Moralists will say healthcare is a human right, that it is the right thing to do. It is easy to let emotions take the place of rational thought. The right to healthcare implies it should be free. Let’s think about that.
If something is to be free a person must ‘do it’ for nothing. That is one thing if we are talking about sweeping a sidewalk or some other low skill event. Years of unstinting effort are required to become a licensed doctor. Are the moralists suggesting that the doctor should provide his services for free? No. What about the equipment that goes along with healthcare, the computers, labs, office help, rent, insurance, and medicine? They are not free. Some entity, human or corporate, has created a product at it’s expense and has a right to be paid for that property or labor. Are moralists suggesting they should give their property away? No.
Cartoon by Michael Ramirez
That means someone must pay for free healthcare. Historically, the recipient of services pays for the service. Moralists turn this proposition on its head and say the government should pay. The government will pay with tax dollars which are extracted by force (of law) from taxpayers. Thus the government will take your tax dollar, and pay for someone else’s healthcare. Why should someone expect you to pay for their benefit? Do you expect a stranger to pay for your car? No.
When government pays for a service, they control all aspects of that service. If you feel that government is suited to be a medical service provider check out the public schools. This should be easy as your children likely go to one. Everyone knows public schools are a failure, After years of attendance and millions of dollars our students and graduates are one cut above illiterate. Makes you think it would be a good idea to put the same folks in charge of your medical care, doesn’t it?
In fact, only graduates of our public education system can fail to see that the right to health care does not exist. No one has a right to healthcare anymore than they have a right to health. Government healthcare is an oxymoron. It is beyond frightening that congress has created two two thousand page pieces of legislation that few have read. Recall the stimulus bill had to be passed right now, and is widely viewed one year later as a failure.
Call your congressperson and senator. Tell them to STOP healthcare now.
