By Michael Tanner,Real Clear Politics
In making his case for a government takeover of the US health-care system,President Obama is going far beyond the usual Washington truth-stretching. Take a look at just a few of the most common claims:
"If you like your current health-care plan,you can keep it."Even White House spokesmen have said that Obama’s oft-repeated pledge that you can keep your current insurance isn’t meant to be taken literally. The reality is that millions of Americans –perhaps most Americans –will be forced to change insurance plans.
"You will pay less."The Congressional Budget Office has made it clear that the reform plans now being debated will increase overall health-care costs,yet President Obama on Friday repeatedly said that his reform would reduce costs and save Americans money.
But no matter how many times he says it,the truth is you will pay more –much more –both in higher taxes and in higher premiums.
"Quality will improve."Anyone who thinks a government takeover of the health-care system will improve quality of care has only to look at the health-care programs the government already runs:The Veterans Administration is overwhelmed with problems,Medicaid is notorious for providing poor quality at a high cost –and Medicare has huge gaps in coverage.
Worse,however,on Friday,Obama endorsed the creation of a government board with the power to dictate how your doctor practices medicine and all but endorsed the rationing prevalent in nationalized health-care systems around the world.