Healthcare

The President just finished his Congressional Address. He called for new consumer protections for those with insurance and a marketplace so that those without insurance could find the best coverage a the lowest price. And he wants to require everyone to purchase basic coverage. (He referenced auto insurance, but that is incomparable. What he is proposing is that IF YOU BREATH, YOU OWE SOMEONE SOME MONEY. That is worse than paying taxes, because at least you need a job for that.)

The President wants to create a quasi-governmental insurance company, to be run much like the FDIC, to offer coverage to those in most desperate need. His ambitious plan claims to be deficit neutral. The President proposes to achieve this by embracing technology, reforming tort laws, and streamlining Medicare and Medicaid bureaucracies, as well as by imposing a new tax on insurance companies. The new tax is supposed to encourage private medical insurance companies to reduce cost while improving care.

There were jabs and concessions, but there was an overall genuine desire to work with both sides of the aisle. However, Republicans, stupidly, sat on their hands. They made silly faces and looked out-of-touch. Now mind, you I don't care for the new taxes or the mandatory insurance requirement. But the Republicans looked like jackasses.

Finally, there was NO mention of PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. Where was the call for Americans to watch what they and their children eat? Where was the emphasis on physical activity and quitting smoking or drinking? And what about relying more on Health Savings Accounts to build a tax-free savings that would allow individuals to offset expensive procedures? Why can't we extend HSAs to allow indefinite savings and use for any health-related expense?

The ONLY way we make ANY REAL CHANGE is if we ALL TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY for our actions while pushing for technological advances and reducing bureaucracy. We probably wouldn't even have to reform tort laws.