The Nail In The Coffin For American Liberty

The title might sound dramatic, but I do not think it overstates what tonight’s passage of “health care reform” means to this country.  This is not the first bill ever passed to violate the principles of federalism and individual liberty, upon which the United States was built.  But I believe this is the surge that breaks the dam holding back a flood of government power.

For the first time, the government of the United States has the power to force individual citizens, directly, to purchase a service simply because they are alive — or to pay a “penalty” for not doing so (effecting the same outcome).  That, in itself, is disturbing enough.  But on top of that, the government will now tell private businesses what they must sell and how they must sell it. I no longer have even the option to seek out an insurer who will offer me a stripped down plan suited for me, because, if the plan does not meet the government’s criteria, it will not count as acceptable insurance, and I will be forced to pay a penalty anyway.  And insurers, who’s business it has always been to provide financial protection against something that might happen, must now provide that protection even if that something already has (no denials based on preexisting conditions).  And businesses will be forced to provide health insurance to their workers, instead of being able to determine what works best for their workers and their business — which might be higher salaries or a larger head-count, but no insurance.

I find these things to be absolutely outrageous.  And I believe it can only get worse.  Now that the government is forcing insurers to insure people they otherwise may not have, and now that it’s making enrollment compulsory for individuals, and now that it’s hands will be sunk so deeply into the business of health care, there will be nothing to stop the government from regulating individual behavior, based on it’s “impact” on the rest of the health care system.  It may sound far-fetched, but it has already happened.  Governments have already used the financial impact on public health insurance costs as the basis for law suits against tobacco companies.  They have already told private entities what kind of behavior cannot happen on their premises (smoking bans in bars, restaurants).  They already tax the hell out of cigarettes, purportedly to “recoup” some of the costs of public health programs.  And in New York, they’ve already begun to move beyond cigarettes to food — telling restaurants not only that they have to disclose their ingredients to diners (which is fair consumer protection), but that they simply cannot use certain ingredients.  Now that health insurance is completely under government control, they will see “controlling costs” as easy justification for controlling your behavior.

This whole idea is not only un-American, it goes against the fundamental principles of liberty.  I am completely disgusted.  And, while I did not agree with most, if not all, of President Obama’s philosophy before, I now actually feel disdain for the man.  This “brilliant” constitutional “scholar” and his allies in the Democratic leadership had to use intimidation, bribes, and a torturing of the legislative process to force through a bill that is so obviously contrary to constitutional ideals.  Show us, oh brilliant one, where the US Constitution permits the federal government to run both businesses and the lives of citizens.  You have nothing but contempt for the fundamental principles upon which this country was founded.  And so I have nothing but contempt for you.

Hopefully, there will be ways to challenge this abomination in court.  And, hopefully, there will be people with the courage and the resources to do so.  And, hopefully, the court will have the good sense and the courage to stand up for the rights of individual citizens, businesses, and the states, and will put an end to this foolishness — and revive my country, before it’s completely buried.

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