Stop ‘Obama Medicine Show’

Tuesday’s headline: “Health care bills under fire: Republicans call Obama ‘reckless,’ overpromising.” Tuesday’s insert: Glossy brochure touting “over 2,765 brand-new breakthroughs to conquer the world’s most dread diseases” with all manner of miraculous cures and death-defying preventions. Reply now and we’ll be cancer-free in seven days, rub out pain for up to two weeks and defeat diabetes forever. That’ll solve the health care crisis!

The brochure overpromises results, but it’s tempting to believe one 561-page blockbuster book will fix everything. Also tempting is believing one rapidly written and barely read 1,018-page piece of legislation will solve our health care challenges. Both undoubtedly contain elements of truth and a few good ideas, but we must follow grandpa’s advice: If it’s too good to be true, it isn’t.

“Kitchen sink” bills to solve a self-defined overwhelming crisis are too easily misused for pork-barrel payoffs in projects and programs. Complexity means nobody knows the full impact, and when the inevitable unintended consequences appear, there will be a multitude of opportunities for general finger-pointing so no one bears any particular blame. Stop the mad rush. Write your representatives and senators. Tell them what you think of the Obama Medicine Show.

Sue Lani W. Madsen

Edwall, Wash.