UNDERSTANDING HEALTH CARE REFORM
By Richard L. Kesner, President
The CommonWealth Group
August 2009
As Congress speeds its way through formatting legislation on revamping what is arguably the best and most efficient health care system in the world, much of the public is upset by the proposed language in the bills. We urge all of our readers to take the time to truthfully analyze what is being proposed and to make their own decisions regarding whether or not to support the legislation.
To date, protestors have been called many names by many people and things seem to be getting a little out of hand. While it is the right and duty of the people to speak out against legislators that they are not in agreement with, it is also the duty of those legislators to listen to what THE PEOPLE are saying. What they are currently saying, right or wrong, is that they are not in favor of a government takeover of the health care system.
The Census Bureau has stated that 45 million people in the United States are without health care insurance. Other estimates are much lower, but the reasons for the lack of coverage must be determined before legislation can be enacted. Pre-existing conditions are an obvious problem. And, if that is the main problem then why doesn’t Congress enact legislation to provide coverage for those people who have pre-existing conditions and leave the rest of the country alone? It is simple and could even be efficient.
The Census Bureau numbers do not add up. 17.5 million of the 45.7 million earn over $50,000 per year and could afford health care but do not want to pay for it. That is their right and it will be taken away with legislation. About 14 million are eligible for Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIPS) but have not yet enrolled. About 10 million are illegal immigrants who are not denied medical care but should be denied insurance. So who doesn’t have access to medical care?
This is really not about health care or health insurance. What is at stake is the freedom to make your own choices regarding what type of health care you want and how much you want to pay for it. Congress is seeking to violate the Constitution and impose its will on the people when it has no basis for doing this. This is a State’s issue not a Federal issue. The more power we pass along to Washington, the less freedom We the People will have.
The President and the Congress believe or state that everyone is entitled to health insurance. Entitlement is not a solution, it is a problem. The more dependent people become on government, the more powerful the government.
Costs are another major issue. Does anyone truly believe that the government, who runs the Post Office, Amtrak, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security so efficiently, could run an entire national health care program and save us money? What will happen, according to most experts, is that the quality of care will be reduced and the ability to receive treatment will be delayed. This is what happened in other countries that adopted similar programs.
Anne Doig, the incoming President of the Canadian Medical Association stated that their health care system was “imploding.” She further stated that the current public option is “unsustainable.” Is this what we want in the United States? The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said proposed health care reform “will make a bad situation worse, at great cost to the nation in jobs, taxes and freedom.”
We urge all of you to become more informed and to understand what is really at stake with this legislation.
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