DRIVE SLOWLY
Right now we’re having a discussion on the creation of state “health exchanges.” These are medical clearinghouses, as envisioned by the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act…, better known as ”ObamaCare.” Put simply, the exchanges are a vehicle under which medical care will be doled out under ObamaCare. Now Michigan has a chance to get in on the ground floor. If we want to.
Currently the legislature is looking at passing a Michigan health exchange. For this, we’ll get a Level One Federal grant of $10 million. This MI Market is supposed to be a “Travelocity for Health Care” that won’t cost Michigan a dime or obligate us to the Feds in any way, shape or form. It’s not a step toward ObamaCare they say—well maybe it is, but not an irrevocable one. So what’s not to like?
What's Not To Like? Well...
It all depends if you like ObamaCare. If you do, then this is great. Get Level One bagged and move on to Level Two, which does obligate you to implement ObamaCare. But if you don’t like ObamaCare, then the question is simple: why take even one voluntary step down the road?
Public support for ObamaCare continues to wane. A new Kaiser Health tracking poll shows public support down to 38%. On November 10th the Supreme Court is getting its first petitions from challengers to ObamaCare. The Administration itself pulled the plug on the CLASS Act (!), a long-term care insurance program; ObamaCare may be falling to the ground of its own weight. Next year, we have a small matter of an election, in which ObamaCare will be a bit of an issue. Obama himself may be gone. So why, in heaven’s name would you want to be first aboard ship—if it might be the TITANIC?
Proponents have a couple of reasons, both good as far as they go. FIRST reason is that ObamaCare law says if you don’t have your own exchange in place, then the Feds will run your state program for you. This is indeed a bad thing, to be avoided. SECOND reason: If ObamaCare does indeed happen, then states that delayed must implement their exchanges without the Federal money. These proponents assume that ObamaCare is really a done deal.
Look At It This Way:
Well, I look at it this way. There’s a book called THE LAST BATTLE, by Cornelius Ryan, about Berlin 1945. The General in charge of defense was named Heinrici. With the battle lost, and the Sovs pouring in, he ordered the last German troops to pull out and save themselves. For disobeying the Fuhrer’s direct ‘no retreat’ order, Heinrici was ordered to report to barracks for further orders. Everyone knew what that meant. The book goes on.
“…as Gotthard Heinrici walked down the corridor of his headquarters before departing, a young captain had stepped up to him.
‘I beg of you,” said the young captain, “do not hurry getting there.”
‘What are you talking about?” asked Heinrici.
‘Well sir,’ the captain continued, ‘I would not like the same fate to overtake you that befell Field Marshall Rommel.’
‘What do you mean? Rommel was killed in action’
‘No sir, he was not. He was forced to commit suicide. I was Rommel’s aide. I beg you to drive as slowly as you can to Plon. That way, the war may be over by the time you get there.”
‘Heinrici leaned over and tapped the chauffeur on the shoulder. ‘We’re in no great hurry.’ Late that night, Heinrici reached the barracks at Plon. As he entered his room, a radio was playing. After a low roll of drums it was announced the Fuhrer was dead.”
Gothard Heinrici died in 1971, at age 84.
Drive Slowly; The War May Be Over When you Arrive.
Now I’m in no way equating President Obama with the Fuhrer or ObamaCare to the Reich. The supporters of ObamaCare are mostly decent and well-meaning people, however mistaken I think they are. But if you believe, as I do, that National Health Care is an idea whose time came and went decades ago, has been a disaster in other countries, and would be a disaster for America, then why be in a hurry to arrive? If there’s a destination you really want to avoid, why leave early? For all we know, the whole administration may be out by January, 2013. If we take our time, the war may be over by the time we get there.
The Feds say we have to report to ObamaCare. Maybe so, but let’s drive real, real slowly.
