GOP Falls Short on Health Care Debate

Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia is one of the better conservatives, often making a decent case for less government, more free enterprise. Regrettably, his recent comments on the health care debate are far less than ideal.

Cantor:

To be clear, we do not support the status quo. We understand the need for reform and we have put forward a set of core principles that must be a part of any health care package:

· A commitment that all Americans who like what they have – choice of doctor, timely care and access to the treatments prescribed by their physician – can keep it;

· Access to an affordable, basic plan for those who lack coverage;

· A strengthened safety net for those who need it;

· A renewed commitment to the research and innovation that will yield the best treatments and cures.

Sadly, Rep. Cantor fails to name the essentials that should be driving the GOP in this instance: the Federal Government has no proper role to play in health care AT ALL, apart from protecting the right of free trade among health care providers and patients.

It is NOT appropriate for the Federal Government to make any efforts whatsoever to make health care affordable for those who lack coverage, nor to provide a "safety net."

They should concentrate their efforts on removing barriers to lowering prices, but not for that purpose. Tort reform, for example, would help a great deal, but that is primarily an issue of improving protection for individual rights. It's only secondarily, though an important second, that the effect would be to lower health care costs for all.

We are NOT our brother's keeper. The free market will create the lowest possible price for health care products and services, as it does for every other good, if it's allowed to function. (Unfortunately, the history of the health care-related businesses in this country since WWII has been the exact opposite.) As I've written many, many times over the past two years, it's not about the money; it's about freedom. Freedom is the only right we have in this area, the freedom to seek medical care and the freedom of some to provide it.

The Feds should help every American by simply GETTING OUT OF THE WAY.