Russert asked Romney today: "Mitt
Romney runs for president. Healthcare plan. No mandate. No
conversation about health insurance, auto insurance. No fine if
you don't sign up. Why, if it's good for Massachusetts and it's
working in Massachusetts, wouldn't you apply it to the rest of the
country." Romney responded: " I would." Pressed again on whether he
would favor a mandate (presumably for individuals) Romney said: "I
think it's a good model for other states. Maybe not every state,
but most. And so what I'd do at the federal level is give to every
state the same kind of flexibility we got from the federal
government, as well as some carrots and sticks to actually get all
their citizens insured. And I think a lot of states will choose
what we did. I wouldn't tell them they have to do our plan.
Governor Schwarzenegger, for instance, in California, has his own
healthcare plan. He's going about it in a different way. I like
mine better than his; he likes his better than mine." This is why
Ron Paul will get 10% of the NH vote. For those who believe in free
markets, who don't think the government --whether Hillary led at
the federal government or Arnold/Romney led at the state level --
should be bludgeoning the population into buying healthcare it is
disturbing to see a Republican blithely pushing this sort of
thinking. Simply put: it's worse when the federal government does
it (there's no escaping it then) but mandates at the state level
aren't something Republicans should be encouraging. Republicans
should be the ones cautioning against coercion, pointing out the
costs associated with state written insurance plans(which is what
results from a mandate) and favoring interstate insurance sales
which break down state mischief making. For a party sick of
"compassionate conservatism" I don't see anyone rushing to fill the
"good ole grumpy conservative" niche, saying "no" to individual and
employer mandates and explaining that "free markets" and
"individual choice" are not buzz words but should have real
application in policy choices.
topics:
Conservatism
