Madeline Crabb
Health care is a CHOICE, Part Two
By Madeline Crabb
"Liberty is the right to choose. Freedom is the result of the right choice." This anonymous quote summarizes the stakes of the health care battle we're facing today. Indeed there is a crisis at hand, but it is not a health care crisis. The crisis we face is our loss of choice, our liberty, resulting in the loss of all our freedoms. When we lose our freedom, we become slaves to the master.
Ironic that a black man is leading the charge to further enslave the nation he is supposed to be serving. But then, that is the nature of power, particularly in government. Today's leaders bear no resemblance to our Founding Fathers. The latter worked from a position of sacrifice for the good of the country, comprised of individual citizens. The former operates from a position of gaining perpetual power and riches off the backs of voting blocs.
We are now getting frighteningly close to a total government takeover of America's health care. The idea of compulsory, or nationalized, health care has been debated since the 1920's when Europe began instituting such programs. But common sense prevailed here, and the free market always managed to innovate and create to meet the changing needs of American citizens.
Obviously, this 1000-page bill is complicated. After all, it comes from the federal government that can't do anything in a simple, straightforward way. It is also confusing to most people who don't have the time or the emotional energy left at day's end to sort things out on their own. Of course, if the media was doing its job of honestly reporting on such a profound proposal instead of cheerleading for its idol-in-chief, things would not have progressed this far.
When Americans are given the TRUTH, they can make the right decisions. But like the snake oil salesmen of old, this president uses emotional words, invokes a sense of urgency, and uses class envy to seal the deal. When all is said and done, there is something wrong with you if you don't go along with him.
It is surprising we aren't hearing the collective cry of "foul" from the nation's 50 governors. After all, what is being jammed down the proverbial throats of American citizens should be an issue for the states. The tenth amendment to the Constitution states: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." Hello governors! The federal government is making a huge power play! Don't you even care?
The Heritage Foundation is reporting that the feds are creating a major new arm of bureaucracy under the umbrella of Health and Human Services. At least two agencies, Health Choices Administration, and Health Benefits Advisory Committee will be tasked with micromanaging every aspect of our health care. Heritage says that in essence, HHS becomes the de facto national regulator of all health insurance, both private and public.
While we are being told that our current health care plans won't be affected, Heritage tells a different story. All proposed plans contain "grandfather" clauses with varying requirements. Basically, after a grace period, all plans must meet new coverage standards, or fines will be assessed. A person's coverage might meet government standards, but once changes have been made by the carrier or the insured, they either have to revert to the government plan or be fined.
Furthermore, Heritage reports that HHS, through its newly-created agencies, will have powers similar to the IRS in conducting random audits of health plans, and investigating complaints of non-compliance, and other matters. The cost of such audits can then be passed on to those being audited. Oh, that's in addition to the actual fines that can be levied to violators. Heritage summarizes that after 2017, "any private employer still willing to offer its workers a health benefit plan can expect to also pay for the privilege of being harassed by federal bureaucrats seeking to determine if it is in compliance with all federal rules micromanaging the operations of its plan — and to be fined for any failures that may be discovered in the process."
On September 7, the Los Angeles Times stated, "With compromises all but certain, the final bill would not remake the U.S. healthcare system in one stroke. It might not even directly address some of the most important, and toughest, elements of the problem. But major changes appear likely, including a significant expansion of insurance coverage. And in a host of other provisions — including new rules for private insurers on issues including benefits caps and preexisting conditions — it would open the door to more direct government involvement in the system down the road." What understatements!
Our government simply wants more power and control over our lives. It really doesn't give a hoot about our health care, or any other real needs. Universal health care, like Johnson's Great Society, is another massive redistributive step in "social justice." Further, it is another giant step in seizing a larger portion of the nation's economy. Government wizards know it must be done incrementally. Americans, after being repeatedly clobbered with all the stuff, will acquiesce to the powers that be.
Or, this is how it's always been. Do we have the courage this time to just say NO to Obama and all the government goons? Remember, there are consequences to our choices. Wrong choices result in slavery. Right choices result in freedom. Don't miss part three of this message. To anyone willing to hear....
© Madeline Crabb
October 15, 2009
"Liberty is the right to choose. Freedom is the result of the right choice." This anonymous quote summarizes the stakes of the health care battle we're facing today. Indeed there is a crisis at hand, but it is not a health care crisis. The crisis we face is our loss of choice, our liberty, resulting in the loss of all our freedoms. When we lose our freedom, we become slaves to the master.
Ironic that a black man is leading the charge to further enslave the nation he is supposed to be serving. But then, that is the nature of power, particularly in government. Today's leaders bear no resemblance to our Founding Fathers. The latter worked from a position of sacrifice for the good of the country, comprised of individual citizens. The former operates from a position of gaining perpetual power and riches off the backs of voting blocs.
We are now getting frighteningly close to a total government takeover of America's health care. The idea of compulsory, or nationalized, health care has been debated since the 1920's when Europe began instituting such programs. But common sense prevailed here, and the free market always managed to innovate and create to meet the changing needs of American citizens.
Obviously, this 1000-page bill is complicated. After all, it comes from the federal government that can't do anything in a simple, straightforward way. It is also confusing to most people who don't have the time or the emotional energy left at day's end to sort things out on their own. Of course, if the media was doing its job of honestly reporting on such a profound proposal instead of cheerleading for its idol-in-chief, things would not have progressed this far.
When Americans are given the TRUTH, they can make the right decisions. But like the snake oil salesmen of old, this president uses emotional words, invokes a sense of urgency, and uses class envy to seal the deal. When all is said and done, there is something wrong with you if you don't go along with him.
It is surprising we aren't hearing the collective cry of "foul" from the nation's 50 governors. After all, what is being jammed down the proverbial throats of American citizens should be an issue for the states. The tenth amendment to the Constitution states: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." Hello governors! The federal government is making a huge power play! Don't you even care?
The Heritage Foundation is reporting that the feds are creating a major new arm of bureaucracy under the umbrella of Health and Human Services. At least two agencies, Health Choices Administration, and Health Benefits Advisory Committee will be tasked with micromanaging every aspect of our health care. Heritage says that in essence, HHS becomes the de facto national regulator of all health insurance, both private and public.
While we are being told that our current health care plans won't be affected, Heritage tells a different story. All proposed plans contain "grandfather" clauses with varying requirements. Basically, after a grace period, all plans must meet new coverage standards, or fines will be assessed. A person's coverage might meet government standards, but once changes have been made by the carrier or the insured, they either have to revert to the government plan or be fined.
Furthermore, Heritage reports that HHS, through its newly-created agencies, will have powers similar to the IRS in conducting random audits of health plans, and investigating complaints of non-compliance, and other matters. The cost of such audits can then be passed on to those being audited. Oh, that's in addition to the actual fines that can be levied to violators. Heritage summarizes that after 2017, "any private employer still willing to offer its workers a health benefit plan can expect to also pay for the privilege of being harassed by federal bureaucrats seeking to determine if it is in compliance with all federal rules micromanaging the operations of its plan — and to be fined for any failures that may be discovered in the process."
On September 7, the Los Angeles Times stated, "With compromises all but certain, the final bill would not remake the U.S. healthcare system in one stroke. It might not even directly address some of the most important, and toughest, elements of the problem. But major changes appear likely, including a significant expansion of insurance coverage. And in a host of other provisions — including new rules for private insurers on issues including benefits caps and preexisting conditions — it would open the door to more direct government involvement in the system down the road." What understatements!
Our government simply wants more power and control over our lives. It really doesn't give a hoot about our health care, or any other real needs. Universal health care, like Johnson's Great Society, is another massive redistributive step in "social justice." Further, it is another giant step in seizing a larger portion of the nation's economy. Government wizards know it must be done incrementally. Americans, after being repeatedly clobbered with all the stuff, will acquiesce to the powers that be.
Or, this is how it's always been. Do we have the courage this time to just say NO to Obama and all the government goons? Remember, there are consequences to our choices. Wrong choices result in slavery. Right choices result in freedom. Don't miss part three of this message. To anyone willing to hear....
© Madeline Crabb
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