[Uh oh, politics:] My Stance on Health Care Reform

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Abstract: While I'd love to find a way to make two of the highest principles of health care reform - universal coverage, and coverage for those with pre-existing conditions - come true, the details of how this legislation would attempt to carry out those goals, could lead us down a very dark path. Therefore, I stand in opposition of the measure.

[Concerning Conservative nuttery: Before I go any further, let me assure you: I know that many Conservatives - particularly online - have picked up a reputation of Chicken Little when it comes to major legislation like this. In fact, some of them have crossed the line into being complete nuts - leading one to believe the world would end tomorrow if something like this became law. Though I'm concerned about where the nation could go if this passed (and wasn't ruled unconstitutional), I don't think it would be the end of the world. :oP ]

Details: My concerns about this legislation can be gathered into two groups - those based on debt and/or overload, and those based on rights and/or Constitutional concerns.

First, the debt/overload type concerns:

How will the medical system cope with the increased load - and will patients be able to receive critical care in a timely fashion? As shown in other nations with similar health care systems, backlogs are quite common - sufficient facilities and personnel simply do not exist to handle the patient load produced by such a system. This is why those with enough money often come here for important surgery, etc.

The States: Will they need debts of their own? To the best of my knowledge, no state practices - or even allows - deficit spending at the present time. The requirements of health care reform could force the states to shoulder the burden of increasing the capacity of the medical system in their jurisdictions. Given that a number of large states are currently near the breaking point when it comes to making ends meet fiscally (my state's next-door neighbor, California, is a good example), this bill could force a watershed moment in American history: The changing of state constitutions to allow deficit spending, simply to allow needed services to continue operating.

Now, the rights/Constitution-based concerns:

Is it Constitutional to force individual citizens to buy a product - i.e., health insurance? I think this one really speaks for itself - it's unprecedented. This concern alone may spark widespread civil disobedience in the years to come.

Is it Constitutional for the Federal Government to force the States to shoulder the tremendous financial burden that health care reform may place on them? This Constitutional challenge ties into the Commerce Clause, and the 10th Amendment; it also ties into the possibility of states being forced to allow deficit spending. Only time will tell on this one.

Will this legislation lead to the downfall of doctor-patient privilege? Along with priest-laity, attorney-client, and marital privilege, this is one of the classes of communication that has received extensive privacy protection (via case law) over time - to the point of being sacrosanct. The massive Government-connected databases that will result from this legislation - into which private information about patient health conditions must be entered - could be seen as the end of this privilege.