Back in 2013 I wrote an article called “Let the People Decide,” which you can read here, wherein I argued that the people, you know, those who elected politicians to pass laws on our behalf, ought to have a say in what laws are passed. Specifically, I discussed legislation concerning Obamacare, Illegal Immigration and the definition of marriage. On Comprehensive Immigration Reform I noted:
We are, for some reason, entrusting our elected leaders to handle this very sensitive potential piece of legislation, one that will affect America and what she becomes in a most profound way, without a proper discussion about the horrendous effects on a massive scale it will have. On such a monumental issue with monumental consequences, shouldn’t we have an open debate, one that is not controlled by the media, so that every side is allowed to be heard fairly?
Congressional Republicans now find themselves in the midst of the healthcare debate, with an opportunity to make good on their promise to repeal and replace Obamacare, and they’re missing the point.
First of all, they’re having such a hard time repealing a piece of awful legislation because they’re also trying to replace it, and I understand why. Obama and company made such a mess out of healthcare with Obamacare that to simply and immediately repeal it could leave many Americans in a bad place and possibly feeling betrayed. That would do immense harm to the Republican party, potentially affecting the outcomes of future elections.
The point Congress is missing, though, is that government has no business involving itself in healthcare. Obamacare is free to exist but only as a private entity absent any government involvement, which means no individual mandate to purchase healthcare insurance.
At this stage, however, it’s important to have a plan, a backup plan and another backup plan. It’s also important to consult with professionals who actually know something about the issue. Why aren’t we involving doctors, medical professionals, healthcare insurance specialists, and other experts in the field? They are the ones who can really offer advice and knowledge that most who serve in Congress simply don’t have.
And what’s the real rush? I’d rather Congress take the time to get it right than to push something through just for the sake of saying they got it done. That’s usually when bad legislation gets passed.
Once they do hash out a sensible plan a passing majority of Republicans can agree on, I want to hear a discussion about the pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages, for and against a proposed bill. The people deserve that. The last thing they need to do is make the same mistakes made with Obamacare.
Like I suggested in my 2013 article, I want a debate and discussion publicly aired without the mainstream media being overly involved. That means no panel of moderators playing biased political tricks and laying sneaky traps by asking “gotcha” questions. Sorry CNN, you’re fake news and have no credibility. There should be no mainstream media involved other than to air the discussion and organize commercial breaks. That’s about it.
I don’t even want to hear much from the key politicians who craft the bill. I want to hear from experts so that all can hear what needs to be heard about such an important topic. Then I want Congress to hear from American citizens. I can’t trust politicians to pass laws on issues they’re not familiar with, much less be able to understand and explain complex principles about those very specific issues? Much of Congress is comprised of lawyers and bureaucrats. Why would we leave such important tasks solely in their hands?
Tom Folden is a political strategist, conservative thinker, and Editor of RightWingWriter.com, a website for conservative viewpoints. A human rights activist, he is a firm believer in the Constitution and the rule of law. He is also a singer/songwriter and recording artist. For interviews and/or appearances, please contact him at spencergroup@hotmail.com.
