Barry Goldwater Jr. said "Health Care? The Government Can't Even Run a Railroad"

A friend on one of my list groups posted this interesting and enlightening article written by Barry Goldwater, Jr. on August 26, 2009 for The American Spectator.

Mr. Goldwater succinctly points out that the federal government does not exactly have a stellar track record for running programs aimed at doing what the private sector does better. I agree with him. ~~ S. Lane

"Health Care? The Government Can't Even Run a Railroad" The American Spectator

By Barry Goldwater, Jr. on 8.26.09 @ 6:08AM

Nowhere in the debate regarding health care has anyone asked if the government is able and qualified to run such a system. Before we ask the government to manage universal health care, let's check them out.

How successful has the federal government been in managing agencies, programs and businesses?

Let's look at Medicare. The president and Congress propose to extend Medicare to cover the 47 million people who lack health care coverage. Did anyone remind Congress that Medicare is broke? It's rampant with fraud and abuse. It is estimated that Medicare and Medicaid fraud cost taxpayers $60 billion per year.

Medicare is required by law to pay full retail prices for drugs that could be obtained for far less in a competitive-bidding system.

Health insurance companies are required by state regulators to maintain a reserve for future liabilities. Every working stiff in this country is required to pay premium taxes into Medicare, which has no reserve. The federal government has been running the largest Ponzi scheme ever created, and it is on the hook for $36 trillion in unfunded liabilities. And you, Mr. President, want the federal government to run health care?

On Aug. 4, 1977, Jimmy Carter declared war on energy dependence and created the U.S. Department of Energy. Every president since has done the same. Today, 31 years later, the Department of Energy's budget is $26 billion. It employs 16,000 people and 100,000 contract employees. We are no closer to energy independence than we were in 1977. And you want the federal government to run health care?

The U.S. Postal Service lost $7 billion last year and is talking about closing hundreds of offices. And you want the federal government to run health care?

The Federal Reserve was created by the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 to maintain a stable financial system. The Federal Reserve gets failing marks for its direct complicity in the economic meltdown and subsequent recession. The Federal Reserve has failed us. And you want the federal government to run health care?

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were created by Congress as government-sponsored enterprises to provide low-interest funding for the mortgage industry. These government-run mortgage banks were created to provide competition and cheap loans to those who could not afford normal market rates.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac own more than $5 trillion in mortgage paper. On Sept. 7, 2008, they were declared insolvent and were taken over by the Federal Housing Finance Agency and bailed out with more than $400 billion -- another government-run mess. And you, Mr. President, want the federal government to run health care?

Amtrak was created by an act of Congress in October 1970 to run the nation's railroad system. Amtrak was supposed to reverse over two decades of continuous operating deficits. With a congressional mandate to become profitable, it was given $40 million in initial funding, along with $100 million in loan guarantees. After 38 years, Amtrak has never made a profit and receives a federal subsidy, with no prospect in sight of breaking even. And you want the federal government to run health care?

The war on drugs was started by President Richard Nixon in 1969. The United States has been spending $69 billion a year worldwide for the past 40 years, for a total of $2.5 trillion, on drug prohibition -- with little to show for it. Today, there are more drugs on our streets at cheaper prices than ever before. It is easier for young people to obtain illegal drugs than a six-pack of beer. Why? Because sellers of illegal drugs don't ask kids for IDs. And you want the federal government to run health care?

The list of government failures is long and telling. I can't wait for "Government Motors'" new car. Are you waiting anxiously? Are you holding your breath? That car will be on recall for many years. And you, Mr. President, want the federal government to run health care?

The government has failed for 30 years to achieve energy independence. The government has bankrupted the Medicare program. The Postal Service is broke. The Federal Reserve was the primary cause of this economic meltdown and recession. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been taken over and bailed out. We have lost the war on drugs.

Mr. President, our government can't even run a railroad. How the hell do you think the government will ever manage a universal health care system?

Einstein once said, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

This video at the Fox Business News site underscores Mr. Goldwater's point.

Pending Gun Registration Legislation

Here's a bill we might want to keep our eyes on. It would expand federal gun sales and registration requirements significantly and place further restrictions on gun owners. One restriction would require any gun owner with a child under 18 in the household to keep guns and ammunition locked up. While this may sound sensible, how practical would having a locked up weapon be in case of a home break-in and need to defend oneself and one's family? Wouldn't proper education of everyone in the household, including minor children, on gun safety be a better approach?

Here are links to find out more about this bill, HF-45 (Blair-Holt Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009)

Title and brief summary of act

Read the Act section by section

Comments on "Obama's Civilian Army" by Glenn Beck

Glenn Beck-Obama's Civilian Army Aug 27 2009

This topic was around prior to the election. Even surfaced briefly during the primaries. and, as the person who shared this link with me said, very few people even took note of it and, if it was mentioned, dismissed it as mere over-the-top campaign rhetoric.

I didn't dismiss it, having read too much about Obama's background and associates and their backgrounds. Can we say followers of Saul Alinsky? People whose political philosophy has deep roots in the theories and practices of militant Marxism. In one way or another, Barack Obama was steeped in this ideology from his childhood on, his mother also having absorbed it as a young girl growing up in a family whose friends in Washington state were held ideas that would have caused them to be labeled Communist sympathizers at the time. The school that Barack's mother attended was dubbed by some "the little Red school house," and "Red" did not refer to it's color. Admittedly in those days many people were unjustly labeled, but from what has been published, that doesn't appear to be the case in this instance.

We know that along with the socialist philosophy of Marxism went a commitment to totalitarian ways of compelling the people to accept and practice its tenets. How much of this view of indoctrination and enforcement Barack's mother, her parents and friends shared, we have no way of knowing. We do, however, know that some of Barack's later associates and admitted mentors did share these views -- William Ayers to name one.

I digress, but the point is, this information was out there, not in the major media, but in blogs, on talk radio and even in a series that Sean Hannity did on the Hannity and Colmes program on FOX news. And yet many, even many conservatives and independents, simply would not or could not believe it or could not believe that such views would ever lead to their enactment into law by an American government.

Now, looking at the bills before Congress (the Obama health care bill, the new gun control bill pending in the House and others), it would seem that this administration is very seriously intent on implementing measures to create a more socialistic, centralized and controlling federal government. A "civilian army" is not out of the question. Like Glenn Beck, I have to ask -- for what purpose?

Let's all keep on top of this one. ~~ S. Lane

Obama Spending Will DOUBLE The National Debt

Remember the "National Debt Clock" I shared a few posts ago? You may want to take another look.

Terrence P. Jeffrey, Editor-in-Chief of CNS News.com reports that Obama's spending plans would double our national debt in as short a time as ten years. Is this "change we can believe in"? Well, yes, we can believe it, but certainly not the kind of change we want or need for our country.

Obama’s Spending Plans Will Nearly Double the National Debt--White House Leaked the News Late on Friday

Monday, August 24, 2009 By Terence P. Jeffrey, Editor-in-Chief

More Interference in Private Business Proposed in Health Care Bill

Enough!! State and local governments are already telling restaurants what kind of oils they may use to cook food, whether they may allow customer smoking, and a host of other intrusive dictates instead of letting the marketplace work as it should. If a majority of customers and potential customers stop frequenting a restaurant because of the way the food is prepared or because smoking is permitted, the restaurant will make a reasonable choice based on what the public prefers. But these choices should not be compelled by government (federal, state or local) fiat.

Now a provision in the Obama Health Care Bill before Congress would require (that's require) posting of nutritional information on menus and menu boards, even menu boards at the drive-thru windows of fast food establishments. In additional to being a further intrusion of government into private business, this provision is rather ridiculous. I mean, are most customers, especially at fast food places, really going to read how many calories and what vitamins and minerals their hamburger contains? Doubt it. . . . . But, it's in the Bill. Read on.

Health Care Bill Mandates That Restaurants Display Nutrition Information on Menus
By Edwin Mora CNS News - Monday, August 24, 2009(CNSNews.com) – Restaurant chains with 20 or more stores would be required to display nutrition information, including calorie counts and “suggested daily caloric intake” on their menus, under a mandate contained in the health-care reform bill drafted by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Click Here to Read Full Article

You Make a Difference

This post is somewhat a departure from our usual topics here. It's not political, but since reaching out to others is critical to achieving our goals of solving our country's problems with reason and common sense, I believe it's important. Recognizing the important difference others make in our lives and our work is so essential to building our network.

This "Who You Are Makes a Difference" movie is excellent and brings out a point we all so often forget -- recognizing others who are part of or touch our lives. In our busy daily lives, most of us seldom pause to acknowledge to others the difference they make, to tell them we appreciate them. It doesn't have to be done with blue ribbons, but just a friendly word, a sincere "thank you" or spending time with someone. I found this short movie a meaningful reminder to take time to tell and show those in our lives that they are important to us. (Thanks, Bren, for sharing this with me.)

Click here to Watch this Video

You Make a Difference

And the Debt Rolls On: National Debt Clock

We hear it daily -- a national debt in the trillions and growing. Billions added for the bailouts, billions in increased cost of social programs, more billions to be added if the proposed Obama care health plan passes Congress. Pretty soon, these are just numbers, hard to comprehend in terms of what they mean for each and every one of us and for our families now and on into the future for as far as anyone can see affecting our children and our children's children out to the seventh generations and beyond. We know the annual deficit spending by the administration and Congress is growing at an ever increasing rate. But how fast?

Take a look at this graphic depiction of the National Debt clock in real time. Look at all of it and pause to consider how this affects you and your family. Then look behind the news presented by the major networks and get the real facts. Watch, listen and read. Think about it. Then take action: write, email and phone your senators and representatives. Again and again and again until they listen. Go to a town hall meeting, talk to your friends and neighbors. Stand up and speak out.

Click Here to Watch

The Dollars Roll On

T-Shirts: Says a Lot We Are Thinking

It sometimes amazes me how far-seeing Thomas Jefferson was. He and his colleagues knew first hand what tyranny is. His words apply as much today as they did in 1776. 

In this time in our history, one has to wonder. Does this also perhaps apply?  ~~  S. Lane