My Uncommon Sense

Healthy- Obama on Obama action

In most debates, there are two clear sides: a “for” side, and an “against” side. On the issue of healthcare, Republicans argue that the costs are too excessive, that private business should prevail, and that healthcare would be harmed by placing the responsibility in the government’s overreaching hands, rather than keeping the decisions between patients and their doctors. Democrats argue that the 47 million Americans without healthcare shouldn’t have to suffer because they are unable to afford it (NOTE- this figure includes the 12 million illegal aliens, the wealthy who chose not to purchase insurance, and anyone who goes without insurance for even one day of the year. The average time an American goes without health insurance is four months).

As I have previously shown, we already have universal healthcare. What the Democrats are pushing for is universal equal coverage. By coverage, I do not mean access to healthcare, as everyone already has this by Federal Law, but rather insurance coverage. What many fail to acknowledge is that Medicare and Medicaid already take care of those who are unable to afford insurance. The majority of individuals without insurance don’t have it, not because they cannot afford it, but rather because they choose not to have it.

So enter the real debate, the one inside Obama’s head. We all know Obama is the master of words, slipping through questions without truly answering them, or answering them with ambiguous quips filled with inaccurate statistics. The first question, and probably biggest one, is whether Obama should sign the healthcare bill or not. Obama has been urging the Senate to pass Ted Kennedy’s bill within the next week. Like the stimulus which was pushed through as “emergency legislation” even though it wouldn’t take effect for months, this 612 page document has no pertinent policy changes that would begin upon its signing into law. Obama wants it pushed through quickly because the more people who understand it, the less support it will receive. So Obama obviously wants it passed, but then why wouldn’t he sign it? I am referring to his statement made during his weekly address:

“I will not sign on to any health plan that adds to our deficits over the next decade,”

This means Obama is pledging not to sign the healthcare reform bill, as it would add more than $239 billion to the deficit over the next decade according to the CBO. So which is it Barack? Are you going to sign the bill or not? Based on what I have seen, he shouldn’t sign the bill as he never pledged to sign it, but instead pledged not to sign a healthcare bill that increases the deficit. Democrats are trying to get around the deficit spending by changing the accounting rules. They want to spend the money, but not have to record it. I think I’ll do the opposite with my taxes: Not pay them, but record it as if I did. Hey, according to the Democrats in Congress, it is legal and ethical. I think Obama’s cabinet would agree as well.

You remember this next pledge made by Obama throughout the campaign trail and even up to today: You can keep your private insurer if you would like to. The government will not force you out of your plan. To this day, Obama still makes this claim. Apparently he hasn’t read the healthcare reform bill. What is even more insane is that if you do not have government approved healthcare, you will be taxed. Yes, for those of us who choose not to be forced into a plan that we do not agree with, we will be taxed thousands of dollars, then put into a plan randomly.

The Kennedy-Dodd bill would create an individual mandate requiring you to buy a “qualified” health insurance plan, as defined by the government. If you don’t have “qualified” health insurance for a given month, you will pay a new Federal tax. Incredibly, the amount and structure of this new tax is left to the discretion of the Secretaries of Treasury and Health and Human Services (HHS), whose only guidance is “to establish the minimum practicable amount that can accomplish the goal of enhancing participation in qualifying coverage (as so defined).”

This would be unconstitutional, as the power to force citizens into a healthcare plan or force insurers to accept a certain plan is not granted by Article 1 Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. Not only would this be an overreach of power, but by the Fifth Amendment, citizens cannot be deprived of property or liberty without due process. In order for the healthcare reform bill to pass, the U.S. Constitution would first need to be amended, which we know won’t happen.

With the Democrats having 60 seats in the Senate, along with a few RINOs, they will most likely be able to push through the bill without much modification. After that point, we can only hope that someone is bright enough and strong-willed enough to take the legislation to court. Seeing as how Sotomayor will most likely be confirmed and how she has no respect for the Constitution, she will probably side with Obama.

Either way, at least we now know that there are three Obama’s: Campaign trail Obama, Promises Obama, and Broken Promises Obama.