From their beginnings, HMOs were designed–by Democrats and Republicans–to eliminate individual health insurance. The result is a vast network of health care collectives (HMOs, PPOs, Point-of-Service plans) created by government that are destined to do harm to individuals.

The individual was first discouraged from buying insurance in 1942 when employee health premiums were made tax deductible to employers–not to individuals. Congress created Medicare in 1965, making individual insurance for those over 65 obsolete. Subsidized, unrestricted health care for seniors lead to an unprecedented frenzy of spending by patients and doctors.

Costs went up, introducing an economic obstacle to individual health insurance. As costs rose, those on the New Left, including then freshman Sen. Ted Kennedy, argued that government ought to pay for everyone’s health care and promoted the idea of a health maintenance organization, a term coined by a left-wing college professor.

President Nixon appeased the left and proposed the HMO Act, which Congress passed in 1973. The law created new, supposedly cheaper health coverage with millions of dollars to HMOs, which, until then, constituted a small portion of the market. Kaiser Permanente was the only major HMO in the country by 1969 and most of its members were compelled to join through unions.

Combined with Medicare, the HMO Act eventually eliminated the market for affordable individual health insurance.

BHO believes he’s in charge right at the tipping point engineered by his predecessors. The health care market – and then the health care insurance market – have been systematically corrupted by government meddling since at least as far back as 1965. At every step along the way, we have seen an overweening federal government legislating in an area where it has no Constitutional authority. At every stage, the problem has been made worse by the government and at every worsening, the government claims to be the only entity capable of solving the problem.

How long before reasonable people of every political stripe begin to see that this relentless encroachment by government bureaucrats into our lives is NOT making things any better?
 

The distinct lack of a free market in individual health insurance, not a lack of regulations, lead to the domination of managed care. The next Congress, possibly under Hastert’s leadership, should grant 100 percent individual tax deductibility and fully expand MSAs and it should do so immediately.

That suggestion is just as valid today as it was ten years ago.

Oh that’s right , the state media won’t allow that.

This of course begs the question, “what is the real goal here?”

Thanks for a nice article. although I’m not holding my breath, I hope it does some good.

It is time that everyone vote EVERY INCUMBENT out of office. It is amazing we let the likes of Ted Kennedy, Chris Dodd etc to spend decades in Washington.

We have got to stop the “Bribe” money they call “Campain Donations”. We had a vivid demonstration of the “Bribes” when Chris Dodd, under orders from Obama, wrote in the Tarp Funds Bill that AIG Executives would get their bonus for running the company into bankruptcy. What is our “Wonderful” Justice Department doing about that. The Foxes are guarding the hen house.

LOLZ. You are amusing. So let me understand you while I am still interested in trying.

“Upholding the honor of the presidency, even if you do not agree with the fellow holding the office . . . is also a service to our country.”

Yep. I saw a lot of liberals who positively exhausted themselves with ‘mature’ and ‘decent’ behavior while President Bush was in office. Our country got serviced by them all right. I remember Harry Reid actually apologizing for calling Pres. Bush a loser, but wouldn’t do so for calling him a liar. Oh that’s different you say, Reid said those things to the press in the hallway, not to the President’s face. You’re right– it’s much classier to create the “Bush Lied, People Died” meme than to call a President on a boldfaced lie he’s telling 30 million Americans and the entire Congress. Also, YouTube is helpful if you are having trouble recalling the various times Pres. Bush was booed by the Dems. in Congress during major addresses. Lots of respectful service there.

” . . . showing a modicum of respect to a fellow American, even if you disagree with him, is also a service to our country.”

Uh, Dale. Sarah Palin and her family anyone? Really? Wanda Sykes rooting for kidney failure for Limbaugh, which President Obama found chuckle-worthy? Cheney as Darth Vader, oh I could go on. Relevant to Rep. Wilson’s outburst may be the fact that immediately preceding it President Obama had in sum, been calling opponents of his plan liars, chief among them Sarah Palin. Perhaps thereafter hearing the great lie about illegals not being covered, simply caused Wilson’s head to explode. As I said above, this is a risk run when the President will not debate or discuss with those of opposing views. We are a country founded on debate, not dictate.

For the record, I find all of this behavior contrary to our traditions and not particularly helpful or dignified. Rep. Wilson apologized immediately for his comments, as stated above. This is more than any liberal ever did after spewing constant hate and disrespect, I mean ‘maturity’ and ‘decency,’ at our former President. And one more thing Dale, I never once heard President Bush denigrate or whine about his opponents. Or tell other Americans to ignore them. Ever. In fact, he valued debate as one of the privileges which sets our country apart. Now that is class, and service to our country.

Thanks for your back and forth today. You seem a little angry though.

“Keith Olberman

Oh, yeah, he’s another one of those american(sic) in name only who hate this country. (so why doens’t(sic) he leave? can’t find a better place to go?)”

I don’t think he hates his country, he wants to get rid of the wacko nuisances.

65. Dale:

“Joe Wilson was compelled to apologize not just for his outburst, but rather for disgracing the halls of congress, for disrespecting the president during a speech, and for embarrassing the entirety of Congress with his childish behavior.”

Reminds you of the Iraqi shoe thrower.

70. billslayer: certified wacko

87. Calvin Ball: certified wacko, I’m just celebrating!

96. Paul of Alexandria:

“As repetative(sic) and non-responsive as they are”

U r right, I do not respond to wackos, just tease them. Wait your turn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRwQHynBmpM

“Amen, dissent used to be the highest form of patriotism for the CodePinkers,marxists,anarchists,malcontents and other societal misfits exercising their 1st Amendment right to speak and assemble.”

Ah, but you see, that’s your problem. You didn’t like those people you mentioned expressing their opinion. They were undermining the president. They hated our troops. They were unpatriotic. They weren’t “real” Americans. You just said yourself they were “malcontents and other societal misfits.”

So, your opinion, however grotesquely you choose to express it, don’t mean jack squat. I’ll forgive for I know you are but a boy (or a buttboy, one of the two).

Federal Governments unfunded liabilities = 53 trillion dollars
Unfunded liabilities = People, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid
Healthcare industry = 2.5 trillion annually
Potential Revenue to Federal Government = 2.5 trillion dollars
Plan… Get the money, keep about 30% by eliminating unfunded liabilities sooner.

Budget problem solved!

Alternative plan, abolish the Federal Reserve.

This parody gave me giggle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9SPdh4Nzy4