Posts in "Universal Health Care"

By Adam Fowler at 7:40AM

Jan 29, 2011

The Waivers List

As an objection lesson, below is a list of health plans that have been granted waivers from the requirement in the new healthcare 'reform' law ending yearly benefit limits. There are two main problems with this scenario. One is that it flies in the face of the promise that Americans would be able to keep their existent health insurance plans if they want to. The other is that it grants the authority to an appointed, unelected government official - the Health and Human Services Secretary - to simply exempt certain companies from a law.

While you think about those issues, gaze upon this list of over 700 plans that have been granted waivers (Warning: It's long!):

Read more here

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By Mikayla Hall at 4:09PM

Jan 20, 2011

YAL Member on Front Page of The Daily

On the 2nd anniversary of YAL's first activism event, Real Change Requires R3volution, the YAL chapter at the University of Washington continues to remain in the forefront of campus political activities. After a successful Autumn Quarter, the UW College Republicans asked YAL members Steve Heidenreich and Justin Clements (the YAL-UW chapter president) to debate on their behalf, this time on the repeal of the Health Care Bill. Following last night's debate, Justin's face was on the cover of UW's newspaper, The Daily:

College Republican Justin Clements argued that the Affordable Care Act leads to too much government control and that the bill represents “one of the more terrifying aspects of government expansion.”
...[Steve] Heidenreich offered some right-wing solutions to the health-care issue, including allowing insurance to be sold across state lines. He said that there are hundreds of health-insurance companies in the United States, but they can’t compete against each other nationwide.
“You can’t lower prices without competition,” Heidenreich said.

To read the rest of the debate coverage, The Daily article is here. To watch footage of the debate, part 1 can be found here. Parts 2-4 will be posted soon.

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By Zak Slayback at 9:20PM

Jan 14, 2011

Kansas Joins Anti-Obamacare Suit, Bringing Total Number of States to 26

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has asked to have his state join the Florida-led anti-Obamacare lawsuit, bringing the total number of challenges to 26.

The lawsuit, which revolves around Georgetown Law Professor Randy Barnett's argument that the inaction is not covered by the all-powerful commerce clause, has gained ground in recent months. The number of states suing the national government ought not to matter, as Ilya Somin points out:

Legally speaking, it doesn’t matter whether the number of states challenging the law is twenty-six or two. Indeed, it should not even matter whether any states oppose the law at all, so long as there is at least one private plaintiff with standing (and there are in fact many such). The arguments for and against the law will be the same.

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By Alexander Habighorst at 6:49AM

Jul 1, 2010

Government-Run VA Hospital Possibly Infects 1,800 Veterans with Deadly Diseases

In a recent article from CNN, it appears a VA hospital in Missouri may have exposed 1,800 veterans to diseases such as HIV or hepatitis:

John Cochran VA Medical Center in St. Louis has recently mailed letters to 1,812 veterans telling them they could contract hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) after visiting the medical center for dental work, said Rep. Russ Carnahan.

Read the full report here. This certainly doesn't make universal health care look any more attractive...

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By Seth Mann at 11:01AM

Apr 6, 2010

the iPad vs. the oPad (free market vs communism)

The case for iPad reform!

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By Bonnie Kristian at 11:14AM

Mar 26, 2010

The Southern Avenger on Obamacare

Read the full text of the Southern Avenger's principled opposition to Obamacare here.

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By Wesley Messamore at 6:51PM

Mar 24, 2010

The Health Care Fight Is Not Over: 5 Things You Can Still Do

At least for me, there can be little doubt that passage of the new health care reconciliation bill this weekend was a major loss for libertarians, the ailing American economy, the old and sick, the young and healthy, small business owners, America's struggling middle and lower classes, and yes- even the uninsured (who will now have to go through the government to get to the care they need- not really much of an improvement).

But the battle is not over. There are still five things important things you can do. Read all five here.

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By Bonnie Kristian at 5:48PM

Mar 24, 2010

Congressman: Health Care Bill Authorized by "Good and Welfare Clause"

Wait, what? There is no "good and welfare clause." As the Cato blog reports:

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) was asked on Friday where in the Constitution Congress gets the power to force people to buy health insurance. He said, “Under several clauses, the good and welfare clause and a couple others.”

As it happens, there is no “good and welfare clause” — which Conyers should know, as both judiciary chairman and a lawyer. But even if you excuse his casual use of constitutional language, what he probably means — the General Welfare Clause of Article I, Section 8 — is not a better answer. What that clause does is limit Congress’s use of the powers enumerated elsewhere in that section to legislation that promotes ”the general welfare.” ... In any event, the General Welfare Clause doesn’t give Congress any additional powers — and I’d be curious to know what the other “several clauses” are.

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By Andrew Smith at 5:39AM

Mar 23, 2010

Health Care: What It Means and What We Should Do About It

This is a note I posted on Facebook earlier today. I figured I'd go ahead and post it here as well.

No doubt, most of you have heard the news. The Healthcare Bill that we have spent many months (years?) attacking, finally passed the Congress, and will be sent to the President's desk to sign into law. I would like to withdraw from the political mudslinging fest for a moment and deal with some of the hard core principles discussed around this issue.

First, I'll deal with what most of the Democratic pundits and politicians have said. The purpose and intent of this bill is as follows: It will provide healthcare for those who can't afford it, it will "apply competitive forces" into the free market forcing firms to drive their prices down, and lastly, it will not raise our deficits as much of the funds for it will be derived from the already existing Medicare and social security programs.

Read more here

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By Bonnie Kristian at 12:25PM

Mar 22, 2010

What to Expect if/when the Health Care Bill Becomes Law

Pardon the “when,” but I’m feeling pessimistic.

Regardless, Reuters provides a summary of what provisions will take effect when should the health care bill make it to Obama’s desk. Not to be lazy, but I’ve copied the complete list below. While reading this summary, keep in mind Thomas DiLorenzo’s interesting point on LewRockwell.com about the votes this health care bill is undoubtedly meant to buy: the legislation “promises to cut Medicare spending by hundreds of billions of dollars while increasing Medicaid spending by hundreds of billions. At least half of all Medicare enrollees vote Republican; almost all Medicaid enrollees vote Democrat.”

Dan McCarthy at the American Conservative paints an unfortunate picture of the prospects of the health care bill’s eventual repeal:

[W]hat does anyone seriously expect from the next batch of Republicans to take power? If the GOP takes back one chamber of Congress this year, that won’t be enough to make significant revisions, and if the party manages the minor miracle of taking back both House and Senate, you can be sure Republicans would amend the legislation only to the point of offering their own big-government “solution” to the healthcare “crisis.”

He’s a little more optimistic about the possibility of a revival of nullification, and I have to agree. There are encouraging reports coming out of the Tenth Amendment Center, such as this map of health care bill nullification legislation.

Read more here

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