Know Your Redeemer

Ration This
Republicans charge that this would allow “unelected bureaucrats” to “ration” health care, and members of both parties object to relinquishing any power over federal spending. But Congress has shown it is far too susceptible to lobbying by insurers, hospitals, patients and other special interest groups. It makes sense to let experts drawn from diverse backgrounds set a course for Congress based on the best available evidence of what might work. (NYT, 4/24/11)

So Times logic is this: we can’t trust the politicians (presumably this includes Democrats too), so let’s appoint a bunch of experts to make these decisions. And, of course, the “experts” will be completely impartial and not subject to any outside pressure. One question, though. Would it be Democrats who appoint the experts?

Field Notes
RedStateVT talked recently to a local doctor about the current proposals to move toward government-controlled – sorry, single-payer – health care in the state. His take: up to 50% of the doctors in the state would consider leaving if this is enacted. He also said: “lifestyle only goes so far.” This last comment is telling because it gets to the trade-off that many business people and many conservatives face in Vermont. It is a great state to raise a family, but you have to put up with the silly antics of the Left. When these begin to infringe on the ability to make a living, these people will vote with their feet and leave. Warning to the Left: when this happens there will not be enough money to fund your social experiments.

Stunning Proposal
Given the stunning levels of inequality that increasingly misshape our economy, raising income taxes on the wealthiest among us is essential if we wish to preserve the national defense, schools and secure retirements. Essential, but not enough. Taxing the income from Americans’ labor doesn’t yield what it once did. We need to raise the taxes on Americans’ investments, too. (Harold Meyerson, Washington Post, 4/19/11)

Do you love this guy or what? But wait, he gets better!

First, as private-sector employment continues to decline, the public sector will have to step in to create jobs. Second, we have to tax income and wealth derived from capital investments at a rate not just as high but higher than that we levy on work.

Yes, he said it!  In addition to more and higher taxes, we need more public employees!