“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their safety and happiness.”

Are these not the words that so delicately begin The Declaration of Independence? These famous cries for freedom and justice are rapidly becoming drowned out by the terrifying roars of an emerging socialized health-care plan. As a country founded upon the ideals of capitalism and free-enterprise, accepting this bill as the solution to our needed health-care reform, will make it entirely possible that we may see the end of the freedom we originally fought so hard to gain.

Despite the fact that the bill itself is so incredibly long, and despite the fact few of our congressmen have read it, it is still, our duty as Americans to educate ourselves about the premise this bill rests on. Not a single one of us can claim to have a logical opinion upon the matters of which this plan entails if not at first we examine the problems with it. Unfortunately, what so many citizens fail to realize is that the “free” healthcare this bill claims to promise, is falsely named. Furthermore, what people do not ask is how we will pay for said reform. This being said, I pray you, is it not true that either our own tax dollars shall contribute to it, or we will need to diminish funding in other areas such as defense or education to compensate?

So often those that support this bill use the platform of a “public option”, and many believe their statements are legitimate. This being said, it is crucial to highlight the fact that the “public option” eventually won’t be only an option. In fact, the way the bill is formatted, provides an interesting window into the minds of the corrupt individuals that wrote this plan. Yes, it is true that the bill states that a public option will be instated so that people can choose their doctors. However, with the socialization of health-care, insurance companies will be unable to afford coverage for many people, and therefore those people will be stuck with the government provided health coverage. Eventually, this will expand to include all insurance companies and therefore, the public option will no longer be in existence, but rather the government will control every aspect of health-care. This will create a system that is strikingly similar to socialism, as it will give total power to a few government officials who ration medical aid.


Among other of the most concerning effects that socialized medicine will have are, a likelihood of additional restrictions or increase taxes on smoking, fast food, etc., leading to a further loss of personal freedoms, malpractice lawsuit costs could further explode since universal care may expose the government to legal liability, and the possibility to sue someone with deep pockets usually invites more lawsuits, and patient confidentiality is likely to be compromised since centralized health information will likely be maintained by the government. Also, health care equipment, drugs, and services may end up being rationed by the government, and patient confidentiality is likely to be compromised since centralized health information will likely be under national control.

The long term effects of this bill will most likely include, but are not limited to, loss of private practice options and possible reduced pay that may dissuade many would-be doctors from pursuing the profession, and, like social security, any government benefit eventually is taken as a "right" by the public, which means that it's politically near impossible to remove or curtail it later on when costs get out of control.

This radical solution to a prevalent problem will, in essence, destroy our nation little by little. By establishing national healthcare, we are paving the way for further government control. If you remember, we are so often told that history is taught to prevent us from making the mistakes of our ancestors. Interestingly enough, passing this plan would lead us right into the greedy palms of socialism and turn us into a nation that no longer resembles the principles of democracy on which it was founded.

In the words of Ronald Reagan: “Each generation goes further than the generation preceding it because it stands on the shoulders of that generation. You will have opportunities beyond anything we've ever known.” So why not seize our opportunity to further this great country, rather than destroy it with under-examined ideas?
For we must remember, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”

As for the opinions of my fellow Americans, I know not. Yet, as my own opinion so matters, give me private healthcare or give me death.