Squaring the Culture

The McCain campaign, in the latest of a series of conference calls to bloggers, unveiled its ideas for reforming health care in the US. Matt Lewis’ blog at Townhall identified the callers as Senior policy advisor Doug Holtz-Eakin and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina. This is an impressive pair, and an indication of the sorts of advisors we can expect a President McCain to draw.

The proposals focused on free-market solutions to existing problems in health care delivery, leaving as many choices as possible in the hands of consumers. Proposals include a tax credit for privately-purchased health insurance, removal of state barriers for insurance carriers, and paying Medicare providers for results rather than procedures.

I was pleased to note that the proposals included tort reform, a long-overdue treatment for the damage done by the cancer of out-of-control medical litigation. I was displeased to note their inclusion of re-importation of drugs from Canada, which McCain stupidly considers a free-market initiative. I’m trying to figure out why he doesn’t realize that it’s an oppressive government, not the market, that sets the prices of Canadian drugs, and that allowing their importation effectively allows the Canadian government to set US pharmaceutical prices. If we go down this road, in five years we’ll be wondering why new drug development slowed so badly. The only good thing I can say about this part of the program is, it’s no worse than what the Democrats will do.

What we’re looking at here is political necessity. An American populace conditioned to accept government solutions is being sold on national health care as a basic right; the Democrats will eat McCain’s lunch if he doesn’t counter with a plausible, free-market health care reform package. The gullibility of the nation regarding national health care, which would be an unallayed disaster for America, underlines how important it is to wrest education from the hands of cultural progressives, who have robbed all notion of self-reliance from the minds of America’s children.

The advisors spoke of wellness initiatives, creating incentives for weight control, exercise, and quitting smoking. A number of bloggers note their discomfort with what they consider intrusions into private choices. While possibly intrusive, the proposal constitutes a glance in the right direction. Health is a much broader topic than merely who your doctor is and who pays his bill. I’m hoping the culture at large begins to notice the impact of diet and food quality on overall health, an area where far too little attention is paid. However, exercise, smoking, and diet are arenas where a liberty-friendly government can only play a roles as preacher and cheerleader, and must never become Mom.

Ed Morrisey and The American Mind have more detailed reviews.