Health care is a CHOICE, Part Three

By Madeline Crabb

Choices, smoices. What's all the health care hoopla about? Government says we're all going to have a choice in our personal health care needs. Either we keep the insurance we have through our employers, keep our private insurance, or allow the government to be the new middleman with the "public option."

That's right. Middleman. Remember, unless we actually buy our insurance directly from an insurance company, there is a middleman. But, but, the president says he wants to remove the middleman. He says that will make insurance more affordable. (Not with this middleman.)

Obama says it's all so very simple. Yes, just like Social Security and Medicare. Hey, I would include Medicaid in this argument, but that program is probably one of the most fraud-laden jokes of a program the government has ever produced. Oh the stories I could share...but I digress.

Congratulations American citizens, you are about to be the proud recipients and financial backers of another wonderful government joke of a program. Like the first two mandatory programs citizens were forced into (Social Security and Medicare), Obamacare will be mandatory as well. Eventually the government will simply take deductions, rather large ones at that, from your paycheck to pay for "free health care for everyone!" (It won't hurt a bit!)

Remember, the government just wants to help all those poor Americans who don't have health care insurance. Too bad while they're playing a sad song on the world's tiniest violin that they don't admit partial blame for some Americans finding health care a little expensive. Can anyone say taxes and regulation?

But, health insurance is available to all Americans. They can purchase it through insurance companies, if they so choose. And furthermore, there are many affordable plans available for everyone. Unfortunately, the government wants to be the middleman. Why? Money and power. Period.

Options anyone?

What if the government relaxed some of the existing regulations, like allowing people to buy insurance across state lines? Or how about changing some methods of taxation, like allowing privately-purchased insurance to be non-taxable? Or what about allowing health savings accounts, gee, like those available to the millions of federal government employees, including all the politicians who can't wait to get their hands in our wallets? (You know, those programs We the Sheeple pay for.) Wouldn't these things alone be incentive for a new type of competition that would begin price wars on private insurance? Hmmm?

Oh yes, the government thinks there will be real competition for insurance between private companies and the federal government. Hello! Anyone with actual experience in private industry understands that such "competition" will actually price some businesses entirely out of the market. (Wonder if that's part of the plan? As a matter of fact, it is.) Guess which will always win because of their sheer power? That's right, the G-man. He has ALL the power of the IRS and the legislative branch to change rules in midstream, or make it impossible to ever succeed. It would never, ever be a fair fight.

When we actually read — uh, wade through — the health care bill, we find federal government has the clear advantage over other "choices." In this bill the government repeatedly gives itself control over life and death choices for all Americans. Also, the government repeatedly gives itself control to change parts of the law whenever it so chooses. (Oops, guess there is some choice. My bad.) The "Secretary" (of Health and Human Services) will have an enormous amount of power. (And who says this isn't about politics. Yeah, right.) Remember, this same government cries foul when private industry tries to change rules in midstream.

Basically, instead of allowing the free market, and even the medical establishment, to develop ways of making insurance available and affordable for 15 percent of Americans, our government wants to develop a monstrosity for all Americans that will turn the whole system upside down. (Typical.) Moreover, government "reform" is morphing into a mandate for all businesses and individuals.

Mandates anyone?

Our president says, "Under my plan, individuals will be required to carry basic health insurance. Likewise, businesses will be required to either offer their workers health care, or chip in to help cover the cost of their workers." In Obama's usual condescending tone he asserts that we "can't have large businesses and individuals who can afford coverage game the system by avoiding responsibility to themselves or their employees. Improving our health care system only works if everybody does their part."

Obama says that even if we (the government) provide affordable options to the American public, "there may be those — especially the young and the healthy — who still want to take the risk and go without coverage." (So what's wrong with self-insuring, or saving money for future needs?) Further, he explains there may still be companies that refuse to "do right" by their workers by giving them coverage. Mr. Obama says, "Such irresponsible behavior costs all the rest of us money." So Mr. Young and Healthy, shame on you for not wanting to purchase insurance coverage. Who cares if you don't want or need it! And, Mr. Employer, whether it's in your budget or not, you will have to find a way to provide health insurance for your employees. Government will both shame and tax you into participating, or going broke. Actually, both will probably become eventualities.

Reminder: One of Obama's campaign promises was to dramatically transform America, and he wasn't kidding. Look around. Your health care choices are just another of your freedoms being stolen at the altar of "economic justice for all." Sobering, isn't it? What will we do? Have we lost our will to fight back? If you've lost the will to fight, then don't read the proposed bill. You might not want to know the truth about those nasty little death panels Sarah Palin alluded to. To anyone willing to hear....

© Madeline Crabb