One Judge, Two Judge, Wrong Judge, Right Judge

The third time is the charm, right?

According to the Associated Press, US District Judge Henry E. Hudson struck down Obamacare as Unconstitutional. The ruling focused on the key provision that citizens will either have to buy insurance or pay a penalty. I can’t disagree, in fact I applaud him for actually applying the Constitution to the argument. The sad thing is two other judges previously disagreed with him.

Now comes the next part of the story. The judge was a Bush appointee, the article makes clear, and apparently the White House knew they would lose this case. Was this really necessary? Sure if you still want to portray Bush as still dictating the pace of America. But I digress…

Back to the point: America is the land of the free. We have the ability to choose. I realize that some of these choices, particularly the one to have medical coverage or not, can present costs to unintended victims (read: taxpayers). But it is still out right. Those of us who work for organizations who provide healthcare are fortunate. Those who buy their own have a tough row to hoe. Those who chose to have none whatsoever are rolling the dice. But it is their dice, and they’re hand shaking the old bones.

The government should not provide healthcare. Period. The problem lays more with the fact that our runaway litigiousness has malpractice insurance so incredibly high and the red tape and hoops pharmaceutical companies have to go through to put a drug on the market. The costs are so high on the front end that the consumer is left with the burden on the back. This is not to say that a negligent doctor should not be responsible for his mistakes nor should a completely untested drug be put into use without due diligence. What I am saying is multi-million dollar jury awards for infected hangnails have soiled the water for the entire country.

How do we reign in health care costs? Simple! Interstate competition: give the consumer choices, and let the companies fight it out to provide the best coverage at the lowest price. Why should it matter that my insurer is in another state?

What do auto insurance companies do to attract new policy holders? Insurance companies champion lower rates and deductibles than those of their competition. Let’s face it, the government forces us to have automobile insurance, and there are a ton of companies- national and extremely local- that provide coverage.  Why can’t health care be the same? The more costumers sign up the company can offer lower premiums.  Offer discounts for good checkups and exercise. Like a good driver discount, give a bonus to folks who are healthy and don’t need to see a doctor. That might encourage healthier lifestyle choices from those who frequent their doctor’s office.

Face it: the minute we let the government into the health care trade, the more intrusive they can be with our lives and choices. The government needs to regulate commerce, not force it where it need not be enforced.

Chip Grefski