Thursday, 13 September 2007
Beshear's Solution for Health Care
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The good people at Pol Watchers are doing an on-line debate between the candidates. Our first installment is a question about gambling.
Let's pretend for a moment and take a trip into Beshear's fantasy world. Let's assume that casinos will generate oodles and oodles of money. Enough money to make sure everyone has health insurance and seniors don't have to choose between drugs and food. What happens 10 years down the road? If we don't stem the rising costs of health care then the costs will eventually outgrow the money generated by casinos. What do we do then? Beshear's solution is like treating a broken arm by giving the patient morphine. Sure the patient no longer feels any pain, but when they get home and the pain killer wears off they still have a broken arm and it hurts worse than ever. All Beshear is proposing is kicking the problem farther out into the future rather than addressing the tough issues.
Now let's come back to reality. Even if Beshear is elected their is no guarantee the legalized gambling will pass the legislature nor a general vote. But even if it does pass, it will be 3 to 5 years from now before the state receives any money from legalized gambling. What about the seniors who have to choose between medication and food? He is just going to let them starve in the mean time? With this statement on gambling, he has removed himself from consideration as a serious candidate. He brings nothing to the table in addressing the real problems we face. This is a nothing but a repeat of Wally Wilkinson's lottery panacea for education. And we all know how well that turned out.
The real problem facing health insurers is the spiraling costs of delivering world class care. What we need is not casinos but to figure out how to get the free markets more involved in the health care industry. If Walmart can figure out how to deliver goods to people across the country at an affordable price, we should be able to find a similar free market solution to health care. While Fletcher's solutions may not be ideal, he is at least addressing the real issue of rising costs and not spouting off populistic bombast.
Pol Watcher:
Do you believe gambling – whether it occurs in a casino, at a racetrack or in the basement of a Catholic church – is a sin? Also, what’s the most you’ve ever won or lost at a casino, racetrack or bingo hall?
Beshear's Answer:This is nothing less than demagogic tripe. Let me see if I get his answer about gambling straight. People don't have health insurance because we don't have legalized gambling. Senior citizens are choosing between medications and food because we don't have casinos. Children are deprived of an education because we don't have slot machines. It almost as if legalized gambling is a magic wand that will fix all that ills us. Give me a break.
The real sin is that in 2007 more than a half-million Kentuckians, including 81,000 children, have no health insurance. The real sin is senior citizens have to choose between medications and food. The real sin is school children deprived of educational opportunities essential in preparing them for the 21st Century, and Kentucky lagging behind in job opportunities. The real sin is an indicted governor who has shortchanged Kentuckians with dishonest leadership. My father and grandfather were ministers who instilled in me faith and values that remain with me today. As Governor, I will serve the people of Kentucky with integrity.
Let's pretend for a moment and take a trip into Beshear's fantasy world. Let's assume that casinos will generate oodles and oodles of money. Enough money to make sure everyone has health insurance and seniors don't have to choose between drugs and food. What happens 10 years down the road? If we don't stem the rising costs of health care then the costs will eventually outgrow the money generated by casinos. What do we do then? Beshear's solution is like treating a broken arm by giving the patient morphine. Sure the patient no longer feels any pain, but when they get home and the pain killer wears off they still have a broken arm and it hurts worse than ever. All Beshear is proposing is kicking the problem farther out into the future rather than addressing the tough issues.
Now let's come back to reality. Even if Beshear is elected their is no guarantee the legalized gambling will pass the legislature nor a general vote. But even if it does pass, it will be 3 to 5 years from now before the state receives any money from legalized gambling. What about the seniors who have to choose between medication and food? He is just going to let them starve in the mean time? With this statement on gambling, he has removed himself from consideration as a serious candidate. He brings nothing to the table in addressing the real problems we face. This is a nothing but a repeat of Wally Wilkinson's lottery panacea for education. And we all know how well that turned out.
The real problem facing health insurers is the spiraling costs of delivering world class care. What we need is not casinos but to figure out how to get the free markets more involved in the health care industry. If Walmart can figure out how to deliver goods to people across the country at an affordable price, we should be able to find a similar free market solution to health care. While Fletcher's solutions may not be ideal, he is at least addressing the real issue of rising costs and not spouting off populistic bombast.
Posted by at 1:44 PM in Kentucky Politics
