Long experience has taught us that “government-run” monopolies don’t work for our public schools. That is why it is ironic that President Barack Obama—who supports more charter schools, which would increase competition, lessen government regulation, and provide innovation and choice to parents—is pushing a health care plan that will result in another government-run monopoly. What a bad idea. Monopolies don’t work and they aren’t good for a free enterprise system—or America.
One of the strongest opponents to the plan has been our governor, Bobby Jindal, who has strong credentials as an expert on health care. He has expressed his opposition in opinion columns on the politico.com Web site and in the Wall Street Journal. He also appeared on CNN and Fox News to state his views, and on CBS’ The Early Show the day after the president’s primetime news conference last week to respond.
On The Early Show, Jindal said of Obama’s performance, “His marketing is the best part of this. He said he does not want to increase the deficit, does not want government control of health care. He wants people to keep their insurance. He wants to crack down on the abuse, the overutilization. All that’s great. The problem is that’s not what’s in the House Democratic bill. The House Democratic bill increases the deficit by $250 billion [and] increases the burden on employers. Why would we want to do that during one of the worst recessions in decades?”
Jindal stated that the status quo is not acceptable, but said a government-run plan is not the solution. He said, “We don’t want a bureaucrat telling us which treatments we can receive, which providers to go to, how much they’ll be paid. We don’t want government competition in TV stations, in factories, in stores, in groceries. Why do we think we need government competition in health care? Why do we need the government to run a plan to make health care work?”
In his opinion column in the Journal, Jindal said he believes Washington is making the same mistake that Hillary Clinton did in 1993-94: not dealing honestly with reform and the American people.
One example he points to is the president’s claim that if you like your private plan you can keep it. True, but Jindal writes, “If a so-called public option is part of health-care reform, the Lewin Group study estimates over 100 million Americans may leave private plans for government-run health care. Any government plan will benefit from taxpayer subsidies and be able to operate at a financial loss—competing unfairly in the marketplace until private plans are driven out of business. The government plan will become so large that it will set, rather than negotiate, prices. This will inevitably lead to monopoly, with a resulting threat to the quality of our health care.”
There you have it. A new monopoly and the quality of health care goes the way of our public education, which currently ranks way down the list internationally. Our health care is the best in the world.
Jindal writes that health care reform must stress these seven principles: consumer choice guided by transparency; aligned consumer interests; medical lawsuit reform; insurance reform; pooling for small businesses, the self-employed and others; pay for performance, not activity; and refundable tax credits for low-income working Americans without health insurance.
Jindal concludes, “These steps would bring down health-care costs. They would not bankrupt our nation or increase taxes in the midst of a recession. They are achievable reforms with bipartisan consensus and public support. All they require is a willingness by the president to slow down and have an honest discussion with Americans about the real downstream consequences of his ideas.”
Obama offered few specifics in his national appearance last week on such a critical issue to our future, but he insists the bills be passed in the next week or so. In other words, he wants Congress and citizens to swallow hard and fast like they did on the stimulus package with little or no discussion. I don’t think so.
You may have seen the TV spots by “Healthy Economy Now” which threaten, “If we don’t act now ...” The spot says “The president and the Congress have a plan.” Oh really? Which plan? How much will it really cost? Who pays? There are many unanswered questions. I’ll “just say no” until we get the truth.
Welcome Mr. Dilworth
I recently had the pleasure of meeting our new East Baton Rouge Parish superintendent of schools, John Dilworth, and the first impression I got was a very positive one. I also liked what I heard him say at a recent public meeting when faced with a crowd of angry parents demanding their way. He reminded them all not to forget “it’s about the children.” Now there’s a man who has his priorities right and has the courage to tell it like it is. I like that. I also understand he believes in accountability and is not afraid of change. In fact, he expects things to change.
As most of us already know, if things don’t change in what’s left of our EBR public schools, the remaining support from the public and the business community will fade. In addition, we will see more state takeovers. We might even see more independent districts formed, like Central and Zachary, that seek to break away. It could happen.
I am encouraged by what I have heard thus far from Dilworth, who I learned has the distinction of being a former Broad Resident [selected by the Broad Foundation]. I will choose to remain cautiously optimistic. He has a huge job ahead of him and I wish him the best. Now if the school board will just stay out of his way and keep silent, he might have a shot.
La. and B.R. rank No. 1
We are atop one of those “good lists.” Louisiana picked up top honors from Southern Business & Development magazine for its economic development wins in 2008. The state was named Co-State of the Year [along with Tennessee], while Baton Rouge was named as the top city in its respective category. This is the second time in three years Louisiana was named State of the Year, and the second consecutive year Baton Rouge topped the mid-market category. “Over the last three years no state in the South has performed better than Louisiana,” says the magazine, noting that the state has come a long way since the mid-1990s when its biggest deals were new Wal-Mart stores. Louisiana’s ranking is due to big economic development projects such as the Shaw Group’s decision to build nuclear power plant modules in Lake Charles, the $110 million Federal City project in New Orleans and Albemarle’s decision to move its corporate headquarters to Baton Rouge.
And there was more good news last week when Calcasieu and East Baton Rouge parishes were ranked third and fourth in the United States for weekly wage increases at the end of 2008, according to a report released by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Adam Knapp, president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, says the increases are impressive, considering that Baton Rouge is also a national leader in the number of new jobs being added. “Seeing two vital economic indicators like wages and jobs increasing in tandem proves strong economic stability, especially amidst a national recession,” Knapp says.
Kudos to Jindal, LED Secretary Stephen Moret, Mayor Kip Holden, Knapp and all elected and local officials who played a part on our team’s success. This is great news and verifies we can compete nationally.
Comments
Posted by Being_Stupid on July 29, 2009 at 3:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Public School System = angry parents, stupid kids, stupid school board, ACLU Complaints about prayer, Teachers Union complaining about poor pay, wasted tax dollars, etc. etc.
Why don't we go to vouchers?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx4pN-aio...
Posted by Being_Stupid on July 30, 2009 at 12:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Universal Healthcare = Universal Failure
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEXFUbSbg...
Posted by Being_Stupid on July 30, 2009 at 1:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
HSA's are the answer.
(Health Savings Accounts)
See what WHOLE FOODS Grocery Chain is doing to make their workers aware about their health insurance coverage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsp_Jh5EI...
Posted by nonyabizz on July 30, 2009 at 11:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Jindal has strong credentials on health care????? Gimme a break!
Posted by JohnWelchLandArch on July 30, 2009 at 11:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We have the best health care system in the world if you are healthy and rich. Instead of criticizing what has been developed, press your leaders to continue to work on the plan to make it work for all. I see very few people complaining about their social security checks nor their medicare coverage. Seems to work pretty well for them.
Posted by sayitaintsojoe on July 30, 2009 at 11:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr McCollister logic falls guilty of the classical misconception that a statement becomes true should it be repeated enough time.
- According to the World Health Organization, the US is far from the "best in the world":
"The U.S. health system spends a higher portion of its gross domestic product than any other country but ranks 37 out of 191 countries according to its performance, the report finds. The United Kingdom, which spends just six percent of GDP on health services, ranks 18 th . Several small countries – San Marino, Andorra, Malta and Singapore are rated close behind second- placed Italy." [cf: http://www.who.int/whr/2000/media_centre... ]
For the record, most of the top health systems ARE public systems.
- "Bobby Jindal, [...] has strong credentials as an expert on health care". What are exactly his concrete credentials? What specific achievements made him deserve this title?
- The comparison with the public school system does not make any sense. If indeed the health system is comparable to the school system, then following the argument that public health is unfair competition which will lead to the financial ruin of private health insurance, all private schools should have gone bankrupt by now, right?
- Finally, I am still trying to understand how tax credits will benefit the lowest income bracket, those whose income taxes are below the average cost of healthcare... Could there be a flaw in this plan?
Posted by craig_0926 on July 30, 2009 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Government can't run education? Public universities are still the strongest higher education our country has; and most states run a very good public education system (not sure why Louisiana can't). Also, if this editorial is suggesting our current health care providers are efficiently run, then I would disagree on that account also.
Posted by JohnWelchLandArch on July 30, 2009 at 1:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sayitaintsojoe and crair_0926 are completely correct. After witnessing the debacle that Jindal has brought on New Orleans by not reopening Charity Hospital, I doubt that he truly understands anything about healthcare.
Posted by fitzy on July 30, 2009 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Drawing the parallel between public education and public healthcare is highly misleading and faulty logic. Public education is largely run by state and local school boards. It tends to work well when it is well funded (e.g., Michigan, Virginia) and poorly in states like Louisiana that aren't willing to commit requisite resources. Jindal, the legislature and voters are squarely to blame in this case, not the concept of government-run services in and of themselves.
I think the publisher would also be better off leaning on grounded, empirical evidence in these editorials rather than clinging to an overly simple ideology of limited government.
Posted by LiberalLady on July 30, 2009 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you all so much for saying exactly what I was thinking, but better. If government can't run healthcare, why is it that my parents' generation have not all opted out of Medicare? Is Mr. McCollister going to 'just say no' to that benefit when it comes time (and that time is a'comin'). I have relatives in their 80s who get every kind of expensive and intensive treatment and giggle when they only have to pay a few hundred dollars for it. Granted, they pay for supplemental insurance, but even that is only pennies on the dollar compared to what they get in return.
Posted by mmoles on July 30, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm really trying to figure out why everyone says we have the best healthcare in the world... I'm obviously not reading the correct reports. If you look at the two links below, even the one that questions the 2000 WHO report, it still does't say we are the best in the world.
I would agree MY health care is great, but just curious why Mr. McCollister says ours(I'm assuming he means the country in general not just middle class and above) is the best in the world... I'm sure there are links that say so, so would you please post them here for me to study or eplain in more detail so that I may compare apples to apples.
Thanks,
Mike
http://dll.umaine.edu/ble/U.S.%20HCweb.p...
http://www.cato.org/pubs/bp/bp101.pdf
Posted by SammyJankis on July 30, 2009 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"And there was more good news last week when Calcasieu and East Baton Rouge parishes were ranked third and fourth in the United States for weekly wage increases at the end of 2008, according to a report released by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics."
I'm not sure about the source of Calcasieu's wage increase, but I would surmise the salaries being paid to Jindal's executive staff and their staffs might have a bit of an impact on the wage growth in EBR.
Posted by Diva on July 31, 2009 at 2:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Lewin Report, mentioned by Jindal, is owned by United Health Care. Hardly an unbiased source.
Posted by pmccarron on August 1, 2009 at 4:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's the Government's job to provide my job.
It's the Government's job to provide my housing.
It's the Government's job to provide my schooling.
It's the Government's job to provide my healthcare.
It's the Government's job to provide for my family.
What sort of country do you think we would have today if our ancestors thought this way?
Freedom requires Responsibility.
If you rely on government to do it for you, then you are already a slave. You are not free.
Posted by Fred on August 3, 2009 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Government is already providing about 60% of the nation's healthcare. It seems Mr. Jindal isn't too concerned about government provided healthcare since that is what he uses for himself and his family.
Our nation is in desperate need of healthcare reform and I for one am curious what the government will propose. Stop listening to pundits like the 24 hour news stations and let's wait to see what the government proposes before we throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Posted by fourx5 on August 9, 2009 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I say we get rid of the VA and Medicare, too - those government run health programs don't help anyone.
Posted by fourx5 on August 9, 2009 at 3:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rolfe:
When you're squandering your last shreds of credibility, it's usually a good idea to, you know, STOP making an idiot out of yourself.
You're either the second most ill-informed person in the country (Palin is obviously first) or you just like making stuff up in order to support your talking points.
Posted by dojhaffe225 on August 11, 2009 at 3:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Am I the only one who notices that Rolfe hangs his entire health care reform argument on one study done by the Lewin Group? Rolfe do you know who the Lewin Group is? They're owned by UnitedHealthcare. What a coincidence! Think that "study" is accurate? FactCheck.org doesn't think so.
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