Albert Einstein once defined insanity as doing the same wrong thing over and over and expecting different results each time. The recently passed Health Care Reform Bill is proof of that observation.

Increased government control of health care over the past 50 years has resulted in skyrocketing costs, less competition and more dependency on government. Rather than move toward a free market in health care, this bill does more of the same.

Government already accounts for roughly half of all spending on healthcare. When combined with massive regulations on hospitals, doctors and insurance companies, our medical system is already largely socialized. Expensive mandates and taxes will further cartelize the system. These new costs will simply be passed on to consumers and businesses, while insurance companies will be rewarded with 30+ million new customers and massive federal subsidies to pay for it all.

According to the Cato Institute, the cost of this new program will be in excess of two trillion dollars (when accounting tricks and phantom "cuts" in Medicare are factored in. The real cost, if history is to be believed, will be much higher.

In 1990, Medicare cost more than seven times what was projected in 1965. Maine, Massachusetts and Tennessee--all of which enacted programs similiar to Obamacare--have seen the costs for these programs increase dramatically and faster than anticipated.

Are we to believe the most inept, corrupt, irresponsible and politicized institution in America can be trusted to micromanage 1/6 of the nation's economy? The Libertarian Party calls for repealing this monstosity and moving toward a radical free market in medicine. Deregulation, reforms of Medicare and Medicaid (with an eye toward privatization) and massive tax and spending cuts across the board are the way to empower people to be able to afford their own health insurance. Ultimitely, the individual-not the government--is responsible for that individual's life.

Commentary by Tom Harmon, Carthage, MO

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