Healthcare is also a good, subject to the tenets of supply and demand

In the previous several weeks, there has been a lot of commentary and argument between so-called liberal and conservative groups regarding health care reform, specifically HR3200 and the inclusion of a public option for those unable to afford health insurance.

Allusions to racism, the Nazis or other scary associations are made many times when a group or individual protests the issue of a public option for health care. Recently, an individual with a swastika clearly painted with a line through it in a circle (a fairly universal symbol meaning "NO"), was described in a derogatory way by Nancy Pelosi. Interestingly enough, the person was protesting against National Socialism, not for it. The health care plan with a public option such as that set forth in HR3200 is another step down the path towards socialism in America.

From a somewhat different point of view, rising costs or the inability to afford insurance for some does not mean that it is time to relieve that burden and place it by point of force on the shoulders of other hard-working citizens. How is it ever morally right to take by point of force from some, to provide to others?

Health care, like any other good or service that answers the wants and needs of a citizenry, is subject to the laws of supply and demand. Nowhere have I seen a rational discussion in the mainstream media explaining the economic fact that when prices are set artificially low (in this case, FREE), demand correspondingly rises dramatically. This will cause a shortage of supply (doctors, clinics, hospitals) and therefore a form of rationing where people will wait a very long time for care or pay for it out of their own pockets, at a higher price than was previously available due to the increased demand. The latter happens in places like Canada and England quite regularly; people pay out of pocket for care because their health will not allow them to wait.

Incidentally, I am not a "right wing nut", or a "conservative mob member." These ad hominems are trotted out when people are afraid to think about the facts at hand and let their choices and opinions be governed by emotion instead. I have spent literally thousands of hours studying economics and U.S. history on my own time, in order to understand and make better choices regarding issues such as that which we currently face with HR3200 and health care reform. There is no logic that I have seen presented for how a free public option will not cause the same problems that any other form of price fixing has always done (gas shortages in the 70's, or wheat crop surpluses in the 30's dustbowl years, etc.). And finally, when private companies can no longer compete with the lower "priced" public option, they will slowly fall by the wayside until there is no choice left. The system which need not bother with concerns over profit and loss will be left standing to fill the needs of everyone. When it comes up short, there will always be more taxes and/or inflation of the money supply. We have a long way to fall, mind you. Many people who are considred poor in America still have cell phones and cable TV. Here in America, our taxes are less than in the many European socialistic countries but our rates (and prices of goods) are destined to rise as the American State grows continually larger and more powerful, sapping vitality and power from society and the private economy.

It is time for real, rational debate. Stop the ad hominem attacks, stop the yelling and begin the discussion with honest, sound economics. There are so many arguments why government should not be doing what it is doing (constitutionally, economically, and morally I see no basis for the actions). It is time either for a real argument based in logic to come forward for health care "reform", or more appropriately, for the centrally planned economic state to fall by the wayside for good.