The Rhetorican

UPDATED – Medical Privacy: Least of Our Problems June 6, 2009

Ed Morrisey has taken a look at the Obamacare plans, and doesn’t like what he sees, especially in regards to medical records privacy vis a vis the 4th Amendment [But is it an unreasonable search if the records are in the possession of government contractors to begin with? In other words, is there a reasonable expectation of privacy in medical records to which the state already has access? --ed. Good question].

But let’s not get distracted by privacy concerns.  With a nationalized health system, privacy will be the least of our worries.  Access to healthcare will be the real issue.

People forget that universal healthcare is a misnomer.  Universally rationed healthcare is a more accurate name.  And if it is universally rationed, by definition it will NOT result in all the healthcare a patient might need or want.  It will be whatever healthcare you are lucky to get.  Ask the Canadians…or the Brits.  They know.

UPDATE: I just remembered this post from a month ago: Frank Luntz’s advice for the GOP on how to effectively oppose Obamacare.

UPDATE: Oliver Willis comments on stupid complaints, with a stupid complaint of his own.  The reason why massive bills are a matter of concern is that they are almost impossible for legislators to review properly (case in point is the Stimulus Bill, which authorized the AIG bonuses to the surprise of many Congresspersons…or did you forget already, Ollie?).  Get it?  Or should I explain democracy to you, Ollie?

Massive bills are also quite impossible for the citizenry to review, which sort of defeats the purpose of Obama’s promise to increase Washington transparency by putting bills on line for public review for 5 days.  Still waiting for that promise to be fulfilled, actually.

Speaking of Oliver Willis, if Willis’s blog is “Kryptonite to Stupid”, does that mean it makes Stupid weak?  The only thing that can make Stupid weak has to be stronger Stupidity, though.  Now, before you think I’m taking cheap shots at Willis, let me state outright that I don’t think Willis is stupid.  Not at all.  I just don’t think that tagline on his blog makes sense.

But neither do many of his rants, so I guess it’s par for the course.

And did he license the Superman logo from DC Comics or is he infringing on that trademark?  Worth looking into…