Yesterday, State Senator Jon Erpenbach held a press conference on his “Healthy Wisconsin” universal health care plan to say – well, to say pretty much the same thing he’s been saying all along. His main talking point is that people should have health care as good as their state legislators. He calls legislators who oppose the plan “hypocrites” for accepting almost-free health care themselves, while “denying” it to their constituents.
Without a doubt, it is an effective talking point, given the low approval ratings of state elected officials. Erpenbach could have picked any number of state employees who take part in the state insurance plan as an example (UW Professors, DNR wardens, that guy sitting in a cubicle at the Department of Revenue), but he chose elected officials because they give him the most political bang for his buck. The calculus is pretty easy to work out: “Boo, elected officials! – Yay, me!”
This line of thinking is intended to build public support for the proposal based on sheer envy. How is it rational to completely overhaul the state’s health care system because we’re jealous of something a few people have? Regardless of whether you think state legislators should have health care, is it really worth bankrupting the state to pull 5 million people in the state closer to those 132 legislators?
As long as we’re making public policy based on things a handful of legislators have, let’s go all the way. Can’t we guarantee that everyone in the state makes $45,000 a year, like they do? Can we make sure all Wisconsin residents get 32 cents per mile travel reimbursement to drive to work? I propose everyone in the state get a free parking spot on the Capitol square.
Unfortunately, if the Senate Democrats’ government-run health care plan passed, everyone would have similar health care. Unfortunately, both you and your state legislator would have similarly crappy health care. As has been discussed at length in other venues, universal health care means waiting lists, rationed care, and migration of sick people to Wisconsin to take advantage of the plan. So congratulations on having the same health care as your state representative – now go home and wait for three months for a doctor to see you about that cough.
Another aspect of Erpenbach’s rhetoric is interesting, as well. He claims that legislators who oppose his plan are “hypocrites.” Regardless of what you think of the plan or of legislators, I don’t at all see what’s “hypocritical” about wanting to keep the same system that provides the best health care in the nation to you and your constituents. That seems entirely consistent. In fact, the state teachers’ union (WEAC) spends a great deal of time lobbying to keep their system of health insurance intact, since it is run by the union itself. Are they hypocrites, too?
In fact, Erpenbach’s plan carves teachers out of the universal pool altogether – meaning, he thinks government-run health care should be mandatory for all Wisconsin residents – except for teachers, who happen to be his biggest supporters. Certainly no hypocrisy there.
So which is more hypocritical – a legislator defending the free market health insurance system, or a legislator using the lucrative health insurance benefit for 9 years, then deciding it’s evil when it’s politically expedient? Somehow, I don’t recall legislators complaining about their health benefits before this universal plan became an issue – and I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for Jon Erpenbach to reimburse the state for covering him and his family since 1998.
So far, I’ve probably heard 20 different people use the “you deserve health care as good as your state legislators” line. It’s cheap and easy, and plays on people’s dislike of elected officials. But jealousy is probably the worst way to formulate public policy – any time you need to fall back on one of the seven deadly sins to push your plan, you may want to reconsider your public relations strategy.
Maybe instead of raising everyone else’s insurance level up to that of a legislature, we should make the legislator’s health insurance that of the lowest common denominator of their constituents.
After all… we shouldn’t be paying legislators so much, and giving them so many benefits that they decide to make a career of it. That simply breeds corruption.
Comment by Nick — August 1, 2007 @ 10:09 am
Now a program to help is considered a SIN?
A biblical violation of deadly proportions!
You convinced me that your have no argument against it; and have resorted to using religion for political gain.
Next time, try a Saddam 911 link to rally the base with buzzwords.
Comment by goofticket — August 1, 2007 @ 11:56 am
Are we complicating this issue unnecessarily? We certainly want our health care system to remain at the same quality level that currently exist. And we also want it to be available for literally everyone. . . but ONLY for basic health care; not cosmetic surgeries, etc.
Isn’t the real problem is how we are going to pay for the basic health care services for those who cannot pay?
Where I live, our local middle school principal approached our Kiwanis Club. She knew of some (not all!) who needed physical exams before school, dental care, eye glasses, etc. SO, our Club decided to donate $500 for the principal to use to pay for those services for the most needy students. Several other local organizations, including my own church, donated similar amounts. The principal now has a fund of almost $3,000 available to help out those truly in need of medical, dental or eye care. HOWEVER, there still is a great need to provide some kind of insurance coverage for people who have MAJOR medical problems!
Personally, it seems to me that we should begin changing the health insurance system (NOT the health care system) a bit at a time in order to meet specific needs. Paying for Universal Health Care could be a “can of worms” we we soon regret!!!
Comment by R.E. Schallert — August 2, 2007 @ 9:28 am
Aside from the fact that the government should not be involved in our healthcare to begin with, universal healthcare will only put this country into full Socialism. And Socialism gives birth to Communism.
The fact is, our country cannot afford universal healthcare. Our government would end up announcing that Socialism is needed in order to pay the bills. This means that the middle and upper class incomes after taxes will have to go way down to balance with the poor income households. It will be the only way for the bills to be paid.
Then what comes next is Communism. Our government will then tell people what jobs to work and everyone will get the same amount of pay. Americans could also end up being told how many kids parents are allowed to have. And households that do not have an income will also be told to get out and work a government mandated job.
Wake up, America.
Vote for Pete Grasso:
http://GrassoForPresident.com/
Debra…
Ps… I really like your article. It makes a lot of sense. An excerpt from your article, along with a link to it is in my “Headlines and Commentary” for today, Monday, August 6th.
Comment by DebraJMSmith — August 5, 2007 @ 9:36 pm
“…the next step is communism.”
Somebody’s already off the deep end.
I love reading the rediculous assumptions of the far right.
Not one American will ever make a ‘peep’ when the commies take over, nor will one doctor, or researcher, when the entire medical system is replaced, without question, by a British system designed 100 years ago; and the best one of all….the moral values lost within the circuits of an iPod.
Why does the far right feel compelled, to embarass themselves, by making claims, that can never come to fruition?
They think every American, will never question anything….and when they do; the far right calls them terrorist supporters.
Our fathers saw that same logic, in Germany, and they beat the crap out of them. What’s even stranger is they did it, supporting all the freedoms and all the rights of the Constitution, even those not yet ackowledged.
It’s very clear the far, far right wing is terrified of change, their entire world collapsed in 1956 when Joe McCarthy died, and rock & roll began. Surely the Islamofacists had this in mind, all along.
The era of hot button issues, discrimination by innuendo are over.
The GOP, according to several major accredited studies show that they have lost nearly half of all the young voters they once had. Just in the last 6 years! Only 19% of all people 18-35 consider themselves Republicans, compared to the 33% in 2000 and 2004.
This nation does not regress. It never has.
Start thinking outside the box, instead of digging up old ones from the basement.
An iPod is a pretty remarkable communication, and information storage, device.
Would you feel better if Apple put a Philco or Emerson label on it?
Comment by goofticket — August 16, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
Question for Grasso. You say we can’t afford universal healthcare? Every other industrial nation has it and they have a higher satisfactory rating for health care than we do. Canadians may complain a little about waiting for some procedures but they don’t want to switch to our system. A recent survey showed that 70% preferred their system to one like ours.
Comment by Why can't we — August 23, 2007 @ 2:26 pm
Waiting for a doctor…ever tried to get an appt with your family doctor for a physical sceduled the same day? Week? Month??
Crappy health care…riiiiight, all the state legislators are just dropping like flies from their HORRIBLE health care coverage. Meanwhile the low-income parent who uses Medicaid for their child thanks god every day so they don’t have to worry about their health…except they still have to worry about their own. The arent worried about CRAPPY Health Care…they just WANT Health Care!!
Communism? Socialism? If we have Universal Health Care turned down based upon the assumption that these ways life will be a reality then I guess we have to stop having Fire, Police, Public Education, Libraries, Waste Management, DOT to build and maintain our roads, The Military to protect our country and Political Officials to run our cities, counties, states and our country.
Yep…all these things are provided to US as tax-paying citizens so then that MUST make us communists! And OBVIOUSLY if we add ONE more thing to the mix that it will suddenly topple us as a nation into the dark realm of socialism, yeah, that will do it I am sure…
Maybe we just need to start acting like 3rd world countries by putting out our own fires, fighting crime on our own, figuring out where to put our garbage, attempt to educate ourselves and our children, going to war with neighboring countries with firearms that we buy at Wal Mart. Yep – now THAT is a Utopia indeed!
Comment by Follow the lemmings — March 5, 2008 @ 2:31 am