President Obama’s attempt to ram nationalized health care down the throats of the American people has met the fate it deserves. It wasn’t only the astronomical cost of the Democrat plan that aroused widespread opposition. The American people revolted at the dishonesty, doubletalk and arrogance displayed by Speaker Pelosi and the Obama White House. Calling town hall protestors thugs and Nazis is an act of desperation, and main street America was not amused.
The Obama White House and the Democrat National Committee have now abandoned open town hall meetings in favor of organized political rallies, with supporters galvanized by the same interest groups that helped elect Obama. Want to attend one of these rallies? Good luck if you’re not a member of the Service Employees International Union or . Being on Howard Dean’s rolodex helps a lot.
But this is no time for Republicans to gloat over Democrat disarray. Republicans need to seize the initiative and move the health care debate onto new ground. Instead of arguing over how much government-run health care we can afford, let’s debate how to reduce healthcare costs for millions by expanding genuine competition. Let’s have an open season for new ideas to fix specific problems, not another monstrous 1100-page bill full of ambiguities, deceptions and contradictions.
Republicans in Congress have introduced no less than a dozen bills this year to address weaknesses in our present health insurance system, but Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid have not allowed a single hearing on any of them.
Now is the time for Republican leaders to unite behind a bold set of proposals that build on our existing health care system without adding a massive new regulatory bureaucracy.
A Republican plan should include a t least eight basic reforms:
Over the long run, we need to find a way to move from employer-provided health insurance toward a national marketplace with maximum freedom of choice for individuals and families. We should be able to shop for health care insurance the same way as we shop for other necessities of life—like food, clothing, shelter, transportation. When we can see the direct relationship between price and product quality, we can then choose the type of health care insurance we want in relation to other commodities we also need.
President Obama tried to stifle and end debate on health care reform by demanding that Congress “act now.” In truth, there is no “health care crisis,” no emergency, and thus, the Obama gambit backfired. Congress must resist the pressure for immediate action and begin a more thoughtful and responsible exploration of alternative, targeted reforms.
Republicans unexpectedly have the high ground in this debate, but they will squander this newfound treasure if they do not mount a serious effort at reform in the direction of more consumer choice, not less. There are a dozen specific reforms that will improve accessibility and expand health care options for all Americans.
Now that the Obama circus has passed through town, let’s get down to work.
Tom Tancredo represented Colorado’s sixth district in Congress from 1998 to 2008, and is now chairman of the Rocky Mountain Foundation.
