As an example, Michael Tanner, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, writes in today's L.A. Times:
The choice facing us now is not between Obama's plan for healthcare micromanaged by the government or doing nothing. Rather, it is a choice between government control, regulation and rationing on one hand, and free markets, choice and competition on the other.
This is wrong in a multitude of ways. Specifically I take issue with the following expressions: "micromanaged," "government control," "[government] regulation," "[government] rationing," free markets," "choice," and "competition." I discuss each, in turn.
Obama's plan does not call for healthcare to be "micromanaged" by anyone. It specifically states that the health of each individual should be determined by the doctor together with the patient. Obama's plan is to assure that this happens for all Americans, including the 46 million currently uninsured.
Tanner does not like "government control." What do we have now? Insurance-company control. Insurance companies control who gets insured and who does not; who will get the healthcare they need and who will not; and who will die and who will not. Obama wants the government to prevent this healthcare asphyxiation by insurance companies.
The next bugaboo is "[government] regulation." The healthcare industry, like every other industry, has its frauds, incompetents, con artists and swindlers. It is 1/6 of our economy and is poised to grow further. The industry never has regulated itself. Like every other industry, it needs government regulation to assure a healthy healthcare industry.
Another phony argument is "[government] rationing." Conservatives insist that the government will limit health services in order to save money. Let me ask this: Is the healthcare of the uninsured rationed? Is the healthcare of the fellow who has "pre-existing" conditions rationed? Is the healthcare of the employee who must pay outrageous fees because he lost his job rationed? Is the healthcare of an American who can afford only very-high deductable insurance rationed? Yes, they are! Because we do not have a decent system that serves all of us, many, many Americans have their health rationed in a very terrible way. Obama's plan would avoid most of the worst rationing. No plan on earth could prevent ALL rationing.
Now I come to "free markets." It sounds so wonderful. Who is against "free markets"? Nobody. Yes, we have private insurance companies, but do they operate in a free market? Almost everywhere, there are one or two big insurance companies that control the market. The healthcare insurance market is not free; it is controlled. Obama's plan is national in scope and assures a level playing field to all. (Tanner does agree with the idea of a national insurance market.)
By the way, a "free market" for what? Insurance companies are in business, not to provide healthcare, but to deprive individuals of the healthcare they sign up for. These companies offer bonuses to employees who find ways to deprive customers of healthcare so the companies' bottom lines increase. They are in a free market for healthcare reduction.
Tanner wants "choice." Do we have choice of doctors in the current private healthcare market? If you work for the government or for a few of the big corporatons or you have plenty of money, you have choice. No doubt about it. But most workers and people with limited means have no choice. And let's not talk about people with chronic diseases, who can't get insurance at all! Choice belongs to the well-to-do; others have no choice. By having a public option, Obama is opening the door to give choice to everyone.
Tanner and conservatives in general worry about "competition." There is no competition in insurance today. This is why insurance companies are so bold in their health-deprivation tactics. A public option will offer competition to these insurance companies, and as President Obama says "keep them honest."
President Obama's healthcare plan offers everything conservatives ask for, especially free markets,
choice and competition. The public option is key in achieving these results. I hope conservatives see the light and vote for a healthcare plan with a strong public option.
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