Mark Steyn, having lived in Britain, Canada and the U.S., is one of those few who has experienced health care delivery in all of those countries. He doesn't like the direction the U.S. is going, and he is a very harsh critic of President Obama's plan to reform the health care industry.
Some people will benefit from Mr. Obama's plan, should it ever become implemented, and some people will suffer under it. The trick for any serious health care reformer is to come up with a plan that will benefit the most people without a radical disruption for the others. Mr. Obama will probably sign any legislation the House and Senate agree to put before him, and we don't know right now what form the eventual bill will take.
There has been severe criticism of the plans currently under consideration, and Mr. Steyn sees a consequence that deserves some notice -- a change in the direction of all future elections. Here's a direct quote:
It alters the equation. If you provide government health care, then suddenly all the elections, they’re not thought about war and foreign policy, or even big economic questions. They’re suddenly fought about government services, and the level of government services, and that’s all they’re about, because once you get government health care, the citizens’ dependency on government as provider is so fundamentally changed that in effect, every election is fought on left wing terms.
(Source: This was from a podcast of the Hugh Hewitt show, a transcript of which can be found here. Listen to the podcast by going here and scrolling down to May 7, Episode 167.)
While most of us thought "hope" and "change" were merely focus group tested campaigning devices, there were those who argued that Mr. Obama hoped to change the U.S. from a country full of people proud of their individuality and brimming with initiative to a country full of government dependents. Mr. Obama rode into office on the backlash of an economic downturn and a dislike for his predecessor. And it's questionable whether those voters who were swept off their feet by him really expected the monumental transformation he is proposing. The U.S. is being tested right now, and we will eventually see whether Mr. Steyn's prediction is correct.
Coulter's comment was good: People who pay $200 for a hair cut will complain that they have to make a $20 co pay to see their doctor.
Posted by: Redman | July 24, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Ha ha! I had not heard that one Redman. Good point about the $200 hair cut.
The people who think they know what's best for the people have no idea what it's like to be one of the people.
Posted by: Geo | July 24, 2009 at 01:08 PM
Thanks for your thoughtful commentary. Steyn is phenomenal and very often right. I do not think his prediction is at all unlikely.
Posted by: Miranda Flint | August 20, 2009 at 11:54 PM
Miranda, Mark Steyn is a national treasure for whatever country he calls home. He's witty, articulate and funny, and as you say, very often right.
Posted by: Geo | August 21, 2009 at 05:22 AM