One of the most important debates in Washington, D.C. is centered on the nationalization of healthcare, essentially putting all or most Americans on the equivalent of Medicare.
The proponents of such an idea can often be heard saying that Americans have a “right” to medical care or that no one should be denied this right simply because they can’t or don’t want to pay for it.
As a nation, we continue to move away from personal (individual) responsibility. We see this with children, our workforce, corporate leadership and sadly even with our elected officials.
Whenever, you do not accept personal responsibility for your behavior, choices or finances you abdicate that responsibility to others.
Before, deciding if you are for or against nationalized healthcare – ask yourself this question. How well run or efficient is our federal government? And, do you think that the same people who have stolen the Social Security funds collected from your paychecks, manipulated the Consumer Price Index, and continue to manage the devaluation of the U.S. Dollar will do a better job with healthcare?
The argument regarding being denied healthcare due to inability to pay is simply untrue. Because, it is currently a legal obligation of hospitals and emergency rooms to provide care to everyone.
Regarding, our right to healthcare…
The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence says in part: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Nowhere does it mention anything about free Viagra.
In school, we were taught that the first 10 amendments to the Constitution were ratified in 1791, and collectively they form our Bill of Rights. The First Amendment states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
The Second Amendment enumerates the “right of the people to keep and bear arms.” The Fourth Amendment guarantees “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures.” The Fifth Amendment says someone shall “not be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself,” and the Sixth outlines the “right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury.”
We could go on, but these rights bear a common thread. Each restricts the government from taking what Americans naturally possess. You have a life, the liberty to do as you wish, and the ability to pursue whatever happiness means to you. No one has to give these rights to you because you naturally begin life with them.
Rights are not about giving you something for free; they are about protecting natural liberties from those who would take them away from you.
For instance, the Second Amendment guarantees the right to bear arms. It does not however, say that you get guns for free if you don’t have one.
This is analogous to the issue of health care “rights.” If socialized-medicine proponents argued that everyone should have the right to go where and when they want to receive the medical treatment they want and need, I would agree with them. But instead, they argue that someone else should be compelled to pay for the costs of medical care that others want to receive.
When you hear someone say that health care should be “free” or that the “government” should pay for it, they are really talking about two payment methods. The first requires doctors, nurses, and other medical care providers to work without compensation, via government fiat, so that the patient doesn’t have to pay. The second option provides that the government will require others to work for nothing in order to transfer their income to pay for the health care of another.
In reality, the current healthcare proposal does some of both. But by doing so, it effectively restricts the rights of people by forcing a significant part of the population to work for free so that others get the benefits of their labors without charge. Make no mistake, such proposals deprive the populace of freedom; they do not extend it.
A “right” to services without charge, that forces someone else to provide for you, does not and should not ever exist. No one in a free society should have a “right” to anything that requires others to toil against their will on behalf of those unwilling to provide for themselves.
There absolutely should be a number of changes in the healthcare system and as a society; we have a number of ways to care for the indigent. But we should move farther away from the failed government-controlled medical models, rather than expanding that failure. Addressing healthcare is something we are already prepared to do. By empowering private enterprise we can achieve more economical, advanced, and better alternatives to that of a government-run health care system. In so doing, we can enhance the ability of the people to embrace the true fundamental rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Unfortunately, crazy zealots on both the left and right side of the aisle would have you believe it is the other guy’s fault. American it is time to stand up and do your own thinking!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Nope!
I say, NOPE… not Hope to the changes coming to our country.
It is a shame to witness the leader of the free world holding hands with leaders from other nations who have consistently left the United States holding the bag financially and militarily. Conducting a public relationships tour where he is giving away our freedoms.
And, if that is not enough he is working hard to devalue the dollars in your pocket and in your retirement account.
But wait, there is more - consideration of moving off the world’s dollar standard and then printing money like we are a third-world country fueling inflation is not what our founding fathers had in mind.
Oh well, we shouldn’t worry - because he has already ‘nationalized’ businesses and will do the same with our nations banks.
My fears that we would move away from our ‘republic’ form of government and drift towards socialism have not come true. Instead, we are racing headlong towards become a fascist nation. Change - but NO HOPE, is what I see coming from this style of leadership.
Too bad that our nation of consumers wishing for a nanny state to care for them, is too blind to understand the truth behind Thomas Jefferson’s warning - that a government big enough to provide all your needs is also big enough to take away your individual rights.
Think about it.
It is a shame to witness the leader of the free world holding hands with leaders from other nations who have consistently left the United States holding the bag financially and militarily. Conducting a public relationships tour where he is giving away our freedoms.
And, if that is not enough he is working hard to devalue the dollars in your pocket and in your retirement account.
But wait, there is more - consideration of moving off the world’s dollar standard and then printing money like we are a third-world country fueling inflation is not what our founding fathers had in mind.
Oh well, we shouldn’t worry - because he has already ‘nationalized’ businesses and will do the same with our nations banks.
My fears that we would move away from our ‘republic’ form of government and drift towards socialism have not come true. Instead, we are racing headlong towards become a fascist nation. Change - but NO HOPE, is what I see coming from this style of leadership.
Too bad that our nation of consumers wishing for a nanny state to care for them, is too blind to understand the truth behind Thomas Jefferson’s warning - that a government big enough to provide all your needs is also big enough to take away your individual rights.
Think about it.
Friday, January 23, 2009
An Historic Moment
I say, “God Bless America!”
Although, I did not support the election of President Obama – he is nevertheless my president.
The GOP repeated our dismal performance in the 2008 election, as we did when we nominated Bob Dole (personally, I admire both gentlemen). So, we should celebrate this country’s history in electing the first African-American to the highest office and then move on.
Instead, we want to minimize and criticize. Both really popular and constructive traits you seek for leaders in the private sector and in public service – NOT!
Dr. Martin Luther King dreamed of it, spoke of it, and gave his life for it. Slaves and then civil rights activists were jailed, beaten, and died for it: for the day when not only would a person of color be allowed into the White House - but would run the White House. It's been a long time coming, an American minority has officially broken the glass ceiling, and that's a testament to anyone regardless of their political affiliation.
However, I disagree with Obama ideologically. Including but not limited to, Abortion Rights, Bailouts, government intervention in Free Enterprise, and National Security.
Additionally, I believe that more funding of public education will not replace the need for school reform and teacher accountability. And, I still believe in privatizing Social Security accounts since the Federal Government has misappropriated our funds long before Madoff came on the scene.
I believe in a comprehensive energy plan that includes drilling for American resources while developing alternative forms of energy.
Meanwhile, we are driving people and businesses out of California. According to a recent AP article, "the number of people leaving California for another state outstripped the number moving in from another state during the year ending on July 1, 2008." Rising taxes, a bloated bureaucracy and union structure, immigration and assimilation, crime -- all these things have led to trouble for the great state in the past decades. Not to mention our dear Attorney General who has attempted to circumvent the will of the people by twisting the language on Proposition 8. I say, “God help us!”
GOP Chairman Duncan is MIA
“I was saddened to learn that at a time of national trial, when a president-elect is preparing to take office in the midst of the worst financial crisis in over seventy years, that the Republican National Committee is engaged in the sort of negative, attack politics that the voters rejected in the 2006 and 2008 election cycles[1]”. So, let’s discuss and debate public policy, not make crude political attacks. It’s embarrassing to those of us who call ourselves Republicans, and even worse for us conservatives. The GOP leadership, senators and congressmen need to focus on offering solutions – not driving people away from our party.
[1] Newt Gingrich
Although, I did not support the election of President Obama – he is nevertheless my president.
The GOP repeated our dismal performance in the 2008 election, as we did when we nominated Bob Dole (personally, I admire both gentlemen). So, we should celebrate this country’s history in electing the first African-American to the highest office and then move on.
Instead, we want to minimize and criticize. Both really popular and constructive traits you seek for leaders in the private sector and in public service – NOT!
Dr. Martin Luther King dreamed of it, spoke of it, and gave his life for it. Slaves and then civil rights activists were jailed, beaten, and died for it: for the day when not only would a person of color be allowed into the White House - but would run the White House. It's been a long time coming, an American minority has officially broken the glass ceiling, and that's a testament to anyone regardless of their political affiliation.
However, I disagree with Obama ideologically. Including but not limited to, Abortion Rights, Bailouts, government intervention in Free Enterprise, and National Security.
Additionally, I believe that more funding of public education will not replace the need for school reform and teacher accountability. And, I still believe in privatizing Social Security accounts since the Federal Government has misappropriated our funds long before Madoff came on the scene.
I believe in a comprehensive energy plan that includes drilling for American resources while developing alternative forms of energy.
Meanwhile, we are driving people and businesses out of California. According to a recent AP article, "the number of people leaving California for another state outstripped the number moving in from another state during the year ending on July 1, 2008." Rising taxes, a bloated bureaucracy and union structure, immigration and assimilation, crime -- all these things have led to trouble for the great state in the past decades. Not to mention our dear Attorney General who has attempted to circumvent the will of the people by twisting the language on Proposition 8. I say, “God help us!”
GOP Chairman Duncan is MIA
“I was saddened to learn that at a time of national trial, when a president-elect is preparing to take office in the midst of the worst financial crisis in over seventy years, that the Republican National Committee is engaged in the sort of negative, attack politics that the voters rejected in the 2006 and 2008 election cycles[1]”. So, let’s discuss and debate public policy, not make crude political attacks. It’s embarrassing to those of us who call ourselves Republicans, and even worse for us conservatives. The GOP leadership, senators and congressmen need to focus on offering solutions – not driving people away from our party.
[1] Newt Gingrich
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