Proposition “C” is a bad idea
Posted by GSDispatch Editor in by Bob Beigher
Proposition “C” is a really bad idea. The Republicans slipped this proposition into the primary election in hopes that mostly Republicans will vote in that primary. If it had been placed on the general election ballot and if more time had been available for discussion on the issue, it would probably not passed in Missouri.
Recently, the Kansas City Star carried an editorial describing many reasons to vote against the proposition. It states that supporters of this proposition are calling it the “Health Care Freedom Act”. The editorial goes on to say:
“It more accurately could be called the “Futile Gesture Act.” Or perhaps the “Full Employment for Lawyers Act.’”
“The ballot measure is an empty protest of federal health care reform, instigated by an advocacy group amply funded by health insurers and drug companies. Besides its expense in printed ballots, the measure could end up costing taxpayers plenty in legal fees.
“Missouri voters should say “no” on Aug. 3”
Additionally, the editorial went on to say:
“Proposition C runs contrary to the Missouri General Assembly’s oft-stated emphasis on personal responsibility and abhorrence of people seen as freeloaders.”
Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/07/23/2103369/missouri-voters-should-reject.html#ixzz0v3H50urt
Not mentioned in the editorial was the fact that the state of Missouri requires owners to insure their automobiles in order to obtain a license plate. That law is to protect victims of auto accidents, Liability insurance. Most insured drivers will also buy Comprehensive insurance to protect themselves from financial losses in the event that their cars or trucks are damaged in an accident. With that insurance, the company will represent the owner in court to recover damages and will pay for damages done by the driver if in any wreck. It makes sense to carry insurance to prevent huge monetary losses in the event that someone is injured.
In the case of health care insurance, it makes very good sense to have it for the same reasons, to avoid huge losses in the event of an accident or illness that would require a person to be hospitalized and face expensive medical care.
The new health care plan provides a menu of choices just like the menu that the Congress has had. Many people have said that “We should have the same kind of insurance that Congressmen and Senators have.” Well, now they will have that ability. What they must not understand is that their elected officials have to pay for their insurance and they buy it from that menu. If people cannot afford their insurance, the new health care bill provides for financial assistance to help them.
The Republicans offer a health care plan as well. The problem with their plan is that it has Healthcare Savings Accounts. On their website their H.S.A “creates new incentives to save for current a future health care needs by allowing qualified participants to use H.S.A. to pay premiums for high deductible health insurance.” In other words, you put your money into a savings plan to buy your own “high deductible insurances” but the government would give you incentives to save. Gee, what a great deal, now instead of buying health care insurance that the government, in many cases will help you to afford, you put your money into a savings account from which you can buy really cheap insurance that will require you to pay high deductibles–which ultimately means that you make big payments for your hospital and doctor payments, and that is on top of the cost of your health insurance. What have you gained under that plan? Not much at all. High deductibles and co-payments could eat up your life savings if you had huge hospital and doctors expenses. The good part of their plan is that you would get many of things that are already in the new health care plan that they fought so hard to defeat. You can read their plan at: http://gopleader.gov/uploadedfiles/summary_of_republican_alternative_health_care_plan_updated_11-04-09.pdf
Of course, you can expect to read the claim that the newly signed health care plan will add to “the crushing debt that Washington has placed on our children and grandchildren.” One could ask where these Republicans were when their administration was doubling the national debt from 2001 to 2009? The Bush administration left behind a 2008-2009 budget that added over another trillion dollars to the National Debt. You could also ask, “Why did the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office project savings under what the Republicans call “Obamacare?” Proposition C is a really bad idea for all the reasons put forth in the Kansas City editorial and for the reasons that are listed above. Vote “NO” on that horrible proposition.
Bob Beigher
