Today is the day . . .

The story is told of a short, bald, rather homely, plump, and nerdy sort of fellow taking a sex therapy class in Southern California.  Of course, as the name suggests the class was for folks having sex problems and those who generally attended the classes could best be described as moody, sour, withdrawn, and self-focused.  However, the little fellow in the story had a bounce in his step, a glint in his eye, a smile on his face, and he walked around humming a tune.  Finally, one of the ladies in the class, exclaimed, “We are unhappy and hurting people. We live with dysfunction and are here seeking help.  Dude, the class is for people with problems!”  The little fellow exclaimed, “Lady, I have problems and they, too, are sexual in nature!  I am married to a woman who only lets me have sex one night a year!”   In shock, the lady asked him, “Then, why are you so darn happy?”  The guy looked her with a wicked smile and replied, “Because today is the day!!”

Here we are April 1, 2014 . . . for good or bad, this is the day that the Affordable Health Care Act becomes the law of the land!  Is it a good thing, or is it a bad thing?  Many argue that it is simply a new wrinkle to socialized medicine.  I am not sure that is accurate, because it seems to me . . . that the meaning of socialized medicine is a system in which the government operates health care facilities and employs the health care professionals.  That model is in place in England (British National Health Service hospital trusts), Finland, Spain, Israel, and Cuba. Another such example is the USA’s Veteran’s Health Administration which provides medical services to veterans in government-owned and operated facilities at no cost to the patient, and with all services, treatments, and medicines being provided by civil servants and paid for by the taxpayers.

The tragedy of this thing that is being called “Obamacare” is that no one even knows what it is or what it does!  We all heard the declaration made in response to a reasonable question being asked about what it is and what it does: “We will just have to pass the bill, so you can find out what is in it,” and that is just exactly what the morons did!  My assessment is not related to the bill itself, but the stupidity of elected representatives passing a law they have not even read, but took the precaution of exempting themselves personally from it.

Where am I on healthcare?  I believe that every American citizen certainly ought to have the right to reasonable medical treatment (it is a tragic thing to be sick and need help, and there is no help to be had).  However, I also believe that the government ought not be permitted to tax one person heavily and use their money to secure medical services for those who spend the bulk of their money on alcohol, tobacco, lotto tickets, and such.

There is a serious dilemma in the USA today over this issue.  So what is the solution?  It Seems to me . . . that there is an equitable, viable, intelligent, and workable solution to the problem . . . but government action, involvement, and dominance in the arena is not the answer.  The truth is that government is inefficient, expensive, wasteful, politically-charged, and constantly manipulated.  Every time in history, without exception, when the government has tried to run anything, it has failed miserably.  Every time!

A few examples: Housing: What the government has done to the housing market is criminal with Fanny and Freddie.  Recent events prove absolute failure.  Look at the Public Housing Program and its history of failure after failure.  Economics: It is also criminal what the government has done to the economy and the value of the dollar with its stupid FIAT system, printing presses, and liberal spending.  Education: The educational system of our nation is pitiful and shameful.  Washington should never determine what the education system is or how it is operated.  Medical Services: The simple truth is that the cost issues we face today are largely the result of government standards in Medicare and Medicaid programs. 

The Solution? I am not certain that we have not already crossed a line from which we can ever recover, but if a recovery is even possible, it will never be achieved by government.  The truth: Anytime in history when this nation faced a mountain, it was the American worker and ingenuity of our free-enterprise system that solved the problem . . . in spite of our fumbling, stumbling, and ineffective government (World War II is a terrific example of that great truth)!

Tragically, over recent years, government domination has discouraged and pushed the American worker and the ingenuity of our free-enterprise system far back into the shadows.  My question today is, “Can they reemerge and come to the rescue once again?”

If not, I suspect that our national goose is cooked!

But, then this is the simple musings of an old country dude ……. But then, I am a dude who is smart enough not to vote on something before I know what it is that I am casting my vote!

 

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