I subscribe to a conservative Christian email list, and a most interesting post came across the wire. A fellow suggested that all taxes relating to medical care are morally wrong. Its something interesting to ponder what the effects might be if that were the case.
Most obviously, most of those over 65 would be out in the cold. The only reason private medicare part B insurance exists, is due to part A, govt controlled prices, govt research, and subsidies. Pull the part A, ie socialized medicine out of the mix, and insurance would only be available to the exceedingly wealthy, and likely only if they were healthy. In effect, its a balance between “theft” as he states, and the disgust of euthanaisa of the elderly.
I’m assuming he figures the church would step in and prevent that, but being the median church size in the US is 65 members, most of whom are older, there is no way even if they wanted to, they could do anything. Perhaps in a 10,000 person megachurch, with mostly younger members it might work.
Next, the NIH and other research entities would have to be shut down, thus ending substantial research in basic science, as well as clinical work. The resulting burden shifting to private industry would likely result in massive business failures in the short and long term. Short term, as they could not pick up the gap. Long term, as investment in basic science has a pay back period in some cases of decades… and its impractical for private industry to make such investments.
Then we have the issue of closing hospitals, being they would not be subsidized, either directly, or be favorable tax status. This would likely affect the average Joe and his family. Sure they would have a few extra percent extra in takehome, but likely not enough to travel, much less afford the huge increases in healthcare costs.
Of course this also has ripple effects, in a few short years, most companies would migrate off shore where they can get a better deal on healthier employees, as well as saving substantial costs. Ie, being able to deduct 8-30% of a persons benefits are a huge savings, but it is “theft” being weath is distributed to pay for that deduction. We would in effect become a third world country, albeit said “theft” would no longer be an issue.
Abortion and euthanasia by neglect would increase multifold. The 65 member church just doesnt have the resources, albeit a 10,000 member church might be able to make a dent.
To me, the above are pretty high costs to take the moral high ground in one narrow area, over the other moral areas of the system as a whole. It is an interesting paradox especially coming from a devout Christian.
More than likely he has not through the ramifications, or maybe he doesnt understand the huge impact and intrusion govt has in healthcare. There are huge reasons why short of third world countries who cant afford to, that govt is and must be entrenched in medicine.
I’m not a big fan of HR3200, as its a huge wealth redistribution from society to insurance company investors, but to remove govt funding from the health care arena in total would be a disaster of untold proportations. There are better solutions out there. The Texas Medical Association has a good policy page, as well as Mayo Clinic.
