An old saying goes, ‘If you’ve got your health, you’ve got everything.’ I believe there to be a great deal of wisdom in those words. Good health is our most valuable personal asset and is worth more than all the material possessions the world has to offer. Think about it ‘“ even rich people fear death and there isn’t one of them who wouldn’t trade every penny of their fortunes to be spared from a terminal illness. Even if one’s life itself isn’t threatened, poor health can steal away many of life’s greatest joys ‘“ holding a baby, watching a son or daughter graduate high school, going for a walk on the beach. It’s little wonder when Washington begins talking about health care reform, the whole country sits up and takes notice. The country usually doesn’t like what it hears. America’s recent overtly negative reaction to the administration’s health care reform proposal is similar to, though much more intense than, the Clinton (that’s both Bill and Hillary) health care reform proposals of the early 1990s. In fact, it appears likely that, at least with regard to the House of Representatives, the election cycle of 2010 will resemble that of 1994 when American voters turned out in huge numbers to cast out Democrats bent on supporting the Clinton’s terribly flawed plan. The reason why American’s rejected both health care reform plans isn’t because of fear as the liberal national media would have us believe but because they don’t trust the government to be in control of personal health care decisions ‘“ and well they shouldn’t. All decent Americans want what’s best for their fellow citizens, including access to health care resources for all legal residents. Such concern and compassion is part of the American ethos that sets America apart from other nations of the world. What productive Americans don’t want is to be forced to sacrifice their own hard-earned health care resources for those who choose not to make provisions for their own health care needs. Most Americans see the current health care reform legislation more as an attempt by the Democrats to take from those who’ve earned access to health care and give to those who haven’t in an effort to garner the latter’s votes and support. The notion of health care coverage for all is a noble idea but in this case it’s more about the Democrats securing a person’s vote rather than their health. The reason the Clinton plan failed is the same reason the current plan is doomed to fail ‘“ because both were sold to the public based upon a profoundly flawed premise ‘“ the notion health care is a right. I’m still waiting for someone to explain that one to me. Health care is a fundamental need for most but it is a fundamental right for no one ‘“ someone has to pay for it. In fact, health care is no more a right than getting a new Ferrari, a new mansion or that dream vacation we’d all like to take. Considering health care as a right is the same as expecting health care workers to work for free, for utility companies to give away electricity or natural gas for free to hospitals and clinics, for medical supply companies to give away their products for free. America is well known as the most charitable nation on earth (and charity increases when taxes are reduced, a reality tax-happy-liberals continue to ignore). Americans accept that billions of dollars of their taxes are spent annually to provide assistance for the disabled. What Americans don’t accept is the government taxing them billions more to provide assistance to those unproductive Americans who could engage in efforts to provide for themselves but choose not to do so. In essence, Americans are glad to pay for the needy but not the unmotivated. Having served in the medical field many years, both in private office practice and as an emergency room physician, I’ve experienced firsthand the myriad problems plaguing America’s health care system. Though these problems are often complex, they are solvable. The reason little progress has been made in doing so is because those with the power to solve them lack the experience and knowledge requisite to understand the true nature of the situation or lack the will to do anything about it. What amazes me most about America’s health care system is that solutions to its problems are less complex than many might think. ——————————- By Spencer Price To contact Spencer, please visit conservativecommentaries.com
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