The folly, the 'bait and switch' of O-care

From Jonah Goldberg, brilliant and incisive writing:

"Let us for a moment adopt the proposition that health care is in fact a “right,”...Under his plan, an official body — staffed with government doctors, actuaries, economists, and other experts — will determine which health-care treatments, procedures, and remedies are cost-effective and which are not....The Democrats call this “cost-controls.” But for the patient and the doctor, it’s plain old rationing...

"Now, imagine if the government had a body of experts charged with figuring out what your free-speech rights are, or your right to assemble, or worship...Which is the whole point. Health care cannot be a right, because rights cannot come from government. At best, they can be protected by government. The founders understood this, which is why our Bill of Rights is really a list of restrictions on the government in Washington. “Congress shall make no law . . . ” is how the First Amendment begins."

"That’s why in his press conference Wednesday night, President Obama used very conservative, even free-market language to sell a program that is actually still premised on the left-wing nostrum that health care is a “right.” His plan will create “a marketplace that promotes choice and competition.” He’s in this to “control costs” and bring down the deficit...Now, Obama has come nowhere near meeting the burden of proof that the still inchoate and murky proposals in a still half-baked health-care bill will do anything of the sort."

"But Obama understands that he cannot sell his health-care reform in the language of the Left...He’s in such a hurry because he senses Americans understand a bait and switch when they see one. On Monday he even proclaimed, “The time for talking is through.”In fact, it almost sounds like he actually does want to ration free speech, too."

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=Nzk1ZmQ0ZjhmYWZiNmViZWI0NzgyNWU1ZGU5Njg3OTQ=