California legislators should focus on the deficit, not costly government-run healthcare
“If you get breast cancer, I’m sorry honey; you have less chance of survival than before this bill passed.” Those words were declared by Michigan Congressman Mike Rogers six months ago during his opening statements regarding health care reform.
Since Mr. Roger’s statement, Republican Scott Brown won a Massachusetts special election to fill Ted Kennedy’s vacant seat. Americans across the nation focused on the campaign in hopes that Brown would win in order to break the democrat majority needed to pass Obamacare. Voters sent a clear message echoed by mainstream polls that the majority of Americans oppose government controlled healthcare.
Confirming the majority sentiment, Virginia Democrat, state Senator Phillip Puckett stated, “I don't believe someone should be forced to buy something they don't want to…It’s un-American. And it might be unconstitutional." Senator Puckett joined other state senators earlier this week to pass three bills making it illegal to enforce mandatory healthcare onto Virginia residents.
Apparently, the California Senate Appropriations Committee does not believe universal healthcare is un-American since they passed SB 810 earlier this week. If signed into law, the state government-controlled bill would cost California over $200 billion.
Currently, California faces a $20 billion deficit and a record 12% plus unemployment rate. As businesses leave the Golden State in record numbers and residents struggle to pay their mortgages, the state legislature seems more concerned with abolishing free parking than with the exorbitant cost of their proposed healthcare plan. Equally disturbing is the fact that the state legislature is definitely out of touch with their constituents according to the latest Field Poll. 7 out of 10 Californians disapproved of how the federal government handled the healthcare issue. Although healthcare is crucial to every citizen, no one wants to gamble with their own lives while being forced to pay for an experiment.
Individual choice is the American way! Freedom is the main principle our nation was founded upon. Indeed our healthcare system needs reforming but through the private sector and personal choices. Health prevention and natural medicine resources are readily available and cost efficient. In fact, educational health expos are common in California.
Instead of playing medical professionals, our elected officials should spend more time listening to voters and reducing our state deficit. Perhaps what is truly in order is a part time legislature to cure an out-of-touch state government.