Let the Trampling of Rights Begin

Sounds kind of dire when I say that now that health care has been passed, your freedoms and rights can begin to be trampled. Almost sounds loony. Sadly it is not. Let me explain.

First Comes the Gift

On March 21, 2010, the United States House of Representatives passed a historic piece of legislation to reform health care. In short most every person will now have health insurance in the US. Shortly thereafter it became law when the president signed the bill into law. This gift, given at the expense of the taxpayer is given to everyone in the US.

Nobody will be allowed to not have insurance when the bill is in full effect.

• If you don't have it you will pay a tax and it will be given to you.
  
• If you can't afford it someone else will pay a tax and it will be given to you.
  
• If you have it, you will pay a tax and told how much coverage you can have.
• If you want more than what is "given" to you, you will pay a tax (in addition to the extra fees you are paying )for having more than everyone else.

In short everyone is going to get health insurance.

Consequences of This "Gift"

There are a number of obvious consequences and they are too long to mention. The subtle one and the one I fear the most is the trampling of freedoms. How you say can this happen? Now that we all have health care, it will enter most every legislative conversation we here in the US have.

Here are a couple of examples,

Example 1. Right now everyone is free to go sky diving or scuba diving or ride motorcycles without a helmet on your private property. There is some danger in these activities but you are free to do them because you accept the risk. Problem is, now the government has a say in your life because they are giving you your health care. Can't you see some government type tell you that you are taking risks like that and getting hurt would put a burden on the system and it would not be fair to others who don't do that. You either have to refrain from such activities or pay for extra insurance to cover you in case you want to participate in these dangerous activities.

Example 2. Smokers beware. Fat people beware. Drinkers beware. All these activities though taxed are legal and you are free to participate. Some are subject to 'sin' taxes but when you pay the tax you are free to participate. Imagine now some government type saying that you are making bad choices and these choices mean you are more likely to have health problems. If you continue to smoke, weigh more than XYZ lbs or drink more than 1 drink a day, you will have to quit doing that or pay a fee because we now have a stake in your health.

Example 3. Let's go off the reservation now. Someone does a study to show that owning a gun increases your likelihood to be involved in a gun related accidental shooting. This means guns have a negative impact on people's health. If you want to have or own a gun, you need to pay extra fees or taxes so we can pay for the extra burden on the system. Of course this only applies to law abiding citizens but that is another story.

You can see the pattern. Someone does a study. Shows that a behavior can impact your health...(and what behavior does not at some level impact your health at some level?). The government or whatever non-elected body in charge of risk assessment says that has an impact on your health. We are giving you your health care. We have the right to tell you not to do that or tax you more to pay for the extra risk.

With this tool in mind, I'm guess someone could figure out ways to impact just about every freedom we have. Health care now gets inserted into every debate we have. From complex social issues like abortion and euthanasia where now it makes financial sense because it is one less person to cover, to everyday things like going to concerts where it is now bad because it can harm your ears.

The fact that the government is going to be giving us our health care means they can tell us what we can and can not do to 'earn' our portion.

Conclusion

This is yet one more reason this legislation needs to be dismantled before it comes into full effect. It will take time and will power but it needs to happen.