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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LindyBill who wrote (54703)	7/16/2004 8:22:27 PM
From: LindyBill	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793757

Medicare Gets Fatter Fighting Obesity Reclassification of obesity will create new Medicare entitlements CATO INSTITUTE WASHINGTON--A move by the federal Medicare program yesterday will open the door for federal coverage of obesity-related conditions. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced it was dropping language from its policies that led the agency to deny coverage for weight-loss treatment. Radley Balko, Cato Institute policy analyst, made the following comments: "Yesterday, the federal Medicare program made the obesity problem a whole lot worse. By treating obesity as a 'illness,' the federal government added a slew of new entitlements to the Medicare program, all of which will be funded by U.S. taxpayers. Americans who make healthy decisions about nutrition and exercise will soon be subsidizing those who don't, with diet programs (even the best of which fail at rates of 95 percent), health club memberships, and experimental procedures such as gastro-bypass surgery. Given that private insurers generally follow Medicare's lead, the decision will also likely lead to higher health insurance premiums for all Americans. The decision also further moves the very private matter of weight out of the realm of personal responsibility and into the realm of 'public health.' "In most cases obesity isn't a disease. It's a condition that's both treatable and preventable, usually without drugs, doctors, or hospitals. American taxpayers shouldn't be asked to foot the bill for the obesity problem. Decisions about weight, diet, and exercise are ultimately private concerns, the consequences of which should be borne by the individual Americans who make them." cato.org

To: LindyBill who wrote (54703)	7/16/2004 11:33:38 PM
From: unclewest	Respond to of 793757

The News and Observer of Raleigh, N.C. said the younger Edwards has been unable to get his North Carolina driver's license reinstated because of the Colorado warrant. After misdemeanor drunken-driving convictions in 1985, 1987 and 1990, Edwards' driver's license was permanently revoked in 1990, according to North Carolina motor vehicle records. Edwards bro sounds like Clinton's drunk brother Roger. Roger and two of Clinton's brothers-in-law were later accused of offering presidential pardons for cash. Would ex-pres Billy Clinton pardon someone for cash? Ever heard of a fugitive named Marc Rich? Carter had his drunk brother Billy to contend with. Billy bragged about smoking pot in the white house and pissing on the shrubs as I recall. And LBJ reportedly had the Secret Service monitoring his brother's drunk binges. And let's not even talk about Ted "let's go swimming honey" Kennedy. Nice families these Demos offer us. And remember, Kerry and Edwards say it is all about values.