Incremental Responsible Health Plan Is No Fun
Asa Hutchinson has released his new health care plan. DON'T click on the link unless you are a policy wonk! It is not a flashy-whiz bang thing like Mike Beebe's idea to hand out $1,000 checks to every slacker in the state that wants to party on campus for a year. In fact, it is a pretty boring, standard best-practices kind of thing. It doesn't pretend that "your government will always take care of you". It pushes more responsibility back on the individual. A lot of it sounds like the government will be a clearing house for the best programs that are already out there rather than a provider of new programs.
At first glance I thought to myself, "How dull. This guy has got to learn how to get some warm fuzzies. This is policy wonk stuff."
But on further reflection, this is an honest plan. It is an honest plan because it respects the limits of what government can do. It will not dip into our pockets to create another socialized medicine nightmare. It is not flashy, and no special interest group stands to gain acccess to a huge amount of money as a result of this plan. It is not based on the delusion that a government program, if just run by people who are smart like we are, will assure people of good health regardless of the personal choices they make.
That is a plan that respects the voter. It is not a bribe to anyone. It is not revolutionary, but is an incremental roll-up-your-sleeves kind of thing. Some candidates find that stuff too unexciting for them to mess with.
Look, I want leaders who will take the heat and aggressively confront the establishment on the assualts to our culture and heritage, and I want dignified responsible leaders who will incrementally work to make life better -in a way that respects the limits of what government can do. The best would be for leaders who would do both. Is Asa that man? That is my prayer for him at least. Congratulations on a quiet, responsible plan Mr. Hutchinson.
At first glance I thought to myself, "How dull. This guy has got to learn how to get some warm fuzzies. This is policy wonk stuff."
But on further reflection, this is an honest plan. It is an honest plan because it respects the limits of what government can do. It will not dip into our pockets to create another socialized medicine nightmare. It is not flashy, and no special interest group stands to gain acccess to a huge amount of money as a result of this plan. It is not based on the delusion that a government program, if just run by people who are smart like we are, will assure people of good health regardless of the personal choices they make.
That is a plan that respects the voter. It is not a bribe to anyone. It is not revolutionary, but is an incremental roll-up-your-sleeves kind of thing. Some candidates find that stuff too unexciting for them to mess with.
Look, I want leaders who will take the heat and aggressively confront the establishment on the assualts to our culture and heritage, and I want dignified responsible leaders who will incrementally work to make life better -in a way that respects the limits of what government can do. The best would be for leaders who would do both. Is Asa that man? That is my prayer for him at least. Congratulations on a quiet, responsible plan Mr. Hutchinson.
posted by Mark Moore (Moderator) at Thursday, September 14, 2006
1 Comments:
If it's boring to the people, it will be boring to the media, and they will not spend much time talking about it. So, Asa's bunch will have to get the word out themselves.
I still don't see a chicken in every pot, we haven't eradicated poverty in the U.S., and we'd be big fools to trust the government to provide for our healthcare needs.
I hope Asa-type approaches (emphasis on individuals taking necessary preparations for themselves) become more and more popular.
Post a Comment
<< Home