Have Bad Teeth? It's not Congress' Fault!

I am not one to go out defending President Jorge Bush these days, but this article from the Calvert Street Communist Party Newsletter is particularly disturbing.

According to Congressman Elijah Cummings (Panderer -- Maryland), the death of a boy from a tooth infection that spread to his brain is Jorge Bush's fault.

Umm, no.

First, the President of the United States does not create or make laws. That is the responsibility of Congress.  Specifically, any law or bill of appropriation must start in the House of Representatives, where Elijah Cummings' large ass has resided for a number of years.  If you feel this is so important Congressman Cummings, why have you never introduced a bill that provided for dental care as a Medicaid benefit?

Second, I hate to say it, but what about parental responsibility here?  I've had some tooth issues in my time -- in fact, ten years, I cracked a tooth at a tradeshow in Vegas that abcessed and faced the same problem-- the infection was only a day or so away from spreading into my brain.  But, I'll admit that I didn't go to the doctor until after I got back from the trade show.  Very dumb move.  If the kids' parents had any intelligence, they could have taken their child to the emergency room at any time and the doctors there could have treated the boy with anti-biotics, and even provided a referral that Medicaid would have had to cover.  You see, in Maryland, no one can be denied health care at any time for any reason, because we are an all-payor state.  Rescue personnel are even prevented from doing "wallet triage" to determine which facility you should be transferred to based on your insurance.

Third, why not actually take responsibility here?  My bet is that this kids' infection came about from a little too much sugar in the diet.  Why doesn't Congress restrict what types of food can be purchased with the Independence Card?  Do sweets and snacks really need to be on that list?  Me thinks not.  I'd even go a step further, and not allow convenience stores -- which typically feature nothing but high-priced, processed food-- from participating in Independence Card, unless there are no other gocery options available.  Hey-- this might even slow down the obesity crisis, too.  I worked at the 7-11 on Joppa Road during college, and I can tell you this-- you didn't see many scrawny kids in that poor section of East Towson coming in with their moms who had Independence Cards.

Fourth, stop trying to score political points.  You might find this radical conservative actually sympathizing with the need for better dental care for the poor if you weren't trying to score points.  Unfortunately, like your colleagues Congressman, you always slack off on the hard jobs and take the easy shot.

Finally, your quote "I want every child to have the same access to dental care as my child." is simplistic and goddamed stupid.  Members of Congress have one of the most gold-plated insurance plans available on the planet.  Only the massively uber-rich (like those who support your Democrat Party) have better plans.  It is immoral to expect working families to subsidize such an insurance plan when they sometimes struggle to provide their own health care.