We've Got It On Record Now
Obama gave his health care speech in front of a joint session of Congress last night. He must think that Congress is at his disposal to call and dismiss as he pleases. But what was really said last night?
It sounded like after letting Pelosi and Reid screw up the health care bill, that he might be taking charge and actually taking a stand. Inadvertently, he also painted himself into a corner. He promised many things the health care bill will or will not do. One Congressman even yelled out "you lie" during the speech. Personally, I thought that was pretty entertaining, but at the same time, as a member of Congress and considering the President of the United States was addressing Congress, that comment should have been held off until everything was said and done. Disagree with Obama, but at least show the office of the Presidency some respect.
That being said, one of the biggest problems I had with the speech last night was what I see as being forced to buy health insurance or face a penalty for not doing so. This is at the core of the health care argument. The government should have no say whatsoever over whether I buy health insurance or not. The government has an opportunity to help with the problems in health care, not to dictate terms and conditions. If they institute this part of the health care bill, only those that are well off will be able to afford to choose not to buy something they don't want or to keep the plan they have. The rest of us will most likely loose our health coverage offered through our jobs, so that mythical number of 47 million uninsured will go up - oh, and raise the overall cost of the program. Silly law of unintended consequences... Here's 3 ideas that would actually do something to help:
1. Allow us to buy insurance across state lines. There is no reason that I should pay more for the same policy that someone in Georgia would pay.
2. Disallow pre-existing conditions. For example, if you had a certain ailment 10 years ago, they will not write the policy or they will have to write a "rider" not covering that condition. How can insurance companies write a policy when a condition might arise that might be related to the "rider" and then not cover those conditions but still take people's money. For instance, they issue a "rider" because a policy holder may have diabetes but then refuse to cover surgery for an amputated foot. It's not always like that, but it happens.
3. Tort reform. This is the single easiest and least expensive way to lower health costs. The President talked about this in his speech last night and highlighted that defensive medicine raises the costs of health care. He is correct in that assessment. Malpractice is a huge reason why health care costs are so high in Illinois. How often do you see a commercial by some rainmaking lawyer on TV offering to sue someone on your behalf because you or a family member took a certain drug, or were exposed to something. Not to mention other rainmakers offering to sue the doctor because you're family member died.
President Obama and Congress need to seriously look at their numbers when it comes to the cost of government health care. How much does Medicare cost the government each year compared to the year before that? They believe that the cost of health care will not add to the deficit. ***insert "you lie" here***
Finally, President Obama claimed that the "games" were over and the now is the "season of action". I don't find open debate over the legitimacy of the government's involvement in our lives and the lives of our children, how to pay for the plan, and the effects reform will have on 1/6th of our economy a game. It's not a game when members of Congress refuse to meet with their constituents. It's not a game when lives of the unborn are snuffed out via subsidy with our tax money. It's not a game when the tyranny of the majority have blocked out the minority party from the negotiating table other than a few choice people, but we expect that the negotiations were not in good faith when Pelosi and others have openly stated they don't care if the Republicans go along with the proposed reform.
It sounded like after letting Pelosi and Reid screw up the health care bill, that he might be taking charge and actually taking a stand. Inadvertently, he also painted himself into a corner. He promised many things the health care bill will or will not do. One Congressman even yelled out "you lie" during the speech. Personally, I thought that was pretty entertaining, but at the same time, as a member of Congress and considering the President of the United States was addressing Congress, that comment should have been held off until everything was said and done. Disagree with Obama, but at least show the office of the Presidency some respect.
That being said, one of the biggest problems I had with the speech last night was what I see as being forced to buy health insurance or face a penalty for not doing so. This is at the core of the health care argument. The government should have no say whatsoever over whether I buy health insurance or not. The government has an opportunity to help with the problems in health care, not to dictate terms and conditions. If they institute this part of the health care bill, only those that are well off will be able to afford to choose not to buy something they don't want or to keep the plan they have. The rest of us will most likely loose our health coverage offered through our jobs, so that mythical number of 47 million uninsured will go up - oh, and raise the overall cost of the program. Silly law of unintended consequences... Here's 3 ideas that would actually do something to help:
1. Allow us to buy insurance across state lines. There is no reason that I should pay more for the same policy that someone in Georgia would pay.
2. Disallow pre-existing conditions. For example, if you had a certain ailment 10 years ago, they will not write the policy or they will have to write a "rider" not covering that condition. How can insurance companies write a policy when a condition might arise that might be related to the "rider" and then not cover those conditions but still take people's money. For instance, they issue a "rider" because a policy holder may have diabetes but then refuse to cover surgery for an amputated foot. It's not always like that, but it happens.
3. Tort reform. This is the single easiest and least expensive way to lower health costs. The President talked about this in his speech last night and highlighted that defensive medicine raises the costs of health care. He is correct in that assessment. Malpractice is a huge reason why health care costs are so high in Illinois. How often do you see a commercial by some rainmaking lawyer on TV offering to sue someone on your behalf because you or a family member took a certain drug, or were exposed to something. Not to mention other rainmakers offering to sue the doctor because you're family member died.
President Obama and Congress need to seriously look at their numbers when it comes to the cost of government health care. How much does Medicare cost the government each year compared to the year before that? They believe that the cost of health care will not add to the deficit. ***insert "you lie" here***
Finally, President Obama claimed that the "games" were over and the now is the "season of action". I don't find open debate over the legitimacy of the government's involvement in our lives and the lives of our children, how to pay for the plan, and the effects reform will have on 1/6th of our economy a game. It's not a game when members of Congress refuse to meet with their constituents. It's not a game when lives of the unborn are snuffed out via subsidy with our tax money. It's not a game when the tyranny of the majority have blocked out the minority party from the negotiating table other than a few choice people, but we expect that the negotiations were not in good faith when Pelosi and others have openly stated they don't care if the Republicans go along with the proposed reform.
See my commentary on the Obama speech at Redstate.
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Nicely done!! You hit the nail on the head! The speech last night was pretty much a farce. The President talked about a bill that does not exist, and about provisions in the House bill that do not exist. I also felt that despite talking up "no more bickering" and "bipartisanship" that his speech was divisive and very partisan.
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