[antimedia] antimedia: Liberalism and freedom....

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Posted by antimedia:
Liberalism and freedom....
http://www.antimedia.us/posts/1190169449.shtml


   ....two [1]antithetical concepts.
   One of the things that truly galls me about liberals is their penchant
   for couching liberty-destroying ideas in patriotic terms. Nothing
   demonstrates this penchant better than Hillary's recent unveiling of
   her "new" universal healthcare plan - the cynically named "American
   Health Choices Plan".
   Here's Hillary's idea of "choice".

     Relying on consumers or the government alone to fix the system has
     unintended consequences, like scaled-back coverage or limited
     choices. This plan ensures that all who benefit from the system
     share in the responsibility to fix its shortcomings.
     * Insurance and Drug Companies: insurance companies will end
     discrimination based on pre-existing conditions or expectations of
     illness and ensure high value for every premium dollar; while drug
     companies will offer fair prices and accurate information.
     * Individuals: will be required to get and keep insurance in a
     system where insurance is affordable and accessible.
     * Providers: will work collaboratively with patients and businesses
     to deliver high-quality, affordable care.
     * Employers: will help financing the system; large employers will
     be expected to provide health insurance or contribute to the cost
     of coverage: small businesses will receive a tax credit to continue
     or begin to offer coverage.
     * Government: will ensure that health insurance is always
     affordable and never a crushing burden on any family and will
     implement reforms to improve quality and lower cost.

   In other words, insurance and drug companies will be forced to behave
   as the government says, individuals will be required to "choose"
   health coverage, providers will be be given no choice on the level of
   coverage they provide or the money they can earn and employers will
   pony up the money to pay for it all and, when they fall short, the
   American taxpayer will make up the difference.
   What happened to the land of the free? What happened to "life, liberty
   and the pursuit of happiness"? Outdated concepts of another time -
   outmoded ideas to be cast on the trash heap of history. This is modern
   man - who takes care of his neighbors and doesn't complain at his lot.
   After all, the government will ensure that we, the American people,
   are "finally addressing the needs of the 47 million uninsured
   (including the 20 or so million illegal inhabitants of our land -
   after all, we can't be cruel to them just because they broke the law
   to get here - ed.) and the tens of millions of workers with coverage
   who fear they could be one pink slip away from losing their health
   coverage - with no overall increase in health spending or taxes. For
   those with health insurance, the plan builds on the current system to
   give businesses and their employees greater choice of health plans -
   including keeping the one they have - while lowering cost and
   improving quality."
   No "overall" increase in spending or taxes! Well, praise the Lord
   Almighty! We no longer need God! We have Hillary to work miracles for
   us - to finally bring us the "choice" we deserve. Or, as Bruce Kesler
   puts it, [2]"Snake Oil Reform".
   The sad part is, far too many of the ignorant boobs in this country
   will swallow her plan hook, line and sinker and, like the lemmings,
   they'll realize far too late that they've plummeted off the precipice
   to the death of liberty and freedom.

References

   1. http://www.hillaryclinton.com/feature/healthcareplan/summary.aspx
   2. http://www.democracy-project.com/archives/003466.html