In his most recent media ad, Ben Cline criticizes Beth Macy for supporting universal health care:
“Beth Macy is hiding who she is. Socialized medicine that will raise taxes and take away your doctor.”
To be clear, Macy is not hiding who she is. Better, affordable health care, including universal coverage, is one of the priorities listed on her website for anyone who wants to take the time to look. And as I have written before, universal health care is not socialized medicine, nor does it take away your doctor.
You have to pay for universal health care in some way, it’s not free, and depending on how it’s funded it may indeed increase your taxes. However, you wouldn’t be paying for private health insurance, which is much more expensive. So universal health care saves consumers money while ensuring everyone has access to care.
On the one hand, I get it. All politicians frame issues to favor themselves and not their opponents. The ad is meant for Trump/Cline loyalists. It uses the language of fear, such as taking something away from you, to encourage Cline supporters to vote for him. But, ultimately, it boils down to the fact that he is being overtly dishonest and that’s what concerns me the most.
Societies are built on reciprocity – you do something for me, and I do something for you. In healthy societies, reciprocity is built on a foundation of trust. Without trust, societies decay. That’s why we teach our children from a very early age not to lie; or as the Bible says: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor (Exodus 20:1-17).
Most Americans believe politicians are dishonest. In this case, that perception is correct. Ben Cline is lying. And what I have observed is that a politician who will lie about the little things will be comfortable lying just about anything else.
Voters can disagree on the issues. But we should agree that a politician who lacks fundamental integrity and basic values such as trustworthiness is not fit to serve.
I want to come back to the issue of trust in another article. In the meantime, here are eleven reasons why, unlike Ben Cline and sadly his misinformed base, you should support universal health care:
- It’s less expensive to administer than multiple, private insurance plans thereby reducing the cost of health care for all Americans.
- Because it is not tied to employment, you don’t have to worry if you and your family will have access to treatment if you lose your employment or change jobs.
- There are no networks and no out-of-network providers to create surprise bills.
- Americans will not have to worry about paying for expensive medical procedures should they arise.
- There are no out-of-pocket expenses – no copays, coinsurance, or deductibles.
- The cost of prescription medications is completely covered.
- It spreads the responsibility of paying for health care throughout the economy and not just on the shoulders of employers and employees.
- Essentially everyone pays into the system so there are no freeloaders.
- Health providers such as doctors and hospitals continue to operate as private, for-profit service providers. This is not socialized medicine.
- You can select the provider of your choice.
- An emphasis on health prevention and quality clinical outcomes should result in improved individual and population health outcomes: The health of a nation is dependent on the health of its people.
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