Mitt Romney Embraces Socialism & Texas Considers Allowing Guns On Campus

Let’s get to the issues that fire me up and deplete the blogsphere.

 

In 1993, the American people and Congress rejected the Clinton’s attempt to implement a bloated government rationing system on the nation disguised as healthcare reform that reeked of socialism. The Clinton plan would have forced every citizen into a rationing system of ‘health maintenance organizations’ bloated with regulation. These health maintenance organizations would have had the power to tell us what healthcare plans to accept and from whom. For all the doom and gloom by the left about America’s healthcare system they forget the facts. America has the highest quality healthcare system in the world. The world’s top doctors, hospitals and research facilities are here in the United States. Almost all advances in medicine are developed here in the United States. For all their carping about how Canada and others have better healthcare systems due to socialization most of the world comes to the United States, including Canadians, for their operations and treatment. Healthcare does need reform but not socialism and government rationing is not the answer.

Former Massachusetts Governor, and current GOP presidential candidates, Mitt Romney likes to portray himself as the Reagan conservative in the GOP field. However, Romney’s record as Massachusetts Governor holds a very disturbing legacy in big government/socialized medicine. Then Governor Romney signed into law an ‘individual health insurance mandate’ in April of 2006. An individual health insurance mandate requires that all citizens purchase some form of health insurance. Those who don’t have coverage at work would have to buy individual plans. Those who fail to do so would be fined or subjected to other penalties. The basis for Republicans support of such a mandates is the concept that forcing people to buy health insurance eliminates high healthcare costs and etc since hospitals, by law, can’t turn down patients for care. However, the costs in administering and ENFORCING such a program negate any savings:

1. Hawaii already has a health insurance mandate law in place that forces employers to provide coverage for all their employees. However, about 10% of Hawaiian employees still do not have healthcare coverage;

2. Canada’s universal healthcare system consistently has problems with verifying registration and with collecting premium payments. In fact, about 40,000 people slip through the net in British Columbia causing about $10 million dollars per year in un-reimbursed services to the uninsured;

3. The IRS, America’s number one agency at tracking and verifying a government service, still can’t track down millions of Americans who fail to file their tax returns;

Many also argue that since we force people to buy auto insurance then there is no problem in forcing them to buy health insurance. This argument is wrong for the following reasons:

1. Driving is a privilege and one can give up driving to avoid buying auto insurance and not be punished by law. Many do this in urban areas like New York City. A health insurance mandates would not give citizens any choice in the matter;

2. The truth is that auto insurance is for the protection of from and for others, not ourselves. However, regardless of laws mandating auto insurance most states still have a basic average of 14.5% of drivers who still choose to not purchase auto insurance. Enforcement of the auto insurance mandate is so bad that most responsible drivers now purchase uninsured motorist insurance; 

More importantly, there is the question of government subsidies in mandating individual health insurance. The plan that Governor Romney signed into law will cost the taxpayers of Massachusetts $1.56 billion a year. This number will only increase as the plan expands to cover more and cost of usage goes up. In fact, a Massachusetts legislative analysis forecasts that within two years Romney’s plan will have shortfall of $160 billion.

The other issue is that since the subsidy has become available to individuals businesses that currently offer coverage are beginning to eliminate coverage so as not shift the financial burden to the state. This situation creates the political atmosphere for the most dangerous aspect of this Romney plan which is that it will eventually lead to more people on the taxpayer’s dime and inevitably to a 100% socialized plan. Remember, it is NOT the government’s job to make sure you have healthcare. It is YOUR JOB.

Mitt Romney’s socialized healthcare plan should be a warning to all Reagan conservatives to beware of big government conservatives in limited government conservative sheep’s clothing. 

Texas legislators are considering repealing a state law that prohibits firearms on college campuses. Texas Governor Rick Perry and some Texas legislators are rightfully calling for students and faculty who hold licenses to carry firearms should be allowed to take their weapons onto their campuses. This discussion was brought about due to the recent massacre at Virginia Tech, a gun free campus.

There is nothing wrong with allowing law-abiding citizens to carry guns to stop criminals and nuts. Of course, the usual wimps, weeping mothers and academics are decrying allowing law-abiding citizens to take their guns on campus. Remember, these were the same idiots who warned of mass shoot outs and etc when Texas first allowed law-abiding citizens to carry concealed handguns. Yet, the feared mass shootings never happened and crime even went down.

Stephen Sheftall, a 21-year-old junior at Texas State University in San Marcos, who is about to obtain his license to carry a concealed weapon said it best:

“We already have laws in place that seem to fail to protect students. I would much rather stop a crazed gunman than watch students get gunned down.”

Rep. Frank Corte Jr., R-San Antonio, stated:

“Gun-free zones are known by the bad guys that this is where people don’t have firearms.”

Rep. Joe Driver, R-Garland, stated:

“To me, that situation (Virginia Tech) could have been changed if that rule wasn’t in effect. Anybody who has a concealed handgun license should be allowed to carry their guns to as many places as possible.”

Opponents came out spouting left-wing nonsense. Republican In Name Only Senator John Carona of Dallas came out against the proposed idea. Interestingly, Carona is also the ‘Republican’ senator who is pushing for an increase in the Texas gas tax. Radical leftist Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth, used the proposed idea as a way to attack gun owners.

This proposed idea is another reason why I love Texas. Back in March, Texas passed into law the “castle doctrine,” which protects homeowners when they shoot intruders. This past Friday, Governor Perry signed a bill preventing authorities from confiscating firearms from law-abiding citizens during a state emergency.

God bless Texas!