There is an easy workable solution to the costs of healthcare: easy, workable even cheap but unfortunately politically unacceptable. A solution that we can all – repeat all – support, except our so-called Representatives in Congress.
At a campaign rally in 1979, Ronald Reagan quipped that we could easily improve the speed and efficiency of the postal service. “Just pay the postal workers by mail.” Think about using the same principle for healthcare.
If this is a country ruled by laws not individuals, shouldn’t the laws, rules, and regulations apply equally to all Americans? I certainly hope that was a rhetorical question. So…if they apply to everyone, what about people in Congress?
Using President’s Reagan’s ‘pay by mail” idea, what if you and I had the same healthcare system as people in Congress? Come to think of it, why limit the concept to healthcare?
What about a Constitutional Amendment that said all laws, rules and regulations apply equally to Congresspeople as to the populace? No exceptions. I mean it: NO EXCEPTIONS.
I would think liberals of all degrees as well as conservatives of all stripes would support this idea. After all, the former believe in equality and social justice while the latter emphasize the rule of law. Well, what if we combined the two?
I can just hear the cynics saying that Congress will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever [If you haven’t seen the movie Martian Child, rent it] let this happen. To me, this just brings out in the open the fact that our Representatives do not represent us.
Whether you are to the left of Mao Tse-tung or to the right of Attila the Hun, you want your representative to represent you and your point of view. I believe there is one assertion on which the majority of Americans, of all political, social or religious persuasions, can agree: they represent only themselves and not us. As my wife says, they have only one job (according to them): to get re-elected. Well, time for us to change that. We really do have the power. Let’s use it.
There are, believe it or not, 33 Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Twenty-seven were passed and six have not been. I urge a national movement to demand a 34th Amendment with only 22 words.
34th Amendment: “All rules that apply to any U.S. resident apply equally – without exceptions or qualifications – to all persons elected to public office.”
The Founding Fathers did not write such an Amendment in the Bill of Rights. It would never have occurred to them that the rules would NOT apply to people in Congress.
As a doctor for healthcare, I would welcome this Amendment. It would CURE our sick system.
System MD
Tweet This Post 
Buzz This Post 
Delicious 
Digg This Post 
Facebook 
Stumble This Post
4 comments ↓
Sign me up; I’m not exactly healthy; I’m a disabled RN, but I will do what I’m able to do to help.
I would add only one thing to your fantastic idea for an amendment: APPOINTED OFFICIALS.
Pres. Obama has gone even more “czar crazy” than all his predecessors. These offices are not answerable to anyone but the standing president. Once they pass muster with the Senate confirmation process, they can then do as they please. And their healthcare in these positions is likely more elite than that of elected officials.
By definition/translation, a “czar” is an emporer with absolute power to do as he pleases (“czarina” being the female term – empress – meaning the same). They answer to no one; they take into account what their advisors say only if it suits them (and only if they are wise).
A cabinet post exists so that a president can have advisors whose agenda isn’t to be re-elected, but to perform satisfactorily to the person who put him/her in authority. The idea was to free them, for 4 years, of any need except the one to perform well enough that, when the sitting president is re-elected or replaced, they can stay on through another term.
This is a good thing in a way but not without its inherent dangers, one of which is not being accountable to the populace, but to the president. These “czars” wield incredible power, more than any elected official could hope to wield. They need to be included in healthcare reform.
I completly and whole heartedly agree, this monster needs to be stopped. Mr Bam Bam has strictly advocated Mammograms for women after they are 50 years of age. My father thank God is in excellent health at 78. But, Mr Bam Bam wants to cut medical help to the elderly stating that they have already lived thier life and time to make room for the young people. I believe in my heart of hearts that this man is a complete and utter baffoon. I also refuse to call him President due to the fact that he has not produced a true and valid birth certificate. And I don’t even want to get started on Pelosillini and her henchmen. My father and I are complete conservatives. If there is anymore information you can send me would be appreciated, and if there is anything I can do (sine I am a retired truck driver) Please let me know.
This is the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard. All rules that apply to regular folk must apply to politicians. So who are the regular folk–do we literally have to treat politicians like criminals?
I must be missing your objection to the proposed 34th Amendment.
Who are the regular folk? They are you, me, voters, taxpayers, everyone who is not an elected official.
If you or I behave like a criminal, we are treated as criminals. Same for politicians: if they break the law–engage in criminal behavior–of course treat them like the criminals that they are.
If a [single payer] government-run healthcare system were passed by Congress, that applied to all Americans, why would it NOT apply to people in Congress?
What are your objections to a “34th Amendment”?
Leave a Comment