Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Opposed to "ObamaCare?" Be careful what you wish for.

If you are opposed to the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare) you may be hoping that the supreme court rules it unconstitutional. I believe that would be a disaster for many: those with pre-existing conditions who can not give coverage, people who can not switch employers or become entrepreneurs lest they lose coverage, young adults who can not stay on their parents' policies while in college. However, let's assume that disaster comes to pass - the supreme court makes us revert to the status quo of two years ago - what will the long term consequences be?

Well, remember that Obama Care was a response to a set of problems - rising health care costs leading companies to drop coverage and individuals to be priced out of the market leading to many more uninsured people, college kids that could not get coverage, sick people that could not get coverage at any price. All of those problems would come roaring back. Once the supreme court says we can't force people to buy coverage those pressures would build until the public demanded a fix. The logical fix would be to tax everyone and provide universal single payer coverage (a.k.a. Medicare for all).  I for one think that's a good solution, but if you oppose ObamaCare I doubt that you do.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Religious Freedom vs. Women's Health

I am listening to NPR discussing the Blunt amendment trying to allow a religious exemption to providing healthcare. My comment was: Why has nobody mentioned that we routinely restrict religious freedom in other ways. Rastafarians can't smoke pot, Fundamentalist Mormons and Muslims can't practice polygamy, etc. Where is the Republican outrage over those restrictions?