Proper Role of Government

Taken from the speech by Ezra Taft Benson titled "The Proper Role of Government." The speech is fantastic and opened my eyes on just how far off our government has become from what it was designed to do from our Founding Fathers.

1. I believe that no people can maintain freedom unless their political institutions are founded upon faith in God and belief in the existence of moral law.
2. I believe that God has endowed men with certain unalienable rights as set forth in the Declaratioth in the Declaration of Independence and that no legislature and no majority, however great, may morally limit or destroy these; that the sole function of government is to protect life, liberty, and property and anything more than this is usurpation and oppression.
3. I believe that the Constitution of the United States was prepared and adopted by men acting under inspiration from Almighty God; that it is a solemn compact between the peoples of the States of this nation which all officers of government are under duty to obey; that the eternal moral laws expressed therein must be adhered to or individual liberty will perish.
4. I believe it a violation of the Constitution for government to deprive the individual of either life, liberty, or property except for these purposes:
   
   • Punish crime and provide for the administration of justice
   • Protect the right and control of private property
   • Wage defensive war and provide for the nation's defense
   • Compel each one who enjoys the protection of government to bear his fair share of the burden of performing the above functions
5. I hold that the Constitution denies government the power to take from the individual either his life, liberty, or property except in accordance with moral law; that the same moral law which governs the actions of men when acting alone is also applicable when they act in concert with others; that no citizen or group of citizens has any right to direct their agent, the government to perform any act which would be evil or offensive to the conscience if that citizen were performing the act himself outside the framework of government.
6. I am hereby resolved that under no circumstances shall the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights be infringed. In particular I am opposed to any attempt on the part of the Federal Government to deny the people their right to bear arms, to worship and pray when and where they choose, or to own and control private property.
7. I consider ourselves at war with international Communism which is committed to the destruction of our government, our right of property, and our freedom; that it is treason as defined by the Constitution to give aid and comfort to this implacable enemy.
8. I am unalterable opposed to Socialism, either in whole or in part, and regard it as an unconstitutional usurpation of power and a denial of the right of private property for government to own or operate the means of producing and distributing goods and services in competition with private enterprise, or to regiment owners in the legitimate use of private property.
9. I maintain that every person who enjoys the protection of his life, liberty, and property should bear his fair share of the cost of government in providing that protection; that the elementary priing that protection; that the elementary principles of justice set forth in the Constitution demand that all taxes imposed be uniform and that each person's property or income be taxed at the same rate.
10. I believe in honest money, the gold and silver coinage of the Constitution, and a circulation medium convertible into such money without loss. I regard it as a flagrant violation of the explicit provisions of the Constitution for the Federal Government to make it a criminal offense to use gold or silver coin as legal tender or to use irredeemable paper money.
11. I believe that each State is sovereign in performing those functions reserved to it by the Constitution and it is destructive of our federal system and the right of self-government guaranteed under the Constitution for the Federal Government to regulate or control the States in performing their functions or to engage in performing such functions itself.
12. I consider it a violation of the Constitution for the Federal Government to levy taxes for the support of state or local government; that no State or local government can accept funds from the Federal and remain independent in performing its functions, nor can the citizens exercise their rights of self-government under such conditions.
13. I deem it a violation of the right of private property guaranteed under the Constitution for the Federal Government to forcibly deprive the citizens of this nation of their nation of their property through taxation or otherwise, and make a gift thereof to foreign governments or their citizens.
14. I believe that no treaty or agreement with other countries should deprive our citizens of rights guaranteed them by the Constitution.
15. I consider it a direct violation of the obligation imposed upon it by the Constitution for the Federal Government to dismantle or weaken our military establishment below that point required for the protection of the States against invasion, or to surrender or commit our men, arms, or money to the control of foreign ore world organizations of governments. These things I believe to be the proper role of government.

Freedom? What's That?

Sunday March 21, 2010 will go down in history and be recorded in the history books, which would mark the beginning of the end of the United States of America as we know it. The House of Representatives passed the Senate health care reform bill with a reconciliation package (219 to 216 majority vote), which President Obama is expected to sign into law tomorrow Tuesday March 23, 2010. This action will fundamentally transform the United States of America. This bill is completely partisan - not one single Republican voted yea.

Read this article from the Wall Street Journal - "What the Health Care Reform Bill Means for You" or you can read the same aritcle on FoxNews.com.

A couple of things this article points out make me very uneasy. The first being "...employers will have to disclose the cost of workers' health coverage on their W-2 tax forms starting in 2011..." Basically, employers are going to be taxed on the health insurance that they provide for their employees up to 40%! Employers will be forced to lower coverage or pass on the cost to their employers...premiums will skyrocket even more.

Another thing is the uninsured will be now insured. Pre-existing conditions will no longer apply and insurance companies will be required to insure you. That's good if you have pre-existing conditions, but bad for everyone else. Insurance companies will be forced to raise premiums because they know that they will have to pay out more benefits. Premiums will skyrocket even more.

I personally believe that these two items alone will lead our nation to have a universal/single payer health care system. Private insurance will be forced out of business because it will no longer be profitable. When this "crisis" happens the government will have "no choice" but to step in and take control. Even Vice-President's Biden's said last week, "you know we will control the insurance companies." When the government controls the insurance they control how we live our lives through regulation. One-sixth of my freedom and liberty just flew out the window and not too happy about it. More to come...

T-Minus 72-hours

Within the past hour the House of Representatives released and posted online their reconciliation package of the health care reform bill. It's some 2,000+ pages and is scheduled to be debated on the House floor for in two days for only four hours. How in the heck our our representatives supposed to read and analyze the bill in 48 hours?

WHY THE RUSH?

I can only think of a one reasonable reason, which is one of the same reasons why the President wanted to get it passed before the August break last year. The congressional leaders and President Obama knows that if congress can go home to their respective states they will get an ear full from their constituents who are overwhelmingly opposed to this health care reform bill and how congress is going about trying to get it passed. Plus they are keeping them busy on the weekends for the same reason.

It looks like the House is going to use the "Slaughter Rule" which will "deem it passed" without even actually even voting on the bill. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, knows that they don't have the votes so they will do anything to get this passed. The funny thing is that all Republican are against the bill and will not be voting on it. Democrats have control in the House, but they can't seem to agree with one another and the in-party disputes has what's been holding up the vote!

On FoxNews' Live with Megan Kelly today she talked about a new poll that was just released showing now 85% of Americans are against the health care reform bill. 85%!!! Is Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and the President ignorant that America is overwhelminly against it! No. They know and don't care. It's their kamikazi. They started on a path in which they cannot turn back and are in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. This weekend is the moment of truth and a vote that could fundamentally transform the United States of America.

I Am a Conservative Because...

Paper #2 for my online class...

Before I knew anything about politics and when it came time to cast my first vote I had no clue on whom to vote for or why. I voted how my parents voted. I am now almost 33 years old and have finally developed my own ideas and beliefs within just the past couple of years. I define myself as a conservative because…

I believe in a fiscally conservative government. Government does not have the right to run up large amount of debts and then throw the burden on the taxpayer. Currently, our government is out of control in spending and expanding the scope and size of the U.S. government. President Obama’s spending budget is enough to make anyone cringe. In addition, taxpayer dollars continue to be wasted away on projects and programs that are not needed.

I believe in a strong national defense. I believe as former President Ronald Reagan believed where he said, “The United States does not start fights. We will never be an aggressor. We maintain our strength in order to deter and defend against aggression – to preserve freedom and peace.” (National Security Speech, March 23, 1981.) I would add to that – if you thrown the first punch, we return the punch a hundred fold. Attacking America would be the biggest mistake anyone would ever make and regret for the rest of their lives. Our national defenses need to be strong enough to intimidate any foreign enemy that wants to hurt us that will know the repercussions if attacked.

I believe in a free market and Capitalism. America became America because of the free market and the prosperity of Capitalism. An environment where there is no holds bar whether you make it or break it. Everyone has the same opportunity to succeed. This country was built on entrepreneurs and their small enterprises for almost all the economic growth in the United States. Today it seems like small business owners and entrepreneurs are under attack with new taxes that will significantly hurt their business, which will not allow them to grow and create more jobs. I am against using taxpayer dollars to bail out private companies. They are not too big to fail. Let the free market work. Let them fail. Let them restructure. Let them learn from their own mistakes instead of nursing them through their problems because when the next problem comes up guess what they’re going to do? Come back for more.

I believe in a sovereign nation. The power is in the people. The people govern the government. The people have the right to alter or abolish government. Synonyms for sovereignty include: independence, control, liberty, jurisdiction, supremacy, and dominion. We are free and have to right for the “pursuit of happiness.” The people have control and jurisdiction, but when the government decides to get more and more involved in the liberties of the people is when we lose those liberties and freedoms.

I believe in a limited government. The Constitution was designed for the government to be limited. Government does not need to be in every aspect of our lives – we can govern ourselves. We don’t need the government to tell us what to do or how to do it. Like Ronald Reagan said, “Government is not the solution to our problems, government is the problem.” It seems like when every government gets involved the messier it gets and more difficult to get it right. There are political movements and groups whose sole purpose is expanding the size and scope of the government and making all have things in common in the name of social justice like the Progressive movement. The Constitution stands in their way of their agenda and they know that well and continue to attack the Constitution and try get around it. The Founding Fathers intended the government to be limited with the majority of the power in the people with a system of checks and balances.

The Best Form of Government Is...

I am taking an online class called American Government from a local state university and part of that class I have to write three separate papers on three different subjects on my person political views. The following is paper #1: The Best Form of Government Is...

In a diary entry of James McHenry he wrote, “Outside Independence Hall when the Constitutional Convention of 1787 ended, Mrs. Powell of Philadelphia asked Benjamin Franklin, ‘Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?’ With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded, ‘A republic, if you can keep it.’” This statement of America being a republic got me thinking because I grew up to believe that America was a democracy. I then also realized the wording of the Pledge of Allegiance where it says, “I pledge allegiance to the flag, of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands…” also references that America is a republic and not a monarchy or democracy. It would seem that over time that the meanings have been skewed or the people do not know the difference between the two.

After my research, I believe a Republican form of government is the best form of government rather than a Monarchy or Democracy, which the Founding Fathers intended and set up.

A Democracy needs a full participation of all the people in the decision-making process of government. As discussed in one of our discussion assignments I don’t think that this would work because we, the people, get so busy and occupied with just our daily lives and things that we need to do will not take the time to study the issues or participate in hearings or debates before the vote is taken. Where it has been tried almost always ends in tyranny.

A Republic is a representative form of government where the people elect officials to represent them as a whole and vote on how the majority of the people would vote on the issues of the day. “[James] Madison point[ed] out how an expanding country like the United States could not possibly confine itself to the limitations of a democracy, but must rely upon a representative or republic form of government to protect the ever-expanding interests of its people.” (W. Cleon Skousen, The 5000 Year Leap, p. 154.)

Our government today and how it was originally was set up and design was that of a Republic. The Founding Fathers had hoped that the clear distinction between a Republic and Democracy would continue down through the generations to come, but during the early 19th century the seeds were planted, which I have no time or room to discuss, that later grew to be consistently identified in both the press and the text books as a democracy. This new way of looking at the United States as a democracy was actually designed as an attack on the Constitutional structure of government and the basic rights it was designed to protect.

A republic and the Constitution that was created is designed to protect these basic and “unalienable rights endowed by [our] creator,” which Progressives knew set up a limited government that got in their way of their radical agenda in the name of social justice. The republic and Constitution, I believe, are literally under attack. If lost, the republic and Constitution would fail. The result would be a fundamental transformation of the United States of America….just as Barack Obama said would happen five days before winning the presidential election.

The republic is the best way to protect the interests of the American people and keep government limited and not into every facet of our lives. We elect representatives to represent us and what the majority of the people want…not the other way around. Our elected officials need to set aside their own personal desires of what they believe and start adhering to what the people want and desire. If not, we have the power to elect them out of office and get someone in who will actually serve the people instead of their own selfish desires.

Health Care Pushes On

House Panel Pushes Forward With Health Care Maneuver
Be sure to click the link above and read the FoxNews article that discusses how the House Panel plans to push through health care by using a simple majority vote (aka nuclear option, reconciliation, fifty plus one). The President and his fellow Democrats and Progressives do not care what type of health care reform bill gets passes...they just want it passed. They just need to get their foot in the door and then be able to feed and expand it to whatever they want once the structure is in place. They will do anything and everything they can, even if it means their own careers to pass it. "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" I hope and pray to God that it doesn't.

Maxine Sums It Up

Maxine sums it up on the health care issue...

Let me get this straight...we're trying to pass a health care plan written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn't read it but exempts themselves from it, to be signed by a president that also hasn't read it and who smokes, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that's broke.

What could possibly go wrong?

Progressivism

Inspired by Glenn Beck, I have taken it upon myself to study the history of our country and learn about specific political movements. The book I am reading is called American Progressivism edited by Ronald J. Pestritto and William J. Atto, which gives a history of how the progressive movement came to be over a century ago and what it means to be a progressive.

In the introduction of the book, page 3, under the section "The Principles of Progressivism" it reads:

"The Progressive Era was the first major period in American political development to feature, as a primary characteristic, the open and direct criticism of the Constitution...the Progressive Era was unique in that such criticism formed the backbone of the entire movement...[progressives] knew that the limits placed on the national government by the Constitution represented major obstacles to implementing the progressive policy agenda. Progressives had in mind a variety of legislative programs aimed at regulating significant portions of the American economy and society and at redistributing private property in the name of social justice. The Constitution, if interpreted and applied faithfully, stood in the way of this agenda."

That being said, does President Barack Obama consider himself a Progressive? Here's a montage of quotes from our Head Progressive, but you decide...

Center for American Progress Conference
7/12/2006

Barack Obama – “Those big ticket items like fixing our health care system, uh, one of the arguments sometimes I get with my fellow progressives – and some of these get flashed up in the blog communities on occasion - is this notion that we should function sort of like Karl Rove where we identify our core base, we throw them red meat, we get a fifty plus one victory…you see, Karl Rove doesn’t need a broad consensus because he doesn’t believe in government. If we want to transform the country though that requires a sizeable majority.” Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q9Zkq7XE8c

Joint Session of Congress on 9/9/2009: Barack Obama – “…to my progressive friends I would remind you that for decades the driving idea behind reform has been to end insurance company abuses and make coverage available for those without it. The public option…the public option is only a means to that end. We should remain open to other ideas that accomplish our ultimate goal. And to my republican friends, I say that rather than making wild claims about a government takeover of health care we should work together to address any legitimate concerns you may have.”

Campaigning for Martha Coakley on 1/17/2010: Barack Obama – “You will carry on the best progressive forward looking values of this proud common wealth.”

On the Campaign Trail on 9/22/2008: Barack Obama - “Change has always come from places like Wisconsin. The state where the progressive movement was born.”

On the Campaign Trail in Wisconsin on 2/12/2008: Barack Obama – “Where better to affirm our ideals than here in Wisconsin. Where a century ago the progressive movement was born.”

If you want to hear the quotes and a little more details yourself please watch the following video:


And finally one of several quotes of Barack Obama on his view on the Constitution of the United States of America:


In summary, we have a progressive president who thinks the Constitution is flawed, and is surrounded by all of his progressive friends hell bent on "fundamentally transforming the United States of America." Hope. Change. I'm gonna bet it's not what America was expecting.

545 vs. 300,000,000 People

I received an email yesterday from one of my eighty-three first cousins (no joke) that gave me a new and different perspective. Charlie Reese, a retired reporter for the Orlando Sentinal, has hit the nail directly on the head, defining clearly who it is that in the final analysis must assume responsibility for the judgments made that impact each one of us every day. It's a short but good read. Worth the time. Worth remembering!

545 People
By Charlie Reese

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.

Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?

Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.

You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.

You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.

You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.

You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.

The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts – of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.

If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.

If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ.

If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.

There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.

They, and they alone, have the power.

They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.

Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees...

We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!

Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.

More Tidbits on Health Care

President Obama is determined that the House of Representatives pass the Health Care reform bill before congress breaks for Easter (end of March). President Obama is completely out-of-touch with the American people. In a recent poll conducted by AP-GFK between March 3-8, 2010 the top four issues Americans care about are...

1. The Economy
2. Unemployment
3. Terrorism
4. The Deficit

Health care didn't even break into the top four. Don't you think it's time for congress and the President to listen to us and the American people?

Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House of Representatives, is also hell-bent on getting this legislation passed as soon as possible. It's amazing what comes out of her mouth sometimes. She said, "...we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it." Are you kidding me? The future of America's economy isn't a grab bag that you buy for a $1 trillion and look in after the fact...surprise! NO! NO! NO! We need to know what is in the bill and how it will affect us completely BEFORE it is passed! What a freakin' joke.

If the House passes the bill it will go back to the Senate, in which Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leaders plans on using the "reconciliation" or "nuclear" option to pass it with a simple majority that President Obama recently came out in support of when he was against it in 2007 saying you can't govern like that.  Another flip flop from the master flopper flips his mind.

We have to ask the question why?  Why is President Obama so determined on getting this passed when the majority of American's are against it?  Why is he risking his office?  Why did Pelosi encourage fellow democrats to support the bill even if it means their careers?  Why force it down our throats?  WHY?!

2010 United States Census

I received this letter in the mail today from the Director of the U.S. Census Bureau:

Dear Resident,

About one week from now, you will receive a 2010 Census form in the mail. When you receive your form, please fill it out and mail it in promptly.

Your response is important. Results from the 2010 Census will be used to help each community get its fair share of government funds for highways, schools, health facilities, and many other programs you and your neighbors need. Without a complete, accurate census, your community may not receive its fair share.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Sincerely,

Robert M. Groves
Director, U.S. Census Bureau

Go to 2010census.gov for help completing your 2010 Census form when it arrives.

This will be the first time that I have personally participated in the official census mandated by the Constitution of the United States (Article I, Section II). To my initial understanding of the purpose of the census is to determine the population of the country. I decided to do some research and find out if there is anything more to it.

From 2010census.gov under the section Why It's Important it says, "...Census information affects the numbers of seats your state occupies in the U.S. House of Representatives...an accurate count of residents can [help you and] for your community. Better infrastructure. More services." From everything that I have researched the information the government needs is the total amount of people living in my home at a certain date. That sounds like a one question survey, but I learned that the census form is ten questions. "What could the other questions be?" I asked myself. I found them on the same website with a description of why they ask that particular question.

1. How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile home on April 1, 2010?
2. Were there any additional people staying here April 1, 2010 that you did not include in Question 1?
3. Is this a house, apartment, or mobile home?
4. What is your telephone number? We may call you if we don't understand your answer?
5. Please provide information for each person living here. What is Person 1's name?
6. What is Person 1's sex?
7. What is Person 1's age and what is Person 1's date of birth?
8. Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?
9. What is Person 1's race?
10. Does Person 1 sometimes live or stay somewhere else?

The reasons why they ask these questions doesn't really convince me that they need to be asked in the first place. The government has my information already...all they need to do is punch in my social security number and wahla! it's there. I will be answering the first question and mail it in. If they call me because they "don't understand my answer" I will ask how did you get my phone number since I didn't include it on the form and followed by what part of 4 persons living in my house on April 1, 2010 don't you understand? If they proceed to press for answers on the remaining questions I will explain that there is no place in the constitution for me to give that information...only the number of people living in my house. Thanks, buh bye.

Obama Won't Quit

I am not talking about President Obama's smoking addiction, but about Healthcare. I know I haven't posted for awhile, but have been following the news and the political arena closely. There has been SO MUCH going on I find it difficult to try and pick one area and talk about it with my limited free time.

America has spoken. 73% want this supposed healthcare reform bill scrapped. 52% are against reform altogether. Still, President Obama is doing all that he can to push this through and get it passed as soon as possible. He even came out recently and said he is in support of "reconciliation" also known as the nuclear option. This means that the Senate only needs a simple majority vote of 51 instead of 60 to pass a bill. I could spend a entire post about this, but am focusing on President Obama's support for reconciliation. In 2007, then Senator Barack Obama said:

"You've got to break out of what I call, sort of, the 50-plus-one pattern of presidential politics. Maybe you eke out a victory of 50-plus-one, then you can't govern. You know, you get Air Force One, I mean there are a lot of nice perks, but you can't deliver on health care. We're not going to pass universal health care with a 50-plus-one strategy."

All of the sudden the President is for 50-plus-one pattern of presidential politics? I shouldn't be surprised that Obama has conflicting statements, but how much more can we take of this America? He is now only considering this because he knows that he doesn't have the votes to get it passed...especially since Senator Scott Brown won a senate seat after 40+ years of Democratic Ted Kennedy's came open after his death.

President Obama doesn't care about healthcare reform. All he cares about is getting the structure for healthcare reform in place so it can expand and get into every area of our life and control one-sixth of the economy!

The following clip is a radio address given by former President Reagan speaking out against socialized medicine. It is just over ten minutes long, but please take the time to listen to it as it will open your eyes.



Today President Obama targeted health insurers again accusing they're directly responsible for rising health care costs and the constant rise of insurance premiums.

"Insurance companies, the president argued, have made a calculation. He cited a recent Goldman Sachs conference call in which an insurance broker told investors that insurers are willing to lose some customers through premium hikes because of an overall lack of competition in the industry." -CNN

President Obama's idea of competition is an "insurance exvhange" idealy with a "public option" that would be government funded. No matter what anyone says, YOU CANNOT COMPETE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT! It will drive the private insurance industry out of business...exactly what they want.

I agree that there is a lack of competition when it comes to choosing a health care provider. It does drive premium rates up...there's no doubt in my mind. Republicans have suggested to open up state lines where health insurance can be purchased from any state. This would immediately drive rates down because when there's more companies in the mix they have more to compete with. Competition is good...it what makes the free market work. Look at Wal-Mart for example. Last year they started a perscription pill program where for only $10 you could get a three month supply. Not long after, other companies followed suit because all their business was going somewhere else and to stay competitive they were forced to lower their rates, which is good for us.

Uh, President Obama? Shouldn't you be focusing on the millions of American that don't have a job instead of jamming healthcare down our mouth? We don't need another big government program that will cost taxpayers almost $1 trillion over the next decade...some estimate it'll cost over $2 trillion.

"What the American people would like us to do is not make this gargantuan mistake," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, told ABC's "This Week."