The Healthcare Plan

Instead of the socialized/universal health care we were promised, Obama is "working" with providers/insurers to cut costs. The agreement will create two trillion dollars (2% of health care expenses) of "savings" over the next 10 years.

Replace "working" with blackmail and "savings" with denied treatment and you'll see where I'm going.

Why is the private system important if it is to be partially or completely replaced by a universal one?

Because there is one huge obstacle on the road to socialized medicine; the paying system still works (for payers).

People who work and pay for plans still get affordable world-class care when they need it and have a choice on how they get and from whom. A universal system is a foregone conclusion for those who seek a health care entitlement or simply don't think they should have to pay, but for the majority of Americans, we would be paying more and getting less.

That reality presents a huge political challenge for Obama. Turning on a switch that increases costs while decreasing care would guarantee a single term Presidency.

The Administration's plan here isn't to make health care cheaper for Americans, but rather to lean on the private payer system until it breaks. When payers see failure in the private system, they will join the entitlement seeking masses and support a new universal system.

In short, the successful socialist creates a reality where the only salvation is socialism. Before the opportunity must come the crisis.

What can we expect from an arbitrary cutback in health care? We know that our private health care system is a business and just like any other is profit oriented. Providers will do anything they can to avoid taking losses and pass them on to consumers. Expect lower wages to current health care professionals, lower staffing levels = less capacity, and/or reduction in care/services while the system continues to cope with the government created inefficiencies; Medicare/Medicaid, urgent care for the uninsured, etc...

This will eventually have a dramatic effect on the quality of care payers receive leaving Americans to wonder if a universal system wouldn't be better. Will we be smart enough to see how the crisis has been created?