My Thoughts on Health Care Reform and the Future...

So, what's my take on the health care reform act?

It alone has fundamentally changed the US Government's approach to individual liberties.  Combined with the enormous expansions of government power and involvement in the business sector such as TARP, financial and industrial bailouts, the voiding of contracts by interfering in private citizens' compensation on bonuses, and the regulation of a harmless naturally occurring gas, this could signal the end of Americanism.

"Are you crazy?!" you say.  "That's just a little extreme, I think!"

No.  That's not extreme.  That's clear. 

The beginning of the end of Americanism began almost before the ink was dry on the Constitution.  But the American people and the system of government they had established were resilient, aware, and active enough to resist the pressure to change.  For nearly a century the country remained as the founders intended it.  Then the Civil War or War Between the States changed forever the way Americans viewed themselves.  For the first time there was a strong federal government and the people were okay with that.  They were, after all, Unionists - Americans - and not Vermonters, Michiganders, or citizens of other states. 

Since then the federal government has expanded its power and influence over states and individuals.  Don't misunderstand this to be some pro-slavery, anti-government rant.  I'm just talking you through the progression of things.

Sometimes the federal government has used courts to interpret the laws to give it more power than it previously had.  Sometimes the government has used constitutional amendments to do the same.  Sometimes it has used financial coercion - either the threat of withholding funding or the promise of providing funds - to subdue the states.

Now we see the threat of federal retribution delivered at a personal and individual level.  Should I choose not to take the advice of the federal government as it relates to my family's health care I am subject to a personal fine of up to 2% of my income. 

Why is the fine related to my income and not held at some rationally calculated number? 

Anyway, let me get back to the progressive loss of individual liberties. 

While there is not a solid government or public option for health care coverage in the current act, that will not be far away.  After all, how can the government order all citizens to purchase something.  And how can they continue to require that purchase with the cost of coverage spiraling out of control?  Isn't it only right that the government provide an affordable option for people to buy into so that they can have at least some level of coverage?  Think of the children who will suffer most from their parents' inability to pay the premiums demanded by these greedy insurance companies.  It's only right....

And so, we sign onto the government option.  Which really is no option at all in just a few years.  It soon becomes the only game in town. 

And the government administrators and actuaries do the math.  People who engage in risky lifestyles will have to pay more because they have more health problems.  Interestingly, "risky" will not include the consumption of alcohol or promiscuous behavior.  But those who eat fatty foods, those who choose not to exercise, and those who drive their own cars, rather than take public transit, will be charged more for their health coverage.  After all, they're the ones who consume most of the resources.  It's only right....

And "risky" won't stop there.  It will extend to other areas. 

And you may say, "Yeah, but those things are just good sense."  You may be right, but remember that Natural Law gives the individual liberties that are not restricted by what you may think is "good sense". 

And America and Americanism were founded on Natural Law; the primacy of the individual being the foundation of the country.  We live now in an age where most Americans accept the premise of primacy of the state, or the idea that the interests of the state are superior to the interests of the individual. 

We must return to the basis of our country's founding before it is too late.  And, given the track record of repealing entitlement programs, I am worried that it IS too late.  But we must not go quietly into that dark night.  We must go down swinging.  In November of this year we have an opportunity to change the composition of the US Congress.  We must send representatives and senators who are committed to repealing this one act and to setting our country's house in order.

Liberal Bloggers Expose the Truth About Health Care Reform...

It seems to me that the President would have Americans believe that the right wing extremists in the country are distorting the truth about his health care reform act.

Here are some figures and "fact checking" from the left.  Fire Dog Lake is a fairly "progressive" blog and they've done some interesting research. 

Strangely, they came to the same conclusions the far right did regarding the negative impact of the act. 

In a court of law, if two witnesses recount the same series of events, and only one contradicts them, the stories that agree are lent more credibility than the one "outlier".  It seems that the President's story is the outlier in this case. 

But read the article and let me know your take....

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/03/19/fact-sheet-the-truth-about-the-health-care-bill/

A Discussion on The Second Amendment...

This is a good, rational discussion regarding the Constitution and its applicability to the individual.

A common refrain in conservative circles is the "primacy of the individual". The counter argument is the "primacy of the state".

There is an effective and convincing argument that the Second Amendment protects and individual right, and not one that is restricted to the "militias" of the various state.

Another Big Supreme Court Gun Ban Case…

President Obama Speaks Against Democrat Plan to End Filibuster...

President Obama speaks out against the "nuclear option" that would bar extended debate in the Senate.



Of course, what you hear from "back in the day" was the ranting of a party that did not control the Executive branch of our government.  Now that the Democrat party controls the Executive and Legislative branches (and still can't get anything accomplished) they are singing a different tune. 

According to Alan Fram of the Associated Press, "President Barack Obama urged Congress Wednesday to vote "up or down" on sweeping health care legislation in the next few weeks, endorsing a plan that denies Senate Republicans the right to kill the bill by stalling with a filibuster."

He's like, as he said in the video, Karl Rove....  What an interesting turn.  Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, right?