Posted on 08/21/2007 8:55:59 AM PDT by kellynla
The Governor’s vision for health reform is an accessible, efficient, and affordable health care system that promotes a healthier California through prevention and wellness and universality of coverage.”
--Governor’s Health Care Proposal
As a resident of Southern California I am the fortunate beneficiary of nearly year-round clement weather, picturesque beaches and majestic-yet-accessible mountains. The downside of living in the Golden State is that I am subjected to ghastly, quasi-socialist political ideas -- not just from the Democrats in state government, but also from my Republican governor.
Case in point is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s health care proposal, which boasts the rather innocuous yet creepily jingoistic moniker, “Stay Healthy California.” The governor -- I’ll refrain from abusing the clichés of “Ahhnold” or “the Governator”-- unveiled his plan on Jan. 8 of this year, and though not yet introduced officially as legislation he is currently working with legislators to create support for the plan.
The Stay Healthy California proposal suffers largely from the false notion that all would be right with health care in the state if only we all just had insurance coverage. Indeed, it’s this crusade for “universality” that is the linchpin of the Schwarzenegger proposal.
This so-called “individual mandate” aspect of the Stay Healthy California plan requires every California resident to purchase health care. I don’t know about you, but I always get scared when government requires me to do anything with my own money. I thought that the ideal in America was economic freedom? Apparently, this isn’t the case, especially if you live in Cali.
And why is the governor so intent on covering Californians, one and all? The ostensible answer is cost containment. The measure seeks to reduce the cost of care for uninsured Californians who receive treatment in the state’s emergency rooms. The governor argues that the individual mandate is the best way to curb these costs, which ultimately get passed on to the taxpayer.
This is the so-called “free-rider” problem, and although it is a real issue, the cost of uncompensated care is hardly a crisis. According to The Council for Affordable Health Insurance, uncompensated care is about 2.5 percent of health care spending nationwide. These figures may be higher in California, maybe as much as 5%, but still not the kind of cost issue that requires radical government mandates.
The real issue here is politics. According to Michael Tanner, director of health and welfare studies at the Cato Institute, “Schwarzenegger’s plan is driven almost entirely by a desire to achieve universal coverage. If he can get everyone in California a piece of paper saying they have insurance, he will claim success, no matter what the cost in lost jobs, higher taxes, and a wrecked health care system.”
The cost in lost jobs, higher taxes and a wrecked health care system is difficult to quantify at this stage, but some estimates are as high as an additional $12 billion in additional state revenues just to make sure everyone is covered.
In order to fund his plan, the governor will have to impose new taxes on health care providers and small businesses, including a requirement that every business with 10 or more employees provide its workers with health insurance or be forced to pay a four percent payroll tax.
These costs will inevitably take their toll on an already overtaxed Golden State. How overtaxed? According to the Taxpayers Foundation, California is ranked 15th highest in the nation when it comes to state and local tax burden. It’s favorability toward business is ranked a dismal 45th.
But for me the real outrage of Stay Healthy California is not the additional cost to taxpayers. The real crime here is philosophical. The “we’re in this together” socialistic language of the plan assumes that society at large is responsible for providing health care for everyone. The underlying assumption operating here is that health care services are the birthright of the state’s citizenry, and because of that right the government is justified in imposing whatever laws necessary to make sure we get what’s coming to us.
This Michael Moore-esque vision of the world is insulting to every American who values freedom, independence, hard work and individualism. Health care is not a right, but a good or service just like any other.
Nobody would argue for the “right” to a new Corvette, a luxury condo on the beach or a personal trainer. These are goods and services that entrepreneurs invest capital to create, and hope to sell at a profit. Why should we assume health care goods and services should be treated differently?
Furthermore, the real reason why health care costs are so high today is because of the ubiquity of insurance coverage. A person with coverage -- either through private insurance, an employer paid plan, Medicare or Medicaid -- does not really have to consider the cost of the health care goods and services they are purchasing because in essence, somebody else is picking up the tab.
When somebody else is paying the bill, costs go up. As the great Milton Friedman once said, “nobody spends somebody else’s money as wisely or as frugally as he spends his own.” My corollary to Friedman’s words: nobody spends your money as foolishly as the bureaucrats in government.
Until the governor, who ironically was mentored by Milton Friedman, recognizes that it is every Californian’s responsibility to pay for his or her own health care, the problems in our state -- and the country at large -- will inevitably persist.
If the governor wants to reduce the cost of health care, the only solution is to eliminate government mandates, reduce taxes on the industry and repeal the overbearing regulations currently foisted on the system. The cure for what ails the health care system is less government, not more insurance coverage.
Refuse services and incarceration to ALL THE ILLEGAL ALIENS!
Ping
Deport ‘em all!
AMEN
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
If TX & FL can operate without a state income tax, there is no reason in hell why CA can’t too!
If we had a governor with a set instead of a has-been actor with shitforbrains, we could start eliminating the hospital, education & prison costs & crime in this state tomorrow!
The saddest part is that Arnold gave the introduction to Milton Friedman’s “Free to Choose” series.
I guess he understood the free market a little bit better before he started drinking the California water.
Sounds like RomneyCare.
The rush towards Euro-socialism marches forward.
‘Prevention and wellness’ are nice words, but won’t prevent people from getting ill and needing health care. Yes, these are fine goals, but are not really ‘health care’. Prevention (e.g. don’t smoke, don’t drink excessively, don’t do drugs, don’t eat more than required to stay at your ideal weight, don’t drive unsafely, wear your seatbelt, don’t eat saturated fats, etc. etc. etc.) is about personal choices. All the free doctor visits in the world won’t change that. Arnold is another great example of someone who was successful in one area of life who thinks that qualifies him as an expert on all areas of life. I used to like Arnold, but he just doesn’t get it.
It is amazing how many LIBERALS hide under a conservative’s “sheep’s clothing”.....
How is it free market when California hospitals have to service every illegal and uninsured bum by FEDERAL law, as he well pointed out?
Well Larry Elder & I tried to warn everyone that you can’t be a fiscal conservative & a social liberal at the same time...ya gotta pay for all those social programs somehow...but most folks didn’t listen and even those FReepers who said they were gonna vote for Tom McClintock in 2003 broke down and voted for RINOld instead; now look at the royal mess we’re in!!!
I'm glad to see Cato has finally recognized this Trojan Horse for what he is. He's a narcissistic power-hungry phony, lacking in all principle, loyal to few but himself.
We coulda had a REAL CONSERVATIVE (Tom McClintock) but, NOOO... the Republican Party elite in Orange County wanted Arnie. Big mistake.
if everyone who said they were gonna vote for McClintock had actually voted for him; we woulda had a true blue conservative governor today...ya can’t blame OC...there was plenty of blame to go around including the RINOld fan club here on FR!
Well, as one of those who actually voted for Tom, I can agree that I’m pretty sick of the RINOs here on FR. They’re the same weenies who are backing Rudy now, IMO.
...even those FReepers who said they were gonna vote for Tom McClintock in 2003 broke down and voted for RINOld instead; now look at the royal mess we’re in!!!
::::::
McClintock was the only HONEST AND CAPABLE CONSERVATIVE left in Sacramento — and yes, we were lied to by Schwarzenkennedy. He is a liberal, talks the conservative line but we have learned...ONLY ACTIONS COUNT. And his tax-and-spend liberal disease is running out of control.
Most likely he, and the socialist legislature, will run most good businesses out of the state and all that will be left to pay for all the illegals, are retirees and liberals that do not know any better. The credit card is full, but these socialists just don’t even care.
Or dipping his bucket in the Kennedy well.
Here is one that stayed with Tom & warned his fellow pubbie friends that they are making a mistake with AS. Just read my tagline.
Well we warned them, Digger...that’s all we could do.
Now we’ll have to weather the storm and watch things get worse after three more years of RINOld and eight years of the next ‘Rat governor who will be elected & reelected and then we’ll have to find a true blue conservative to come in and clean up the mess...which is usually what happens...the ‘Rats make a mess of things and the GOP has to come in and clean up the mess...which won’t happen before 2018 in CA.
Semper Fi,
Kelly
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