The Health Control Plan

July 27, 2009

By Humphrey Stevenson

President Obama wants the Health Care Plan passed before Congress's August recess. So, what's the big hurry? Well, originally it was because there were fifty million Americans who could not get health care. But that has been shown to be a lie. The real reason is he wants it passed before the American people figure out the real intention.

The Democrats have declared the people have a right to health care. This is simply not true, not the way people have the right to freedom of speech or religion. I have no more right to the services of a doctor than I have a right to the services of a carpenter. If I would like for a carpenter to work on my home, for example, then I must make an agreement with that carpenter for him to do certain work for an agreed upon price. It's the same with health care, or should be. No one is entitled to the labor or the product of the labor, physical or intellectual, of others.

In addition, we have been told that we need government run health care because it will control costs. But if costs are too high this is not a function of the lack of government involvement. The federal government already controls a large amount of the health care market through Medicare and Medicaid and still they claim that costs are out of control. So it doesn't make sense that complete government control would lower costs.

The so-called Health Care Plan is not about coverage or cost savings or any other Democrat talking point, it is about control. If the government can control your health care, it can control you. Think about it, almost everything you do has or can have some bearing on your health. When the government is paying for your health care then they can control almost anything you do. Let's say, for example, that the government decides that it doesn't want you to enjoy your occasional Big Mac. They'll just start dragging out statistics (real or imaginary) about the high cost of treating heart disease and how it is a national health care emergency. Since they control our health care, and thereby our health, we'll have no choice but to sit back while they eliminate fast food or, more likely, slap a huge surtax on it. Fast food not your thing? Don't worry; they'll get around to your favorite vice soon enough.

Gun owners better pay particular attention because I think this is exactly how the liberals will try get around the Second Amendment and further restrict or ban gun ownership. The government will simply declare that the cost of treating the resulting injuries of firearms use (criminal or not) is causing a health care crisis and endangers the entire system. Since any resultant gun restrictions will likely come from a department in the Executive branch (Health and Human Services or some new department) and not Congress, they will claim that the restrictions or outright ban do not violate the Constitution.

This is President Obama's signature issue and still it does not seem that even he knows what is in the bill. In a phone conversation with left wing bloggers, Obama was asked a question about a provision in the bill that says that whenever anything changes about a person's private plan, deductible, co-pay, etc., the person must drop that insurance and sign up for a government approved plan. If the person cannot prove to the IRS that they are enrolled in a government approved plan they will be fined and forced into a randomly chosen plan. Obama said he didn't know that provision was in the bill. Furthermore, I don't think Obama really cares what's in the bill as long as the overarching purpose is realized; the Federal Government assumes full control of our health care system.

Lastly, ask yourself this question. If the federal government controlled health care is going to be so wonderful, then why are members of Congress, President Obama and his staff exempting themselves from it? The way they talk about it, you would think they would be rushing to sign up. Besides that, shouldn't they lead by example? President Obama, you and your staff and members of Congress all sign up for government care and live under it for two or three years. Then report back to the American people and maybe we'll listen. Until then, Mr. President, count us out.

Comments

Humphrey Stevenson has BS degrees in Chemistry and Mathematics and an MBA and makes his home in Tulsa, OK. He is a chemist by trade, has been published in trade journals, and is a recent "tea party" participant and political writer. His inspiration, as with many conservatives, is Ronald Reagan.