National Health Reform: Contra
President's New Plan an Abomination
Jennifer Pastula
Issue date: 9/17/09 Section: Opinion
If you're like many students at Messiah, you've probably heard about the Obama healthcare plan, which has been largely publicized during the last couple of months. And if you fall into this category, then you probably also agree with the majority that you haven't been paying attention to it. And if you fall into a select minority of students, you haven't heard of this debate. Don't feel bad. That's why I wrote this article.
Obama's healthcare plan requires healthcare for everyone: be it young or old, sick or healthy. Instead of healthcare coming from only private insurers, the government intends to step in and provide coverage as well. While this concept is new to the United States, it is common throughout Europe, the United Kingdom, and Canada. You might also find one surprising fact about it that Obama has not mentioned: it's a failure.
In his speech to a joint session of Congress Wednesday night, Obama outlined the goals of his healthcare plan. He proposed an "end to the bickering" and claimed he is willing to work with both sides to ensure the good of the country.
"Now's the time to act, and I will not permit reform to be postponed or imperiled by the usual ideological diversions," Obama said.
In addition to the $787 billion already wasted on his failed stimulus package, Obama intends to spend money the US does not have: $900 billion on a plan that half of the nation opposes.
Healthcare makes up one sixth of the economy. Under Obama's leadership, the government will own this and then, he promises, once things are stable again, the government will retreat. But history has shown that once the government gets its hands into something, nothing that can get them out. Example: Income tax. It's an unpopular norm in today's society, although it was never supposed to be. Income tax originated in the 1860s to pay for the Civil War; after the war ended, it was supposed to disappear. Another example involves the Pennsylvania turnpike. The tolls for the turnpike were there to help pay for the construction and then they, too, were supposed to go. However, as all of us can see, we still pay income tax; we still pay tolls.
Obama's healthcare plan requires healthcare for everyone: be it young or old, sick or healthy. Instead of healthcare coming from only private insurers, the government intends to step in and provide coverage as well. While this concept is new to the United States, it is common throughout Europe, the United Kingdom, and Canada. You might also find one surprising fact about it that Obama has not mentioned: it's a failure.
In his speech to a joint session of Congress Wednesday night, Obama outlined the goals of his healthcare plan. He proposed an "end to the bickering" and claimed he is willing to work with both sides to ensure the good of the country.
"Now's the time to act, and I will not permit reform to be postponed or imperiled by the usual ideological diversions," Obama said.
In addition to the $787 billion already wasted on his failed stimulus package, Obama intends to spend money the US does not have: $900 billion on a plan that half of the nation opposes.
Healthcare makes up one sixth of the economy. Under Obama's leadership, the government will own this and then, he promises, once things are stable again, the government will retreat. But history has shown that once the government gets its hands into something, nothing that can get them out. Example: Income tax. It's an unpopular norm in today's society, although it was never supposed to be. Income tax originated in the 1860s to pay for the Civil War; after the war ended, it was supposed to disappear. Another example involves the Pennsylvania turnpike. The tolls for the turnpike were there to help pay for the construction and then they, too, were supposed to go. However, as all of us can see, we still pay income tax; we still pay tolls.
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