The mist of time conceals many warts that make things “in our day” seem better than reality dictates. Gas prices in the 1980s rose to $1 a gallon. Today the national average is $3.20 representing a more than three-fold increase. Drivers will be thrilled if gas prices “dropped” to $2 per gallon.
We will accept the notion that corporations or the government are “working for the people” to reduce gas prices but the truth is gas prices can be so much lower. This is not a debate about drilling in Alaska and giving the United States more leverage in negotiations with foreign countries. I will save that discussion for another day.
No, this is a discussion about how politicians dupe Americans. Politicians rely on the mist of time to conceal their past actions come election season. They rely on Americans accepting less because it is better than worse.
With President Obama’s poll, numbers and support for the Affordable Care Act sinking faster than the Titanic, politicians are falling over themselves to “fix” the problems. They are putting Band-Aids on a wound that needs a tourniquet. Americans will accept a “patched” ObamaCare because it is better than the debacle we now have.
In my gas price example, we gleefully spend more money at the pumps than we should or need to spend. The oil corporations are laughing at how easy they profit off the ill-informed masses. I do not begrudge them their profits. If the market will bear $2 per gallon prices, then so be it because I do not expect altruism from profit seeking corporations. I do expect an informed electorate but that expectation is naïve.
Fixing ObamaCare does nothing to help Americans losing insurance coverage. It also does nothing to allow Americans the right not to have insurance. It simply makes the politicians appear to be doing something to “fight for the rights of Americans.” Here is a news flash: In America we supposedly have the right to make choices versus having a dictatorial government mandate our choices.
It appears President Obama knew about the issues from the start. It also appears he did not care because his ultimate goal is to have a single-payer system. This is the ultimate bait and switch scenario. The insurance companies supported ObamaCare because they saw profit dressed as 13 million uninsured and paid for by the taxpayer.
Unlike the gas companies, the insurance companies will not be laughing when the extra profits turn into a pumpkin at midnight as the Democrats move us to a single payer system. The American people will see more rights transfer to the government. And the gas companies better beware, once the insurance vertical falls the gas vertical may be next. Electric cars anyone?
The mid-term election in 2014 is shaping up to be a wonderful referendum on the Liberal and Conservative philosophies while the independents continue to straddle the fence and sway with the wind. Politicians rely on the mist of time to propel them to another term of taking our rights away. The American people control our fate.
How many lies is enough before we throw out the liars?
Why is the goverment dictating pricing
The government is not dictating prices per se. It is taking away freedoms through mandates which have a cause and effect on pricing. Insurance companies drop coverage and force people into plans they do not want at a price they cannot negotiate. The main point, however, is the government is taking away freedom of choice. I have the same view on all unnecessary mandate laws like wearing bike helmets, seat belts, how large a cup of soda I am allowed to drink, etc. It’s a silly example but you get the point