This week, the Senate Finance Committee continued its mark-up (considering and voting on amendments) of health care reform legislation, and two amendments were offered that would have created a government-run health insurance program that is referred to as the ”public option.” The first was offered by Senator John D. Rockefeller IV of West Virginia, and the second by Senator Charles Schumer of New York. Both were defeated when all ten Republicans on the committee were joined by a handful of moderate Democrats in voting no.
Senator Max Baucus of Montana is the chairman of the committee and the author of the bill that is being amended. He deliberately excluded a “public option” from his bill, and voted against both amendments, because he doesn’t believe it has enough votes to pass on the Senate floor. But liberal Democrats have vowed to keep fighting for its inclusion as the bill moves from committee to the Senate floor. For more details on what happened in committee, see this September 30 Washington Post article: “Prospects for Public Option Dim in Senate.”
Republicans oppose the “public option” because, in the words of Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa, they view it as a ”slow walk toward government-controlled, single-payer health care.” They’re concerned that a government program would be offered at a much lower price and gradually put all private insurance programs out of business, gradually forcing everyone into the government program. “Single payer” means the government would then be the only payer of health care expenses in the country.
President Obama, in response to such concerns that a ”public option” would gradually lead to a “government takeover” of health care, has recently stressed that a government-run program would simply become another of many options that individual Americans and small businesses could choose from. He said this will “promote more competition,” that no American will be forced into it, and pledged that “no government bureaucrat or insurance company bureaucrat gets between you and the coverage that you need.” For these and other related quotes, see this September 12 Yahoo News story from the Associated Press: “Obama: Public option helps health care competition.”
For details on the Obama plan, click to the White House website’s Health Care page.
And for a detailed counter to Obama’s denial that the “public option” will lead to “single payer,” click to this August 3 posting by The Heritage Foundation: “Still Not Convinced the Public Option is a Trojan Horse for Single-Payer?” This posting contains this video of Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky of Illinois explaining that the real strategy behind the “public option” is to get to “single payer”:
And this video of Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts explaining that the “public option” is the best way to reach “single payer”:
And this video of Washington Post reporter Ezra Klein discussing why the strategy to achieve “single payer” starts with the “public option”:
And this video of Paul Krugman explaining that it’s politically difficult to achieve “single payer” in one step, because you’d have to convince everyone to give up their current insurance, so it’s necessary to start with the “public option,” which can then evolve into “single payer”:
So what do you believe? Is the “public option” designed to be the first step toward a completely government-run health care system in which every individual American has no choice but to participate in?
I have no doubt it is. But it’s important to note: whether the health care reform legislation that actually passes includes a ”public option” or not, it looks like every individual American is going to be forced to purchase health insurance. And if we refuse, we’ll be fined. If we refuse to pay the fine, we’ll be arrested and thrown in jail. This is unacceptable and we should not allow it. This is not why We the People instituted and consent to government in this country.
The health care system is broken and must be reformed. There’s no denying this. For instance, insurance company bureaucrats should not be making health care decisions that belong to doctors and patients. And health care should be more affordable so every individual American can access it whenever he/she needs it.
But the solution is NOT to replace the insurance company guy with a government bureaucrat in between you and your doctor. The solution is NOT to allow the government to control health care.
I, for one, will never allow government to tell me what health care plan I must participate in, what doctor I must go to, and what treatments I must submit to. I will never allow government to force me to receive vaccinations or to vaccinate my children. I will never allow government to force me to pay for anything under the threat of fines and jail time.
This is America. We the People are Sovereigns, not subjects. Let’s start acting like it.
It’s time to let our elected leaders know, in clear and certain but simple terms, that we are the superiors and they are our employees. They need to start serving us. Right now. They better start fearing us. Right now. If they refuse, let’s clean house in November 2010.
This is a time for bold action. Let’s take the power back and exercise sufficient control over those entrusted with the powers of our government. Start by helping to shape the EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. Let’s insert a policy that clearly states Members of Congress cannot support any legislation that limits our freedom of choice when it comes to our health care. If they do, we’ll take political action to fire them.
JOIN US. CONTROL GOVERNMENT. BE FREE AND INDEPENDENT.
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