Comments on: Conservatives May Create The Horrors They Warned About In Health Care Reform

By: » Obama Expresses Reservations About Stupak Amendment Liberal Values

» Obama Expresses Reservations About Stupak Amendment Liberal Values — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:29:27 +0000

[...] Conservatives May Create The Horrors They Warned About In Health Care Reform [...]

By: Eclectic Radical

Eclectic Radical — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:53:46 +0000

I understand why a lot of moderate Democrats are willing to sacrifice full coverage for women in exchange for passage of health care reform. Despite their pro-choice stance as it comes to regulation, they have moral qualms about abortion itself. I understand that because I feel the same way despite not being very ‘moderate’ at all.

The problem is, it really does not (or rather should not) matter whether you give moral sanction to abortion or not. If you support the notion that women should have equal access to economic and social freedoms enjoyed by men, you have to accept abortion as a necessary guarantee of those freedoms. It tastes bad, perhaps, but it is the way it is.

The only rational rebuttal to abortion-rights is the Schlafy-esque position that women should not be equal. This is far less morally acceptable, to me, than unrestricted access to abortion-on-demand.

I used to be moderately pro-life until I really wrapped my brain around this, and while I am still anti-abortion on a basic moral level I am entirely pro-choice on a regulatory level.

By: Ron Chusid

Ron Chusid — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:55:21 +0000

Mike,

Conservatives can always add restrictions upon people’s lives in the future. They probably will. That’s what conservatives do–reduce people’s freedom while talking about freedom. That is irrelevant to the current health care plan which provides more choice. Passing this plan does nothing to increase the damage which conservatives will likely do in the future if they get back in power in future legislation.

By: Mike Hatcher b.t.r.m.

Mike Hatcher b.t.r.m. — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:28:28 +0000

But if consevatives can add a restriction, albeit just one, now. What is to stop them from adding more in the future? This may not start out bad but I’m convinced it will someday be the conduit for government intervention into our lives. Call me paranoid if you’d like but your example of the abortion restriction gives evidence that it can happen.

By: Ron Chusid

Ron Chusid — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:59:15 +0000

Mike,

The bill doesn’t give the government any more power over personal aspects of our lives except where the conservatives added this with restrictions on abortion. If not for this unfortunate addition to please conservatives, the bill would give individuals more control over their health care and reduce outside meddling in doctor-patient decisions.

Note the evaluation of the American Medical Association on this matter (and ignore everything you’ve heard about the bill from Fox and talk radio).

By: Mike Hatcher b.t.r.m.

Mike Hatcher b.t.r.m. — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:55:39 +0000

You are really speaking my language on this post. This is why even liberals should give pause before having the government become much more involved in the most personal aspects of our lives. As you have said before, the government is already heavily involved in health care. I of course, blame the biggests of the problems in health care to too much state regulation and antitrust measures. But politicians don’t last forever (thank goodness). And someday all the expansion of power given to the government by this bill will likely be in the hands of Fox News watching Republicans, then what? The someday single payer might pull payment strings on society that liberals aren’t going to like. Think of it this way, would you want a Rush Limbaugh minded individual someday being a healthcare czar in charge of your government option health insurance? If we need to free up the markets where some insurance companies have near monopolys or if some anti-trust laws need to be done away with, fine. But please don’t put in the hands of the federal government another tool which they have the potential of messing with us like they do with states and highway funds, like they do with companies after sinking their hooks in with bailout money. I remember way back when some people thought government was overstepping their bounds by “forcing” motorcyclists to wear helmets and drivers to wear seatbelts. But now I don’t hear any dissent on these issues. Maybe we’ll all be better once the government starts using the leverage of health care to make us eat safer and live healthier. For me, I’d rather be a little less safe and a little more free.