As Democrats in Washington D.C. float various and sundry ideas for health care reform, one concept has moved into the foreground. Competition – the idea of it, at least – seems not only the priority but the point itself.
Obviously, such a notion stands in contrast to Washington’s usual disdain for the marketplace determining its own winners and losers (i.e. how we used to “roll”).
That’s why we’ve been more than a little bit surprised at the “3nterprises-r-u$” angle chosen by Barack Obama and ilk.
Take, for example, comments made by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
Explaining Obama’s motives for healthcare reform, Sebelius cheerleads, calling out “competition” like it’s going out of style. Which, incidentally, it is.
Here’s Sebelius, speaking to CNN’s John King:
Well, I think that competition is a good thing, that most Americans understand that choice and competition is what we want. So, if you look at a health exchange, a marketplace, where people can have some options — in many parts of the country, private insurers have no competitor, in — in a state like my own home state of Kansas.
So, we created a public option for state employees, so they could choose side by side benefits and prices. Competition is good.
The president feels that having a public option side by side, same playing field, same rules, will give Americans choice and will help lower costs for everybody.
Hmmm … sounds familiar …
“Choice?” Check. “Competition?” Check. “Marketplace?” Check. “Options?” Check and check.
Hmmm … in fact, all of that language echoes pretty precisely the argument for education reform – for school option and choice born of competition within the education marketplace.
Except in health care, the government is mandating that you make a choice, while in education it’s forbidding you from making one.
And so, there you have it. And even if it is partisanship by proxy in service of competition’s opposite, we are glad that competition “the concept” is finally getting some love.
Just goes to show ya … capitalism may be fading, but the other mainstay of Americana – politicians gratuitously smooching “the markeplace” – is obviously here to stay.
By cerius June 15, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Let’s do an experiment shall we?
All those Democrats in favor of Nationalized Health Care should voluntarily relinquish their current,tax-payer-funded platinum policies and instead offer themselves as experimental guinea pigs for Obama’s new health scheme. Why not allow these avowed statists the opportunity to try socialized medicine for themselves over the next 10 years, and then report back to the American public on their “experience?”
By lou June 16, 2009 at 8:29 am
Think about this: In 1970, most people had catastrophic health insurance.
If you got sick, went to the local doc, you paid him. You were able to afford it too. Then you went to the drug store, and paid for the meds.
The week following required no adjustments due to expense. Healthcare was as affordable as shopping.
Now, no, we didn’t have all the fancy testing, but we didn’t treat acne like it was a terminal condition either.
It was common sense medicine and it brought advances without a shadow of a doubt.
THEN, came HMO’s.
Around the early 80′s, the insurance companies had already dominated the professional practices of health care employees. I remember being told that I was required to write ” patient fed self , ate 35% of meal”.
The insurance companies wanted everything written down. We recorded stupid stuff , a lot of it.
THEN, came PPO’s and all the rest and the demise of the American health care system.
THEY TOOK THE WORD CARE OUT>!
By Toyota Kawaski June 16, 2009 at 8:30 am
Article by Man-D with that picture perfect and then to boot using a quote from CNN.Hows the married life? Tell me once again who wears the pants?
By Rick June 16, 2009 at 8:39 am
What????common sense? Cerius shame on you. When the govt is standing beside you, what stops the govt from lowering its rates to unsustainable levels for private enterprize. They’ve done it before folks, they’ll do it again…of course it’ll be for the po’ folks and the chilluns….Choice, competition,marketplace and options mean until I can get you hooked and then change the rules to own more of you. Beware the govt bearing gifts…..
By Al Jackson June 16, 2009 at 11:22 am
Obama needs his ears reduced.
there is your earmarks
By Pat Hendrix June 16, 2009 at 1:55 pm
“All those Democrats in favor of Nationalized Health Care should voluntarily relinquish their current,tax-payer-funded platinum policies and instead offer themselves as experimental guinea pigs for Obama’s new health scheme.”
It would be so much easier to debate these issues if you people actually knew anything. I mean – anything. The scenario you just outlined, is excatly the scenario that Obama is proposing and the insurance companies are fighting to the death. You can OPT into the government program, or stay on your existing plan. That’s the plan – not socialized health care – an option. If you don’t want it, don’t take it.
So if it’s going to be such a disaster, why would the insurance companies be fighting it? Figure it out, nitwits.
By peyton manning sucks June 16, 2009 at 2:14 pm
“in education it’s forbidding you from making one.” Really? so they’ve outlawed private schools and home schooling? how did that bill pass without you commenting on it?