It seems there is little agreement at the federal level regarding healthcare for the American people. Some want to repeal Obamacare and some would like to amend it. And, yes, there are many who want to keep the Affordable Care Act and are angered that President Trump and the Republicans threaten it.
There are some things about the healthcare act upon which every honest American should be able to agree. The first is that Obamacare has failed to provide affordable healthcare to every American. Those without plans could go to the exchanges and sign up for coverage, but many found that coverage unaffordable and were forced to go without and face tax penalties. And those with private insurance found that they could not keep everything as it was. Plans changed, companies opted out and prices increased.
Speaking personally, I was able to keep my insurance through my employer, but it was not the same coverage. I lost prescription coverage and my deductible increased threefold. Yes, I could have kept pretty much the same coverage I had before Obamacare but it would have cost me my full salary and left me nothing for things like food, clothing and housing, which might also be important for healthy living.
Another thing upon which honest Americans should be able to agree is that, if nothing is done soon, the Affordable Care Act will fail. Insurance companies are pulling out of the exchanges and states will not be able to afford the costs of insuring everyone. And, if taxes are raised enough to pay for it, who is going to want to keep working?
The final and most important point upon which every honest American should agree is that providing healthcare is outside of the constitutionally assigned role of federal government. The Constitution limited the role of federal government to certain specific duties and reserved the rest to the states or to the people. Article 1, Section 8, enumerates those powers and providing healthcare insurance is not on the list. The 10th Amendment reserves everything else to the states and to the people.
And, if our politicians would just acknowledge the truth, it would be a no-brainer for both Republicans and Democrats to agree to repeal Obamacare. Aside from being unaffordable and a failure, it is not something the federal government is even permitted to do. Having health insurance, or not, is something which should be decided individually by the people or, if necessary, by the states.
There's no need to fix it at the federal level. There is a need to admit it's outside the purview of federal government and repeal it.
And, while they are repealing the unconstitutional and unaffordable healthcare act, they could also repeal all the other laws, agencies, departments and court rulings which are not included under the federal government's enumerated constitutional duties and powers. That would go a long way toward solving some of our nation's woes. It would certainly help relieve the ever-growing burden of our national debt.
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Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Westside Eagle Observer, which covers Gravette, Dectur and Gentry. He may be contacted by email at [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 03/15/2017