Why you don’t want the government in charge of health care (or anything else)

Everyone has heard the arguments against state-run health care. I hope to help you understand something a little different than the usual- a fundamental flaw in the way the government works. I want to share with you an experience we had recently.

Residency programs are largely funded by the local government. Sometimes, citizens get together and start a community residency themselves. Why? Well, the number one reason is this: Statistics show that doctors tend to stay where they do their residency. Any city that has a doctor shortage should be concerned about the ability of a local residency program to recruit top-level candidates. It’s their tax dollars that are primarily responsible for funding it.

My husband and I picked the residency that he is at because of its moonlighting program (that means working extra shifts for extra pay). We have a quarter of a million dollars in student loan debt and four kids. A resident’s salary (about 40k) wasn’t going to be enough for us to meet our responsibilities. Last month, the Graduate Medical Education (GME) Board at my husband’s residency voted to ban moonlighting for all residents. This was a huge blow to the residents who were recruited to this community with broken promises.

The taxpayers should be furious. This will significantly impact the ability of recruiters to bring top level candidates to their community. And, there are other reasons this decision directly affects the people who live here. First, local hospitals fill extra shifts by hiring residents. The inability to do so means longer ER wait times and more stress for the doctors that work there. Second, moonlighting helps residents get experience in a lot of different settings. It affects their education, which makes them better doctors. Third, doctors do much better work when they aren’t overly stressed about paying their loans and providing for their families. Also, working outside their specific hospital helps residents to form connections with other doctors in their community. When it comes time for them to find a job, they will be more likely to stay local. The people of this city are educating these doctors. They deserve to keep them here when their education is finished.

Then why did they do it? Are their any advantages to this plan? The GME board is made up of the residency directors of each specialty. Most of these doctors, for reasons of their own, made the decisions to not allow moonlighting within their own specialty. Should they care what the other specialties are doing? No. Does it affect them? No. But now, their residents can’t come to them and complain, “Hey the ER lets their residents moonlight. Why can’t we?” They can just claim it’s out of their hands. It was a GME decision, not theirs. It’s a purely selfish decision based on personal comfort and a power grab.

This, my friends, is the problem with government. The GME board has made a decision that will affect the well-being of every member of this community for the worse. But they did it for their own personal reasons. The problem with the people who use tax-payer money is that the taxpayers do not hold them responsible. Taxpayers pay their taxes and assume the money is being well-used. There isn’t accountability to shareholders or even the expectation of a decent profit. The government is expected to spend more than it brings in. And when the policies fail, the people vote them tax increases because obviously there isn’t enough money for success. In business, they would give the people who implemented the idiotic policies less money, or just replace them.

Here, we have a situation where policy decisions are made simply for the whims of the policy makers. This was done just so the GME board does not have to accept responsibility for and explain their own choices. How much more likely is it for government policy to be determined by lobbyists and special interest groups? Don't all policy makers look for the opportunity to say "It's not my fault...I'm on your side." In government there is no accountability.

Why, oh why, would anyone want to give these people (who are primarily concerned with self interest) to have power over more of YOUR life?

The Words of People Much Smarter than Me: Motherhood

"After observing and empathizing with three generations of mothers and thinking of my own dear mother, I surely know that there is no role in life more essential and more eternal than that of motherhood.

"There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be “full-time moms,” at least during the most formative years of their children’s lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part-or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else."

-M. Russell Ballard

Laughing makes you live longer

Have a wonderful Saturday!!!

Selfish Giving

Child: “Mom, my friends are going to the movies, can I have some money to go with?”

Mom: “Sure, Clean the garage and I’ll give you 20 dollars.”

Child: “That’s not fair. None of the other kids have to earn the money.”

Mom: “I guess I just love you more.”

My husband and I have been married for almost nine years. Last year, he graduated from medical school. This year, he started as a resident. During our marriage, we’ve been blessed with four amazing children. Needless to say, we’ve always been completely broke. I am so grateful that I didn’t start my family with money. I am grateful we were given our children at a time when it was a huge sacrifice to raise them.

Let me explain; when my first was born, I wanted everything for him. This was selflessness, right? I never complained about not having the money to buy things for myself. I only felt bad about our finances when I couldn’t give my son the things I wanted to. As he got older, and the others started showing up, I realized the absolute agony of the words, “I can’t buy that for you; we don’t have the money.” I hated telling my kids “no.” Of course, as time went by, I realized how quickly they got over it. It was only really hard on me.

People choose to give money away for many reasons. With my kids, it was because seeing them disappointed nearly killed me and seeing them excited made me feel so good. When I see beggars at street corners, I feel guilty and want to give to them to make myself feel better. At showers, I like to be seen giving a nice, cute or creative gift. Some people like to be seen giving so much that they publicize it in any way they can. Politicians are in this category. (although the money they give is not theirs.)

This, my friends, is why liberalism is so attractive. It’s why children who don’t really understand what’s at stake, love to argue for more giving. It feels good. It makes you appear selfless and moral. It makes you feel like you are a believer in the most beloved of all human tendencies: the desire to help others.

Lately, I’ve noticed something. Every time I tell my child, “no, we can’t afford it,” or “no, you don’t need it,” or (most especially) “I’ll give you the chance to earn it,” the guilt is a little less. It was because of my love, because of my desire for good, that I wanted to say, “yes.” But it is because I want the very best for my children that I have learned to say, “no.”

This last week my six-year-old and I were leaving a grocery store where there was a lottery-like promotion going on. We have spent a lot of time talking about work, he and I. (these discussions were a natural progression from my explaining to him why he had to earn the money he wanted to buy books from the catalogues they send home from school every month) We discussed what would happen to the world if people stopped working. We talked about how the work one person does, not only earns him money, but also makes it possible for others to earn money and have the things they need. We looked backward at the path of a loaf of bread from our home to the store, to the factory, to the farm. We discussed what would happen if the farmer, grocer, or truck driver was given money for free and how it would make it so the bread didn’t come to our dinner table. So, that day at the store, when he asked me if we had won the grocery store promotion, and I told him “no,” he said, “That’s good. We should work for what we get.” Suddenly, all the agony that had come with telling him “no” time after time was worth it.

Giving can be a purely selfish act. Choosing not to give can be a selfless act of love.

On that note, you should check out this article....Hilarious (in a sick, sad, sort of way).

Cap and Trade and the Spanish

I really enjoyed this interview. If any of you are interested in finding out more about cap and trade and looking at how it will affect our economy, the Spanish can give you first-hand advice.

Steal the Pen While They Watch Their Swords

My last post was about how completely China controls its people. Today, I was distressed to see how many other countries are headed in the same direction. Britain has banned Michael Savage. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith explained:

"I think it's important that people understand the sorts of values and sorts of standards that we have here, the fact that it's a privilege to come and the sort of things that mean you won't be welcome in this country."

Seriously? People who don’t agree with your values are not welcome? Doesn’t that sound a lot like some Muslim nations? Women who wish to show their hair will be stoned? My first reaction to this was to chuckle. I saw it a lot like the Department of Homeland Security telling Americans to watch out for Veterans because they are likely to become domestic terrorists. I assumed some rogue government official had been making a list of people to ban and just threw Michael Savage in. I was wrong.

The bottom line is that I really don’t know what this man talks about on his radio program. My husband used to listen to him, occasionally. But, right after Elizabeth Smart was rescued and returned to her family, Savage said some pretty disrespectful things about the young kidnap victim. My husband didn’t tell me what they were. But, he sat down that afternoon and wrote a letter to the producer of the show, explaining that he felt the dialogue was ridiculous and he would be showing his displeasure with his radio dial. This is the way freedom works. He hasn’t listened to the program since. I must assume that the man is pretty distasteful. We won’t be inviting him to our home. But the thing about freedom is that you have to allow the idiots to have their freedom so you won’t lose yours.

This morning I read commentary by a British Journalist explaining that it was wrong to ban people for what they say. It was very well written, you can read it here. The writer eloquently explains that it is a new tactic for the government of Britain to ban someone simply because it does not like their views. In other words, this is another step toward more-fully controlling the people’s views. This made me think that I was correct about it being some silly government officials.

Then, I started reading the comments from readers. That’s when I saw the poison that is seeping into democratic systems for what it truly is. The readers were saying things like:

“Ban those American and other ecclesiastics who have expressed racist views about Africans and others who do not share their liberal sexual morality.”

And

“Banning a few people with extreme views from setting foot in the country does not curtail freedom of speech by any perceptible amount.”

And

“if you listen everyday to the preacher of hate Michael "weenie" Savage then you should also be banned from the UK ; clearly by listening to hate radio everyday you are of a racist disposition - you should stop polluting English blogs with your racist drivel and go and post instead on the forums of your Klan leader Michael "weenie" Savage.”

You see, the poison is not that the government will try to restrict the rights of the people. The real poison is when the people start willingly giving up their rights because they believe that doing so will allow them to force others to their “correct” way of thinking. The poison is a collective morality dictated by collectivism. The poison may come from the political leaders, but it is only effective when it infects the people.

I want to end these thoughts with a quote from one more poster on the commentary. He seems to say the facts better than I ever could.

“Anybody who uses the pen and not the sword, should be welcome on these shores!”

From Individual Liberty to the Common Good

(Actual Cigarette Advertisements)


In the “what?” category, today, we have a report that proves that the more government you have, the worse it is for the people. According to the report being put forth by Sky News (a British news organization), the staff at local government offices in Hubei province of China were ordered to smoke 4.5 million cigarettes a year. Why? They are supposed to be setting an example for the rest of the country. Proponents argue that the move will boost sales and, thus, income from the cigarette tax.

You can’t really consider the tax to be the only benefit, however. About a million people in China die from smoking related illnesses every year. In a country that is actively working to reduce its population, forced smoking is a win for everyone.

But what does this have to do with us? It’s very simple. America was founded on the principle of individual liberty. The Declaration of Independence and Constitution flew in the face of the emerging philosophy of the “common good.” Throughout history, politicians have always used this collectivism to justify the worst atrocities humanity has ever been known for. Sadly, since the time of the great depression, our country has been moving away from individual liberty toward common good.

The point is that whenever a civilization heads down that road, the value of the human life is always lost in the move. China is so imbedded in the collectivism philosophy that they have completely lost any sense of the moral value of their people. Please consider that as we step toward socialism, we are stepping away from the most fundamental of our values: the indisputable divine worth of a human life, mind, and soul.

The Words of People Much Smarter than Me: Optimism

"We have every reason to be optimistic in this world. Tragedy is around, yes. Problems everywhere, yes. … You can’t, you don’t, build out of pessimism or cynicism. You look with optimism, work with faith, and things happen"

-Gordon B. Hinckley

Because of all the negativity this past week, my Sunday message today is about the importance of staying positive. Remember that the fight for freedom is a just cause. Remember that the task of raising a family is a divine one. When everything else seems to overwhelm you, remember that we have something the opposition does not. We are making the right choices for the right reasons.

Advice from the late Gordon B. Hinckley:

"I am asking that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life we 'accentuate the positive.' I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment virtue and effort. I am not asking that all criticism be silenced. Growth comes of correction. Strength comes of repentance. Wise is the man who can acknowledge mistakes pointed out by others and change his course.

"What I am suggesting is that each of us turn from the negativism that so permeates our society and look for the remarkable good among those with whom we associate, that we speak of one another’s virtues more than we speak of one another’s faults, that optimism replace pessimism, that our faith exceed our fears. When I was a young man and was prone to speak critically, my father would say: 'Cynics do not contribute, skeptics do not create, doubters do not achieve.'"

Go Have a Picnic or Something, Seriously.

They’re slaughtering pigs around the world. Retailers are cashing in on the paranoia by selling everything from designer masks and emergency kits to fake vaccines and bogus advice. They’re closing down high school sports. Graduations are being cancelled and rescheduled. New York has cancelled Cinco de Mayo. Sixteen thousand American students are out of school. Hong Kong has quarantined a hotel and all of its guests. At my husband’s work, they are opening a second “emergency room” just for people who aren’t sick. AND Joe Biden won’t let his family ride the subway. (I’m guessing a private jet is okay, though?)

This is pretty serious. I would really love to write a serious post today, but I just don’t want to. Please see my posts from the previous week to truly understand why you shouldn’t be panicking. Today, we’re going to take a look at the horrible creature creating the paranoia.

Have a wonderful Saturday. Please go out and enjoy the day with your family. Staring at a computer is no way to live.

The Bail-out of Freedom

"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened."

- Norman Thomas, U.S. Socialist Party presidential candidate 1940, 1944 and 1948

I don’t think it’s a secret that I’ve been feeling rather discouraged lately. I preach and preach that people need to continue fighting, even when they feel like it’s not doing any good, and I truly need to follow my own advice. I suppose it’s helpful for me to, now and then, hear something truly horrifying, because it invigorates me. It reminds me of what I’m fighting for, whether anyone is listening or not.

I want to share a bit of hypocrisy with you. Right now the free market is going out the window. The government is making a grab for ownership of several private enterprises, claiming that these companies are too big to fail. Well, today I have some proof that the goal here is not to preserve the businesses by means of federal money. The goal is to take control of the businesses to give the government more power.

Take a look at this video. It shows exactly how the liberals feel about private enterprise.



And people are worried about the swine flu making them sick. Feel free to take a minute to swallow your bile before continuing on. I hope some of you are beginning to see how these welfare policies are about freedom vs control, not charity vs greed. I hope you are beginning to understand that the people who truly love others are on my side. Don’t let us fall into socialism without knowing how it happened. God made us free; never, never let them take it away.