Central Planning

I continue to marvel over the naiveté of otherwise intelligent people when it comes to the reality of what a planned economy would bring. Are people gullible or merely grabbing for power?

I liked this excerpt from my reading today in F. A. Hayek’s ‘The Road to Serfdom”. I share it with you because it really rings true.

“…We all think that our personal order of values is not merely personal but that in a free discussion among rational people we would convince the others that ours is the right one. The lover of the countryside who wants above all that it’s traditional appearance should be preserved and that the blots already made by industry on it’s fair face should be removed, no less than the health enthusiast who wants all the picturesque but insanitary old cottages cleared away, or the motorist who wishes the country cut up by big motor roads, the efficiency fanatic who desires the maximum of specialization and mechanization no less than the idealist who for the development of personality wants to preserve as many independent craftsman as possible all know that their aim can be achieved only by planning, and they all want planning for that reason. But, of course, the adoption of the social planning for which they clamor can only bring out the concealed conflict between their aims.”

Are people just so blinded by the hope of forcing others to adopt their values that they can’t see the inevitable conflict?

In the end, it will be the task of a centrally planned government to decide between opposing projects. Then it will quickly descend into a series of favors and a system of political pull being the main factor considered.

A Few More Thoughts on Health Care

But first..... If you think Ayn Rand was prophetic 50 years ago, try this quote from Isaiah...

Isaiah 3:5 And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbor: The child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honorable. Verse 12: As for my people, children are their oppressors, an women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

Now on to health care...
Here is one major change that would occur under single payer health care:

The role of a doctor is to save lives and improve the quality of life. When applied to the individual, that is pretty clear, and pretty close to what we have now. But even that 'mission statement' changes meaning when you are referring not to an individual, but to a whole society.

Saving lives changes from 'saving THIS life' to 'saving the most lives'. Improving the quality of life changes from helping one person to 'what will help the most people'. And then the health and treatment of some will always be sacrificed to help the whole of society. This is the path that leads to eugenics.

That might seem like a far cry from what Obama is proposing, but it's putting us on that path. Unfortunately even many republicans are content to go in this direction, just maybe not quite as much as the democrats. It's all very wrong. And though the money needed to fund health care is an important issue, because there will never be enough, it's not the main issue. The main issue is that we are selling our birthright of freedom for a little security that is not even theirs to give!

A Few Thoughts on Health Care

Health care is a service industry.

A patient receives a service in exchange for monetary compensation.

It’s a lot like the service a dry cleaner, a grocery store, or auto mechanic may provide.

From the time we were kids, most of us heard that a consumer must know the difference between ‘wants’ and ‘needs’. It seems now that our modern society is so accustomed to the instant gratification of their ‘wants’, that they think it is up to someone else to provide for their ‘needs’.

Somewhere along the line companies began offering health insurance as a benefit to attract a competitive workforce, just as some companies offer benefits like a gym membership or a town car.

I might wish that had never happened, because it leads us to where we are now, and yet I would not wish to interfere with the compensation that a business chooses to pay it’s employees.

But here we are in 2009, and because people have sought employers that provide this valuable perk, now many think it is the government’s place to provide health care for those who do not have it. Employment also provides you the cash to by food. Is that now the responsibility of the government? You might say it is, in the form of food stamps. I would reply that both health care and food may be provided in an emergency, as a safety net, but the amount given and the time frame served should be limited in order to encourage a return to the individual or family providing for themselves.

Let’s look at it from the point of view of the health care professional.

Here you may have a youth who studied while the other teens were out having fun. A young adult who continued in medical school while their peers were finishing their schooling and embarking on careers. A man or woman who’s young family sacrificed financially during residency…..All with the plan that his investment of time and effort will pay off someday when his expertise earns him a good living.

Government control of the health care industry meddles with this plan, changing the rules on the healthcare worker once he has already invested his time and energy. The more the government is involved, the more restrictions there will be on the medical professionals, causing good doctors with other prospects to leave the field, and discouraging others from seeking that path.

Government involvement in any market introduces escalating inefficiency. And as much as we like to think of health care in an altruistic way, it is still a service that must be done by someone, and like any market, will always be subject to inefficiency in direct proportion to the government involvement forced upon it.

-Lynnae

Independence Day!

Lynnae’s Independence Day Scrapbook………………

FOOD……

Dig in!

Family……

Now that’s a house full!

Fireworks……

This IS the greatest country on earth!

Me in my Snuggie and my Sis-in-law in her Slanket. Patriotic!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday as well.

Independence Day Eve

Howdy howdy!
I've been sick but I'm feeling a lot better, so with no further delay, here's an awesome quote for you. I dedicate this to our favorite little 'Community Organizer', President Obama.

"The socialists believe in two things which are absolutely different,
and perhaps even contradictory:
freedom and organization."

-Elie Halevy

Secondly, out here in Washington State I hear Congressman Reichart has had his in-box full, and he deserves it for being one of the notorious Cap-and-Trade eight. I am done with re-electing back stabbing RINOs. I swore I'd never vote for McCain, and I did, though it was only because of Palin. I've had it.
Anyway, if you want to read my hubby's post containing his letter to Reichart, click here. And if you need a little non political fun, read the post previous to that as well.

Thirdly, Kudos to our local little Movie Theater for this festive and patriotic display. I LOVE it!

We are getting ready for a big Independence Day gathering, with relatives coming from as far as California, Portland, and Utah. In addition to attending an early morning flag raising, we have had a firework party at least seven of the ten years we've lived here. The 'Brother-in-Law's' and other guy friends will run down to the Indian reservation, pool there money, and get all kinds of firework goodies for young and old alike. We cover the front lawn with blankets and lawn chairs, eat tons of food, and celebrate living in the Best Nation on Earth!!!

A couple years ago one of our liberal neighbors came over and complained to my husband that she was worried about our fireworks hurting someone or causing damage. This bugged my husband enough to take some of the fun out of our festivities. This is the same neighbor who's 'outdoor cats' routinely defecate in my flowerbed. In true life-imitates-politics style, she acquired her two grey little minion, and promptly shut them out of her house, and now expects society (our block) to carry the consequences.

And to put this in perspective, almost every street in our neighborhood has a big party and launches fireworks. Including another street actually closer to her house. We never go past midnight, and we get out brooms and leaf blowers to clean the street before everyone goes home that night.

We are expecting two couples and four teens, in addition to our family, to be staying at our house this weekend. For our party another fifteen teens and adults, along with a bevy of little kids will be here. Pictures to follow!

Happy Fourth of July!