Why So Serious?

Apparently, some people are outraged at this poster depicting Barack Obama as the Joker. Of course, his supporters are calling it racism. Aside from the fact that George W. Bush was also painted this way, and many other derogatory ways, these people seem to forget how radical Obama is.

If he were even a little moderate, if he wasn't trying to push through ever more socialist legislation, then maybe there would be some credence to the racism charge. As it is, though, that accusation is merely yet another low attempt to discredit the President's opponents.

Politicians know the power of words, and they are master manipulators. Racist is a very emotionally charged word, and politicians know that it is the emotional that sticks in people's minds.

Another good example is the way Democrats are trying to spin the opposition to the health insurance bill cropping up in town hall meetings across the country. Apparently, the evil rich people funded and organized it all. They did the same with the tens of thousands of people that showed up for tax-day tea parties.

Reading this Bloomberg News article, I stumbled upon the following quote from the President: "We must lay a new foundation for future growth and prosperity, and a key pillar of a new foundation is health-insurance reform."

Surely, he's joking. Or trying to manipulate people. He might as well say, "We'd better get my bill through Congress, or you wouldn't want the economy to get worse, would you?" The President, our politician in chief, clearly knows the power of words.

The health insurance bill has almost nothing to do with economic growth. Sure, if it lived up to the wild claims of lowering costs, maybe it would help more people balance their budgets.

However, based on what I've read of the bill and what the President has asserted as his key goals for reform, this bill will not help the economy. The proposed 5% sales tax, to pay for the government option, certainly won't help.

I've explained in previous articles that many of these reform goals will increase the cost of insurance. Forcing the insurance companies to cover more and more can only make it cost more to everyone.

Furthermore, if the insurance companies cover more, then there will be increased demands on the health care industry. Economics 101: What happens when the demand for a service rises? If the supply stays the same, then the price must also rise. Because the bill has nothing to do with increasing supply of health care professionals, we can expect increased health care prices when we hide more and more of the cost from the actual consumers of medical care.

I have to conclude that either the President doesn't understand economics, or he cares more about his own political agenda.

Or maybe he's just testing out the theory that whatever doesn't kill the health insurance industry will simply make it stranger.