This is not a humor column.  I sincerely wished it was.   However, I can’t just stand by and keep deleting these false and erroneous emails I keep receiving about Health Care Reform and continue to hope no one will actually believe the ludicrous falsehoods contained therein.

I hate to even give these outrageous claims any press at all but, frankly, large crowds of angry, scared and misinformed people frighten me.  Let’s get just the facts, ma’am.

Remember in All the President’s Men when Deep Throat said to “follow the money?” Every time you receive an email that reports Health Care Reform will be sending out hit squads to take out your grandparents, research the source.  Who paid for it?  What do they have to gain by maintaining the status quo? 

Some of these scare tactics have been circulated by organizations such as 60plus.org, an organization fully funded by the pharmaceutical industry and Liberty Counsel which is in partnership with Liberty University founded by the late Jerry Falwell and some twit named Fleckman.

PolitiFact, a 2009 Pulitzer Prize winning website provides true and accurate rebuttals to the most common lies being perpetrated by opponents to Health Care Reform.  You can go to their article here: http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2009/jul/30/e-mail-analysis-health-bill-needs-check-/  These facts have been corroborated by AARP. 

I urge you to check out the facts for yourself but if you want the shorthand version, here’s my take.

-There will not be mandated abortions or abortions provided by or at schools.  Sex education will not be taught to kindergartners. 

-There is no “secret plan” to access your checking account or to remove any funds from same.

-Health care will not be rationed.

-Euthanasia will not be mandatory.  There will not be any “death panels.”  The provision most misquoted simply states that should the patient request end-of-life counseling, that medical service will be covered.  I, myself, have a Living Will. 

-There will not be a Health Commissioner of any kind and no government agent will make health care decisions for you.

-There will be no mandated audits of businesses, small or otherwise.

-Illegal immigrants will not be provided health care.

-No one will tell you what to eat.

-Unions and community organizations will not be subsidized.

-No one will be paid to sign up individuals to any health plan.

-Sex-change operations will not be covered.

-No one will decide if you are “worth” the cost of medical care.  Think about it.  That is a ridiculous statement and one that would never be seriously considered by anyone let alone a democratically-elected government.  But if you doubt me, please, read the bill.  See for yourself. 

The truth is out there.