The Soccer Mom Vote

Universal Health Care...No Thank You

A few days ago Soccer Mom Bobbi Jo wrote a passionate article suggesting the US should embrace universal health care. If you haven't already, I encourage you to read her article and the comments associated with it. Then come back here and read my article. I think by having both articles here at Soccer Moms we will spark some interesting debate and discussion. Please keep it civil (but then, you always do!).

It wasn't that long ago that people were actually responsible for paying for their own health care. No one expected a government entity to swoop in and save them from themselves. In fact, many of our parents and grandparents probably paid for a doctor visit out of their own pockets. Thomas Sowell writes

This was all before politicians gave us the idea that the things we could not afford individually we could somehow afford collectively through the magic of government. (Read the rest of his article discussing his thoughts on universal health care.)

For me, that really is the heart of the matter. Over the last forty years we've somehow come to the conclusion that we are owed something simply because we live in the United States of America. Every election we are ready and willing to hand over more of our responsibility to the government so we don't have to think about taking care of ourselves.

I would rather see us paying for our medical bills out of pocket and not relying on government for any of our health care issues. Then again, I'm a Libertarian and I'd love to see the government butt out of just about everything. I'm a fan of medical savings plans. These plans allow you to put aside money for your health care issues (including doctor visits, medicine, etc.). John Stossel explains why these savings plans work and actually save us money.

Here's another article by John Stossel outlining why universal health care and its lack of competition just can't work. In fact, he discusses Canada specifically.

As for the debate on S-CHIP? Please read this article from Reason Magazine that explains what that program was really doing and how we could fix it. You'll want to read through to the end; that's where it gets good. It's particularly relevant to Bobbi Jo's assertion that our capitalist mentality should be ditched in favor socialism. is not working (sorry to Bobbi Jo--I misunderstood her assertion!).

Speaking of S-CHIP--you know I have to bring this up--apparently those of us who don't want universal health care are heartless people who don't care about the children. Mark Steyn says it better than I ever could. Please read his article explaining why the real "war on children" is not changing our system for the better now (i.e., jumping off the government gravy train and taking responsibility for ourselves) and leaving it for them to pay for later.

Life Lessons and Control Issues

We want what’s best for our kids and we don’t want them to be disappointed or hurt. It breaks our hearts when they have to learn those life lessons regarding responsibility, community, and money. Especially when they are going to fail and we know we can step in and save them from themselves.

When we go to Barnes & Noble and my children ask for a teen magazine instead of a book, how can I say no? How can I ask them to bring their own money and buy their own magazines and books when I’m the one who wants them to read, when I’m the one who knows reading will help their imaginations grow? I would hate it if they realized, after using their own money, what a waste the magazine is compared to a great book. Of course I’ll buy them their teen magazines.

When my children are not careful with their toys and lose them or tire of them and beg for new ones who am I to say no? I see the pain in their eyes, I hear the promises of “I’ll take better care of it next time!” and I don’t want them to suffer. I want them to be happy. They’ve clearly learned from their mistakes. As their mother I can replace those toys and I will be the hero again.

Right? Right?!?

No. I know these scenarios are ridiculous. It’s our job as parents to make sure our children learn their lessons well while they are growing up so they can make positive contributions to society; so they do not become dependent on hand-outs. It may break our hearts that they are miserable, but there are some lessons they will learn only by failing. We do a disservice to our children when we don’t let them fail. Every time we bail them out because we don’t want them to have to take care of themselves or because we know we can do it better or because we can make the pain go away and be the hero, we are letting them down.

Now think of it another way: non-privatized Social Security, welfare, socialized health care. We are perpetuating entitlement simply by not allowing people to stand on their own and make their own decisions.

A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.

Gerald Ford

It’s insulting that Hillary Clinton would suggest that privatization won’t solve anything (referring to Social Security). She’s essentially saying I’m not mature enough to know what’s best for me and I should let her decide because she and the government know best.

I find it absurd that people are still complaining that we’ve not rebuilt after Katrina. Do you know that we have spent more on rebuilding after Katrina than we spent rebuilding sixteen nations after WWII? And yes, that is adjusted for inflation. 

I do understand that occasionally people need help. I am not saying that you and I should ignore that. However, I submit that the help should come from private organizations (e.g., churches, Red Cross, United Way, individuals) not the government. Our government was not designed to be a welfare state. You and I should be able to choose which causes or groups we give our money to for aid. The government should not tell me or you that we “owe” anything to anyone simply because we are working hard for ourselves.

Most of us agree we need to let our children learn life lessons the hard way, but we do not agree that the adults of this country should be afforded the same courtesy. We want to provide government aid over and over to people who are not learning any lessons except that if they ask for it, they’ll get it. Meanwhile, those of us who want to make our own decisions are being told we couldn’t possibly have the ability to do so.

I’d love to know what you think.

Introduction: Soccer Mom Melanie

I'm Soccer Mom Melanie. I'm the new mom on the field and, I must say, it's a little intimidating to be writing here in such good company! As I was writing my official first post it sort of spiraled out of control and I quickly realized I'm more passionate about politics than I realized. It's going to take me a day or two to sort out the mess I wrote so I'm going to take a different tack to introduce myself.

These are links to articles that illustrate my political point of view. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. I'll be back next month with an actual article.

• Thomas Sowell's Random Thoughts are provoking.
• The NEA is a union that's toeing the party line--whether it's related to education or not.
• An unbelievable story about a Dr. being sacked because he was concerned about health care in our country.
• Jonah Goldberg on hypocrisy.
• It Takes a Socialist Village by Cal Thomas

I'll be writing about the issues raised in these articles over the next few weeks and months because they are something I feel strongly about. I'm interested in a friendly debate; I always like to try to see things from both sides.

Political Ideology: Who's Your Candidate?

I think many of the contributors and readers here at The Soccer Mom Vote know who we will probably vote for next year. However, I love this matrix because, well, I’m matrix-y like that. I think it’s a handy little tool. Even if you think it’s oversimplified, it’s a good place to start if you have questions about who thinks what about which issues.