Fact, in this debate (as in the last presidential election), is that which is actually proposed. Fiction is that way of responding to the facts by projecting bizarre and unfounded consequences without mentioning that they are purely speculative, or simply replacing something written into one of the bills with something imaginary (like Palin's "death councils"), and then making bizarre predictions based on personal paranoia (like the killing of children with Down's Syndrome).

The goal of the fictionalizers is, apparently, to create such a tidal wave of fear of what they say the bills contain that Americans will reject healthcare reform without regard to what is really proposed. It's like sa...

Fact, in this debate (as in the last presidential election), is that which is actually proposed. Fiction is that way of responding to the facts by projecting bizarre and unfounded consequences without mentioning that they are purely speculative, or simply replacing something written into one of the bills with something imaginary (like Palin's "death councils"), and then making bizarre predictions based on personal paranoia (like the killing of children with Down's Syndrome).

The goal of the fictionalizers is, apparently, to create such a tidal wave of fear of what they say the bills contain that Americans will reject healthcare reform without regard to what is really proposed. It's like saying "I hope the smoking gun is not a mushroom cloud" to scare us into war with Iraq, when there were no WMD except in the GWB's fictions.

It's the right-wing way: when you don't have a case, make one up, and make it very scary. Truth is unimportant; all that matters is win-lose. I am thankful most conservatives are not this way.

The fact is, these so-called "Death Panels" that people like Palin and Gingrich are raving about are just programs to aid people in making living wills, so we won't have more circus shows like the ludicrous Terry Shaivo situation. The programs will do something that the Republican'ts are terrified of; provide people with real and relevant information about the options available to them should they be rendered unable to make their own healthcare decisions.

If you want to talk about "Death Panels", how about talking about Health Insurance Agencies making purely subjective decisions about people's healthcare based solely on charts and profits; denying people care at a whim because it's not goo...

The fact is, these so-called "Death Panels" that people like Palin and Gingrich are raving about are just programs to aid people in making living wills, so we won't have more circus shows like the ludicrous Terry Shaivo situation. The programs will do something that the Republican'ts are terrified of; provide people with real and relevant information about the options available to them should they be rendered unable to make their own healthcare decisions.

If you want to talk about "Death Panels", how about talking about Health Insurance Agencies making purely subjective decisions about people's healthcare based solely on charts and profits; denying people care at a whim because it's not good for their bottom line.

Or how about the panel that arbitrarily decided to declare a moritorium on signing up new clients for homecare and related services in Palin's own state, Alaska, condemning old and disabled people to misery and maybe even death. Oh yes; ol' "Smoke and Mirrors" Sarah is well acquainted with "Death Panels". She should be the first one to tell you that the projected healthcare reform plans in government are anything but! They are, in fact, relief from "Death Panels".