Defeat of Prop. 186
As political pundits examine the results of last week’s historic election, the overwhelming defeat of Prop. 186, the “single-payer” initiative, ought to send a message to the proponents of increased government in medicine. A whopping 73% of Californians rejected a government takeover of the health care industry.
Take note, Mrs. Clinton: Of all the major ballot measures in the nation this election, “No on single-payer” received a higher percentage of votes than any other legislation, including Prop. 187 and the assisted-suicide initiative in Oregon.
Single-payer is wrong on principle. The Declaration of Independence recognizes the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This means your life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. You have no right to that of your neighbor. The Founding Fathers didn’t recognize a “right” to health care. Your sickness is not a claim on the livelihood of a doctor. You have the right to work for your health care, earn it and pay for his services.
If the next health care task force is tempted to repackage single-payer, here’s some truth in advertising: It means that hospitals will be operated, managed and financed by government.
Prop. 186’s promise of a statist utopia rested on the notion that you’re born with a right to someone else’s actions. If you accept this idea, you accept socialized medicine. The solution lies in the way we purchase health care insurance. Currently, government encourages HMOs, resulting in a “choice” of only HMOs, which perpetuates a third-party payer system. Patients have grown accustomed to the idea that someone pays the bills.
Instead of being dependent on another generation or the state to give you or your company a health care handout, you should choose, manage and finance your own health care. We advocate phasing out Medicare in favor of tax-free medical savings accounts as a means of liberating patients from the bureaucracy of today’s health care financing system. In other words, capitalism.
SCOTT HOLLERAN, Executive Director
Americans for Free Choice in Medicine
Newport Beach
