Political Lipskip

My Simple Views on Health Care Reform Debate

I have not met anyone. Not one single person in my daily travels that does not want health care reform. Though I have met and talked to more people than not that do not want the government expansion to get it. That is what is going on at town halls. If the Progressives had offered this program before the bailouts, stimulus, omnibus, cash for clunkers and cap and trade then they might have gotten better reception for their various health care bills. As it is now the majority of American people, particularly those that get up every morning and join the grind, simply want all this spending to stop.

My health insurance started at $9 when I started working 15 years or so ago. Now it is close to $400. I have co-payments and deductibles and all sorts of shit that I have to pay when someone in my family needs to see a doctor. It sucks. I think the insurance company probably screws me on some levels but by and large I get the treatment and care I need. I know some people have it worse and some have it better. Welcome to America and choice. If you don’t like your insurance find another employer to provide it better.

Which brings me to employer based health care. I don’t like it. I wish we had a system set up that would allow me to go out and find my own health care insurance. At a price I can afford. That would mean interstate competition. I can’t get health insurance anywhere but within my state. If Alabama offered something better and cheaper, that is just too bad. That is stupid. I would like to think that I would be paid more if the company wasn’t subsidizing my health care too, but I’m probably being naive.

Now I can hear all the Progressives saying, THIS is what we are trying to provide you, dumbass. Single payer would solve all your problems. It would be cheap and available for everyone. I DO NOT want another government entitlement. We already have three that we can’t pay for. I do not want government to have anything to do with me getting and having health care insurance. Except…

I want the government to do its job. I want it to protect my consumer rights. I want it to actually monitor the insurance companies. Regulate them. Protect me from abuse. I’ll pay for the shit without government help. I want the government to make sure all the insurance companies will be fair. But no, right now the insurance and drug companies are just another special interest group that props up their favorite politician. Heads turn the other way.

And I am sick and freaking tired of lawsuit abuse in this country. We need tort reform. Ask anyone what they want improved with health care and they will say tort reform. But since we vote in lawyers and the lawyers lobby is so well-funded and large, Congress will NEVER support the reform we really need.

Townhall Meetings

I find the town hall meetings fascinating. Put aside for a minute the argument that there are plants and organizations attending these to cause chaos, there is some genuine passion and anger being shown. This has never happened before with people that lean to the right. Not in these numbers. Even fair-minded liberals like Senator Clair McCaskill will admit that the vast majority of these people showing up are doing so because they are simply concerned and angry and scared. How the far left can belittle these concerns is astounding.

Progressives do not appreciate the folks disagreeing with them. And they are being condescending and arrogant in their response. Folks do not appreciate this noise. We have a right to be heard. Thankfully our Founders provided that right whether Pelosi and Obama want to hear it. They should be less condescending and simply listen.

These [town hall meeting] disruptions are occurring because opponents are afraid not just of differing views — but of the facts themselves. Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American. Drowning out the facts is how we failed at this task for decades.” –House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer

Un-American? Holy. Shit. How can two of our so-called leaders be so incredibly unintelligent and arrogant? There is nothing more American than revolting against heavy handed tyranny. Do you realize that Congress is considering the “nuclear option”? The Senate can pass this health care through reconciliation with only 50 votes. If they aren’t getting their way they are preparing to jam it down our throats whether we like it or not. That is un-American. That is the Chuck Schumer way. Investor’s Business Daily writes:

This is a nation founded on independence, and there is a large portion of it that wants to retain that priceless heritage. This seems to confuse some lawmakers. … Voters’ deep anger is justifiable. They have every right to disrupt and shout down public figures who, as the protesters can be heard chanting, work for them. At dispute is not a mere difference of opinion that can and should be discussed in a civil manner, but a fundamental question of who is in charge of peoples’ lives.

For a while I wasn’t really sure, but now I have happily concluded that (some?most?) Americans do not want big government running their lives. Thankfully millions are standing up to be heard. They want to protect what is left of their freedom and even roll back that which has been taken. This is a good thing. This may be the revolution of our generation that Thomas Jefferson talked about. He said that “every generation needs a new revolution.”

I think he would be proud of Americans standing up in the face of this obvious intrusion into our lives. People are not going to remain silent whether the President say they should or not. Obama suggested the dissenters basically move over and shut up.

“I don’t want the folks who created the mess to do a lot of talking. I want them just to get out of the way so we can clean up the mess. . . . I don’t mind cleaning up after them, but don’t do a lot of talking.”

Jefferson has an answer to that as well.  He said:

All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.

The sleeping giant has awoken. The Progressive have pushed too far too fast. They want to spend too much and hold generations accountable for their agenda. Most Tea Party and health care protesters were happy siting home watching CSI, going to church and playing football. Now we have to put our lives aside and be heard.

I’m going to be heard. I have made plans to attend the 9/12 Rally on DC. I’m a Tea Party supporter. I can assure you I would prefer not to write a blog like this. I would prefer to spend my time playing video games with the kids or riding my bike than going to Tea Parties. I don’t want to spend money and time I don’t have to go to DC to the rally. But I am. I can’t in good conscience not be heard when so many decisions being made at rapid speed have the potential to change my life and my kids so drastically.