Randy Shannon – 3/11/07

This page was last updated on March 11, 2007.

Putting profits before lives; Randy Shannon; Beaver County Times; March 11, 2007.

In 2006 Mr. Shannon penned a letter to the editor entitled “The Times is a tool of the GOP,” and he was serious.

For background info about Mr. Shannon, see my notes on his speech of October 16, 2004, in front of the Beaver County Courthouse.

For most of my comments on the talking points in this letter, please read my position paper on healthcare.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“The Maryland child who died of a toothache is one of 120,000 US residents who die every year because they cannot access the health-care delivery system.”

[RWC] That’s poppycock. “The Maryland child who died of a toothache” did not die because he could not “access the health-care delivery system.”

“The U.S. health insurance companies control the access to our health-care delivery system. They collect an exorbitant entry fee from Americans that is unheard of in other countries. They provide no medical service.”

[RWC] This is BS. Instead of insurance premiums to private companies, citizens in countries with a national healthcare system pay for their system via general taxes, specific healthcare taxes, and/or premiums and copayments. Mr. Shannon would like us to believe the Tooth Fairy pays for a socialized healthcare system.

“This does not happen in Canada, France, Sweden, Britain, Japan or Italy. Their medical care is universal and costs less. Everyone is covered and has a medical card that allows them unimpeded access to the health-care delivery system. No frantic pleas for care for a dying child or parent there.”

[RWC] Yeah, in Mr. Shannon’s dreams. There’s a Canada example in my healthcare paper.

“The Medicare for All Bill, HR 676, has been introduced in this session of Congress. When this becomes law, all Americans will be covered by Medicare. It enhances Medicare to cover all necessary care, including long-term care for the elderly and preventive care for children.”

[RWC] The real name of HR 676 is “United States National Health Insurance Act (or the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act).”

Mr. Shannon is too modest. HR 676 was actually introduced in March 2003 [by John Conyers (D-MI)] and again in February 2005. It’s now into its third life. I wonder why Mr. Shannon failed to note Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) is a proponent.

“There are no co-pays or deductibles. All one would need to do is get a Medicare card by applying at any health-care provider. We would be a healthier nation and enjoy a tremendous savings in health-care costs, not to mention higher productivity and a competitive edge for business.”

[RWC] A “competitive edge for business?” Mr. Shannon is one of those guys who believes increasing taxes – and the minimum wage, et cetera – provides “a competitive edge.”

“But the insurance companies are standing in the way. Their lobbyists troll the halls of Congress passing out bribes and threats. Their profits are more important than our lives.”

[RWC] If Mr. Shannon has evidence anyone is “troll[ing] the halls of Congress passing out bribes and threats,” he needs to present it so the accused can be investigated and prosecuted if his evidence holds up.

Regarding “Their profits are more important than our lives,” it’s clear Mr. Shannon doesn’t understand the market. Face it; none of the insurance companies are in business for altruistic reasons. That said, the businesses understand there are no profits without satisfied customers. If customers become dissatisfied with an insurer, they switch to another company and there goes those evil profits Mr. Shannon so dislikes.

“Although U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, D-4, promised to cosponsor the Medicare for All Bill, he has not yet signed on. He needs to hear from voters concerned about this health-care crisis that grows ever deeper and wider. Forth-seven [sic] million are uninsured, mostly working people. Medical bankruptcies are growing. Employer coverage is eroding.”

[RWC] Mr. Shannon, how many of us aren’t “working people?”

“We can no longer suffer this outrage. It’s time to work together for change.”

[RWC] Translation: “It’s time to work together for even more socialism.”

Finally, at no point in this letter did Mr. Shannon tell us how much his socialist healthcare utopia would cost and who would pay for it. Of course, after listening to Mr. Shannon for the last couple of years, I’ll bet “who” is “businesses and the rich.”