Obama Opts Out of Obamacare

Obamacare, contrary to its promise, will entrench rather than eliminate the Two Americas, maintaining a system of private coverage for the rich, and imposing a government bureaucracy that rations care on the middle class.

Contemporary conservatives are partisans of America’s libertarian traditions.  And understandably, given the outcome-based orientation of liberals’ egalitarian commitments, they are wary of embracing the American heritage of social equality. But President Obama’s performance on ABC last night demonstrates that conservatives ignore the power of egalitarian arguments to their detriment. Without question, the most damaging moment for Obama came when he acknowledged that in spite of the rationing implicit in his public health care plan, he would still pay out-of-pocket to obtain the best health care for his family.  As reported by ABC’s Jake Tapper, “President Obama struggled to explain today whether his health care reform proposals would force normal Americans to make sacrifices that wealthier, more powerful people – like the president himself – wouldn’t face.” Though it is not in the standard Republican playbook, the opponents of Obamacare should argue that his program is fundamentally unfair and at odds with America’s egalitarian commitments.  Assuming that Republicans are correct, and the creation of a public-plan will lead to the collapse, rather than invigoration, of private health insurance, the end result of Obamacare will be a massive shift from an employer-based system of private health insurance toward government-provided care. And Republicans need to note at every opportunity that after this transition takes place, the rich and powerful will still be able to get all the care they want.  Last night the President spoke about the need to ration care to bring down costs.  That can only be done in a public system.  Those who have access to private health care will still have their choice of doctors, hospitals, and procedures. In other words, Obamacare, contrary to its promise, will entrench rather than eliminate the Two Americas, maintaining a system of private coverage for the rich, and imposing a government bureaucracy that rations care on the middle class. If conservatives go against type and embrace an egalitarian critique of Obamacare, they just might win over the middle class threatened by a public plan.