Health "reform", GOP style

When conservatives start talking "reform", look out.

We've all seen what their welfare "reform" has done. If we let the Republican right do to health care "reform" what they've done to America's working poor, we might as well just all pack it in.

Now the Republicans are offering an "alternative" health care "reform" plan. "Alternative" of course is another oft-abused buzzword. It's like how they call year-round school an "alternative" calendar. It's like calling Warm 98 an alternative rock station.

The main feature of the GOP plan? It would deregulate insurance companies almost entirely. It would also gut state laws that regulate insurers. Insurance giants would be allowed to operate with no oversight whatsoever.

To them, that's "reform."

Brings a whole new meaning to "states' rights for me, not for thee." Republican extremists like Rick Perry keep trying to pull their states out of Democratic health reforms - yet they support foisting Republican "reforms" on states that don't want them.

The GOP plan doesn't have much chance of passing now - but keep this entry handy as a reminder of what passes for "reform" in their minds, lest it appear that they may ever regain power.