The Tea Baggy Set is sinking to ever new lows. Now, our pet's veterinary clinic is deliberately putting out misinformation about pet care costs. Unbelievable! This happened at the Mobley Vet Clinic in Nashville.
My life partner just got back from the vet's office to pick up a medication for our cat. We've been using this office, which has three vets, for over twelve years.
While he waited, an elderly woman of about 80 came in to refill a phenobarbital prescription for her dog. She was told the price had gone up from $20 to $80. Why she asked, had the price jumped so high? Wait til you hear what the vet's clerk told her. What's to blame for higher pet medicine costs?
"Obamacare."
That's what the clerk told the elderly woman.
My partner jumped in immediately. "What are you talking about?" The clerk starting stalling, and then the office manager came over. She says, "Well, Sir, that's what Dr. Bannen has told us to say to explain to people increases in prescription costs."
"Does he have any evidence for that explanation?"
"Well, no, I don't know of any."
"Then I think it's irresponsible to give people bad information."
Now we're both feeling sick about the possibility of having to change vets after twelve years because of politics. We're rattled that opponents of the reform bill hate the president so much they'd stray this far from reality even when talking pet care!
I'm interested in your take on what to do about outrageous tea baggy lies you hear in public places.
Also, is there an glimmer of reality connecting pet drug prices and the PPACA? It seems unlikely there's any connection, and I found nothing when I Googled it, but I'm interested in hearing from you if you know where the Tea Bagger's concocted this whopper.
Update 1: Please continue to comment and discuss. It's 1:20 pm Central time and I have to leave for the annual meeting of my favorite community organizing group (seriously). I'll be back this evening and will reply to questions or observations you make when I get back.
Updated by Tennessee Dave at Sat May 07, 2011 at 05:05 PM CDT
Update 2: AAshier commented that he thought "Vet" in the diary must mean a veteran, so I've "disambiguated" it.