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Reality Check, Please

FROM THE CHIEF MEDICAL EDITOR, Paul S. Koch, M.D.

As this is written, our congressional delegates are regaling us with letters and calls, bragging that they're supporting the repeal of the 5.4% Medicare cut.Our Academy's foot soldiers have returned from Washington, certainly all having been told that their targeted diplomat has co-signed the bill for repeal.

All that's left now is for each of us to shell out $1,000 to help their campaigns because, by golly, they're on our side, this is outrageous, blah-blah-blah.

One minor detail: The bill has not appeared on the floor for discussion and vote. Despite all these signatures, there's no action. Why not?

Don't be fooled! Our elected citizens have no intention of actually voting for the repeal; they just co-sponsor the legislation to get us to give them campaign money. It's completely bogus. They sign on knowing full well there will never be a vote, but that their signature will get us to give them money while they do nothing to get our money back to us.

How about IOU donations?

Perhaps we should give political donations in the form of an IOU. You want a thousand bucks? Okay, here's the deal: I'll give you my marker for one large, payable when the repeal bill actually reaches the floor for discussion and vote, you actually vote for it, and it actually passes. We don't get our 5.4% back from the government; you don't get cash from us.

"Oh no!" You hear the cry already. "If we don't 'participate' in the process by paying off the greedy, lying thieves they won't be there for us when we need them." Well, guess what? We need them now, we supported them, and they're not there for us.

It's time to practice tough love. No politician wants medical contributions to dry up. Let's get their attention right now. If they smirk at the repeal, and we still contribute to their re-elections, P.T. Barnum was right. Heat up that branding iron and burn "sucker" right across our foreheads.