March 11, 2009
It’s Not A Matter of Affordability; It’s A Matter Of Priorities

Posted at 7:34 pm, in: Barack Obama, Healthcare

Talking about the failed attempt at socializing reforming of the health care industry during the Clinton presidency, Obama said, “This time, there is no debate about whether all Americans should have quality, affordable healthcare – the only question is how.”

I’m tired of hearing you 1) squash all debate on an issue by falsely claiming there is no debate on the issue; and, 2) masquerading genuine disagreement as false choices.

I reject the idea that socialized, state controlled health care is the only way to achieve “affordable health care.” It is not a matter of affordability; it is a matter of priorities.

Let’s look at a part of the “health care” industry not covered by health insurance, that seems to be growing every year: plastic surgery. In 2004, the most recent year I could find numbers for, 9.2 million cosmetic medical procedures were performed.

Of these 9.2 million procedures, ranging from $200 per botox injection to over $10,000 for liposuction, 30 percent of those procedures were performed on people with an income of $30,000 or less. Another 41 percent of those 9.2 million people made between $31,000 and $60,000 a year.

I can only assume, based on your previous welfare policies, these people would qualify for any free public health care based on income requirements. It would make sense as they probably represent a good portion of the 47 million who don’t have health insurance, but let me point something out: if a woman can afford fake breasts, she can afford health insurance. Her priorities are just messed up.

Health insurance not covering such procedures has caused an interesting phenomenon: people actually look for a bargain on the procedures which has led to a “trend of increased consumer sophistication regarding healthcare choices.”

What a revolutionary idea? Let me get this straight, if people were held more responsible financially, they would shop around for the best health care at the best prices? Wait, would that mean that in order to remain competitive doctors would be forced to keep their costs down? Hold on a minute, here, President Obama. I know the debate is over, but might we not want to look into this idea of personal responsibility when talking about health care affordability? Just a thought.

In a country where the average household owns 25 consumer electronics products, spending $1,200 annually on these products, I reject the false notion that health care is a matter of affordability. In a country where 78 percent say that cable or satellite TV is a household expense, 74 percent say a cell phone is a household expense, and 65 percent say Internet service is a household expense, I wholeheartedly reject your false choice between socialized health care or no health care at all.

Please, tell me All-Knowing One, why should I be paying for some woman to have free health care so that she can use her money to fix her nose? Why should I ever have to pay for free health care for anyone. It’s not my fault, or my responsibility, to ensure that my fellow Americans can get medical care.

I don’t think that all Americans should have quality, affordable health care. In fact, if you have the money for any TV in your house, a computer, cell phone, the services that go along with said devices, and plastic surgery, you deserve exactly what you get, which should certainly not be free health care.