Who’s responsibility is it anyway?
At the center of this healthcare debate is a core question that all Americans must consider carefully. Who’s responsibility is our healthcare? I’m immediately struck by the vainness of this question. Could anyone else be responsible for me and my family’s healthcare? How would that work? Who else, besides me, can really know how I feel, what my body is telling me, and what I need, at any given moment to remain healthy, vibrant and well? Is it not the epitome of laziness and irresponsibility to assign someone else the responsibility for our healthcare and well being? Does anyone else, besides my doctor, have any business being involved in decisions effecting my healthcare? The answers seem clear to me, but I also happen to believe that the role of any limited, decentralized government should be as protector, not as provider. There is a huge difference and our Constitution spells it out plainly.
Several times a week, I am struck by the sheer insanity of the discussion we are having. It’s hard to believe that government-run healthcare is even on the table for discussion. It’s inherent immorality, impracticality, and history of failure are so conspicuous that one is forced to question the motivation behind what would ultimately result in a fundamental shift in the relationship between the U.S. citizen and it’s government.
At the end of the day, we should be asking ourselves this question: If we truly care for the health of our families, friends, and neighbors, is it right to relinquish the responsibility of healthcare to a self-serving entity located hundreds of miles away that can’t properly operate our postal system, Amtrak, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Welfare, Education, a ‘cash for clunkers’ scheme, or even it’s own Capital Hill dining room? We would do well to remember that only one of these failing operations is the constitutional responsibility of the federal government. Can you guess which one? President Obama recently spoke of it as “always struggling” while its private sector, free enterprise counter parts – Fed Ex and UPS – do just fine…
