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September 8, 2009

ABC's John Stossel Debunks ObamaCare

We've previously posted on ABC's John Stossel's excellent, down-to-earth, must-read piece on healthcare reform titled, "A 'common sense' read on healthcare." Here, he continues by "thoroughly debunking" Obama's proposed takeover of our nation's health care system:

Of course we don't yet know what Obama's latest and greatest proposals are and won't know until his planned speech Wednesday night in front of a joint session of Congress. But let's not allow ourselves to be fooled. If the proposal has anything to do with a public option, a "trigger" to one, or co-ops, the end-result is clearly the same - a government run health-care system, rationing (and don't give me the liberal line that we already have rationing with insurance companies - there's clearly a difference - it's called "choice to change policies"), greatly increased debt, and decreased quality of care.

Like Phillip Klein notes at The American Spectator, whatever Obama says tomorrow night, and no matter how grand it is, it won't change the big picture:

Any bill is likely to cost in the neighborhood of $1 trillion or more at a time of already unprecedented long-term debt, meaning paying for it will require a combination of tax increases and cuts to existing government programs. The major cost saving measures -- electronic medical records, preventive care, a Medicare advisory commission -- will not put a dent in health care spending, and in some instances, may exacerbate the problem. If you expand Medicaid, the governors will be up in arms about the cost to states unless the federal government picks up the tab -- but either way we'd be adding to our massive entitlement burden. As much as Obama says people can keep their health care if they like it, there's no way he can offer that guarantee, and some of the proposals actually would encourage businesses to change the coverage they currently offer. And all of this is playing out with the economy still weak and unemployment up to 9.7 percent despite Obama's promises during the stimulus debate.

Posted by Richard at September 8, 2009 10:18 AM

• ABC's John Stossel Debunks ObamaCare - Sep 08, 2009