Socialism and Health Care

The health care debate continues to rage on as I write this, with President Obama and Speaker Pelosi engaging in every form of arm twisting possible, legal or otherwise, to ensure passage of a sweeping health care bill that will socialize the health care system of the United States, and result in bringing 1/6 of the U.S. economy under federal control. Pelosi has even proposed an unconstitutional procedure to "deem" that a bill has passed, even though it has not, in order to ram this bill through, since she can't do it legally. This is frightening for a number of reasons.

First and foremost, the federal government has absolutely no authority to do this under Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution, which is why several states are preparing to file suit against the federal government if this bill passes, and many states are considering laws and even amendments to state constitutions (i.e. Arizona) to essentially prohibit the federal government from imposing any of these health care regulations on their state. Liberals have incorrectly asserted that the federal supremacy clause of the Constitution prevents states from doing this. They are wrong. The supremacy clause only comes into affect when a state tries to exercise the same power as explicitly granted the federal government under Article 1 Section 8. If the Virginia Plan had passed during the founding of the United States, the liberals would be right, but it did not. Instead, the federal supremacy clause (Article 6, Clause 2) is what the founders agreed upon.

Second, this is diametrically opposed to the free market system, to Capitalism, to the founding principles of America, and to common sense. It's also extraordinarily expensive- at a time when the federal debt is at an all time high, and the credit rating of the United States is endangered, we need to focus on balancing the budget and paying off the national debt, not on printing and spending even more money that the federal government does not have. Additionally, the proposed reforms include absolutely nothing about tort reform- the type of reform that is needed to reduce the cost of health insurance premiums across the board. Another reason the health care system in the United States is expensive, and suffering- is directly due to federal involvement in the industry- including Medicare and Medicaid, neither of which should exist in my opinion. The health care system in the U.S. is still the best in the world, not because of, but in spite of federal meddling. The proposed bill will add 150 new government entities to oversee the health care system, including what care citizens may and may not receive, and these unelected bureaucrats will- without exaggeration- decide who lives and who dies (i.e. what conditions are treated or not, and which patients are treated) based on their 'social worth.' That sounds frighteningly similar to eugenics to me. Man does not and should not have that right, only God does.

Third, nearly 80% of Americans oppose this bill. The vast majority oppose any form of socialized medicine. But even if Americans did want it, it would require a Constitutional Amendment, as the federal government simply does not have the authority over health care. Fortunately, most Americans haven't completely taken leave of their senses, and understand that the choice of private doctor and private insurance carrier will be lost if this bill takes effect. The system, which is already overburdened, will be flooded with 30 million new healthcare recipients, resulting in rationing of services, lack of choice of doctors, and long lines and waits for care and procedures. Many surveys show that nearly 60% of doctors will stop practicing medicine if this bill passes. Imagine adding 30 million new clients, and reducing the service providers by 60%. It's a recipe for disaster.

Fourth- what frightens me most about this proposal, and the attitude of government today, is the arrogance. It boils down to control. The government wants all citizens to be utterly dependent upon them- for everything, including their very health. The below video clip nearly made me sick to watch. Senator Tom Harkin actually says, surrounded by 'feel good comments' at 3:43 that "like every right that we've ever passed for the American people, we revisit it later on to enhance and build on those rights." How arrogant, how wrong, how misguided!!! I don't know about Tom Harkin, but my rights do not come and go at the whim of any legislative body. My rights do not come from man. My rights come from God as the founding fathers confirmed. Perhaps Senator Harkin forgets, or wants to forget, the cherished words of our founders when they said "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" The Supreme Court confirmed this in their recent Heller ruling regarding the Second Amendment- stating that "this is not a right granted by the Constitution. Neither is it in any manner dependent upon that instrument for its existence. The Second amendment declares that it shall not be infringed..." We are truly playing with fire as a nation when elected government officials believe that they have the power to grant rights, and thus that they have the power of God.