Fri
Jun 12 2009
02:31 am
American Medical Association smear campaign turns 75!
By: EricLykins

...and it's still keeping you freeloading commies out of doctor business. Media Matters has the history of the term "socialized medicine."

Here's a taste:
The American Medical Association (AMA) launched a spirited attack against the bill, capitalizing on fears of Communism in the public mind. The AMA characterized the bill as 'socialized medicine', and in a forerunner to the rhetoric of the McCarthy era, called Truman White House staffers 'followers of the Moscow party line.' "

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gonzone's picture

yes

Submitted by gonzone on Fri, 2009/06/12 - 11:35am.

The NYT also has an article on the AMA and their historic opposition to decent health insurance.
One can hope the AMA's relevance continues to diminish.
WTF do they hope to gain with opposition?
Do they actually enjoy paper work and fighting with Blue Cross for payments? Is it OK with them that perfectly wonderful doctors get black-balled by health insurers?
Just goes to show that intelligence in one area does not necessarily translate into other areas.

"If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?"

Virgil Proudfoot's picture

The AMA

Submitted by Virgil Proudfoot on Fri, 2009/06/12 - 12:03pm.

The American Medical Association is the country's most powerful labor union. Their primary mission is the enrichment of their members, and they care not at all for their victims--the 50 million Americans who go without insurance, thanks largely to the AMA's efforts. Their only true motto is "Payment Due for Services Rendered."

B Harmon's picture

AMA

Submitted by B Harmon on Fri, 2009/06/12 - 1:33pm.

Back when I worked for the hospital associations (Colorado and Connecticut), which has a lobbying arm of its own, I learned lots about the AMA lobbying. For one, membership is mandatory for every physician. Whenever there is a hot issue and they need megabucks for ads, they bill every physician $1000 each. That number has probably gone up by now. They can tap into a huge reservoir to fund any campaign.

I was surprised and disappointed to see a medical student friend of mine, years ago, reading a magazine called something like "Physician Office Finance" and the articles were all about maximizing profit, managing without nurses, collecting from patients. That took care of my naivete about doctors being at all altruistic. My friend was wanting to make sure that he knew how to make the most money even while in medical school.

StaceyDiamond's picture

cat food

Submitted by StaceyDiamond on Fri, 2009/06/12 - 3:37pm.

I'm ready to see commercials of old people eating cat food again. I hope the Democrats don't back down and actually do something that will insure people this time.

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