Health Care Reform Passes: An Economic, Health Care, And Cultural Defeat For America
Health Care Reform Passes: An Economic, Health Care, And Cultural Defeat For America
By
Ken Eliasberg
In my previous columns on this point I addressed the economic and health care (i.e. diminished quality) aspects of this measure. Here I would like to address the final point in the trifecta of my critique — the Bill’s effect on our culture, on America’s free enterprise system.
3. Altered Character of America: Fostering A Culture of Dependency.-
We have placed an additional 1/6th of our economy in the hands of the federal government. Do you think America itself will not be altered by this adjustment? If you do, I have news for you — you’re wrong! In and of itself, it will have a very profound effect on our free enterprise system. However, as our lefty supporters have advised us, this is just a first step in what they hope will be a total government takeover. Now what do I mean when I speak of a government takeover, or a nanny state, or a welfare state. Very simple — what I mean is the case when your citizens look too much to the government for their support and too little to themselves. You know, coddled collectivism replaces rugged individualism. And we are well on our way there now; I recently read that between 60% to 70% of our citizens take more money out of government (in the form of various and sundry governmental handouts) than they put into it (in taxes). How long do you think that that can continue? And try getting back some of these handouts once they are in place. Take a look at Europe — you know, the place that lefties want us to emulate - and see what’s happening; almost every European country is either technically insolvent or teetering on the brink of insolvency. And by the way, they are scared to death of our drift toward Socialism. Why? Because they realize that we will need every dollar to support our own welfare state, and, as a consequence, we shall not be able to support theirs. And that’s what we have been doing almost since the end of WWII. The Europeans have been able to keep their shaky welfare state in place (sort of) because they have a very limited amount budgeted for Defense. Why? Because they rely on the U.S. for defense — NATO is the U.S. There was an interesting column in Der Spiegel (a German publication) about 6 months ago, expressing real angst over the U.S.’s cutting its military budget. Europe might actually have to pay for its own defense — how are they going to do that? Who will bail them out?
In short, if you foster a culture of dependency you cannot sustain a free enterprise system. Why not? Because it becomes too free and not sufficiently enterprising to sustain itself, and that’s what’s happening in America today. In short, you cannot sustain the welfare state as an economic proposition. And as a psychological proposition, it drains all initiative from your society — why should I bust my backside trying to take care of my family when the government will do it for me (if you have any doubt about this aspect of my argument, just take a look at what happened under welfare; it destroyed the inner city black family and fostered a culture of almost total dependency). Or worse yet, why should I bust my backside taking care of someone else’s family because the head of the household refuses to do so. For those who have fallen on hard times relief has traditionally come from either family members or religious and charitable organizations. Government is not, nor should it be, a charity (even were it in an economic position to function as one). Now some bleeding heart left-wing pinko may argue that this is cruel. It is not! Indeed, self reliance was, and should remain, the crucible in which the mettle of our country has been forged.
In conclusion, if you believe that we can add 32 million people (or even 32,000, for that matter) to our health care rolls without adversely affecting our already bankrupt country than you must also believe in the tooth fairy. If you further believe that this will not affect the quality of the health care you will receive than you are living in an alternate reality. And if after all you have experienced in interacting with government, you still believe that a government agency or group of government agencies can handle your health care better than they handle your car (DMV), your immigration problems (INS), your mail (Post office), your taxes (IRS), your housing (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac), your railway transportation (Amtrak), etc., etc. (all, or almost all, of which are under water, and none of which function efficiently or effectively) than you are even more intellectually bankrupt than some pseudo intellectual air head who offers you nothing more than “just his opinion.” Hold on to your hats, folks; this is going to be a very bumpy ride. No, I take that back - it will be a disaster!! And, mark my words, that’s not “just my opinion,” that’s the way it is, and, I’m afraid, that’s the way it’s going to be!!
Oh, by the way, an interesting facet of this bill that has received very little, if any, attention, is the feature pertaining to student loans. Briefly, the government has taken this program over as well — another nail in the free-enterprise coffin.
Summing up then, as I observed in introducing this series of columns on Obamacare, I believe that this piece of legislation will:
Deepen American’s economic bankruptcy;
Destroy the world’s best healthcare system; and
Move us closer to nanny-state status.
How’s that for an impressive trifecta? Is that what you thought you were voting for when you voted for Obama?