9/9/09 Healthcare Speech

As many of you know, President Obama gave a speech concerning the proposed healthcare reform. Besides the many flaws I see in the actual bill, there were also a couple of interesting things in the speech.

Right off the bat, I see some things I don't like about Obama's conclusions. Need I say this again? It is not the government's job to make sure companies can get credit and capital. I see nothing about that in the Constitution. I do see something about how Congress is supposed to regulate the value of our money, but other than that, not much- and it is certainly not the President's job to do so!! This proposed healthcare plan- and what Obama summarily proposed in his speech- is so outside the bounds of Presidential and Congressional power, that it's not even funny.

I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure we're still quite a bit aways from the 'brink'- and we're on the wrong side of things. I know, I know- "Obama can't fix eight years of damage in six months!" Why not? He promised he would. I merely want him to stand up for what he said. Is that so terrible? People are still losing jobs at a fantastic rate. Our unemployment rate hit 9.6 in August. That's up significantly from what it was in 2008! (Before the bailouts started, by the way.)

The problem is not, I think, with a lack of governmental oversight. The problem is that the insurance companies are messing the people of America over, and driving costs up, and the people are more than happy to let them. The solution is not governmental power-grabbing, but education of the American people.

"We are the only democracy -- the only advanced democracy on Earth -- the only wealthy nation -- that allows such hardship for millions of its people."

Firstly- we're not a democracy. We're a Constitutional Republic. The only Constitutional Republic, might I add, on the face of the planet. Hence, we are the only one that supposedly lets that happen. Which we don't. Like I said before, the problem is not lack of governmental oversight; it is a lack of objective thinking and education by the American people.

I think one of the reasons healthcare costs, collectively, are so high in the US is because people here go into the doctor for the smallest things, and then get the worst-case scenario treatment for it. People go into the doctor because they have a simple stopped-up nose, or a fever, and get high-falutin' medication for it. The costs for this kind of thing go into the averages, and drive it up.

I'll tell you a major reason people can't start a business, and I'll give you a hint- it doesn't have a single thing to do with the insurance companies. It has to do with the insanity of the government regulations that are imposed on people that want to start up a business. Business owners have to pay hundreds of dollars simply to hire an employee. They have to pay yet more to get licensed, then to keep on going. It's crazy, and that is the reason they are going under, not because healthcare costs so much. I love how Obama professes to want to help small business when in fact, the regulations he is proposing will do more to stop small business than to help it grow. The only thing these regulations help is the government's pocketbook.

Obama did make an ardent effort in his speech to smooth out some of the misconceptions about the bill, including the so-called 'death panels', the allegation that the bill will provide for illegal immigrants, and that people will be forced to change insurance.

A little 'side-note' here- why is healthcare considered a right? I thought it was one of those things that if you want it, you've got to foot the bill. So why is it considered a right?

At this point in the speech, one of the Congressmen called out "You lie!" to President Obama as he was talking about whether or no illegals would get coverage. (They will not, for the record. Page 143, section 246 of HR 3200.) I personally think this was waayyy over the top- President Obama is still our President, no matter your personal feelings on the subject, and should be afforded the proper amount of respect due that position. (President Obama handled this with quite a bit of grace, which was quite exemplary on his part.) For the record, Rep. Wilson did apologize to President Obama (quite properly), and the President accepted the apology with a great deal of tact.

Now then. Obama got into the financial side of this plan a little later on. It was, needless to say, rather interesting. I quote in the interest of accuracy.
"And here's what you need to know. First, I will not sign a plan that adds one dime to our deficits -- either now or in the future."
"And they'd be right if taxpayers were subsidizing this public insurance option. But they won't be."

Oh okay. I see now- we don't want any more of those nasty deficits hanging over our heads. It's so wonderful you thought of that before the stimulus plan.

And if the taxpayer is not going to be paying for this, then who is? We're going to be using governmental funds to pay for the public option. If not the taxpayer, then who? I wasn't aware the government could pluck money out of thin air. No matter where you get the money- from individuals, from companies, you're still getting it from taxpayers, and you're still taking away money that rightfully belongs to someone else.

Period.

All in all, a nice speech. If he weren't trying to force his policy on Congress. The President is not the policy maker, that would be Congress. Constitutionally, the President can suggest things he wants Congress to do; he cannot tell them what to do.
"He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient"