Nowhere in the debate regarding health care has anyone asked if
the government is able and qualified to run such a system. Before
we ask the government to manage universal health care, let's
check them out.
How successful has the federal government been in managing
agencies, programs and businesses?
Let's look at Medicare. The president and Congress propose to
extend Medicare to cover the 47 million people who lack health
care coverage. Did anyone remind Congress that Medicare is broke?
It's rampant with fraud and abuse. It is estimated that Medicare
and Medicaid fraud cost taxpayers $60 billion per year.
Medicare is required by law to pay full retail prices for drugs
that could be obtained for far less in a competitive-bidding
system.
Health insurance companies are required by state regulators to
maintain a reserve for future liabilities. Every working stiff in
this country is required to pay premium taxes into Medicare,
which has no reserve. The federal government has been running the
largest Ponzi scheme ever created, and it is on the hook for $36
trillion in unfunded liabilities. And you, Mr. President,
want the federal government to run health care?
On Aug. 4, 1977, Jimmy Carter declared war on energy dependence
and created the U.S. Department of Energy. Every president since
has done the same. Today, 31 years later, the Department of
Energy's budget is $26 billion. It employs 16,000 people and
100,000 contract employees. We are no closer to energy
independence than we were in 1977. And you want the federal
government to run health care?
The U.S. Postal Service lost $7 billion last year and is talking
about closing hundreds of offices. And you want the federal
government to run health care?
The Federal Reserve was created by the Federal Reserve Act of
1913 to maintain a stable financial system. The Federal Reserve
gets failing marks for its direct complicity in the economic
meltdown and subsequent recession. The Federal Reserve has failed
us. And you want the federal government to run health
care?
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were created by Congress as
government-sponsored enterprises to provide low-interest funding
for the mortgage industry. These government-run mortgage banks
were created to provide competition and cheap loans to those who
could not afford normal market rates.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac own more than $5 trillion in mortgage
paper. On Sept. 7, 2008, they were declared insolvent and were
taken over by the Federal Housing Finance Agency and bailed out
with more than $400 billion -- another government-run mess.
And you, Mr. President, want the federal government to run
health care?
Amtrak was created by an act of Congress in October 1970 to run
the nation's railroad system. Amtrak was supposed to reverse over
two decades of continuous operating deficits. With a
congressional mandate to become profitable, it was given $40
million in initial funding, along with $100 million in loan
guarantees. After 38 years, Amtrak has never made a profit and
receives a federal subsidy, with no prospect in sight of breaking
even. And you want the federal government to run health
care?
The war on drugs was started by President Richard Nixon in 1969.
The United States has been spending $69 billion a year worldwide
for the past 40 years, for a total of $2.5 trillion, on drug
prohibition -- with little to show for it. Today, there are more
drugs on our streets at cheaper prices than ever before. It is
easier for young people to obtain illegal drugs than a six-pack
of beer. Why? Because sellers of illegal drugs don't ask kids for
IDs. And you want the federal government to run health
care?
The list of government failures is long and telling. I can't wait
for "Government Motors'" new car. Are you waiting anxiously? Are
you holding your breath? That car will be on recall for many
years. And you, Mr. President, want the federal government to
run health care?
The government has failed for 30 years to achieve energy
independence. The government has bankrupted the Medicare program.
The Postal Service is broke. The Federal Reserve was the primary
cause of this economic meltdown and recession. Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac have been taken over and bailed out. We have lost the
war on drugs.
Mr. President, our government can't even run a railroad. How the
hell do you think the government will ever manage a universal
health care system?
Einstein once said, "The definition of insanity is doing the same
thing over and over again and expecting different results."
