Larry Kudlow had a great post on his blog this morning about Obamacare. After convincingly arguing that the size of the uninsured problem is much closer to 10 million than 50 million (including citation of a recent USA Today poll that found 89% of Americans are satisfied with their current health care), he lays down this gem:
But the Democratic agenda has never really been about just the uninsured. And it certainly hasn’t been about real cost-cutting or true market choice and competition. Nor has it been about tort/trial-lawyer reform. Instead, the Democratic agenda has always been a class-warfare, anti-business attack on private-sector doctors, hospitals, insurance firms, and drug companies. It’s all about control, knocking down their profits, and telling them what to do.
Because government planners know best, right? Wrong. Absolutely wrong.
Gee, that’s almost all of my problem with federal environmental policy, too. Coincidence?
At the heart of every argument supporting government health care (or, for that matter, just about any other unconstitutional behemoth program or proposal you care to name), there are two beliefs that consistently baffle me:
- The government is capable of doing everything it proposes. The problem of the uninsured is one that can be effectively solved with massive federal programs.
- The government is motivated to do everything it proposes. It is acting magnanimously, for the better interests of its citizens.
To anyone thinking Obamacare (or any other federally-run health care program proposal) is a good idea: why in the world do you think They can do it? Why in the world do you think They will do it? What is in evidence to support either belief?
(Please also see my first comment below.)
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Let me clarify. I got so enamored of the parallel structure that I let it cloud my intended meaning.
When I say “Why in the world do you think They will do it?” I don’t mean that I doubt their resolve. I think we’re in real danger of getting this good and hard, and oops, they forgot to budget for K-Y.
What I mean is, they’re telling you this is going to be better for you. Why would you believe that it is? When has massive government control of a formerly private enterprise ever gone well? When has it ever been good for the individual?
We’re committing the fallacy of the excluded middle en masse. That there are problems in the current system does not automatically mean that gargantuan federal control is the only solution. The voices suggesting intermediate measures that do not cost trillions of dollars are not nearly loud enough.
Just ask anyone who uses military treatment facilities as their “provider” what they think of their health care. I can tell you many many examples of long waits, misdiagnosis, negligence etc. Yet, this is what the public is willingly signing up for? My husband was told when suffering from a massive head to toe rash that his appointment would be July 16th. lol Just deal with the inconveniences of illness. That’s what it’s gonna be. Oh.. and you can’t sue military doctors either. So that friend whose melanoma went undiagnosed every time she brought it up (oh it’s a normal mole) has absolutely no recourse.And the friend whose 3 year old ended up in the hospital needing emergency surgery after being told it was a simple stomach ache TWICE? :shakes head: America. Get ready.
Larry Kudlow is dead on about so many things. He’s one of the few reasons I’m able to watch CNBC with any regularity.
I’m guessing Obamacare will result in those luxury medical retreats you blogged about previoulsy springing up in places like Costa Rica. The wealthy will still have access to the best medicine money can buy. The working classes will be forced to rely on what will surely be a bureaucracy laden incompetent government worker union controlled disaster.
The markets are voting with their pocket book lately.
I am still astounded that we are talking about the high cost of medicine when we don’t even know what that is. Before throwing money at it, let’s find out what things really cost. I had a battery of blood work done for something potentially serious. Did they do some that may have been unnecessary? Probably.
The bill was $2500, but the insurance paid $500 and the doctor/lab accepts that as payment in full. Yeah, $500 is a lot of money, but only 20% of the number the gov’t is using as “cost.”
What did you think about the healthcare proposal I had in my “Now If I Were President” post, Bo?
Susan: Keep telling those stories long and loud. We’re much closer to “too late” than many realize.
Lee: I hadn’t considered that (overseas luxury medical retreats), but it sounds awfully plausible, doesn’t it?
‘seester: As soon as I’m sure we’re done–so, maybe another couple of months–I’ll share the numbers from Lea’s recent treatment.
nhfalcon: Beyond field units in theater, I don’t think there should be any such thing as a government hospital. There are many ways for government to help needy citizens with health care without owning the thing. That’s what I’m getting at above–a monstrous, multi-trillion dollar government program is not the only alternative to the status quo.
I’d invite you also to think much more critically about whether any government bureaucracy can ever even approach “incorruptible.” Those overseeing government programs, above all else, seek to keep more and more money flowing. Period. That is practically axiomatic.
Distorted market forces are one reason health care is in the shape it’s in. Said distorted forces are a direct result of too much government, not insufficient government. Lack of tort reform is another big reason. Fear of liability is badly stifling any truly innovative thinking.
Kudlow expanded his blog post into a column today.
Don’t the Brits go to India for their boutique (elective) surgeries? I’ve heard they have some pretty nice perks and package deals over there.