Lowell Grant”s column of Jan. 6 has me completely baffled. He seems to think he has a clear clairvoyance not enjoyed by the rest of us that enables him to see and understand the deliberations taking place in Congress regarding health care. Maybe he, as a liberal, has access to the transparency promised by Obama during the campaign. Or does he possess a vivid imagination?
I would agree, there is no apparent leadership from the Democratic Party, the party in complete control. By the same token there is no leadership from the Republican Party, which, contrary to Mr. Grant”s belief, has no control whatsoever including an effective filibuster. It may come as a surprise to Mr. Grant, but lobbyists for any industry, including the insurance industry, lobby both parties and are effective with both parties. There can be no doubt that special interests, be it corporate or governmental, exert influence in Washington through lobbying and have successfully done so with all of the current considerations.
Mr. Grant, like most libs, likes to continue discussions in a very partisan fashion. He fails to recognize that both parties are creating more and more government control of all activities. Some would take the start of this back to FDR or LBJ. Doesn”t matter where it started. What does matter is that we read it, understand it and not repeat it. Though both parties seem to be espousing big government as the all omnipotent savior of any dilemma whether it be in banking, health care, insurance or the auto industry, the current administration is recklessly moving in that direction at a higher rate of speed than I have ever seen before. It is pedal-to-the-metal no matter what and will surely bankrupt this great country!
The notion that the bureaucracy or bureaucrats can create a government option that will provide adequate competition for health insurance shows a complete ignorance of the free market system. Please, do not confuse what we have now as a free market in healthcare. It surely is not. But that is a subject that requires an understanding of economics. Given that reform is needed, I would propose that changes be made incrementally, rather than all at once. I would further propose that these reforms include the following:
1. Enact Medicare reform to avert the actuarial fact that it is now headed for certain bankruptcy.
2. Enact tort reform to end the ruinous lawsuits that force providers into paying insurance costs of hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.
3. Allow insurance companies to compete across state lines, thus allowing increased competition to properly establish coverage and rates.
4. Change the tax laws so that employer-provided health insurance and individually owned health insurance have exactly the same tax benefits.
5. Remove the legal obstacles that prevent the formation of health savings accounts and high deductible insurance plans.
6. Create a voucher system (like food stamps) to provide for the less fortunate.
This could be simple and straightforward unlike the 2000-plus page documents with their employer mandates, individual mandates, insurance company mandates, allocation formulas, political payoffs and a myriad of other conjured regulations and interventions now being discussed.
Playing the blame game gets us no place. Let”s get on with creating a government that we can afford.
Robert W. Thoresen
Lakeport
