| Several presidents have tried to push health care | | | | creation of many new taxes that would pay for |
| reform in the past, but none have been as | | | | the reform. The version of the bill passed by the |
| successful as the country's current president, | | | | House of Representatives includes a surtax on |
| Barack Obama. However, President Obama and | | | | people with a yearly income of $500,000 or |
| the Democrats have created two health care bills | | | | greater. This money, which would be forcibly |
| that would not benefit the country, as they | | | | taken from wealthier people, would just be given |
| believe. Instead, these two bills would severely | | | | to poorer people to help them buy health |
| damage the country's health care systems. | | | | insurance. This is called "spreading the wealth," |
| At this point, there is definitely a need for health | | | | which is a form of socialism (where everybody in |
| care reform. Costs are skyrocketing, insurers are | | | | a society is equal). Everyone is not equal, and |
| denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, | | | | awarding money to poorer people would just |
| and insurers are charging different rates just | | | | encourage people to quit their jobs and be lazy so |
| because of someone's medical history. The | | | | they could qualify for financial assistance from the |
| provisions that eliminate those last two problems | | | | government. |
| need to be included in any health care reform bill. | | | | The House version of the bill also requires illegal |
| When someone with a health condition tries to | | | | immigrants to buy coverage. This is perhaps one |
| purchase insurance, the companies will deny them | | | | of the worst provisions in either health care |
| because of that condition, but the patient really | | | | reform bill. Because illegal immigrants are |
| needs health care because of whatever condition | | | | "undocumented," they do not pay taxes, and |
| they have. Also, a person should not have to pay | | | | therefore legal American citizens would be the |
| a much higher rate just because of their medical | | | | sole people paying for these illegal aliens' health |
| history, which they mostly cannot control. | | | | insurance plans. The American people should not |
| However, there are also many provisions in the | | | | be required to pay for health insurance for people |
| two bills that would damage or even destroy the | | | | who moved to this country illegally and do not |
| nation's health care system. The most important | | | | pay their fair share of taxes. |
| of these is the government-run insurance option, | | | | Also, the Constitution does not grant Congress, |
| also called the "public option." The Democrats | | | | the president, or any other government bodies |
| included this plan because they want a cheaper | | | | the power to require individuals to purchase health |
| health insurance option that could compete with | | | | insurance or to require businesses to provide |
| private insurers and help lower costs. However, | | | | health insurance to their employees. The |
| this public option would only be the first step | | | | government must operate within the Constitution, |
| toward a single-payer system, which is where the | | | | which does not give them any power over |
| government is the sole health insurance provider. | | | | controlling health care. The government would end |
| This would happen because the public option | | | | up being the single payer for health insurance |
| would be extremely less expensive than private | | | | because of the public option, and the Constitution |
| insurance plans, which would entice people to | | | | does not give them this power, either. |
| leave their private insurance plan and buy a public | | | | In the end, the health care reform bill will not help |
| plan. Also, private insurers would have to lower | | | | the United States' health care business, as the |
| their costs to compete with this, and then they | | | | Democrats say it will. Instead, this plan will |
| would be unable to operate because of the lower | | | | damage or possibly destroy the country's health |
| income. These two factors combined would cause | | | | care system, and could end up making the |
| private insurers to go out of business, creating a | | | | government a single payer. Barack Obama and |
| single-payer system. | | | | Congress should not pass legislation that will hurt |
| Another damaging provision in the bills is the | | | | the country and its citizens. |