Why I am opposed to the health care plan.

By Odell Sneeden Hathaway, III.

For several months now the healthcare debate has raged. I have occasionally found myself drawn into the debate as friends of mine have made statements that I felt I needed to respond to. But I have never until now, attempted to truly explain my point of view on this subject.

I have watched as people have tried to convince me that the healthcare reforms that are being suggested would be a good idea, because the current system is so bad, or that the healthcare system. In other countries is so good, or that there are people suffering in this country so something must be done and this is it. I have read questions like how is it possible that anyone could oppose something that is this good for them.

I have responded that I do not believe it will be good for me, that I believe it will be very bad for me, for us, for liberty, and human beings.

I think I should start by explaining my point of view on government in general. Government is the inverse of freedom. The more government you have the less freedom you have. I am opposed to government, I believe it is a necessary evil, but it should always be viewed as an evil and dangerous. Effort should always be put to rain in rather than to grow it. I want to make this clear. When I say I oppose growing government. I mean all forms of government (right wing and left). I was opposed to creating the TSA and I am opposed to the healthcare plan. I believe that it would be a good thing if we cut the size of the federal government by about 75% shutting down most of it or turning part of what it does over to the states. The Federal government is supposed to protect us from foreign aggression, and make it possible for the states to work together. (Kind of like the European Union). It is not supposed to educate us, take care of our retirement, run parks, art, decide who can and cannot be married or deal with health care.

Most people would read the paragraph above and be shocked at my lack of social development or humanity (how dare I think the emperor has no clothes). They believe the government is something good (and only on occasion goes bad [like under Bush they would say]). I think history especially the history of the 20^th century shows us that it is the nature of government to go bad (the Greeks thought this as well.) I think that the crowning achievement of government was Nazi Germany (after all the trains ran on time). I think that people are very naïve. When they think that George Bush was evil and Barack Obama is good, that everything Bush did was dangerous, and everything Obama is doing is wonderful. From my point of view, Halliburton and healthcare are the same things. If you think Obama is good what do you think will happen when the next Bush gets the power that Obama is creating?

Some believe that there are checks and balances in the system that will prevent someone from abusing this power. Are these the same balances that prevented the US using African and Native American’s as guinea pigs in medical (healthcare) experiments, from water boarding? Lincoln ignored the checks and balances, the court and set aside Habeas Corpus as he expanded the government. When FDR’s bid for power faltered he tried to seize control of the courts by adding new members who would support him. The best check is to make certain that the power of the government is limited.

Like Ayn Rand I believe that there is a conflict between human beings (individuals) and humanity (Groups). "We must stop thinking of the individual and start thinking about what is best for society." [Hillary Clinton, 1993] I believe in human beings, not humanity. I believe like CG Jung that Morality is individual and that the morality of a group decreases as its size increases. For me this is the largest argument against healthcare (or any government program). Quite simply, that government cannot be trusted with health care that it was a huge, mistake to allow the government to control our retirements and health care for the elderly. These mistakes need to be reversed not enlarged. That, like they say in AA. When you find yourself in the hole put down the shovel. I believe that enlarging governments roll in health care would be like finding yourself in a hole and getting a backhoe.

Dickens gives us a fine example of how individual morality can be negated by dependence on the group morality. Scrooge asks “are there no more poorhouses” these institutions, that his taxes paid for should take care of the poor. That because of the government, He no longer has responsibility to his fellow human beings. I believe that we all have personal responsibility for each other and that the government is not a replacement. I am sorry Mr. Roosevelt the government does not and cannot care about me (it has no feelings).

Today, much of what the government does is based on the idea that the individual is meaningless and only the group can help. If we feel bad about something, we the group can decide that somebody else should take care of or pay for it (not me someone else). Look at the current health care bill(s). The government and the people cannot afford it so we are going to take it from you IE the wealthy or insurance companies.

I am certain that many who support these kinds of plans think of themselves as Robin Hood, but I have no respect for the Robin Hood they are thinking of. There are two popular Robin Hood's in my opinion, one spends his time taking money from the tax collectors who work for Prince John and returning it to those people who earned it and had it stolen from them. The other Robin Hood is known for his saying stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. The first I think is honorable the second is no better than Prince John.

"In the end they will lay their freedom at our feet and say to us, 'Make us your slaves, but feed us.'" [Dostoevsky’s 'Grand Inquisitor']. I see this statement as one of the truest that Dostoevsky ever wrote and illustrates to me the complete healthcare debate. Each time we call on the government to take care of us we make this statement we give away our freedom without really thinking about the cost.

Unfortunately, I know allot about addiction. Having spent many years watching my wife die of it and working with local AA groups and healthcare professionals. I have seen what it is to be addicted. How the need for a perceived good can blind you to the dangers that accompany it? I can tell you that that is what is happening here and now, that it would feel good to have universal healthcare or many programs. But the cost in human liberty would be immense, not today but soon. I also understand that withdrawal is always painful but a necessary part of recovery. My name is Uncle Sam and I am a government addict.

As you can see, I have very strong opinions as to the wisdom of any government program. I understand that some government programs are necessary, but I also feel that they should always be treated with suspicion.

Apart from my own feelings on government involvement in our lives. I also have some serious doubts about the ability of the government to make good on the promises that are being made.

Health care costs.

In 1960 this nation spent 5% of its gross domestic product on health care by 2002 that was 15% why the increase? Simply Medicare and medical insurance did it. We have gone from a system where the patient (consumer) is concerned with the cost to one where the question is not what will it cost but will my insurance cover it.

I understand that today’s medical procedures and test cost a lot but many if not most of them were developed with no eye to the expense while other less expensive methods have been ignored because there was no profit in them. I have no Thyroid it was removed do to cancer now every few weeks or months I have to have a blood test to see how the Thyroid replacement medication I am taking is working. This is a relatively in expensive test but it is not very accurate. There is a different way to monitor this but this method is ignored by most health care professionals because there has not been as much research into it, they have to trust the patient to take the readings and because it cost nothing. I could simply track my basal body temperature if it drops below 97.6 then I need more Thyroid. My temp is normally in the 96 range but they will not increase my does because my blood work says I am ok.

Another reason for the increase in cost is the increase in medical mal practice awards. I am not one who believes that there should be limits on such awards if a doctor was grossly negligent I think they should not only pay with money but should give up there license as well. I do think it would be good if we reversed the trend by shifting the cost for mal practice insurance from the doctor to the patient. When you check into the hospital you could take out a policy that would cover you in the event something went wrong just like you can at the air port when you take a flight. The insurance would cost you different amounts bases on how much coverage you want and how good the doctor you have is.

If doctors were more concerned with taking care of the patient and less with making sure they were not sued they would practice differently and most likely the cost would come down.

Medicare

I have heard several congressmen talking about health care, and telling people that they need to look at Medicare as an example of what can be accomplished. That Medicare is a wonderful system. A shining example of how good government run healthcare can be.

My wife was on Medicare, the entire time I knew her. She was disabled, and I can tell you that Medicare is not a wonderful system. If for no other reason than the fact that very few doctors in my area anyways, accept Medicare patients. Having spoken to some of these physicians I can tell you that they would not deal with Medicare, because it is so difficult to deal with.

I know that when my wife and I were treated for the same problem that the regulations and red tape that Medicare placed in her way were far greater than any I had to deal with. That when I needed his CPAP machine. It was a simple matter and the insurance company took care of it. When she needed one it was different. We were not able to purchase it in the same location, that I did and in fact, ended up having to rent it for a period of time and then they purchased it. Sometimes Medicare's red tape can be excessive, other times, I know that Medicare will allow people treatment, the other insurances will not. I know friends of my wife's, who were also disable it on Medicare, who were able to get cosmetic surgeries using Medicare win normal insurance simply would not have covered them. The surgeries were not medically necessary; they simply wanted a boob job and got them.

Consumerism

One of the other things that concerns me about the proposed changes in healthcare. Is that it continues a trend towards removing consumerism from the health-care forum. Today it is much more important to a doctor what the insurance company wants then what the patient wants, after all from the financial point of view the insurance company is the customer.

My parents have played a major role in redesigning the way obstetrics works in this country. The main tool they use to accomplish this is consumerism. The fact that they could walk into a doctor's office or hospital administrators and tell them that, they could be the first in the state of California doing this and that there were many woman who would choose that doctor or that hospital because they offered this service was a major force. They were able to change the way obstetrics is practiced in this country and throughout the world. If government is able to dictate precisely what will be offered and what will not, to each patient then the process of change will become much more difficult if not impossible.

Real fears.

What are my real fears as to what allowing government to become more involved in my health care will mean.

I am afraid that this will lead to a lack of control or choice with regard to my body. We started and are continuing down a slippery slope to the point that each of us no longer has the right to claim control of their own body. The government helps pay for emergency medical services so you must wear a seat belt or helmet. Now the new health care system expands that and punishes anyone who decides not to take part in the plan. What's, will parents be told that they can no longer have a religious objection to vaccinations, will those of us who are overweight be punished or will the government simply force us to have gastric bypass surgery. It is in the public good so once you die will the government take your organs and transplant them without your permission. I understand, that is not in the current plan, but we are headed in that direction.

I fear in overdependence on experts. When I was in second grade, the experts examined me and informed my parents that I had brain damage. I would never learn to read or write or be a productive member of society. The experts told my parents that I should be institutionalized that. “You have four other good children? You really don't need this one!” That was their words to my parents. I don't want to increase the power of these experts to the point that they will have the right to say to any parents that it isn't in the public good, to attempt to educate your child and therefore we have decided to put him away.

Some in the health-care debate have stated that under this kind of plan. The federal government would establish Death Panels (to decide who should get treatment and who should not) what those who say this failed to mention is that such panels already exist. Every transplant board, every panel that makes a decision about treatment. The insurance companies operate them and the federal government operates them. I know, because I have been submitted to them. A year and a half ago, my doctors wanted to start me on treatment. But before they could, my insurance company had to agree to pay for it, and the federal government had to allow me access to Gamma globulin, a human blood product that is controlled by the government. I was not allowed access by either. Today I'm receiving a different kind of treatment, one that will in all probability, shorten my life. Thank you death panels and government controlled health care.

In response to the death panel’s charge some have pointed out that such panels already exist and that they would feel more comfortable if the government controlled them then if the insurance companies did. I do not. I feel it is much better that the insurance companies control these panels and operate on a motive of profit and what is likely to keep the patient paying them. I feel that if the government is in control that the motive, can much too easily be changed to a political motive, rather than profit. I do not want the same kind of political squabbling that is applied to establishing Congressional districts to be applied to decisions as to who will be allowed to live and who will be allowed to die. Segregation was official government policy not that long ago and could make a comeback if we let government have the ability.

Also, I think there is a problem with the idea of the overseer being the provider that is, if we look to government to protect us. How can we look to them at the same time, to be the one that we need protection from. I understand that the FAA has recently changed its terminology, that up until now the FAA has referred to the airlines as their customers. They realize that the airlines are those they regulate, and it is the flying public, who is their customer. The FAA couldn't make this kind of change if the FAA was not only the one doing the regulation but was also operating the airplane's. How can checks and balance exist with no real oversight?

Well, these are my thoughts on the current healthcare question. I understand that this is a very emotional question for most of us. I certainly hope I have not offended anyone in what I've written here. These are my feelings and my thoughts on this question. I do not apply the word Truth with a capital T. To them, I only applied the word truth with a lowercase t. These are my truth’s about healthcare and government I would hope you would share them as well. But if not, I respect your right to your own truths and opinions.

Thank you

Odell Sneeden Hathaway, III.

Thank you for Surfing by. If you would like to write to me press = osh@teleport.com

Even on the NET I can't spell Tree, updated 09/20/09.