Healthcare

With the rising debate on a "public option" for health insurance, I've been thinking about a few things. There are very few people, I think, that don't think our current health care system needs some sort of adjustment. I am definitely one of those who thinks we need reform, although I fundamentally disagree with the current proposals in congress.

Many people base their arguments on health care reform on the idea that health care is a right. It is certainly not an enumerated right, and if they claim it is, I would like them to name the amendment it's contained in. It could very well fit into the 10th amendment, though. If we are to accept that health care is a right, what does that mean for the relationship between us and our government? The 1st amendment protects our right to assemble and worship how, where, and what we will, but I don't think I've ever seen a government-funded church building project. The 1st amendment also gives us freedom of speech, but I don't think I've ever heard of a radio station that gives each person their fair share of air time. The 2nd amendment gives us the right to bare arms, but I have yet to receive my government issue sidearm. Health care may be a right, but that doesn't mean that government should provide it to everyone, it means that the federal government can't take away legitimate health care from its citizens (which under the current proposal, I'm not so sure it would fulfill this obligation of good government).

My major concern with the "public option" is that private insurers will not be able to compete with it. The public option would be subsidized by taxpayer dollars whereas private insurers have to do all of the mundane things of private companies like not letting expenditures exceed revenues. Also, a public insurer would happen to be a part of that entity that regulates the industry. That forms a conflict of interests and a high likelihood of corruption. In the end, there is little hope for private companies to compete with the government.