Why is it that so many people use the argument that America is the only industrialized nation that does not have universal health care? Since when did America, or Americans, start caring what the rest of the world is doing? Our Founding Fathers did not want their new nation to follow the mold of all the old countries in Europe. It is not by chance that America remains a beacon of freedom in the world. It is not by following others that America became the wealthiest nation in the world.
The fact is that Americans have never wanted socialized medicine, nor do they want it now. This is displayed throughout our history. To name a few failed attempts: Teddy Roosevelt in 1912, Harry Truman in 1947 and 1949, and Bill Clinton in 1993.
This same opinion is displayed today in the stunning victories of the Republicans in New Jersey and Massachusetts. President Barack Obama often speaks of the reform America demanded of him and that is exactly what we wanted, not a government takeover.
There is talk of making health insurance cheaper for everyone, but no talk of how that is going to happen. It is as if by magic that costs will suddenly drop when the government gets its hands into the matter. What is often left out of the debate is that the U.S. government is already the nation’s largest insurer, and billions are lost to waste and fraud in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. I challenge you to find any example of when a government program has reduced the cost of anything.
To those that say the current bill is not a government takeover, listen to what the politicians themselves have said. There is a number of them that wants to eventually get to the so-called single payer system (Obama included). This bill is seen by that group as a foot in the door toward their goal.
There are two easy solutions that should be tried before such drastic measures as a comprehensive bill. These are putting insurance on the free market, and capping what lawyers can make in medical malpractice suits. Washington is too busy playing politics to do what is really best for the country.
America shouldn’t jump off the bridge just because its friends have. We should continue to be the world leaders by following the principles that got us here.
Kyle Kelley
graduate student
mining engineering