Continuing our discussion of Helthkare Яeform, I want to pick up where we left off yesterday: namely, concerning the government's inability to compete in any way with the private sector. I promised that I would provide you with a number of quotes taken directly from the guy overseeing our current $1.42 trillion deficit, and so I am.
It’s not that private sector workers are so much smarter than government employees (except in
the case of that girl I had to deal with at the DMV), it’s that they are better motivated. Every business expense a private sector employee incurs comes from the same place as their potential earnings. The more they improve the end product, the more revenue the company brings in, and the more benefits said employee may enjoy. With a government employee: “Here’s some taxpayer money. Spend it all or we will give you less next year. Oh, and nobody can fire you.” The math is fairly simple.
And yet even the President seems to have a hard time with this arithmetic. He’s made some rather… well, remarkable statements, mathematically speaking:
But still, that’s a pretty tall order, even if Congress does find a way to put off some costs until the current crop of seventh graders in this country hits the workforce. There must be something else to this math that Obama is using. Perhaps more quotes will help us out:
This is a key clue to the Democrats’ position on a public insurance plan. They have no real desire for one… they are trying to get rid of those already in place to pay for this government control of the health care industry. But if you are going to negotiate with a party that fears (publicly, at least) the notion of ‘socialized medicine,’ are you going to start from the position of keeping the insurance industry privatized but controlled? No. You are going to present a hard-lined position that you will appear to back away from for the sake of compromise. Check out this little gem from July 22, 2009:
the case of that girl I had to deal with at the DMV), it’s that they are better motivated. Every business expense a private sector employee incurs comes from the same place as their potential earnings. The more they improve the end product, the more revenue the company brings in, and the more benefits said employee may enjoy. With a government employee: “Here’s some taxpayer money. Spend it all or we will give you less next year. Oh, and nobody can fire you.” The math is fairly simple.And yet even the President seems to have a hard time with this arithmetic. He’s made some rather… well, remarkable statements, mathematically speaking:
We will pass reform that lowers cost, promotes choice, and provides coverage that every American can count on. And we will do it this year.
It will limit the amount your insurance company can force you to pay for your medical costs out of your own pocket.
No insurance company will be allowed to deny you coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition.
I have also pledged that health insurance reform will not add to our deficit over the next decade -- and I mean it.Hmm. I’m going through this scenario over and over and just can’t come up with the answer he’s claiming. Washington is going to create a system that provides coverage to every American – coverage we can count on – even to the 47 million Americans that currently don’t have insurance coverage? And the government is going to lower costs while doing this? This system is going to be affordable to all of us, won’t put small companies or the insurance industry out of business, and is going to promote choice? It’s going to do all of this but not increase the deficit? Not at all? Really, Mr. President? Oh, I see that you did include ‘over the next decade.’
But still, that’s a pretty tall order, even if Congress does find a way to put off some costs until the current crop of seventh graders in this country hits the workforce. There must be something else to this math that Obama is using. Perhaps more quotes will help us out:Actually, I have that option now, without government involvement. Kinda sounds like the Mafia protecting my business from being burned to the ground by the Mafia.It will keep government out of health care decisions, giving you the option to keep your insurance if you're happy with it.
This isn't about me. I have great health insurance, and so does every Member of Congress.That’s right. It’s not about you or the members of Congress. It's about today’s seventh graders, the ones that will get hit with the bill a decade from now. But still I am not seeing the math. How about one more quote… looks like this one may be for you old-timers, lest you think my theory about reform being aimed at eliminating Medicare and Medicaid is somehow misguided:
Seems pretty clear to me. How about to you, Herman?And it's about the fact that the biggest driving force behind our federal deficit is the skyrocketing cost of Medicare and Medicaid. So let me be clear: if we do not control these costs, we will not be able to control our deficit.
This is a key clue to the Democrats’ position on a public insurance plan. They have no real desire for one… they are trying to get rid of those already in place to pay for this government control of the health care industry. But if you are going to negotiate with a party that fears (publicly, at least) the notion of ‘socialized medicine,’ are you going to start from the position of keeping the insurance industry privatized but controlled? No. You are going to present a hard-lined position that you will appear to back away from for the sake of compromise. Check out this little gem from July 22, 2009:
This is not a “public option.” This is the government setting prices and packages throughout the industry, listing it for you, and letting you “choose” which option you want. In other words, a fascist health care system. The Democrats will have appeared to have backed way off of their demands and the Republicans will have appeared to have saved face. And all of us will be reaping the… well, I’ll let you characterize the results any way you wish.If you don't have health insurance, or are a small business looking to cover your employees, you'll be able to choose a quality, affordable health plan through a health insurance exchange -- a marketplace that promotes choice and competition.
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