Man vs. The State - Truth vs. Deceit

Man vs. The State – Truth vs. Deceit

The View from the Middle

In 1946 a young lieutenant in the Navy reserve and veteran of WWII in the Pacific gave a speech in Boston on Independence Day.  He stressed that, “The right of the individual against the State has ever been one of our most cherished political principles.”  This young man and war hero was no other than John F. Kennedy. 

This was a core belief that Kennedy embraced throughout his life, even to his untimely death in Dallas.  He continually warned Americans that we must be ever vigilant not to consign our “great problems to the all-absorbing hands of the great Leviathan – the state.”  Kennedy believed in the power of the people and the private sector to solve our problems.

Whether the problem is unemployment, poverty or health care he would clearly caution us NOT to turn over control to the government.  However, this is the fundamental problem we are beginning to see with Obamacare.

The current website problem is truly only the tip of the iceberg.  I was surprised by the absolute collapse of the site.  I’m assuming it will be fixed, but it does begin to suggest what kind of service we might expect later as we try to access services and confirm or question claims and payments.  If you thought it was difficult dealing with insurance companies before now, wait until you interject the government between you and them.  Let the nightmare begin.

As suggested above, the first real issue with Obamacare is one of personal choice.  The government will now decide what coverage all Americans must carry.  All plans must include the 10 essential benefits outlined in the law.  That sounds great, right, until you dig in a little. 

My wife and I, for example, are over 60 and have no children at home, yet we MUST carry Maternity and Pediatric coverage.  What if we don’t want this coverage?  Too bad!  We have no choice.  This over-insuring is needed, however, as part of the financial shenanigans essential to make this plan work.

And when you hear the word “subsidy”, beware.  It sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?  We are lead to believe that insurance companies are simply charging needy people less for their policies.  Dream on.  “Subsidy” just means that taxpayer money (YOUR money) is being spent to reduce these costs.  Barack Obama isn’t writing a personal check for these subsidies.  The government has no money of its own.  YOU are paying for these subsidies through your taxes.  Let’s just be honest.

I also predict that there is much more disappointment to come in the area of services.  Since the government does not have a profit incentive that requires it to be efficient and innovative or go out of business, it will deliver what it has become famous for delivering - high costs and poor services.  And don’t forget that you and I are the government’s sugar daddy.

The second real victim in this charade is “the truth”.  For years the President has been saying, “if you like your plan, you can keep it.  Period!”  I have heard estimates of 10 to 129 million people who will have their policies canceled as a result of Obamacare regulations.  This will make it very difficult for these people to “keep” these plans.

He also promised that premiums would go down on average $2,500 a year, yet logic and research have suggested quite the opposite is likely. 

And now we have politicians who are actually defending this dishonesty.  Some admit that the President lied, but suggest this is acceptable because it helped advance a cause they support.  At best, supporters agree that he mislead America, but still give him a pass for the same reason. 

Are we really willing to accept this new lower standard where duplicity is acceptable if it advances your cause.  What if lying advances “the other guy’s” cause?  If we embrace deceit, greed and dependence instead of truth, compassion and personal responsibility we will have a fundamentally transformed America.  Is that the picture you envisioned when the President used those words during his campaign?

Finally, the reality is that this law may never have even passed if the President had told the truth.  In 1994, Hillarycare never even got into committee because insurance companies ran ads warning that many of Americans would lose their policies.  Throw in honest projections of the costs and the virtual elimination of choice, and I would guarantee it.  I think this is a fair question for any congressman or woman who voted for this law in 2010.  Given what we know now would they vote for the ACA today?  I would hope they at least have 20-20 hindsight!