Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Why I Oppose Nationalized Health Care


I friend of mine asked me why I am opposed to "ObamaCare". Here it is:

The biggest problem that I have with nationalized health care is the lack of choice, the government will control our health care choices. I think that insurance companies and HMOs already have too much control of our health care choices. Those who are too young or too old and in need of more expensive care could be denied. We have seen by sad experience that government-run agencies are far less efficient and result in much worse customer service than private business. When we're talking about human life and quality of life, we must have and be the best.

I am opposed to the attitude of entitlement and seeking help and handouts from the government. People are most productive and happy when they are enabled to do and achieve for themselves, whether it's the day-to-day running of a household or business, making a million dollars, or overcoming great opposition or difficulties. But, certainly, there are some who need help, and that is best done by private or religious organizations.

Another problem I have with it is that it's so expensive, and that will drive up taxes, which are already a heavy burden on the average citizen. In the Middle Ages, peasants were required to pay their landlords one-third of their income, and they were considered to be in servitude. What are we when we pay taxes as high as twice that?

Finally, I am opposed to the enlargement of government bureaucracy that will result in greater government control and power. As Thomas Paine said,"That government is best which governs least."

Here are some other recommended articles about it (if you don't have time for all of them, read the last one):

From The Wall Street Journal: Canada's ObamaCare Precedent: Governments always ration care by making you wait. That can be deadly.

From The Washington Post: CBO Chief Says Democrats' Proposals Lack Necessary Controls on Spending

From Matters of Truth: Obamacare facing physician opposition from the AMA

From Political Crunch: Liberal lies and why Americans oppose Obama style health care reform

From The Spectator: Obamacare Could Kill You

From Town Hall: 10 Questions for Supporters of 'ObamaCare'

And, finally, the REALLY SCARY STUFF, from Family Security Matters: Look Here to See What’s in the Health Care Bill: CHILLING!

It almost leaves me speechless...

(And here is the actual bill.)

2 comments:

Angela said...

The Healthcare bill scares me more than Cap and Trade. The latter will only make us poor, the former can kill us.

jim or amy said...

Anything the Govt can screw up, they will. That being said, I firmly believe we need some major revamping of our current health care system. Here are some much needed fixes:
1. Control the cost of medications. If the Govt wants to do anything, take over the manufacture and distribution of generic medications. Did you know that the generic form of Septra, an antibiotic, only costs $0.001 cents/pill to produce, but the pharmacy sells it at $4.00 for 20, or $0.20/pill. That is just an example.
Some (ie, the pharmaceutical companies) complain that if that happens, no money will be available for research and no new drugs will be developed to cure cancer, fight infections, diabetes, etc. I say baloney. The govt takes over the Generics, the free market takes care of the rest.
2. Make the hospitals and doctors accept the same payments from all payers whether insured or not. Did you know that the hospital will charge you $12,000 for treatment of a kidney stone but will accept $3500 from the insurance company?