From the Post/ Sally Pipes: "DON'T be distracted by the inside-the-beltway haggling over arcane details -- ponder the big picture and apply common sense to the claims of our would-be health reformers.
"This week's so-called breakthroughs on both the House and Senate sides illustrate how our politicians are trying to bamboozle us. On the House side, what passes for fiscally responsible Democrats were reportedly negotiating hard with their party's urban-liberal leaders on behalf of the US taxpayer. In fact, the "moderates" signal achievement appears to secure more spending on rural hospitals. In other words, they didn't kill the socialized government-plan option; they just made sure that it spends enough money in their districts...
"... they base their plans on the idea that we can get both cost savings and coverage expansion at the same time -- as if you can eat more, exercise less and still lose weight.
"The "magic bullet" that's supposed to make this work? The idea that the government is more efficient than the private sector and that Medicare is more efficient than privately-run insurance programs.
"Where is the evidence? This is akin to the assertion that we need to create the United States Postal Service to compete with FedEx and UPS."
"Democrats claim that their Medicare cuts will merely reduce reimbursements to insurance companies. Yet these cuts will result in fewer services to seniors -- who will protest, so the cuts won't stick.
"So where will the billions for universal coverage really come from? Major tax hikes, most likely. If not, then more deficits and debt."
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