Just governments institute laws to protect, among other things, life, liberty and property. As with all laws, there are consequences for breaking those laws.
What happens when the government institutes laws that directly oppress the rights that governments were instituted to protect, and then punish the people for not obeying or complying with those unjust laws?
That is the very situation the government is creating with the current versions of the health care reform legislation. As shown in one of the last essays, the government does not have the right, even when a majority wills it, to take away the property from one group and give it to another.
Recently the President held a press conference on health care reform. In that conference he said that Health Insurance would be mandated for all (Footnote 1). All able (able as defined by the government) Americans will be forced to participate or be fined. The fine as written into the bills at the moment is an additional 2.5% of your income (Footnote 2). Additionally, all wealthy Americans will be forced to have more of their income taxed to pay for the insurance of those who cannot afford it (Footnote 1). As written in an earlier post, forced “charity” and government intervention where it has no moral authority to act is tyranny and injustice.
Laws are instituted to primarily protect Natural Rights. When those laws are broken, there are consequences. So I ask of you, what natural right is a person transgressing when they, of their own free will and accord, choose not to purchase health insurance? Are they stealing another person’s property when they choose not to purchase a service – for themselves (Footnote 3)? Are they taking another individual’s life when they choose not to purchase a service – for themselves? Are they taking away another person’s liberty when they choose not to purchase a service – for themselves?
Indeed not!
Then what punishment that is just can possibly be levied upon a person who is not trampling upon the rights of another? No such just punishment can exist.
On the contrary, it is the Government that is taking away the Liberty of its people when it forces them to purchase a service when it may be against their will and it is the government who is taking away property when it takes it from one group to give to another.
Rather than protect rights, government has sought to re-define rights and thereby re-define what it can punish. It wants the people to believe that they have the right to demand that the rich pay for the poor’s health care. It wants the people to believe that if one citizen doesn’t participate in the system that they are actually taking away health care from another. It wants the people to believe that Government was instituted to create a more glorious outcome rather than administer Justice and ensure Liberty. It wants the people to believe that the ends justify the means. It wants the people to forget that there is no way to separate the ends from the means. Tyranny to get there will mean tyranny when we get there. Injustice as a path means injustice as a destination.
Can we not see how backwards things have become?
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Footnotes
1. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/07/22/transcript_of_obama_prime-time.html Accessed on August 6, 2009
2. http://keithhennessey.com/2009/07/14/house-taxes-the-uninsured/ Accessed on August 6, 2009
3. Additional Information for the Interested Reader:
Is someone stealing another person’s property when they choose not to purchase insurance for themselves? No. When someone does not pay for a service then it can constitute stealing or theft. For most people though who get a bill that is $5,000 or more and who are required to pay it within a few short months, it is almost certain they will not pay. This is not because they don’t want to, but because the terms don’t allow them to.
If a person who is without health insurance receives a service and is left with a bill in the tens of thousands of dollars, there needs to be a way prepared for such a person to pay their bill. This is one of the areas in which reform is needed but is being neglected. Ways to reform this area include:
1. Reduce the gap between the rate the uninsured pay verses the rate the insurance companies reimburse providers. For many services this gap is enormous. This could be adjusted by a regulation that says the difference should be no greater than X %.
2. Change the way bills are collected from the uninsured. To have 100% of a $5,000 bill due in 120 days is not feasible for most Americans. Allowing individuals to pay off providers for health care bills at a pace they are capable of would help ensure that the bills are paid. Such a schedule could be based on the individual’s income, debts, and family resources.
3. Reduce taxes or increase the deduction allowed for charitable giving. This would help more non-profit organizations to have the resources needed to support those in need.
Amazingly, one of the factors that contributes to the exorbitant amount the uninsured have to pay is the low reimbursement levels from the government and insurance companies. Providers then pass on the loss to other customers paying out of pocket. When those customers don’t pay, they pass them off to the insurance companies. And, at the moment, the health care industry has no incentive to change the way they bill the uninsured because they can quickly pass off those unpaid expenses back onto the insurance companies through higher costs. They cannot, however, pass off those costs at the same rate to the government which in turn forces private insurance rates to increase at an even higher rate.
The reason why the insured often pick up the tab for the uninsured is because of the way the uninsured are billed and of their forced payment arrangement. Change the way the uninsured are billed and the way they are able to pay and you will see them more able to pay their own expenses. This is the kind of reform that is needed. When the government forces compliance with an immoral law it is oppression. When the government punishes the People through fines for non-compliance it is tyranny. When the government takes, by force, the fruits of other people’s labors it is stealing. Reform must align itself with Natural Rights and the protection of them. There is a way to do that and I believe it is the only just and right way that will lead to a better America and a better outcome. Again, tyranny to get there will mean tyranny when we get there. Injustice as a path means injustice as a destination.
What happens when the government institutes laws that directly oppress the rights that governments were instituted to protect, and then punish the people for not obeying or complying with those unjust laws?
That is the very situation the government is creating with the current versions of the health care reform legislation. As shown in one of the last essays, the government does not have the right, even when a majority wills it, to take away the property from one group and give it to another.
Recently the President held a press conference on health care reform. In that conference he said that Health Insurance would be mandated for all (Footnote 1). All able (able as defined by the government) Americans will be forced to participate or be fined. The fine as written into the bills at the moment is an additional 2.5% of your income (Footnote 2). Additionally, all wealthy Americans will be forced to have more of their income taxed to pay for the insurance of those who cannot afford it (Footnote 1). As written in an earlier post, forced “charity” and government intervention where it has no moral authority to act is tyranny and injustice.
Laws are instituted to primarily protect Natural Rights. When those laws are broken, there are consequences. So I ask of you, what natural right is a person transgressing when they, of their own free will and accord, choose not to purchase health insurance? Are they stealing another person’s property when they choose not to purchase a service – for themselves (Footnote 3)? Are they taking another individual’s life when they choose not to purchase a service – for themselves? Are they taking away another person’s liberty when they choose not to purchase a service – for themselves?
Indeed not!
Then what punishment that is just can possibly be levied upon a person who is not trampling upon the rights of another? No such just punishment can exist.
On the contrary, it is the Government that is taking away the Liberty of its people when it forces them to purchase a service when it may be against their will and it is the government who is taking away property when it takes it from one group to give to another.
Rather than protect rights, government has sought to re-define rights and thereby re-define what it can punish. It wants the people to believe that they have the right to demand that the rich pay for the poor’s health care. It wants the people to believe that if one citizen doesn’t participate in the system that they are actually taking away health care from another. It wants the people to believe that Government was instituted to create a more glorious outcome rather than administer Justice and ensure Liberty. It wants the people to believe that the ends justify the means. It wants the people to forget that there is no way to separate the ends from the means. Tyranny to get there will mean tyranny when we get there. Injustice as a path means injustice as a destination.
Can we not see how backwards things have become?
_________________________________________
Footnotes
1. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/07/22/transcript_of_obama_prime-time.html Accessed on August 6, 2009
2. http://keithhennessey.com/2009/07/14/house-taxes-the-uninsured/ Accessed on August 6, 2009
3. Additional Information for the Interested Reader:
Is someone stealing another person’s property when they choose not to purchase insurance for themselves? No. When someone does not pay for a service then it can constitute stealing or theft. For most people though who get a bill that is $5,000 or more and who are required to pay it within a few short months, it is almost certain they will not pay. This is not because they don’t want to, but because the terms don’t allow them to.
If a person who is without health insurance receives a service and is left with a bill in the tens of thousands of dollars, there needs to be a way prepared for such a person to pay their bill. This is one of the areas in which reform is needed but is being neglected. Ways to reform this area include:
1. Reduce the gap between the rate the uninsured pay verses the rate the insurance companies reimburse providers. For many services this gap is enormous. This could be adjusted by a regulation that says the difference should be no greater than X %.
2. Change the way bills are collected from the uninsured. To have 100% of a $5,000 bill due in 120 days is not feasible for most Americans. Allowing individuals to pay off providers for health care bills at a pace they are capable of would help ensure that the bills are paid. Such a schedule could be based on the individual’s income, debts, and family resources.
3. Reduce taxes or increase the deduction allowed for charitable giving. This would help more non-profit organizations to have the resources needed to support those in need.
Amazingly, one of the factors that contributes to the exorbitant amount the uninsured have to pay is the low reimbursement levels from the government and insurance companies. Providers then pass on the loss to other customers paying out of pocket. When those customers don’t pay, they pass them off to the insurance companies. And, at the moment, the health care industry has no incentive to change the way they bill the uninsured because they can quickly pass off those unpaid expenses back onto the insurance companies through higher costs. They cannot, however, pass off those costs at the same rate to the government which in turn forces private insurance rates to increase at an even higher rate.
The reason why the insured often pick up the tab for the uninsured is because of the way the uninsured are billed and of their forced payment arrangement. Change the way the uninsured are billed and the way they are able to pay and you will see them more able to pay their own expenses. This is the kind of reform that is needed. When the government forces compliance with an immoral law it is oppression. When the government punishes the People through fines for non-compliance it is tyranny. When the government takes, by force, the fruits of other people’s labors it is stealing. Reform must align itself with Natural Rights and the protection of them. There is a way to do that and I believe it is the only just and right way that will lead to a better America and a better outcome. Again, tyranny to get there will mean tyranny when we get there. Injustice as a path means injustice as a destination.
2 comments:
This government is increasingly facing a very, very unwilling public when it comes to this tyrannical sort of health care plan. Their agenda is becoming painfully transparent. Universal health care for them is just a vehicle for a fascist state. If they had any respect at all for our life, liberty, and property, they would approach reform the way you have suggested; that is, helping the uninsured actually pay their obligations.
Erin and I now have a high-deductible health plan with an HSA. It has worked very well for us and I think it would work for most people. If people could just get on board with the idea that insurance is meant for a catastrophe that would wipe you out financially if you didn't have it, but not to pay for every illness and injury, I don't think this reform would be so difficult (except for the government piece, of course--they make everything much harder than it has to be at every possible opportunity).
With freedom, we can find a way to help the less fortunate. If we are all oppressed, it will only increase the numbers of less fortunate individuals and I don't think the government is a very charitable organization.
Ethan,
I agree that the kind of government involvement being pushed through Congress is a kind that will create more oppression and increase the numbers of destitute down the road. There is a very much needed place for government in health care and industry. I just wish they would actually do that job... There is no replacement for government in securing and protecting our rights as Human Beings. We need them to do that.
When government seeks to create a more glorious society, it must fail. I think the health care reform debate on the left is lead by many wonderful, well meaning people with laudable intentions. I wish everyone had such desires to create a better society. If we all did we wouldn't be in this position. However, there is a true break between the end they desire and the means they use to create them. They are impossible to separate.
They are selling fantastic dreams that will turn into many people's nightmare. Let's hope we can defeat these measures and work to elevate government to its proper role.
Keep up the good fight Ethan!