For those of you just waiting for my opinion on the Healthcare Reform Law that passed last week, as well as the embedded Student Loan Reform Law that was in it, here it is:
I don't like it. Not that I hate sick people. Not that I hate Democrats. I still don't like it.
Why?
First reason: is this making it illegal to not have health insurance? If so, why does the IRS get the power to administratively charge you more taxes for breaking the law? Don't we get trials for committing crimes?
If it's not illegal, then we're seeing a continuation of something that my conservative friends have long done: creating a set of behaviors that are legal but "taxable." It's a way of manipulating behavior while technically claiming you're still free to do as you please. Why do you think there are extra taxes on alcohol, tobacco, and firearms? It's to discourage the use while still allowing it. It is a method used by various interests to attempt to limit liberty. We didn't like it when it was tea, and we shouldn't care for it now.
Second reason: Are we putting more power over the life and death over American lives to the same outfit that was responsible for: 1.) Safety enforcement of Toyota? 2.)Fixing General Motors? 3.) Supervising banks and lending so that bad loans don't destroy banks? 4.)Finding Jimmy Hoffa? 5.)Making the existing tax code comprehendible? 6.)Government education? The American school systems that consistently rank mediocre compared to the world? 7.)PBS and NPR and their balanced, quality programming?
Third reason: Congress didn't read it. So they don't know what's in it. And they blended it with making the Federal Government the only lender for Federal Student Loans, rather than independent banks. Brilliant. And has what to do with health? None.
Finally: we're putting too much trust, power, and provision in the hands of Washington D.C. Do I trust them with it? No. I do not. Whether it's the current politicians or the next ones, I do not. Those controls need to remain as close as possible to the people.
Doug
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To deal with SPAM comments, all comments are moderated. I'm typically willing to post contrary views...but I also only check the list once a day, so if you posted within the last 24 hours, I may not be to it yet.