Robert Robb, an Arizona Republic columnist writing on RealClearPolitics today, is not quite sure whether Democratic claims that their proposed health care reform will not lead to higher premiums and is not intended to lead to a single-payer system are lies or stupidity, but he leans toward stupidity.
Republicans think the Democrats are engaged in a ruse, that they really want a government takeover of health care.
In their heart of hearts, Democrats do believe that health care should be a public good, provided by government irrespective of ability to pay. But I don’t think they’ve purposely set out to achieve that by misdirection.
Instead, I think they honestly don’t appreciate how fundamentally they are changing health care incentives and what the huge consequences of such changes will be.
Robb sounds like a nice, charitable guy, but I don’t think he appreciates what the Democrats appreciate.
Anyone can say there will be consequences. Can you list any long term or short term consequences?
• Higher taxes on businesses, leading to fewer jobs;
• Higher taxes on many individuals and familes;
• For individuals without coverage from their employer (many of whom may cease providing coverage), forced purchase of insurance from a pool where all policies must be approved by govt, i.e., from a choice of similar one size fits all policies;
• Higher insurance premiums on those who already have insurance;
• Many individuals losing coverage they have and like;
• Reduction of Medicare benefits in the range of $200 billion to $500 billion;
• HIgher Medicaid costs imposed on states, requiring higher state taxes;
• Much higher federal deficits as far as the eye can see….
And those are just the beginning….