RSS 2.0 FeedActor Ronald Reagan Speaks Out Against Socialized Medicine
by Stephen LittauThe more things change, the more things stay the same. Way back before Ronald Reagan’s political career, he recognized the problems which would occur if America had adopted socialized medicine. With congress working to pass the SCHIP bill to provide government funded healthcare for children of parents with annual incomes up to $80,000, this radio commentary is just as relevant today as it was then. Many of Reagan’s fears about socialized medicine have been realized in other countries. If we are not careful, we will face similar consequences here.
Seriously, they are trying to say that parents making $80,000 a year can’t afford to(or shouldn’t have to) pay for their kids insurance? WTF, over?
Comment by Nick M — August 3, 2007 @ 2:18 pmBut how else are these people going to afford iPhones, Nick?
Comment by Stephen Littau — August 3, 2007 @ 2:20 pmNot to mention that if this bill passes, I may not have a job in the next two years. They have decided to levy a tax on the cigar industry that will reduce consumer spending, reduce the taxes they want to collect, and put thousands of Americans out of work. I don’t disagree that a tax hike would help benefit this program, but raising the maximum tax from 5 cents a stick to $10 a stick is unreasonable. Especially since Premium Cigars make up less than 3% of the tobacco industry.
Comment by Patricia Johnson — August 3, 2007 @ 2:47 pmPatricia,
I’m a big fan of the Arturo Fuente 8-5-8. It’s not an expensive cigar, I usually pick them up for about $5 each (+/- $1).
Am I reading it correctly that right now, I’m paying $0.05 (actually slightly lower) federal tax on that, and that tax will now jump to about $2.65? For a final price of over $7.50 or so?
I can understand your concern… Especially considering what this will do to the sales numbers on slightly more-expensive cigars.
Comment by Brad Warbiany — August 3, 2007 @ 3:00 pmSell the kids?
Comment by Nick M — August 3, 2007 @ 3:16 pmReagan was a smart guy…way ahead of his time. Sadly it seems that the mainstream politicians of today are still as dumb as ever.
Comment by UCrawford — August 3, 2007 @ 4:21 pmHeh,heh…sell the kids. Looks like someone else here is a fan of Jonathan Swift-type logic :)
Comment by UCrawford — August 3, 2007 @ 4:22 pmI’m sorry… what’s wrong about providing basic healthcare to every citizen? People wouldn’t be prohibited from buying additional insurance. People in Europe do this for 40 euros a month.
If everyone is covered, then lots of money is saved by keeping people out of emergency rooms for minor illness. And doesn’t it make our corporations more profitable if they can compete without the burden of healthcare expense?
It seems christian to me for us to care for our neighbors. Is it really necessary to punish the poor and needy? Seems small minded and bigoted.
Comment by Thomas Brook — August 8, 2007 @ 12:41 amThomas,
This isn’t about punishing the poor or the needy. This is about one particular bill and how a lot of people are so out of touch with what our elected officials are doing. Passing a bill that will cripple an industry and put thousands of Americans out of work, as well up to tens of thousands of workers in 3 foreign countries of work is stupidity. The Christian thing to do for them is not to support this health care bill. Our poor are currently entitled to welfare, have access to schools for their children, and yes they have access to health care clinics. Those that live in the Dominican, Honduras, and Nicaragua rely on the cigar industry to support them. They have health care, schools for their children, and employment because of the cigar industry.
This bill is NOT just for children, it’s a vehicle for socialized health care. And just because some countries can make this work doesn’t mean every country can. Especially one the size of the United States. Canada’s population is 33,390,141, the United States population is 301,139,947. The United States military got rid of socialized health care several years ago because it didn’t work. Imagine having to wait 8 to 12 weeks to get a doctors appointment. I remember many long waits in the Military ER with a sick infant because I couldn’t wait 8 weeks to get my son seen.
This isn’t about being small minded and bigoted. This is about paying attention to the bills a being passed through our house and senate and reading those bills. It’s about researching the ramifications of those bills, and the motivation of those proposing and supporting these bills. It’s about taking $50 Billion from the Medicare Advantage program and taxing an industry out of business. What industry is next? How many more jobs are going to be lost?
Comment by Patricia Johnson — August 9, 2007 @ 11:28 amIt’s about awareness. Read the bills being passed. Just because you see a bill is “for the children” doesn’t mean it’s a bill that makes sense or is right for our country.
Brian,
Yup that’s right. $5 cigars will be $7.50. $10 cigars will be $15. A $5 pack of cigarettes will be a little over $5.63. Go figure! Premium cigars make up less than 2% of the entire tobacco market.
Comment by Patricia Johnson — August 9, 2007 @ 11:31 amPatricia,
The military still has socialized medicine actually. That’s one of the reasons it continues to have problems. And socialized medicine’s problems aren’t dependent on country size. Its problems stem from the demand for services relative to the contribution of the country’s tax base, which would be the same in a country of 3 million or 300 million.
Thomas,
As for “punishing the poor and needy”, what is it exactly that entitles the poor and needy to money out of my pocket (money that I’ve earned and they haven’t) when I don’t want to give it to them (particularly if a) I’m not a Christian and b) the government has a separation between church and state)? It’s not “punishing” anyone when I choose to spend my money (legally earned or inherited) on myself. It’s not “punishing” poor people when you don’t force everyone else to give them things for free. If I choose to donate my money or time to help poor people, that’s called charity and the people who receive my charity should consider themselves fortunate I’ve chosen to give them anything at all (since very few of them have done anything for me). But when poor people think they’re entitled to my money and try to find ways to take it from me by force (like with taxes for socialized medicine, or forcing doctors to provide services at a loss) that’s called theft, and it’s not “punishment” when you tell a thief he can’t steal from you.
In fact, I seem to recall that being one of the Ten Commandments (“Thou shalt not steal”). I don’t seem to recall any of them saying “Thou shalt provide poor people with subsidized medical care because doctors are evil, greedy bastards and owe everyone else a living.”
Comment by UCrawford — August 9, 2007 @ 12:00 pm