Losing Control

The healthcare debate rages on and thank goodness for the Blue Dogs showing some restraint but who knows how long that will last. Outside of cost there are many other concerns surrounding healthcare.

Privacy – much like the ill-conceived REAL ID proposals from the Bush Administration, govt-run healthcare at some point will need to have consolidated electronic records of every citizen (and non). Which begs the question, how does a government that cannot protect its highly classified nuclear program information going to protect our private health information?

Control – much like how the Federal govt uses highway funds to bully States into passing all sorts of laws ranging from speed limits to drinking ages, how will the Feds tell us to live our lives? Can the Feds ban transfats, smoking and drinking? What if someone is living an “alternative” lifestyle? HIV/AIDS has mostly broken the stigma of being a homosexual disease but if something similar comes up, who will decide whether it is covered?

And does anyone truly believe lobbyist groups will sit idle after healthcare is passed? Are we willing to give big business unprecedented access to our lives? I’m sure it will begin with coverage for cosmetic procedures like laser eye surgeries but eventually will it lead to mandates of flu shots and vaccines created by Big Pharma.

Future – many of my good liberal friends are viewing today’s debate with rose colored glasses full of hope. Eventually someone like Palin or Huckabee is going to be president maybe even with a Republican Congress. Would today’s liberals still support a govt-run healthcare plan with Social Conservatives at the helm?

Perhaps I fear unintended consequences more than intended ones because I feel the govt is generally not capable of fulfilling their stated promises. Given the long-term implications of a govt-run healthcare plan that will never be undone, we need not only address costs and innovation, but also privacy and control.

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About the author

Amit Singh

I'm left handed but right brained.