Good for you Franklin! And Cato for having the courage to commit political sacrilege by recommending free-market solutions to HC costs. Although it doesn't take a genius to see that high costs are a direct result of gov intrusion into the industry, any mention of such heresy is as rare in today's HC discussions as a Mormon at a Pagan Festival. But sadly (or predictably, considering said rarity) Cato barely scratches the surface when describing how to get HC costs down with free-market methods (notice how they don't describe it as "getting government out"). Licensing laws and insurance issues are only a fraction of the problem. Besides doctors and nurses/nursing, there is a huge amount of HC regulations controlling basically everything: drugs, procedures, personnel, structures/buildings, vehicles, forms, devices - such as their usage, design, manufacture, testing, insuring, sales, warranty, distribution, etc. It's almost endless. And all those things serve to eliminate small business competition (which lowers price and increases quality). But Cato's most glaring omissions were the cost-raising effect of gov HC agencies and the prescription drug system. Just eliminating those two things would greatly reduce HC costs.
While the government is obviously the culprit, the deafening silence about these no-brainer cost reducers reveals the more underlying problem: our selves. Because of our (society's) fear of the market and our health (and our belief in angelic government), we have put ourselves into this mess by petitioning for gov regulation - and jettisoning HC right into the stratosphere. And now we do not want to admit it - because deep down we are still afraid of the same old bogeymen. I used to think the ultimate litmus-test question for Libertarians was whether drug prohibition should be eliminated, but now I think it's asking whether all HC/medical regulations and agencies should be eliminated. I'm amazed at the number of otherwise "purist" libertarians who can not say "yes". I find it personally disgusting. ------------------------ PRESS RELEASE: Libertarian Florida State House (District 33) Candidate Franklin Perez Opposes Current Health Care Bill Being Considered By the United States House of Representatives - Proposes Free Market Solutions to Current Health Care Problems From: [email protected] To: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: PRESS RELEASE: Libertarian Florida State House (District 33) Candidate Franklin Perez Opposes Current Health Care Bill Being Considered By the United States House of Representatives - Proposes Free Market Solutions to Current Health Care Problems Date: Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:03:07 +0000 From: Franklin Perez Florida House District 33 Libertarian Candidate PRESS RELEASE: Libertarian Florida State House (District 33) Candidate Franklin Perez Opposes Current Health Care Bill Being Considered By the United States House of Representatives - Proposes Free Market Solutions to Current Health Care Problems Dear Members of the Press and Public: I am writing to OPPOSE the current Health Care Fiasco Bill that is being considered by the United States House of Representatives. I believe it will sink our nation further in the RED as indicated in the below e-mail from the Libertarian Party. On this issue, I stand in support of the Libertarian Party in OPPOSING this Health Care Bill Fiasco. As indicated by Redpath in the below e-mail from the Libertarian Party: Redpath concluded, "This is a top-down, Washington-mandated control of health insurance and health care in this nation. It is the antithesis of consumer-driven health care, which is what will ultimately be necessary to control health care costs and to provide the best health care for the greatest number of people." And although I was not able to attend many of the protests OPPOSING this disastrous Health Bill because of having to walk my District, working my normal job, and working on my campaign, I stand in support & express my solidarity with of ALL the protesters protesting this Health Care Bill Fiasco. I commend ALL of the protesters protesting this Health Care Bill Fiasco. I am insisting in the STRONGEST terms to my United States Representative, Suzanne Kosmas: DO NOT VOTE FOR THE SOCIALIZED MEDICINE SCHEME THAT OBAMA IS TRYING TO SHOVE DOWN OUR THROATS. The ONLY reforms that will work are the ones that draw on the strength of the Free-Market as advocated by the CATO Institute, a well-respected Libertarian think-tank. You may go to the http://healthcare.cato.org/free-market-approach-health-care-refor m hyperlink to see for yourself. Reform in Health Care IS needed, but not the type that Barrack Obama advocates. So, what is the Free-Market Approach to Health Care that would be best? Well, as indicated in the http://healthcare.cato.org/free-market-approach-health-care-refor m hyperlink: President Obama is right when he says that the U.S. health care system needs reform. Although this country provides the finest care in the world, our health care system has serious problems. It costs too much. Too many people lack health insurance. And quality can be uneven. But a government takeover of the health care system, as proposed by the president and some in Congress, would be a step in the wrong direction. Instead, we should pursue a uniquely American solution, one that builds on free markets, competition and choice. Let individuals control their health care dollars, and free them to choose from a wide variety of health plans and providers. Move away from a health care system dominated by employer-provided health insurance. Health insurance should be personal and portable, controlled by individuals themselves rather than government or an employer. Employment-based insurance hides much of the true cost of health care to consumers, thereby encouraging over-consumption. It also limits consumer choice, since employers get final say over what type of insurance a worker will receive. It means people who don't receive insurance through work are put at a significant and costly disadvantage. And, of course, it means that if you lose your job, you are likely to end up uninsured as well. Changing from employer to individual insurance requires changing the tax treatment of health insurance. The current system excludes the value of employer-provided insurance from a worker's taxable income. However, a worker purchasing health insurance on their own must do so with after-tax dollars. This provides a significant tilt towards employer-provided insurance, which should be reversed. Workers should receive a standard deduction, a tax credit, or, better still, large Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for the purchase of health insurance, regardless of whether they receive it through their job or purchase it on their own. We need to increase competition among both insurers and health providers. People should be allowed to purchase health insurance across state lines. One study estimated that that adjustment alone could cover 17 million uninsured Americans without costing taxpayers a dime. We also need to rethink medical licensing laws to encourage greater competition among providers. Nurse practitioners, physician assistants, midwives, and other non-physician practitioners should have far greater ability to treat patients. Doctors and other health professionals should be able to take their licenses from state to state. We should also be encouraging innovations in delivery such as medical clinics in retail outlets. Congress should give Medicare enrollees a voucher, let them choose any health plan on the market, and let them keep the savings if they choose an economical plan. Medicare could even give larger vouchers to the poor and sick to ensure they could afford coverage. The expansion of "health status insurance" would protect many of those with preexisting conditions. States may also wish to experiment with high risk pools to ensure coverage for those with high cost medical conditions.If elected to the Florida State House of Representives (District 33), I will do everything in my power to promote a free-market solution to all our health care problems. Sincerely, Franklin Perez (Libertarian) Florida State House Candidate (District 33) - Year 2010 Libertarian and Independent! Not Beholden to Party Politics! http://www.fperez1776.com http://www.twitter.com/fperez1776 http://twitwall.com/view/?who=fperez1776 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1Z1WI2rNqE (407) 694-7805 From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: Libertarian Party opposes health care plan Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:55:16 -0700 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 19, 2010 Contact: Wes Benedict, Executive Director E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 202-333-0008 ext. 222 Libertarian Party opposes health care plan WASHINGTON - The Libertarian Party adamantly opposes the health care bill passed on Christmas Eve by the US Senate that is currently being considered in the US House of Representatives. The Libertarian Party calls on the US House to vote down this disastrous plan, and instead to pass laws reducing federal involvement in health care. Libertarian Party Chairman William Redpath commented, "We oppose this horrible federal government expansion into health care, just as we have consistently opposed all the increased government intrusion into health care proposed by Republicans and Democrats over the years. For example, we vocally opposed the huge Medicare expansion pushed through Congress by Republicans in 2003." Redpath continued, "It is a virtual certainty that the cost estimates of this legislation are drastically understated. When Medicare Part A started in 1965, the projected cost for 1990 was $9 billion. It turned out to be $67 billion. Should this bill become law, when the debt of the United States government is downgraded by ratings agencies shortly thereafter, it will not be a coincidence. That will increase interest rates, and the entire economy will suffer." The Libertarian Party Platform says the following about health care: "We favor restoring and reviving a free market health care system. We recognize the freedom of individuals to determine the level of health insurance they want, the level of health care they want, the care providers they want, the medicines and treatments they will use and all other aspects of their medical care, including end-of-life decisions." The words "health care" and "medicine" are not found anywhere in the Constitution. Accordingly, the Libertarian Party asserts that Congress has no authority to regulate or appropriate money for health care. (The Libertarian Party has consistently argued for decades that the "general welfare" and "interstate commerce" clauses are not generic authorizations for spending and regulation.) Redpath concluded, "This is a top-down, Washington-mandated control of health insurance and health care in this nation. It is the antithesis of consumer-driven health care, which is what will ultimately be necessary to control health care costs and to provide the best health care for the greatest number of people." For more information, or to arrange an interview, call LP Executive Director Wes Benedict at 202-333-0008 ext. 222. The LP is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971. The Libertarian Party stands for free markets and civil liberties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party at our website. ###P.S. If you have not yet become a member of the Libertarian Party and wish to do so, please click here and join the only political party dedicated to free markets and civil liberties. If you need to renew, please click here. If you would like to make a contribution separate from membership, please click here. GET INVOLVED: Paid for by the Libertarian National Committee 2600 Virginia Ave, N.W. Suite 200, Washington D.C. 20037 Content not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee. You are currently subscribed as "[email protected]". Click here to unsubscribe. 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