Rebuttal to Tribune Article

This post is a rebuttal to the article in Saturday's Salt Lake Tribune titled, "Some Latter-day Saint Conservatives Worship Political Dogma" (Olsen, Steve, 2011, "Some LDS Conservatives Worship Political Dogma", Salt Lake Tribune, Retrieved from http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/51713295-82/political-government-idolatry-lds.html.csp)

Senate Candidate I know had an interesting take on the health care debate when she was running to unseat Senator Bob Bennett.  Her father was a physician in California.  As near as I can now recall, she quoted her father as stating that the Great Society was "the End of Quality healthcare as (was then known) was at an end".  Why would a physician make such a statement.  As a doctor, wouldn't it be nice to get payment for all of your services from the government and not have to worry about billing?  Before Medicare and Medicaid were invented, you are probably wrong if you believe that physicians would terminate a patient relationship once a patient could no longer pay.  According to my friend, the doctors would "work things out" and even "write charges off" if necessary.  In Mr. Olsen's article, he mentioned that once a patient's  means would run out, the patients would be out on the street.

Fact is, we do not know for certain how the medical industry would be today if there were no Medicare or Medicaid.  But a simple understanding of economics will explain why government intervention is not sustainable.  The simple truth is that our population is getting older.  We are having fewer children and people are living longer.  It also does not take a Rhodes Scholar to understand that older bodies have more medical problems.  Therefore, there is a higher demand on medical services.  In addition, the diet and sedentary nature of our American lifestyle has brought more pressure on the system, and will continue to do so.  But what LDS Conservatives are most concerned about is the level of entitlement that permeates our society today.  Most of us have grown up in a society where some third party insurance company paid most of our medical bills and health care providers have become wealthy.  Those days are becoming a thing of the past.

Companies have found that they are unable to provide health insurance for their employees and provide the same level of service to their customers.  Many companies have become overburdened from providing health coverage to retirees, and found that they have had to turn that coverage over to the government to avoid bankruptcy.  No doubt, these hard times have effected a lot of people.

As an LDS conservative, I recognize the need for a public safety net, especially for older Americans. The only entitlement in the older age group that I am concerned about are the children of the elder generation who emotionally can't understand the difference between saving life and delaying death.  It is when that line is crossed that health care can become expensive.  The concern is also for those who spend their life abusing their bodies and expect a government and a society that will take care of them for a relatively young age, as early as 20+.  These problems can bankrupt any government not matter how high the tax rate is.

Again, we do not know how the health care industry would look if there were no government intervention.  But government dependence builds entitlement, which increases demand for services.  While the government does little to increase supply.  Simple economics tells us that higher demand and steady supply will drive prices higher.  As the population ages, demand for medical services will increase.  Many believe that without government intervention, that the free market will take care of most problems.  As prices increase, more people will be drawn to the medical profession, increasing supplies of goods and services.  Thus stabilizing prices.  Another concern of conservatives, LDS or not, is that more government intervention drives people away from the profession, reducing supply and bringing more instability to price levels. 

Furthermore, please notice that I said all of this without quoting scripture or any statement of church leadership, just like Mr Olsen did.  But, I will skip fellow LDS like Glen Beck and Cleon Skousen and appeal directly to the scriptures that say, "Cease to be idle" (D&C 88:124).

I am not a casual observer on the sidelines in such a matter.  Several years ago, I was laid off from a job in Texas and at the encouragement of my Bishop took a telemarketing job.  This job paid well below the living wage, and I remained on welfare for a time.  Eight years later, I am still with the same company, but I am not telemarketing.  I am working in a position in my chosen profession and earning more money than I have before.  It took me about a year and a half to prove my worth to my current employer.  Newton's first law applies to the unemployed as well.  While I agree that the unemployed are not lazy by nature, as I have been one of them, someones if one lets go of pride and takes what is available good things can happen.  I, myself, am living proof.  My grandfather also believed this way, and he was a life-long Democrat.