I should really be writing…

I know, my nanowrimo novel’s not going to write itself. But there’s too much going on today that I just have to point out.

For example, I just read this article about the GOP’s Health Care reform Bill. This writer makes two very large assumptions in order to spin his argument for the Democratic plan.

• Assumption #1: He assumes that one way to measure success of the bill is based on how many people have healthcare. Well, guess what? There are lots of people out there who CHOOSE not to have healthcare. They might be millionares and not need it. They might never have to visit a hospital. They may believe in wholistic healing, or the power of Christ to heal… Their reasons don’t matter. They have a right to refuse healthcare, and why is it the Federal Governments job to force them into something they don’t want? This is not an accurate way to determine whether a health care reform bill would be successful.
• Assumption #2: Funny math is okay. This guy says that the Republican bill will reduce the deficit by $68 billion, while the Democratic plan will reduce it by over $100 billion. What he doesn’t say is that the Republican bill will cost $8 billion over 10 years, while the Democratic bill will cost over ONE TRILLION. Do those numbers not matter at all?

It’s sad when actual journalists can get away with this kind of spin. I just bet this same guy complains about how biased Fox News is, too…

For those of you wondering what the republican plan consists of, here’s a few points:

1. let families and businesses buy health insurance across state lines.
2. allow individuals, small businesses, and trade associations to pool together and acquire health insurance at lower prices, the same way large corporations and labor unions do.
3. give states the tools to create their own innovative reforms that lower health care costs.
4. end junk lawsuits that contribute to higher health care costs by increasing the number of tests and procedures that physicians sometimes order not because they think it’s good medicine, but because they are afraid of being sued.

Notice how this plan doesn’t force anyone to relinquish their right to make their own decisions, and it doesn’t force businesses to play by a set of asinine rules. Conveniently enough, it also manages to let the Federal Government play a minimal role in matters of Health.

So anyways, there you go. Let me know what you think. Is one plan better than the other? What should be included under the broad banner of ‘Health Care Reform?’ Would you trust the Federal government to implement ANY plan? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section!

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