Green Energy
One of the odd features of the 'healthcare' debate is that certain arguments for nationalized health care/health care 'reform' are actually backwards and run counter to the thing being argued for. None more so than this argument: "We pay way too much for health care compared to other countries!" Pro-'reform' folks love this argument. The idea, I guess, is supposed to be that I should be so mad about how much "we" pay on health care (for some reason I, and my medical bills, have been lumped into some "we"..) that I should embrace the 'reform'.
Which even seems to make sense, as long as you don't, like, think about it.
Because here is what is really being said: "We" pay too much, so let's spend a freaking trillion more dollars on it and sign ourselves up for who knows how much more in entitlements.
Also: You should be mad about how much "we" pay, it means you're getting a raw deal. So support me as I raise your taxes, and force you to spend more money, and penalize you if you don't.
And finally: It's a travesty that some (but not all) peoples' health care in the U.S. is rationed (i.e. those who are destitute thus fall under Medicaid, or who go to the ER for care thus have to wait in line). That's so inhumane! So join me in my effort to get us all on government rationing.
Do any of these arguments make sense? Do they work as sales pitches for the thing being advocated? No, they do not.
I don't know whether it's just that health care 'reform' advocates lack basic logic skills or something deeper is going on, but these arguments just don't work on the face of them. They aren't even arguments, they are un-arguments. I can't even tell whether these folks genuinely believe that, say, spending more money is a method of saving money; or that raising my taxes/levying penalties on me is a way of giving me a better 'deal'. Perhaps they are just pretending to believe it. Perhaps they don't really care deep down and just need rhetorical sticks with which to beat back their opponents, and these are the best talking-points that their side has been distributing to its foot soldiers. Who knows.
What I do know is that no one with a brain can take these un-arguments seriously.
[from Rhymes With Cars & Girls]
- What Is A "state-run Health Insurance Exchange?
From The Crimson Reach I just realized what a health-care 'exchange' is. It hit me when seeing this piece: Starting in October, Americans without access to affordable health care coverage through their jobs will be able to shop for insurance...
- Obamacare Supporter Anthony Weiner Wants Waiver For New York City, So "the City Can Have More Contrlol Over It's Destiny"
Imagine that, they want control over their destiny. Well so do We the People. Idiot. From Politico: Rep. Anthony Weiner said Wednesday he was looking into how a health law waiver might work for New York City. Weiner, who is likely to run for mayor of...
- It Has Begun: Nytimes Telling Its Readers That Less Healthcare Is Better Healthcare
From the Astute Bloggers: UPDATED: SCROLL DOWN... THEY DON'T QUITE ENDORSE DEATH PANELS - YET, BUT BY ALL INDICATIONS THAT'S COMING NEXT YEAR IF THEY CAN HOLD ON TO THE CONGRESS: Deep down, Americans tend to believe that more care is better...
- Could Scotus Be The Death Panel For Health-care Reform?
From Talking Points Memo: Now that President Obama has signed health-care reform into law, opponents of the bill are pinning their hopes of stopping it on a last-ditch legal strategy. A group of 13 state attorneys general has filed suit (pdf), arguing...
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New Poll Finds Americans Really, Really Don’t Like Obamacare …Update: 46% of Doctors Consider Quitting From Gateway: It’s beyond sleazy. A new poll shows that Obamacare is very unpopular with the majority of Americans. Pajamas Media reported:...
Green Energy
Un-Arguments For Health Care Reform
One of the odd features of the 'healthcare' debate is that certain arguments for nationalized health care/health care 'reform' are actually backwards and run counter to the thing being argued for. None more so than this argument: "We pay way too much for health care compared to other countries!" Pro-'reform' folks love this argument. The idea, I guess, is supposed to be that I should be so mad about how much "we" pay on health care (for some reason I, and my medical bills, have been lumped into some "we"..) that I should embrace the 'reform'.
Which even seems to make sense, as long as you don't, like, think about it.
Because here is what is really being said: "We" pay too much, so let's spend a freaking trillion more dollars on it and sign ourselves up for who knows how much more in entitlements.
Also: You should be mad about how much "we" pay, it means you're getting a raw deal. So support me as I raise your taxes, and force you to spend more money, and penalize you if you don't.
And finally: It's a travesty that some (but not all) peoples' health care in the U.S. is rationed (i.e. those who are destitute thus fall under Medicaid, or who go to the ER for care thus have to wait in line). That's so inhumane! So join me in my effort to get us all on government rationing.
Do any of these arguments make sense? Do they work as sales pitches for the thing being advocated? No, they do not.
I don't know whether it's just that health care 'reform' advocates lack basic logic skills or something deeper is going on, but these arguments just don't work on the face of them. They aren't even arguments, they are un-arguments. I can't even tell whether these folks genuinely believe that, say, spending more money is a method of saving money; or that raising my taxes/levying penalties on me is a way of giving me a better 'deal'. Perhaps they are just pretending to believe it. Perhaps they don't really care deep down and just need rhetorical sticks with which to beat back their opponents, and these are the best talking-points that their side has been distributing to its foot soldiers. Who knows.
What I do know is that no one with a brain can take these un-arguments seriously.
[from Rhymes With Cars & Girls]
- What Is A "state-run Health Insurance Exchange?
From The Crimson Reach I just realized what a health-care 'exchange' is. It hit me when seeing this piece: Starting in October, Americans without access to affordable health care coverage through their jobs will be able to shop for insurance...
- Obamacare Supporter Anthony Weiner Wants Waiver For New York City, So "the City Can Have More Contrlol Over It's Destiny"
Imagine that, they want control over their destiny. Well so do We the People. Idiot. From Politico: Rep. Anthony Weiner said Wednesday he was looking into how a health law waiver might work for New York City. Weiner, who is likely to run for mayor of...
- It Has Begun: Nytimes Telling Its Readers That Less Healthcare Is Better Healthcare
From the Astute Bloggers: UPDATED: SCROLL DOWN... THEY DON'T QUITE ENDORSE DEATH PANELS - YET, BUT BY ALL INDICATIONS THAT'S COMING NEXT YEAR IF THEY CAN HOLD ON TO THE CONGRESS: Deep down, Americans tend to believe that more care is better...
- Could Scotus Be The Death Panel For Health-care Reform?
From Talking Points Memo: Now that President Obama has signed health-care reform into law, opponents of the bill are pinning their hopes of stopping it on a last-ditch legal strategy. A group of 13 state attorneys general has filed suit (pdf), arguing...
-
New Poll Finds Americans Really, Really Don’t Like Obamacare …Update: 46% of Doctors Consider Quitting From Gateway: It’s beyond sleazy. A new poll shows that Obamacare is very unpopular with the majority of Americans. Pajamas Media reported:...