providers, families, and small businesses that will be significantly impacted. America has a highly complicated system and it is important to ensure that changes are thoroughly considered and not hastily passed by Congress. It may interest you to learn, that I am helping lead a Senate health reform working group that meets regularly to discuss the most pressing areas for reform in our nation’s healthcare system. It is important that Americans have access to affordable health insurance and therefore, I believe we must reform our health care system, emphasizing individual choice and trusting patients, their families, and their doctors—not lawyers or bureaucrats—to make health maintenance and treatment decisions. I am committed to improving access to quality, affordable health care, and you may be certain that I will keep your views in mind as I work my congressional colleagues, as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, to address this critical issue.

As Congress works to reform our health care system, I will adamantly oppose the creation of a Washington-run government health insurance plan, which I believe is unequivocally a gateway to a single-payer system. I believe that a new government-run health insurance plan will devastate private insurance markets by acting as a competitor, regulator, and funder. Independent estimates have found that such a plan could result in 118 million Americans losing their current health benefits, and leave 130 million Americans to rely on a government-run health care plan. Additionally, I cannot support punitive health benefit taxes on small businesses, which will hurt wages and jobs.

Successful health care reform will put patients in charge, and improve the insurance system so that providers will compete for their business by delivering high quality care at affordable prices. I appreciate having the opportunity to represent the interests of Texans in the United States Senate. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Sincerely,

JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator

This is just a whole lot of nothing as it only has his political rhetoric and NOTHING to address my complaints. When we speak to our government officials it falls on deaf ears and unless you amass a large group to address them, you get blown off in this manner. It is a sign of just how insignificant "We The People" actually are.
posted by:
Adam
Texas
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  • Re: A Whole Lotta Nothing

    Mon, November 9, 2009 - 6:22 PM
    Bummer. I'm in Vermont, and we are a small enough state where it is commonplace to bump into our Senators on the street. We're on a first name basis here, I've known them both for years. If you call thier offices about something you might even hear them answer the phone.

    Even though that response letter blows, don't give up. Keep writing.
    • Re: A Whole Lotta Nothing

      Mon, November 9, 2009 - 11:39 PM
      Deductive Logic class I had in school taught me a quick way to cancel out one blowhard statement with another and this letter reads like every single flipping form reply I've gotten in near 40 years of being of voting age. We keep trying anyway. And they will continue to trashcan the letters, delete the email, and pay pennies to the employee in India who answers their phones... Isn't this whole thing sick?

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