Dear C.P.,
You and I had a conversation about that bill the other day. You were very emotional. You are a diabetic; you couldn’t afford healthcare under the current “greedy” capitalistic system. In fact, you are uninsurable, and therefore you have to pay for your medication. Your health condition limits your options for employment; and thus, your ability to earn higher income is affected. You earn less than most people, and you have to pay more for your medication. Now, with Obamacare, you firmly believe that you will get what you believe is your right: access to healthcare insurance that is high quality and low cost. The Bill gives you that opportunity.
I will not talk here about your misguided belief about the “greedy capitalistic system.” Of course, common sense and history—if you ever paid attention to those two—should teach you that under a more socialist system you would be not only uninsurable, but unemployable as well. But we’ll leave those general considerations for another time.
I want to help you see the three major misconceptions you have about this matter. May be you will listen to common sense this time.
The first misconception you have about the bill is that the healthcare bill makes you a beneficiary. Dear C.P., you seem to believe that the Democrats in the Congress and Obama are full of compassion to you and that’s why they are fighting this legal battle, concerned about your healthcare. You seem to believe that politics in Washington is not about control and power and money, it is about helping people like you.
I don’t know where you get these ideas about the motives of the Democratic politicians. I will only say this: No, the Bill is not concerned about making you a beneficiary; it is concerned about making you a payer. It says only vaguely that you will get some healthcare. It doesn’t say how much, at what quality, and when. The only sure thing is that you will pay for it. Eventually you may discover that what you get is not worth what you pay for it; but the Bill doesn’t give you the option to refuse to pay for it.
To confirm my words, notice the preparations the Federal Government is making to implement the Bill. Do you hear anything about more doctors, more hospitals, more medicines? Do you hear of any specific steps to improve the quality of healthcare? No. The only specific steps we see from the Federal Government are hiring thousands of IRS agents and buying guns for the IRS. Do tax-collectors cure diabetes? Do government guns provide healthcare?
To give you a better picture, dear C.P., we are being marched to a concentration camp. You voted for it. You are excited because you think it will be better than your small house. They promise you “freedom” (Arbeit Macht Frei, you know). They promise you living space. They promise you regular meals. They promise you “right to employment.” They promise you a place to sleep. But as we approach, we see uniformed men, barbed wire, guard dogs, decrepit barracks, no kitchen, only a nasty dirty bakery. And a stone quarry in the distance.
You say that the new healthcare will be cheaper and affordable for you. This is your second misconception: The healthcare bill will change only one thing. Everything will stay the same, costs, quality, personal responsibility, jobs, payments. Only now you will be added to the list of those who are insured.
But reality is that you can’t change one thing only. What you do in one area will affect every other area. You think in the present system I am more fortunate and you are less fortunate. Insurance companies compete for me and my family, because we are healthy, but they reject your applications because of your “pre-existing conditions.” And you believe this is a privilege that I shouldn’t have. I have privileges over you, how unbearable, ain’t it.
But you forget that with privileges come responsibility. Yes, insurance companies compete to take my money but they don’t necessarily give me all the privileges of using that money. They act as a buffer between me and the doctors. I can’t go to the doctors every day for every little thing and spend their time. I can’t waste resources. The money I pay may never return to me again, if I don’t get sick. And I really don’t want to get sick, and I do preventive medicine, so the money will never return, most probably. But it is not lost. It is used in different ways – it goes to research laboratories, among other things. Those same research labs that are responsible for discovering all kinds of cheaper and better medication for diabetes. I lose this money so that you can have your medicines, see that? And I don’t mind losing it; I am paying it voluntarily, and I won’t try to irresponsibly cheat the system to get my money back. And yes, the system is not perfect, it has its shortcomings, but it is based on voluntary spirit and mutual checks and balances, and eventually it will get better, if we manage to get the government out of it.
What would I do under the new system? Well, I hate being forced to pay. But since I have no chance, now I will start using the system in a most wasteful way. It is not my system anymore, it is a system imposed on me by force. And if it gives you privileges, it gives me privileges too. And I will use them. I will take my three kids to the doctor every day. Every sneeze, every bruise will be an occasion to visit my doctor. And since under the new system the insurer can’t refuse to pay for my kids, I will be able to defund the system much faster than before. My doctor will prescribe expensive drugs for simple colds, and the system will pick up the tab. At the same time, I will find ways to pay less and less into it. A bill of 2,000 pages has at least 2,000 loopholes. And I will use them all. I’ll do everything I can to pay less and use more; why not, it is not my system anymore, I have no responsibility to it, so I’ll screw it every time I have the opportunity. And so will over 100 million other Americans.
What are you going to do? You will find out that a system that promised to help you, has less and less resources to do it. You’ll wait in long lines—like they do in Canada and in the UK—and you may not get enough subsidy for your medication. Higher costs, and lower quality, and longer time for waiting. And no opting out of the system. Meanwhile, I will pay my doctor under the counter, and the black market will restore my free market system. Except that this time you’ll be out of it. Also, if I ever get sick, I will then join the system again. I will have a pre-existing condition, but they can’t refuse to treat me. This will additionally defund the system.
The government will have to do two things then: Force all of us to pay more, or ration healthcare.
To force us all, they will have to hire tens, if not hundreds of thousands of new tax-collectors. Billions of dollars in new expenses every year. Where will the government take the money from? Well, from your employer, for instance. Your employer will have to pay more, and his market will be smaller and smaller. What will he do? Transfer the costs on to you. So now you will earn less money. Oh, you may lobby the government to transfer the costs on him? Sure. But then he will fire you. So now you will earn no money at all. You are a diabetic, a high risk employee, so why should he keep you? He’ll keep the people like me, who are healthy, and who can spend more time on the job without any health-related risks. So now I will have even more privileges than you, because I’ll be a person with a job in a world of more and more unemployed people.
Or may be the government will ration healthcare. Now you are in trouble. You are 55, aren’t you? And you will have to compete for those healthcare rations against my children, who are 10, 13, and 15, and against me and my wife, young, healthy, and productive. So a government panel will determine who of us six gets healthcare. Sixteen to 17 per cent odds for you, at best. May be even less, if we take in account Obama’s views on usefulness of old and sick people. From a government perspective, you have no more than 7–8 years productive life of paying taxes, or voting, or anything else that affects government bureaucrats directly. That’s not a very competitive edge against my family. Why would they go for your vote and not for ours? So here you are, having paid for a healthcare that is rationed away from you.
I will add that meanwhile those of us that resent Obama’s diktat will rally politically against it. We will never surrender. Millions of dollars will go to the political war that could have found a better use. That’s okay with us—we’d rather live without healthcare than be slaves. But more resources withdrawn from productive social use will only hurt the weaker members of the society. You, that is.
Back to our concentration camp analogy, once there, I will do everything possible to be free, or to sabotage the work, because I hate it. In this death camp called Obamacare, there will be over 100 million Americans sabotaging it because they hate it. And it will affect you as much as it affects me, if not worse. And there will be nothing you can do about it. You suffer because of your foolishness.
Then you tell me that I shouldn’t do that; I am a Christian, don’t I have a moral obligation to my neighbor? And this is your third, and most important misconception: that there is no moral difference between voluntary sharing and compulsion. It accomplishes the same thing, you say. Whether I voluntarily help you in your troubles and distress, or I am forced by the government to do it, is the same, you think.
But you are wrong.
As a Christian, I have a moral obligation to those that are in need. I am commanded by my Lord to help them. Yes, Jesus tells me I must show compassion and care for the needy. And Americans, being the people with the deepest Christian roots in the whole world, we give more to charities than any other people. We give voluntarily, not because we are forced to, but because we believe it is right.
But my moral obligation to my neighbor doesn’t extend to thieves. A needy neighbor is needy and I have obligation to help him. A needy thief is a thief and I have obligation to protect my loved ones and my property from him and execute justice on him. Moral obligation doesn’t mean subsidizing evil.
By supporting this outrageous theft of my liberty you have crossed the line from being my neighbor to being a thief. Before the Bill it was you and I against the wrongs of the present system. We could work together to fix it, make it better, gradually, step by step, until you could afford healthcare – or until future patients in your condition could afford it.
But after the Bill it is now you and the Federal government and the dishonest insurers against me. You have joined an evil alliance, trusting the promises of those whom you know you can’t trust. And in every evil alliance there always is a scoundrel and a fool. Since we very well know that the Federal government is a scoundrel – you told me that so many times – guess what that makes you. I have no moral obligation to you. You have broken the bonds of peace that kept our fellowship and preserved our society.
Now that I have less money to give, I will not give as much to charities as before. And if I give at all, I will make sure these charities do not subsidize thieves like you who voted for the Democrats. When you eventually remain without a job, without money, and with healthcare rationed away from you by the same government bureaucrats you trusted so foolishly, I won’t be there to help you. I may be worse than before but I will still survive. Whereas your condition will be much worse than before, and you may not survive. Did you know that lifespans in socialist countries are much lower than those in America?
And it will be your fault. Your foolish gullibility is what will bring all this about.
Let me summarize, my dear C.P.: You are self-deceived. Obamacare doesn’t make you a beneficiary, it makes you a payer. Its promises are vague and non-binding but its requirements are very specific and unequivocal. It will not decrease costs, it will only increase waste and irresponsibility. Because it is now government owned and controlled, it will encourage people to find ways to pay less and use it more – or abuse it. The government will have to force everyone to pay more and to ration healthcare – and you will suffer from both of them. In the end, you will be worse off than before but you will meet no compassion from those that could have helped you because you have destroyed the bonds of peace and community by your support of this theft.
My earnest prayer for you is to wake up, listen to common sense, change your mind and help us repeal this monstrosity. It will be good for your soul and your health.
For more information about the Bulgarian Reformation Ministries, go to http://bulgarianreformation.org/
A Reformed missionary to his native Bulgaria for over 10 years, Bojidar preaches and teaches doctrines of the Reformation and a comprehensive Biblical worldview. Having founded Bulgarian Reformation Ministries in 2001, he and his team have translated over 30,000 pages of Christian literature about the application of the Law of God in every area of man’s life and society, and published those translations online for free. He has been active in the formation of the Libertarian movement in Bulgaria, a co-founder of the Bulgarian Society for Individual Liberty and its first chairman. If you would like Bojidar to speak to your church, homeschool group or other organization, contact him through his website: http://www.bulgarianreformation.org/
John Edwards was right about one theing- there are two Americas. The one the Democratic legislators live in and the one the rest of us live in.
WE need a 28th amendment that shall read::
"Congress shall make no law that doesn't apply to or effect the congress equally with all the people."
By golly, we get that along with term limits and we can really take back our country.
You mean like the rest of the current laws they are supposed to obey but do not. Like Amendment 16 that Geitner so aptly follows? It doesn't matter what is codified, they are above all that.
THIS HEALTH CARE BILL IS SO SICK !! LEST US ALL SEE THE BIG WIGS IN WASHINGTON ON THE SAME PLAN !!! NO. IT ISN;T GOOD ENOUGH FOR THEM . LIARS! i saw in my hometown paper this that when thhis man went to the doctors he was given a note saying you might not be covered by MEDICARE any more. THE poor man has cancer. The damn idiots in Washington don't give a damn about anybody but themsellfes to see what they can get for free
I have spent time trying to see how the King came to power… no experience running a business or government and only a 1 term Senator. Quite an accomplishment for a young law professor without an established pedigree! All the more so when you read about his youth spent outside the USA.
Who, besides Oprah, was advocating for this silver-tongued teleprompter reader? Where did the money come from to push him to the head-of-the-pack?
Advocators for B.O. are Tony Rezco–Antoin "Tony" Rezko (born July 1955) is a political fundraiser, restaurateur, and real estate developer in Chicago, Illinois, convicted on several counts of fraud and bribery in 2008. Rezko has been involved in fundraising for local Illinois Democratic and Republican politicians since the 1980s. After becoming a major contributor to Rod Blagojevich's successful gubernatorial election, Rezko assisted Blagojevich in setting up the state's first Democratic administration in twenty years. Rezko was able to have business associates appointed onto several state boards. Rezko and several others were indicted on federal charges in October 2006, for using their connections to the state boards to demand kickbacks from businesses that wanted to do business with the state. While the others pleaded guilty to the charges, Rezko pleaded not guilty and was found guilty of 16 of the 24 charges filed against him.
Another advocate–Geroge Soros, George Soros (pronounced /ˈsɔroʊs/ or /ˈsɔrəs/,[3] Hungarian IPA: [ˈʃoroʃ]; born August 12, 1930, as Schwartz György) is a Hungarian-American currency speculator, stock investor, businessman, philanthropist, and political activist.[4] He became known as "the Man Who Broke the Bank of England" after he made a reported $1 billion during the 1992 Black Wednesday UK currency crisis.[5][6]
Soros is chairman of Soros Fund Management and the Open Society Institute and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Council on Foreign Relations. He played a significant role in the peaceful transition from Communism to Capitalism in Hungary (1984–89),[6] and provided Europe's largest ever higher education endowment to Central European University in Budapest.[7] Later, his funding and organization of Georgia's Rose Revolution was considered by Russian and Western observers to have been crucial to its success. In the United States, he is known for having donated large sums of money in an effort to defeat President George W. Bush's bid for re-election in 2004. He helped found the Center for American Progress.
Former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker wrote in 2003 in the foreword of Soros' book The Alchemy of Finance:
He is not nor was he a law professor. He only gave lectures..
The ruler of Libya (a terrorist supporting state) and Hamas (a terrorist group representing the Palistinians) both said they paid for his election. He had about four times the money of the other side and refused to account for $300,000,000.00 of it. He was helped through college by the royal family of Saudi Arabia and his cousin is Prime Minister of Kenya where Obama was born. He has a Moslem Pedigree of wealth, though he attended Occidental College on a scholarship as a poor foreigner.
The ruler of Libya (a terrorist supporting state) and Hamas (a terrorist group representing the Palistinians) both said they paid for his election. He had about four times the money of the other side and refused to account for $300,000,000.00 of it. He was helped through college by the royal family of Saudi Arabia and his cousin is Prime Minister of Kenya where Obama was born. He has a Moslem Pedigree of wealth, though he attended Occidental College on a scholarship as a poor foreigner.
Resco was a friend, but the ruler of Libya and a leader of Hamas announced shortly after his win that they had financed his election. Of course that is illegal, but Obama did refuse to account for the source of $300,000,000.00 of his funding. There is a lot of evidence that indicates the royal family of Saudi Arabia did help him finance his education. (Part of it was also financed by a scholarship reserved for foreign students.) Obama's cousin is Prime Minister fo Kenya that claims him as a native son. Obama comes from moneyed Moslems just like Osama Bin Ladin.
What a great article! VOTE THE BUMS OUT – CONVERT THE IDIOTS THAT PUT THEM THERE!!!
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronacles 7:14) (KJV)
And that goes for any other problem caused by the currant administration, the Senate and the House of Reps. Politics aside, God's people can make a difference. PRAY!!
AMEN!!! AMEN!!!!
Well put; now if people will only read and think! God help us!
I really do love to read these opinions, that is what makes America the greatest country in the world. We have freedom of speech and people continue to come here and enjoy this freedom, even with out universal health care. With things going the way they are under Obama the USA just might be headed for total collapse and then no more "FREE SPEECH". We should be aware that this could all come true in the near future, there is no other country out there to come to our aid. We should all say it like it is while we can.
I think it's fantastic to finally read someone who makes total sense of what Socialized medicine really is! I've been trying to tell others about what is going to happen with the new health care system, and am met with, 'Aww, you don't know what you're talking about', or 'that won't happen'! It's unbelievable how many stupid people we have in this nation, who think they deserve a 'freebie'! Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is free! Including freedom itself!!! How much blood has been soaked into the ground, and spattered everywhere else, because of the preservation of freedom? And people like C.P. are throwing any rights they may have had before, away. God given rights, I might add. Very much like throwing away your birthright for a meager bowl of pottage, and bread Genesis 25: 29-34. Ben Franklin made it very plain, when he said "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither Liberty nor safety!" Couldn't say it any better myself. Time to get a clue, loafers. Nothing is free! But in all socialist and communist countries, life is VERY cheap!!! comprende'?
I'm reminded of a song from an old Dick Van Dyke movie:
"From the ashes of disaster grow the roses of success!"
Chaos and failure are God's gift to the Christian!
(I LOVED this letter Mr. BMov! You hit the nail on the head!)
I don't know how laws are made in Bulgaria — but in the United States of America, laws are passed by Congress and signed into law by the President. It's obvious many people are upset by the new Health Care Reform legislation — but the only way it will be repealed is for both the House of Representatives and the Senate pass legislation to rescind it and the President signs the rescinding bill.
Can enough people with your point of view be mobilized in the next two elections to elect Congressional candidates and a new president to make this possible?
If you get veto proof majorities in both houses you can override the president.
I understand. But is that realistic to expect in either 2010 or 2012?
It's possible in 2010!
Most likely in 2010!
I don't believe the Senate can change over enough this upcoming election to override a veto unless perhaps the Republicans win every single Senate race this fall. (Not sure that even then they could pick up enough to have the required 2/3.) The House would be difficult but of course every seat is up for election. The Republicans would need to win 2/3 of them as well.
The best plan would be for the House to defund as many aspects of the plan as possible until the Republicans regain control of the White House.
As for the rest of us, we need to get involved helping elect conservatives who will pledge to stymie as much of this radical agenda as possible. That may require taking off the days around the election to counter all the union people who will be staffing polls, etc for the democrats. Where I live the teachers union gets every election day and the prior Monday off and many of them are out assisting the democrats for get out the vote.
Considering the whole darn thing does indeed violate several Articles and Amendments of the Constitution, it can indeed be repealed. This bill was voted in by thieves that ignored the will of the majority of people they represent. It is a breech of contract and a violation the oath all of them took when they were sworn into office. As a military member, I took an oath, it means everything to me. I would die before I would violate that oath before God, and the American nation I serve…because I have integrity and honor. I expect nothing less from our elected officials (and it has been long on-going) but was certainly "rewarded" with much less than I, or any of us deserve.
To the author, the truth is tough to take. Mary Poppins might have said "a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down" but sometimes sugar just needs to be thrown out the window. Well done Sir!
Bojidar,
Thanks for your compelling letter. Truth be told – I thought you were very gentle in telling it straight. You could have come out and been rude, but you politely showed how those who support things like Obamacare are really hurting themselves.
Repression will thrive in Obamacare… which you have already explained. But from my study of business, international investing, and marketing only agree with your conclusions.
Keep speaking the truth. Sometimes the truth is that we totally screwed up… and that's never a nice thing to hear. But it is something we should know.
Dear Bojidar,
I really enjoy all of your artciles! You really tried to help C.P. see the error in his thinking.
Proverbs 15:31-32 "The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence." I pray C.P. listens and grows wise.
Thanks for all of your great articles,
Susie
Dear Gail Fitches,
It's great that you have lived in a country your entire life where the only concern you have is to judge the politness and and approach of those who have known only an existance of struggle against the machinisms of totalitarianism their entire life. The only systems of government more repressive than those of the former Soviet controlled regions such as Bulgaria, are those of middle eastern culture, where they still live in the dark ages. But, I'm sure your opinion of Mr. Marinov is only intended to provide him with your greater Christian perspective of 'shut up and sit down' so, you can feel good about that. Especially since you pointed out that you don't really think he was being very helpfull. There is a book I would 'highly' recommend for your reading that just might give you an insight to the sense of urgency that obviates the lack of tactfulness you say Mr. Marinov demonstarates in your complaint. The Road to Serfdom – By F. A. Hayek can provide the tacit details as to the exigency on Mr. Marinov's piece.
Not one single prophet, in either the OT or NT was tactful, as witnessed by their loss of life in almost every case, including the tactless Jesus. The truth shall set you free, not the candy coated truth, THE truth. As in the way the truth and the life. I find Bojidar a refreshing change from the sugar coated supposed "teachers" we have in abundance, my wife agrees, and now loves reading AV and Chaldedon. Keep up the good work and don't get feminized(like that could happen!)
Wayne B
Dear Bojidar Marinov,
I think you should take a class on being tactful and a class on compassion, because I think your letter is atrocious! If I was this person, you sure would not sell me on any of your ideas. I am totally against Obamacare, but your all knowing, egotistical, self-righteous attitude is a BIG TURNOFF!!!! You gave this person no hope or a solution to his problems. If you cannot help someone find the solution to their problem, then I would keep your thoughts to yourself.
Sincerely,
Gail Fitches
It is not Bojidar who give "no hope and no solutions" it is our oh so wonderful government that keeps reaching deeper and deeper in to our pockets to take what belongs to us and our children so that those who are "in need" can have more, welcome to the U.S.S.A folks, hope you enjoy your stay, though I highly doubt anyone will……
Bodijar, you hit the nail on the head, would you like to run for president? lol
Dear Gail,
I think Mr. Marinov is speaking the truth in love to C. P. I have been involved in mercy ministries and my greatest frustration is the government's intrusion into those things that we as Christians are supposed to do, such as help feed the poor and care for our sick neighbors. I personally hope the gov't begins to cut welfare programs so the Church of Jesus Christ will rise up and be the Church.
Ms. Fitches,
Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend (brother); profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
Sometimes the truth must be harsh, like a slap in the face. Mr. Marinov did in deed provide hope; that of following Christ and working to repeal this intrusion.
i think the letter was right onwe don't need to be tactful anymore they don't listen–tell me what is the lie in it?you can't you are a useful idiot who won't fight for your freedom-so let the gov lead you around by the nose-you get what you deserve
The author of the article gave him hope – look at the last lines of the article – he ask him to help fight against Obamacare by repealing same. I believe the article is written well – the truth is not always pretty but, it does set one free.
You cannot be against Obiecare and this man. Remember, when Jesus told the truth they nailed Him to a cross.No hope or solution? There is no hope or solution. The truth is the truth. Now open your eyes and watch it unfold, just like the man put in his letter, for that is OUR future.Tactful? You mean lie to you and others? Whats the need,the gun has been fired now everyone just sits around and waits, hopeing maybe it wont hit them but they are wrong.Its Obies answer to the old fable, the Ant and the Grashopper only in the new version the Ant was forced by the goverment to feed the Grasshopper!
Gail, if you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem. You state that you are against Obummercare, but you offer no solution. The truth is invariably bitter and your reaction is to attack the messenger who only laid out what is really going to happen, what the system is really going to do, what the system will do individuals and small businesses. The only result of this so-called healthcare system will be to enrich thousands of gubmint bureaucrats without advancing the quality and availability of care. You have fallen into the trap that is described perfectly by Adolf Hitler, who once said; The art of leadership consists in consolidating the attention of the people against a single adversary and taking care that nothing will split up that attention. The leader of genius must have the ability to make different opponents appear as if they belonged to one category.
Are you serious? If one cannot help someone find the solution to their problem…blah blah. I only read Mr. Marinov's letter once and I spotted the "FACT" that this specific letter was NOT his first attempt to help the recipient, aka needy thief. I also detected his compassion immediately, as he has NOT GIVEN UP on educating C.P. on the horrific dangers to people LIKE C.P. What else would you do? It is typical behavior of those who feel deserving to become angry when facts are given based on truth. That is understandable…there are no intelligent arguments against fact and truth.
I pray you will understand that it is a strong desire people realize the ugliness of this monster before the mask comes off and it is no longer inescapable. I, for one, won't be standing there screaming in and paralyzed by fear.
Does tactful mean that he has to "go easy" on his friend by not giving him his honest opinion? A friend tells the truth, no matter how harsh that truth is. Wounds from a friend are better than lies and sweet talk from someone who has no interest in your personal welfare. And yes, if you actually read the letter carefully, you would see that he did offer a solution to his friend. The only question is if his friend will take the suggestion. In a free society, we don't need hand outs, we need to think and do and we need those who will encourage us to do so.
gail….he did give you a solution but you are not able to see or hear it you have delusional
thinking….duh where does it come from….i will pray for you….thank you bojidar your letter
was exceptional and it is refreshing to hear it….the spirit speaks softly and with love