BCT Editorial – 2/13/07

This page was last updated on February 13, 2007.

Momentum builds for universal health care; Editorial; Beaver County Times; February 13, 2007.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“The 800-pound gorilla just entered the debate over universal health care.”

[RWC] If you’ve been reading Times editorials on this topic, you know “universal health care” is Times-speak for a taxpayer funded, government run national healthcare system.

“Last week, Wal-Mart joined three other large U.S. companies in calling for ‘quality, affordable’ health care for every American by 2012. The other companies were Intel Corp., AT&T Inc. and Kelly Services Inc.

“But what made this announcement particularly noteworthy is that Service Employees International Union President Andrew Stern was on the same podium when it was made.

“The Associated Press reported the partnership of business and union leaders laid out four main goals, including universal health-care coverage for all Americans and boosting the value of every U.S. dollar spent on health care.”

[RWC] Isn’t is redundant to write “universal health-care coverage for all Americans?” The editorial misrepresented this goal. The goal actually says “every person in America,” not “all Americans.” That’s a big difference. “[E]very person in America” includes illegal aliens.

“The business and union leaders’ coalition, dubbed ‘Better Health Care Together,’ pledged to convene a national summit by the end of May to recruit others from the private sector, labor, government and nonprofits, The AP reported.”

[RWC] The last time businesses “threw in the towel” to avoid short-term hassles, we got the unsustainable wage, benefit, and retirement packages that decimated the domestic auto, steel, and other manufacturing industries.

“Critics might carp because the group didn’t offer any specific plan. However, the fact that four major U.S. employers, with the support of one of the largest unions in the nation, are calling for universal health care represents a major change in the way this matter will be debated from now on.

“Of course, Wal-Mart isn’t necessarily advancing the cause of universal health care out of the goodness of its own heart. It’s been taking a public-relations beating over its wages and health-care policies.

“And saying the company supports universal coverage is not the same as committing the company to paying for it, changing its policies or using its clout to advance the cause.

“Companies like Wal-Mart, Intel, AT&T and Kelly understand that health care has gone off the tracks. A growing number of governors, including Pennsylvania’s Ed Rendell, recognizes the system is becoming more dysfunctional and expensive with each passing day. Average Americans know that the current way of doing things (and paying for them) keeps going from bad to worse.”

[RWC] You’ll note that in not a single editorial has the reason for high-priced healthcare been discussed. There’s a reason. The very policies the Times and its fellow travelers propose to “fix” the situation are the causes of the problem. In essence, these folks propose putting out a fire by throwing gasoline on it.

“Their willingness to at least recognize that something needs to be done about the U.S. health-care system stands in stark contrast to the do-nothings in Washington, D.C., who are so bogged down in advancing their political, ideological and special-interest agendas that they are ignoring the real needs of the American people.

“Don’t knock the efforts of businesses and states on health care. They’ve been forced to take action because the only thing more dysfunctional than the American health-care system is Congress.”

[RWC] Get government and special tax treatment for healthcare benefits out of the picture and the problem will take care of itself. It’s sad how little confidence the left has in the free market, a.k.a. freedom.