In 2010, Republicans were painted as "Obstructionist" and "Lacking Ideas" at the healthcare debate table. This characterization has been very successful - way too many believe it.
I don't believe that in a country of 300 million people it is possible to create a "One Size Fits All" healthcare program that will be good for all of us. Young, healthy people would like one kind of minimal health coverage, those who are overweight or have sedentary lifestyles prefer another. Some youthful, sexually active people would like to have birth control covered, while others may not. Heavy handed government control like that imposed by Obamacare forces the issue, and creates animosity, rancor and hatred among our already divided population.
Proponents believe that the"Free Market" has failed, but a true free market solution has yet to be tried.
To take steps to reduce regulation, to offer incentives to small businesses and individuals to purchase insurance, to create an environment where individuals could take their health insurance with them when they move from job to job or state to state and to tighten regulations on frivolous lawsuits would not only reduce the amount of involvement of the Government, but would increase competition among the insurers and expand the number of choices we have in our coverage. Sandra Fluke would never have gone before Congress had she been able to simply say "No, thank you" to the Georgetown plan, and buy a Blue Cross or Aetna plan that did cover contraception for her, at a competitive price.
She is unable to do this because the over-regulation of the government, the tax breaks government gives to large corporations only, the lack of any meaningful sort of inter-state compettion and the free reign the government gives to "roll-the-dice" lawyers has made any sort of true competition in this industry impossible.
What I'd like to see happen to health insurance is similar to what happened to car insurance in 2003 in NJ. Prior to that year, there were very strict regulations on that industry, because the government believed that "Left to their own devices, car insurers will just weasel out of paying claims, and consumers in NJ will be left uncovered". Hence there were standards that had to be met that most insurers chose not to deal with. The companies that DID stay in the state had a monopoly, and could charge whatever they wanted.
In 2003, the regulations were lifted. Dozens of companies flocked to NJ to open up in that new market. Competition flourished - companies got very creative in ways that they could offer MORE coverage for less money, not to weasel out of covering things to "line their pockets". NJ now offers some of the lowest cost, best insurance in the country.
I believe this will work for health insurance. Companies will find a way to profit and still offer good coverage in their niche markets. People will have choices.
Government does not allow this. We all have to be the same - unless you work for government, work for a large Union, or work for a company that has friends like Nancy Pelosi. The whole thing stinks of politics.
I think that the real number of truly uninsured who really want or need insurance is less than half the 30 million you cite - that is a high, inflated number used to dramatize the politics of the situation.
The free market solutions are very simple, and easily tested. If I'm right, healthcare costs will spiral downwards and we will be able to continue to offer the best healthcare in the world at an extremely low cost. If I am wrong, it will be apparent quickly and the government can seek other solutions.
I believe that the government is wrong, and it will destroy the private health insurance industry beyond any recoverable degree. By the time it is discovered that Obamacare is destroying our entire healthcare system AND our economy, it will be too late, and there will be no industry left to pick up the pieces.
This plan will INCREASE bureaucracy, not reduce it. It will put my healthcare in the hands of the same people who manage Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, VA Health benefits, the IRS, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac; I can see the writing on the wall with the Sandra Fluke issue and all the passes given to the Friends of Pelosi, and I realize that this is not about healthcare, it is about politics.
I would much rather put my healthcare in the hands of creative company heads like Steve Jobs or Tony Nicely, who understand that to truly profit in the free market you must offer innovative, quality products at affordable prices, and to stay responsive to a changing market.