Congress appears bound and determined to reform our health care system. Maybe I overlooked it, but I cannot find any reference to health care in my copy of the Constitution, which every member of Congress has sworn to uphold. Conveniently ignored is the 10th Amendment, which reserves for the States and the people any powers not specifically delegated
The cost of medicine IS HIGH and getting higher. 1950's medical care cost only $500 per year per person in today's dollars. Would you rather live under 1950's health care technology, or pay more to get the care available today?
We keep hearing about the 46 million people who are uninsured (which is NOT the same as having no access to health care--hospital emergency rooms are required by law to treat everyone--it is not an efficient way to deliver health care, but you will be treated.) The 46 million figure includes 18 million who make more than $50,000 per year, 10 million who are not US citizens, and up to 14 million who are eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, or SCHIP but have not registered for those programs for one reason or another. After eliminating the overlaps in these groups, there are about 8 million folks who really do need help. So why don't we focus on improving health care access for this 3 percent of the population rather than completely altering the world's best health care delivery system? Does anyone really believe a government insurance option will be better or cheaper than private insurance? Look at Medicare; it will be insolvent within 10 years unless taxes are dramatically increased or benefits decreased. Why should you expect a better result if politicians and bureaucrats have an even greater role in decisions about your health? For those who believe in mandatory health insurance coverage, automobile insurance is mandated by all but two states, but uninsured drivers still account for nearly ten percent of folks behind the wheel. One group of folks who should be REQUIRED to be enrolled in any new government insurance program: all Congresspersons; they should not be allowed to force the "little people" into socialized medicine, yet escape it themselves. I have written this to Rep. Butterfield, and am still awaiting his reply.
Read the book "The Top Ten Myths of American Health Care" (online in pdf at <a href="http://liberty.pacificresearch.org/docLib/20081020_Top_Ten_Myths.pdf">http://liberty.pacificresearch.org/docLib/20081020_Top_Ten_Myths.pdf</a>;) for a perspective you may not have seen on the local news.
With impending changes like this, bank bailouts, massive government "stimulus" of political favorites, cash for clunkers, and ever more government intrusion into all aspects of our lives, I fear that America's best days are behind us.
John Sams
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