Scan Medical Insurance

Is Ron Paul the only politician in Washington willing to blame Congress/Gov for most of our problems (long)?

The D's blame the R's. The R's blame the D's. They blame Wall Street, Insurance companies, banks, etc...........Everyone and everything is evil and to blame for all of our problems, except them. Ron Paul...... We should remember that HMOs did not arise because of free-market demand, but rather because of government mandates. The HMO Act of 1973 requires all but the smallest employers to offer their employees HMO coverage, and the tax code allows businesses – but not individuals – to deduct the cost of health insurance premiums. The result is the illogical coupling of employment and health insurance, which often leaves the unemployed without needed catastrophic coverage. While many in Congress are happy to criticize HMOs today, the public never hears how the present system was imposed upon the American people by federal law. As usual, government intervention in the private market failed to deliver the promised benefits and caused unintended consequences, but Congress never blames itself for the problems created by bad laws. Instead, we are told more government is the answer. But government already is involved in roughly two-thirds of all health care spending, through Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs. For decades, the U.S. healthcare system was the envy of the entire world. Not coincidentally, there was far less government involvement in medicine during this time. America had the finest doctors and hospitals, patients enjoyed high-quality, affordable medical care, and thousands of private charities provided health services for the poor. Doctors focused on treating patients, without the red tape and threat of lawsuits that plague the profession today. Most Americans paid cash for basic services, and had insurance only for major illnesses and accidents. This meant both doctors and patients had an incentive to keep costs down, as the patient was directly responsible for payment, rather than an HMO or government program. The lesson is clear: when government and other third parties get involved, health care costs spiral. The answer is a system that encourages everyone – doctors, hospitals, patients, and drug companies – to keep costs down. As long as “somebody else” is paying the bill, the bill will be too high. On the economic crisis........ Last week the federal government's Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission held hearings as part of their continuing investigation into the causes of the acute economic meltdown which occurred in late summer 2008. This bipartisan commission, partly inspired by the Pecora Commission -- which investigated the causes of the Great Depression -- is expected to report back to Congress before the end of the year. Things don't seem to be going well. The individuals questioned by the commission mostly seem to be diverting blame for the whole fiasco to someone else. Nobody is offering any tangible insights into the causes of the financial crisis. Predictably, the commission will avoid calling any witnesses who might unequivocally indict the federal government for its role in the crisis, or suggest solutions which take away government power. Government commissions have a remarkable tendency to recommend granting even more power to the same useless government agencies that so utterly fail to prevent crises in the first place. We saw this with the Pecora Commission, we saw it after 9-11, and we’re seeing it again today with regard to financial regulations. For example, this latest commission almost certainly will suggest granting more power to the SEC, when in fact the SEC should be abolished as an embarrassing farce. Rest assured that this recommendation will be made without apology or sense of irony. http://www.campaignforliberty.com/article.php?view=770

Public Comments

1. That's all Ron Paul DOES. Blame the Fed! Blame the IRS! Abolish everyone!! He's an out there wacko that has no clue.
2. Ron Paul was the only one who admitted that Obama is trying to destroy the dollar on purpose that they want a Global Currency. True? False? I don't know? But thats what Paul Said. I like Ron Paul and think he is honest and has a passion for our country etc...
3. Ron Paul will never be the President, he is not a corporate sell out, therefore he would never get the nod from the Rep party.
4. He is the only politician who has principles.
5. Ron Paul is a politician just like those other folks, he says what he says to get votes.
6. Greenspan ( I know he is not a politician) did say during his testimony that it was Congress and their mandates that caused this mess, including Fannie and Freddie
7. ron paul is an american apologist. we hate apologizers! he IS the government. you have no grasp on reality.
8. Yes and the only politician who does so genuinely. Ron Paul is right about many things in my opinion.