I think that one of the challenges about addressing concerns about healthcare in California as a public policy question is figuring exactly what government can do to help the situation, versus big brother getting involved in a way that will ultimately make things much worse.
Yesterday, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger introduced a health care plan that would represent a radical and extreme shift in California, moving us significantly down the path towards a government-run healthcare system. There are a whole slew of problems with his proposal, but the single biggest part of it is that it defies one of the most basic, fundamental principles of our American democracy — individual responsibility. Using fancy rhetoric (courtesy of the left-wing New America Foundation), the Governor has declared that the provision of health care coverage in California is no longer an individual responsibility, it is now a "shared" responsibility. Apparently "shared" responsibility sounds better than saying "taxpayer responsibility" or, to put it in longer form, that health care is no longer YOUR responsibility. This proposal marks a radical shift in philosophy and in policy — it is 100% supportive of the idea that as a Californian, in additional to your federally protected right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, you now have a right to health care coverage.
This plan further reduces the single most important force in reducing the costs of healthcare, and increasing the availability and quality of healthcare — the market system. To the extent that the goal is to decrease the percentage of Californian’s who do not have access to health care insurance, this plan is a quick-march in the wrong direction. On the other hand, if there is a goal of degrading the quality of everyone’s health care in the Golden State, this is a good start.
You can be sure that we will continue to bring you a lot of thoughtful commentary on this site on this issue. But I would recommend that anyone who is following this discussion read this column from John Stossel. (Stossel is criticizing Hillary Clinton’s health care proposal, but ArnoldCare embraces the SAME IDEAS as HillcaryCare). I will close with some thoughtful remarks from State Board of Equalization Member Bill Leonard, who asks, "What is the crisis in Health Care?"
ArnoldCare Makes Things Worse
**There is more – click the link**
October 10th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Here again, Jon is off the rails. If by “individual responsibility” does Jon mean those without health care should just go in some dark corner and die? Is that one of Jon’s ideas to help make the Republican Party the majority party in California? Well, that is not my Republican Party. My party is one that has compassion for those of us who are in need of basic human kindness and seeks solutions to provide that help. I just found out one of my friends has lung cancer. Thank g-d he has health insurance because he is a retired teacher. But what if he were a retired self employed gardener and he had no health insurance. What then, Jon? Would you say to that good man “sorry old bean but them is the breaks – go die.”
October 11th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Bob Evans is falling for the Liberal stereotype of Republicans: meanies who want to starve babies, and kill animals.
About that gardener, he may have no insurance, but he most certainly would be treated at his local hospital, courtesy of your and my taxes.
October 12th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Not true, Barbara. If my friend had no insurance he would get a bill for any treatment. From what I read, that bill could and would bankrupt him. This is not a liberal or conservative issue; it is an issue of compassion. Do we throw people under the bus or do we try to help them when in need.