Senator Isakson and Common Sense

By Hootsbuddy

Ezra Klein's piece gives me hope. Pride, too, come to think of it because Southern politicians are not famous for saying stuff thier constituents don't like. And believe me when I tell you those numbers are legion these days. Digby pointed to this interview in the Wa Po.

Is this bill going to euthanize my grandmother? What are we talking about here?

In the health-care debate mark-up, one of the things I talked about was that the most money spent on anyone is spent usually in the last 60 days of life and that's because an individual is not in a capacity to make decisions for themselves. So rather than getting into a situation where the government makes those decisions, if everyone had an end-of-life directive or what we call in Georgia "durable power of attorney," you could instruct at a time of sound mind and body what you want to happen in an event where you were in difficult circumstances where you're unable to make those decisions.

This has been an issue for 35 years. All 50 states now have either durable powers of attorney or end-of-life directives and it's to protect children or a spouse from being put into a situation where they have to make a terrible decision as well as physicians from being put into a position where they have to practice defensive medicine because of the trial lawyers. It's just better for an individual to be able to clearly delineate what they want done in various sets of circumstances at the end of their life.

How did this become a question of euthanasia?

I have no idea. I understand -- and you have to check this out -- I just had a phone call where someone said Sarah Palin's web site had talked about the House bill having death panels on it where people would be euthanized. How someone could take an end of life directive or a living will as that is nuts. You're putting the authority in the individual rather than the government. I don't know how that got so mixed up.

You're saying that this is not a question of government. It's for individuals.

It empowers you to be able to make decisions at a difficult time rather than having the government making them for you.

The policy here as I understand it is that Medicare would cover a counseling session with your doctor on end-of-life options.

Correct. And it's a voluntary deal.

Readers here already know the details. The good surprise for me is that this is the guy who put that piece into the proposed legislation. Back with the Terry Schiavo case he got it.

"He's got it! He's got it! By George I think he's got it!"
==> ...all break into song and dance...

I sent him this word of encouragement.

Ezra Klein's WaPo column is a star in your crown. I had no idea that anyone else in Georgia was informed enough to see through the fog. Living as I do in Tom Price's territory my politics makes me onion in a petunia patch but you give me hope.

If time and circumstances allow, please whisper in the ears of others in Georgia's Congressional delegation, including Brother Saxby, and urge them all to get some backbone to come against an avalanche of disinformation now engulfing the country.

Additionally, you and your staff (and everyone else identifying themselves as Conservative) might take a look at a paper I came across recently from the very respectable conservative source, The American Enterprise Institute. The title is "Tax Reform and Health Insurance" and it comes from the George Bush era in January, 2005.

http://www.aei.org/outlook/21921

Followup a few hours later.

Check the comments. I had to send the Senator another word of encouragement.

I hear you are catching unholy hell from the "deathers."

Senator Isakson, please stand firm.
Don't allow anyone to make you compromise your principles. When the dust settles your character and credibility are worth more than everything else.

I advised you to whisper in some ears. I take that back. It's pointless to whisper into deaf ears. Instead get in their face and speak loud and clear, telling them that you stand for what is right and no one can intimidate you into anything else.

Good luck.