February 20, 2014 6:31 AM

Compassionate Conservatism: Better than real compassion, 'cuz you can tell the poor to piss off

THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD

(apologies to Keith Olbermann)

Arkansas State Rep. Nate Bell (R- Mordor)

During a political fight over Medicaid expansion in Arkansas on Tuesday, one Republican lawmaker admitted that he doesn’t want to educate uninsured residents about their new health care options because it’s simply too expensive to provide them with insurance. State Rep. Nate Bell (R), who offered an amendment to Arkansas’ proposed Medicaid expansion bill that would prevent the state from using federal funds to promote Obamacare, acknowledged that his policy would result in fewer people signing up for health care. He noted that “without active marketing, you probably get declining enrollment.” But in his mind, that’s not a problem — that’s the whole point…. “We’re trying to create a barrier to enrollment,” Bell explained, noting that lower enrollment ultimately translates to lower costs. “In general, as a conservative, if I have the opportunity to reduce government spending in a program from what’s projected… I’m probably going to take that deal.”

It would be difficult to imagine a scenario which could begin to justify working to deny health insurance to Americans. Yet that’s exactly what Nate Bell is trying to do…in the name of keeping costs down, of course. The fact that the federal government will be paying 100% of Arkansas’ Medicaid bill for the first few years and 90% thereafter seems not to matter to our intrepid Conservative hero. Nor does the reality that denying Medicaid to poor and needy Arkansans won’t magically make those folks’ health care issues and costs disappear. If they remain uninsured, they’ll use the same thing they always have for health care- the nearest emergency room. And who do you think ends up paying for that care, which can be as much as TEN times more expensive than conventionally delivered health care? (Hint: It’s not the poor person who can’t afford insurance, much less medical care, to begin with.)

In the guise of being penny-wise, Bell is advocating a policy position that’s astonishingly short-sighted and pound-foolish. In his drive to deny health insurance to the poors, he’s essentially advocating cutting off his nose to spite his face. He’d being by refusing to allow funding for educating Arkansans about their options. As we all know, if you keep ‘em stupid they’re far more likely to vote Republican and far less likely to ask uncomfortable questions that can’t be answered with the skillful application of Right-wing talking points.

The truth is, at least as far as Bell’s concerned, is that if more sick poor people would just hurry up and die, health care costs could far more easily be brought under control. That what he’s advocating is almost completely devoid of anything even faintly redolent of humanity is lost on him. His drive to deny information to the poors is something that a decent, compassionate human being would be ashamed of…but that presumes Bell even admits the existence of shame and compassion. If Bell possessed even a shred of honesty, he would have owned up to his inhumanity: “In general, as a conservative, if I have the opportunity to [deny health insurance to the poor and keep them in the dark regarding their rights and options]… I’m probably going to take that deal.” Stay classy, eh?

I can only hope there’s a reserved parking space in Hell with Nate Bell’s name on it. And the rest of the Republicans in the Arkansas House of Representatives who just voted to strip 96,000 Arkansans of the current health insurance.

blog comments powered by Disqus

Technorati

Technorati search

» Blogs that link here

About this Entry

This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on February 20, 2014 6:31 AM.

Yes, Virginia; Republicans really DO believe safety regulations are a liberal conspiracy was the previous entry in this blog.

Every competitor's looking for that extra edge is the next entry in this blog.

Find recent content on the main index or look in the archives to find all content.

Contact Me

Powered by Movable Type 5.2.6