TUCA’s Birth

TUCA’s Birth

This editorial by Lawrence McQuillan describes the birth of TUCA (The Unaffordable Care Act) as clearly as any I have seen.  Like any well written piece, there is much more to it, but he concisely nails it.  McQuillan was identified as affiliated with the Independent Institute, home to many of the writings of Professor Robert Higgs, one of my favorites, and author of “Crisis and Leviathan.”  For a taste of Higgs, check this out.

McQuillan and Higgs write clearly and are to the point.  It all makes sense and flows logically.  No literary acrobatics are needed because…well, because what they are writing is simply and obviously true.  These men would characterize themselves as fans of the “Austrian School” of economics (sound money and limited…very limited…government).  The writings of the “Austrians” are clear like this, bringing an understanding of economics to the layman and a piercing analysis of the lies of the “state” to a new level.  Check out Henry Hazlitt’s “Economics in One Lesson,” or Lew Rockwell’s “Speaking of Liberty,” or “The Left, The Right & The State.” 

Contrast McQuillan’s editorial to this one by Wayne Madsen.  In this editorial he is idolizing Karen Ignagni, lobbyist for the big insurance companies, and the role she played in crafting TUCA along with her success in bribing key legislators to support this bill.  He tips his hat to her and her clients (insurance companies and legislators) for doing the right thing, only to later write that Ignagni is now perceived by many of these same clients as a traitor to “the cause.”  Madsen ends by thanking Ignagni for this bait and switch.  She basically betrayed everyone in the country then betrayed those who were paying her, leaving no one out!  Madsen compliments her for this.

Madsen’s bias is clear when he writes,” Ironically, health care insurers did the right thing for Americans, by backing legislation that ultimately will improve the health of everyone.”  There is simply no evidence that socialized medicine anywhere it has been tried has resulted in improving people’s health.  In fact, there is massive evidence that medical care, once politicized, becomes a vicious game, where one’s worth to the “state” many times determines whether one lives or dies.  Once the “state” pays for the care, the “state” controls what care is delivered and who gets it and why.  If you are of no use to the state….well…we know how that has turned out in the past, don’t we?  

As long as government has a role in health care, market distortions caused by bureaucrats (well-meaning or not) will result in shortages or surpluses, these market disruptions many times resulting in misery or death, not just stuff missing from store shelves.  I am increasingly drawn to writers like McQuillan who call it like it is, pulling no punches.  

G. Keith Smith, M.D.