Posted by M. Wright | Filed in: Media, Politics
At the risk of this becoming the anti-Wendi-Thomas blog, we must at least touch on her latest column, published this morning. In it, the Commerical Appeal columnist declares healthcare is a right of Americans. She compares a federally-funded universal medical care plan to already existing services funded by taxpayers, such as police protection, fire-fighting and paved roads. Thomas also casts doubt on those who object to socialist healthcare or have criticized the latest Michael Moore film, writing, “I truly believe that some of the resistance toward universal health care is because some people don’t believe we all deserve to be healthy.”
I’m certainly willing to explore the philosophical idea of healthcare as a right; I’m also willing to re-examine our policies in terms of helping poor, elderly and uninsured Americans. I look forward, in fact, to participating in a national discussion on that topic, as I’m sure there are good things to be said on both sides.
But for now, let’s just stop for a moment and take a look at the inconsistency of this columnist’s argument.
From previous columns we know that Wendi Thomas refers to herself as being “pro-choice,” meaning she is in favor of abortion.
So first, how is it that she can believe we have a right to health care if she denies we have a right to life itself?
Second, abortion advocates such as Thomas frequently cite a woman’s right to privacy, or a woman’s right for her “health care decisions” to remain only between her and her doctor. So how is it that Thomas now wants government not only to foot the bill, but also to be fully involved in all of our healthcare decisions?
Under “free” universal healthcare, not only does government violate your privacy by reaching into your pocket to pay for your neighbor’s abortions, but it also remains apprised of your health care decisions, and in fact chooses what kind of care you will receive, and where you will receive it, and how often.
Advocating both a “right to privacy” and a “right to health care” — that’s hypocrisy on steroids.
July 26th, 2007 at 8:18 am
When the government starts paying for the cost of the education for health care workers and the cost of setting up their practices then it might be fair for the govenment to tell them what to charge. Until then, like every other business in this country, the government needs to keep its nose OUT of it. Insurance is bad enough already at dictating the care and quality of care by what they will pay. Insurance companies have one goal - to make money and taking the best possible care of the patient is not on the top of their priorty list. You could argue that every one is entitled to food, too, but you don’t see any insurance company or government regulations on how much a grocery store can charge!
July 26th, 2007 at 10:24 am
Come, come, Tammie — you just don’t think we deserve to be healthy. ;)
July 26th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
We really ought to go back to the days of for-profit fire departments. Things were so much better back when the fire protection was left in the hands of the unregulated market.
Why should I have to pay taxes for some schmuck who didn’t bother to change the batteries in his smoke detector?
July 26th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
It’s a stretch. Sort of like saying that those who want a strong military are pro-war, and thus, advocates of killing, which would make them abortion advocates too (and against universal healthcare), according to this logic.
July 26th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
The Bill Of Rights does not List 1 Right. Healthcare, speech, religion… none.
Health care is not a Right, mick and I agree.. stop the world…
July 26th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Sorry, Autoegocrat, false argument. If my neighbor starts a fire, it can spread to my home or the homes and businesses of others. It’s a public danger.
If you eat yourself into diabetes and a heart attack, it does not affect me. If you live your life smoking and contract lung cancer, how is that a danger to me?
The problem isn’t more insurance money. That’s the problem. Get the profit motive out of medicine by extracting the insurance companies, not empowering them and giving them control.
Silly socialists….
July 27th, 2007 at 3:45 am
Yeah, you’re right Mike. Silly me, I forgot that diseases don’t spread like fire.
I hope the next cop that saves your ass from a mugging hands you a bill.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:30 am
I think you all are confusing the Federal Government with the State or local government.
The Federal Government powers are FEW. The State’s power is, in theory, unlimited. (only limited by what the voters and legislators want, as long as it does not conflict with Federal law).
Police and Fire are not FEDERAL. National Healthcare would be FEDERAL. (and fire/police protection is not a right either, you don’t have to pay for rights, they come from God and they are FREE!)
July 27th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
You wrote: Advocating both a “right to privacy” and a “right to health care” — that’s hypocrisy on steroids.
Good point.
July 28th, 2007 at 10:59 am
Good points, Mickey!
Autoegocrat bleated: I hope the next cop that saves your ass from a mugging hands you a bill.
He did. It’s called the property tax and even apartment owners pay it.
After watching first hand as the cops battled the drug dealers on my street and next door to me, I’ve developed a whole new attitude and appreciation for them. Not all are saints or sin-free, of course, but they work awfully hard within some strange and artificial limits, on my behalf.
I must also say that it’s another of those Things That Amuse Me Endlessly to watch the folks who will lambaste the military for waste, fraud, abuse, mismanagement, ass-covering, political back-scratching and forgetting the very people who serve under them (remember “no armor for soldiers in Iraq?”) will then turn around and say “Let’s replicate that whole structure and turn our health care over to them!”
From thousand dollar toilet seats to hundred dollar needles. Sounds like a good idea to me!
Silly socialists….
July 28th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
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