Health Care Reform Myths -- New website to debunk the lies.

[Raine1967]

I just wanted to share an important project regarding Health Care Myths that we have been working on. I am asking for the help of the community that is DU.

Here is the Site: http://healthcarereformmyths.org/

A background: My husband and I are just 2 little bloggers from Georgia, and in our desire to debunk the myths, we were seeing that there was no singular place to debunk these myths. Not one place for a 'one stop shopping' website that debunks Health Care Myths that the GOP (and in general -- right wing propaganda) is putting out there. So, we decided to take action. We have created a website (and a database) that debunks these myths. We knda went live last Friday (7/24/09) By Monday, This site is already getting the attention of people in DC. I really cannot say more about that, but I can say that the more myths we have debunked, the better.

Here is where DU comes in:
I am hoping that y'all can help (I am really trying to impress this point here) the myths you hear (through any TV or radio outlet), read, via email, etc.. I see so many of them debunked right here on this Message board. The problem is, I do not always have time to cull all the information. Sometimes I miss important information that was addressed right here on this site. What I am asking is: if you find something and it is debunked here at DU , PLEASE, can you send the info along? We have a link to post at the site. Right now I am getting a lot of requests to *debunk* myths, which is great, but I need things that are debunked. I would LOVE more people to submit myths that ARE debunked. Please help.

Even if you can't debunk... please feel free to use this sight for debunking.

We will soon be setting up an area for myths that are needing debunking, but for now, we are going to rely on the progressive community to debunk things that are either already out there or ones that we see are coming down the line. (many of us saw the myth that 'ObamaCare would kill Old People.' <---- See section Misc/Other. It is debunked, with links. --- more can be added as additional info comes in.)

Again here is the link: http://healthcarereformmyths.org/

I will be cross-posting this in the Health forum.

Thanks!
Raine


P.S. Regarding the viral email from the 'freepers' that is going around (For example "pg 50046 says Barry Hussein Obama will eat your baby :sarcasm:) ... I found the original source of the email. I will be posting a link about that VERY soon.


Don't make me Force you to K&R it for the dirty details... :rofl:

[Greyskye]

1. Nicely done!

Thanks for your efforts and good luck! :thumbsup:

[NYC_SKP]

2. k

r

[proud patriot]

3. k and r

[Raine1967]

5. Thanks!

I really hope that in the coming days and weeks, the members here can help out.

Right now, I am the only person debunking issues, Help is needed. I can debunk requests, but it would be wonderful if I can head them off at the pass, BEFORE they become MSM fodder)

[proud patriot]

14. I just spent an eve. on facebook battling

:crazy:

I'm on now ....

[RoccoR5955]

4. Well done...

Keep me informed about the freeper thing.
The dog likes to eat them after they have spent some time in the barbecue. :sarcasm:

[Raine1967]

9. Oh you know the viral email I am talking about... huh?

debunking coming up.

I just REALLY hope hat me fellow DU'rs can help out. There are WAY too many ere that have been doing this for years, I see many right here in GD:P.

BTW: Gonna out the Viral Email Author in GD:P

[Better Believe It]

6. K & R Thanks for your hard work in creating an important website.

[andym]

7. This is what DU is for! K and R. mt

[Political Tiger]

8. Wow! Good for you! Let's keep this kicked!

n/t

[Raine1967]

12. Please do.

Word is that there are people in DC who are seriously looking at this.

I can give more details in the next few weeks. DC is paying attention. There are a lot of people who are wondering why this was not done back in January. I can say that this sight is getting serious attention in congress.

What I am asking is for DU to DEBUNK things. PLEASE, when you hear/read a lie, debunk it an send it along.

[Better Believe It]

10. Just sent your website some info I hope you find useful

[Raine1967]

13. Thanks!

I/We really appreciate it. I got. I will add it in the AM. THis is a NEW MYTH! (finally -- I am debunking that whole damn freeper viral email)

[and-justice-for-all]

11. K&R..nt

[DrToast]

15. You may want to check the tax increase info

I believe (I'm not 100% sure, so double check this) the House bill calls for a surtax, not merely an expansion of the top tax bracket.

[Raine1967]

19. Thanks for that -- I know the version is changing from day to day -- so I will

look into it.

[backscatter712]

16. Awesome site! EVERYBODY REDDIT THIS SITE!!!

http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/94svy/healthcare_reform_myths/

There's already a few freeptards casting down-votes.

[backscatter712]

17. Suggestion: Put Digg and Reddit links on the site, promote it!

As I mentioned earlier, there's a link in Reddit, but it's sorely neglected so far, and there are freepers howling and casting downvotes. We need DU to DU Reddit on this.

[seabeckind]

18. Fantastic start!!!!

I was involved in an exchange re the email on the Seattle Times site. I didn't do much on it but what I have is below. BTW, I've been seeing the thing popping up all over the place. People are cutting and pasting it all over. Latest one was on the MSNBC site where they were discussing that latest bogus poll (NBC/WSJ).

BTW, any ideas on how to debunk some of that poll nonsense? IE, chuck todd doing some "editorial interpretation" of the poll results? I tried to add a comment on the MSNBC site but there were a gazillion anti-Obama posts and anything I might say would be lost in the swamp. Sending an email to him directly is worthless. Some problems I saw in the poll (other than the worthless questions, like lumping those who oppose compromises in the bill with those against the whole idea) were things like it was skewed to dems. Hah! Then why did 40% of the respondents vote for McCain? Looked more like many respondents were ashamed to say they were repubs.

Anyway, here's my 2 cents from the Times:

antler: It took a bit of work but I did as you suggested and examined the bill in relation to the first few items on your list. It appears scary only in the slant that was applied. For example (my comments are preceded by a --->)

Pg 22 of the HC Bill MANDATES the Govt will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self insure!!

---> Means employer must provide insurance or be able to prove financial viability. This protects you to make sure if your employer defaults on your heart bypass you won't be left holding the bill.

Pg 30 Sec 123 of HC bill - THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatmentsbenes u get

---> Determines which items would be included in the standard plan versus the premium plan. My current insurance plan does the same thing. I have a list of those items which are in the standard versus high option.

Pg 29 lines 4-16 in the HC bill - YOUR HEALTHCARE IS RATIONED!!!

---> I think this deals with when you can trigger the public option. I disagree with the concept but it is not rationed care, it is when you can drop out and go to the public option. It's one of those things the insurance cos are sticking in to stick it to us. Course it there's no public option...

Pg 42 of HC Bill - The Health Choices Commissioner will choose UR HC Benefits 4 you. U have no choice!

---> This is a regulatory function to ensure that your insurance company is providing coverage where they need to. Has no affect on you, just makes sure the insurance company pays for it if it's required.

PG 50 Section 152 in HC bill - HC will be provided 2 ALL non US citizens, illegal or otherwise

---> Deals with discriminatory practices in the coverage. Has nothing to do with citizenship. Eg, if you're a woman of child-bearing age they can't make birth a non-covered item.

Pg 58HC Bill - Govt will have real-time access 2 individs finances & a National ID Healthcard will b issued!

---> I hope so... I have a BC/BS card that I show at the hospital. What's different? It does say the card enables electronic fund transfers from the insurance agency to the provider. I don't know how they do it now but I think this is that thing that they will do to reduce cost, ie, make a common reporting/billing system between the parties.

Pg 59 HC Bill lines 21-24 Govt will have direct access 2 ur banks accts 4 elect. funds transfer

---> No, deals with agency to provider.

PG 65 Sec 164 is a payoff subsidized plan 4 retirees and their families in Unions & community orgs (ACORN).

---> Just means your coverage continues if you retire or go to work somewhere else. Has nothing to do with ACORN other than the fact that ACORN might be a community organization?

You can look at the rest but I've seen enough. It's a dog whistle thing to get you all worked up and blow dust in your eyes. Don't believe it, it's BS.

[Raine1967]

22. I found the guy who started this POS lying crap.

I have been really busy trying to get this site all together, but I posted a link to where this lying sack of crap email that has gone viral. Here it is: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=132&topic_id=8562658&mesg_id=8562658

I debunked a few of these points, and will get back to them as I get more information. I will ask again -- if anyone has a debunked a muth, PLEASE send it along to the link at the site.

I am getting a lot of requests to debunk -- and that is good, but I KNOW people are out there on message boards debunking individual myths EVERY day. I would love it if they can send them along.

[Political Tiger]

20. Kick! n/t

[Boomerang Diddle]

21. K & R!

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

23. Kicked!

The site looks great, thanks! And I submitted a myth that Florida Home Health is spreading to their elderly clients in Florida...

[Raine1967]

27. I saw that!

I am looking for source links so I can post it up... I am NOT ignoring it... I just have been swamped.

It is our hope that we can always source these things out.

THANKS!

[blueclown]

24. Kick!

Already showed it to some of my freeper "friends".

Thanks a ton!

[Political Tiger]

25. Kick! n/t

[Political Tiger]

26. Kick! n/t

[WeCanWorkItOut]

28. Unfortunately, I feel that the affordability question needs more disussion

An important issue is whether "the health care options are too expensive for people to afford." That's listed among the myths. But I feel that's not seeing it from the point of view of the near-poor.

Suppose you're a youngish woman in good health making $27,000, hoping to save some money to start a business, save for a home, get some extra training, or whatever. 27 K is not a lot in many places. The average one-bedroom apartment in my city runs $16,000. Suppose that taxes and FICA run to $5000. Transport might cost $1000 a year, if you're lucky and can take public transit. If you buy catastrophic insurance for $1000, you are then left with 3K to pay for food, clothing, and other basic necessities. Hardly anything is left.

And now some good folks come along and offer you a deal on health care. For only an extra thousand you can get a certain amount of added care, a real deal, worth $1400. Would you take this deal? Maybe not. You might be much better off, better fed, with warmer clothes, if you didn't take the extra insurance, but went to a drop-in clinic, public or private, for any extra basic health needs.

Of course that's assuming that you had decent catastrophic coverage. It would be good if that were available.

But primary question is whether the Democrats' health plans, with an individual mandate that goes well beyond catastrophic, are a good deal for the near poor? People have a right to ask that, without being abused as conservative, or whatever. You can't coerce a poor person into buying a timeshare property, for instance, for $2000, and then claim that it's not coercion, because somebody else would be willing to pay $2400 for it.

Please reconsider calling the affordability issue a myth. We need to talk about how to help our poorest neighbors without making the near-poor worse off.

[samcat]

29. Love your site!

[ericgtr]

30. Okay, I added you to barackobamawatch.com and will plug this on my political board as well

Excellent resource and great job of putting this together!

[pinstikfartherin]

31. I love it! Kick! nt

[Fla Dem]

32. Totally impressed and awed by your effort. Very professional, succinct, easy to use.

Every DUer should send this link to everyone in their email address books. Need to get the TRUTH out. And what a fine job you are doing. This is something the Congressionally Dems or the Whitehouse should be doing. Send it to David Axelrod.

[Cha]

33. Kick for

high visability!

[Blue_Tires]

34. ttt

[Fla Dem]

35. kick

[Raine1967]

36. Kicking with some cool news.

I am kinda happy to say that Randi Rhodes Actually tweeted the site!

@randiradio Maybe you like it this way?http://bit.ly/mx3bE #hcr

I have also heard that Ed Shultz' team has taken a look at the site as have a few people from the Speakers office (who coincidentally, after July 28 -- 2 days after we went live with the site, started doing Daily Health Care Reform Mythbusters http://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/factcheck )

[pinstikfartherin]

37. Cool!

[Political Tiger]

38. Kick! n/t

[BreweryYardRat]

39. Excellent, thank you!

This is very useful.

[Political Tiger]

40. Kick! n/t