8/10/2009 6:46:00 AM Letter: The devil is always in the details
Editor:
We have a good debate going regarding this seminal issue. Claims of lies abound on both sides. Let's look at what we know.
Obama and the Dems call it "Reform." But it is not. Reform would involve fixing what's wrong. Tort reform is necessary to dramatically lower malpractice insurance. Texas did that in 2003 and now doctor's and hospital insurance is dramatically lower, rates charged patients have come down, and doctors are relocating in droves to Texas. Portability and competition across state lines and between companies will lower costs.
This will eliminate "pre-existing conditions" restrictions. Elimination of sniffles insurance - insure only catastrophes using privately purchased Health Savings Accounts. Even elimination of employer-paid benefits will increase take-home pay some of which could then be used to purchase a HSA.
There are lots of fixes available to address the current problems. Creating a single payer government system is not the solution. Go to www.heritage.org Web site for the Heritage Foundation, for several reasonable discussions of the problems and potential solutions.
So what is Obamacare all about? You can read HR 32OO. It is available several places on the web. It's 1,100 pages long and full of lawyerisms. I found a 10-page synopsis. You can link to it at the Liberty Council web site (www.LC.org). It is truly scary. No one knows what the Senate is proposing because nothing has been published yet.
Bottom line: It is about remaking our population dependent on government and transferring wealth. HFB 3200 calls for rationing, provision of HC to non-citizens at zero cost, a government committee will decide what treatment you get, government will have direct access to your bank accounts for electronic funds transfers, government is creating an HC exchange to bring private plans under government control, and on and on.
All of Obama's actions to date including, creation of 40 some czars who solely work for the president and are not answerable to the Congress or Constitution, taking over much of our banking, finance, insurance and automobile industries, and soon to come Environmental, Energy and Immigration bills will permanently transform this country from individuals independently striving to do well to a nation of people dependent on the government. To him and his ilk, employers who provide jobs are evil. Workers of the world unite! Sounds like a duck, walks like a duck - hello!
In the Wall Street Journal, Dr. Arthur B. Laffer, respected economist and former Reagan advisor, explains how Obamacare will greatly increase costs to each and every American and decrease availability and quality of care. Just the opposite of Obama claims. The devil is always in the details.
