- Home
- About Us
- Contributors
- Departments
- Topics
- Back Issues
- Weekly Archives
- AmSpecBlog
- Subscribe
- Newsletter
- Advertise
- Donate
- Contact Us
- Daily Digest
- Templeton Essays
Reader Mail
Cap-and-Taxed to Death
(Page 3 of 6)
I don't usually read The American Spectator any more, though I do return occasionally to gloat.
Mr. McCotter's entertaining insertion of the Grand Inquisitor into the health care debate obfuscates the issues more than it sheds light. It is unclear whose side Dostoevsky was on, but the Grand Inquisitor seems to have won the argument, as Jesus remained mum and didn't attempt to offer a rebuttal. Dostoevsky took great liberties with Christian thought when he suggested that Christ represented freedom; the topic doesn't come up in any sermons that I'm aware of. To some extent, Christ was misrepresented, because he advocated following his rules rather abandoning all rules in favor of self-sufficiency.
The evidence is rather strong that most government-controlled heath care systems are more economical and effective than our current system of private insurance. A little totalitarianism could also go a long way towards forcing people to eat properly and exercise rather than let themselves become morbidly obese and then seek free emergency room care to treat their heart attacks and cancers. And the Chinese are actually on the right track in trying to reduce fertility rates when overpopulation is a global crisis.
A more salient example than health care of how too much freedom
can be a bad thing is the recent world financial debacle. If all
the proper regulations had been in place and enforced, it never
would have happened. The fact is that free markets don't work in
all situations.
-- Paul Dorell
Evanston, Illinois
ANYONE? BUELLER?
Re: Ben Stein's The Men and Women of July
4:
You are always the dear friend of the men and women of the Armed
Forces of the USA! In fact, your line of
"Bueller...Bueller...?" from Ferris Bueller's Day Off is
still used by GIs when someone calls out a name and receives no
response. It warms the heart to be appreciated.
-- WO1 David Shoup
Georgia Army National Guard
Afghanistan
GRAND USELESS PARTY
Re: Jay D. Homnick's
Troubling State of
Affairs:
The first thing I thought of was the coach of the New York Mets
in the 1960s, asking the team, "can't anybody play this game?" I
have a horrible feeling that the answer as far as the GOP is
concerned is "nope." If there are any real leaders out there,
they must be holidaying in Hawaii. With competition like that, no
wonder an ultra light like Barack Obama gets a free pass on
everything. There is nobody around who knows what a fire is, let
alone have the guts to hold his feet in it and make him work for
his living.
-- Christopher Holland
Canberra, Australia
THE WILL CARE WHEN THEY GET THE CARE
Re:
Lawrence A. Hunter's Does Obama Care?
We as Americans must, today, write to our Congressional representatives and Senators. One only need say these few words:
"If we are to have a government run health care system, it must
cover Congress and the President without exception of exclusion.
You must be subject to the same deficiencies citizens are. If
this plan is not good enough for Congress then it is clearly not
good enough for the citizens who employ you."
-- Jay Molyneaux
Denver, North Carolina
NO QUARTER
Re: Doug Bandow's The Consequences
of the Culture of Death:
Mr. Bandow's article is a thoughtful one which would give all
much to ponder, but too bad he squanders my good will and
probably that of much of the pro life community when he seems to
give Obama at least a partial pass in his penultimate paragraph.
Obama is clearly completely and totally committed to killing the
unborn, the partially born, and the newborn. This is documented
by his actions as a Illinois politician and his few months in the
White House. Actions are more an indication of one's views than
empty and pretty words, as we learn more every day about this
essentially amoral man.
-- Jack Wheatley
Royal Oak, Michigan
Comments
Leave a Comment
- Losing It
- Obama's Vision Through History
- Obama's Foreign Policy Problems, Personified
Old Texican| 7.3.09 @ 1:23PM
James Noble
Thank you. That was the most succinct, and thoughtful post I have read today.
You stepped back from the pointless grumbling and took it to the conclusion.
brrrrr...chill bumps!
billy| 7.4.09 @ 5:34AM
I say again.
Our elected officials need a history lesson.
Why did we tell the king of England (one of the most powerful men in the world) to take a hike 233 years ago today?
DoS_Conservative| 7.4.09 @ 10:32AM
"I don't usually read The American Spectator any more, though I do return occasionally to gloat. "
--Paul Dorell
I think Mr. Dorell needs to go back on hiatus because his letter is absolutely nonsense. He makes some hysterical claims how totalitarianism is great. It takes a liberal to praise totalitarianism. He has a great role model in the White House.
First, his claim that government controlled healthcare systems are more economical and effective than our current system of private insurance. Economical? Not to the tax payers who fund it. Perhaps to the government since they constantly deny treatment; therefore, they are not paying for it. As a Foreign Service Officer in the Department of State, I have lived overseas many years and have experienced government run healthcare first hand. I would not trade our current system for it. It is not great. Besides my problems dealing with that system, I have had two friends diagnosed with cancer while in Europe. The government run health care in Europe told them they had to wait 6 weeks just to talk about possible treatment options for their cancer. Then would have to wait just to get on the treatment program afterwards. They came back to the US and were immediately on treatment within days of returning to the US. If they waited in the European system, they would probably not be cured today. Also, those with money all pay for higher medical care at special hospitals for the well to do. They all know if you want quality healthcare, you pay for it out of pocket.
Second, his claim that the Chinese are on the right track in trying to control fertility rates when over population is a global crisis is just insane. If they are on the right track since they instituted their one child policy, then why is it that their population continues to increase? As someone who has lived in China for a couple of years, I can tell you. Because when the Chinese have girls, they continue to either kill them (infanticide), or abandon them in an orphanage so they can continue to try for a boy. Also, those Chinese with money can just pay the government to be an exception to the one child policy. Or perhaps I misread Mr. Dorell's point. Perhaps he was praising the Chinese population control mechanism of executing criminals for petty crimes as pickpocketing. Or massacring minority populations that don't agree with the Politburo. I guess the Chinese are on the right track. As a liberal, Mr. Dorell probably thinks this is a wonderful way to quell dissent.
Finally, Mr. Dorell blames the current financial crisis on too little regulation. He acts as if no regulation existed and caused this crisis. The truth is that if Congress (the overseers of the regulators) actually did their job and enforced the regulation already on the books, instead of catering to their special interest groups, we probably wouldn't be in the mess we are in today.
I think Mr. Dorell needs to continue to not read the Spectator and go back to his Huffington Post and Daily KOS blogs with the other brain washed sheeple who believe this nonsense.
Paul Dorell| 7.6.09 @ 11:44AM
DoS_Conservative,
You can rest assured that I don't intend to become a regular on this site. It was always fun stir the pot during Bush's second term, but that's old hat now. However, I will respond to some of your comments.
Studies have shown that the total per capita cost to the citizens of France for health care is about half of that of Americans, and that on balance the results in terms of infant mortality and other measures are better. I'm not saying that this applies to the poorer countries of Europe. I realize that there are waiting periods in some countries, and that treatment isn't always immediately available. As an individual, that would be undesirable, but for the country as a whole, it would be beneficial. One of the reasons why our health care system is the most expensive in the world per capita is that people are over-treated. In my opinion, it is appropriate in many instances to allow people to die rather than spend hundreds of thousand of taxpayer dollars to extend their lives by a few months. That is the norm here, and the current system has no internal mechanism to correct it. If immediate treatment is what particularly irks you, with any system that we're likely to legislate, you will still be able to get it - at the right price out of your own pocket. I do not commend Congress for their conduct over the last few years, but at least they're trying to move in the right direction now.
Regarding China, I was not applauding their human rights violations. Nor was I applauding the effectiveness of their attempt to control their population growth. I was applauding the fact that the government is attempting to prevent a disaster to their country that would also spill over and affect every corner of the globe. What I'm saying is that in principle, there is nothing wrong with the government regulation of the number of offspring that a couple my bear.
Regarding the financial crisis, if you had read my letter carefully, you would have noticed that I mentioned lack of enforcement as one of the causes.
Regarding my choices of reading, I do not read the Huffington Post or Daily Kos, though I usually agree with Paul Krugman, who has perhaps got a bit of a big head from his Nobel prize in economics.
As far as Obama is concerned, I'm happy with the job he's done so far and shudder to think what would have happened to this country with McCain-Palin in office. Obama is on track to become one of the greatest presidents in American history. The readers of The American Spectator now make up one of the wackiest fringes in American politics, but I don't imagine it will die any time soon, as it's still well funded.
Ed Hardy Swimwear| 7.24.09 @ 3:55AM
i like it
cheap handbags| 7.26.09 @ 6:54PM
We only sell the top grade replica cheap handbags, some of them are genuine leather handbags, yet the price is far lower than the authentic designers want you to pay. We lead you to a genuine pool of bags : collections in wide range: handbags, shoulder bags, clutches, tote bags, purses and wallets, the hottest brands you can find like replica Louis Vuitton handbags, Replica marc jacobs handags, Replica Prada handbags, Coach,Replica Chloe handbags,Burberry, Dior,replica Chanel handbags, Chloe,Replica gucci handbags, Dolce & Gabbana,Replica Balenciaga handbags . Crafted to the highest standard, from the finest materials in the industry, we guarantee the toppest Replica Hermes handbags at low price you'll find anywhere.
george| 7.29.09 @ 3:04AM
Louis Vuitton Damier Geant Canvas bags , commonly referred to as
Louis Vuitton Damier Geant Canvas, or sometimes shortened to
LV Damier Geant Canvas handbag has become one of the most
Louis Vuitton Damier Graphite bags luxury brands.
louis vuitton online storelove
ouis vuitton online shopgood
vuitton onlinei like
louis vuitton shopnice
s| 8.20.09 @ 2:41AM
Cheap Jordan,Cheap Jordan shoes,Retro Jordan,Air Yeezy Shoes,Supra shoes,Kanye West ShoesJordan shoes,New Jordans,Air Yeezy,Air Force Ones,Nike Dunks,Retro Jordan, Cheap Jordan Shoes,Nike Dunk High,True Religion Jeans,New Air Force OnesAir Yeezy Shoe,Supra Shoes,Retro Jordan,Creative Recreation,Nike DunksNike Air YeezyTrue Religion,Air Jordan Shoes,Air Shox,Air Max,Dunk Shoes.Air Jordan,Cheap Jordans,Jordan Shoes,Cheap Air Jordans,Air Jordan Shoes
dropshippngwatch| 9.1.09 @ 11:49PM
Replica Watch
Replica Watches
Fake Watch
Sales Replica Watches
Fake Watches
Fake Watch
Replica Watch
Replica Watches
Fake Watch
replica Rolex watches
Replica Corum Watches
Replica D&G Watches
Replica De Witt Watches
Replica Ebel Watches
Replica Emporio Armani Watches
Replica Fendi Watches
http://www.dropshippingwatch.com
slewing ring| 10.19.09 @ 11:34PM
shanghai massage
turntable bearings