A couple of questions for you scootrd, just to clear things up. Do you want government to reform our health care system? A simple yes or no will suffice. What I mean by reform is government doing anything at all, besides removing laws to let the free market work.
Also, who did you vote for in the presidential election? Please be truthful. I was just wondering because I saw that you gave Obama an undue pat on the back in your post #153.
Hi DDZ, Here ya Go..
With Regards to previous postsFirst, some clarification regarding your post: I didn't rant anything, I didn't say Germany was better, I said they have been concentrating on this one particular method for treating this one particular type of cancer , with better than average success rates. I'm sure there findings have been published and I'm sure if it advances treatment the U.S has probably adopted it. I don't think Medical advances are specific or proprietary to one country or another . It's not like if we develop treatment here we don't share our advances with the world at large and vice versa.
Second , If I said
"I didn't mean that" in any one of my posts , it was in the context of correcting Cabin4. Time and time again I have had to continually correct him as he consistently miss-quotes me over and over again in his responses. He reads what I write and then providing feedback would twist my words.
Third , Obama does deserve a pat on the back here, as well as everyone else who supports veterans , dem, rep, or anyone else ) , In context I was pointing out to Cabin4 Hypocrisy sits on both sides of the isle - John McCain continually cites his great record supporting veterans yet continuously votes against bills that would help veterans like the GI bill. Obama supported the GI bill. He deserves a pat and McCain should be ashamed.
With Regards to what I BelieveI prescribe to the philosophy of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Both staunch supporters of States Rights and the Social Compact.
Both believed in Promoting the General Welfare.
With regards to states rights:"The federal Union is a voluntary association of states, and if the central government goes too far each state has the right to nullify that law. As Jefferson said in the Kentucky Resolutions"
"Every state has a natural right in cases not within the compact .to nullify of their own authority all assumptions of power by others within their limits"
"That the Constitution of the United States, having delegated to Congress a power to punish treason, counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States, piracy, and felonies committed on the high seas, and offenses against the law of nations, and no other crimes, whatsoever; and it being true as a general principle, and one of the amendments to the Constitution having also declared, that "the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, not prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
With regards to the Social Compact :Jefferson and Madison believed we had moral obligations to others we are not at liberty to disregard. Madison expected the people to exert their rightful influence, but differing slightly from Jefferson, Madison wanted them to do so through their elected representatives, and in the last resort, through the amendment power set out in the Constitution.
"Although the purpose of legitimate Government is to protect the rights of the individual, individuals by nature are social beings and not "unencumbered selves" As such they have no rights that conflict with social duties".
With Reference to interpreting the ConstitutionMadison and Jefferson agreed that a narrow literalism would render the government inoperable. Jefferson even argued with Madison writing from Paris at the time. The constitution should be ratified every 20 years. Madison corresponding back pushed for restraint. There were many writings and debates over whether the next generation should be even bound by a previous generations Constitution or should they write or ratify their own.
“Laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind, “As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstance, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.” - Thomas Jefferson
IMO The Constitution wasn't meant to remain static. As strict constructionists Argue - and all persons rights are not listed in the constitution or the bill of rights as Madison notably acknowledged. That is why He crafted the 9th Amendment.
“The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights,
shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained
by the people.”
So what does this mean?
Some states objected to adopting the original 1787 constitution because it lacked a bill of rights. Supporters of the constitution pledged that a bill of rights would be added. Two years later congress met to deal with this matter. Debates ensued in which some people argued that a bill of rights would be unnecessary because the government was already limited by enumerated powers, which limits constituted a bill of rights, and that it would be dangerous
because it could not possibly enumerate all of the rights that the people retained. Others argued that without it the powers delegated to the government would be expanded so as to reduce those rights. James Madison came up with additional language in an effort to keep the
possible harm of trying to name all the specific rights from becoming a problem. He added the ninth and tenth amendments.
My point here is -
In order for Liberty to remain vibrant , a nation must move ahead with the times on hand, and wrestle through each generations challenges. Because as so noted By Madison The Father of our constitution and the bill of Rights, He knew they could not possibly list them all, nor did they believe the constitution should remain static from generation to generation.
With regards to your specific questions Do I want reform -
YesDo I want
Federal Gov't to reform our Health system ?
No not necessarily However, I have been very consistent , I am saying a large scale, collective effort to reform health care is not wrong. At present what is being proposed places much control in the hands of our Federal Gov't and not enough control at state or individual level. A public option of some sort would provide individual choice, and therefore I am not opposed to it. I also feel a Public option would force INS Co's to start playing fair. If your counting on them to regulate themselves don't hold your breath. Their sole goal is to make money for their shareholders.
Now , Do I want states to collectively look into leveraging resources as alternative ways to provide Universal HC coverage -
yes 100% I believe HC Co-op's are the way to go. Join if you want , stay away if you want (just like a credit union vs a Bank)
TM7's question is a very valid one and still stands - since there is no evidence in the Constitution that the federal Gov't can establish a united HC system separate from excessive private or corporate influential control (which was amply warned The Founders), where is it constitutionally mandated that the states cannot? I refer you back to the 9th and 10th Amendment.
Every Generation has their own unique set of challenges they must face as Jefferson was fully aware of - I suggest based on the writings of Madison and Jefferson regarding their position on states rights and specific rights, our founding fathers Specifically Madison and Jefferson would not be apposed moving a HC debate forward and having our congressional representatives wrestle with it, as they are doing now.
I think if they were still alive today they would be kicking back over some beer having a big laugh right now saying ' we were just a bunch of guys who did the best we could with what we had at the time trying to create a country and a Gov't at the same time. So let the congressional leaders of the day wrestle with if HC is a right or not. That's their Job.
IMO ..That's what I believe Madison and Jefferson would want them to do.
- Does this provide the clarity you sought?