The American Spectator : Committing HarryCare

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Committing HarryCare

By Peter Ferrara on 12.2.09 @ 6:08AM

Harry Reid's government takeover of health care would turn the American Dream into the American Nightmare -- but it can still be stopped.

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None of this is necessary to address our real health care problems. Only about 12 million Americans arguably can't afford health insurance. We can just provide them with some government assistance to help them buy it, at little additional cost. We already spend around $400 billion on Medicaid each year, with that slated to soar in future years. Give each state the authority to redesign its Medicaid program from the ground up to provide a true safety net for the poor. Each state can include in that an uninsurable risk pool where those uninsured who become too sick to get private insurance can get guaranteed coverage, paying what they can given their resources, with the government paying the rest. Since few people actually become uninsurable, this would provide a complete safety net at little in added cost.

We can actually reduce costs by expanding rather than restricting Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), where consumers are covered by catastrophic insurance with a high deductible, which costs far less than traditional low deductible coverage. The difference is saved in the HSA to pay for expenses below the deductible, providing market incentives for patients to avoid overly expensive or unnecessary medical care, as they can keep what they don't spend. With patients concerned about costs, doctors, hospitals and other health providers would have new incentives to compete to reduce costs. Common sense solutions like allowing interstate sales of health insurance and tort reform would also reduce health costs.

No rationing, no government takeover, no trillion dollar programs are necessary to address these problems. Quite the opposite. That reveals that the health care debate is really about government and political power, not health care. Sucker.

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topics:
Health Care, Harry Reid

About the Author

Peter Ferrara is Senior Fellow at the Carleson Center for Public Policy, Director of Entitlement and Budget Policy for the Heartland Institute, and General Counsel of the American Civil Rights Union. He served in the White House Office of Policy Development under President Reagan, and as Associate Deputy Attorney General of the United States under the first President Bush. He is the author of America’s Ticking Bankruptcy Bomb, now available from HarperCollins.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (25) | Leave a comment

Jenny Engel| 12.2.09 @ 7:56AM

Dad,
A great synopsis.
Jenny

marialucy| 12.2.09 @ 7:56AM

Everything dynamic and very positively!
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-.....?C=2257792

Shamus| 12.2.09 @ 8:17AM

As Peggy Noonan wrote in a recent opinion piece, the Democrats would be very lucky to have their bill fail. If it passes, they'd be blamed when the ill effects of their handiwork became clear. If the legislation fails they'll be able to blame the GOP but the electorate will not suffer the tangible pain that Democratic health reform would inflict.

Bilwick| 12.2.09 @ 8:24AM

I don't get Reid. Isn't he a Mormon? My impression is that, as a result of their history, the Mormons have always had a strong anti-statist streak; at least, a healthy distrust of the federal government. How did Reid get to be such a State-shtupper? Did the angel Moroni appear to him and say, "New game plan, Lizard Face. Now God wants you all to be socialists." Because that would have about as rational as the reasons most people have for being "liberals."

Louis Jenkins| 12.2.09 @ 8:42AM

I had no idea that Reid was a Mormon, and I should have an inkling since a good number of my ancestors were Mormon. Considering they were run out the geographical US in the early 1800s, several of the leaders killed, and in a state of war with the US just before the Civil War, you'd think they'd be very distrustful of a statist government. Things change with time. We should all remember that Liberalism is a religion of its own accord with the ability to supercede all others.

I firmly believe the Senate Health Bill will pass. Angry voters, pink slips, e-mails, faxes, the threat of not being re-elected, will not turn these jackasses, Mormon or otherwise, from their head long rush over the cliff. If we could only safely jump off the wagon they're pulling.

dan| 12.2.09 @ 12:46PM

this is only about grabbing more power.

The dims have long ago run out of ideas and are totally committed to making america a one party govt.

They think that rushing to more socialism is their real ticket to power.

The idea that #millionares like reid and pelosi care about working folks and tax payers remains pure fantasy

The problum is these two dim bulbs have convinced themselves they are pushing an agenda favored by the country.

And just like the messiah, their only talking points, get in line and support what we are doing or shut up and get out of our way

Captainchaos| 12.2.09 @ 6:40PM

Reid is a Mormon, so what? Prior to 1978 non-Whites were forbidden from joining the LDS church. Face it, your rose-tinted conception of the 'good ole days' of our ancestors would induce you to screeeeeeech "Nazi!" were you to actually to encounter them. Yet, their ways were more true, and more life affirming, than what you no doubt embrace now as goodness itself. First, remove the beam from your own eye.

M Green| 12.2.09 @ 9:17AM

I agree that we must remain engaged and defeat this legislation. Kyl recommends scrapping the current bills and starting over. Is it time for the people to demand a health care reform summit? Shouldn't we have an open debate, as the President promised, with a cross section of health care providers and end users? Why a jobs summit and not a health care reform summit? We the people must stop the special interests from running and ruining our great country.

Dr No.| 12.2.09 @ 10:09AM

Great article and so true. As an indentured servant to the government (they paid for my medical school) I cannot begin to explain the absurdity that is federal 'health care.' The inefficiency, waste, incompetence, and substandard care is mindboggling. Military/VA medicine is an abject failure that is currently 'bailed out' by private medicine because the government cannot meet basic requirements to care for it's dependent population.

These bills are not designed to provide medical care, but to sieze control of the only currently successful private industry.

The Revolution of 1775 was fought over much less than this. It's time for another armed revolution to put these tyrants in their place and clarify a few things in the constitution. The federal government has become a monster with a voracious appetite for liberty and an insatiable desire to control. The federal government is the enemy of freedom and should be treated as such.

Skep41| 12.2.09 @ 11:40AM

I've never seen people as angry as they are over this. In one fell swoop the commies have united every person in this country with a speck of common sense (The Reagan Coalition) in outrage. One of the previous commenters remarked that passing this HealthScare Bill will destroy the Democrats. Maybe so. We'll have plenty of time to discuss it as we lay writhing in pain in the filthy unmopped corridors of the Gubmint Hospital waiting eighteen hours to be seen. Think that's a joke? Go tell that joke in the UK, they wont be laughing. These Marxist nut jobs are going to makes us physically suffer for their arrogance and incompetence. Thank you chumps who vote Democrat I Hope you like the Change.

Oldefarte| 12.2.09 @ 12:02PM

Peter, THANK YOU [and all other writers at conservative news sites, ie the AS] for daily informing us public/readers of the TRUTH of not only this subject [healthcare] but all others as well. Without writers such as yourself [and having to rely soley on the liberalism and biasness of the MSM], we would be constantly ignorant and in the dark as to what the FACTS of these matters truly are. America [in my opinion] has been invaded and taken over by liberal-radicals [this has been slowely happening for my entire lifetime, but 11/4/08 was the culmination of same]; and you and your fellow conservative writers,etc that provide this truth provide the only hope for this country eventually/possibly being saved from this tyranny. THANK YOU again!!!!

Tim| 12.2.09 @ 1:49PM

Dear Mr. Farte:

Thank you for your letter of November 18, 2017; " Where's my F*cking test results?".
We here at the Southern Medical Quality Review Region 1 (SMQRR1) want you to know that as the Congressionally appointed board tasked with assuring the quality and speedy delivery of medical care under our new system, we value your input. As President Obama said back in 2009: " Health Care for Every American (and some Mexicans) for less".
We have taken his words to heart and we want you to know, Mr. Farte, that your satisfaction remains a key evaluative factor which we render into the computers that continuosly evaluate our successful delivery of the World's Largest Healthcare System. These same sophisticated super computers that warned us of Global Warming and have replaced the electoral college in conducting Presidential elections are now scanning all of your personal documents.
Did you know that these computers can show us dozens of photos of you, your family and even pets? Some even from satelite! Yes, they can even tell when you leave your house each day and your preferred routes of travel.
They even found your test results. Congratulations Mr. Farte! You are pregnant! For information on Choice options, we have enclosed a pamphlet from the Bureau of Carbon Unit Regulation with directions to the nearest Choice option station to you in the SMQRR1.

B. Johnson| 12.2.09 @ 1:01PM

I hope that more Constitution-defending patriots start pointing out the following regarding Obamacare. The Founders themselves "voted" against federal healthcare when they ratified the Constitution.

More specifically, given that the Constitution is silent about public healthcare, the 10th A. automatically reserves government power to regulate healthcare to the states, not the Oval Office and Congress.

In fact, the USSC has already officially decided that Congress has no business sticking its nose into the medical practice.

“Direct control of medical practice in the states is obviously beyond the power of Congress.” –Linder v. United States, 1925. http://supreme.justia.com/us/268/5/case.html

The bottom line is that the Congressmen who vote yes on Obamacare legislation will make a handy list of lawmakers who need to be charged with treason for blatantly violating their oaths to defend the Constitution.

J. McCubbin| 12.2.09 @ 6:34PM

Mr. Johnson, let's try paragraph 3 of the 14th amendment of the Constitution.

To wit:
3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Margie| 12.2.09 @ 1:06PM

I've heard that if this passes, it'll go to the Supreme court & get thrown out.
But the question is: Will they?

Fallgold| 12.2.09 @ 3:23PM

The same evil that has murdered millions of the unborn in this country is now ready to attack the next most vulnerable, the seniors. How could any Senator or Representative vote for these horrible bills.

Ken (Old Texican)| 12.2.09 @ 6:11PM

Fallgold,
It is very simple...truly. Senators and Reps have excluded themselves from the plan.
DUH!

JimE| 12.2.09 @ 6:18PM

Watch the typos, Reid is not a mormon, he is a moron.

Bilwick| 12.3.09 @ 11:18AM

"Reid is a Mormon, so what? Prior to 1978 non-Whites were forbidden from joining the LDS church. Face it, your rose-tinted conception of the 'good ole days' of our ancestors would induce you to screeeeeeech "Nazi!" were you to actually to encounter them. Yet, their ways were more true, and more life affirming, than what you no doubt embrace now as goodness itself. First, remove the beam from your own eye. "

Captainchaos, would you care to restate this more intelligibly? And is this addressed to me? I'm a history buff, and there is absolutely no rose tint on my glasses regarding the '"good ole days."

Captainchaos| 12.3.09 @ 10:42PM

In the comment to which I responded you said:

"I don't get Reid. Isn't he a Mormon? My impression is that, as a result of their history, the Mormons have always had a strong anti-statist streak; at least, a healthy distrust of the federal government."

I interpreted this as a criticism of Reid based in his having abandoned the traditional outlook of members of his faith (e.g., anti-statism). I further assumed that you fully realize that most likely Reid's abandonment of that traditional outlook would be generalized, and not only confined to the abandonment of the singular tradition of anti-statism. Of course, that most likely scenario is true in Reid's case - making him a worthy subject for case study. Otherwise your bringing up Reid's connection to Mormonism is really a throwaway comment. Perhaps I gave you too much credit in assuming it wasn't; if so, my bad.

"I'm a history buff, and there is absolutely no rose tint on my glasses regarding the '"good ole days.""

So you're a traditionalist then, affirming our traditions, warts and all? Or are you merely another progressive whom wishes to pick and choose cafeteria-like which traditions suite you without regard to the consequences of these if universalized? Remember now, if you don't intend for what you affirm to be universalized, or at least so prevalent that it is of significant societal impact, then you have no grounds for criticizing what goes on at large in society; that is, unless you are a serious commentator, or a hypocrite. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you are not a hypocrite and are a serious commentator.