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Healthcare Is "Not a Right" and Obama's Plan Will Cost Way Beyond $1T, Ron Paul Says

Posted Jul 16, 2009 07:36am EDT by Peter Gorenstein in Healthcare Information, Newsmakers

Healthcare legislation is quickly picking up momentum in Washington.  Three separate committees in the House of Representatives are hard at work hammering out details of a bill.  Votes are planned today in the Education and Labor and Ways and Means committees on a plan that majority House Democrats presented this week.  The legislation seeks to provide coverage to nearly all Americans by subsidizing the poor and penalizing individuals and employers who don't purchase health insurance.

Meanwhile, the Senate Health committee on Wednesday approved its own version of a bill.  Their plan sets up a government-run insurance system to compete with private insurers, and like the House, requires many employers to provide insurance for their workers or face penalties and requires individuals to purchase their own insurance.

Each proposal carries an estimated price tag of about $1 Trillion over the next decade. And that figure will probably balloon says Rep. Ron Paul. "They've never been right on projections of medical programs," referring to his colleagues in Congress, "they're always off by 100%, 200%. It always costs a lot more."

As you my have guessed, the independent minded Paul, is no fan of government involvement in healthcare. In this accompanying video exclusive, taped at the Capitol Hill Rotunda in Washington D.C., Paul, who is also an M.D., opens up to Aaron Task about his concerns regarding the government taking a larger role in the medical game.

As far as the Texas Congressman is concerned, healthcare is not a right. "I don't have a right to medical care," he emphatically states. In his view, the constitution only guarantees citizens "life, liberty and (the right to) keep the fruits of my labor."

Don't be mistaken, he's very clear to point out, he is in favor of all citizens receiving medical care. "I want everybody to have maximum care at the best price. And that's why I want the government out of it completely."

Well, agree with him or not, even he admits some form of a bill will probably pass. Reports indicate, if the Democrats find support in both Houses that bill could arrive on President Obama's desk by October.

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2008 Comments

Bob
Bob - Thursday July 16, 2009 07:51AM EDT

Ron Paul is the man. Please remember that in 2012!

Fanboy2009
Fanboy2009 - Thursday July 16, 2009 07:54AM EDT

Right on Ron! This all just so these politicans can turn os all into dependents and keep them in power for a very long time. Have we not learned anything? Change we can believe in!

Bob
Bob - Thursday July 16, 2009 07:55AM EDT

You have no right to healthcare, just like you have no right to own a house, you have a right to the fruits of your labor REMBMER that basic item. Then YOU CHOOSE what to do with those FRUITS you fruit!

john
john - Thursday July 16, 2009 07:55AM EDT

Healthcare is not a right, but a privilege

Joe
Joe - Thursday July 16, 2009 07:56AM EDT

1 trillion? in the first month maybe

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday July 16, 2009 07:56AM EDT

Profits reported by U.S. banks are based on free borrowing, so they do not mean the recovery of U. S. economy. We are likely to buy stocks from them at high today and be scared to sell back to them at low in another dip.

WayneC
WayneC - Thursday July 16, 2009 07:57AM EDT

If you've ever made a graph of ANYTHING that tracks cost/ availability VS Govt Invlovment, you'll quickly see that the more government is involved the more expensive things get AND the LESS available they are. Insurance and Government are the REASONS health care costs are out of sight.

nomore
nomore - Thursday July 16, 2009 07:59AM EDT

It depends what side are you on. If you are sick then it is the right. But some body else sick, NO.

taopraxis
taopraxis - Thursday July 16, 2009 08:02AM EDT

Definition of "reform": A massive tax increase.

- Thursday July 16, 2009 08:03AM EDT

the only true congressman Ron Paul

Horatio
Horatio - Thursday July 16, 2009 08:03AM EDT

I'm a strong supporter of Ron Paul, but think he's wrong here. Everyone should search "single-payer health insurance," similar to European systems. That would work better here, with, in my opinion, all employers and employees paying the same percentage for coverage, similar to Medicare or Social Security. Before deciding this issue, research it on the web. Our current system is not in the public's interest or our collective fiscal or physical health, and the major current reform proposals will only make it worse. Again, research this option.

TeddyB
TeddyB - Thursday July 16, 2009 08:03AM EDT

Healthcare costs are so expensive because of the pharmaceutical companies. Seeing a doctor is not expensive, its the drugs. Obama has to deal with the drug companies.

TeddyB
TeddyB - Thursday July 16, 2009 08:04AM EDT

Healthcare costs are so expensive because of the pharmaceutical companies. Seeing a doctor is not expensive, its the drugs. Obama has to deal with the drug companies.

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday July 16, 2009 08:05AM EDT

What would Jesus do?

Art
Art - Thursday July 16, 2009 08:05AM EDT

Ron Paul is correct as usual. No person has a right to anything. The term right implies that someone owes you something. You are not entitled to anything just because you are on the planet. No person is entitled to any part of your life just because they are on the planet.

Andersen
Andersen - Thursday July 16, 2009 08:05AM EDT

Ron Paul is right!

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday July 16, 2009 08:05AM EDT

I think he has been self prescribing himself mind altering drugs. People have no right to healthcare! Are you kidding me? We say we are the most civilized society on earth and the best country in the world, yet in our society we do not look after each other? I know Ron Paul is old and senile, but maybe his actually from the dark ages. How else could somebody think that receiving healthcare is not a right in a 21st century society.

John
John - Thursday July 16, 2009 08:06AM EDT

Remember the old days - when people paid their own way, provided school lunches for their own children, paid their own medical bills, saved for their own retirement? If you want medical insurance for yourself and your family, how about paying for that instead of that new car and flat screen TV?

John
John - Thursday July 16, 2009 08:06AM EDT

Ron Paul is a fool, and that is putting it lightly. I guess every other industrialized country in the world is wrong and the U.S. is right. This country is disgusting.

LindaM
LindaM - Thursday July 16, 2009 08:07AM EDT

He's absolutely right! Gov't has NO BUSINESS getting involved in HEALTHCARE. More people should have voted for RON PAUL. He has the right idea...SIMPLIFY the gov't. The ONLY PURPOSE of the Federal Gov't is to PROTECT THE COUNTRY. Leave the other issues to the states. Mark my words, within the next 18months, the USA as we know it will cease to exist! It is slowly becoming a COMMUNIST country and society is letting it happen because they are being led by the rose colored glasses NOBAMA is giving out. We will start losing more of our freedoms and most of us will do it with a smile on their faces because they have become LEMMINGS to the GOV'T.

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