Congressman Paul Broun took to the floor of the House of Representatives at the beginning of this week as a part of a group of politicians holding a discussion amongst themselves that they entitled “Defending the Constitution”. Broun warned fellow members of Congress about the nasty mood of the American people.
“The American people are suffering. They are suffering, and frankly they are scared, they are angry. They are scared and angry because they see their freedom being taken away from them. And this health care bill that we have been discussing for the last several weeks is something that is bringing that to the head.”
The American people are suffering, scared and angry because their freedom is being taken away from them by a health care bill? Is this really going on?
I’d like to invite the suffering, scared, and angry American people to explain this to me. Tell me your story, readers. How has a health care bill in Congress taken away your freedom? What freedom did you used to have that you don’t have any more because of that health care bill?
It hasn’t taken away anything, it’s not law…if inacted, it will….but even in reconciliation is used, the House will never vote for it. They are running scared for their jobs.
You’ve hit true on one point, Tomas. In spite of what Paul Broun claims, nobody’s freedom has been taken away. He’s depicting a nightmare – but as nightmares are, it’s completely fictitious.
The other point is too fuzzy, thought. If the health care reform legislation were enacted, what freedom do you think would be taken away? What specific freedom?
I can think of one freedom that would be taken away: the freedom to have health insurance or to not have health insurance. That would be mandated, and people would be forced to pay for it. That’s a lack of freedom.
A follow-up on that, then: Is that freedom guaranteed in the Constitution anywhere, by your interpretation?
No, but it’s a freedom nonetheless, like a freedom a healthy person has to stretch their legs and go for a walk.
People currently have the freedom to buy health insurance or not, and that freedom would be taken away. I agree. However, the freedom to choose not to buy health insurance ends when the rest of us have to start paying for their health needs. Many people who cannot afford or choose not to buy health insurance do use the health system. When they cannot afford to pay from their own pockets for the services they receive then they are infringing on my rights, because my health insurance, taxes, etc. end up paying for their services.
The whole idea of insurance is so that the financial risk is spread out across the entire population. When younger and healthier individuals choose to not purchase insurance then the cost of insurance for the rest of us increases. On the other end of the spectrum, insurance companies should not be allowed to exclude or otherwise penalize (with higher premiums) individuals who will need more medical care. The only exception I could agree to is higher premiums for people whose personal behaviors contribute to higher health costs (e.g. smoking, and possibly obesity).
i just heard the republican answer to health care reform:
more curb space. MORE CURB SPACE!
more curb space in front of emergency rooms across the country. more curb space to stack up the dead and dying americans that can not afford insurance premiums or can not afford deductables and co-pays.
now comes the fight over who should p[ay for more curb space.
republican response:
no new taxes! a fee on all the dead and dying would be implemented at the time of drop off to extend curb space six feet at a time.
well of course it takes your freedom away your being forced to take your money and pay for some people who can barley walk or live because its there own fault not ours.
That’s what insurance is. That’s what any collective effort is.
I take it then, Alex, that you feel roads “take your freedom away?” After all, you’re being taxed to build roads so that some people who cannot build roads of their own can drive on them.
Do you also oppose libraries for “taking your freedom away?” After all, you’re being taxed to provide books to people who can’t buy all those books themselves — and it’s their fault, too!
okay so you say your young and don not want health insurance? you are trying to start a buisnes of some kind and you need to minimize the expenses and one way you have to do that is to forgo heath insurence. tough you have to pay for a person who smokes 3 times a day and drinks whiskey all day long because insurance companies will no longer be able to underwrite on the basis o a persons health status
the main point being we shouldent be forced to pay for something we dont have to over 3/4ths of the united states agrees that 68% of our population its a critical time now