Throughout the summer months a fierce debate raged concerning major health care reform and the establishment of a free public health plan. Each side unwaveringly held their position, so much so that the bill failed to make it to a vote before break.

A true socialized medical system, like that of Canada or the United Kingdom, is more commonly referred to as a single-payer health care system. In a single-payer system only one entity (also known as the government) ‘pays’ the health care administrators, unlike our current system where thousands of ‘payers’ – such as insurance companies and private citizens – exist.

The disadvantages of a single-payer system far outweigh the benefits. When the government pays to cover everybody, eventually there comes a point at which care is no longer cost effective. For example, a terminally ill patient would cost considerably more to care for than a healthy one. If a person becomes deathly ill then a group of bureaucrats must decide if treatment is worth paying for.

In the current health care system each person picks the coverage that they want, eliminating this problem. For example, citizens can choose a cheap plan that will not cover much, or pick a top of the line plan that covers everything.

What the administration wants is not socialized medicine, but a direct precursor. The proposed bill institutes a ‘public option’ insurance plan which provides free health care to anyone who wants it. However, those who prefer to not have government oversight in every aspect of their life still retain the right to choose a normal insurance plan.

Along with the plan come numerous new taxes levied on everyone; not just the wealthiest five percent of Americans.

The public school system exhibits an excellent example of this. The government created a massive network of public, government-funded schools in nearly every town across the nation. Enrollment in these schools is not forced and some students choose to attend private schools, such as Fresno Christian.

However, those who choose to opt out of attending a government-run school help pay for those who do in the form of the taxes that come from establishing a public school system.

The same scenario applies in health care. The sudden inundation of a ‘free option’ into the private sector, where competition sets prices, would severely cripple the private health care industry, not to mention costing the government trillions of dollars. In layman’s terms this translates to higher taxes for everybody, regardless of whether or not they choose to accept the government plan.

However, the American people are not falling for the hollow, senseless rhetoric that they fell for during the 2008 presidential campaign. What is truly appalling is the fact that, despite overwhelming disapproval and very
little support, the administration still plans on trying to pass the bill.

In passing years the government of the United States of America has shifted away from existing “of the people, by the people and for the people.” Now it seems to exist of, by and for politicians.

As they continue to ignore the will of the people by pushing for more unnecessary spending –