Without histrionics or accusations, whether it’s the monstrosity in the House or the one in the Senate, I join with millions of other Americans in asking our representatives to reject such health care “reform.”
I realize many Americans would like to see this, or something like it, approved. However, based on history and the proposed reform itself, it would be a disaster.
There are some things the government does well. There are some things the government must do, whether it’s well or not. For instance, I do not point to the Postal Service when criticizing government. It’s not that the USPS is without problems but, from my perspective, the mail gets through on a timely manner.
But time and again we have seen where efficiency and effectiveness are not associated with government programs. Recent examples of this include Cash for Clunkers and the stimulus.
Cash for Clunkers was discussed early on here, but more has since been learned about its failings. For one, many of the vehicles purchased got almost the same, or worse, fuel economy than the ones traded in.
Edmunds said taxpayers effectively paid $24,000 per vehicle, i.e., the government — you — essentially bought the cars. Ford’s estimate of C4C success still puts cost per vehicle for taxpayers at $12,000 for what was supposed to be an incentive of up to $4,500 per vehicle.
Then there is the “success” of the stimulus. Today we found out, just days after the Obama Administration took credit for creating or saving jobs, that unemployment went up to 10.2%. Of course, when your only choices in reporting to the government the results of taking stimulus funds are “created” and “saved,” that’s what you’ll get regardless of reality.
Even the federal government’s greatest success story, the military, is constantly trying to get a handle on waste and overspending.
So why does anyone expect the massive, and thus likely riddled with harmful known and unknown consequences, bills being proposed to not cost vastly more than estimated and not work nearly as well as proposed?
Many alternatives to reducing health care costs and expanding health insurance availability exist, from tort reform to being able to cross state lines to sell/purchase health insurance.
These would cost taxpayers little if anything, maintain or increase patient choices, not take from Medicare, respect the American values of life, liberty, individualism and free, private enterprise, and not add to our already burgeoning deficits and debt.
As it stands now, the Congress is poised to pass a measure antithetical to these goals and principles. Please, don’t do it.
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If the health care reform passes, there will be no incentive to work. We can all sit at home and collect our welfare, Social Security and finally, our health-care benefits.