Let me first explain my concept of freedom. Freedom is an opportunity for success. Freedom is NOT a guarantee of success or protection against failure, merely the chance to do your best in life.
This poses an inherent risk, obviously. If you have the opportunity to do something, there is a chance you can fail. Things may not go well, and you will be responsible for your actions. Personal responsibility is hugely important, and often lacking today.
It is also important to note that health insurance DOES NOT INSURE YOUR HEALTH! Health insurance is like fire, earthquake, or life insurance. Think of it as balancing or managing risk. Example: You balance the risk of your house burning down with fire insurance. By agreeing to pay monthly premiums, you have some risk protection in case your house burns down. It's totally fine to NOT have this insurance, but it is more risky. Same thing with health insurance. You pay money to balance the risk that you will be hit by a bus, diagnosed with cancer, or something else that will cause large medical bills. It's perfectly acceptable not to have it (and many people choose not to. That's fine, it's their decision).
Some of you may be thinking, "Hey...I have to have car insurance when I drive. What's all that about?" That is liability insurance. You are required to have that in case you hit someone else and hurt them or damage their car. Totally and completely different than health insurance.
Therefore, health insurance is NOT a right. There is no reason that everyone needs it. There is also not a reason that the government should require it or regulate it as they plan to. Here's why.
In America, we are supposed to have an economic system called capitalism, which depends on the open transfer of goods and services between businesses and consumers. There is a lot of freedom in this system, and naturally potential for success or failure. No economic system is perfect, but I am willing to stack up the American model of the last 200 years against any system in history.
This model depends on the exchange of goods and services in the market. Of course, this is assuming that there is a level playing field. That would be the governments job. Anti-trust laws protect against monopolies. Agencies enforce property rights and protect ideas with patents. Ideally, the government acts as a referee and keeps the system honest and fair.
This bill introduces the government as a player in the field. The "government option" is supposed to be "competition" for other insurance agencies. A referee can't judge fairly and compete at the same time; the two roles are opposed to each other. Referees can't and are never fair competition.
The same holds true for the government. They don't compete, they win. They don't need to make a profit. They don't have shareholders or people to hold them accountable. They have plenty of practice wasting our money. Nobody can actually compete with the government. Corporations have to do silly things like make profit and generate income for next year.
Time is running short on me here, so I will cut to the chase and summarize my other points quickly here.
1- Obama claims this bill isn't about politics. I disagree. This whole thing is politics. Why were there zero Republican votes? Why is CNN covering the entire House of Reps at nearly midnight Washington time? Why was Obama telling Democrats that if they don't vote for this bill he won't campaign for them this fall? This is straight up politics.
2- Obama promised that he bring "transparency" to Washington. After attempting to ram this bill down our throats in August, legislation has occurred behind close doors and with zero bipartisanship. Finally, when the bill wasn't able to be passed via normal procedures, the whole reconciliation thing sealed the deal. Congress essentially passed a vote that a majority of Americans don't want through a back door parliamentary procedure trick.
3- Deficits. This is not good for our economy. Yes the CBO said it will save money. Yes that's bull crap. When does the government ever save money or do anything efficiently? Never! As this bill plays out, we will see that it hurts small businesses and the "average" American far more than it helps them.
Finally, my last point for the night. I don't want this bill for myself as a matter of pride.
As I make my way through life, I understand that success is not promised to me, and I embrace that. When hard times come rolling my way (which they will) I want to work through it with God and make the best of it. I believe most of America is like that. When the government gets involved, they tend to make things more complicated. As a side note, the best way to end a recession if you are Barack Obama is to get the heck out of the way and let America pull itself up by its bootstraps. We've done that a few times, you know. Little times like Pearl Harbor and 9-11. Times when it really mattered, Americans have stepped up to bat and will do it again.
Am I against giving people better health care? Absolutely not. I believe we have the greatest health care system in the world. As much as the Clinton family rails on our system, when our good friend Bill had a heart attack and needed help, where did he go? Not Canada, if you were wondering.
I am fundamentally opposed to the government becoming more involved in our lives and taking control from us, the people, into their own hands.
I am opposed to this specific legislation through many of its specific applications, as well as the general principles behind it.
And finally, I am against basically anything that Nancy Pelosi thinks is a good idea.
Really.
Just kidding ;)
But seriously.
Time to call it a night. More to come later, I am sure.
Adios
Great post on Health Care!
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