Just read this today in the NYT.
I enjoy reading Frank RIch’s articles very much but this time I believe his ideology is blinding him to the truth. Mr. Rich claims the root of the Republican opposition to the current health care law is simply anger towards a “national existential reordering that roiled America in 1964.” He’s referring to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
This is disingenuous of Mr. Rich to say because it simultaneously demonizes Republicans (or any opponent for that matter) as being stubborn bigots and also gives the health care law, a sweeping and destructive law that makes health insurance a right instead of a privilege, a big, fat free pass.
The comparison of the health care law and the Civil Rights Act is a false one. The most critical thing to understand is that the Civil Rights Act was about equal rights and Obamacare is about unlawfully transforming health insurance from a privilege into a right via aggressive Fed intervention. Mr. Rich glosses over this important point and bases his entire argument on a falsehood.
Health care in this country needs serious reform. I think we’re all agreed on that. Some people, myself included, believe it should be done lawfully, incrementally and efficiently. Despite any sensible alternatives made, Mr. Rich believes people opposed to Obamacare secretly don’t want social reform that creates fairness and equality but that’s what this is about. He, and other like-minded supporters, believe the Fed can and should be the one responsible for rescuing us for this current mess by overhauling health care as quickly as possible by any means necessary. This is an ill-conceived plan and it will ultimately fail, taking our country with it. Why? Because making a law that runs up trillions in debt, forces unfair “progressive” change upon America and expands the Fed’s powers isn’t the way forward.
I recently read the new mantra of the opposition is now “Repeal, Replace, Reform”. All I have to say is: Sign me up.