The deep roots of Astroturf
I really got a kick out of this posting by photojournalist “El Marco” detailing the healthcare show Obama allies put on in Denver. It looks like they’ve taken a few pointers from the “real” grassroots but mixed in a heaping helping of muscle and deceit to accomplish their goal of slick marketing and packaging.
Obviously the stakes are pretty high – hey it’s only 1/6th of our economy we’re talking about here. And the magnitude of change could be staggering by the time Obamacare (at least the H.R. 3200 version – maybe we should really call it Pelosicare?) finally kicks in starting in 2013. Interesting how that timing works because if Obama is re-elected he would be able to make things even more onerous but if a Republican is elected they would have that crushing burden to weigh down on their Presidency, especially the cost.
Essentially the health care debate has been framed in terms of who would be helped and hurt. Those on the Left don’t think anyone would be hurt but fail to realize that taking the profit motive out of anything tends to limit the willingness of non-public entities to jump into a market and eventually saps the innovation out as well. My favorite example of this is the Trabant.
But the status quo isn’t exactly perfect, particularly in the high dependence on having the cost of every procedure from a minor checkup to a heart transplant picked up by an insurance company. Obviously many are frustrated with their dealings with the insurance company and thus grudgingly become Obamacare supporters because they feel nothing but loathing for the system as it is. What they don’t understand or can’t see is that changing the health industry simply becomes a swapping of masters – unfortunately it’s a lot more difficult to escape the yoke of government than ask your employer to switch insurance companies (or eschew the plan they offer to purchase your own.)
Intuitively people seem to understand this, which is why Obamacare (as Hillarycare before) is having a difficult time gaining traction among the American public. Say what you will about the insurance companies backing the anti-Obamacare effort, but the fact that drug companies and unions are throwing millions behind socialized health care makes their efforts seem just as artificial.
All along I’ve had a problem with entities lobbying to secure a slice of a larger government because I don’t feel government should become bigger and exert more power over the public. Imagine the fighting that could occur once trillions are spent for nationalized health care and the millions some special interests will place into place to increase their piece of the action. It will make the deficit (not to mention the budget for vital national functions like, say, defense) seem pale by comparison.
Comments
Leave a Reply
Political Buzz Examiner
Syndicate
Subscribe to this site's RSS feed.
-
-
-
Advertise with monoblogue and you’ll reach a lot of people!
Click on the photo for details.
Link to Maryland Democratic Party
In the interest of being fair and balanced, I provide this service to readers. But before you click on the picture below, just remember their message:
Locals flock to monoblogue
Click on the photo for details on advertising opportunities.
Please note that the opinions expressed on monoblogue are not necessarily those of the Wicomico County Republican Party Central Committee, of which I'm a member. (But they probably should be.)
