Mr. Obama, I Have Some Questions For You.

As an opponent the current proposed health care plan by President Obama and congress, I would like to practice my First Amendment rights and speak my concerns. Though I am not an economist nor hold a degree in political science, I am still a quizzical American. (Even if Nancy Pelosi wants to call me “un-american” for my dissent … “Hello, pot? This is kettle. You are black.”) So if I were blessed with the opportunity to speak directly with our president regarding the proposed plan, this is what I would ask him:


1. Have you read the bill- completely?

I really don’t think that needs to be explained in more detail.


2. If this “public option” is your best option for uninsured Americans, then will you, your administration and congress be the first to sign up for it?

Around election time, every politician totes their desire to serve the American people to the best of their ability. You swore on a Bible to do just the same on inauguration day. And if our 111th congress is truly proposing a plan that will be the very best they can create for Americans, then I assume it is good enough for all of you and your families.


3. What’s the rush?


Remember the stimulus that “had to be passed” if we were going to save the economy back in February? CNNMoney.com reported on August 8th that of the $787.2 billion stimulus funds, about 29% are just now available for use, and only 15% of the stimulus total has actually been paid out thus far.

And remember TARP? You know, the program that intended to purchase assets and equity from financial institutions in order to strengthen the financial sector? As of February of this year, $194.2 billion in TARP funds were given to 317 financial firms, but only two (yes, two) were required to say what they would do with the money.

Forbes.com reported “[t]he watchdog for [TARP] will push banks and other companies that got federal bailout money to detail what they plan to do with it. Why? The government hasn’t asked.” Neil Barofsky, TARP’s special inspector general, wrote a letter to Chris Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, in which he said “[w]hat remains almost entirely opaque, however, is what has been done with the TARP money.”

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report stating that the cost of the health care reform proposal will cost at least $1.3 trillion through 2019. On June 15th, TheHill.com writer, Alexander Bolton, wrote “[t]he CBO released a report … estimating the cost of a leading healthcare reform proposal at more than $1 trillion, but that figure looked only at a portion of the bill … [and] does not include an estimate for a highly contentious government-run insurance plan that would compete with private insurers.”

And lastly, we have “cash for clunkers,” in which your congress budgeted $2 billion for the program, estimated to last until November 1st … but ran out of money in four days. This “economic booster” for the American people sure worked well. In fact, six of the top ten car models sold were made by Toyota, Hyundai and Honda.

So. Your administration wants another trillion or more to fix health care ASAP. But the stimulus hasn’t been spent, nor are we sure of its effectiveness. The usage of TARP funds is about as transparent as swimming through a swamp and the financial institutions who received the funds are held as accountable as letting detainees at Guantanamo try each other in court (don't get any ideas). And your administration’s ability to budget numbers for your proposed health care bill and the “cash for clunkers” program are so grossly inept that I wouldn’t trust any of you to balance my checkbook. Maybe it would be best to take some time. Read the bill, study the possible outcomes and costs, listen to those who agree and disagree with the bill and re-read the constitution, bill of rights and federalist papers before you rush to pass something (i.e. anything).


4. How are you going to pay for your proposed plan?

At a townhall meeting this morning, a woman asked Arlen Specter this very question. His roundabout response tried to explain that health care savings will pay for it. Savings found through pre-screening for certain diseases and cancers, as well as pursuing preventative health methods, will keep Americans healthier and thus out of the doctor’s office. The woman asked him again, “but how are you actually going to pay for it?” Specter then replied, “That’s all I can tell you.”

Isn’t that like saying, “I’m going to pay off my credit card balance by only going shopping every other weekend? The amount I save will pay for my bill!” Saving money in the future doesn’t pay for something now. Try that next time you want to buy a Camry.


5. How do you expect to offer insurance for every American and lower costs?

Patients on Medicaid use the emergency department much more frequently than patients with private insurance. Medicaid patients use the ER 82 per 100 people, whereas persons with private insurance use the ER 21 per 100 people (aafp.org). It’s just a fact. If you didn’t have to pay for a service, you don’t care how often you used it, as Medicaid patients prove.

So what happens to the amount of services used if another 20 or 30 million people are now on the government plan, and pay little to nothing? The services are used more, and subsequently, the costs go up. More doctors are needed; more hospitals, more supplies, more drugs, more of everything. But according to you, Mr. Obama, the costs go down. How, exactly?


6. If the “public option” you are proposing is just giving uninsured Americans a “choice,” what’s wrong with the 1,000+ private insurance plan options we can currently choose from?


Mr. Obama, you have been quoted many, many times saying that your health insurance plan would simply be another choice to compete with private insurers, and help keep them “honest.” But doesn’t a free market system do just that? If company A is offering a product that cheats its consumers, and company B is not, then company A will inevitably fail. That’s a free market economy.

Besides, we have over 1,000 current private health insurance plans and companies. You don’t think your government-run insurance company, no. 1001, will keep the rest in check, do you? Unless you have other motives … You know, like when Barney Frank said that this proposed plan is the only way the government will get to a one-payer, universal system mandatory for all Americans… cough, cough.


Thomas Jefferson said, “Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear.” I believe in questioning boldly. Not because I am conservative and you, Mr. Obama, are a liberal. Not because I’m part of some “astroturf” movement paid by the Republican Party to make a stink. But because our government is for the people, by the people. And I don’t believe our government is either right now.

Here is an excellent article that dives into the details, costs and inevitable consequences of the proposed health care reform:
http://www.heritage.org/research/healthcare/bg2224.cfm