The Latest Government Canard: Our Healthcare Costs Hold Us Back

I heard some excerpts from the current administration's tired, repetitive arguments that the US healthcare system, and its costs, are now a significant anti-competitive burden for US businesses. That only by federalizing the system can its costs be contained, and, thus, the primary goal of being globally competitive can be attained.

Really?

You know, if that were truly a business proposition, it would be tested. There would be evidence of the current loss of competitive value or strength. A case would be made for how a new system would work, how its costs would be lower, at the same or better care levels, than the current one. How this would translate, dollar by dollar, into allegedly lower costs for the same business output in US companies.

Instead, all we hear is empty claims. Scary talk. And statements that pose as fact, without any evidence whatsoever as to the veracity of the claims.

This troubles me greatly.

Sure, I have reservations about federal health insurance "competing," with taxpayer-financed subsidies, with private sector providers. Everything critics allege will almost certainly be true, because no private firm can compete with a rival that has: access to government funding, and; represents the law-making authority in the nation. You'd have to be crazy to compete on those terms.

You'd know that, should your government rival somehow not attain sufficient market share, they could literally change whatever laws were required to eventually put you out of business.

But prior to getting into those details, the very emptiness and falsity of the top-line argument of the current administration, and many in Congress, is disturbing.

When did these guys suddenly begin to care about business' healthcare burden? If they are so concerned about US competitiveness in a global market, how about cutting US tax rates for business and simplifying regulation? And halting the idiotic card check drive?

No, this isn't about helping business. This is about lulling business into believing they will receive something positive from the gutting of the private healthcare insurance and delivery sector of our economy.

This is a mistake we will come to regret. And soon.