Exploring Liberal Myths: Healthcare

This article is part 4 in a 5 part series: Exploring Liberal Myths.  Here are the other stories:

1. America’s International Standing
2. Torture
3. Republicans as Party of “No”
4. Healthcare

When Obama became president he announced 3 major things he wanted to accomplish:

1. Singing a “stimulus” bill into law
2. Cap and Trade
3. Healthcare “reform”

Thus far, President Obama only managed the first goal, which a vast majority of Americans now agree was a flop and a waste of money.  Cap and Trade is dead (much as Bill Clinton’s BTU met the same fate) and with Scott Brown’s victory in Massachusetts, Healthcare “reform” is on the ropes.

During the entire healthcare debate, Republicans have been painted as naysayers and beholden to those evil insurance companies even though a vast majority of Americans report they are very happy with their healthcare:

Democrats have also complained (and it is repeated often in the press) that Republicans only say “No” and have proposed nothing themselves.  This is a false assertion for a plan of reforms was proposed however Democrats, controlling 2/3rds of our government, sent the plan to the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Energy Committee on May 20, 2009 where it has sat to this day.  This should not be a surprise as each committee has 4 members and on each one, 3 of them are Democrats.

Why are Democrats opposed to this plan?  This except from The Moderate Voice explains the reasons:

Why won’t this ever see the light of day? (That is, aside from the fact that the GOP suggested it.) Among other reasons, because Titles 4 and 5 also include fiscally responsible proposals which too many Democrats despise. First, they mandate means testing for the direct government assistance in the form of grants and advancements which would cover every American citizen who can truly not afford health insurance. Why this is such an abomination to my liberal colleagues I will never understand. Also, Title 6 has a provision to encourage the reform and limitation of frivolous lawsuits which, along with other waste and abuse, drives up costs across the board.

That last one is apparently a real deal breaker for most Democrats, who rely on a group mentality where everyone will eventually slip and fall on the sidewalk of a rich person and hit the lottery. None of these, of course, will come to an open vote and likely never even be read by the public. But you should know that one of the biggest lies being foisted off on you by supporters of Obamacare is that Republicans are unwilling to get involved in a better solution. They already have. But nobody is listening or talking about it, either in the majority or the lion’s share of the media.

If it is a bad bill, then let it come up for debate.  Allowing this bill to die in committee without having its merits discussed is cowardly.

One of the things that has put the Democrats into hot water regarding healthcare “reform” is the political fickleness of their proposals.  For example, why are tanning salons to be taxed 10% but Botox clinics are not?  Why was Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu given an extra $100 million for her home state (she corrected the story to say “And it’s not a $100 million fix. It’s a $300 million fix.”)?  Why did Nebraska win “free” Medicare coverage in the Senate version of the bill while the other 49 states didn’t get the same gift?  And why did Big Labor get an exemption from taxes on their healthcare taxes until they negotiate new contracts in 2018 (Unions have given Democrats $400 million since 2006)?

The answer is one word: Politics

Another major problem is that all of the Democratic proposals will not control costs according to Robert Samuelson:

Even if Congress passes legislation — a good bet — the finished product will fall far short of Obama’s extravagant promises. It will not cover everyone. It will not control costs. It will worsen the budget outlook. It will lead to higher taxes. It will disrupt how, or whether, companies provide insurance for their workers. As the real-life (as opposed to rhetorical) consequences unfold, they will rebut Obama’s claim that he has “solved” the health-care problem. His reputation will suffer.

Liberals point to how poor American healthcare is but how does that explain why we have the highest cancer survival rates when compared to socialized medicine in the European Union (the answer is rationed care in Europe):

“Reforming” heathcare is a battle that was waged under President Bill Clinton, and it failed.  It is a battle being waged under President Obama and it, too, is failing.

A poll from December 2009 shows a majority of Americans opposed Obamakare:

As the Senate prepares to vote on health care reform, American voters “mostly disapprove” of the plan 53 – 36 percent and disapprove 56 – 38 percent of President Barack Obama’s handling of the health care issue, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Voters also oppose 72 – 23 percent using any public money in the health care overhaul to pay for abortions, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.

The facts are, Republicans have submitted a proposal that hasn’t been debated and has been sent to die in committee.  Democrats are buying votes to pass their agenda, and taxes and exemptions are being dolled out based on politics, not on reality.

If our healthcare system is to be “reformed” it should be done with input from both parties but, by all appearances, Democrats are only interested in paying off their campaign donors and shutting out differing views so they can try to move America more into Socialism where the citizen becomes dependent upon the government for everything.

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Related posts:

1. Exploring Liberal Myths: The Republicans as the Party of No
2. Exploring Liberal Myths: America's International Standing
3. Exploring Liberal Myths: Torture
4. Whole Foods and Healthcare – What Irony!
5. Which Brain is Working on Healthcare?