Protect the Property of the Affluent, but Not the Health of the Less Affluent?

A paragraph in an editorial in today's Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Mississippi) puts the attitude of those howling about (and suing over) the health care reform law's provision that everyone obtain health insurance in a very revealing perspective. I think it is worth passing along:

Most of these same politicians actively support state laws forcing poor people to buy automobile liability insurance to protect the property of more affluent drivers, but now balk at a law designed to force more affluent taxpayers to purchase health insurance so poor people can have health care coverage.

It's the old story of socialism for the rich and free enterprise for the poor.

Historian Robert S. McElvaine is Elizabeth Chisholm Professor of Arts & Letters at Millsaps College. A 25th anniversary edition of his classic book, The Great Depression: America, 1929-1941, with a comprehensive new introduction comparing circumstances then and now, has just been published by Three Rivers Press, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group.

 

 

 

Comments

[jmpurser]

10:44 AM on 04/27/2010

An interesting take on the Auto/Health insurance picture.

Personally I find the "corporate welfare instead of health care reform" picture to be much more compelling but this is interesting.

[zanzig]

01:16 AM on 04/27/2010

Has the Clarion Ledger come under new ownership?

[Democrat in the South]

11:29 PM on 04/26/2010

Do ya think America has learned our lesson or do we need 'ONE' more Republican President and congress and senate? I'm not sure we would 'make it' through one more.

[jmpurser]

10:46 AM on 04/27/2010

The Obama lesson seems to be that the only difference between the parties is the speed at which they do corporate America's bidding.

[nitrokitty]

04:37 PM on 04/26/2010

Poor people don't give them campaign contributions or cushy finance jobs. Why should politicians care about them?

[Democrat in the South]

11:33 PM on 04/26/2010

I'll say it again,One of President Obama's greatest achievements will be exposing the Republicans and all their lack of substance. It really looks like they didn't have a plan for the end game ( the destruction of America). Or maybe this was the plan.