The White House is telling liberty-lovers to take a reality check. I received another spammer today warning me about the likes of me. According to Senior Advisor to the President David Axelrod, I am spewing lies and misrepresentations about healthcare reform. Axelrod wanted to be clear that the Healthcare Bill did not represent a government takeover of the medical industry. He is correct, if we restrict the definition of that term to the one found on Investopedia.
In the missive, Axelrod presents “eight common myths about health insurance reform.”
Myth 1: Reform will stop “rationing – not increase it.
Myth 2: We cannot afford reform.
Myth 3: Reform would encourage “euthanasia.”
Myth 4: Vets’ healthcare is safe and sound.
Myth 5: Reform will benefit small business – not burden it.
Myth 6: Your Medicare is safe, and stronger with reform.
Myth 7: You can keep your own insurance.
Myth 8: No, government will not do anything with your bank account.
OK. I’m scared. Even if Axelrod was careless and transitioned from myths to reassurances unannounced, he failed to explain how government intervention is going to cut down on paperwork, increase supply while increasing demand and lowering overall expenditures, prevent fraud and abuse by eliminating caps for coverage, outcompete the private sector but not eliminate it, and make decisions at the federal level that are more appropriate than agreements between patients and their doctors.
Axelrod says the plan would end gender discrimination by not making women pay more than men because they use additional services. “Women are twice as likely [as men] to suffer from headaches and are more likely to experience joint, back or neck pain.” Evidently, the plan would lower overall costs, provide coverage for all, and encourage physician consultations for things as little as headaches. Furthermore, in the name of prevention, the plan assumes people need annual visits for defensive medicine. The last I heard, the jury was still out on whether this would raise or lower costs.
Axelrod also asserts, “Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.” I’m guessing the plan would pay for abortions for 13-year-old toddlers, too.
